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Kingdom Keepers #6.5
Unforeseen
Fairlies Amanda and Jess have won the hearts of Kingdom Keepers fans. Over the years, they’ve protected and supported the five Disney guides with their paranormal abilities. Now for the first time, author Ridley Pearson focuses on the “fairly human” girls, taking us inside Jess’s mind as she and Amanda embark on a journey to unravel her latest prophetic dream.
Jessica’s “gift” to dream of future events is both a blessing and a curse—the same visions that have saved countless lives are pure torment for her. Trapped in a body with a mind that has a mind of its own, Jess is condemned to see things she would often rather not.
Picking up after Kingdom Keepers VI—Dark Passage and leading up to Book VII—The Insider, Unforeseen opens with Jess dreaming of “cracks” in Disneyland. Is this vision something that will consume and destroy her friends, the Kingdom Keepers?
Jess sets out to find answers, embarking on her own nighttime adventure inside the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. There, she encounters an old man with secrets, a young Imagineer-in-training whose future Jess wants to see, and a treasured wonderland about to shatter.
Sometimes, the Unforeseen is better left unknown.
Available exclusively at www.KingdomKeepersInsider.com
Jessica’s “gift” to dream of future events is both a blessing and a curse—the same visions that have saved countless lives are pure torment for her. Trapped in a body with a mind that has a mind of its own, Jess is condemned to see things she would often rather not.
Picking up after Kingdom Keepers VI—Dark Passage and leading up to Book VII—The Insider, Unforeseen opens with Jess dreaming of “cracks” in Disneyland. Is this vision something that will consume and destroy her friends, the Kingdom Keepers?
Jess sets out to find answers, embarking on her own nighttime adventure inside the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. There, she encounters an old man with secrets, a young Imagineer-in-training whose future Jess wants to see, and a treasured wonderland about to shatter.
Sometimes, the Unforeseen is better left unknown.
Available exclusively at www.KingdomKeepersInsider.com
ebook
First published March 18, 2014
18 people are currently reading
3502 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
185 books2,089 followersRidley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 21, 2017
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I really didn't know what to expect going in, but I really liked this.
Unforeseen is a novella in the Kingdom Keepers series, and it takes place between books 6 and 7. The novella is in Jess's POV, which was a welcome change from the other books in the series. I really enjoyed Jess's voice, and even though the novella was short (and only took place over the course of one night), we see a lot of growth in her character, as she starts off very unsure of herself and ends with a lot more confidence.
The story begins with Jess being unable to clearly remember the dream she was having, but knowing it was important and could be very helpful for the rest of the Kingdom Keepers. She decides to get help from Wayne and ends up in the Magic Kingdom for the night with Amanda, Wayne, and an imagineer named Jason in order to remember her dream.
While I liked Jason, his character really wasn't necessary for this story. Especially since he is not heard of again for the rest of the series (including the sequel series that takes place after the events of book 7). He was kind of thrown in just for a little minor romance subplot, and it wasn't even really that. Also, there was definitely a continuity error with his character.
My only real complaint about this novella (besides the fact that I felt it was too short - I wanted more in Jess's POV!) was that I kind of wish we got to see Jess without Amanda. We've seen Amanda without Jess before, but we never really get to see Jess alone for the whole series, and I would have appreciate it more if Amanda hadn't followed her.
Overall, I recommend reading this if you're a fan of the KK series, and I definitely felt this was better written than some of the other books in the series.
Unforeseen is a novella in the Kingdom Keepers series, and it takes place between books 6 and 7. The novella is in Jess's POV, which was a welcome change from the other books in the series. I really enjoyed Jess's voice, and even though the novella was short (and only took place over the course of one night), we see a lot of growth in her character, as she starts off very unsure of herself and ends with a lot more confidence.
The story begins with Jess being unable to clearly remember the dream she was having, but knowing it was important and could be very helpful for the rest of the Kingdom Keepers. She decides to get help from Wayne and ends up in the Magic Kingdom for the night with Amanda, Wayne, and an imagineer named Jason in order to remember her dream.
While I liked Jason, his character really wasn't necessary for this story. Especially since he is not heard of again for the rest of the series (including the sequel series that takes place after the events of book 7). He was kind of thrown in just for a little minor romance subplot, and it wasn't even really that. Also, there was definitely a continuity error with his character.
My only real complaint about this novella (besides the fact that I felt it was too short - I wanted more in Jess's POV!) was that I kind of wish we got to see Jess without Amanda. We've seen Amanda without Jess before, but we never really get to see Jess alone for the whole series, and I would have appreciate it more if Amanda hadn't followed her.
Overall, I recommend reading this if you're a fan of the KK series, and I definitely felt this was better written than some of the other books in the series.
March 22, 2014
I was very pleased to receive an ARC of this novella. It was a pleasant surprise and a very fun read.
This novella was one wild ride! I'll be honest, I think I missed a lot of little things because I was trying to read through it so quickly to find out what happens. There are no chapters, it's just one continuous story. And once the action starts, it doesn't end, so there is never a good place to stop and catch your breath. As a result, I'm not sure I completely understood the ending. I'll need to go back and reread to be sure. If I caught it right, I don't think I like what it's foreshadowing.
I liked reading this book that concentrated on Amanda and Jess. It was nice just staying up with 2 of them instead of 5 or more!
There are references to New Fantasyland in this book and the new rides. I like that Pearson is keeping up with Disney changes! I think Pearson's writing has gotten tighter in each book. In the first book there were so many holes and inaccuracies, you had to suspend more belief than just the fact that the dolls from it's a small world come to life (I always thought they were more creepy than cute).
I also liked how the girls interact with Belle. I have not read all of the KK books (although I own all of them!) and I have not seen them interact with as many "good" characters as "evil"/Overtakers characters.
Fans of the KK series will not be disappointed. I think there will be even more people who want to see more of the fairlie sisters!
This novella was one wild ride! I'll be honest, I think I missed a lot of little things because I was trying to read through it so quickly to find out what happens. There are no chapters, it's just one continuous story. And once the action starts, it doesn't end, so there is never a good place to stop and catch your breath. As a result, I'm not sure I completely understood the ending. I'll need to go back and reread to be sure. If I caught it right, I don't think I like what it's foreshadowing.
I liked reading this book that concentrated on Amanda and Jess. It was nice just staying up with 2 of them instead of 5 or more!
There are references to New Fantasyland in this book and the new rides. I like that Pearson is keeping up with Disney changes! I think Pearson's writing has gotten tighter in each book. In the first book there were so many holes and inaccuracies, you had to suspend more belief than just the fact that the dolls from it's a small world come to life (I always thought they were more creepy than cute).
I also liked how the girls interact with Belle. I have not read all of the KK books (although I own all of them!) and I have not seen them interact with as many "good" characters as "evil"/Overtakers characters.
Fans of the KK series will not be disappointed. I think there will be even more people who want to see more of the fairlie sisters!
June 13, 2020
This was a fun short novella, the adventure and characters were all good. If I could I'd give this more 3.5, it was definitely enjoyable. My first time reading kingdom keepers in a while and it was allot of fun to return.
May 21, 2022
Unforeseen
Jess wakes up from a nightmare about Mickey, smoke, and something being shattered. Wanda gets Jess in contact with Wayne and Jess tells him about her dreams. Wayne says he might have a way to invoke the visions and make them last longer. Wayne then confesses that Tia Dalma has escaped and that for now the Keepers can’t know. Wayne instructs Jess to go through the Emporium and find her way to Escher’s Keep -there she’ll be safe-. In the Emporium, someone is following her. It turns out to be .. Amanda. Amanda heard Jess sneaking out and followed her. Jess is a little disappointed because she wanted to do this *alone*. Amanda is mad because Jess didn’t go to her and questions if they can trust win after Dillard. Shortly after they’re pursued by maniquins sent by Horace and Jasper. Eventually, Wayne, Jess, and Amanda outrun them, navigate Escher’s Keep, and end up back at Disney’s apartment. On the way up Jess starts to have a vision, but once there when she tries to force it nothing comes. But she can sense ruin, terror, and destruction.
Wayne suggests an adventure. There were certain hidden Mickeys in certain parts of the park that Cast Member’s said they got “snapshots”. Combined with Jess’s ability, Wayne thinks this may strengthen her gift. They discover Stitch in the closet and he and Wayne use the zip line to escape. Jess and Amanda find that Horace and Jasper somehow figured out Escher’s Keep and found the apartment. They lock them in from the outside. On the way to go down the zipline, Jess has a thought about flags. Wayne turns the mission over to a fill-in college student-Jason-. Together he, the girls, and Stitch fight off two vultures and find the hidden mickey in what looks like a part of a coil of television cable. Jess gets a jumbled image of a broken stick, four figures doing cartwheels, a ladder, a track, (or boxcars), maybe a section of a spreadsheet, or frames. Jessica makes out the silhouette of Big Thunder Mountain. She tells the others she saw smoke, lightning, and an explosion.
Jason and Jess get to know each other and exchange numbers while Amanda sleeps. Jason asks Jess out and she accepts. (Amanda -not really sleep-over hears all of it). They head toward Big Thunder Mountain, but Jason because he made an agreement as an Imagineer not to disclose too much about the hidden mickeys that he can only help so much. Jason leaves them with some advice from Wayne TRUST and tells Amanda to go easy on her powers. Once inside, Jess has a “pull” that guides her in the right direction. Amanda saves Jess as a train heads for her on the tracks but she slips onto the track herself. Jess tries to reach out for her but she uses her power to slow the train and save herself. The next hidden Mickey is in a cacti field by the waiting area. Jessica has a vision of Philby and not making a bridge in time. There’s also the sound of an explosion and crashing.
