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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Over all, this was a really cute book and I *adored* the character development in it. All the little fairy tale mentions was cute. I may have to actually watch the TV show now. I'd tried once before and gotten turned off it almost immediately. However, knowing the characters I might be able to get engaged in it. I certainly enjoyed the book for the light little read that it was.
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't realize this would be like a prequel to the Descendants movie. I really thought this book would be the first movie. I wonder of all the other books are prequels to the movies.
It was really cool seeing how they became friends.Also Mal thinks her dad is human??? Carlos being a science brainic is so cool, wish we saw more of that in the movies. And Jay and Evie!!! luv their lil flirtatiousness
I cannot believe that Ben dreams of Mal (,:
It was really cool seeing how they became friends.
I cannot believe that Ben dreams of Mal (,:
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In this week's episode, Prince Ben realizes the other half does not live in palaces with servants and cream cakes!
In all seriousness, I like Ben as a protagonist more and I looked forward to his chapters. Particularly, the Council scene was spectacular because you actually get to see what the heroes are up to post-Auradon, not just the villains. Out of all the VKs, though, Evie's perspective is the most interesting. Carlos you feel the worst for, Jay really has only one characteristic, and Mal feels like a husk of her version in the films.
You can tell the author had a ton of fun writing this, the first quarter of the book is the best, really. From tickling wordplay to just the most fantastic world-building I've seen in a while (this will definitely change later, the movies and books will never align). Side note, there's light flirting throughout, this book takes place immediately before the events of the first movie so everyone is 15 or so, and really all it makes me realize is I don't think I'm capable of writing characters this young. Everytime I've written my books I've always just made the characters the age I was when I started writing them, but after writing this long I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm more inclined to write about later YA years and even just New Adult.
The books are meant to serve as sequels (this one releasing a couple of months before the movie, and I suspect the author had access to an early draft of the script while writing this), and while the book provides a bit of context to the characters and are meant to lead directly into the first movie, there is a bit of a misalignment. The villains are never close in the book, and you can't tell that Mal and Evie were sworn enemies just days before Ben's proclamation. I do like the revelation that Mal is literally named Maleficent, after her mother, but that she is only referred to as Mal because she hasn't earned her full name yet. With that logic, Jay could literally just be the first letter of Jafar's name, and Evie is named after the very title her narcissistic mother goes by. Carlos is the only one who's spared this fate but his conditions at Hell Hall aren't much to write home about either.
I like the world the books set up, there's so much to grab onto for my D&D version of Auradon. I'm going to base my third adventure in Auradon on the very structure of this first book, and really, I just am glad I finished a book which is an increasingly rare occurrence these days.
In all seriousness, I like Ben as a protagonist more and I looked forward to his chapters. Particularly, the Council scene was spectacular because you actually get to see what the heroes are up to post-Auradon, not just the villains. Out of all the VKs, though, Evie's perspective is the most interesting. Carlos you feel the worst for, Jay really has only one characteristic, and Mal feels like a husk of her version in the films.
You can tell the author had a ton of fun writing this, the first quarter of the book is the best, really. From tickling wordplay to just the most fantastic world-building I've seen in a while (this will definitely change later, the movies and books will never align). Side note, there's light flirting throughout, this book takes place immediately before the events of the first movie so everyone is 15 or so, and really all it makes me realize is I don't think I'm capable of writing characters this young. Everytime I've written my books I've always just made the characters the age I was when I started writing them, but after writing this long I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm more inclined to write about later YA years and even just New Adult.
The books are meant to serve as sequels (this one releasing a couple of months before the movie, and I suspect the author had access to an early draft of the script while writing this), and while the book provides a bit of context to the characters and are meant to lead directly into the first movie, there is a bit of a misalignment. The villains are never close in the book, and you can't tell that Mal and Evie were sworn enemies just days before Ben's proclamation. I do like the revelation that Mal is literally named Maleficent, after her mother, but that she is only referred to as Mal because she hasn't earned her full name yet. With that logic, Jay could literally just be the first letter of Jafar's name, and Evie is named after the very title her narcissistic mother goes by. Carlos is the only one who's spared this fate but his conditions at Hell Hall aren't much to write home about either.
I like the world the books set up, there's so much to grab onto for my D&D version of Auradon. I'm going to base my third adventure in Auradon on the very structure of this first book, and really, I just am glad I finished a book which is an increasingly rare occurrence these days.
The book before the film. Villains have children. Now what will happen next?
In terms of the book itself, there were a lot of errors in various places. Fortunately, the errors didn't take away from the content.
In terms of the book itself, there were a lot of errors in various places. Fortunately, the errors didn't take away from the content.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Eh, not bad but also not very good, either.
The text had many mistakes (mostly typos and missing words) and it is in serious need of some editing.
The plot was okay. It's pretty much at the same level as all Descendants movies: fun, easy to follow and entertaining enough to keep reading 'til the end.
The text had many mistakes (mostly typos and missing words) and it is in serious need of some editing.
The plot was okay. It's pretty much at the same level as all Descendants movies: fun, easy to follow and entertaining enough to keep reading 'til the end.
adventurous
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes