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WORK TITLE: Tales of Newel and Doren
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WEBSITE: http://brandonmull.com/
CITY: Thousand Oaks
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LAST VOLUME: SATA 318
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PERSONAL
Born November 8, 1974; married, wife’s name Mary (divorced); children: four; married, wife’s name Erlyn, 2020; stepchildren: seven.
EDUCATION:Brigham Young University, B.A. (public relations and English), 2000.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Novelist. Worked as a film promoter for Excel Entertainment and as a copywriter for Deseret Book; also worked variously as a comedian, filing clerk, patio installer, and grocery-store staffer.
AWARDS:Lambda Literary Award finalist, 2006, for Fablehaven; numerous awards from state reading associations.
RELIGION: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon).WRITINGS
Also author of the “Dragonwatch” story Legend of the Dragon Slayer, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, Shadow Mountain (Salt Lake City, UT), 2021. Work represented in anthologies, including the “Spirit Animals” collections Tales of the Great Beasts, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2014, and Tales of the Fallen Beasts, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2016, and True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern-Day Fairy Tales Written by Best-Selling Authors, photographs by Jonathan Diaz, Shadow Mountain (Salt Lake City, UT), 2015.
A World without Heroes was adapted as an audiobook, Recorded Books, 2011.
SIDELIGHTS
A former copywriter and film promoter, Brandon Mull is the creator of the popular “Fablehaven,” “Beyonders,” and “Rogue Knight” series of fantasy novels, along with other dramatic and entertaining fiction for youths. Becoming a published author was a lifelong dream for Mull, who enjoyed creating imaginative scenarios as a child. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always spent a huge portion of my free time daydreaming and making up stories,” the Utah-based writer commented on his website. “As I aged, those stories became more elaborate and compelling, and I decided that I wanted to share them with others. That was when I became serious about writing.” [open new]C.S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” all had outsized influences on his literary sensibilities. He studied English as well as public relations at Brigham Young University, and after graduating he began working on his first novel. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served a two-year mission in Chile. About his time working as a copywriter, Mull told Trent Toone of the Deseret News, “It was frustrating. … I was writing the blurbs for the back of the book when I wanted to be the guy writing the book.”[suspend new]
Fablehaven, Mull’s first novel, follows siblings Kendra and Seth as they travel to their grandparents’ estate. There they uncover Fablehaven, a secret sanctuary for mystical creatures, and learn that their grandfather is actually the sanctuary’s caretaker. The children encounter witches, fairies, imps, and trolls, some of whom are evil and pose great danger. “The idea behind Fablehaven is that all the different myths or legends of different cultures have some truth to them, so I wanted to bring to life magical creatures from a variety of traditions,” Mull remarked in a Mormon Artist online interview with Elsie Boyer.
Reviewing Fablehaven for Hatrack River, Orson Scott Card described Mull’s central characters as “quite likable and entertaining” and noted that their “dialogue snaps and sizzles.” Mull continues to chronicle Kendra and Seth’s adventures in several other “Fablehaven” novels, among them Grip of the Shadow Plague, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, and Keys to the Demon Prison, all illustrated by Brandon Dorman.
In The Candy Shop War, a tale of magic and adventure, four youngsters are befriended by kindly Belinda White, who has opened a new candy store in their town. After tempting the children with a variety of unusual confections, White asks them to retrieve a hidden talisman, a fountain of youth that only she knows will give her incredible powers. Meanwhile, unassuming ice-cream truck driver Mr. Stott has also set his sights on the legendary treasure and the four companions soon find themselves caught between the two warring magicians. A critic in Kirkus Reviews noted of The Candy Shop War that “Mull trots his twist-laden plot forward to a well set-up climax.”
In Arcade Catastrophe, the second “Candy Shop War” book, the scheming proprietor of an amusement center uses his visitors’ game-playing skills to assist his search for a magical artifact. Here readers are treated to “action aplenty, with tongue (and candy) firmly in cheek,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews contributor, reviewing Mull’s entertaining fantasy sequel.