In the Frontier Land Station, Amanda, Jess, and Jason come under the attack of some OTKs but aided by the Fairies. Jess spots an overhead iron railing design that consists of Mickey’s. They remind her of tentacles and suction cups. The next hidden mickey is found in Fantasy land made by the shadows by the windows of Belle’s attraction by Gaston’s statue. From a certain POV, the stone looks cracked. There’s a plaque that sits on a “chimney” that when LeFou’s beer steam is pulled activates a ladder to appear. Underneath is a tunnel that connects to the Utilidor. Because Jess thinks she saw a plate, they head for Cinderella’s Royal Table. There they almost outsmart Gaston (whose there with Le-Fou) but using the same trick Charlene used in Power Play with the Evil Queen (hading him a surface to distract himself with his looks) when Belle appears. With a promise to visit him later at his tavern, she sends him on his way. None of the plates give Jess a vision. Belle suggests that there are plates in the Haunted Mansion that sometimes the Cast Members move around to form the hidden mickey shape.
At the Haunted Mansion, Jess has a vision of Finn coming face to face with a jaguar (and a bear?). When she opens them she and Amanda are surrounded by the graveyard’s dead pets. Jess then has another vision of a pack of wild dogs closing in on Willa. A snake wraps itself around Amanda’s ankles, but Jess uses the fact that all the animals are blind and the distraction of the smell of one of her shirts to free Amanda and escape. In the Mansion, they find a door that leads to a hidden room (a murder room) with photos dedicated to Wayne’s death. When they find the plates, Jess says it’s the end. Then Wayne is sitting there confirming. Her sketchbook is now full of images. She touches the plate and sees words “When is the present the past”. The answer is the Future. Another plate has “lucky 1000” Jess drops the plate and it shatters. It shatters into five pieces (symbolizing the KK’s)
Wayne is sitting in front of the plate. (Remember the house has 999 ghosts). Wayne wants to know what Jessica say but she can’t bear to tell him. Wayne thinks it’s “black magic” and on the way home tells her that he’s gonna change but no time soon. He’ll change when he’s not useful anymore (which is an odd thing to say). Then he says he still has young Imagineers to train (like Jason) and he’s not worried about some words on a plate.
My Thoughts: This was GOOD! I liked how it went in a different direction than just the KK following cryptic clues to find the OT. I’ve always liked reading about the hidden Mickeys (something that I just never seem to do when I’m in the parks themselves because my mind isn’t on it). And I kind of wondered why Amanda and Jessica didn’t just pull out their phones and find one of the sites that pointed out where they were. But the book says they change. Still, I’m thinking *some* might stay the same. But this is just a guess. So very fun concept to make a short story in the installment about finding the hidden Mickeys to help Jessica decipher her dreams. Also, very clever to have “hidden scenes” to (the next book?) There was even a shocking part (Wayne’s death prediction) I also liked how that fit in with the 999 ghosts. I liked that we got to see some serious GIRL POWER going on with Amanda and Jessica. I did hope that this would be solely about Jess (showing us what she could do without Amanda, but I really wasn’t disappointed. I’ll even go as far as to see that other than the first book, this might have been one of my favorites in the series! I even loved the introduction of the newer additions (lands) to the park and characters such as the Fairies and how they fit into the story.
Rating: 8
Jess wakes up from a nightmare about Mickey, smoke, and something being shattered. Wanda gets Jess in contact with Wayne and Jess tells him about her dreams. Wayne says he might have a way to invoke the visions and make them last longer. Wayne then confesses that Tia Dalma has escaped and that for now the Keepers can’t know. Wayne instructs Jess to go through the Emporium and find her way to Escher’s Keep -there she’ll be safe-. In the Emporium, someone is following her. It turns out to be .. Amanda. Amanda heard Jess sneaking out and followed her. Jess is a little disappointed because she wanted to do this *alone*. Amanda is mad because Jess didn’t go to her and questions if they can trust win after Dillard. Shortly after they’re pursued by maniquins sent by Horace and Jasper. Eventually, Wayne, Jess, and Amanda outrun them, navigate Escher’s Keep, and end up back at Disney’s apartment. On the way up Jess starts to have a vision, but once there when she tries to force it nothing comes. But she can sense ruin, terror, and destruction.
Wayne suggests an adventure. There were certain hidden Mickeys in certain parts of the park that Cast Member’s said they got “snapshots”. Combined with Jess’s ability, Wayne thinks this may strengthen her gift. They discover Stitch in the closet and he and Wayne use the zip line to escape. Jess and Amanda find that Horace and Jasper somehow figured out Escher’s Keep and found the apartment. They lock them in from the outside. On the way to go down the zipline, Jess has a thought about flags. Wayne turns the mission over to a fill-in college student-Jason-. Together he, the girls, and Stitch fight off two vultures and find the hidden mickey in what looks like a part of a coil of television cable. Jess gets a jumbled image of a broken stick, four figures doing cartwheels, a ladder, a track, (or boxcars), maybe a section of a spreadsheet, or frames. Jessica makes out the silhouette of Big Thunder Mountain. She tells the others she saw smoke, lightning, and an explosion.
Jason and Jess get to know each other and exchange numbers while Amanda sleeps. Jason asks Jess out and she accepts. (Amanda -not really sleep-over hears all of it). They head toward Big Thunder Mountain, but Jason because he made an agreement as an Imagineer not to disclose too much about the hidden mickeys that he can only help so much. Jason leaves them with some advice from Wayne TRUST and tells Amanda to go easy on her powers. Once inside, Jess has a “pull” that guides her in the right direction. Amanda saves Jess as a train heads for her on the tracks but she slips onto the track herself. Jess tries to reach out for her but she uses her power to slow the train and save herself. The next hidden Mickey is in a cacti field by the waiting area. Jessica has a vision of Philby and not making a bridge in time. There’s also the sound of an explosion and crashing.
In the Frontier Land Station, Amanda, Jess, and Jason come under the attack of some OTKs but aided by the Fairies. Jess spots an overhead iron railing design that consists of Mickey’s. They remind her of tentacles and suction cups. The next hidden mickey is found in Fantasy land made by the shadows by the windows of Belle’s attraction by Gaston’s statue. From a certain POV, the stone looks cracked. There’s a plaque that sits on a “chimney” that when LeFou’s beer steam is pulled activates a ladder to appear. Underneath is a tunnel that connects to the Utilidor. Because Jess thinks she saw a plate, they head for Cinderella’s Royal Table. There they almost outsmart Gaston (whose there with Le-Fou) but using the same trick Charlene used in Power Play with the Evil Queen (hading him a surface to distract himself with his looks) when Belle appears. With a promise to visit him later at his tavern, she sends him on his way. None of the plates give Jess a vision. Belle suggests that there are plates in the Haunted Mansion that sometimes the Cast Members move around to form the hidden mickey shape.
At the Haunted Mansion, Jess has a vision of Finn coming face to face with a jaguar (and a bear?). When she opens them she and Amanda are surrounded by the graveyard’s dead pets. Jess then has another vision of a pack of wild dogs closing in on Willa. A snake wraps itself around Amanda’s ankles, but Jess uses the fact that all the animals are blind and the distraction of the smell of one of her shirts to free Amanda and escape. In the Mansion, they find a door that leads to a hidden room (a murder room) with photos dedicated to Wayne’s death. When they find the plates, Jess says it’s the end. Then Wayne is sitting there confirming. Her sketchbook is now full of images. She touches the plate and sees words “When is the present the past”. The answer is the Future. Another plate has “lucky 1000” Jess drops the plate and it shatters. It shatters into five pieces (symbolizing the KK’s)
Wayne is sitting in front of the plate. (Remember the house has 999 ghosts). Wayne wants to know what Jessica say but she can’t bear to tell him. Wayne thinks it’s “black magic” and on the way home tells her that he’s gonna change but no time soon. He’ll change when he’s not useful anymore (which is an odd thing to say). Then he says he still has young Imagineers to train (like Jason) and he’s not worried about some words on a plate.
My Thoughts: This was GOOD! I liked how it went in a different direction than just the KK following cryptic clues to find the OT. I’ve always liked reading about the hidden Mickeys (something that I just never seem to do when I’m in the parks themselves because my mind isn’t on it). And I kind of wondered why Amanda and Jessica didn’t just pull out their phones and find one of the sites that pointed out where they were. But the book says they change. Still, I’m thinking *some* might stay the same. But this is just a guess. So very fun concept to make a short story in the installment about finding the hidden Mickeys to help Jessica decipher her dreams. Also, very clever to have “hidden scenes” to (the next book?) There was even a shocking part (Wayne’s death prediction) I also liked how that fit in with the 999 ghosts. I liked that we got to see some serious GIRL POWER going on with Amanda and Jessica. I did hope that this would be solely about Jess (showing us what she could do without Amanda, but I really wasn’t disappointed. I’ll even go as far as to see that other than the first book, this might have been one of my favorites in the series! I even loved the introduction of the newer additions (lands) to the park and characters such as the Fairies and how they fit into the story.
Rating: 8
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2017
This was DEFINITELY my favorite so far. It was only a novella and by no means had the same length or drawn out storyline, but I loved hearing Jess's perspective and her encounters in the Magic Kingdom. That encounter with Gaston, Le Fou, and Belle...I just can't. SO STINKING CUTE. I would elaborate on and on about this one but it was so short that there isn't much to talk about! Just know, for all you Kingdom Keepers followers, that investing in this special novella, which is only available through the Kingdom Keepers fan website, is oh so worth it. It was a light and fun reminder of why I began reading this series in the first place and a good way to distract from the sadness and depression of the events that occurred in the prior book. All I can say is...just do it.
