Post by Donald Duck on May 20, 2010 2:33:55 GMT -8
The Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow Review
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Improved characterization, fantastic use of Disney properties, a gripping climax, and a bigger page count make this the best installment of the Kingdom Keepers series yet.[/center]
I read the first two Kingdom Keepers books back in late 2008, while I was recovering from appendicitis. The first book, if you recall my review, was mildly amusing and engaging, but it suffered from bland, stereotypical protagonists. The second book had a less engaging plot overall, and a weaker climax, but it was nevertheless more enjoyable because some of the key characters had improved. Unfortunately, the two books contained some extremely glaring errors, which proved distracting to me.
We are now three installments into the series, and I've got something to say about Ridley Pearson's series.
No, this installment is not called The Kingdom Keepers III: Another Roman Numeral Title. Yes, the series is improving!
For someone who wasn't a hardcore fan of the books (I rated the first and second books 7 and 7.5, respectively), you might wonder why I chose to read this third title. Well, it is true that the first two books aren't close to being in my list of favorite books by any stretch of the imagination, but I was entertained by them. Also, I honestly feel partial to the series, despite its flaws, because I read them at a time of great pain and discomfort, and those books really helped me escape from the harsh reality. For a while.
At any rate, I bought the third book, and I took my time with it. I was busy with the closure of the semester, but I managed to read several chapters every day (usually two or three). The chapters are a breeze for veteran readers, but there's 48 chapters in this book, so the page numbers add up. The book is the longest in the series to date, at 545 pages. I like that, personally!
The book is the longest in the series so far, as I just mentioned, so that's great news if the story and characterization are better. Fortunately, that's the case here! The Kingdom Keepers, just to recap, are teenagers who were secretly enlisted by Wayne Kresky to slip into their "DHI" forms while they sleep, and infiltrate the parks to combat and subdue the evil Overtakers. To jog our memories, here are the main characters.
Lawrence Finnegan "Finn" Whitman
The leader of the Kingdom Keepers. He didn't appoint himself; it just came naturally. He's a natural leader, but even he is plagued with moral and personal issues. I like that in him. He's not just a goody two-shoes; he has confused feelings about Amanda, and at one point in the book he is given a huge, huge dilemma, and must decide on whether or not to perform an action that can only be described as herculean.
"Honey, you mean Hunkules!"
Charlene Turner
The jailbait of the series. She is described as a physically beautiful teen whose beauty belies her young age, although you wouldn't know that because of these odd illustrations from the official website. She has really grown on me, to be honest. She was among the least interesting and most forgettable characters in the first book, but she improved somewhat in the second. Now she's one of my favorite characters in the series; she has really evolved as a character. Maybe that was Mr. Pearson's intention?
Terrence "Donnie" Maybeck
Usually referred to as simply Maybeck. An African American male, he is described as the tallest of the Kingdom Keepers. He is also the most cynical and skeptic, as well as an outspoken opponent of most of Finn's methods. He was my favorite character in the second book, but I admittedly (and sadly) lost some respect for him in this book when he severely dissed Dumbo, yet is likely accepting of current Disney Channel live-action shows. The dope! He is extremely proud of his heritage; his great grandparents were slaves in America. At two points in this book, his hotheadedness was challenged by Finn and Philby. Those were particularly memorable sections. Maybeck's language is watered down this time, sad to say.
NOTE: Donnie, Donald Duck's counterpart in Disnémon, was not named after Maybeck. He was actually named after Donnie from The Big Lebowski.
Dell Philby
Philby's first name is never actually mentioned in the books (from what I can remember), but Ridley Pearson has apparently confirmed the name "Dell." Anyway, Philby has been described as being from Europe, because his accent is blatantly not American. He is the braniac of the group, and retains a lot of information. Although there are allusions to Finn being smarter, Philby is useful not only for his computer and hacking knowledge, but also because of his invaluable ability to look at things differently. He can and does notice things that his fellow Kingdom Keepers have all overlooked. Philby is subject to some fairly humorous scenes in this story. Too bad he also dissed Dumbo, the moron. Maybeck did have some excuse, I guess, but Philby? That I will not do!
Yes, I'm a huge Dumbo fan. What of it?
Isabella "Willa" Angelo
Of either Native American or Asian descent. In the past, I made no effort to hide my indifference to the character. For the past two books (especially the first), I felt that she was just kinda there, and nothing more. Surprise, surprise, she's given an overhaul this time around! There's a particularly memorable chapter that places her in Soarin'. Damn, girl, keep it up!
Besides the classic five Kingdom Keepers, two recurring characters are now officially part of the team!
Amanda Lockhart
Sorry, no picture is available. And, no, she is not an impossibly breasted Final Fantasy character! Amanda very obviously has a crush on Finn, and it's mutual. This book marks the furthest that their relationship has traveled. Amanda is a "Fairlie," or possesses a special power: she can control wind. Her powers can be very strong, and are nothing to sneeze at. In the past, I complained that Amanda was an interesting character, yet was restricted to be merely supporting and not granted a more important role. It's almost as if Mr. Pearson has been reading my reviews, because my wish was granted this time! Amanda and her sister were made by Finn and company to have DHI counterparts, so they could join along for the adventure!
Jess Lockhart
Again, no picture available. Jess is Amanda's sister. HUH?
"Excuse me. What the [freak]?"
What the hell is going on, Ridley? At the end of the first book, when 'Jez' was freed from Maleficent's control, 'Jez' was revealed to be truly named Jess. Then in the second book, she was called Jez without a single freakin' acknowledgment of "Jess!" Now she's Jess instead of Jez?! WHAT THE HELL?! JUST PICK A DAMN NAME, PEARSON! This is unnecessarily confusing and inconsistent! I was astounded when I read Jess's name in this book, when her name was clearly--arrgh! Man alive!
