Beyonders The Complete Set (Boxed Set): A World Without Heroes; Seeds of Rebellion; Chasing the Prophecy

Beyonders #1-3

by Brandon Mull

Don’t miss any of Jason’s thrilling adventures—get the complete paperback boxed set of the #1 New York Times bestselling Beyonders trilogy.

After falling into a new world called Lyrian, Jason must figure out the clues that piece together an ancient word that could bring down Maldor, the terrifying leader. He is helped with his newfound friend and sidekick, Rachel, who has also stumbled into this strange world. Together, they go on an extraordinary quest to figure out how to become the heroes that Lyrian needs, no matter what the cost.

This epic fantasy trilogy includes all three action-packed titles: A World Without Heroes, Seeds of Rebellion, and Chasing the Prophecy.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Middle Grade, Magic

1456 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2013

About the author

BRANDON MULL is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Dragonwatch, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and three mischievous cats. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

Reviews

[Melissa]

If you loved Fablehaven you will..........not know what to think of this. Haha. What I mean by that is that it is nothing like Mull's fantasy series about fairies and demonic creatures. This is very akin to Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. It's about a normal teen boy who falls into a whole (not following a rabbit with a pocket watch believe it or not) and enters a world that he never knew existed. This world is quite medieval...but not in the past oddly. But the one semi-modern thing they have is magic. Not like bibbity bobity boo magic but real and dangerous magic that is the only way to combat the evil ruler of the world. All this magic comes from one word that he has to search their world and find. He goes through the ringer trying to find it. But by the time he finds it and uses it something happens he was not expecting, something horrible. I won't give it away. It was quite the surprise. Read this. Even though I preferred Fablehaven, this series is just as creative and just as suspenseful. I love how Mull doesn't waste much time on sappy teen romance. You don't find yourself craving it, you actually find yourself craving more action, and mystery. And he definitely gives it to you. You won't be let down!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good!

[Noah Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT!
The Beyonders is a fantasy book that is about a boy name Jason a normal kid that plays baseball for his school, and a rich Girl named Racheal that is homeschooled and is smarter than the average teenager. These two teenagers find themselves trapped in an unknown world.
Jason is swallowed by a magic hippo that somehow leads him to an unkonwn land called Lyrian, and the only way out is to destroy the evil Maldor. Maldor is a tyrant that has controlled Lyrian forever. Along the beginning of his journey he meets Racheal and the Blind King. Jason and Racheal are supposedly supposed to help the cause to destroy Maldor and turn Lyrian back into the peaceful land it once was. Jason later finds out that Racheal also came upon Lyrian by mistake. She was hiking with her family and walked through a stone arch when she suddenly appeared in Lyrian.
Racheal and Jason go on to meet a special people called displacers that work for Maldor as highly skilled spies. They become good friends with a displacer named Ferrin who betrays them but then comes back to help Jason and Racheal.
This book is filled with a mix of people and animals from zombies to elves and magical beings, both good and evil.
I really have liked these two books, there is one more coming out in November, which will be the last one. I highly recommend these books to anyone that wants to read it. It was very entertaining with it’s fights, arguments, and magic.
Again, I recommend this book to anyone. It was very entertaining and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. If you don’t like magic and swords and stuff like that, then I wouldn’t read this but if you do, I hope that you find it as good as I did.

[Matthew Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what they are, middle school age books, they do a good job of giving a story that is fairly complex and mature. Obviously, compared to adult books, they feel very naive and simple, but they aren't really meant to be compared. It is a standard boy and girl get transported to another world and have to become its saviors, especially since no one in that world wants to stand up against the evil magical emperor Maldor, who has killed all the other wizards who might stand up to him. The books flow pretty well, although the second one felt kind of forgettable to me. Ironically, despite the first book being called a world without heroes, there are several characters that are heroic, almost too heroic. Prince Galloran feels like an old blind Aragorn who kept all his sword skills. Personally, I don't really like it when someone, especially some kid, goes to another world and suddenly is declared to be its hero and everyone worships them, even though they don't actually do much (Narnia, Thomas Covenant, etc). The main characters Jason and Rachel go to Lyria, full of magic and warriors, and immediately get sent on a quest to kill the emperor. It would be like some caveman being sent to our time and being enlisted in special ops with an emphasis in computer hacking. Rachel does eventually learn magic, but Jason proves fairly useless, aside from a few bright ideas. By the end, several characters die, but many of them are filler characters that barely get a eulogy when killed. In fact, many are drinlings, who have like a two year life span, so obviously if they die, its not important. It felt kind of callous, in a way. For some reason as well, I didn't really connect with the characters and wasn't that invested in them. And the ending didn't feel as impossible as it was made out to be. But there were some good ideas, like the displacers who can be fully functional while severed from body parts, or the amar who have a seed on their neck and can get planted once they die, resulting in almost immortality. Anyway, if you like young adult fantasy, it is pretty good. If not, you might not become fully invested.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a FANBOY of the Fablehaven quintilogy(?), I was a little anxious about this series. Fablehaven was so vivid, imaginative, and bloody FUN, with a nice dark streak running right through it, how could any other series hope to compare? And so with lowered expectations I marched off to the library and gave it a go. Yet even with lowered expectations, Beyonders #1 seems really generic to me. Yep, there's a dark wizard. Yes, they wear old-timey clothes and there's no technology. You already knew what this world would be before you opened the book. But knowing Mull, you expect there to be some amazing additions to this tired genre, right? I got the sense that for much of the time, Mull expects you to fill in the gaps for a lot of the detail. "They walked a long time and saw some trees and dirt and stuff, and then saw a dilapidated building, and a guy working in some old-timey clothes who looked at them with suspicion." Okay, that's not an actual quote, but at times it seems pretty close. If this were another author, and if this were a stand alone book, I probably would have given this a two star review. Fortunately, there is a second book which is MUCH better and I waited to read it before reviewing this one. I do recommend this series to Fablehaven fans, but if you're new to Mull, you shouldn't start with this one.

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Brandon Mull's Fablehaven Series and was happy to find this other series by accident at the library. Great read, intriguing story line. There were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout this 3 book series that I only wish it had gone on longer! I think there is easily enough material to continue on to at least one more book if the author ever wished to really tie off all loose ends.

[Rachel Wordes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Percy Jackson, this series definitely fits the vibe!

[Eli Simanek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great story, loved the magic aspect.

[Alec S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beyonders; seeds of rebellion
fantasy
483 pages

The seeds of rebellion is the second book in the series "The Beyonders". It is the story of a boy and a girl, Rachel and Jason, who go on a quest to save Lyrian. In the first book Jason and Rachel go and try to find a secret word to destroy Maldor who is an evil emporor. At the end of the book jason says the word in front of Maldor, which was supposed to destroy him, doesn't work. Jason ends up getting captured, and an old friend helping him escape back to earth. Jason gets back to earth but without Rachel, so Jason goes back to Lyrian and tries to save Rachel. In the second book Jason and Rachel are trying to save Galloran the blind king, and all of the sylablle holders. Sylablle holders are chosen people who hold and keep secret a part of The Word throughout Lyrian. They meet with the seed people, zombies and Lurkers.

I really like this book because it has a great plot and I always would want to read it. I think it was a good length at 483 pages because I got really into the book and read it in a few days but it wasnt to short that I could read it in 3 days or less. My favorite part of this book or most memorible was when Galloran fought the lurker and killed it because it was action packed and I couldnt stop reading it. My second favorite part was when they were crawling through a canyon on a ledge that was very high. They were crawling because it was so windy and they couldnt stand up. It was probably my second favorite because it got my heart racing and I was relieved when they got through the canyon even though they had to fight a hoard of angry zombies filled with worms. I really want to read the third book because I love the author Brandon Mull and I think he will have a great third book.

[Weston Kershaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyonders
Book 15
By: Weston Kershaw
At the beginning Jason was working at the zoo and he got swallowed by hippo and went into a different world! He met this Librarian! He read the book that contains the first word to destroying the emperor. So he goes on a journey meets the blind king and he tells him another word. He meets another friend and the journey continues from there.

Jason is like a lumberjack in the woods. Jason is as tricky as a trickster. Jason is like the blind king. Jason is as adventurous as adventure! Jason is as kind as the blind king.

I liked how he got swallowed by hippo and went to new world! I don’t like all of the romance. I like how they have bandits! I like the blind king because he use to find the word than he got his eyesight removed. I like how powerful the emperor is.

[Christian Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyonders is a fantastical otherworld fantasy by Fablehaven author Brandon Mull. In it, we are introduced to several characters who have been transported via various means from their world to another world in order to defeat a dark lord and make his way home. Standard concept, but the journey towards that end is phenomenal.

The world is fairly well crafted and I enjoyed it as much if not more than I did Fablehaven, and more than I did his Five Kingdoms series. There are blind swordsmen, zombie ridden wastes, a new twist to the classical elves concept, and a bunch of other ideas, new, tweaked, or old, present within these stories.

Content Warning:
Standard fantasy action and violence, death, sacrifice, sorrow.

[Joshua Yuen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that these books were really really good. They are unique, creative and witty. I like the dystopian feel, and the deep history of the past. The characters are memorable and complex, and have unique personalities. The host of supporting characters are also so unique and memorable, with everyone from the Drinlings to the Displacers. The plot was great, with just enough plot twists, and I liked how volatile and unpredictable the plot was. I liked how there is clean humor and an enrapturing plot. This is one of my favorite series and would highly recommend.

[Steven Kevin T Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, so sad to say farewell to this series :(

I liked how it all unfolded. My favorite part is most definitely Nedwin's ending. I came here thinking the violence won't be that brutal, but it actually was at certain parts and I, the sadist in me, loved it.

[Huaijin Wang]

good book

[David Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a satisfying, well-balanced and well-paced young adult fantasy. The main conceit, regular teens accidentally falling into a Narnia-esque fantasy world, is not usually my jam, because I like my escapism to be self-contained and removed from the real world, but it works for me here because the two characters from earth become much more immersed in the fantasy world Lyrian, which brings me to my main praise.

Brandon Mull excels at handling fantasy tropes delicately. He unironically incorporates standard plot devices that escape-seekers will recognize and find familiar. While this has the potential to taste stale, good writers either transform or gracefully execute, and Mull goes the latter direction. So yes, kids are stuck in a strange world and want to get home, but since they are rounded characters, their motivation feels natural.

That’s not to say there is nothing original here. The title of the first book, A World Without Heroes, gives away the special spin on a fantasy situation. (Kind of reminds me of Mistborn: The Final Empire.) And by using the word trope, I don’t mean to convey that this is a cut-and-paste D&D world. The world is custom and rich, with many interesting environments but not a lot of lingering.

[Rock VDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary (1st book)- This story has the main character delve from the modern world into the magic based world of Lyrian. In the hopes of finding their way home, the protagonist accidentally catches the eye of an evil warlord, the last of the wizards, and realizes his unique station as a "beyonder" from earth, he is the best hope in taking down this evil that has staunched the the world and its good for so long.

I have read through the whole series several times now and find so many of its aspects especially iconic and engaging. This story was my gateway into a fantasy delve while I was younger and now as I return to look back, I am pleased to see the attributes of character and adventure are well developed and easy to engage with. The later stories really diversify the cast and reconsider the protagonist's role in this story making it feel complete while showing proper development and its strongest aspects of the world and the adventure never leave. All of the challenges feel real and are won satisfyingly while highlighting the tactics of those who would do harm.

Content Warnings

- Scenes of brutality and violence (a few instances really stand out)
-Torture
-Fighting and Death (particularly in the later series)

[biba ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨mini-review✨
It's middle grade, so it's a *little* below my reading level, but it's still a decent read. The biggest negative for me was how descriptive the author gets - it's not always a bad thing, but in this case, it is. He uses one or two describing words for every. single. thing. even if we've already seen it before. Some flowers and monkeys? The huge colorful flowers created an amazing backdrop for the huge monkeys. Do you see how that might get annoying?
But I still enjoyed the mystery of how they would 'save the world' and the fantasy aspect was done well. I think this would work well for younger readers; maybe 9+. It's a story full of hope and a tiny - and I mean tiny - bit of romance. It's really just hinted at. (Jason is attracted to this girl (I can't remember her name) but they don't kiss or anything). The ending was bittersweet, but no spoilers :D
3.5 stars

[TMeadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my personal favorite piece of YA fantasy- and I’ve read a lot of YA fantasy in my time. Part of that is nostalgia, but a big part of it is the strength of the story and the world and the characters.

In truth, the first few chapters of A World Without Heroes are weak. The plot takes time to get going, the characters take time to become interesting, and Mull needed time to hit his stride with the prose. Around about chapter six or seven, though, (The Tavern-Go-Round or Ferrin) the story picks up and the characters start to hum.

The ideas here are wonderful. The world feels real, and the villain is maybe the most believable Dark Lord you can imagine. Nobility, bravery, and sacrifice take on bribery, plotting, and betrayal. 10/10, way more depth than a book ostensibly targeted at 12 year olds needed to be.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! In the beginning it was kinda boring but! It turned out to be a super exciting and promising adventuring novel! If y’all are doubting reading this book, then I suggest just read a little bit! The beginning was really slow I like I already said.



SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!! WARNING DO NOT LOOK DOWN!! SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS!!! LAST WARNING!!

Wow! Hippo lunch! Crazy!! Also!! HES ON EARTH!! AHHH! And he HAS FERRIN’S HAND! Okay crazy!! I wonder how he’s gonna get back? And poor Rachel! She’s all alone! Y’all I can’t tell you how funny the end was!! When he was “floating” Hahaha!! And he was like the Word is a bust! A rim fex en dra puse! Hahaha! He said that to them!! Ohh so funny. I hope y’all enjoyed this book has much as I have!

[Ceejay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid fantasy series that escapes the hide bound tropes of the genre

This is a solid fantasy series. A complex world full of invention in the tradition of the genre, but manages to explore characters and concepts in a fresh way.

Too many fantasy novels can't escape the tropes of the genre, but Mull manages to do so in Beyonders. Sure, some of the familiar themes are present, but there is also a great deal of invention, and the storyn explores some unexpected paths. Far more than the usual swords and sorcery fare so common in YA fantasy.

A good read for anyone, probably most appropriate for middle school age readers.

[Alan Kagiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a better series. SERIOUSLY!!!! Best book ever. I truly love Brandon Mull. He is a true wizard of words. His integration of bravery, action, adventure, and mystery was enough to leave the harshest critics biting their nails with anticipation. I loved the mystical world of Lyrian. The conquest of Jason and Rachel, among with their friends, was only rivaled by the extreme wickedness of Maldor and his minions. Truly never has a book as this kept me up all night, unable to resist the tasty words. Thank you Mr. Mull

[Cavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book begins with one of the main characters, Jason, talking with his two friends. When Jason says he has to go to the zoo for work, his friends say he should bat. When he goes in, he gets distracted and a baseball slams into his head. He becomes unconscious and wakes up later. His friends say they have to leave and Jason heads to the zoo. When Jason arrives at the zoo, he thinks he's hallucinating as he hears music from the hippo tank. When he investigates, he's accidentally swallowed by the hippopotamus. He, Jason, appears in a land called Lyrian, where magic is real and the only Wizard is an evil Emperor by the name of Maldor. Jason ends up meeting the Blind King, a man that hates Maldor, in a castle close to his entrance to Lyrian. When he meets him, he discovers another Beyonder named Rachel. They are tasked with killing Maldor, and go on a quest to collect a word. Along the way, they meet several helpful people. Two of them being Jasher and Ferrin. A seedman and displacer, a being who can have their head cut off and live. In the end, the Word is a fraud, and Jason gets forcibly thrown back into the Beyond.

[James Packer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how one of themes is that being a hero does not require special powers or fantastic abilities. It is choosing to do the right thing over and over again even at great cost. I love the contrast between villains and the good guys. There are noble admirable characters. It is clean. No adult (sexual) content here. There is some violence but that is not the focus of the story. In my house my 10 and 12 year daughters have read and reread this story. So have I. It is probably similar to Brandon Mulls Fablehaven series for target age level of the reader.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My teenage son has been after me to read one of his favorite trilogies forever. I’m glad I finally did.

Mull manages to create a world that is enough fantasy to be enchanting and enough reality to be grounding. The hero’s journey is made better by good characters who you believe in and find yourself cheering for.

We listened to the audiobook for the first volume and the narration was fantastic. I turned to hard copy for the last two because it’s easier and faster for me to read than to listen. Both experiences were great.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so incredibly different from his usual writing, as far as his Fable Haven books go, but he’s taken his more recent series (including 5 kingdoms,) in a very different direction, and he does it SO WELL!! It’s so much fun, you never know whats going to happen. It’s exciting, and quick paced, and never, ever boring! His character development is fantastic, and the relationships and bonds he creates for his characters is so fun, and unpredictable. This book/series always had me wondering. I’d think I figured it out, and then he’d throw in a twist, and it was just so much fun!

[Michael Pardue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon Mull delivers yet again with a trio of unforgettable adventures that are nearly impossible to set down. Each book pulls you deep into its richly woven story, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. Mull’s storytelling is immersive and masterful—his characters leap off the page, and the suspense never lets up.
Whether you're a longtime fan or new to his work, these three novels showcase why Mull remains a standout in fantasy fiction. I wholeheartedly recommend them—and honestly, any book with his name on the cover. Five stars across the board!

[JD]

This is one of the most interesting books i have read. it is amazing and was so fun to read. i love the structure and the set up is way good. i keeped you exited and entertained the whole time. i really like the characters as well. jason is very humerus and i like his jokes. he also is very brave and willing to do hard things if needed. reachall is a lot the same way and does a lot of the same way. so in conclusion i love this book and the way it was written thank you.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably Brandon Mulls' best series

My family and I have read his Fablehaven and Dragonwatch and Candy Shop Wars series, and for me this is his best work. The character development is top notch, the suspense and plot twists - impeccable. The world building, too! So great! The only caveat I have is that the books, especially the last in the series, has a number of violent/scary scenes. I'd recommend this series for ages 10 and up.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmm.... listened to all three on audiobook with my kids and we all have mixed opinions on them. First of all, we all were interested and wanted to finish the story, the plot was great and inventive, and each had our favorite characters we were invested in. BUT we all thought it was way too repetitive and dragged things out too much. No, we don't want to listen to Rachel internally debate each decision over and over and over again. It would be a 5 star if it just sped things up.

[Lisa Rector · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I loved this series so much that I got the audiobooks. The narrator does an excellent job, and the story is just gripping. Still five stars.

This is one of the best books ever! For all ages. Brandon Mull has crafted such an amazing world. My favorite creations are displacers and the seed people. Where did he come up with this stuff? Ferrin has got to be one of my most favorite characters. Write on, Mr. Mull. You are a genius.