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Kingdom Keepers #3
Disney in Shadow
When Disney Imagineers installed hologram guides for the Magic Kingdom, using teenage models they had no idea the technology might backfire. But backfire it did: some nights when the kids go to sleep, they wake up in one of the Disney parks as a hologram.
With the adventures set forth in the first books now behind them, Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney In Shadow follows the five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck as they search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers—Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place—the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jez, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future.
The very few clues from Jez’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot--through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships.
With the adventures set forth in the first books now behind them, Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney In Shadow follows the five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck as they search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers—Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place—the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jez, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future.
The very few clues from Jez’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot--through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships.
547 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2010
552 people are currently reading
6938 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
185 books2,083 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 575 reviews
June 22, 2012
Oh man, why am I reading these books? I should've just stopped with the first one. And now that I'm into them so far, I have to finish out the story. But honestly, in this book, I felt like I had no idea what was going on, or really what the plot was. So why am I currently reading the fourth one right now? Who knows.
July 23, 2010
For a series supposedly so heavily researched, they still get basic things wrong - and that's annoying.
Example? When you leave MK you have two options to get back to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) - the ferry and the monorail. That's it. You can NOT take a bus from the gates of MK to the TTC. Buses go to the resorts from MK gates but NOT the TTC.
It's so aggravating that the little details continue to be wrong. Because it's in those little details that a true WDW fan who's reading the series because it's about WDW, loses touch with the story.
This book also was rife with revisionist history. Now apparently, Walt always planned to let the characters have free reign at nights, the CM's all know about it, the Overtakers don't want to take over the whole world, just the Parks, "Jez no, call me Jess" at the end of book one and back to Jez for book two is now firmly Jess again, "Sleeping Beauty Syndrome" turned to SBS is now just "The Syndrome," etc.
And, again this book sets up for another so the story purposefully does not end.
Example? When you leave MK you have two options to get back to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) - the ferry and the monorail. That's it. You can NOT take a bus from the gates of MK to the TTC. Buses go to the resorts from MK gates but NOT the TTC.
It's so aggravating that the little details continue to be wrong. Because it's in those little details that a true WDW fan who's reading the series because it's about WDW, loses touch with the story.
This book also was rife with revisionist history. Now apparently, Walt always planned to let the characters have free reign at nights, the CM's all know about it, the Overtakers don't want to take over the whole world, just the Parks, "Jez no, call me Jess" at the end of book one and back to Jez for book two is now firmly Jess again, "Sleeping Beauty Syndrome" turned to SBS is now just "The Syndrome," etc.
And, again this book sets up for another so the story purposefully does not end.
June 16, 2015
Yet again I thought maybe this book might just get it right, and yet again it didn't. The same problems from the first two apply here, except that this one is even longer and more drawn out, so it really seemed to drag and meander its way aimlessly through the flimsy plot. This time the DHIs take their adventure mostly to Epcot, making the selection for Overtakers pretty slim, so they included crash-test dummies from Test Track and random jesters from France in the World Showcase. Ultimately, after 500 pages of wandering here and there (with the occasional mix-up of running here and there), they ended up in a bizarre commandeering of Fantasmic, which ended up in a big mess that resolved itself in a matter of a few pages. With books like these (especially if they're so carelessly handled), you really can't put out more than 500 pages. The tiniest bit of editing could have streamlined at least 100.
The writing is still pretty sad. The details and facts about the Disney Parks continue to be off (Dumbo is a girl? A character is named Wanda after "Mickey's wand"? And what wand would that be?), and the author continues to contradict his own history and mythology. There is an entire conversation at the start of this book that presumably took place during the first book, but which certainly did not, but which really should have, as it finally (tried to) explain how the whole system works and what the bad guys' motive is in the first place. References to previous events in the same book are inaccurate, and the rules here are so flimsy and malleable that nothing can be taken seriously. That doesn't mean, however, that the kids don't take it seriously. Oh no, everything is a crisis and everything is met with sarcasm and derision and snark. The characters have a little more personality, but they are still pretty wooden and one-dimensional, and there are way too many of them (in case five DHIs weren't enough, why don't we spend a good chunk of the plot watching amateur teenagers create complete DHIs of two of their more gifted friends?). One of the characters' first names still hasn't even been uttered. It was nice to see there wasn't any awkwardly-handled cursing in this one--it's almost like a very select few of the more obvious problems with each book, such as this one, are slightly rectified with the next one. Some of the text just doesn't make sense and could have very, very easily been fixed if only someone had bothered to proofread, which it isn't apparent that someone had. I mean, "uneven parallel bars"?? A few of the clueless parents are actually involved eventually, the baddies are somehow apprehended in the end, and a couple of mysteries are sort of solved, but by the time I was done wading through the plodding plot, I didn't really care that much. Oh, and I've never cared about obligatorily coot-ish Imagineer Wayne. It's not that hard not to care about him.
These books are in desperate need of an editor and a fact-checker, both of which I can only assume they did not have. I have one more in hand, so I guess I'll just finish, and we'll see if it starts to make sense. The Disney Geek in me still somehow believes. This is definitely the weakest point in the series so far. We'll also see if these Overtakers actually start to resemble their film counterparts. At least I sort of understand their whole master plan now.
The writing is still pretty sad. The details and facts about the Disney Parks continue to be off (Dumbo is a girl? A character is named Wanda after "Mickey's wand"? And what wand would that be?), and the author continues to contradict his own history and mythology. There is an entire conversation at the start of this book that presumably took place during the first book, but which certainly did not, but which really should have, as it finally (tried to) explain how the whole system works and what the bad guys' motive is in the first place. References to previous events in the same book are inaccurate, and the rules here are so flimsy and malleable that nothing can be taken seriously. That doesn't mean, however, that the kids don't take it seriously. Oh no, everything is a crisis and everything is met with sarcasm and derision and snark. The characters have a little more personality, but they are still pretty wooden and one-dimensional, and there are way too many of them (in case five DHIs weren't enough, why don't we spend a good chunk of the plot watching amateur teenagers create complete DHIs of two of their more gifted friends?). One of the characters' first names still hasn't even been uttered. It was nice to see there wasn't any awkwardly-handled cursing in this one--it's almost like a very select few of the more obvious problems with each book, such as this one, are slightly rectified with the next one. Some of the text just doesn't make sense and could have very, very easily been fixed if only someone had bothered to proofread, which it isn't apparent that someone had. I mean, "uneven parallel bars"?? A few of the clueless parents are actually involved eventually, the baddies are somehow apprehended in the end, and a couple of mysteries are sort of solved, but by the time I was done wading through the plodding plot, I didn't really care that much. Oh, and I've never cared about obligatorily coot-ish Imagineer Wayne. It's not that hard not to care about him.
These books are in desperate need of an editor and a fact-checker, both of which I can only assume they did not have. I have one more in hand, so I guess I'll just finish, and we'll see if it starts to make sense. The Disney Geek in me still somehow believes. This is definitely the weakest point in the series so far. We'll also see if these Overtakers actually start to resemble their film counterparts. At least I sort of understand their whole master plan now.
June 11, 2020
The story keeps getting better. I continue to be a huge fan of the parks, as well as this series.I cannot wait for the remaining books in the series to be released. Although this is a re-read, the changes that Ridley Pearson writes in, that speak to the changes in the parks, make the books new.
Who doesn't want to read a book that speaks to the Disney villains working hard ...to turn the dream into a nightmare?
Who doesn't want to read a book that speaks to the Disney villains working hard ...to turn the dream into a nightmare?
April 22, 2012
AWESOME!!!
The Keepers, Finn, Willa, Maybeck, Philby, and Charlene are in for a ride! Along with Jes and Amanda of course.
