The Gorgon's Fury
Tales of Newel and Doren: A Fablehaven Adventure
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.
Reviewed by
Katy Keffer
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