March 10, 2014
Wow! This was my first read in the Kingdom Keepers series and I now am dying to go back and read more! I loved the fun plot and the excellent characters.
I am a firm believer in Disney being the best - so this series was clearly made for me. Book characters walking alongside the Disney ones - how cool!
The plot was super fun - I really loved Jess particularly. She was fun and wacky. And I loved the addition of Jason - I can't wait to see what role he plays in future books.
I totally recommend this one - it was so much fun and just exciting to read. Ridley Pearson has a way of storytelling and I loved it.
I am a firm believer in Disney being the best - so this series was clearly made for me. Book characters walking alongside the Disney ones - how cool!
The plot was super fun - I really loved Jess particularly. She was fun and wacky. And I loved the addition of Jason - I can't wait to see what role he plays in future books.
I totally recommend this one - it was so much fun and just exciting to read. Ridley Pearson has a way of storytelling and I loved it.
March 28, 2014
The first thing I thought while reading this is that Disney wanted Ridley to let the world know about the new fantasy land and starbucks. The second thing I thought is I don't care! I love all things Disney and I am obsessed with KK. I will take what I can get. I liked the first person view, a nice change up. Not sure how this will relate to what is in the upcoming book. Will Wayne become a permanent member of the magic kingdom taking residence in the haunted mansion? Will he die?? Can't wait for Tuesday!
January 1, 2018
This book sums up how I have been feeling about this series. I believe it started out good. But its sequels have been so action focused, it forgets logic and character. Wayne and Jason (a new Imagineer) team up with Amanda and Jess, this time for another adventure. However, for no obvious reason, they withhold information from the girls on their pressing quest. (THEN WHY TEAM UP?). Also, out of nowhere, the Fairies (Tinkerbell and gang) swoop in to help the girls and then leave. There is no interaction. It cheapens the fact that any of our heroes are capable of doing something themselves because any time they get into a tight spot, the answer is a random swoop in. Puzzles couldn't be solved earlier in the timeline are also suddenly solved by no logical means. Sometimes the girls are not even sure they are guessing right but they go with the hunch anyway and it sees them through somehow. WTF? The rules to logic, situation and circumstance do not apply to Ridley Pearson. Unfortunately, it's annoying. He may see it all clearly in his head but it does not translate to the reader.
March 23, 2014
This short story comes after the sixth novel in this Kingdom Keepers urban fantasy series for middle grade readers and revolves around Jess, the Fairlie who dreams of the future and is based in Orlando, Florida.
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher.
My Take
This is Jess' story, which seems only fair. She has done quite a bit for Team DHI but always in the background. In "Unforeseen", Jess finally gets a chance at the action. And, lol, isn't sure she wants to ever get that deep again. No, Team DHI isn't in this one. Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Philby, and Willa are on the sidelines — they would probably "disapprove" of all the screaming Jess does.
The story emphasis has been on Jess worrying about losing her gift and on how claustrophobic she's feeling. Annnd, I don't understand why Jess thought Wayne could help her with that? It needed a better segue into why an Imagineer was needed. It's not until after Jess meets up with Wayne that he suggests the park is the best place to stimulate her memories.
It's not my only niggle: "Wayne giggled childishly"?? Why does Amanda suddenly doubt Wayne? Sure, I can understand after what happened with Dillard in Dark Passage , 6, that she might be angry, but doubtful? Hmmm, I doubt it.
Amanda thinks they're putting themselves at risk for some hocus pocus? How does she categorize what she, Jess, and the other Fairlies do? What about the Overtakers? The good characters in the Magic Kingdom? Just what was Jessica expecting as a kid? No chores? No school?
My one big problem with this story was the disconnect. It felt detached from the other Kingdom Keepers stories I've read. There was more tell in here rather than the show I've come to expect. There was a chill. Maybe because it was about Jess. Maybe because Pearson brought in another writer.
I did like Jess' thoughts about how she, Amanda, and the DHI hosts got together. I loved the horror of running through the woods, this behind-the-scenes tour of Disney World, although, the second-tier bad guys are getting smarter. This isn't looking good! Made me feel as though I were in a scary Disney movie! It certainly left me "powered by belief"! As Wayne reminds us, that power of belief works both ways, for good and evil!
I loved "old-married-couple syndrome". Too funny. Then there's the Firestarter as an owner's manual, LOL. And, Jess gets a potential love interest...ooh la la…
The Story
It's not working, and Jess doesn't know what to do. Her dreams have always been there before. There's only one person she can imagine who could help her, and he's restricted as well.
Seems not everyone is a good imaginer, except maybe those 999 souls.