The Kingdom Keepers have a problem: the person who made them able to cross over at night, head Imagineer, has gone missing. Where is Wayne? Finn and the Keepers must find their friend. Afraid he's been Wayne-napped by Overtakers, they go to Jes. Wayne is the main conflict in this book, and Jes is going to help lead the Keepers to him.
This book is the third in the Kingdom Keepers series. I'll compare it to the first. This one............BETTER. This book is better than the first, and you'll find out why. Here's why: The conflict. The characters. It keeps going and keep me on the floor because I keep falling out of my seat.
I liked that Ridley used the rides, and different parks in one books. Alright, you see on the cover a kid hanging onto a snake. Yeah, sorry but I can't say what will happen. I can tell you about the teams. Overtakers: Villains who want to take over the parks. They want darkness and nightmares to have their run on the roller coasters. The Keepers: Five teens who are DHIs. During the night, when they sleep, they cross over into the parks and fight the Overtakers, keeping them at bay. They find out their plans, and stop them. The Fairlies: People who have cool powers. 'A curse' they call it.
The book had cool twists, turns, and excitement. There's more adventure and problems as the Keepers get further into the Overtakers plan.
The ending is...Cool-O. I liked it, I loved it, you will to. No objections. Can't say more otherwise I'll spoil it.
I recommend this book to people who have read the previous books. People 9-Adult will love it, along with tweens, teens, and Disney lovers.
The Keepers, Finn, Willa, Maybeck, Philby, and Charlene are in for a ride! Along with Jes and Amanda of course.
The Kingdom Keepers have a problem: the person who made them able to cross over at night, head Imagineer, has gone missing. Where is Wayne? Finn and the Keepers must find their friend. Afraid he's been Wayne-napped by Overtakers, they go to Jes. Wayne is the main conflict in this book, and Jes is going to help lead the Keepers to him.
This book is the third in the Kingdom Keepers series. I'll compare it to the first. This one............BETTER. This book is better than the first, and you'll find out why. Here's why: The conflict. The characters. It keeps going and keep me on the floor because I keep falling out of my seat.
I liked that Ridley used the rides, and different parks in one books. Alright, you see on the cover a kid hanging onto a snake. Yeah, sorry but I can't say what will happen. I can tell you about the teams. Overtakers: Villains who want to take over the parks. They want darkness and nightmares to have their run on the roller coasters. The Keepers: Five teens who are DHIs. During the night, when they sleep, they cross over into the parks and fight the Overtakers, keeping them at bay. They find out their plans, and stop them. The Fairlies: People who have cool powers. 'A curse' they call it.
The book had cool twists, turns, and excitement. There's more adventure and problems as the Keepers get further into the Overtakers plan.
The ending is...Cool-O. I liked it, I loved it, you will to. No objections. Can't say more otherwise I'll spoil it.
I recommend this book to people who have read the previous books. People 9-Adult will love it, along with tweens, teens, and Disney lovers.
August 7, 2012
When Disney imagineers installed hologram guides for the Magic Kingdom using teenage models, they had no idea the the technology might backfire. But backfire it did: some nights when the kids go to sleep, they wake up in one of the Disney parks as holograms.
The five teens have twice thwarted evil plots masterminded by Maleficent; but now Finn, Philby, Willa, Chalene, and Maybeck have another problem: Wayne, their mentor and head imagineer, has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned that Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers, the kids pick up a major clue from a close freind, Jess, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future.
This time, the clues from Jess's dream lead the kids into Disneys Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. As they quest for a sword, take rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, have life-and-death encounters with a giant snake, and attempt to stop Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings in the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and theri ever-growing freindships.
I really enjoyed this book thought it was amazing Ridley finds a way to keep you on your toes in points of this book, really loved it. if your a fan of Disney then you will truelly love this book.
The five teens have twice thwarted evil plots masterminded by Maleficent; but now Finn, Philby, Willa, Chalene, and Maybeck have another problem: Wayne, their mentor and head imagineer, has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned that Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers, the kids pick up a major clue from a close freind, Jess, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future.
This time, the clues from Jess's dream lead the kids into Disneys Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. As they quest for a sword, take rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, have life-and-death encounters with a giant snake, and attempt to stop Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings in the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and theri ever-growing freindships.
I really enjoyed this book thought it was amazing Ridley finds a way to keep you on your toes in points of this book, really loved it. if your a fan of Disney then you will truelly love this book.
June 21, 2012
Book 3 in the series...
"Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney In Shadow follows the five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck as they search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers—Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place—the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jez, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future. The very few clues from Jez’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot--through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships."
"Kingdom Keepers 3: Disney In Shadow follows the five teens, Finn, Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck as they search to find Wayne, their mentor and head Imagineer who has mysteriously gone missing. Concerned Wayne has been abducted by the Overtakers—Disney villains, who along with other Disney characters, take over the parks when the turnstiles stop spinning, and want desperately to steer the parks to a far darker place—the five kids pick up a major clue from a close friend, Jez, whose dreams (nightmares, really) often accurately predict the future. The very few clues from Jez’s dream lead the kids into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot--through imaginary worlds that become real, by imaginary kids who are real. Each clue seems tied to the last, and with the stakes growing ever higher, what starts out as a puzzle ends up as a fight for their lives. Through a transparent paper box, a quest for a sword, rides on Soarin' and Maelstrom, life-and-death encounters with giant snakes, and a devious Maleficent, the Kingdom Keepers not only begin to decipher deeper meanings to the clues, but discover new truths about themselves and their ever-growing friendships."
May 6, 2010
I really liked the first two Kingdom Keepers books--anything that transports me to the Happiest Place on Earth is an winner to me. I was enjoying this book too until it got near the end. At the big battle scene at the end, Mr. Pearson had me scratching my head. He usually goes in to depth about exactly how the DHI accomplish things, but I was left with too many questions about how things were wrapped up at the end of the Fantasmic confrontation (what happened when Philby left the control room? How did he get past the CM pounding on the door? etc.) It seemed that Ridley either got bored telling the story or perhaps he was under pressure to finish by his publisher? What as disappointment.
September 4, 2010
I am entirely baffled as to how the GR rating is so high. I thought this was one of the worst written books I'd read in ages. The writing was stiff and awkward, the characters didn't resemble any teen I have ever seen and I couldn't stand how he explained every little aside that the characters said. I basically skimmed looking for my favorite Epcot and Hollywood Studio rides.
September 25, 2021
I love this series
January 11, 2022
I ate this book UP. I’ve never read one of them so quickly - maybe because it was set in Epcot? Who knows. All I love is I LOVED it.
Paperback
Paperback
August 2, 2011
Like the other Kingdom Keepers books, it's great entertainment! While I can't say it's high literature by any stretch of the imagination, it was very enjoyable. At times the plot seemed to twist a little TOO much, making it a bit convoluted for the light reading. But the action was good, and I liked that it was fast-paced. If I have one big complaint (and I say this as a Walt Disney World Cast Member who is very well acquainted with the parks), it's the lack of accuracy in some of the park information. Obviously some of it is creative license, done to move the plot along, but some things really could have used the editing eye of someone more familiar with the parks. As a simple example, the use of "Disney" Hollywood Studios instead of its proper name, Disney's Hollywood Studios. But that being said, you can't go wrong when you actually put Wonders of Life to use - 'cause Disney sure ain't! ;)
November 22, 2020
Another great installment in this series. I especially loved the puzzle solving involved in this as well as the setting. Fantasmic is my absolute favorite Disney show and to have the book feature that was very fun and exciting. I cannot wait to continue this series. I have grown very fond of these DHI kids.
September 26, 2011
Finn Whitman along with his friends Philby, Willa, Charlene, and Maybeck, who were hired to model Disney Host Interactive hologram guides for the parks at Disney World are back for another adventure in which they take on the Overtakers, who are led by Maleficent and Chernagog (the demon from Fantasia. The Overtakers are hoping to conquer the world, which is not surprising because they are made up of all the worst villains from the Disney films.
