Skip to main content

Keys to the Demon Prison

Keys to the Demon Prison
By Brandon Mull
Shadow Mountain, 2010. 593 pp. Chapter book.

In this action-packed finale to the Fablehaven series, the Sphinx is on the verge of claiming the last of the five artifacts needed to open the great demon prison Zzyzx, which houses the most powerful and terrible of the world's demons. All those on the side of light must band together to prevent this great catastrophe from destroying everything good in the world. A seemingly endless and impossible string of quests ensue that would daunt any mere group of heroes, but those in this story are not your ordinary people. Kendra and Seth are joined by new, fascinating characters as well as reunited with old friends throughout the course of their missions. The question overlying everything is whether they will succeed or fail, and in so doing, will they live to tell their tales?

Another exciting volume concludes the Fablehaven series in a most satisfying way. Although this book could be much improved by stricter editing, it was still a great read. I did skim quickly through some of the sections that seemed needlessly wordy--which there were many--or that diverged into random tangents, but I did read every bit and still enjoyed it despite its faults. I appreciated the new characters added, as well. Although not the strongest of the series, it was a good conclusion and I'm so happy the series is finally wrapped up!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba CafƩ By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba CafƩ. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba CafƩ. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...

Display: Be A World Traveller

Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...