Tags
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: January 26th, 2020
240 Pages
Synopsis: Disney’s Villains meet Gotham in this gritty fairy-tale inspired story.
Mary Elizabeth Heart is a high school senior by day, but by night she’s an intern at the Monarch City Police Department. She watches with envy from behind a desk as detectives come and go, trying to contain the city’s growing crime rate. For years, tension has simmered between the city’s wealthy elite, and their plans to gentrify the decaying neighborhood called the Scar—once upon a time the epicenter of all things magic.
When the daughter of one of the city’s most powerful businessmen goes missing, Mary Elizabeth is thrilled when the Chief actually puts her on the case. But what begins as a missing person’s report soon multiplies, leading her down a rabbit hole of a city in turmoil. There she finds a girl with horns, a boyfriend with secrets, and what seems to be a sea monster in a poison lake. As the mystery circles closer to home, Mary finds herself caught in the fight between those who once had magic, and those who will do anything to bring magic back.
This dark and edgy YA series explores the reimagined origins of Maleficent, Ursula, Captain Hook, and other infamous Disney villains like you’ve never seen before.
I was quite excited when I read the premise of City of Villains with the tagline Disney villains meets Gotham, but I have to be honest and say it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. My biggest problem I think is that everything is told rather than shown. I was never able to fully connect with the characters, the setting, or the story. However, seeing the origin stories of some of my favorite Disney villains was interesting and kept me turning the pages. I also have to say this is a quick read which I breezed through in couple of hours. Overall, while City of Villains wasn’t everything I was hoping it would be, there was just enough there that not only kept me reading, but also has me sufficiently interested enough to give the sequel a try when it comes out.
raistlin0903 said:
Wow, when I read the Disney villains meets Gotham tagline I got really excited as well! That soon dwindled after reading your entire post. Glad to hear it’s not a total loss though, and hopefully the sequel will be better at least! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This series has so much potential Michel, so I’m really hoping they do a better job with world building and character development going forward.
LikeLiked by 1 person
raistlin0903 said:
I will keep my fingers crossed for you😊 Hopefully, that’s going to happen!😀
LikeLike
fragglerocking said:
Fingers crossed it improves in the next book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Fraggle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
allthingsthriller said:
Too bad! Disney meets Gotham is a cool idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Right?! This has so much promise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
beetleypete said:
Not my thing, and the cover even looks like a comic. For your sake, I hope it gets better.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
This definitely is not for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person