{Put This One on Your TBR List}
Book Review: The Gorgon's
Fury, Book 1: Tales of Newel & Doren (A Fablehaven Adventure) by Brandon
Mull
by Karen S. Wiesner
Beware unintended spoilers!
Brandon Mull's young adult fantasy Fablehaven Series (and the Dragonwatch spinoff) is one I've spoken of often in the past on the Alien Romances Blog, including in a full review. Find out more here: https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/search?q=Fablehaven. This is one of the few series where, every so often, I go looking for updates to see if there are new installments available. A few months ago, I did that and found out the first in a new Fablehaven spinoff was available, released March 2025. This time, instead of focusing on Seth and Kendra, it features the previous series' comic relief in a pair of satyrs.
Newel and Doren have been
spoiled by modern technology and cushy living on the magical creature preserve,
even living in their own cottage. Seth traded batteries with the cousins in
order to procure valuable information or help in the original series. The two
actually become something of heroes in Dragonwatch. I can't be the only one who
sees many similarities between this duo and The
Lord of the Ring's Merry and Pippin.
While both are impulsive rebels, Newel (like Merry) is the braver of the two
and much more straightforward with everything he feels mostly on the surface. Similar
to Pippin, Doren is slightly more awkward than his cousin, more of a thinker,
more nervous and uncertain, and ends up with more regrets. Without a doubt,
both goatmen are trouble, but they're fun and mostly harmless--the very kind of
mischief-makers that make a book and series so charming and action-packed. Also,
sometimes they end up saving the day, to no one's surprise more than their own.
In the first of the "Tales of Newel & Doren" called The Gorgon's Fury, the Fablehaven satyrs are hosting the annual Satyr Games with such events as Dryad Tag, Clobber Ball, and (the epic finale) the Prank War. Newel and Doren seem to win every single year, almost without trying. Yet this year they've got competition in Barrett and Hoff, who not only tie Newel and Doren for first place, leaving only the Prank War (and a wrestling match, if that doesn't do it) to decide the victors, but the pair also have a smartphone they've recorded their epic prank with. For the most part, Stan and Ruth, the caretakers, don't allow creatures to have modern technology--though not for lack of trying on Newel and Doren's part, of course! So where did their rivals get it?
Intent on topping Barret and Hoff's prank, our daring duo decide to talk to the ogre farmer they most love to nick vegetables from, only he's been petrified. Later, they find another satyr in the same stoned condition. They rush to Stan, who tasks the pair with consulting with the swamp hag. She directs them to her sister at Florida's magical sanctuary, who in turn sends them to a very creepy Listening Doll, who's said to possess the power to reveal the antidote for any magical malady. In order to do this, Newel and Doren will have to pass through the forbidden Fairy Realm, drive a vehicle, steer a kayak** through hydra-infested waters, and appear in public when necessary as human, thanks to a magical amulet. Since only one of them can wear it at once and no one would buy that the other is an emotional support goat or seeing eye goat (I love those lines in the book!), their task is none too easy, especially considering that Seth and Kendra's cousins Knox and Tess from previous series' will be accompanying them. For their trouble and provided they're successful, Newel and Doren will be rewarded with their own smartphones. Whatever prank they come up with will live forever in recorded cellular memory.
**While it's hard to know for sure whether it
was the author or the illustrator who didn't know the difference between a
kayak and a canoe, I believe the author was at fault. A kayak has a closed
deck, and that probably wouldn't have worked for the purposes Newel and Doren
use it for in the book. What the artist in one of his wonderful illustrations
drew was clearly a canoe with the open-top design, which is what I believe the
author should have specified instead of a kayak.
You absolutely do not need to be a young adult or middle grade reader to adore all of the Fablehaven books, including this one. What's not to love in this whirlwind tale headed by a lovably familiar pair of rogues who describe themselves so hilariously? Essentially, Newel says this: "We're not ants; we don't build, store, or work (God forbid!). We improvise and freeload. We don't care about karma. We live in the moment, reap what we never sowed, eat what we didn't cook, win without practicing." To which Doren hear-hears with "Let's keep doing that!"
Those who have read the previous series probably remember how large each of the books were. At first sight, The Gorgon's Fury was noticeably smaller. That was by design, according to the author in the acknowledgements included in the back of the book. Mull and his publisher thought shorter books in the new series would lure more young readers into trying it. What a sad commentary on the state of the publishing industry that we're catering to non- or reluctant readers more than to actual readers with our books. Oh, well! I do have to add that I myself was kind of glad this was shorter than all the previous Fablehaven books, most of which were quite the undertaking (but worth it). However, the end of The Gorgon's Fury seemed a little rushed to me.
Good news for lovers of Fablehaven that I have no doubt will resurrect the popular series all over again! A film adaptation was supposed to have started shooting in the summer of 2025, with the movie slated for 2026 release. This series is absolutely made for the screen, so I can hardly wait for it to finally come out.
No word at the time of this writing (July 2025) when the next in this promising new series will arrive or what it'll be about. Stay tuned.
Karen Wiesner is an award-winning,
multi-genre author of over 150 titles and 16 series.
Visit her website and blog here: https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/
and https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/karens-quill-blog
Visit her publisher here: https://www.writers-exchange.com/Karen-Wiesner/
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