Book Chop: Fablehaven #5

Title: Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison
Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy
Verdict: A thorough success

This is the final book in the Fablehaven series. I posted my Chop a year ago, and you can read it here. Much like my Maze Runner Chop, I'm not going to talk much about the actual book. I'd only be describing the feel of the series, and already did that in the original Chop. I don't want to give away plot points. So instead I'll talk about the launch party.

About the book itself, it was a very worthy conclusion to an entertaining and imaginative series. The characters were consistent while still learning new things and growing personally. Mull tied up pretty much all of the loose ends in the series and brought everything together nicely. He created a few openings to write another Fablehaven series later if he decides to--for now he's made it clear that he's glad it's over and wants to work on other stuff. But yeah, Keys to the Demon Prison had plenty of stuff in it to keep your attention.

The launch party was a blast. They've held it in a theater at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake for the last three years, and I've had the chance to go to the parties for books 3-5. Usually they have a little song-and-dance number, some funny skits from DC Comedy (Mull wrote sketches for them in college), a few games and giveaways, and then Brandon will talk for a few minutes about his books before he sits down to sign for a couple of hours.

Last year's party for book 4 was kind of kiddish, so I just read while the shindig happened around me until it came time to sign. This year they stepped it up a bit, so it was enjoyable for the kids and adults alike. The skits they did were pretty funny: they had one where they brought the Quiet Box on stage and were deciding who to lock inside it. They had a choice between Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Percy Jackson, Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games), and the kid from Diary of Wimpy Kid. While they argued, each presented their case--for example, Percy thought they should play Capture the Flag, while Katniss suggested they all just fight to the death. In the end, Percy shoved the Wimpy Kid inside, and in the process he freed Jack Sparrow. (The guy who played Sparrow did a good job too).

The best part, in my opinion, was a follow-up to a December news snippet you might have heard of. There was a kid in Texas named Chase who was basically dying from cystic fibrosis. He was a fan of the series, and the general prognosis was that he probably wouldn't live until the fifth book came out. Mull heard about it and called the kid up, then told him the entire plot of book 5 under the condition that he keep it a secret. It was a very touching story for all involved, and it made me proud to support an author who cares that much about his readers.

Well, after getting the call, the kid Chase started to feel a lot better. He hasn't recovered completely, but he's off the respirators and was even able to come to the event in Salt Lake, where Mull pulled him up on stage and made him an honorary member of the Knights of Dawn. Everybody gave them a standing ovation, and one well-deserved.

Other authors were at the event, including Shannon Hale and James Dashner (I didn't get to sit with him this year though.) As I waited in line to get my book signed, I talked to the people ahead of me and we had a cool convo about books we like. I just love talking about books. It seems simplistic, but I don't care. It's fulfilling. Maybe someday my work can help a sick kid find wholesome escapism. That'd be beautiful.

So yeah, got my book signed, then called it a night. Great party.

Brandon Mull's next series, The Beyonders, comes out in a year, and there will also be a sequel to The Candy Shop War coming soon, entitled The Arcadeland Catastrophe. Keep your eyes peeled.