[resume new]Mull returns to the “Candy Shop War” world with Carnival Quest, in which rising sixth grader Nate and his friends are swept up in the visiting Dreams and Screams Carnival. With the carnival mysteriously growing, people disappearing, and grown-up enforcers denied admission, Nate and his friends are tasked with investigating. As special tickets and carnie coins grant them entry to the carnival’s depths, the friends must confront diabolical clowns and magicians plotting to take over the world. ForeWord reviewer Jeremiah Rood was led to affirm that Nate is an “excellent hero. He’s courageous and a quick thinker.” Rood summed Carnival Quest up as a “fun fantasy novel in which plucky children explore an evil-infused carnival to save the world from its creepy embrace.”[suspend new]
Mull’s companion chapter books Pingo and Pingo and the Playground Bully also come to life in humorous illustrations by Dorman. When Chad reaches adolescence in Pingo, he realizes that he must leave behind his imaginary friend, the titular furry, elfin creature. Unfortunately for Chad, Pingo has no intention of disappearing and, feeling rejected, transforms into Chad’s not-so-imaginary enemy. Reconciled in Pingo and the Playground Bully, Chad and Pingo compare imaginary exploits with several classmates also shadowed by imaginary friends. According to School Library Journal reviewer Meg Smith, in Pingo Mull presents young readers with “an interesting look into the everlasting world of the imagination.”
In Mull’s “Beyonders” series, two teens do battle with a tyrannical sorcerer who rules a mysterious otherworld. Series opener A World without Heroes introduces Jason Walker, a zoo intern who is magically transported to the land of Lyrian, where residents suffer under the dominion of the nefarious wizard Maldor. Coming under the protection of the Blind King, Jason learns that Maldor can be defeated by a magical word whose syllables are scattered throughout the kingdom. Joining forces with Rachel, a fellow Beyonder from Earth, Jason embarks on a perilous quest to save Lyrian. According to a Kirkus Reviews critic, in A World without Heroes “Mull provides his young protagonists with a foe as genuinely clever as he is powerful,” and a Publishers Weekly contributor wrote that the novel “offer[s] ample action and feisty dialogue to keep fantasy lovers entertained.”
In Seeds of Rebellion, the second “Beyonders” installment, Jason returns to Lyrian to help unite the allies of Prince Galloran in their battle against Maldor. In Chasing the Prophecy, the teens work to fulfil their destiny and gain the means to return home. “Quality world-building lies at the heart of any good fantasy story, and … Mull excels” at this in Seeds of Rebellion, according to Sam Bloom in School Library Journal, while Booklist critic Carolyn Phelan wrote that Chase the Prophecy continues the same quality of “action scenes” as the first two “Beyonders” novels.
Mull introduces his “Five Kingdoms” series in Sky Raiders, and here readers meet Cole Randolph, a sixth grader who, along with several friends, is transported from his Arizona home to a fantastical place called the Outskirts. Praised by Booklist critic Stacey Comfort as “a relatable and brave Everykid hero,” Cole bravely traverses this dreamworld, determined to rescue his friends from the slave traders who have captured them. Along the way, he gains some unusual companions with special powers, among them Mira, an escaped slave with some secrets. In Sky Raiders Mull “skillfully mixes the capricious logic of dreams with high stakes and constant danger” in chronicling Cole’s adventures, wrote a Publishers Weekly critic. Antonio Trujillo concluded in Horn Book Guide that the “intriguing invented world” in Sky Raiders “keeps things interesting.”
In Rogue Knight, Cole and his friends travel to Elloweer, determined to help Mira rescue her sister from captivity. During their journey, they are hunted by the Rogue Knight, a being under the control of a mysterious power. “Mull’s latest series continues to be excellent,” noted Comfort in her Booklist review of the second “Five Kingdoms” story. Cole’s adventures continue to play out in Crystal Keepers and Death Weavers, the latter of which, according to Trujillo in Horn Book Guide, contains “more mysticism” and “an interesting change of pace” for its young heroes.
Dragonwatch is the first volume in a new story arc set in the Fablehaven world, with siblings Seth and Kendra once again transported from their family’s rural farm to a fantasy world filled with dragons, wizards, and magic. Having helped suppress the demons’ uprising in the prior series, the dragons led by king Celebrant are now agitating for some freedom of their own–and Seth and Kendra might need help from demons to collect an essential talisman and keep the world of Fablehaven in balance. As Rebecca Foster wrote in ForeWord, Mull’s “mixture of the familiar and the unknown” here “will intrigue young readers with a fondness for Tolkien’s Middle-earth.” In establishing “an intriguing contrast” between reality and an “exhilarating fairy world,” Foster added, the author’s “dialogue and descriptive prose shine.” “The excitement of the adventure will sweep up existing fans and undoubtedly create new ones,” predicted Cindy Welch in her Booklist review.
[re-resume new]After five “Dragonwatch” books, Mull returned to the Fairhaven world once more with The Gorgon’s Fury, kicking off the “Tales of Newel & Doren.” A pair of goat-footed cousins who take pride in their stellar record in the Satyr Games, Newel and Doren face a stiffer challenge as a gorgon starts roaming Fablehaven turning creatures to stone. Setting aside their fondness for television and technology in their Connecticut home, Newel and Doren encounter everyone from fairies and dryads to gollem and hydra, to ogres and trolls, to witches and goblins as they brave Florida marshlands and aim to face down the gorgon (without coming face to face). A swamp hag and bog hag prove especially helpful. In ForeWord, Katy Keffer appreciated how Newel and Doren’s “desire to be honest and responsible on their mission and to protect their homeland results in depth.” She added, “Moving with urgency through the cousins’ suspenseful explorations, the chapters build on each other well.” A Kirkus Reviews writer hailed The Gorgon’s Fury as an “action-packed … fast-paced, literally satirical spinoff.”
Reflecting on the dramatic arc of his own life story with Toone, Mull was inspired to remark: “I think we all live hero’s journeys, that’s what life is. … We leave comfortable circumstances and go on these journeys where we learn and grow, where we are challenged. Sometimes we rise to meet it and sometimes we crumble or really wipe out. We learn and we return from it changed. Sometimes those are the most interesting stories—if someone can then pick themselves up and try again.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 15, 2011, Carolyn Phelan, review of A World without Heroes, p. 75; February 1, 2012, Carolyn Phelan, review of Seeds of Rebellion, p. 89; May 15, 2013, Carolyn Phelan, review of Chasing the Prophecy, p. 66; November 15, 2013, Bethany Fort, review of Wild Born, p. 50; January 1, 2014, Stacey Comfort, review of Sky Raiders, p. 114; November 15, 2014, Stacey Comfort, review of Rogue Knight, p. 50; December 1, 2016, Cindy Welch, review of Dragonwatch, p. 57.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, March, 2011, Karen Coats, review of A World without Heroes, p. 339; May, 2014, review of Sky Raiders, p. 471.
ForeWord, December 12, 2016, Rebecca Foster, review of Dragonwatch; February 27, 2023, Jeremiah Rood, review of Carnival Quest; February 17, 2025, Katy Keffer, review of The Gorgon’s Fury.
Horn Book Guide, fall, 2014, Antonio Trujillo, review of Sky Raiders, p. 85; spring, 2015, Antonio Trujillo, review of Rogue Knight, p. 87; fall, 2015, Antonio Trujillo, review of Crystal Keepers, p. 95; fall, 2016, Antonio Trujillo, review of Death Weavers, p. 99.
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2006, review of Fablehaven, p. 793; April 1, 2007, review of Rise of the Evening Star, p. 340; August 15, 2007, review of The Candy Shop War; January 15, 2011, review of A World without Heroes; December 1, 2011, review of Seeds of Rebellion; September 1, 2012, review of Arcade Catastrophe; August 1, 2013, review of Wild Born; December 15, 2013, review of Sky Raiders; October 15, 2014, review of Rogue Knight; December 1, 2016, review of Dragonwatch; January 1, 2025, review of The Gorgon’s Fury.
Publishers Weekly, August 17, 2009, review of Pingo, p. 60; January 31, 2011, review of A World without Heroes, p. 50; December 23, 2013, review of Sky Raiders, p. 52.
Salt Lake Tribune, March 19, 2009, Jeremiah Stettler, “Fablehaven Phenom” (profile of Mull).
School Librarian, winter, 2014, June Hughes, review of Sky Raiders.
School Library Journal, January, 2010, Meg Smith, review of Pingo, p. 80; March, 2011, Kathryn Kennedy, review of A World without Heroes, p. 166; October, 2011, Kira Moody, review of Beyonders, p. 77; March, 2012, Sam Bloom, review of Seeds of Rebellion, p. 168; March, 2014, April Sanders, review of Sky Raiders, p. 146.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2011, Vikki Terrile, review of Beyonders, p. 294; February, 2012, Vikki C. Terrile, review of Seeds of Rebellion, p. 613.
ONLINE
BookReview.com, http://www.bookreview.com/ (July 26, 2006), Melissa Brown, interview with Mull.
Brandon Mull website, http://brandonmull.com (June 28, 2025).
Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com/ (October 20, 2012), Kylie Lewis, “Brandon Mull Brings Magic and Imagination to Life in Two New Sequels”; (December 3, 2021), Trent Toone, “Bestselling Author Brandon Mull Turns a New Page as He Navigates His Own ‘Hero’s Journey.’”
Fox 13 website, https://www.fox13now.com/ (March 21, 2025), “Author Brandon Mull Captures the Imaginations of Readers with His Latest Masterpiece.”
