New to Fablehaven
Start with Fablehaven and read all five original novels before moving to Dragonwatch. The sequel assumes the sanctuary rules, characters, and earlier conflict are familiar.
Book Series · 10 Books
Fablehaven Books
In order from Fablehaven to Return of the Dragon Slayers.
Kendra and Seth discover that their grandparents guard a refuge for dangerous magical creatures, then grow into central defenders of a worldwide sanctuary system. Their main story is told in two separately numbered series: five Fablehaven books followed by five Dragonwatch books.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Fablehaven and Dragonwatch Books
Begin with Fablehaven books #1–5 in order. Keys to the Demon Prison completes that conflict, but Kendra and Seth's story continues directly in a second series, Dragonwatch. Then begin again with Dragonwatch book #1 and read that series through book #5.
Legend of the Dragon Slayer is a short, fully illustrated standalone tale about the first Dragon Slayer and the origin of Dragonwatch. It can be read after the original Fablehaven books have introduced dragon sanctuaries or saved until after the ten novels; it is background, not an extra numbered volume.
After both five-book series, The Gorgon's Fury offers a later adventure starring the satyrs Newel and Doren. Cookbooks, activity books, field guides, boxed sets, and the illustrated edition of Fablehaven are optional extras or formats and do not add another numbered novel to either series.
Sources: Shadow Mountain's complete five-book Fablehaven set, Shadow Mountain's Dragonwatch sequel description, Official five-book Dragonwatch set, Official Dragonwatch origin-story guide, Shadow Mountain's Newel and Doren spin-off.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The books include frightening magical creatures, imprisonment, betrayal, mind control, transformations, plagues, battles, serious injuries, and deaths. Demons, undead beings, witches, dragons, and other monsters can be menacing, and the stakes grow from one endangered refuge to possible worldwide destruction.
Seth's impulsive rule-breaking creates real consequences, while both siblings must learn whom to trust and when courage requires restraint. The stories remain adventure-focused rather than graphically violent, but the length, suspense, and moral uncertainty suit confident middle-grade fantasy readers better than children looking for a gentle magical series.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Fablehaven and Dragonwatch each start at book #1, but together they form one long path. New readers should meet the sanctuary before the dragon rebellion.
Finished the original five
Continue with Dragonwatch book #1. It begins a new five-book conflict but follows the same siblings and magical world.
Finished Fablehaven and Dragonwatch
Try The Gorgon's Fury next for a humorous spin-off starring Newel and Doren. It takes place after the dragon rebellion, so it works best after Dragonwatch book #5.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$958
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2006
Fablehaven
By Brandon Mull
A hidden refuge of magical creatures faces chaos when ancient rules are broken, unleashing dark forces.
351 pages· 71,896 words· Est. 10 hour read
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Kendra and Seth discover their grandfather's secret role as caretaker of Fablehaven, a sanctuary for mystical creatures. When Seth's curiosity disrupts the fragile peace, malevolent forces are unleashed. Now, the siblings must confront their deepest fears to protect their family and the magical refuge. Can they restore order before it's too late?
Main story · Books 1–5
Fablehaven
5 books · Published 2006–2010
The original five-book sequence introduces the preserve, the magical sanctuary network, and Kendra and Seth's first world-threatening conflict.
#1
Sale price
$958
Fablehaven
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2006
A hidden refuge of magical creatures faces chaos when ancient rules are broken, unleashing dark forces.
#2
Sale price
$858
Rise of the Evening Star
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2007
A hidden artifact's power could doom the world. Can Fablehaven be saved in time?
#3
Sale price
$958
Grip of the Shadow Plague
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2008
A plague turns light into darkness at Fablehaven. Who can the Sorensons trust?
#4
Sale price
$958
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2009
A dragon sanctuary holds a deadly secret. Can the Knights retrieve the artifact key before it's too late?
#5
Sale price
$958
Keys to the Demon Prison
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2010
A race to stop a prison's opening threatens the world's fate.
Direct sequel · Books 1–5
Dragonwatch
5 books · Published 2017–2021
Five more novels continue Kendra and Seth's story as dragons revolt against the sanctuary system. Read these after Fablehaven, not as a separate starting point.
#1
Sale price
$958
Dragonwatch
Chapter Book · Ages 8–13 · 2017
Dragons seek freedom and revenge; only Dragonwatch can stop them.
#2
Sale price
$1797
Wrath of the Dragon King
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018
Dragons wage war; can two young caretakers stop the Dragon King's deadly plan?
#3
Sale price
$899
Master of the Phantom Isle: A Fablehaven Adventure
Chapter Book · Ages 8–13 · 2019
A sister's quest to save her brother from dark forces and a looming dragon war.
#4
Sale price
$1899
Champion of the Titan Games
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2020
Dragons and giants clash as Seth seeks lost memories and Kendra races to stop a world takeover.
#5
Sale price
$2089
Return of the Dragon Slayers
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2021
A young boy named Seth must navigate a magical world filled with dragons, giants, and other mythical creatures to save his family and the world from destruction.
Later spin-off adventure
Tales of Newel and Doren
1 book · Published 2025
The Gorgon's Fury follows the comic satyrs on a new quest after the dragon rebellion. Save it until after Dragonwatch book #5 to avoid learning how that conflict ends.
Sale price
$1797
The Gorgon's Fury
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025
Satyrs face a gorgon threat and seek a mystical doll to save Fablehaven and their youth.
Illustrated background story
The Origin of Dragonwatch
1 book · Published 2021
Legend of the Dragon Slayer tells a standalone ancient story about Dragonwatch's beginnings. It adds background but is not book #6 in either numbered series.
Sale price
$1899
Legend of the Dragon Slayer
Chapter Book · Ages 8–14 · 2021
A cobbler's son faces mythical beasts to save a kingdom from dragons.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Fablehaven series?
There are 10 books in the main Fablehaven story so far, organized into 2 series. It begins with Fablehaven in 2006, and the newest published main-story book is Return of the Dragon Slayers from 2021.
What order should you read the Fablehaven books in?
Start with Fablehaven and follow the story arcs in the order shown above. Book numbering restarts at #1 within each arc.
What ages are the Fablehaven books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–13, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Fablehaven book is the longest?
Keys to the Demon Prison (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 137,078 words (604 pages).
Which Fablehaven book is the shortest?
Fablehaven (Book #1) is the shortest at 71,896 words (351 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Fablehaven to life.
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