The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz (A Prequel to the New Disney Channel Movie DESCENDANTS)

Teen Review by Reagan 

THE ISLE OF THE LOST
A Descendants Novel
by Melissa De La Cruz
Age Range: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Series: The Descendants
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (May 5, 2015)

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that's been left to rot and forgotten by the world.

But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?

Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.

Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent's daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon's eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.

Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen's daughter, Evie, doesn't know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she's a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal's little tricks.

Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he's not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon's eye.

Carlos: Cruella de Vil's son may not be bravest, but he's certainly clever. Carlos's inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon's eye and ending the banishment for good.

Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon's eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the dragon's eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.

I loved this book. I got it and read it in an hour. I didn't know it was going to be a movie until under 'TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.........

 PREMIERS ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL 2015'

I was like whoa! That's so cool! Now all these little tid bits in the book make sense! It'll be interesting to see how the book ties in with the movie. I liked Mal a lot. The way that she knows who she wants to be and how to get it. She does everything she wants and isn't really questioned because of who her mother is. Evie was awesome and wasn't full of herself. She has all the insecurities that girls in the modern world have. Carlos is a mechanical genius. He makes things that spark the Dragon's Eye to life. Jay really reminds my of Aladdin pre-Jasmine. He steals whatever he wants to keep his family running. He literally wears the same things that Aladdin does, just adding little more punk.

This summer, Descendants the movie comes out. This book is the prequel to the movie so I would read this before watching it. I know I know, the book was inspired by a movie, but still.  I admit I am a little skeptical about the movie cast. Mal is supposed to strike fear in you as soon as you walk into a room. Dove Cameron just doesn't give off that kind of vibe. Too happy. They're all supposed to be the same age also. Dove Cameron is 19 (Mal), Cameron Boyce is 15 (Carlos), Booboo Stewart is 21 (Jay), and Sophia Carson is 22 (Evie). ONLY ONE OF THOSE IS HIGH SCHOOL!

Okay rant and praises over. Please read an watch! Hope you enjoyed the review and I hope you enjoy the book!