Hatrack River, http://www.hatrack.com/ (July 2, 2006), Orson Scott Card, review of Fablehaven.
Mormon Artist, http://mormonartist.net/ (January 2011), Elsie Boyer, interview with Mull.
Simon & Schuster website, http://www.simonandschuster.com/ (November 1, 2012), “Author Revealed: Brandon Mull.”*
Brandon Mull
USA flag (b.1974)
Brandon Mull is the author of the fantastic, popular Fablehaven series and The Candy Shop War.He grew up in Concord, and he now lives in Highland, Utah with a degree from Brigham Young University. Mull has had numerous odd jobs, such as a comedian, a patio installer, a copywriter, and briefly, a chicken stacker. He is currently writing a new 3-book series called The Beyonders, and a sequel to The Candy Shop War called The Arcadeland CatastropheHe grew up in Concord, and he now lives in Highland, Utah with a degree from Brigham Young University. Mull has had numerous odd jobs, such as a comedian, a patio installer, a copywriter, and briefly, a chicken stacker. He is currently writing a new 3-book series called The Beyonders, and a sequel to The Candy Shop War called The Arcadeland Catastrophe. All of his books are absolutely fabulous and they are definitely a must-read.
Genres: Children's Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy
New and upcoming books
March 2025
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The Gorgon's Fury
(Tales of Newel & Doren, A Fablehaven Adventure)
Series
Fablehaven
1. Fablehaven (2006)
2. Rise of the Evening Star (2007)
3. Grip of the Shadow Plague (2008)
4. Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (2009)
5. Keys to the Demon Prison (2010)
The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven (2015)
Fablehaven Book of Imagination (2016)
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Candy Shop War
1. The Candy Shop War (2007)
2. Arcade Catastrophe (2012)
3. Carnival Quest (2023)
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Pingo
1. Pingo (2009)
2. Pingo and the Playground Bully (2012)
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Beyonders
1. A World Without Heroes (2011)
2. Seeds of Rebellion (2012)
3. Chasing the Prophecy (2013)
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Five Kingdoms
1. Sky Raiders (2014)
2. The Rogue Knight (2014)
3. Crystal Keepers (2015)
4. Death Weavers (2016)
5. Time Jumpers (2018)
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Dragonwatch
1. Dragonwatch (2017)
2. Wrath of the Dragon King (2018)
3. Master of the Phantom Isle (2019)
4. Champion of the Titan Games (2020)
Legend of the Dragon Slayer (2021)
5. Return of the Dragon Slayers (2021)
The Adventurer's Guide to Dragonwatch (2024)
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Tales of Newel & Doren, A Fablehaven Adventure
The Gorgon's Fury (2025)
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Collections
True Heroes (2015) (with others)
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Series contributed to
Spirit Animals
1. Wild Born (2013)
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Spirit Animals: Special Edition
1. Tales of the Great Beasts (2014)
3. Tales of the Fallen Beasts (2016)
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Picture Books hide
Smarter Than a Monster (2019)
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Omnibus editions hide
The Brandon Mull Starter Kit (2015)
Brandon Mull
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Five Kingdoms" redirects here. For the biological term, see Kingdom (biology).
Brandon Mull
Head shot of Brandon Mull
Mull at Mountain-Con in 2008
Born November 8, 1974 (age 50)[1]
Utah, U.S.
Occupation Writer
Language English
Nationality American
Alma mater Brigham Young University
Period 2006–present
Genre Young adult fiction, fantasy
Notable works Fablehaven series, the Dragonwatch series, the Beyonders series, the Candy Shop War series, and the Five Kingdoms series
Children 11
Website
brandonmull.com
Brandon Mull (born November 8, 1974) is an American author best known for his children's fantasy series, Fablehaven, as well as Dragonwatch, The Candy Shop War, the Beyonders trilogy, and the Five Kingdoms series.[2][3] He also began the Spirit Animals series.
In June of 2020, Mull married Erlyn Madsen. Together, they have a total of eleven children, with four from his previous marriage and seven from hers.[4]
He is inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and J. K. Rowling.[5]
Education and early work
Brandon Mull went to Mt. Diablo Elementary School in Clayton, California. Mull then attended Pine Hollow Middle School as a student, and then attended Clayton Valley. He currently lives in Alpine, Utah, and is a graduate of Brigham Young University in Utah.[6] While at BYU Mull led the sketch comedy group Divine Comedy.[7] Mull served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile.
