Two children learn their grandfather is the caretaker of a refuge for mythical creatures.
Morality
The adults lie at first about what Fablehaven really is. Seth, the grandson, tends to disobey his grandfather's rules, but this almost always results badly for Seth, so that's good anyway.
Spiritual Content
One of the characters comments that all religions have some basis in truth, but none of them have are completely correct. Major negative points for that comment.
One of the main characters prays to the Fairy Queen toward the end of the book.
One of the main characters creates a potion with ingredients including her own blood and the blood of a giant cow.
A demon in the book is kept prisoner in the basement of an old church on the premises. In the climax, the church is churned under the earth, to be replaced by trees and flowers. Anyone else sensing some pagan overtones here?
Violence
The ending's pretty creepy, and the way Kendra got one of the potion ingredients seemed a little graphic to me.
Drug and Alcohol Content
The characters drink a special kind of milk to enable them to see fairies, but that's about it. Some revelry clearly takes place when the satyrs visit, but it's offscreen.
Sexual Content
None.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
Seth possibly utters one or two four-letter words. Sh--, I think.
Conclusion
It was a good premise, but I wasn't comfortable with the execution. It was written well enough, but the spiritual aspects bothered me. As an artist, I was also disappointed in the occasional illustrations. The cover is nice, but most of the interior full-page pictures are flat and lifeless.
This review is brought to you by Kristi.
