Review: The Isle of the Lost (Descendants, #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Borrowed
Publication Date: May 5th 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Point of View: 3rd Person & Alternative
Recommended Age: all ages
Pacing: Fast
Genres &  Themes: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fairytales, Family, Adventure, Friendship

BLURB:

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?

Well color me surprised, because this was better than I imagined.

The Descendants are the children of the villains we see in our classic fairytales: Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella de Vil and Jafar.

All evil perpetrators were exiled to a not-so-isolated isle enclosed by a dome, to keep them from ever ruining happy ever afters.

Magic all around the Kingdom and isle is gone, but the Descendants’ quest is to bring it back and free themselves from their eternal punishment.

My god did I have fun reading this prequel to the musical, Descendants. I watched the movie first and liked the spunk of the characters so much I couldn’t wait to learn more about them and the world they live in.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to embark in a young adult or middle grade story, but I quickly realised it was not going to be anything PG rated; it’s middle grade.

The story is very silly but, in my opinion, a refreshing and enthralling kind of silly. The offspring of the infamous villains are trying so hard to become their parents – or at least get their attention and make them proud – it’s actually adorable.

Family is one of the main themes. It’s the whole reason why they are going on their quest in the first place. Like most young teens, their parent’s approval is very important to them, especially when your parents were so grand they made history.

However, slowly, the Descendants learn the meaning of friendship, through daunting, cut-throat situations requiring courage, help and trust.

It’s just so… fairytale-ish. I loved that. The type of story with a peculiar, omniscient narrator you feel is talking to you directly, life-changing quests, eye-opening adventures and the tiny bit of true love!

There’s even a school for villains. Now, how original is that? Truly, if you do not take it too seriously and are open to silliness, I see no reason to not enjoy the story.

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