As a child, Mull was known for a strong imagination. He would sometimes spend hours in his bedroom, without toys, just imagining and acting out stories that were in his head. In school, his constant day dreaming sometimes irritated teachers while others encouraged his imagination.[8]
Career
Mull has worked as a comedian, a filing clerk, a patio installer, a movie promoter, a copywriter, and briefly as a chicken stacker.[9]
Mull's first attempt at publishing a novel failed and was never published. The failure led him to a job working as a marketer for the film Saints and Soldiers. It wasn't until after the film company he worked for was acquired by a publishing company that Mull successfully published his first novel, Fablehaven.[8]
Fablehaven is currently optioned by Schaffer Studios.[10]
Published works
Fablehaven Series
Fablehaven
Fablehaven is about siblings Seth and Kendra Sorenson who find out their grandfather and grandmother run Fablehaven, one of the magical reserves where mythical creatures can live in peace. They must do what they can to continue the life of the preserve.
Fablehaven, Shadow Mountain, June 14, 2006, ISBN 978-1-59038-581-4
Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star, Shadow Mountain, May 1, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59038-742-9
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague, Shadow Mountain, April 12, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59038-898-3
Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, Shadow Mountain, March 24, 2009, ISBN 978-1-60641-042-4
Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison, Shadow Mountain, March 23, 2010, ISBN 978-1-60641-238-1
The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven, Shadow Mountain, October 13, 2015, ISBN 978-1629720913
Dragonwatch
Dragonwatch is a sequel series to Fablehaven that spans 5 books. Books 1, 2, and 3 were released March 2017, October 2018,[11] and October 2019 respectively, book 4 was released October 2020; book 5 was released in October 2021. In the story the dragons will seek to escape the sanctuaries they've been placed in, seeing them as prisons. The only thing that can keep them under control is the order of the Dragonwatch, but most of the Dragonwatch members have died of old age. A wizard named Agad decides to seek out Grandpa Sorensen for help, and in the process Kendra and Seth. Kendra and Seth will have to unite forces to become dragon tamers and caretakers of Wyrmroost to keep the dragons from escaping.
A prequel called Legend of the Dragon Slayer was published between the fourth and fifth books.
Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure, Shadow Mountain, March 14, 2017, ISBN 978-1-6297-2256-6
Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King, Shadow Mountain, October 23, 2018, ISBN 978-1-6297-2486-7
Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle, Shadow Mountain, October 1, 2019, ISBN 978-1-6297-2604-5
Dragonwatch: Champion of the Titan Games, Shadow Mountain, October 13, 2020, ISBN 978-1-6297-2788-2
Dragonwatch: Return of the Dragon Slayers, Shadow Mountain, October 26, 2021, ISBN 978-1-6297-2930-5
Legend of the Dragon Slayer: The Origin Story of Dragonwatch , Shadow Mountain, May 4, 2021, ISBN 978-1-6297-2849-0
Beyonders
Beyonders is a series about a teenage boy named Jason who gets summoned as the last chance to save Lyrian, a doomed realm ruled by the wizard Maldor.
Beyonders: A World Without Heroes, Aladdin, March 15, 2011, ISBN 978-1-41699-792-4
Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion, Aladdin, March 13, 2012, ISBN 978-1-41699-794-8
Beyonders: Chasing the Prophecy, Aladdin, March 12, 2013, ISBN 978-1-41699-796-2
Five Kingdoms
Five Kingdoms is a series about a 12-year-old boy named Cole who was about to get enslaved by slave traders but at the last moment, he hides while his friends are being sucked away to another world called the Outskirts. Cole decides he should save them and ends up being enslaved as well. In the Outskirts, there are five kingdoms, each with a very different system of magic, that correspond roughly to the five books.
Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders, Aladdin, March 11, 2014, ISBN 978-1-4424-9700-9
Five Kingdoms: Rogue Knight,[12] Aladdin, November 18, 2014, ISBN 978-1-4424-9703-0
Five Kingdoms: Crystal Keepers, Aladdin, March 17, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4424-9706-1
Five Kingdoms: Death Weavers, Aladdin, March 15, 2016, ISBN 978-1-4424-9709-2
Five Kingdoms: Time Jumpers, Aladdin, March 13, 2018, ISBN 978-1-4424-9712-2
Candy Shop War
Candy Shop War follows Nate in a strange town full of magical candies and crazy arcades.
