I read about this book in an edition of a magazine my family gets called Disney Files. It details new and upcoming events in the Disney Parks and in all of the other aspects of the Disney world--like movies, merchandise, etc. I read that a new made for TV movie called "Disney Descendants" would be aired this summer and The Isle of the Lost is the prequel for this movie. Clever marketing, in my opinion...getting people to buy a book published by Disney in order to understand a movie made by Disney.
So, I bought the book and read it. It's a children's book, after all, so it didn't take long. As I was reading, the story and characters reminded me of Disney, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson all rolled up into one. It was a good story and I am curious now to watch the movie and see what happens next for these Disney Descendants.
In a nutshell, The Isle of the Lost is where the Disney Villains and their children have been banned to live out their lives. Maleficent and her daughter Mal hate The Evil Queen and her daughter Evie and have banned Evie and The Queen to their castle. Mal is not a nice girl, as one might imagine the daughter of Maleficent to be, and she can't stand Evie, who spends her days trying to ignore her mother's requests for her to wear make-up and make herself pretty and presentable in front of the Magic Mirror. Cruella deVil's son Carlos is also part of this story. He spend his days in his mother's closet caring for her furs. Jafar's son Jay, another of the main characters, spends his days stealing from anyone and everyone on the island. They make a very interesting quartet.
One of the plot lines of the book, and a major one at that, follows the hatred between Mal and Evie (who had the nerve to NOT invite Mal to a party when they were six, resulting in her banishment by Maleficent) sparks Mal's attempt to play a cruel joke on Evie and her desire to find Maleficent's staff in order to ingratiate herself once again with her mother. Carlos and Jay are along for the ride to help Mal carry out her evil plans. Carlos is very interested in the scientific forms of magic, since magic in all forms has been banned from the island. He is a very clever boy that Mal uses to get things done.
In a Kingdom not far away, Auradon is where King Beast (married to Queen Belle) reigns over the other Princes and Princesses and their children. Ben, son of Beast and Belle, is preparing to take over as King and has fallen in love with Prince Philip and Princess Aurora's daughter Audrey, who is exactly as flighty and whimsical as you'd think she'd be. The sections of the book devoted to Auradon are few and hint at a possible love interest between Ben and Mal, so I hope this becomes more prevalent in the movie. Ben is also trying hard to have people think of him as a potential King and a benevolent ruler, so I suspect this will also be explored in the upcoming movie.
As I read, I couldn't help but wonder where the missing parents of these Descendants are. Mal, Evie, and Carlos seem to be raised by their mothers; Jay by his Father. I know that I am an adult, but children will wonder about this, too. Mal's father was mentioned once or twice, but never by name. So...just who are these nameless people who had children with some of the greatest villains of all time? I am so curious!
I am also anxiously awaiting the movie. The Isle of the Lost gave me just enough background information to understand the plot of the movie, whatever it might be, and peaked my curiosity about the children and where their lives will go next. I suspect that this is exactly what Disney wanted to happen, too!
If you are a Disney fan, this one is is must-read!
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
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