The Characters
Jess is a Fairlie, the dreamer; she dreams of possible events to come and draws what she sees. She's been a vital member of the team, if only she could see it that way.Somehow Jess' name morphed from Jezebel in the previous stories to Jessica in this one. Amanda Lockhart is another Fairlie, but with a different gift, one of telekinesis. Now they live with Mrs. Nash in her foster home near Disney World.
Wayne Kresky is a Disney Legend and one of the original Imagineers who helped create the Disney Host Interactives; he knows everything about the Kingdom and Walt's thoughts. He's been battling the Overtakers forever. After events in Dark Passage , he's hobbled. Wanda is Wayne's daughter. Jason is a young Imagineer pursuing a Lit major, who is on loan from UCLA.
There are two sides to the battle in the Magic Kingdom: those characters allied with Team DHI and the Overtakers. The Disney characters who help out the Disney Interactive Hosts include Pluto, Stitch, and Belle. There's a charm of fairies who help out: Fawn, Rosetta, Periwinkle, Tinker Bell, Iridessa, Vidia, and Silvermist. Tia Dalma, who escaped events in Dark Passage , is on the loose, although Gaston and LeFou are much closer. Eek! Jasper and Horace are two of Cruella's goons who survived. Wayne had warned the Imagineers, but… Chad is a miner.
OTKs are Overtaker Kids, regular teenagers coerced and enchanted by the Overtakers. Greg Luowski is one of them, a bully from Finn's school.
Fairlies are kids capable of unbelievable powers, who have been experimented on by the government.
The Cover
The cover appears to be a metaphor: a starry night sky is overhead as Jess and Amanda race through the Magic Kingdom, but it's the doom, chaos, and ruin of Jess' dreams through which the souls of the dead swirl.
The title is Jess' fears, for her loss of her dream ability is Unforeseen.
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher.
My Take
This is Jess' story, which seems only fair. She has done quite a bit for Team DHI but always in the background. In "Unforeseen", Jess finally gets a chance at the action. And, lol, isn't sure she wants to ever get that deep again. No, Team DHI isn't in this one. Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Philby, and Willa are on the sidelines — they would probably "disapprove" of all the screaming Jess does.
The story emphasis has been on Jess worrying about losing her gift and on how claustrophobic she's feeling. Annnd, I don't understand why Jess thought Wayne could help her with that? It needed a better segue into why an Imagineer was needed. It's not until after Jess meets up with Wayne that he suggests the park is the best place to stimulate her memories.
It's not my only niggle: "Wayne giggled childishly"?? Why does Amanda suddenly doubt Wayne? Sure, I can understand after what happened with Dillard in Dark Passage , 6, that she might be angry, but doubtful? Hmmm, I doubt it.
Amanda thinks they're putting themselves at risk for some hocus pocus? How does she categorize what she, Jess, and the other Fairlies do? What about the Overtakers? The good characters in the Magic Kingdom? Just what was Jessica expecting as a kid? No chores? No school?
My one big problem with this story was the disconnect. It felt detached from the other Kingdom Keepers stories I've read. There was more tell in here rather than the show I've come to expect. There was a chill. Maybe because it was about Jess. Maybe because Pearson brought in another writer.
I did like Jess' thoughts about how she, Amanda, and the DHI hosts got together. I loved the horror of running through the woods, this behind-the-scenes tour of Disney World, although, the second-tier bad guys are getting smarter. This isn't looking good! Made me feel as though I were in a scary Disney movie! It certainly left me "powered by belief"! As Wayne reminds us, that power of belief works both ways, for good and evil!
I loved "old-married-couple syndrome". Too funny. Then there's the Firestarter as an owner's manual, LOL. And, Jess gets a potential love interest...ooh la la…
The Story
It's not working, and Jess doesn't know what to do. Her dreams have always been there before. There's only one person she can imagine who could help her, and he's restricted as well.
Seems not everyone is a good imaginer, except maybe those 999 souls.
The Characters
Jess is a Fairlie, the dreamer; she dreams of possible events to come and draws what she sees. She's been a vital member of the team, if only she could see it that way.Somehow Jess' name morphed from Jezebel in the previous stories to Jessica in this one. Amanda Lockhart is another Fairlie, but with a different gift, one of telekinesis. Now they live with Mrs. Nash in her foster home near Disney World.
Wayne Kresky is a Disney Legend and one of the original Imagineers who helped create the Disney Host Interactives; he knows everything about the Kingdom and Walt's thoughts. He's been battling the Overtakers forever. After events in Dark Passage , he's hobbled. Wanda is Wayne's daughter. Jason is a young Imagineer pursuing a Lit major, who is on loan from UCLA.
There are two sides to the battle in the Magic Kingdom: those characters allied with Team DHI and the Overtakers. The Disney characters who help out the Disney Interactive Hosts include Pluto, Stitch, and Belle. There's a charm of fairies who help out: Fawn, Rosetta, Periwinkle, Tinker Bell, Iridessa, Vidia, and Silvermist. Tia Dalma, who escaped events in Dark Passage , is on the loose, although Gaston and LeFou are much closer. Eek! Jasper and Horace are two of Cruella's goons who survived. Wayne had warned the Imagineers, but… Chad is a miner.
