Welcome to Merlin Academy

Descendants #0

by Melissa de la Cruz

Brimming with mystery and magic, this new stand-alone prequel to the Descendants series stars the original class of Disney’s best-loved Villain Kids.

Before their Descendants rocked the world, the baddest villains made waves in the classroom.

It’s the first day at Merlin Academy, and the new students have no idea what to expect. Hook hopes he’ll get closer to the legacy he was destined for. Hades is determined to impress the already-infamous Maleficent. Uliana recruits Morgie to do some hands-on spellwork so they’re not stuck at a desk all day. And Ella’s not sure where she fits in to all this magical royalty and villainy. Luckily, her new friend Bridget’s got her back.

The one thing they have in common? They’re all intrigued when headmaster Merlin transforms the school’s fountain into the Sword in the Stone. A challenge is pull Excalibur from the rock and a life-changing prize awaits.

But when Merlin and the famed Sword in the Stone vanish, all eyes narrow in on the Villains. Typical. It doesn’t help their image when classes are constantly interrupted by wayward magic and a powerful, ancient spell book goes missing. Amidst secrets and accusations, will the students find Merlin and have a chance at that life-changing prize? Or will their time at Merlin Academy be over before it's even begun?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Fiction, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Ash]

A new Descendants book by Melissa de la Cruz? 😃
Oh but it takes place at Merlin Academy which is a location that I.. have feelings about. Why world, why?
(But you can eat your hat if you think this grown descendants kid ain’t reading it anyway)

[Helen Cunha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rate this book (Welcome to Merlin Academy: A Descendants Mystery) a 3 out of 5 stars.

First off, I want to mention that this is not my first Melissa de la Cruz book, and not my first book of her descendants series either. Matter of fact, I've read all of her descendants books, and I've read her other books like “The Chronicles of Never After” series, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now, the reason why I give this a 3 out of 5 stars was not for one reason in particular but actually a multitude of reasons.

First off, the beginning 30% of the book was just introducing characters since our main cast is an extremely large group of seven. Then there's the plot itself, which really doesn't start until the 50% mark and the plot itself is very wispy. What I mean by that is that the plot is not really coherent for the first half of the book. The first half of the book, despite introducing characters, has a mini side quest to show off the character's personalities and sides between “good” and “evil”, but then at the 50% mark there's a twist and the entire plot shifts. So it feels very finicky and doesn't have a straight timeline. Then there's also the fact that there are two characters that have their own entire side thing going on in the background of this entire story. So it's just messy in my opinion.

Another thing that I wanted to mention was the lack of “spark” in this. It felt very “this leads to that and that leads to this and this ends with that.” So despite the lack of a strong plot the book (specifically the writing) feels very structured which makes it feel kind of predictable and a little boring. Which brings me to my next critique that it's very easy to put down. Despite this being a not super long book, it was very hard for me to pick it back up when I put it down because I didn't really have a desire to see what happens next.

In sum, it was really nothing special, and in my opinion it felt lacking in many different places. I personally was pretty disappointed because I quite enjoyed the last book of the series (Beyond the Isle of the Lost: Wonderland). I thought that one was done really well, and caused a lot of intrigue especially with that ending, but this just really seemed like a grade down. Literally. It was as if the publishers told the author that instead of writing for teens for her to write now for tweens. The worst part is that you can tell with the more simple approach that was taken.

Lastly, if anyone wanted the notes/tropes/aspects/content warnings, here they are:
• Clean book (No swearing)
• No spice or steam or fluff (A little romance, but not even a kiss)
• A little violence/blood in the beginning
• Stakes are not really that high
• Slow paced (Lots of descriptions, especially of the academy itself)
• Prequel to everything (You don’t have to have read any of the other Descendants books since its Merlin Academy AKA before Mal and the rest of the gang are born. Plus, it does not hint to anything in the next Descendants movie, Descendants: Wicked Wonderland)
• Recommend for ages 10+

[˗ˏˋ christie ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5
if i had a nickel for every book i read this year that was a high school au starring the queen of hearts, captain hook, maleficent and ursula’s little sister i’d have 2 nickels

[Natalie Mayhugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book of the backstory of villains kids from the fourth movie of descendants the rise of red can’t wait to watch the fifth movie coming out next month descendants wicked wonderland.

[Bridie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and quick read for descendants fans lmao gets into a bit of lore

[Amanda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read. In my opinion, very Harry Potter inspired. I have never seen the Descendants films so I have nothing to compare this to in that universe, but I definitely enjoyed!

[Aspen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new Descendants story! I love Melissa De La Cruz's books, and all of the Descendants ones. I loved that this was about Bridget, Ella, Uliana, Hook, Maleficent, Morgie, and Hades at Merlin Academy. I loved reading their story in this great book!

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5: This was a fun backstory to the OG Villains (parents/family) of Descendants/ Rise of Red. I won't lie I ate up the Hades and Maleficent start and could eat up a whole book on their relationship arc. I loved seeing the King Arthur characters and their roles, as well as seeing a young Hook and the determination he had. The way he worked and talked to his shadow self. The friendship between Hook and Morgie as well as seeing the beginning of Ella and Bridget's friendship. This group formed their own ragtag group of found family.

I only guessed part of the plot twists, and did love what Merlin trying to teach them the importance of choosing their own path.

[Rohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice cosy school mystery involving characters from a prequel movie. I knew this going in but reading this book makes me disappointed that I don't have a chance to see them grow and have a series of their own.

This is like Harry Potter in a way but I didn't like the ending much that was because the ending leads these characters down a path we know doesn't work out for them and their kids!

This didn't blow my mind but I didn't hate it.

[Hayley Maliszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your thinking about watching Descendants: The Rise of Red. Read this book instead, it's so much better and gives so much more story to the parents of Red and Chloe. I much prefer the stories of these villians and heroes teaming up and just overall setting up the vibe they give in the movie with more context.

Overall I would recommend reading the book instead

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

I never expect 100% accurate characters in the Descendants universe, but even some points in this were too much for me when it comes to Mim.

The decision to not make her the big bad but instead have her work with Merlin doesn't feel right to the version we see in the Sword in the Stone. Plus the fact that she's essentially the descendants version of Dolores Umbridge really took the joy that I usually get from Descendants media away from me.

[Nina Derr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books. This one is the prequel to all the Descendants movies and books. You get to know more about Ella, Bridget, Uliana, Hook, Margie, and even Hades and Maleficent. It was a fun read...probably could have read it in a day but I read it over the course of two evenings.

[Dev S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like fan fiction. I was hoping there might be a little more to it.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very interesting to see how the Villains and the Goody Two Shoes' all started out, the twists and turns of this one were fantastic, Loved it

[geo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Cillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

!! ever since the rise of red came out i’ve wanted a spin off of merlin academy (book/series) so this was a fun read !!