The Candy Shop War, Shadow Mountain, September 11, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59038-783-2
Arcade Catastrophe, Shadow Mountain, October 23, 2012, ISBN 978-1-60907-179-0
Carnival Quest, Shadow Mountain, March 14, 2023[13] ISBN 978-1-63993-088-3
Pingo
Pingo, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, Shadow Mountain, August 5, 2009, ISBN 978-1-60641-109-4
Pingo and the Playground Bully – Prequel to Pingo, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, Shadow Mountain, October 9, 2012, ISBN 978-1-60907-178-3
Smarter Than A Monster: A Survival Guide
Smarter Than A Monster is a picture book aimed at helping kids overcome their fear of monsters by teaching good habits, such as brushing their teeth.[14]
Smarter Than A Monster: A Survival Guide, illustrated by Mike Walton, Shadow Mountain, October 1, 2019, ISBN 978-1-62972-610-6
Spirit Animals
Brandon Mull spearheaded a multi-book series called Spirit Animals. Each book is written by a different author but based in the same fantasy world.
Mull has written one full book in the series: Wild Born (Book 1), and select stories in Special Edition: Tales of the Great Beasts (October 21, 2014) and Special Edition: Tales of the Fallen Beasts (February 23, 2016). Wild Born tells the story of four 11-year-old kids (Conor from Eura, Meilin from Zhong, Rollan from Amaya, and Abeke from Nilo) who summon the legendary Four Fallen (Briggan with Connor, Jhi with Meilin, Essix with Rollan, and Uraza with Abeke). The kids must work together to find the first talisman with the Greencloaks, leading to a heroic battle against the Ravens and the Conquerors. The first Special Edition covers the story of the four great beasts: Briggan the Wolf, Uraza the Leopard, Jhi the Panda, and Essix the Falcon before they sacrifice themselves to protect the land and become the legendary Four Fallen Spirit Animals. The second special edition features the story of the betrayal of the great beast Gerathon.[15]
Mull also contributed to True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern Fairy Tales, a short story anthology inspired by real children with cancer.[16]
Future
Mull has stated that he is currently working on a brand new series unrelated to his other works. No details are known yet.[17]
About Brandon Mull
Brandon Mull
Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.
Why Dragonwatch? And how many books will be in this new series?
I have pondered for years how to bring the characters of Fablehaven back to life in a new series. In 2006, Fablehaven was my first published novel. I finished the series by completing the fifth book in 2010, and mentioned at the back of the book that I would not write a sixth volume. I did, however, express hope I would one day create a sequel series.
That day has arrived!
The idea for Dragonwatch evolved over the past few years, and it eventually became a story I had to share. This story is the first installment of a five-book series. I will do my best to write a new book each year until I am done.
If you enjoyed Dragonwatch and haven’t read the previous Fablehaven books, I encourage you to dive into them. You’ll learn a lot more about Kendra and Seth, their friends and family, and the enchanted preserves they protect, and you’ll get to experience a bunch of fun adventures.
I can’t wait to bring readers more books in the Dragonwatch series. If you think the books are fun, spread the word to others who might enjoy them!
I’ve always secretly wanted to write books.
I often kept the desire secret, because I knew that succeeding as a novelist would be a challenge, and I didn’t want people worrying about me or thinking I was crazy. As a kid, I lived in my head a lot, making up adventures, and sometimes sharing my imaginary games with siblings and friends. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always spent a huge portion of my free time daydreaming and making up stories. As I aged, those stories became more elaborate and compelling, and I decided that I wanted to share them with others. That was when I became serious about writing.
I figured that if I could learn to write a good scene, I could eventually write a good novel,
so through high school and college I mostly practiced by writing short fiction. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 2000, I started working on my first full-length novel. It was rejected by many agents and publishers before an editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing found promise in it. Shadow Mountain did not purchase that first book, but they asked to see something else, and the book I wrote for them was Fablehaven. So Fablehaven was published by the first publisher who saw it, after I did a lot of work shopping around that first book.
Fablehaven surpassed my expectations
with how quickly it found an audience. It seemed that wherever the book got a start, good word of mouth followed, and soon I had a career. I had been working writing marketing copy to pay the bills, but was able to quit my day job about six months after the first Fablehaven was published. By then I had already written the sequel to Fablehaven, so I started on The Candy Shop War, since my publisher didn’t want more than one Fablehaven title per year.
I am now contentedly living my dream. Between writing and promoting, I work more hours in a week than I ever have, but I am passionate about the work. I love my family a ton, and I am relieved to be able to do a job I adore.
Beyonders is the reason I became an author
The idea for Beyonders has been cooking in my mind for more than ten years. The desire to create this story is what lured me into writing novels. In Beyonders our main characters leave this world and cross into a fantasy world called Lyrian. To help the new world feel different from our own, I created some original fantasy races. It was important to me that these races weren’t breeds we were familiar with from our own mythologies. One race is called the Amar Kabal. They have seeds at the base of their skulls. If they’re killed and their seeds are planted, their bodies can regrow and live again, with the seeds preserving their memories. That is just one example.
