A World Without Heroes: Beyonders, Book 1

This book is just okay, but as Brandon Mull improved on Fablehaven, he seems to start over on this book. The book is well written, but the violence takes away from the story. It is reared for young readers, but the action may be scary or inapropriate for younger readers. The story tells of a boy named Jason who is transported (Riordan style) and finds himself in a new world, where a fierce leader rules, a cruel evil king, who's only weakness is a six sylibol word that may defeat him. Jason decides he will save the world and destroy the king. He meets another Beyonder named Rachel. The two join forces to end the reign of the evil wizard. The violence is violent and confusing. A book that is bound by human skin, a evil wizard who totures people. Characters can detach there body parts and re-atach them are present and are noted to may have a big part in the sequel. The gross part is that they are desrcibed to have sacks attached to the back of there heads, which is strange. Dogs devour people, and people are brutally deformed. A dog is snipped in half, gross and sad. The main character is attacked by a snake that injects poison. Characters eat themselves dead, and frogs are hacked to pieces. A berry makes people keep on eating them until they die. It is noted that some poisons in the world have drug-related reaction to people. Overall the book was good, but was very disappointing, I was expecting more. The writing was good, but as always, there is room for improvement. Good luck Mull, on your next adventure in this strange world.

I disagree with the other reviews on this stating that there is too much violence. It's nothing more than what you would see on Saturday Morning Cartoons if it were described in words. While I am an older reader (23 - I know, what business do I have reading a YA novel? All Business, that's what.....and yes, I watch Saturday Morning cartoons...) I truly think this book would benefit the YA audience. We want to branch out and show our kids how the world is by skimming just the top. That's this book. (No, I'm not suggesting your child will fight a giant crab or have a back-stabbing friend that can remove it's limbs and head....) The writing style is different from "Fablehaven", it has basically evolved. While I liked "Fablehaven", this was an overall exciting page turner that I did not want to put down and did not want it to end. I truly loved the new races of characters added to this book, particularly Jasher's race that has a sort of spiritual/worldly significance. I also loved the displacers. I truly think they will have much more of an impact in the next book, but they are a race that is because that's what they are perceived to be. I'm 'getting used' to main characters with both a male and female lead role, and this one works out very well. I usually prefer one or the other, but not in this case (: Every word is carefully crafted and propels you into it's broken world of old coupled evil wizardry. Again, our Assistant Pig-Keeper is called on upon to perform tasks we are woefully unprepared for. ( "The Prydain Chronicles" - Lloyd Alexander.) [No, I'm not saying Jason/Rachel are Assistant Pig Keepers, yet they do resemble the lovable Taran.] And Who doesn't love normal-seeming protagonists destined to a duty he/she never thought himself/herself capable of? And yet, this book is truly a stand-a-lone. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant, Mr. Mull. I cannot wait for the next release.

It's good book in its own way and leaves you at a cliff hanger. There is that issue of how Jason got the other world and what he does to the band about to fall off a waterfall (spoiler). He becomes a lord and starts gambling. At one point he is granted sanctuary and there is a lot of drugs at the eternal feast where the people are so addicted they can't even leave.