Seeds of Rebellion: Beyonders, Book 2 Book Poster Image

Seeds of Rebellion: Beyonders, Book 2

age 10+
(i)

 

Fun for fans of the first, but still overlong, violent.
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What parents need to know

Educational value

The main characters continue the hero's journey started in the first Beyonders book, of which there are many examples in literature. Readers can look for similarities between the heroes in this book and Odysseus in Homer's The Odyssey, Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, etc. ... Check out the listing in Wikipedia on "Monomyth" or books by Joseph Campbell to explore further.

Positive messages

Bravery and opposition to evil are still at the heart of the series. Seeds of Rebellion also talks at length about when to stand by and when to fight against oppressors; when is violent struggle the only option? Also, a character who's played the spy his whole life is trusted on conditions; this leads to many discussions about whom to trust and what makes people trust others.

Positive role models

Jason has a chance to stay in his own world but comes back for Rachel and for what he now considers is his struggle against Maldor, too. Rachel discovers a great talent for magic and uses it bravely. They both have capable mentors in this world, teaching them magic and swordsmanship and working to keep them safe.

Violence

The biggest ick factor: a disease that has wiped out a whole community with worms that take over the body and turn people into walking dead. Hundreds of zombies fight against Jason and his cohorts. Some traveling companions die there, another gets blown off a cliff, a few more are killed in fights against soldiers using arrows and swords, another gets dragged under water in a swamp by giant beings with tentacles (there's much hacking of tentacles to keep everyone else safe). A being called a Lurker follows Jason traveling alone and gives him horrible nightmares, mostly scenarios involving his own demise. Giants trap Jason and want to eat him. Explosives kill soldiers on a bridge and are used in other fights. An ear that was attached unknowingly to spy on Jason's group is taken off (details aren't given); parts of a being called a Displacer are removed and reattached; and Galloran gets mismatched eyes attached (procedure also not described). A few sword fights against pursuers; in one, they're outnumbered, and they "fight dirty" by also attacking the horses. References to one character being tortured for years in the enemy's prison and Galloran and Jason remembering their torture (Jason was tortured in the first book, A World Without Heroes).

Sex

Mild, playful flirting and discussion that Corinne is very good looking.

Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

A comment that someone must have eaten their Wheaties.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Aram spends years working as a bouncer in a nightclub.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that despite the publisher's recommended age of 8 to 12, this Beyonders sequel to A World Without Heroes continues to be more in-depth and a bit more violent than much middle-grade fantasy. Kids 10 to 14 will better appreciate Seeds of Rebellion's complex world, with many characters and new types of beings to keep track of, as well as the author's musings on bravery, trust, and when to stand up and fight. Older tweens and teens are also better prepared for the frequent battles, the death of good characters (by many violent means), and the ick factor of a disease where worms take over your body and turn you into the walking dead (the good guys have to fight hundreds of these zombies at once). The two teens from Earth caught up in this world, Jason and Rachel, continue to be solid, heroic characters; Rachel even discovers a talent for magic that saves the day a few times.

What's the story?

Jason can't stand twiddling his thumbs on Earth anymore. He's determined to get back to Lyrian, and luckily for him (and pretty freakily for some zoo patrons), climbing back into a portal in a hippo's mouth does the trick. He's in Lyrian to find Rachel -- his fellow Beyonder who's still stranded -- and is in serious danger of getting captured again by the dreaded wizard Maldor in the process. Jason needs some help, fast. He finds it in Aram, a half-giant fighting machine, and, surprisingly, in Ferrin, the Displacer who betrayed Jason, then saved him, in the first Beyonders book, A World Without Heroes. A reunion with Rachel is just the start of Jason's adventures, however, when Galloran, the king in hiding, resurfaces and tries to amass any forces he can against Maldor. Galloran takes a delegation to see the Seed People in their stronghold of The Seven Vales. They must be convinced to fight Maldor, or there will be no winning the war against him.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Author Brandon Mull's very fertile imagination is at it again in SEEDS OF REBELLION. The world he creates is a fascinating one, and a whole lot of crazy characters are in play. There are man-eating giants and worm-infested zombies, swamp tentacle creatures, nightmare-inducing shadow beings (lurkers or torivors), giant swamp-dwelling former magicians and manglers (you can guess what they do), and, of course, an evil wizard mastermind with a penchant for torture at the center of it all. You'd think the good guys moving against them were up for a heck of a fight -- and you'd be right.

Things do get exciting and tense -- and occasionally weird and icky with the whole worm-zombie thing. But the biggest problem with Seeds of Rebellion is, in a word, wordiness. Lengthy discussions continually slow down the action. They'd be great for a fan website, but they shouldn't weigh down the story like they do. Every once in a while Mull strikes gold, like when Jason and Ferrin talk about the latter's trustworthiness; it really gets you thinking. But usually it's just too much development. No need to relay the happenings of a conclave start to finish -- just get to the duel, already.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about fantasy books and sequels. How does Seeds of Rebellion hold up against the first in the series, A World Without Heroes? How do you think the author is setting up the story for the big finish?

  • Discuss author Brandon Mull's special brand of magic for this series. How does it compare to other takes on magic?

  • Jason and Ferrin discuss whether Ferrin is trustworthy. Why do you think Jason holds out hope that Ferrin has changed? Would you trust Ferrin?

Book details

Author:Brandon Mull
Genre:Fantasy
Topics:Magic and fantasy, Adventures
Book type:Fiction
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Publication date:March 13, 2012
Number of pages:512
Publisher's recommended age(s):8 - 12

This review of Seeds of Rebellion: Beyonders, Book 2 was written by

Carrie R. Wheadon
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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Teen, 15 years old Written bygilly_boy September 1, 2012
age 10+

Characters are forgetful.

Half-way through the book and I'm tired of it. You can go ahead and hate me but the truth is, it's boring. With Fable haven and the candy shop war, it kept me turning the pages; with this, I just want to be done so I can go on with my life. The world is interesting, but the characters seem... forgettable. Jason seems like the Jason from Heroes of Olympus; no I'm serious, they're always doing the right thing instead of the selfish. I know that doesn't sound like how a hero should but it only makes it more human. I mean once in a while we do tend to give in to our desires. And Rachel, she may be able to do magic (although I find that interesting), but she also bores me. I just see someone that is perfect in every way, which also makes it feel fake. The characters that I find interesting the most would be Ferrin, he was the spy villain that doesn't really understand human physiologic mind that much. You help someone because they are your friend, that part he doesn't fully understand (even though he did it but that's because Jason and Rachel have grown on him). I don't know, I just find him a little more interesting than that other two. Actually, I like the supporting characters more interesting then the main. Only because they seem to have more depth to them (a better background). Maybe it's because they have more of a reason to fight Meldar then the kids. For the main, they didn't ask for this; it's more like dropping the bombshell on them and they find themselves sucked into a fight. Heck, they could leave whenever they want. They didn't have to be involved at all. Again, I don't really see any reason for Jason and Rachel to fight, other then to help their friends get rid of a pest. Wow I'm becoming a critic. And this the longest review I've made. I'm serious though, there is hardly anything I find all that interesting.
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Kid, 11 years old August 13, 2014
age 12+

One of my favorites

The fighting was kind of overdone, but I personally think that it adds flavor to the story. It is a good read and I really enjoyed it. The story was very nice. I look forward to reading the third book!
What other families should know
Great messages
Great role models
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Teen, 15 years old Written byAWESOMESAUZZ May 17, 2015
age 8+

Ok

Alright so I know I'm old to be reading stuff like this but in truth I've always loved the action in children's books and teen books are a little to sexual for me. I really enjoyed this book, though I can see how it can be difficult for youngsters to read but if that have the wits and ambition I think they could do it.
What other families should know
Great messages
Great role models
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