THE ADVENTURER’S GUIDE TO DRAGONWATCH, by Brandon Mull, Shadow Mountain, Oct. 1, 2024, Hardcover, $27.99 (ages 9-12)
The Adventurer’s Guide to Dragonwatch, by Brandon Mull and Brandon Dorman, takes fans of the series deep inside the world they’ve come to love.
Welcome to the guild of dragonwatch.
Millions of Fablehaven fans will be eager to examine this illustrated field guide and learn what dragon slayers and other members of Dragonwatch have known for centuries.
Many adventurers risked their lives gathering the information found within this one-of-a-kind book—a compendium of the most dangerous mythical and magical creatures around the world, including invaluable illustrations that reveal for the first time what these creatures actually look like.
You will learn secrets of the magical realms, including the history of the five great monarchs: The Underking, the Fairy Queen, the Demon King, the Giant Queen, and the Dragon King. In addition, you will learn about the priceless stone called the Ethergem that powered the five crowns of the monarchs.
By the end of the book, you will know more about dragons and giants (and a host of other mythical creatures) than your average dungeon master. Make yourself familiar with an invaluable study of magical items and artifacts, including the five legendary swords, never-before-revealed in any other publication known to man or woman. This information alone is worth all the gold in your pockets.
In addition, you will find a personal letter from the world’s greatest adventurer, Patton Burgess. Take heed to what he has to say, and you may live to the ripe age of sixteen.
You are now part of a consortium of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who risked everything to free the world from the tyrannical rule of dragons. A word to the wise: If you are being hunted by a dragon, no stronghold or castle will hide you for long. The best way to survive a dragon is not defense, it is offense. Use the information inside this book and go forth and hunt! —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain
The Adventurer’s Guide to Dragonwatch is written for “student(s) of dragons and the creatures that coexist with them across diverse sanctuaries.” It’s a compendium designed to help “Dragonwatch operatives who are devoted to understanding and protecting these complex and enchanting communities.
In other words, it’s a companion to Brandon Mull’s popular Dragonwatch series, which builds on his equally as popular Fablehaven series. Now, even if you haven’t read these series, The Adventurer’s Guide to Dragonwatch is still enjoyable — the imagination is spectacular — but you’ll enjoy it even more reading it in context with its predecessors.
Mull has crafted and encyclopedia of sorts that can be read cover-to-cover or bouncing from place to place. The book is organized into alphabetically ordered chapters with alphabetically ordered topics inside. An extensive index at the end also allows for quick searches.
Equally as impressive are Brandon Dorman’s detailed illustrations that are worth paging through the book on their own.
The Adventurer’s Guide to Dragonwatch is an impressive collection that would make a fantastic gift for fans of the series.
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