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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
First of all, if you read this book thinking it's going to be anything like the Disney Channel movie Descendants, don't. This book was written as a sequel to that story.
However, this story was wonderfully written and kept me interested the whole way through. The characters were well rounded and it was interesting to see how the offspring of the big bad baddies come to be friends.
However, this story was wonderfully written and kept me interested the whole way through. The characters were well rounded and it was interesting to see how the offspring of the big bad baddies come to be friends.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I totally watched the movie on Disney channel and then had to read the prequel book. Not as cutesy and cheesy as the movie, but still an enjoyable ready for 12 and up. It has enough adventure, Disney favorites, mean villainous parents, and spunky anti-heroines/heroes to warrant it's 100+ holds list. It also gets a little deep with Prince Ben realizing that life isn't a fairy tale for everyone, and trying to be a good King and fix that. Also, props to Disney for pushing the book before the movie came out. While everyone and their mom has been wanting this book since May, it's been easy to recommend other books to them while they wait, and I'm on board with anything that gets kids excited to read!
Absolutely satisfying to know the origin of the four main VKs come together.
As someone who has cherished Disney-related content throughout their life, I have an enduring fascination with Disney movies and stories. Disney has a timeless quality that appeals to all ages, and i have continued to find joy in their creations as I’ve grown older.
My favorite Disney movies, "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid," and those classics have a special place in the hearts of many. However, my discovery of the Descendants series, not just in movie form but also in books, added a new layer of excitement to my Disney experience.
"Isle of the Lost," the first book in the Descendants series by Melissa de la Cruz, is a delightful read. It takes the Disney universe in a fresh and imaginative direction, exploring the lives of the descendants of iconic Disney villains. What's remarkable about this book is how it manages to capture the essence of Disney's beloved characters while introducing a new generation of young and dynamic characters.
The story's setting, on the Isle of the Lost, adds depth to the Disney lore, showcasing a place where the villains' descendants grapple with their identities and their destiny. It's an engaging and fun premise that allows readers to see familiar characters in a different light.
One of the standout aspects of "Isle of the Lost" is how it makes you fall in love with the characters all over again. Whether it's Mal, Evie, Jay, or Carlos, you can't help but become invested in their journeys and growth throughout the book. Melissa de la Cruz does a fantastic job of giving these characters depth and complexity.
My favorite Disney movies, "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid," and those classics have a special place in the hearts of many. However, my discovery of the Descendants series, not just in movie form but also in books, added a new layer of excitement to my Disney experience.
"Isle of the Lost," the first book in the Descendants series by Melissa de la Cruz, is a delightful read. It takes the Disney universe in a fresh and imaginative direction, exploring the lives of the descendants of iconic Disney villains. What's remarkable about this book is how it manages to capture the essence of Disney's beloved characters while introducing a new generation of young and dynamic characters.
The story's setting, on the Isle of the Lost, adds depth to the Disney lore, showcasing a place where the villains' descendants grapple with their identities and their destiny. It's an engaging and fun premise that allows readers to see familiar characters in a different light.
One of the standout aspects of "Isle of the Lost" is how it makes you fall in love with the characters all over again. Whether it's Mal, Evie, Jay, or Carlos, you can't help but become invested in their journeys and growth throughout the book. Melissa de la Cruz does a fantastic job of giving these characters depth and complexity.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Great for upper elementary Disney fans. The inclusion of the house party with cider and the suggestion of being hungover wasn't needed. The younger audiences might be put off by how evil the villains are in this book. This is the prequel to the movie for sure. I enjoyed all the nods to the other characters. My heart went out the VK's not having love in their life though.
I had already seen both of the Disney Channel movies, and I thought this first book was what the first movie was based on. It turns out that this book was actually a prequel to the first movie. Since I had seen the movies, I expected the cheesiness, so that didn't bother me. It still bothers me though that the VK's other parents are not really explained: who they are, where they are, what happened to them. I still plan to check out the rest of the series.
3.5 Stars
Entertaining, but nothin' special.
Entertaining, but nothin' special.
When I first got this series at an extremely discounted rate, I thought I had struck gold. I love Descendants and I couldn't wait to read the books that inspired them.
Well... when I started reading, I realized it wasn't going to be like the movies. Evie and Mal aren't best friends and, in fact, in the very beginning of the book, Mal has dreams of happy enacting suffering on Evie. And Carlos isn't part of The Crew at all until later on - though he's great at his Weird Science class.
But that's fine though, because books are almost never like the movies. I can enjoy the Descendants movies and also this book series, right?
Mmm... I didn't hate this book, but I also didn't love it. It felt like everything worked out /too/ perfectly on their mission. There was way too many Deus Ex Machina going on here to be believable.
Deus Ex Machina, as defined by TVTropes, is "when some new event, character, ability, or object solves a seemingly unsolvable problem in a sudden, unexpected way". Which can work, sometimes... but in this particular book, the author utilizes that trope so much that it is simply no longer interesting. The mission feels too easy, even with the traps. I didn't ever really feel convinced that the characters were in peril and weren't going to get out...
And also: So. much. shrugging. How did no editor notice how much shrugging there was? The author surely could've mixed it up with another verb SOMEWHERE.
Having said all this though, I really liked the ending and the characters (even though they are different from the characters in the movies). And I'm gonna keep reading, at least until I finish the sequel. Because I want to know what happens next.
Well... when I started reading, I realized it wasn't going to be like the movies. Evie and Mal aren't best friends and, in fact, in the very beginning of the book, Mal has dreams of happy enacting suffering on Evie. And Carlos isn't part of The Crew at all until later on - though he's great at his Weird Science class.
But that's fine though, because books are almost never like the movies. I can enjoy the Descendants movies and also this book series, right?
Mmm... I didn't hate this book, but I also didn't love it. It felt like everything worked out /too/ perfectly on their mission. There was way too many Deus Ex Machina going on here to be believable.
Deus Ex Machina, as defined by TVTropes, is "when some new event, character, ability, or object solves a seemingly unsolvable problem in a sudden, unexpected way". Which can work, sometimes... but in this particular book, the author utilizes that trope so much that it is simply no longer interesting. The mission feels too easy, even with the traps. I didn't ever really feel convinced that the characters were in peril and weren't going to get out...
And also: So. much. shrugging. How did no editor notice how much shrugging there was? The author surely could've mixed it up with another verb SOMEWHERE.
Having said all this though, I really liked the ending and the characters (even though they are different from the characters in the movies). And I'm gonna keep reading, at least until I finish the sequel. Because I want to know what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse