Post by Donald Duck on Nov 7, 2008 19:43:14 GMT -8
About three weeks prior to this review, I read Ridley Pearson’s The Kingdom Keepers. After I finished I wrote a review, as you may have read. I concluded that although The Kingdom Keepers had some bland and stereotypical characters, glaring Disney errors, ridiculous Maleficent antics and was in all honestly a little more than a glorified work of fan fiction, the book was nevertheless a mildly engaging sci-fi/suspense thriller with a good combination of fact and fiction, blended genres, and an ultimately satisfying product (provided that the reader is an enormous Disney freak with some knowledge of Walt Disney World).
That book was written in 2005. The sequel was published and released on August 26th, 2008, coincidentally around the time when my appendix ruptured! This second book in the Kingdom Keepers series, Disney at Dawn, is obviously what I am going to review right now. (The first book has an alternative subtitle: Disney After Dark.)
Let’s begin this review with the first noticeable aspect—the title. The title of this book is The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn. There is seriously a “II” in the title? What is this trying to be, a movie? When was the last time you saw a novel with a Roman numeral in the title? I can understand “Book II” and other clever disguises like that, but a flat-out “II?” That’s not really a criticism, but rather an opinion that this was a slightly goofy choice. Either way, I can’t really criticize an author’s title.
In the first book’s ending, Maleficent was captured, the Kingdom Keepers solved the riddle of the Stonecutter’s Quill, and Finn restored Jez, Maleficent’s sidekick, back to her good, wholesome self, and it was revealed that Jez’s name was in fact Jess, and was Amanda’s sister.
Yes, that’s a spoiler, and I apologize for spoiling the first book for you, but allow me to explain myself: 1) this is a Disney book, so of course the heroes would emerge victorious, 2) Maleficent’s downfall was inevitable, and 3) Jez is a major character in the second book, as well as a major force behind the call of the hero’s journey.
Disney at Dawn picks up a few months after the first book ended. Amanda and Jess had vanished after being reunited, and haven’t been seen since. Finn, Philby, Maybeck, Charlene and Willa have become Disney theme park celebrities, and things seem to be normal at long last. That is, until Amanda and Jess suddenly appear, and it’s revealed that Jess’s name is Jez.
Wait a minute. What?
Near the end of the first Kingdom Keepers, in Chapter 34, page 317, this is clearly seen:
So, why is she referred to as Jez in the book’s sequel? Amanda blatantly stated that Jez’s true name is Jess, and Jez was merely a new name given to the character by Maleficent (Jezebel). What the hell? Why isn’t this consistent? Why does Mr. Pearson insist of changing the true name of a character between books? Not only is this inconsistency confusing, but it’s annoying and shows carelessness on the author’s part. It could be possible that Jess stuck with “Jez” as a nickname, but this has never been defined in the book at all. This is my biggest criticism with the book, and worst of all, it’s throughout the entire book starting at Chapter 2. Man alive. If Mr. Pearson’s decision to change Jess’s name back to Jez was intentional, then he should have made a mention of it somewhere, or even changed the previous book with an updated edition. Not like this!
Anyway, this book continues the Kingdom Keepers’ service to Walt Disney World. While the first book mostly consisted of the search for the Stonecutter’s Quill, this sequel has a simpler plot: Maleficent has escaped her prison, she is intending to resurrect her superior (Chernabog), and the Overtakers have created a second server for DHI holograms, which would aid her conquest. Worst of all, the Kingdom Keepers cannot fall asleep, or else they will be victims of “Sleeping Beauty Syndrome,” a concept that was used once in the first book, but is now a lingering threat in the sequel. On top of all of this, Jez has been abducted.
Oh, great. A good portion of the first book had to do with conflicts with the bewitched Jez, but she was rescued in the end. So for this book, she is abducted… again? Really? What is she, Princess Peach? Super Mario can get away with it, but in fiction this is just plain lazy.
This time the “Scooby-Doo in Walt Disney World” vibe is well played, and the character development has improved.
Characters:
There is one noticeable character missing in this book: Dillard Cole, the chubby friend of Finn. Considering how minor his role was in the first book, his absence isn’t missed. There are also a few friends of Wayne, such as a Dapper Dan and a man who operates a walking, talking trash bin.
And then there are the Overtakers!
Admittedly, the plot of Disney at Dawn is not quite as engaging and as fun as the first book. While the Magic Kingdom was the major focus in the prior story, this book’s story mostly takes place in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (the one area of Walt Disney World I have never visited). Also different between the books is the timeline: in the first Kingdom Keepers, the story took place over the course of about a month or more, and many different areas were featured outside of the Magic Kingdom, such as schools, downtown, Maybeck’s home, a skateboard park, and a few other locations as well. In Disney at Dawn, about 90% of the book takes place in the Animal Kingdom in a single day. This, however, is understandable; it is humanly impossible to stay awake for several months, after all!
It is a bit of a downer that the plot of this book isn’t quite as remarkable as the first book, but that could also be because I’m nowhere near as familiar with the Animal Kingdom as much as the Magic Kingdom. For what it is, though, it is well written—Mr. Pearson has done his homework (at least as far as theme park attractions are concerned), and the fact-and-fiction meshing is once again utilized enjoyably.
SPOILER. READ AT YOUR RISK. Perhaps my biggest gripe about this book is the anticlimactic ending. Disney at Dawn hooks you like the first book did (even if the location isn’t as engaging this time around), and the suspense gradually builds up. When I knew that Chernabog would at some point make an appearance, I was excited. I knew that would’ve been awesome. I thought that would be the case well into the book, but I started to fear for the worst when I realized that I was only twenty or so pages away from finishing the book, and there still wasn’t a conflict with Chernabog. When Chernabog is finally freed from the confines of his icy prison, he escapes with Maleficent. The book pretty much ends with a cliffhanger that screams, "Tune in next time for The Kingdom Keepers III: Another Roman Numeral Title!" Oy.
Regardless of the inferior plot, Disney at Dawn still manages to be overall superior to the first book. The reason for that is good news: the characters are more well-defined, they have more depth, and they’re not as bland this time around. Sure, they’re still stereotypical, but you actually feel their personality more, especially with the two girls.
There is some small nitpicking I have with this book, just like last time.
Here’s hoping that the third book will not continue the tradition of having Disney-related mistakes!
All in all, Disney at Dawn is an improvement over The Kingdom Keepers, despite having a weaker plot. The characters are better defined and written, the book is longer (although the chapters are shorter on average), and it is still mildly engaging entertainment for Disney freaks such as myself. It’s not at all Stephen King, but I’ve read far worse. Besides, what other book out there mentions Maleficent and Nintendo DS in the same chapter?
I give The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn a 7.5 out of a possible 10. Considering the roughly three-year period between the two books, we shouldn’t expect to see a third for quite a while.
That book was written in 2005. The sequel was published and released on August 26th, 2008, coincidentally around the time when my appendix ruptured! This second book in the Kingdom Keepers series, Disney at Dawn, is obviously what I am going to review right now. (The first book has an alternative subtitle: Disney After Dark.)
The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn Review
An overall improvement from the first book.
The first book had a better cover, definitely.
An overall improvement from the first book.
The first book had a better cover, definitely.
Let’s begin this review with the first noticeable aspect—the title. The title of this book is The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn. There is seriously a “II” in the title? What is this trying to be, a movie? When was the last time you saw a novel with a Roman numeral in the title? I can understand “Book II” and other clever disguises like that, but a flat-out “II?” That’s not really a criticism, but rather an opinion that this was a slightly goofy choice. Either way, I can’t really criticize an author’s title.
In the first book’s ending, Maleficent was captured, the Kingdom Keepers solved the riddle of the Stonecutter’s Quill, and Finn restored Jez, Maleficent’s sidekick, back to her good, wholesome self, and it was revealed that Jez’s name was in fact Jess, and was Amanda’s sister.
Yes, that’s a spoiler, and I apologize for spoiling the first book for you, but allow me to explain myself: 1) this is a Disney book, so of course the heroes would emerge victorious, 2) Maleficent’s downfall was inevitable, and 3) Jez is a major character in the second book, as well as a major force behind the call of the hero’s journey.
Disney at Dawn picks up a few months after the first book ended. Amanda and Jess had vanished after being reunited, and haven’t been seen since. Finn, Philby, Maybeck, Charlene and Willa have become Disney theme park celebrities, and things seem to be normal at long last. That is, until Amanda and Jess suddenly appear, and it’s revealed that Jess’s name is Jez.
Wait a minute. What?
Near the end of the first Kingdom Keepers, in Chapter 34, page 317, this is clearly seen:
Finn asked Amanda, “Is Jez who I think she is?”
“Jess, not Jez, not any more. How can we ever thank you?” The tears spilled from [Amanda’s] eyes. “We couldn’t break the spell ourselves.”
[/i]“Jess, not Jez, not any more. How can we ever thank you?” The tears spilled from [Amanda’s] eyes. “We couldn’t break the spell ourselves.”
So, why is she referred to as Jez in the book’s sequel? Amanda blatantly stated that Jez’s true name is Jess, and Jez was merely a new name given to the character by Maleficent (Jezebel). What the hell? Why isn’t this consistent? Why does Mr. Pearson insist of changing the true name of a character between books? Not only is this inconsistency confusing, but it’s annoying and shows carelessness on the author’s part. It could be possible that Jess stuck with “Jez” as a nickname, but this has never been defined in the book at all. This is my biggest criticism with the book, and worst of all, it’s throughout the entire book starting at Chapter 2. Man alive. If Mr. Pearson’s decision to change Jess’s name back to Jez was intentional, then he should have made a mention of it somewhere, or even changed the previous book with an updated edition. Not like this!
Anyway, this book continues the Kingdom Keepers’ service to Walt Disney World. While the first book mostly consisted of the search for the Stonecutter’s Quill, this sequel has a simpler plot: Maleficent has escaped her prison, she is intending to resurrect her superior (Chernabog), and the Overtakers have created a second server for DHI holograms, which would aid her conquest. Worst of all, the Kingdom Keepers cannot fall asleep, or else they will be victims of “Sleeping Beauty Syndrome,” a concept that was used once in the first book, but is now a lingering threat in the sequel. On top of all of this, Jez has been abducted.
Oh, great. A good portion of the first book had to do with conflicts with the bewitched Jez, but she was rescued in the end. So for this book, she is abducted… again? Really? What is she, Princess Peach? Super Mario can get away with it, but in fiction this is just plain lazy.
This time the “Scooby-Doo in Walt Disney World” vibe is well played, and the character development has improved.
Characters:
- Lawrence Finnegan "Finn" Whitman. Not only does he have one of the most excruciatingly sympathetic middle names for any fictional teenage boy, but he is also the series’ central protagonist. He didn’t appoint himself to be the leader, but rather his important status came naturally. He has a crush on Amanda, and it’s mutual. He’s kind-hearted, smart and brave, which are necessary qualities for any leader.
- Philby. His full name is unknown, nor is his country of origin (he has an un-American accent). He’s the brains of the group, and is tremendously reliable for information, technical knowledge and complicated plans in general.
- Terry Maybeck. An African-American teenage boy, and my favorite character in the series. He once again displays an attitude problem on a frequent basis, but under his thick and gruff exterior lies a loyal, noble heart. He and Willa seem to share a mutual (though secretive) attraction. One reason why Maybeck is such an admirable character is that he’s the only one who openly swears; at one point, it’s strongly hinted that he dropped the F bomb.
- Charlene Turner. The Daphne Blake of the Kingdom Keepers, only more vain about her appearance and femininity. She is described as physically beautiful that belies her young age. She spent the majority of the first book running, screaming and whining, but—holy cow—she actually does some important work in this sequel! She spends most of Disney at Dawn posing as DeVine, a character found in Animal Kingdom. This gives her camouflage, and she performs many stealth-based activities.
- Isabella Angelo (Willa). She is either Asian-American or Native American. Like Charlene, she is given more to do in this book. She dangerously searched for Jez in a chapter, only to flee from the clutches of a dragon. Alas, at one point she and Philby are abducted.
- Amanda. Amanda was a notable yet secondary character in the first Kingdom Keepers. Fortunately, her role is significantly expanded in this sequel, although she spends the majority of the story searching, along with the others, for Jez. She is described as very pretty and tall (even taller than her crush, Finn), and she, like Jez, possesses some interesting powers.
- Jez. Or Jess, like it should have been! Anyway, Jez is less interesting in this book than she was in the first. Instead of being a slave to Maleficent, she’s… kidnapped. She does leave some clues, and she is given a more active role when she is rescued, but for the most part she serves as an unseen character rather than a helpful comrade. Speaking of which…
- Wayne Kresky. Wayne! The badass Cast Member with the white hair! Unfortunately, he makes no physical appearance at all. He is only communicated through webcam and VMK; it turns out that he is hiding from the Overtakers. He also demonstrates himself to be an exceptional swordsman. Despite not being physically helpful like in the first book, he is still a major mentor.
There is one noticeable character missing in this book: Dillard Cole, the chubby friend of Finn. Considering how minor his role was in the first book, his absence isn’t missed. There are also a few friends of Wayne, such as a Dapper Dan and a man who operates a walking, talking trash bin.
And then there are the Overtakers!
- Maleficent. She is once again the principal antagonist, although her master is revealed. Her actions in this book aren’t nearly as ridiculous as they were in the previous adventure; for example, she does not ride a motorcycle, but she does hi-jack an ice truck… Once again, her skin is listed as green, and her powers can only fetter in cold temperature.
- Chernabog. It is blatantly obvious that Chernabog is the ultimate threat in the first chapter, so this isn’t exactly a spoiler. SPOILER. READ AT YOUR RISK. Unfortunately, since the book has such an anticlimactic ending, Chernabog and Maleficent flee shortly after the demon god is revived. In this book, Chernabog is described as the most evil and powerful of Walt Disney’s creations. Few would genuinely argue against that (“House of Mouse” episodes be damned!). It is obvious that he will return in the third book, which is guaranteed to be made.
Admittedly, the plot of Disney at Dawn is not quite as engaging and as fun as the first book. While the Magic Kingdom was the major focus in the prior story, this book’s story mostly takes place in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (the one area of Walt Disney World I have never visited). Also different between the books is the timeline: in the first Kingdom Keepers, the story took place over the course of about a month or more, and many different areas were featured outside of the Magic Kingdom, such as schools, downtown, Maybeck’s home, a skateboard park, and a few other locations as well. In Disney at Dawn, about 90% of the book takes place in the Animal Kingdom in a single day. This, however, is understandable; it is humanly impossible to stay awake for several months, after all!
It is a bit of a downer that the plot of this book isn’t quite as remarkable as the first book, but that could also be because I’m nowhere near as familiar with the Animal Kingdom as much as the Magic Kingdom. For what it is, though, it is well written—Mr. Pearson has done his homework (at least as far as theme park attractions are concerned), and the fact-and-fiction meshing is once again utilized enjoyably.
SPOILER. READ AT YOUR RISK. Perhaps my biggest gripe about this book is the anticlimactic ending. Disney at Dawn hooks you like the first book did (even if the location isn’t as engaging this time around), and the suspense gradually builds up. When I knew that Chernabog would at some point make an appearance, I was excited. I knew that would’ve been awesome. I thought that would be the case well into the book, but I started to fear for the worst when I realized that I was only twenty or so pages away from finishing the book, and there still wasn’t a conflict with Chernabog. When Chernabog is finally freed from the confines of his icy prison, he escapes with Maleficent. The book pretty much ends with a cliffhanger that screams, "Tune in next time for The Kingdom Keepers III: Another Roman Numeral Title!" Oy.
Regardless of the inferior plot, Disney at Dawn still manages to be overall superior to the first book. The reason for that is good news: the characters are more well-defined, they have more depth, and they’re not as bland this time around. Sure, they’re still stereotypical, but you actually feel their personality more, especially with the two girls.
There is some small nitpicking I have with this book, just like last time.
- Fantasmic! is once again erroneously referred to as “Fantasmics.” For crying out loud, Mr. Pearson—you should be aware of this mistake by now!
- There are a few typos.
- In one chapter, Maybeck mentions a younger sister, but then he later laments that he’s an only child. Huh?
- Finn also mentions a younger sister, even though no such character was ever mentioned, nor appeared in any of the family dinner scenes from the first book.
Here’s hoping that the third book will not continue the tradition of having Disney-related mistakes!
All in all, Disney at Dawn is an improvement over The Kingdom Keepers, despite having a weaker plot. The characters are better defined and written, the book is longer (although the chapters are shorter on average), and it is still mildly engaging entertainment for Disney freaks such as myself. It’s not at all Stephen King, but I’ve read far worse. Besides, what other book out there mentions Maleficent and Nintendo DS in the same chapter?
I give The Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn a 7.5 out of a possible 10. Considering the roughly three-year period between the two books, we shouldn’t expect to see a third for quite a while.
