Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos may have once been the baddest of the bad, but their wicked ways are (mostly) behind them-and now graduation is almost here! But before the seniors can don their custom-designed caps and gowns, courtesy of Evie, they’ve got an epic plan to put into action. There are tons of villain kids on the Isle of the Lost who are eager for their chance to come to Auradon Prep-even Celia, Dr. Facilier’s trickster daughter, wants in on the deal!-and Mal’s crew is using their upcoming visit to the Isle to help make it happen. But Auradon’s biggest threat is still at large?

Trapped on the other side of the barrier, Uma is more desperate than ever to get her long-awaited revenge against Mal. When she discovers an underground lair belonging to Hades, god of the underworld, Uma realizes she’s found the perfect partner in crime. Together, they can defeat Mal, bring down the barrier, and escape the Isle for good.

Mal and Uma have a score to settle, and they’ll come face to face in an explosive underwater battle that could determine the fates of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost once and for all. 

Escape From the Isle of the Lost is the fourth book in the Descendants novels series, which serves as a prelude to the final movie, Descendants 3.  It shows the characters dealing with what they plan to do with the next chapter in their lives, especially since neither Mal, Evie, Jay, or Carlos had really given thought to their futures when they’d been on the Isle (though we learn in this book that Carlos is a junior, unlike his friends).  Meanwhile, the VK’s try to hatch a plan to get more villain kids on the isle to apply for Auradon Prep so that they can get off the isle and have a chance to better their lives.

So I have to say off the bat, I wasn’t impressed with this book like the others.  As I mentioned, this book serves more as a way to give background information to the third movie.  Just as well, it includes the little Descendants: Under the Sea scene in the middle of it… which again, doesn’t serve a purpose to the overall story-line.  There’s really no “meat” to the story… it’s just empty.  Honestly, there wasn’t really a need for this book because it’s not like it explained all that much in the movie that we couldn’t figure out for ourselves, whereas the first book in the series, The Isle of the Lost, gives background to these characters before the first movie, and it even gives background to King Ben’s decision to bring over some villain kids to Auradon.

If there had been a different plot to this book, then it might have been worth it.  But if you’re a fan of Descendants and haven’t get read this book, I’d say hold off.  While there are fun little nuggets in the book, it’s really nothing that you’ll miss terribly.  Of course, that decision is yours.  You might find that you like the book more than I did.  I just personally think it doesn’t compare to the first two in the series.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars