- Sky Raiders (Five Kingdoms)

I ordered the book Sky Raiders, The Kingdom Series. It was placed in mailbox. It was packaged in good shape. It's a paperback book. Nothing was torn. Looking forward to reading it.

This series is right up there with Fablehaven/Dragonwatch for me. I love Cole as a character, and his journey throughout this series is a delight. This is a great entry book into a fantastic series, and I highly recommend it!

Cole Randolph was at one of those cooler times in life. He and his best friend Dalton had entered sixth grade so they were the cool "seniors"...It was Halloween and he had a super-cool costume...and most importantly, he was going to be trick-or-treating with a group of friends that included his long time crush Jenna. Could life get any better?But that all changed in an instant as his friends were swept away to a strange and dangerous land, thrown into slavery, and cast upon the winds to the five kingdoms. Cole, himself, becomes a sky raider who's life is on the line with each breath. And his problems are as nothing compared to the actual princess who has been lost for six decades and now needs Cole and his new friends to find her way home.Following on the heels of his two previous wonderful series - FableHaven and The Beyonders - Brandon Mull tosses his readers into a new(ish) universe where the world is full of magic and the dangers are around every corner. As is his creative MO, Mull's protagonists are young and inexperienced yet, that youth and their acceptance of what, to an adult, might seem impossible, gives his readers another fun group of characters that younger readers and more "experienced" types as myself (cough, cough...65) will enjoy and wrap their arms around. Mull has always had the ability to make his characters both young enough to see the world as a new adventure each day, while giving them the strength to face up to, and to overcome, new problems and new hurdles.The FIVE KINGDOMS is exciting and this, the first book, is an amazing kickoff to a fun and wonderful new journey.

I had just finished reading the "Fablehaven" series to my kids (2 boys, 1 girl ages 10 - 14). My kids LOVED Fablehaven and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find someting that they would enjoy as much. We are half way through this book and the kids are into it just as much as they were "Fablehaven". I gave it 4 stars simply because I'm not enjoying it as much... The book started out heavier and darker than I was expecting (with kids being kidnapped and sold into slavery) and I kept wanting to get past that part (I'm a social worker and have worked with people who were victims of sex trafficking, so I think this just hit too close to home for me personally. The book itself is not overly harsh or graphic, and is completely age appropriate. I personally just didn't care for the plot) but my kids are really loving it. They beg me to "read a little more" throughout the day, if we are riding in the car, etc."My kids" are actually my step-children. My daughter loves to read, but neither of the boys have ever read a book on their own. The oldest (14) can be pretty rebellious and even got into legal trouble last year for drugs... they are definitely not your "book worm" type children. They won't go near a Harry Potter book... (so sad, I know). When I first offered to read to them a little each night I expected a little resistance and hoped they'd give it a shot. Turns out, they love it!!! My 14 yr old is the one who begs me the most to "read a little more" and I've been very surprised by how much they love it now. Before Fablehaven I read "Wee Free Men", "Summer of the Monkeys" and "the BFG" but things definitely took off in leaps and bounds with "Fablehaven". Their excitement for books/reading has only grown with "Sky Raiders", and I think something about a boy being totally on his own and having to protect himself and others really appeals to my boys. They are excited that it is another 5-book series and are hopeful it will "keep us busy" until the 2nd "Dragonwatch" book comes out next year.

Amazing how much I liked this book despite some glaring faults. I go into detail here and give away a few spoilers. Beware.1, why would Mira's protector send her and Cole back to the Sky Raiders when the sky raiders thought the two slaves dead? He planned on them escaping a day later. Why not just send them to a different place entirely? Is it because the author needed to include Jace and Twitch on the journey? Is it because BMull had to show the messenger and army chasing Mira?2, It was obvious they were supposed to use the shawl to subdue Carnag. Duh. No, it only took the characters several extra chapters, several pointless conversations with the beasts, and several fights before thinking of it.3, Why didn't they put the shawl on, like, the giant snake? Or the cyclops?4, Why is jumping up with the sword a death sentence? Why can't you just jump back down?5, Do we have to have a half dozen conversations about the dangers of the quest and "are you sure you want to keep going?" talks? The old Shaper, Liam, and Mira I think all asked Cole, Twitch, and Jace why they were following Mira and if they were sure and didn't they know it was dangerous. Too much. The reader understands the characters have good reasons for following Mira. This is overkill.That's all I can think of right now. Despite these, I enjoyed the book. The characters are fun, the plot is all over the place, and the setting is restrained with semi-defined magic. History is glossed over, and the government is mentioned. Conflicts abound between every element.

Let’s go to #2 this is one of the best books I have read (seconding Fablehaven) love you Brandon!-Sam

This book as any Brandon Mull book is really cool, but the true is that this series is like Beyonders a bad king good heroes that want to overground him just the same.

This was a great stores that had its own conclusion in this book. The story carries on in the next book but without a cliffhanger. Wick paced and an interesting premise.

Awesome. I want another book to come out badly. Hope a movie is soon to follow.I have all the brandon mull books . .and I love them.Any child should have this book!

I read this over 4 evenings and now my kids have started it as well. The world is well described and I look foward to reading the next one.