Good news, though: that rant was actually my biggest criticism of this book, and it's out of the way already!
So Jez--er--Jess is Amanda's sister. She, too, has a special power: dreams. She is a soothsayer, a character trait that proves important, especially in the search for...
Wayne Kresky
Definitely a favorite character of mine. He is a mellow Cast Member who is also annoyingly cryptic as hell. I love it! He has gone missing shortly before the events of this book, and much of this installment is an all-nighter search for him. Surprise, surprise! Wayne may actually be a father...
Wanda Kresky
A woman who claims to be Wayne Kresky's daughter. Can she really be trusted? This new character, I must say, really grew on me. I wanted to read more about her, and her addition is certainly welcome. I hope she returns in future installments.
And, of course...
Maleficent
I will never, ever, ever agree with Maleficent riding a motorcycle, driving a Cadillac, and saying "sweetie." Fortunately, this Maleficent is different from Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent entirely. It's hard to explain without reading the books, but she's basically the personification of Maleficent as seen in Walt Disney World, so... that kinda makes un-Maleficentisms slightly more tolerable. Anyway, she returns as a primary antagonist.
Chernabog
I was bloody pissed off when the second book's climax sucked. Fortunately, Chernabog's presence makes up for that! Granted, he's still less prominent than Maleficent, but he's got a lot of potential for the future of the series!
Hell, there's even Gigabyte the snake from "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" as a notable antagonist! How cool is that? But even Finn is antagonized outside of the parks; there's a mean bully in school who keeps the conflicts going even outside of Disney property.
Not to mention the Kingdom Keepers' parents and guardians. Mrs. Whitman really grew on me. She's a major supporting character in this installment, and I really felt for her. She's a great character. Philby's mom is a complete [w]itch, but that only adds more characterization! There's a specific chapter focusing on Mrs. Whitman that actually made me feel considerably sad. Them's good writing, Mr. Pearson!
Yes, this book is so much better than the previous installments. The writing is sharper, the characters are more fleshed out and better, and the locations are great. The primary locations are EPCOT and, at least with the climax, Hollywood (MGM) Studios. The use of EPCOT is great; Maelstrom is a huge plot point, as well as Soarin'. And who could possibly forget Spaceship Earth? Mission: Space is a standout attraction, as is Test Track. They're both vivid in detail and scope.
It is fortunate that Disney facts are consistently better this time around. I grimaced every time Ridley Pearson erroneously spelled "Fantasmic!" as "Fantasmics," but fortunately he hit the ball right out of the park this time. Not only did he get "Fantasmic!" right this time around, but "Fantasmic!" plays an enormous role in this story.
I do have one complaint, though. It's petty and silly, but I was disappointed that Hollywood Studios didn't play a bigger role outside of "Fantasmic!" The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is my favorite Hollywood Studios attraction, yet it wasn't so much as mentioned. It would have made for a perfectly acceptable, even thrilling scene. Also, not having The Great Movie Ride was a shame, but I guess it would've been too much of a hassle to get permission for the use of those films and characters. Still, wouldn't it have been badass to see the Kingdom Keepers antagonized by the Wicked Witch of the West audio-animatronic? Or how about them conversing with Humphrey Bogart? These complaints are small and petty, but I just can't shake the feeling that the omission of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a missed opportunity. I can only hope that Hollywood Studios will be revisited again in the series sometime later.
I was genuinely impressed by how Mr. Pearson managed to tie this in with the first two books. I expected the second book to be referenced often (it was), but even the first book was referenced often. Blackbeard, the Stonecutter's Quill, Maybeck's capture and rescue. Hell, even Dillard Cole, Finn's former best friend but has since been shafted in favor of the Kingdom Keepers, was mentioned! That was surprising, and pleasant. Poor Dillard.
Outside of the text, there is a code to crack. The code is very easy to break (even I managed to do it!), but it's still cute and welcome. It's clear that Ridley Pearson is taking this series to heart, and it shows. I commend that.
I had a difficult time putting this book down between readings. It is true that this is still a largely goofy and ridiculous series, but the third book is, in my opinion, good. Not "good for what it is" or "good in a dopey kind of way." No, the third installment is outright good. It's easily my favorite of the series so far, and it left an impression on me.
This book's ending clearly indicates that the series is far from over (thankfully!), but it's nevertheless the most satisfying ending to date. In fact, if the Kingdom Keepers did manage to defeat the Overtakers for good this time around, and this book's ending remained the same after that fact, I would honestly say that the series ended on a very satisfying high note. Luckily, there's more to come.
It's a shame that there will be quite some time until the next book comes out. This book was released roughly a year and a half after the previous installment, so the long wait is inevitable. But, Mr. Pearson, I can freely say that I am now truly hooked because of this book. I'm not gonna lie, it's going to be difficult for you to top yourself, but I'm confident you can do it! If the rumors that the fourth book will take place mostly on a Disney Cruise ship (awesome!) are true, then count me in! In fact, I think I'll read one of your adult thriller novels soon, just because I'm curious to see how you write for grown-ups.
Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow has quite a bit of "slow" moments that gradually build up the suspense about Wayne's uncertain fate, as well as ominous visions about the future. You absolutely need to have a basic knowledge of Walt Disney World to fully 'get' this series. You also need to read the first two (unfortunately lesser) novels, but if you're willing to make that commitment, I'd check them out.
The third time is most definitely the charm.
9 out of 10
