Review of A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

Release Date: March 15, 2011
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 464 pages
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC from Publisher

Goodreads Summary: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who 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.

Review: Even though I have heard great things about his Fablehaven series, this is my first book by Brandon Mull so I was not sure what to expect. The story starts out a bit slow and I was tempted to stop reading, but it picks up fantastically in the middle and continues that fast pace until the end. I am so happy I gave it a chance. This is a fun, action packed adventure that would appeal to both boys and girls and especially to reluctant readers.

Both Jason and Rachel’s characters are well developed, smart, brave and resourceful. The secondary characters are equally well developed and so very interesting. Mull’s world building in amazing! As I read the book, I could really picture Lyrian.

There are several fight scenes, some with fatalities, so if you have a younger reader, you may want to be aware of this. While there is fighting and violence, the book is not gory.

Even though I am recommending this book to a tween and teen audience, I am an adult and I loved it! The story does ends with a cliffhanger, and I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel coming out next year.

Quick comment about the cover. I received the book as an electronic ARC so could not fully appreciate the cool holographic cover until I saw it in Barnes and Noble this weekend. It adds so much to the magic of the story!

Content:  Violence