A World Without Heroes (Beyonders, #1) in Mock Newbery 2026

Mar 28, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: signed, 2011-100-book-challenge, books-i-own

4.5 stars
I reviewed for Mundie Kids-

A World Without Heros takes readers to an incredible, mesmerizing world for an epic adventure and introduces them to some fantastic, unforgettable characters.

I wish I had a fraction of the imagination talent Brandon Mull has. Beyonders takes world building to a whole new level. I've not read anything quite like this before. It's world full of possibilities, danger, adventure and a place where choices determine your outcome. Aside from the characters, one of t ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Claire Caterer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade-gems

I really want to go with 3.5 stars for this book. The beginning was slow for me, which was at least partly due to the fact that I was under a deadline and had little time to devote to reading when I started it. I hate reading a book in 10- or 15-minute increments. That being said, I found myself dozing off every time I read it (OK, yes, I was tired, too). But around the halfway point, I was hooked into the story and read through the last 100 pages very quickly.

I enjoyed the character of Jason, t I really want to go with 3.5 stars for this book. The beginning was slow for me, which was at least partly due to the fact that I was under a deadline and had little time to devote to reading when I started it. I hate reading a book in 10- or 15-minute increments. That being said, I found myself dozing off every time I read it (OK, yes, I was tired, too). But around the halfway point, I was hooked into the story and read through the last 100 pages very quickly.

I enjoyed the character of Jason, the 13-year-old hero who finds himself in the magical country of Lyrian after falling through the mouth of a hippo (just go with it). He soon finds that Lyrian is ruled by an evil wizard called Maldor who can be undone only by the utterance of a super-secret word. Jason's job is to hunt down the individual syllables of the word. On his quest, he meets Rachel, another "Beyonder" (aka Our World-er), and the two of them pursue the word together. The action progresses fairly slowly for a while, as I say.

One thing that bothered me about the book is the Rachel character. This book is predominantly from Jason's POV; I accept that. But Rachel, aside from a too-lengthy argument over which of them is going to take a particular risk, often fades into the background. In this patriarchal world, she's not allowed to do a lot of the things Jason is and so is stuck wringing her hands, unable to help him. That seems dated and wearisome. And quite suddenly, Rachel gets her own POV chapter (or two, I can't remember) when she braves a sulfurous lake to find one of the Word's syllables. Actually, that's probably when the book got more interesting, come to think of it. Rachel's POV is promptly abandoned for the rest of the book, which is too bad. I'd like to see more of her. Yeah, I'm a girl, I get it, but I don't mind boy-centric stories. I'd just like to see my gender better represented, is all, especially when Rachel is purported to be an equal partner in this adventure.

Still and all, the story is exciting and there are some satisfying unexpected twists. I'm interested in reading the Fablehaven series, and I would like to read more of this series, though maybe not right away. I think boys ages 9+ will enjoy this book more than girls, but then again, I am a girl, as previously disclaimed. ...more

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Jul 04, 2013 Cheryl Meibos rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 5th-graders, 6th-graders, young-adult

It felt like a cross between Narnia and The DaVinci Code. The kids fall into another world seemingly somewhat accidentally, then they have to work together and find out how to save the people from the evil emperor and return to their former world using their luck and their wits.

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Jul 13, 2011 Jayanne rated it liked it

Shelves: teen, middle-school

I was easily distracted away from the book - which is bad. However, I didn't figure out what was happening - which is good. I don't know if I'll remember enough details when the next book comes out next spring. ...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Anna rated it really liked it

I liked this book even better than Fablehaven, and I really liked that series! I love the creative characters, the plot twists, fun dialogue, and the reflection on what makes a hero.

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Aug 30, 2011 Susan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: teen-fiction, teen-fiction-fantasy-sci-fi

What a great book! The main character was way too mature, responsible, brave, etc for a young teen, but I was willing to suspend reality for a good adventure tale.

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May 16, 2011 Jess marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: juv, fantasy, bookgroup-kids

I got through a few chapters before the bookgroup met, but didn't like it enough to finish. It seemed like a good match for fantasy fans who aren't bothered by stilted language and just want lots of excitement. ...more

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Jun 26, 2014 Jess rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: juv, audiobook, fantasy, bookgroup-kids

I found this easier going on audio (the narrator helped) than I did several years ago when I tried it in print. I still think it's bloated, and the main character is underdeveloped in addition to not being believable as a young teen. The focus is definitely on plot - lots of adventures strung together into a story with an anticlimactic ending. ...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Michele rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, juvenile-8-12

Entertaining, but nowhere near as good as his Fablehaven series. I just felt like he showed no restraint in his use of plot elements so reading it was almost like being bombarded by a fantasy writing syllabus. It got to be a bit excessive so by the end I was ready to be done. That being said, I am curious enough that I'll eventually pick up the rest of the series. ...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Brandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, tweener

I wish I had more time to write reviews. Maybe when I get to Vegas and have no friends, I will sit down and write reviews for the books I have read the past few months.

This book was good and I can't wait to read the next one ...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Ariell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, fiction, read-with-kids, sci-fi-fantasy, ya, fiction-lds-author, suspense, audio-books, books-read-in-2014

My children and I just listened to this on the audiobook. We loved it. I don't know if I would have done as well reading it. But listening to it made it a nice easy read. The narrator does a great job too. ...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Kristen Jorgensen rated it liked it

I liked it. The Beyonders has potential to be good. If Fablehaven is any kind of guide, Brandon Mulls second book in the series has a possibility of being better than the first.

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Sep 20, 2011 Kate Hastings added it

Shelves: fantasy, middle-school, jfic-middle-grades-4-6, boys

RL 710. recommended best books for boys. for kids who like percy jackson, gregor the overlander, etc. I tried to read this twice and could not get into it. Fablehaven is better.

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