This time the DHIs are having to deal with the loss of their wise leader, the Imagineer Wayne. He has mysteriously gone missing, and it will be up to Finn and the gang to save him. They will have some extra help in the form of Jess and Amanda, two girls in foster care with their own special talents. Jess can see the future in her dreams. They will join the rest of the Kingdom Keepers and Wayne's daughter Charlene in the hopes of finding Wayne before the Overtakers' evil plot come to fruition.
The previous books in the series focused on the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, but the focus in this tale shifts to Epcot and MGM Studios, and it is going to take every skill and teamwork for the Kingdom Keepers to prevent the Overtakers plans.
As a big fan of all things Disney, I have really been enjoying this series, though, it took me forever to get to this volume, which originally came out in 2010. I do have to say that I thought it dragged a bit. There was a lot of setup (about 200 pages before things really got going) and a lot of talking about what the kids were going to do before anything really started to happen.
It is interesting watching the Kingdom Keepers as they, and their relationships, evolve and developed, which is part of why the book is as thick as it is. I did miss having a lot of interaction with the Overtakers, which seemed to be the part that was missing the most in this volume.
Finn, and the rest of the kids' parents, are definitely starting to notice things ... you probably would if your kid kept shifting into a hologram on a regular basis when falling asleep. This becomes a major problem when the kids end up trapped for a while, leaving their human bodies in something like a coma.
I am definitely looking forward to Volume IV, which is also already out. I am hoping that the writing will be a little tighter and the book not quite as long.
This time the DHIs are having to deal with the loss of their wise leader, the Imagineer Wayne. He has mysteriously gone missing, and it will be up to Finn and the gang to save him. They will have some extra help in the form of Jess and Amanda, two girls in foster care with their own special talents. Jess can see the future in her dreams. They will join the rest of the Kingdom Keepers and Wayne's daughter Charlene in the hopes of finding Wayne before the Overtakers' evil plot come to fruition.
The previous books in the series focused on the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, but the focus in this tale shifts to Epcot and MGM Studios, and it is going to take every skill and teamwork for the Kingdom Keepers to prevent the Overtakers plans.
As a big fan of all things Disney, I have really been enjoying this series, though, it took me forever to get to this volume, which originally came out in 2010. I do have to say that I thought it dragged a bit. There was a lot of setup (about 200 pages before things really got going) and a lot of talking about what the kids were going to do before anything really started to happen.
It is interesting watching the Kingdom Keepers as they, and their relationships, evolve and developed, which is part of why the book is as thick as it is. I did miss having a lot of interaction with the Overtakers, which seemed to be the part that was missing the most in this volume.
Finn, and the rest of the kids' parents, are definitely starting to notice things ... you probably would if your kid kept shifting into a hologram on a regular basis when falling asleep. This becomes a major problem when the kids end up trapped for a while, leaving their human bodies in something like a coma.
I am definitely looking forward to Volume IV, which is also already out. I am hoping that the writing will be a little tighter and the book not quite as long.
July 2, 2024
Edit 2024: I didn’t even realize I had a review of this book from 2017… uh anyway so this took me WAY too long to read. I’m doing my Kingdom Keepers reread where I’m comparing it to the rewrites and trying to jog the memory before I read the Inheritance and am inevitably disappointed by it. So I read the update first and it was horrendously difficult to get through even though it was a good 300 ish pages shorter than this original novel. After I finished that I moved on to reread this book because I knew so much of it would be changed and yeah I was right.
The update was so different from this one in all the ways that made this version superior (except the Amanda and Willa scene from the update that made me low key ship them). I will say at least I no longer regard Finn as public enemy number two in this book (the update can fight me still). I like get why I loved this book and it was one of my faves from the series, but reading it now I was so bored. I think it’s kind of better than the first two, but it also kind of made me lose my will to read for most of it.
