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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
3.5⭐️ it's cool to see all 4 becoming friends throughout the book.
This was fun adventure. Explains how they became friends and how everything happened in the movies.
I read this mostly because I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and since I could borrow it from work and return it for free.
The author did a great job building each character and the storyline. She even did a surprisingly good job with her villain research! (I was having to google some of her mentions!) but alas, the story was still told for someone much younger. Still amusing all around, and I'm interested to see what happens next, but I didn't love it.
Also, the author had this annoying habit of putting extremely difficult words RANDOMLY into a sentence with a lack of context, ESPECIALLY for the young audience the book focuses on. I really found the annoying.
Overall, the book was worth reading but definitely not thinking about now that I've closed it.
The author did a great job building each character and the storyline. She even did a surprisingly good job with her villain research! (I was having to google some of her mentions!) but alas, the story was still told for someone much younger. Still amusing all around, and I'm interested to see what happens next, but I didn't love it.
Also, the author had this annoying habit of putting extremely difficult words RANDOMLY into a sentence with a lack of context, ESPECIALLY for the young audience the book focuses on. I really found the annoying.
Overall, the book was worth reading but definitely not thinking about now that I've closed it.
This book is a disaster. Firstly, it's weirdly rascist, making a powerful politician/magician into a theif and a swindler (Jafar). The world building is an utter trainwreck. Why is being evil eating bad food? All of these characters lived lux - you can't convince me that Evil Queen and Cruella are living on Garbage.
And honest to God, how did any of these characters become parents, and why does it ignore that EQ at least has a step daughter? Who she tried to kill? Why isn't she killing this daughter?
And how did Belle and Beast unite the kingdoms and exile all villians? They don't even exist in the same world!
This book is lazy and trashy even for a money grab. The movie didn't make any sense either, but that at least was fun. De La Cruz could have explored the given world much better, explained some of the plot holes, but she didn't try and you're left with a book that probably belongs in a garbage dump.
And honest to God, how did any of these characters become parents, and why does it ignore that EQ at least has a step daughter? Who she tried to kill? Why isn't she killing this daughter?
And how did Belle and Beast unite the kingdoms and exile all villians? They don't even exist in the same world!
This book is lazy and trashy even for a money grab. The movie didn't make any sense either, but that at least was fun. De La Cruz could have explored the given world much better, explained some of the plot holes, but she didn't try and you're left with a book that probably belongs in a garbage dump.
I really liked the idea for this book. It was pretty great. The execution wasn't terrible either. However, it was clearly written as a prequel to a Disney Channel original movie, so we get things like Maleficent's daughter, Mal, wearing exclusively purple and having lush purple hair, and somehow, even though this is a book with all the descriptive power that comes along with that, the sets were wooden and decidedly fake. This was a Disney Channel original movie in book form.
Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. Disney Channel original movies are often hilarious and clever. And it's not surprising the Disney Channel would want to jump on the bandwagon of fairytale mashups when other divisions of the same company are already riding it with "Once Upon a Time" on ABC and the Into the Woods movie.
So, I can't look at this as a Melissa de la Cruz novel. I think her ideas are often great, even though her writing often feels rushed and sometimes leaves something to be desired (especially lately, too many ideas brewing I think). Instead I have to look at this like a book that Disney commissioned a writer to write, and that writer happened to be Melissa de la Cruz.
There was plenty to be amused by here, the washed up villains and their spunky spawn, the idea of the politics of both the Isle of the Lost and the Kingdom of Auradon where all the heroes live their happily ever afters. But I couldn't help thinking they could have done so much better. No doubt, this is for kids, which is fine, but as an adult to likes the author and loves her fairytales (and Disney!) I can't help thinking I've seen this done before and I've seen it done much better. That being said, I'll definitely watch the movie and if de la Cruz writes any more of these bad boys, I'm sure I'll read it.
Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. Disney Channel original movies are often hilarious and clever. And it's not surprising the Disney Channel would want to jump on the bandwagon of fairytale mashups when other divisions of the same company are already riding it with "Once Upon a Time" on ABC and the Into the Woods movie.
