Kingdom Keepers: The Return Book Two Disney Divides

Disney escapism for the whole family - wish they'd consider making these novels into a series!

Really enjoyed it

As a DisNerd, I have always loved the idea behind the Kingdom Keepers novels. Five teens who get to wander the Disney theme parks at night at holograms? What’s not to love? For The Return, the sequel trilogy, author Ridley Pearson upped his game, and I couldn’t stop wishing I were the Kingdom Keepers as I read Legacy of Secrets.You see, as the last book ended, the Kingdom Keepers found themselves having traveled through time to Disneyland opening day in 1955. (And after dealing with holograms fighting Disney villains, this isn’t much of a stretch at all.) Yes, they are on a mission. It seems that Walt Disney’s pen, a pen with magic in it, has disappeared and the five teens must find it and make sure it is preserved so when they need it in the future it is there for them. Teaming up with a young Wayne, Finn and the rest have to follow clues left by Walt himself to uncover its hiding place.Meanwhile, in the present, Amanda and Jess are uncovering secrets of their own. While trying to find a way to help the Kingdom Keepers return when their mission is over, they stumble upon a buried piece of Disney history that could explain everything that has happened. What does it all mean?The book balances the two time lines perfectly. Both are engaging, and both dovetail off each other nicely. We learn some things that explain a lot about the characters and what has happened previously in the series here, things I didn’t know I cared about but was thrilled to learn.Quite often, the middle part of a trilogy knows it is such and feels like a placeholder. While we didn’t get the action and fights with the villains we would normally have in this series, the pace never slowed. The trail the Kingdom Keepers were following in the past was interesting, and the secrets that we were learning in the present were just as page turning. It’s a different kind of story for the series, but it absolutely works.Of course, part of that may have been my jealousy coming through. I couldn’t help but be green at times as I read about what the Kingdom Keepers were seeing and experiencing. I would love to be able to go back to 1955 and see Disneyland as it was when it first opened. Again, I’m jealous of these characters, and loved living vicariously through them.The one flaw of the series continues here – the characters could be better. They are strong enough to care about them, but they never feel completely real to me. Of course, I have read about them for how many books now? Obviously, it isn’t a huge issue for me. Fortunately, the characters have few conflicts with each other here, something that could really annoy in earlier adventures. Also, the young Wayne we get to know here loses his 50’s “Golly gee” type slang not too far into the book. If it had continued the entire way through, that would have been very annoying.While this book is the middle of a trilogy, this trilogy is a sequel series to a seven book series. It does its best to introduce things, but to really follow and appreciate what we learn here, you need to back up and start from the beginning.I’m anxious to find out what these new revelations (and the ending of this book) mean for the Kingdom Keepers, their friends, and the Disney legacy, so I will be waiting impatiently for the final book to come out this spring. In the meantime, pick up Legacy of Secrets and be ready for another magical adventure.

Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Willa, and Philby have traveled back in time and find themselves at Disneyland on Opening Day. As usual, though things don’t go exactly as planned. They have come to retrieve Walt Disney’s infamous pen that once saved the parks as we know them. They get to see the early days of the Tower of Terror, the origin of the Disney villains, the Overtakers, and magic that makes a series of events that propel both the Keepers and Disney into a darkness no one saw coming. They get a chance to do what few now a-days have only dreamed of, see the home of Walt Disney and try and save the parks, something they are getting used to. In the present time, the three Fairlies, Amanda, Jess, and Mattie, are doing everything they can to help their friends while dealing with problems of their own. They have unmasked a long-buried secret that threatens everything they have all worked for.I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Disney. There is something incredibly magical about everything Disney. It doesn’t matter if you are a kid or adult, Disney is magic. Ridley Pearson has brought that magic to readers once again with the continuation of the Kingdom Keepers. I have read all the Kingdom Keeper novels and have yet to get tired of these stories. Pearson has woven an intricate set of characters together with an amazing adventure that readers can’t help but devour. This is perfect for middle school kids and up to enjoy reading on their own or even for a fun family read. The adventures these kids get to go on is one so many would love to be a part of and can be by reading the stories. Each story is a continuation of the next and I wouldn’t advise trying to jump into the series part way through; instead, start at the beginning and follow the keepers on each journey. I liked the addition of the new characters, Nick, and Emily to help the Keepers in their journey, it kind of makes the ordinary reader feel like they can be a part of the magic.I can highly recommend this book and the entire series for all to enjoy.

As always, another very well written novel by Ridley. That being said, I found the original series far more enjoyable than this new "Return" series. The time travel aspect feels a big gimmicky and I didn't feel as drawn in to the story as I have been with previous releases. Will continue as a loyal reader and am looking forward to the resolution of this new storyline.

Some interesting surprises but also a few comebacks that I didn't care for. Also, the whole book seems to take place over only a couple of days time, which makes it seem slow moving. Like always, ended on a cliffhanger.

I love this series, however I was really disappointed with this book. I think the author is leading up to something amazing in his next book but this book was dull compared to the others in the series. Hopefully his next book will be much better.

I'm still in the books I know my friends and 2 daughters love it . The series been pass around among them they all love the stories.