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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Review type: Quick whips + slight spoilers
“We’re the villains you root for in the story.”
I loved this book!
While it didn’t really match up to the first installment, Isle of the Lost, it was nonetheless still a great read. Return to the Isle of the Lost follows
the story of our four villainous kids; Mal (daughter of Maleficent), Evie (daughter
of the Evil Queen), Jay (son of Jafar) and Carlos (son of Cruella De Vil) after
the events of Disney’s Descendant’s where
they were sent to Auradon (the land of the heroes) to study and redeem
themselves as people nowhere near to who their parents are. The story opens up
to a regular day at Auradon Prep for our four protagonists until they start receiving
ominous messages, telling them to go back to the Isle of the Lost (the land of the villains) before the new moon
rises. Seeing as this may be a threat from their parents; Mal, Evie, Jay and
Carlos set their journey to return to their old home.
The premise of the plot is really interesting, especially
with the threatening messages that the four villains were receiving. It may be
from their parents, considering how the dome opened up when Jane (Fairy
Godmother’s daughter) accidentally broke the barrier of the Isle of the Lost.
That was my first assumption, but diving in deeper into the story, I’ve assumed
wrong. While the four protagonists try to figure out who’s sending these
messages, Ben (son of Belle and Beast, also Mal’s boyfriend) faces trouble in one of the lands in Auradon when a
purple dragon (which they assume was Maleficent) wreaks havoc in Camelot. I
particularly enjoyed the little adventures in this story, especially by the
time the four protagonists manage to get back to the Isle of the Lost. That’s
when things started getting interesting.
The four discover an Anti-Heroes
club, which at first they assumed was a club going against them, but really
– it was a club of villain kids that were inspired by what Mal and the others
have done against Maleficent during Ben’s coronation. They, too, wanted to be good. Their mission was to stop Cruella
De Vil, Jafar and Evil Queen from infiltrating Auradon through the Catacombs, a
magical underground world under the Isle of the Lost that has built up during
the years of the Isle’s pent up magic. The real adventure truly begins when
Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay have to get these four items/talismans of their
parents to stop them from ever reaching Auradon. In this, the four face trials
that will determine their loyalty to Auradon, and also to their redeeming need
to be good.
The character development here was great, and the little
adventures (though short-lived) were quite cinematic. I really don’t know how Descendants 2, which is apparently about
Ursula’s daughter, will go well into play. Would it occur after Return to the Isle of the Lost or before? I really can’t tell. But all I know is that this was a
strong continue to the Descendants story and that everything was well into
play. I cannot wait for Descendants 2
and any other recurring book after Return
To The Isle of The Lost. I really hope Melissa De La Cruz finds a way to
squeeze in some Frozen or Tangled elements in these books, because
daughters and sons from those two movies would be truly interesting. A great,
fast-paced read and a definite recommendation to all those Disney lovers out
there!
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail
Make sure to see the Descendents movie beforehand because otherwise you will miss some of the story.
RETURN TO THE ISLE OF THE LOST picks up right where The Descendants movie left off, though there is a handy recap before the first chapter for readers who haven’t seen the movie. Those who want the full effect of the character growth should start with the first Descendants book, ISLE OF THE LOST, but basic plot details aren’t lost for those jumping in later.
This new story in the beloved fairy tale characters’ lives focuses on the friendships between the group and their respective relationships with their parents, absent as the parents are. Mal, Carlos, Jay, and Evie have made a lot of personal progress, but the one thing they all still struggle with is trust, whether that’s with a specific person or with themselves. Though they are all reformed children of villains, they still spent a long time on the Isle of the Lost, and navigating healthy relationships doesn’t come easy. The relationship between Mal and Evie is especially fragile at times but ultimately proves strong in a beautiful display of friendship.
The mystery behind the threatening messages and a strange group called the Anti-Heroes drives the plot, and the humor along the way keeps the tone fairly light as good and evil prepare to battle once again. The plot and character resolutions wrap up a bit quickly, but they pave the way for a larger story to be continued in the next book.
Fans of this series will love the continuation of Mal and her friends’ stories. RETURN TO THE ISLE OF THE LOST has everything Disney fairy tale fanatics have come to expect: banter, good versus evil, a splash of romance, and moving friendships.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19774-return-to-the-isle-of-the-lost-descendants-2