The series still holds a special place in my heart, but man the writing and characterization is horrible. Amanda is still the best though and I love her angsty era I can’t believe Ridley took it out in the rewrite.
I def need to take a break from the reread because I’m genuinely in such a slump. Idk when I’ll come back to this because Power Play is my favorite and idk how much I’ll love it when I reread it. I think I just need to recharge and remember why I’m doing this whole reread in the first place. Peace out.
*****
I read this book back in the summer of 2015 but decided to read it again just for funsies because I wanted to read something familiar and completely throw my TBR out the window. I'll admit I didn't read all of it, but I reread my favorite parts (which is a lot of the book tbh). It was still as fun as I remembered, and I want Ridley's third series to come out already but sadly I have to wait until 2019 *sigh*. However, it stays at 4 stars because as much as I loved it, the writing is not the best which is something I have come to expect and accept from Ridley, but it was still a really fun and relaxing read. <3 <3 <3 <3
The update was so different from this one in all the ways that made this version superior (except the Amanda and Willa scene from the update that made me low key ship them). I will say at least I no longer regard Finn as public enemy number two in this book (the update can fight me still). I like get why I loved this book and it was one of my faves from the series, but reading it now I was so bored. I think it’s kind of better than the first two, but it also kind of made me lose my will to read for most of it.
The series still holds a special place in my heart, but man the writing and characterization is horrible. Amanda is still the best though and I love her angsty era I can’t believe Ridley took it out in the rewrite.
I def need to take a break from the reread because I’m genuinely in such a slump. Idk when I’ll come back to this because Power Play is my favorite and idk how much I’ll love it when I reread it. I think I just need to recharge and remember why I’m doing this whole reread in the first place. Peace out.
*****
I read this book back in the summer of 2015 but decided to read it again just for funsies because I wanted to read something familiar and completely throw my TBR out the window. I'll admit I didn't read all of it, but I reread my favorite parts (which is a lot of the book tbh). It was still as fun as I remembered, and I want Ridley's third series to come out already but sadly I have to wait until 2019 *sigh*. However, it stays at 4 stars because as much as I loved it, the writing is not the best which is something I have come to expect and accept from Ridley, but it was still a really fun and relaxing read. <3 <3 <3 <3
June 8, 2010
The series has been going downhill since the first book. While I think the character interactions are still solid, the plotting was rather messy. The pacing between scenes and of the scenes themselves was a little wonky and disorienting; then, there was the fact that the logic and deductive skills feel much less clever than they did in the first book. The characters still seem astute, but the trail of clues in this installation was just a convoluted mess. Furthermore, Pearson continues to rely on the expectation that his reader base knows the park inside-out; and though certainly most of us are that sort of obsessive fan type, it's a weakness.
Some of the concepts that are coming up are a little too over-the-top. I liked the simplicity of the concept in the first novel, which had a nice mix of magic and pseudo-science - but with Pearson adding hokey terminology and overthinking the process, it just weighs down the fun.
I still think that he's doing somewhat poorly in keeping the characters consistent. Finn, Philby, Amanda, and Charlene are great. On the other hand, Maybeck seems way too gimmicky and though the idea of him being a token black character is lamp-shaded, I don't think Pearson realized how much of a flat character Maybeck is. Willa is completely opaque, simply by virtue of being invisible for so much of the series, even though she gets a bit of spotlight in the second book with the Syndrome stuff. They make her the wild card, but it's a thinly-veiled euphemism for "I don't know what the hell makes this character special, but I'm stuck with her." I almost thought she was going to betray the group, just so Pearson could get rid of this character that he hasn't really put much work into developing. Jess is a whole bucket of worms - though the biggest failure on that front is still the naming faux pas in the second book, where she retains the name that Maleficent gave her, rather than her real name.
I'll keep reading the series, but I'm worried that Pearson is getting too sloppy in trying to be too ambitious with his plot.
Some of the concepts that are coming up are a little too over-the-top. I liked the simplicity of the concept in the first novel, which had a nice mix of magic and pseudo-science - but with Pearson adding hokey terminology and overthinking the process, it just weighs down the fun.