OTKs are Overtaker Kids, regular teenagers coerced and enchanted by the Overtakers. Greg Luowski is one of them, a bully from Finn's school.
Fairlies are kids capable of unbelievable powers, who have been experimented on by the government.
The Cover
The cover appears to be a metaphor: a starry night sky is overhead as Jess and Amanda race through the Magic Kingdom, but it's the doom, chaos, and ruin of Jess' dreams through which the souls of the dead swirl.
The title is Jess' fears, for her loss of her dream ability is Unforeseen.
January 28, 2018
I am so glad my daughter went to the trouble of finding this novella at Kingdomkeepers.com, since it is not available in print form. And I love that the storyline revolves around the two Fairlies Jess and Amanda, as I found it to be a refreshing change of pace.
As the two of them set out on a nocturnal search of Disneyland, Jess quickly uncovers a dark vision of the future for the Kingdom Keepers.
As for Wayne... will he be lucky? Or is he lucky number 1000?
As the two of them set out on a nocturnal search of Disneyland, Jess quickly uncovers a dark vision of the future for the Kingdom Keepers.
As for Wayne... will he be lucky? Or is he lucky number 1000?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2018
This was definitely my favorite of the series, after book one. You can only acquire this Novella on the Kingdom Keepers website, which gave it an air of mystery. This Novella was a refreshing change of pace, and I enjoyed becoming more familiar with the Fairlies, Jessica and Amanda. Finally, a few more prominent good guys and bad guys were integrated into the story. Definitely a great read. Totally surprised.
October 5, 2023
3 ⭐️
Unforeseen is a cute and short novella that takes place after the 6th book in the main series. You don’t necessarily have to have read up to that point to understand it though - I personally only read the first 3 books (at the time of posting this the first 3 are also the only ones that have been rewritten to fit modern Disney). 3 stars; would’ve been 4 if the ending didn’t feel so incomplete.
Unforeseen is a cute and short novella that takes place after the 6th book in the main series. You don’t necessarily have to have read up to that point to understand it though - I personally only read the first 3 books (at the time of posting this the first 3 are also the only ones that have been rewritten to fit modern Disney). 3 stars; would’ve been 4 if the ending didn’t feel so incomplete.
May 3, 2021
A quick read with lots of foreshadowing for the next and final book, The Insider. Definitely worth it if you are a Kingdom Keepers fan, but you don't have to read it in order to understand the 7th book.
April 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this novella. I won't say much because there are big spoilers. I'll let you discover them for yourself. Don't miss reading this. You'll have a few more questions floating in the back of your mind while you read book 7. Enoy 😉
June 29, 2020
Overall I enjoyed it, but was disappointed that some of the characters that were introduced did not remain in later books.
February 18, 2021
I was so excited to read this and was not disappointed! A perfect little novella!
February 4, 2022
second read-
this book literally didn't make sense, but it still was kinda fun to read
this book literally didn't make sense, but it still was kinda fun to read
February 26, 2022
This was a fun little short between the sixth and seventh book. The characters were great and the story moved along well!
January 6, 2025
I prefer Mr. Pearson’s style in 3rd person, not 1st person. On top of that it’s just…. Not that great, in my opinion. All joy to people who liked it though!
March 22, 2025
Skimmed this. It serves as a good setup to The Insider but it's not a must-read for me
March 27, 2025
Quick fun easy read.
May 10, 2025
Not bad for a novella. Lots of more Disney characters that the other books are missing out on. But still hard to follow like the rest of the series.
Read
July 29, 2025I have been hunting this book for so long and now I found it! I can't wait to read it especially since it is about Amanda and Jess!
January 1, 2024
I loved being back in this world. I do wish the original kingdom keepers made appearances, but being a short novella, I’m not mad.
June 16, 2015
Kingdom Keeper ally Jess doesn't really like the fact that she sees visions in her sleep, especially when they're ominous, and especially since they have a bad habit of being predictions of the future. One night after a particularly disturbing dream she finds her way to the Magic Kingdom to try to see what the cracks she saw might mean for the future of the team o' Keepers.
I readily admit that I was not willing to put up the $2.99 that it cost to buy this, but I also (not quite as) readily admit that I wasn't about to finish the series without reading the novella that comes between books 6 and 7 -- curse that borderline-OCD urge of mine to be a completist! Anyway, thanks to a new friend (you know who you are), I was able to borrow a copy and read it in an evening, and it was just as I expected, and was warned. It focused on just a couple of characters, which was good, but they still felt flat and inconsistent and unpleasant and similar, which was bad. It took place mostly in Walt Disney World, which was good, but the characters and locations there seemed disjointed and inaccurate, which was bad. It tried for some drama, which was... good, but it completely fell flat, which was bad. The pacing was off, the introduction of pointless new characters was totally unnecessary, the change in voice could be a bit off-putting, and the Fairlies still feel like they were just thrown into this series without much thought. I will say that compared to the rest of the series this story was marginally better, if only because it was 300-500 pages shorter than the actual books.