So, I can't look at this as a Melissa de la Cruz novel. I think her ideas are often great, even though her writing often feels rushed and sometimes leaves something to be desired (especially lately, too many ideas brewing I think). Instead I have to look at this like a book that Disney commissioned a writer to write, and that writer happened to be Melissa de la Cruz.
There was plenty to be amused by here, the washed up villains and their spunky spawn, the idea of the politics of both the Isle of the Lost and the Kingdom of Auradon where all the heroes live their happily ever afters. But I couldn't help thinking they could have done so much better. No doubt, this is for kids, which is fine, but as an adult to likes the author and loves her fairytales (and Disney!) I can't help thinking I've seen this done before and I've seen it done much better. That being said, I'll definitely watch the movie and if de la Cruz writes any more of these bad boys, I'm sure I'll read it.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It delivers what I asked for -- some cheesy campy Disney stuff just like the movie. The best part is it expands on the Descendants universe (such as it is). We didn't see much of life on Villain Island, but that's remedied here. They go to school, they have parties, they interact with their parents, and plan pranks/tricks on each other. The books gives what a low budget made-for-TV movie couldn't.
Plotwise, it's by-the-numbers YA, showing how the fab four became friends (it was a quest). No one likes school, parents are mostly non-factors, and the kids get archetypes that didn't exist in the movie (for example, Cruella's son is the "smart one", creating devices like Donatello.) Nothing really new, except occasional interjections by the author that evoke memories of bad fan fiction (as you can tell, I did not like that part). But it's not too slow, and the novel really thrives in the second half, when they all get together. The author uses the chemistry between the characters to its full advantage. Given the absolute crap from non-children's Disney books I've been reading lately (The Beast Within, A Frozen Heart), this is a life-affirming change of pace. I'm glad they're sticking with this author because she seems right for the series.
Plotwise, it's by-the-numbers YA, showing how the fab four became friends (it was a quest). No one likes school, parents are mostly non-factors, and the kids get archetypes that didn't exist in the movie (for example, Cruella's son is the "smart one", creating devices like Donatello.) Nothing really new, except occasional interjections by the author that evoke memories of bad fan fiction (as you can tell, I did not like that part). But it's not too slow, and the novel really thrives in the second half, when they all get together. The author uses the chemistry between the characters to its full advantage. Given the absolute crap from non-children's Disney books I've been reading lately (The Beast Within, A Frozen Heart), this is a life-affirming change of pace. I'm glad they're sticking with this author because she seems right for the series.
I only read it because I watched Descendants on Disney Channel and I found out this book was a prequel. Am I too old for doing both of these things? Of course! Do I regret it? Of course not. Was I ashamed when I read that this book was for 9-12 year olds? Well... kinda. But whatever. I enjoyed reading this book. It gave me flashbacks from when I was little and I loved classic Disney movies. Although I had many questions (how come Jafar and Maleficient have children of the same age? Where is Gaston and who married him? Is Cruela de Vil as villainous as the Evil Queen? Why didn't Ursula have an important appearance in the book?) I couldn't stop reading it until I finished.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I genuinely loved this book! It reads so easily and I love the fact that it's basically a prologue of the Descendants™ movie!
By far, after the Highschool Musical™ movies, Descendants™ is my second favorite franchise of Disney Original movies. There's something so funny and entertaining and captivating about following the children of legendary Disney characters. I loved how fleshed out the characters were and how authentic they felt. I genuinely enjoyed it. It was fast paced and a wonderful read! I'm so glad I got to read it! Onto the next book! 🥰
By far, after the Highschool Musical™ movies, Descendants™ is my second favorite franchise of Disney Original movies. There's something so funny and entertaining and captivating about following the children of legendary Disney characters. I loved how fleshed out the characters were and how authentic they felt. I genuinely enjoyed it. It was fast paced and a wonderful read! I'm so glad I got to read it! Onto the next book! 🥰