I still think that he's doing somewhat poorly in keeping the characters consistent. Finn, Philby, Amanda, and Charlene are great. On the other hand, Maybeck seems way too gimmicky and though the idea of him being a token black character is lamp-shaded, I don't think Pearson realized how much of a flat character Maybeck is. Willa is completely opaque, simply by virtue of being invisible for so much of the series, even though she gets a bit of spotlight in the second book with the Syndrome stuff. They make her the wild card, but it's a thinly-veiled euphemism for "I don't know what the hell makes this character special, but I'm stuck with her." I almost thought she was going to betray the group, just so Pearson could get rid of this character that he hasn't really put much work into developing. Jess is a whole bucket of worms - though the biggest failure on that front is still the naming faux pas in the second book, where she retains the name that Maleficent gave her, rather than her real name.
I'll keep reading the series, but I'm worried that Pearson is getting too sloppy in trying to be too ambitious with his plot.
January 14, 2020
I don’t know how this book was published by Disney. Even by 2010 standards - forget that, ANY standards - these books should not have happened in the way that they did. Here are the three major and one middling reason I’m putting this down:
1) Never is it okay to tell a black person they don’t have to ‘act’ black because the only people who are black that you know at school ‘act a certain way’ to ‘try to be cool’ and this non-school friend you fight evil with is already cool so stop bringing up the fact you are black. YIKES, Disney!
2) We have another character who ‘maybe she’s Asian or Native American’. YIKES, Disney!
3) Third book in a row and the preteen cheerleader ‘has a body like a teenager.’ DOUBLE YIKES!
4) It’s just bad writing and a waste of an admittedly cool concept of fighting evil after hours in the Disney parks.
1) Never is it okay to tell a black person they don’t have to ‘act’ black because the only people who are black that you know at school ‘act a certain way’ to ‘try to be cool’ and this non-school friend you fight evil with is already cool so stop bringing up the fact you are black. YIKES, Disney!
2) We have another character who ‘maybe she’s Asian or Native American’. YIKES, Disney!
3) Third book in a row and the preteen cheerleader ‘has a body like a teenager.’ DOUBLE YIKES!
4) It’s just bad writing and a waste of an admittedly cool concept of fighting evil after hours in the Disney parks.
September 20, 2017
This book was great for the middle grades! It includes mystery, fantasy, many cliff hangers, and everyone's love of Disney! I thought this book was very intriguing and I recommend it!
March 11, 2024
Childhood obsession! still a great favorite the second time around to refresh for the revised versions.
October 21, 2020
A fun adventure trilogy set in the world of Disney. You really do need a good grasp of Disney and their stories/movies as I did find myself flounder a bit in this trilogy. I like the pacing and the friendship; and in this novel, I love the mothers! I felt a little bit discouraged, however, to find that these books need a little more diligence on the part of editors/proofreaders. Nevertheless, if your children absolutely adores all things Disney and are hard to find books they like, this trilogy may keep their attention for a bit. However, you may found yourself hounded with them wanting to go to the theme parks.
June 2, 2020
I am still too old for this book and I know this even more so now because one these kids are supposed to be twelve? And they are just waltzing around disney world disguised as cast members?? A black baseball cap does not hide the fact that you’re twelve maybe if they were 15 I’d believe it. And also, the way they text...is that how we texted or is it how adults think we texted I honestly don’t know anymore.
July 14, 2024
I think this is my favourite KK so far!!! There’s someone on the reviews constantly whining about the “lack of magic in this books” but I really don’t think that is the case. Pearson builds a world that is perfectly plausible within our own if we pay enough attention to the details around, and, with every book, the Keeper’s eyes sharpen along our own, revealing that the magic you read before was only the tip of the iceberg.
