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A World Without Heroes

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
Jason tumbles into a quest to save a magical in this #1 New York Times bestselling start to Brandon Mull's Beyonders fantasy series.
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.
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from January 31, 2011
      Mull (the Fablehaven series) launches the Beyonders trilogy with a dark tale that updates classic tropes with solid contemporary characters. Thirteen-year-old Jason is transported (via hippopotamus gullet, no less) from Colorado to Lyrian, a magical world ruled by the despotic sorcerer Maldor. After witnessing some horrific deaths and learning the history of Lyrian, Jason discovers that his quest to return home might be impossible without defeating Maldor, which can only be done by finding the syllables of a long-lost magic word that erases itself from the memory of those who utter it. He's given this task by the Blind King, the last man to discover the word, who also introduces him to Rachel, another refugee from Earth. Mull throws some magical creatures—including a race that can be dismembered and still live—and plenty of challenges at Jason and Rachel, who must use their wits to survive. Death and betrayal often dominate the plot, but Mull moves his story at a brisk pace, preventing the tragedies from overwhelming the adventure, while offering ample action and feisty dialogue to keep fantasy lovers entertained. Ages 8–12.

    • School Library Journal

      March 1, 2011

      Gr 5-8-Jason Walker is a typical 13-year-old, doing his best to fit in with friends in Vista, CO. His internship at a local zoo puts him in close contact with wild animals. Unbeknownst to him, the zoo contains a portal in the hippopotamus tank. One day, the portal, exuding whimsical music, lures him in, and Jason is immediately transported to a new world called Lyrian. In this epic tale that's filled with adventure on every page turn, Jason initially tries desperately to discover a way to get home to his parents and his previous life, but as his journey continues, he finds himself drawn into the political unrest of an empire ruled by a powerful and sinister wizard. Tortured and neglected members of society hope Jason will be their hero and save them from Maldor. The teen befriends the desperate citizens of Lyrian and commits to taking down the evil emperor. Jason's journey will require readers to think hard about life's unpredictable nature and the difficult decisions that must be made. It also touches on finding trust in others and the importance of asking for help. While there are a few places where readers need a little more detail between one scene and the next, this book is highly recommended for those fantasy-hungry readers who frequent the stacks.-Kathryn Kennedy, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

      Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
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Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.1
  • Lexile® Measure:710
  • Interest Level:6-12(MG+)
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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