This wasn't the absolute worst thing ever, but it was a complete throwaway novella that takes places in between the penultimate and final KK books, probably in an attempt to grab a little more cash and drum up a little more hype before the series ends. It doesn't contribute anything to the overall story or characters, and the best thing that can be said for it is that it's short. It's true, as the tagline ever so cleverly (read: ever so vacuously) says... Sometimes the Unforeseen is better left unknown.
I readily admit that I was not willing to put up the $2.99 that it cost to buy this, but I also (not quite as) readily admit that I wasn't about to finish the series without reading the novella that comes between books 6 and 7 -- curse that borderline-OCD urge of mine to be a completist! Anyway, thanks to a new friend (you know who you are), I was able to borrow a copy and read it in an evening, and it was just as I expected, and was warned. It focused on just a couple of characters, which was good, but they still felt flat and inconsistent and unpleasant and similar, which was bad. It took place mostly in Walt Disney World, which was good, but the characters and locations there seemed disjointed and inaccurate, which was bad. It tried for some drama, which was... good, but it completely fell flat, which was bad. The pacing was off, the introduction of pointless new characters was totally unnecessary, the change in voice could be a bit off-putting, and the Fairlies still feel like they were just thrown into this series without much thought. I will say that compared to the rest of the series this story was marginally better, if only because it was 300-500 pages shorter than the actual books.
This wasn't the absolute worst thing ever, but it was a complete throwaway novella that takes places in between the penultimate and final KK books, probably in an attempt to grab a little more cash and drum up a little more hype before the series ends. It doesn't contribute anything to the overall story or characters, and the best thing that can be said for it is that it's short. It's true, as the tagline ever so cleverly (read: ever so vacuously) says... Sometimes the Unforeseen is better left unknown.
August 20, 2014
This novella is a terrific companion piece to the Kingdom Keepers series and necessary reading prior to the 7th book.
In this story, peripheral characters Jess and Amanda are caught in an after-hours adventure at The Magic Kingdom. Best thing was the use of Hidden Mickeys as being something much more than just the Imagineers way of honoring their hero.
I particularly enjoyed the passage with Gaston at his Tavern --- a personal favorite of mine. Good nearly always triumphs over evil at Disney --- but the events at the Haunted Mansion will have readers concerned about that trend.
Enjoy the Magic!
In this story, peripheral characters Jess and Amanda are caught in an after-hours adventure at The Magic Kingdom. Best thing was the use of Hidden Mickeys as being something much more than just the Imagineers way of honoring their hero.
I particularly enjoyed the passage with Gaston at his Tavern --- a personal favorite of mine. Good nearly always triumphs over evil at Disney --- but the events at the Haunted Mansion will have readers concerned about that trend.
Enjoy the Magic!
April 7, 2014
Wow, a return to old form for Ridley and the Kingdom Keepers.
After a drop off in quality of the past couple books in this series I wasn't expecting much from this novella or the next book in the series. I was wrong, tight focused story line, great character depth and exciting action made this a win. I am now looking forward to the chapter in the saga, hopefully it is up to the quality of this one!
After a drop off in quality of the past couple books in this series I wasn't expecting much from this novella or the next book in the series. I was wrong, tight focused story line, great character depth and exciting action made this a win. I am now looking forward to the chapter in the saga, hopefully it is up to the quality of this one!
April 19, 2014
3 stars
I'm giving this 3 stars because it felt so incomplete. I loved the setting - what Disney fanatic doesn't dream of having full rein of one of the parks after hours? Add in appearances by some of my favorite characters, both good and evil, and this was a pretty fun read. There just didn't seem to be much purpose behind Jessica's adventures, at least in this novella. I am going to have to read the next book in the series to find out what her vision means :(
I'm giving this 3 stars because it felt so incomplete. I loved the setting - what Disney fanatic doesn't dream of having full rein of one of the parks after hours? Add in appearances by some of my favorite characters, both good and evil, and this was a pretty fun read. There just didn't seem to be much purpose behind Jessica's adventures, at least in this novella. I am going to have to read the next book in the series to find out what her vision means :(
April 21, 2014
This is a 6.5 book, so it was a lot shorter than the usual books. Very exciting, brought me back to the first book written. This is a great great series. This is a bitter sweet time for me, can't wait to read the 7th book but very sad because its the last in the series!! Nonetheless I will be digging my eyes into it. Happy Reading
March 20, 2014
I loved it. Is was such a good book! My favorite character is Jess and Amanda!! I also loved the dream drawing. Want to know why?? Well its because my friend drew it and she did it so well!! Read kingdom keepers its a good book series!!
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