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| |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, adventure |
| Publisher | Scholastic |
| Media type | Print (hardcover), audiobook, kindle book, audio CD |
| No. of books | 7 |
| Followed by | Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts |
Spirit Animals is a multi-author heptology of fantasy books first written by Brandon Mull. Other authors of the series include: Maggie Stiefvater, Garth Nix, Sean Williams, Shannon Hale, Tui. T Sutherland, Eliot Schrefer, and Marie Lu. The novels revolve around the coming-of-age story focused on characters Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan, who are from different parts of the globe in a fantastical, Earth-like world called Erdas.
8-12 is the focused age group for the series. It is judged on mainly the ability to read, not by appropriate content.[1]
The series is also followed by several special edition books, and Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts.
Wild Born is the first book in the series, written by Brandon Mull, and was published on September 10, 2013.[2]
Four 11-year-old kids in the world of Erdas (Conor from Eura, Meilin from Zhong, Rollan from Amaya, and Abeke from Nilo) summon the legendary Four Fallen (Briggan with Connor, Jhi with Meilin, Essix with Rollan, and Uraza with Abeke). They all side up with the Greencloaks (except for Abeke, who sides with the Conquerors, also known as the Devourers) to work together in order to find the first of fifteen Great Beast talismans. Along the way, each of them start to learn how to use their bond with their spirit animal to their advantage. A battle against the Ravens and Conquerors commences at the end, which is when Abeke realizes that she is on the wrong side. After the Conquerors retreat without her, Tarik, the heros' guide, offers her a Greencloak to join their side.
A movie based on this book was announced on Deadline on May 13, 2016. John Fusco is reported to be writing the script for Universal Pictures.
Hunted is the second book in the series and was released on December 2, 2013. It was written by Maggie Stiefvater.
Meilin, Abeke, Conor, and Rollan haven’t fully mastered control of their Spirit Animals. Abeke is not yet trusted by the other three due to her previous time with the Conquerors. In their quest to save Erdas, and obtain another talisman, they are accompanied by Finn[a], a scout and senior Greencloak. Meilin figures out that her father, Zhong's emperor, has gone missing, and later on, Conner and Rollan get captured. They escape, however, and proceed to search for the next talisman.
Blood Ties is the third installment on the series and was published on March 25, 2014. It was written by Garth Nix and Sean Williams.
Meilin, fed up with waiting for the Conquerors to come to them, goes on ahead into the enemy territory, ready to fight. However, she is lost in the Great Bamboo Forest and cannot find an exit, even with Jhi's help. The rest of the group have crossed the sea without her. She is later aided by Xue, an elder Greencloak who helps to heal Rollan after he has caught the Sunset Death. Conor remains ashamed at having given up the Iron Boar talisman to the enemy to save his family. He learns that ‘the people we love are our strengths, but they are our weaknesses too.’
This is the only book in the series to have two authors.
Fire and Ice is the fourth book released on June 24, 2014, and was written by Shannon Hale.
Strange things are happening at the frozen edge of the world. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan have crisscrossed Erdas in their quest to stop the ruthless Conquerors. Only the four of them, supported by the gifts of their legendary spirit animals, have the power to defeat an evil takeover.
Against The Tide is the fifth installment on the series. It was written by released on September 30, 2014.
Rise and Fall is the sixth book in the series, first published on December 30, 2014.
The Evertree is the seventh and final book in the series, released on March 31, 2015.
Tales of the Great Beasts, written by Brandon Mull and other authors, is a companion book to the series. It was published October 21, 2014, telling the tale of how the Four Fallen (Briggan, Jhi, Uraza, and Essix) gave up their lives to defend the land of Erdas before they became spirit animals. It is set long before Wild Born.
The Book of Shane, is a four-part set of short stories based on Shane, written by Nick Eliopulos, introduced by Tui T. Sutherland
"Erdas is like the Earth that never was," says Brandon Mull in a question and answer interview with Scholastic, referring to the world that the story is based in.[4]
A video game was made off of the book, created by Scholastic.
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