• Fablehaven, Book 1

  • By: Brandon Mull
  • Narrated by: E. B. Stevens
  • Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (5,512 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Fablehaven, Book 1  By  cover art

Fablehaven, Book 1

By: Brandon Mull
Narrated by: E. B. Stevens
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.96

Buy for $13.96

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite...

Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

©2006 Brandon Mull (P)2006 Shadow Mountain

Critic reviews

"The dialogue snaps and sizzles... Like Harry Potter, Fablehaven can be read aloud in a family with as much pleasure for grownups as for children... Do yourself a favor, and don't miss the first novel by a writer who is clearly going to be a major figure in popular fantasy." (Orson Scott Card, New York Times Bestselling Author)
"Imagination runs wild in Fablehaven. It is a lucky book that can hold this kind of story." (Obert Skye, Author of Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo)

What listeners say about Fablehaven, Book 1

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,052
  • 4 Stars
    920
  • 3 Stars
    345
  • 2 Stars
    98
  • 1 Stars
    97
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,937
  • 4 Stars
    895
  • 3 Stars
    490
  • 2 Stars
    224
  • 1 Stars
    256
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,774
  • 4 Stars
    677
  • 3 Stars
    256
  • 2 Stars
    59
  • 1 Stars
    54

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fablehaven deserves a better narrator!

What did you like best about Fablehaven, Book 1? What did you like least?

I love Brandon Mull. His books are great for kids and adults. I was thrilled when the Fablehaven series was added to audible. My consumption of books is primarily through audiobooks these days. Only my love of this series got me through the terrible narration. Not every book can be narrated by Jim Dale, but this series deserves better!

What did you like best about this story?

I like the juxtaposition of drama and comedy. Seth and the satyrs are my favorites!

Would you be willing to try another one of E. B. Stevens’s performances?

No.

Was Fablehaven, Book 1 worth the listening time?

Barely. I am so glad that I was not introduced to this series via this audio recording!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

98 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story! Mediocre juvenile performance.

If you could sum up Fablehaven, Book 1 in three words, what would they be?

Great Magical story.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It was performed like he was reading to kindergardeners. Over dramatic and too high pitched at times. I also did not like the music in the background when the reading started of a new chapter. Sometimes the music did not even fit the title of the chapter or the situation at hand.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

61 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Couldn't Get Passed The Narrator!

Would you try another book from Brandon Mull and/or E. B. Stevens?

I'm not sure because I couldn't actually listen to the whole book. If EB Stevens is narrating, Absolutely Not!!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I felt like a kindergartner, sitting on a rug, while the librarian read s-l-o-w-l-y and clearly to me. It dragged on and on and on. I'm not sure that would have been the case if the story had just been read at a normal pace.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably

Any additional comments?

I wanted to hear this book because it was one of my daughters favorites. Even she couldn't stand to listen to it as it was read. Don't they do screenings of a chapter or two before they release an entire audio book? I don't seem to be the only one with this opinion, and I will ALWAYS read the reviews before I buy a book in the future!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

50 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Top 10 this year

The whole series is magical and easy to find yourself immersed in
The voice actor is amazing! more credits audibledealscom Wish the would make a tv show with these.
I prefer it at 1.4 speed overall great book loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

49 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Z
  • 07-15-14

Narration is AWFUL!!!!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

If everything is (vocally) in italics, bold, caps, and underlined, nothing will stand out. Every sentence is uttered with breathless surprise and awe by this reader, and it's excrutiating to listen to. I abandoned the audio book in chapter 3 and just read the book. So horribly bad.

Would you be willing to try another one of E. B. Stevens’s performances?

Absolutely not. I will be checking every audio book I buy in the future to ensure it's NOT E. B. Stevens.

Was Fablehaven, Book 1 worth the listening time?

The story, yes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

48 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story but worst narration.

Would you try another book from Brandon Mull and/or E. B. Stevens?

Quite liked the story but couldnt get past chapter 7 as the narrator made the story grindingly boring and tedious

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As said above I think this would be a great series except for the narration. It was so bad that I have returned the book to Audible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Awful narration

This story might be good, but it's hard to tell because of the horrendous narration. I'm going to try reading the second book rather than listening to it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

MOST ANNOYING NARRATOR I'VE EVER HEARD !

Would you try another book from Brandon Mull and/or E. B. Stevens?

NEVER ANOTHER BOOK BY THIS NARRATOR

What didn’t you like about E. B. Stevens’s performance?

WHERE TO BEGIN - NARRATOR USES DIFFERENT DEGREES OF RASPINESS FOR THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS. THAT'S IT - A ONE TRICK PONY. AND THE OVER ENTHUSIASTIC RASPY DELIVERY OF CHARACTER 'SETH' WHERE EVERY (AND I MEAN EVERY) WORD HE UTTERED SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS AMPED UP ON SOMETHING ACTUALLY MADE WISH HE'D JUST DIE SOMEHOW SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM ANYMORE.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

IN THE END I JUST GOT MORE AND MORE UPSET AND GAVE UP. THE NARRATION JUST WAS TOO ANNOYING AND MADE ME TOO ANGRY TO LISTEN.
I'VE BEEN AN AUDIBLE MEMBER SINCE 2006 AND HAVE LISTENED TO 100'S OF BOOKS AND HAVE NEVER HATED ONE AS MUCH AS THIS ONE.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • CL
  • 10-22-13

Good story line - narrated for 5 year olds

I love "good for grown-ups too" kids fantasy. This could have been one of them except for the narration. It's very rare for me not to finish a book, however, after four attempts to get comfortable with the juvenile cadence and voice inflections, I threw in the towel at chapter 4. Too bad. The premise is interesting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, would have preferre a different read.

Would you listen to Fablehaven, Book 1 again? Why?

Love the story. Read all the books several times in print. Love being to listen to them on the go.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Yes. Me, and my older kids were turned off by the reader. Felt like an adult talking to a two year old.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

22 people found this helpful