Beyonders is a story about heroes. The emperor Maldor has systematically been buying off or breaking the heroes of Lyrian, so there are almost none left at the start of the story. Most who remain have given up or are damaged in some way. We have a boy and a girl from our world who are learning to be heroes, and at the same time we have some of these broken heroes coming out of retirement. One of my favorite characters is the Blind King, who used to be the greatest swordsman in Lyrian until the emperor took his sight.
The three Beyonders books are now written. I think the first tells a fun story and introduces the reader to the world of Lyrian and many of the characters we’ll be following. But readers won’t really know where the story is headed until the second installment. Then I’m confident that the third book is the best I have written so far. I’m very eager to see what readers think!
Author Brandon Mull captures the imaginations of readers with his latest masterpiece
"Tales of Newel and Doren: The Gorgon’s Fury." is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook everywhere books are sold
By: The PLACE
Posted 6:25 PM, Mar 21, 2025
Renowned New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull has once again captured the imaginations of readers with his latest masterpiece, "Tales of Newel and Doren: The Gorgon’s Fury."
This highly anticipated novel marks the eleventh installment in the cherished 'Fablehaven' universe, a series that has enchanted fans with its magical landscapes and unforgettable characters.
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Mull's new addition promises to deliver the same spellbinding adventure and heartwarming tales that have made his previous works beloved by readers of all ages.
‘Tales of Newel and Doren: The Gorgon’s Fury,’ the eleventh novel to take
place in the beloved world of ‘Fablehaven,’ is available in hardcover, audio, and
ebook everywhere books are sold.
Visit his website here.
Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King
Brandon Mull
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629724867, $18.99, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com
After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve. Two of the seven dragon sanctuaries have already fallen. Will Wyrmroost be next? Armed with secret information from a new ally, Celebrant seeks a talisman that will guarantee victory in the war against the humans. With a cursed castle and traitorous creatures standing in the way, Kendra and Seth must attempt to foil Celebrant's plan and beat him to his prize. Will the two young caretakers rally enough support from the creatures of Wyrmroost to quell the uprising and protect the world from draconic dominion? One thing is certain - dragons are deadly foes, and one wrong move could bring swift defeat. It will take more than Kendra, Seth, and their current allies have ever given to endure the wrath of the Dragon King. The second volume in author Brandon Mull's 'Dragonwatch' series, "Wrath of the Dragon King" is an entertainingly compelling read from first page to last. Featuring more plot twists and turns than a carnival roller coaster, "Wrath of the Dragon King" is very highly recommended, especially for school and community library Fantasy Adventure Fiction collections for young readers ages 8 to 12. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Wrath of the Dragon King" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.62) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (9781629724904, $34.99, CD).
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King." Children's Bookwatch, Nov. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A565970004/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bc850260. Accessed 10 June 2025.
Champion of the Titan Games
Brandon Mull
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629727882, $19.99, HC, 544pp
https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Titan-Games-Dragonwatch-Brandon/dp/1629727881
The war against dragons intensifies. Will Kendra and Seth find the help they desperately need from the Giant Queen? "Champion of the Titan Games" is fourth book in a five-book series by Brandon Mull and leaves the underwater dragon preserve of Crescent Lagoon for a gladiator-style arena at Titan Valley, the magical realm of towering giants and enslaved dragons. Our two young heroes have never felt so small or faced a challenge so seemingly insurmountable!
While "Champion of the Titan Games" is an especially recommended addition to both middle school and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections for young readers ages 9-12. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "Champion of the Titan Games" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (9781629727936, $39.82).
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Champion of the Titan Games." Children's Bookwatch, Dec. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A648418765/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=19087d24. Accessed 10 June 2025.
Brandon Mull; CARNIVAL QUEST; Shadow Mountain (Fiction: Fantasy) 19.99 ISBN: 9781639930883
Byline: Jeremiah Rood
In Brandon Mull's exciting fantasy novel Carnival Quest, a carnival of terrors has the power to warp a person's dreams.
During the summer before Nate enters the sixth grade at a new school, the Dreams and Screams Carnival comes to town. Soon, its sinister side is revealed: it begins to grow in size, and people begin to disappear. The carnival draws the attention of a group of magical enforcers who are tasked with policing the magicians of the world. But since the carnival limits the entry of adults who practice magic, it's up to Nate and his friends to explore the grounds and report on what they find.
