Fablehaven

Fablehaven

BOOK ONE OF THE BELOVED FABLEHAVEN SERIES—OVER 3.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD! AND DON’T MISS FORBIDDEN MOUNTAIN, THE START OF BRANDON MULL’S NEW GUARDIANS SERIES! Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the beloved worldwide phenomenon of Fablehaven. In this New York Times bestselling series, two siblings inherit a hidden sanctuary for magical creatures and must race against the clock to protect it from looming dangers. For centuries, mystical creatures of all kinds have found a home in Fablehaven, a hidden home where they are protected from extinction. The sanctuary is one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite . . . Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, powerful forces of evil are unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives, to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world. Don’t forget to drink the milk. And definitely don’t miss any of Brandon Mull’s bestselling FABLEHAVEN and DRAGONWATCH books: Fablehaven • Rise of the Evening Star • Grip of the Shadow Plague • Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary • Keys to the Demon Prison Dragonwatch • Wrath of the Dragon King • Master of the Phantom Isle • Champion of the Titan Games • Return of the Dragon Slayers PLUS! The Gorgon’s Fury: Tales of Newel and Doren: A Fablehaven Adventure Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fablehaven and many other series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys pacing, popping bubble wrap, and squeezing stress toys. He lives in Utah with his wife Erlyn, their eleven kids, and three mischievous cats. Chapter One A Mandatory ­Vacation Kendra stared out the side window of the SUV, watching foliage blur past. When the flurry of motion became too much, she looked up ahead and fixed her gaze on a particular tree, following it as it slowly approached, streaked past, and then gradually receded behind ­her. Was life like that? You could look ahead to the future or back at the past, but the present moved too quickly to absorb. Maybe sometimes. Not today. Today they were driving along an endless ­two-­lane highway through the forested hills of ­Connecticut. “Why didn’t you tell us Grandpa Sorenson lived in India?” Seth ­complained. Her brother was eleven and heading into sixth grade. He had grown weary of his handheld video game—­evidence that they were on a truly epic ­drive. Mom twisted to face the backseat. “It won’t be much longer. Enjoy the scenery.” “I’m hungry,” Seth ­said. Mom started rummaging through a grocery bag full of snack food. “Peanut butter and crackers?” Seth reached forward for the crackers. Dad, driving, asked for some Almond Roca. Last Christmas he had decided that Almond Roca was his favorite candy and that he should have some on hand all year long. Nearly six months later he was still honoring his ­resolution. “Do you want anything, Kendra?” “I’m fine.” Kendra returned her attention to the frantic parade of trees. Her parents were leaving on a ­seventeen-­day Scandinavian cruise with all the aunts and uncles on her mother’s side. They were all going for free. Not because they’d won a contest. They were going on a cruise because Kendra’s grandparents had ­asphyxiated. Grandma and Grandpa Larsen had been visiting relatives in South Carolina. The relatives lived in a trailer. The trailer had some sort of malfunction involving a gas leak, and they all died in their sleep. Long ago, Grandma and Grandpa Larsen had specified that when they died, all their children and their spouses were to use an allocated sum of money to go on a Scandinavian ­cruise. The grandchildren were not ­invited. “Won’t you get bored stuck on a boat for seventeen days?” Kendra ­asked. Dad glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “The food is supposed to be incredible. Snails, fish eggs, the works.” “We’re not all that thrilled about the trip,” Mom said sadly. “I don’t think your grandparents envisioned an accidental death when they made this request. But we’ll make the best of it.” “The ship stops in ports as you go,” Dad said, deliberately redirecting the conversation. “You get to disembark for part of the time.” “Is this car ride going to last seventeen days?” Seth ­asked. “We’re nearly there,” Dad ­said. “Do we have to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson?” asked ­Kendra. “It’ll be fun,” Dad said. “You should feel honored. They almost never invite anyone to stay with them.” “Exactly. We barely know them. They’re hermits.” “Well, they were my parents,” Dad said. “Somehow I survived.” The road stopped winding through forested hills as it passed through a town. They idled at a stoplight, and Kendra stared at an overweight woman gassi