Title: Wild Born
Author: Brandon Mull
First published January 1, 2013
224 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780545522434 (ISBN10: 0545522439)
Rating: 4.01
Overview
In the world of Erdas, four children from different corners of the land are about to embark on a journey that will change their lives forever. Watched by mysterious figures, they undergo a ritual that unleashes the power of their spirit animals – a majestic wolf, a swift leopard, a cuddly panda, and a fierce falcon.
As they discover the extent of their newfound abilities, a looming threat approaches from faraway lands. Erdas is under attack, and it’s up to these four young heroes to save their world.
Join them on this epic adventure and become a part of the fate of Erdas.
About the Author
Brandon Mull lives in a quaint valley near a canyon with his spouse and three kids. During his time in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile, he picked up Spanish and juggling.
At a park behind his grandmother’s house, he won a gold medal in a pudding eating competition. Brandon is the talented writer behind the successful Fablehaven series and The Candy Shop War, both of which have been featured on the New York Times bestseller list.
Editoral Review
In the young adult fantasy genre, Brandon Mull’s Wild Born is a standout work, with its thrilling plot, well-crafted characters, and imaginative worldbuilding. Mull, the author of the popular Fablehaven series, creates a compelling mythology and a richly detailed setting for his new series, Spirit Animals.
The first book, Wild Born, introduces readers to the world of Erdas, where certain people have the ability to summon a spirit animal, a powerful creature with whom they share a deep bond. The story follows four young heroes, Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan, as they discover their spirit animals and join the fight against the Devourer, a mystical force bent on destroying the world.
Although the plot contains familiar tropes of the genre, such as the quest for magical artifacts and the formation of a team of heroes, Mull handles these elements with skill, balancing action and suspense with emotional depth and character development. One of the strengths of Wild Born is the diversity of its cast, both in terms of their ethnic backgrounds and their personalities.
Conor, the son of a prosperous merchant, struggles to reconcile his love of books and art with his father’s expectations that he become a warrior. Abeke, a girl from the persecuted nation of Zhong, is torn between her loyalty to her people and her duty to protect Erdas.
Meilin, a fierce warrior from Amaya, must confront her pride and her past mistakes. Rollan, a streetwise thief from Nilo, uses his cunning to survive and to help his friends.
Mull also deftly handles themes of friendship, loyalty, courage, and sacrifice. The bonds between the young heroes and their spirit animals are not just gimmicks, but meaningful and complex relationships that are tested and strengthened throughout the story.
The Devourer, a shadowy antagonist that represents chaos and destruction, is a compelling foe, both mysterious and terrifying. The pacing of the book is well-balanced, with enough action to keep readers engaged, but also enough quiet moments to allow for reflection and character development.
Mull’s prose is clear and vivid, full of evocative descriptions of Erdas and its inhabitants. Overall, Wild Born is a thrilling and well-crafted start to the Spirit Animals series.
Its strengths lie in its characters, worldbuilding, and themes, all of which are executed with skill and imagination. Like other works in the young adult fantasy genre, it has some familiar elements, but Mull infuses these with his own unique vision and voice.
Readers who enjoy the works of J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, or Suzanne Collins will find much to like in Wild Born. That being said, the book is not without its flaws.
Some readers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable, and there are moments where the pacing lags or the dialogue feels stilted. Additionally, while the book is inclusive in terms of its characters’ ethnicities, it falls short in terms of gender representation, with only one female protagonist.
Despite these limitations, however, Wild Born is a strong recommendation for readers who enjoy young adult fantasy with compelling characters, imaginative worldbuilding, and exciting action. It earns a solid score of 4 out of 5, with points deducted for its lack of gender diversity and occasional predictability.
