Tween Tuesday: The Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

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4 super satisfying sugar coated ginger cookies.

Cover Love: There are two covers out for this book, the one on the left and one with a crown. I actually like the one with the crown better, but this one fits the tone of the book really well.

Why I Wanted To Read This Book:
A new series by Brandon Mull? Sign me up! I adored Fablehaven and believe it is one of the best fantasy middle grade series ever. I couldn't wait for this one! Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

Jason Walker has often wished his life could be less predictable—until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank into a strange, imperiled world. Lyrian holds dangers and challenges unlike anyplace Jason has ever known. The people all live in fear of their malicious wizard emperor, Maldor. The brave resistors who once opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail. In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

I Kept Reading Because: It's Brandon Mull and I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was a slow starting book, but that could also be because I was reading a few other books at the same time. Once I got into the story I couldnt' put it down. I read the last 2/3 on a road trip and just raced through it!

Romance?: Nope. But a tiny hint?

What I Liked (& Didn't):
I LOVED Jason. Great male protagonist. Pure hearted, slight temper, steady. He was awesome.

I liked Rachel a lot, but we really didn't get into the meat of her character.

As much as I hate how the book ended I loved how the book ended because it sets up the next book for us really well. I hope that Jason is still the main character, but I have a feeling that the next book will be more about Rachel (kind of like how Seth became a bigger and bigger character in Fablehaven as that series went on).

I liked that alternate world Brandon Mull created, a lot of really interesting characters and creatures. That man has quite the imagination.

There was good action and the book moved along swiftly. I liked how sometimes there was a tiny time jump, like "after riding for three days," (not a direct quote) instead of laboring on about how hard the riding was for three days. It made the story move a bit quicker I felt.

What I Would Like To See:
Well, the romantic in me would like to see Rachel and Jason end up together. I want to see a major change in Lyria and I want the Blind King to get his kingdom back! I also want more Jasher.

To Sum Up:
A great start to another winning series from Brandon Mull. One that will be an easy sell to middle grade readers!

Book received from Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab program.