Nate is an excellent hero. He's courageous and a quick thinker, and his outsider status keeps him grounded and approachable. As he and his group explore the mysterious carnival grounds, they're forced to tangle with evil clowns and scheming magicians who are bent on world domination.
The carnival is a wondrous place featuring special tickets and carnie coins that unlock its hidden levels and depths. Nate and his friends hope to gather enough of both to gain entrance to the off-limits sections of the park and find out its real secrets. Against Nate's group stands the Swindler, a huckster who claims to be able to win any game of chance that a contestant suggests, from guessing numbers to board games. He entices people with the promise of the best prizes. Facing him, Nate and his friends struggle to discern what's a dream and what's reality.
Carnival Quest is a fun fantasy novel in which plucky children explore an evil-infused carnival to save the world from its creepy embrace.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Foreword Magazine, Inc.
http://www.forewordmagazine.com
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Rood, Jeremiah. "Carnival Quest; The Candy Shop War: Book 3." ForeWord, 27 Feb. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A739741723/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4a678034. Accessed 10 June 2025.
Mull, Brandon TALES OF NEWEL & DOREN Shadow Mountain (Children's None) $18.99 3, 4 ISBN: 9781639933792
The prospect of earning smartphones as a reward spurs two satyrs onto a quest to rescue Fablehaven from an enraged gorgon in this series opener.
Mull returns to the world of Fablehaven with an adventure aimed at a younger audience featuring goat-footed, TV-obsessed Newel and Doren. The cousins face two crises: The gorgon Grumella has begun turning the hidden preserve's mythical residents to stone in swathes, and unless the two can come up with a truly spectacular prank, they stand to lose the Satyr Games for only the fourth time since the competition's 1711 inception. So, while chucking in a gratifyingly diverse cast of magical beings from a monstrous hydra, hostile goblins, and a lovely unicorn to a pair of grumpy but helpful sisters (one a swamp hag and the other a bog hag), the author sends his hairy heroes from Connecticut to Florida and various magical realms in search of a solution. They undertake inner quests, too; Newell, who frets about becoming "less satirical" and more "humanly" from all the contact with the outside world, receives savvy character-building advice from an eldritch doll. Existing fans will enjoy this action-packed story that works equally well as an introduction to Fablehaven. The small human cast is minimally described and largely racially ambiguous. Final art not seen.
A fast-paced, literally satirical spinoff. (discussion questions)(Fantasy. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Mull, Brandon: TALES OF NEWEL & DOREN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A821608481/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d796ef19. Accessed 10 June 2025.
Brandon Mull; THE GORGON'S FURY; Shadow Mountain Publishing (Fiction: Fantasy) 17.99 ISBN: 9781639933792
Byline: Katy Keffer
In Brandon Mull's exciting fantasy novel The Gorgon's Fury, adventurers work to save a magical kingdom.
Newel and Doren are satyr cousins who are determined to win the annual Satyr Games. In addition to their competitive foes Barrett and Hoff, they face a fierce enemy in a gorgon roaming Fablehaven who petrifies all who meet her gaze. Newel and Doren travel from their haven in Connecticut to the Florida marshlands and the ocean to learn how to defeat the gorgon.
Fablehaven's mythological inhabitants include dryads, fairies, golem, ogres, and trolls, set within fantastical setting: "the leaves of the overarching trees filtered the sunlight onto a few dappled patches. A silver fairy played among some irises blossoming nearby." But the world also includes modern elements like smartphones and the internet. Indeed, in this daring coming-of-age narrative, Newel and Doren talk and act like normal teenagers. They show a propensity for human technology and mortal amenities even as they worry about losing their sense of satyr identity. Their desire to be honest and responsible on their mission and to protect their homeland results in depth.
Moving with urgency through the cousins' suspenseful explorations, the chapters build on each other well. Black-and-white line drawings complement the story's action, as with images of characters playing clobber ball and evading goblins' arrows. Each chapter introduces new characters who share clues to usher Newel and Doren along on their quest. While a binding thread between the boys and a bog hag remains unresolved, it introduces a possible follow-up escapade with the satyr cousins. An eleven-page reading guide promotes further discussions of themes like maturity and rivalry.
A magical quest with themes of responsibility and accountability, The Gorgon's Fury is an engrossing fantasy novel in which satyrs hope to save their home.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Foreword Magazine, Inc.
http://www.forewordmagazine.com
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Keffer, Katy. "The Gorgon's Fury; Tales of Newel and Doren: A Fablehaven Adventure." ForeWord, 17 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828616602/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cc6ab1b0. Accessed 10 June 2025.