April 16, 2025
I read the first three books of this series again together in a joint book from the library. I loved them as a kid. They still were entertaining. The reviews under these books make me laugh. It’s as though everyone forgets they’re books for kids. Yes, the vocabulary and descriptions are weaker because it’s for kids! Yes the characters lack a certain depth - it’s for kids! It’s like slightly higher level magic tree house in Disney, but I love it. I don’t think I ever finished the series so I plan on it now.
December 8, 2021
The rewrites and updates in this version were fantastic!
February 2, 2024
Found this book boring and I lost what was happening and why they setr doing what they were doing
July 16, 2024
This book is the reason I ate potato chips with ketchup as a kid, so 4 stars
September 9, 2020
3.8, They rescued Wayne!!!!
March 10, 2012
Third in the Kingdom Keepers fantasy adventure series revolving around a group of middle-schoolers charged with preventing the Overtakers from taking over Disney World.
My Take
I don't know if I'm getting used to the story or if Pearson is easing up…
The story is about an initial group of five kids, the Keepers, who play detective in the Magic Kingdom foiling the plots of the Overtakers. There is something in the hologram code that allows the kids to dream their way over to Disney World and into their holographic counterparts. The kids have the usual issues with school and their parents although the whole running around in hologram bodies while their physical bodies are asleep is a bit different from the usual. Even as they have terrific adventures on various rides in the Kingdom.
And it's not just the Overtakers the Keepers have to avoid. According to their DHI contracts, they're not allowed to walk into the park any ol' time. And getting caught could void their contracts and stop the flow of all the college money! They also have to get out of the park before day breaks or suffer Sleeping Beauty Syndrome!
Interesting little talk Philby has with Maybeck about the chip on his shoulder. Philby makes a good point.
I do like the challenges Pearson comes up with for the kids. Uh-ohhhh, Finn's mom, the NASA scientist, gets really suspicious! Poor Philby! Getting ready to dream one night, he gets caught out in his underwear!!
For the film-geeks, Pearson includes information on how Disney coordinates Soarin' and the big show that is the denouement for the story.
The Story
Finn and the gang are desperate to find Wayne. The Overtakers have kidnapped him and the kids desperately need him back. For himself. For the knowledge he has of the Kingdom.
The Characters
Wayne Kresky is the old Imagineer who started them on their original adventures, but the Overtakers have kidnapped him.
Finn Whitman is turning into a natural leader for the Kingdom Keepers with increasingly better control of turning himself into light. Charlene Turner is the "clean cheerleader" type with uncanny physical ability who has finally found her niche in the group. Isabella "Willa" Angelo. Dill Philby is the geeky sports enthusiast with a major talent for computers and he, Maybeck, and Jess finally manage to do Whitman's light trick---in the nick of time. Terry Maybeck is the oldest of the group and is starting to consider others.
Amanda Lockhart and Jezebel "Jess" are Fairlies, something more than human. Amanda has some magical ability while Jess dreams the future. After their last adventure, their refuge was discovered and now they're in fostercare with Mrs. Nash. Finn and company need their help and Philby is determined to film them and create DHIs of Amanda and Jez. Wanda Alcott is actually Wayne's daughter and plays a very useful part in this installment. I'm hoping she or one of the other parents will help out with Amanda and Jess.
Aunt Bess "Jelly" Maybeck is Terry's aunt with whom he lives. Gladis Philby is Philby's very worried mother. Maleficent, the nasty witch from Sleeping Beauty is the chief villainess and she's fronting for an even bigger villain, Chernabog.
Greg "Lousy" Luowski, a fellow student at their school, has a thing for Amanda, but bullies everyone. His "pilot fish" friends are Mike Horton and Eric Kreuter.
The Cover
I do love these hologram covers! In this one, Finn is flying through the air hanging onto the snake's tail while Spaceship Earth does a good job of imitating that holographic effect. Charlie and Willa are running to yet another disaster.
The title set-up drives me nuts. Again. The series name with its number are huge while the actual title of this book about five times smaller...almost a nonentity.
My Take
I don't know if I'm getting used to the story or if Pearson is easing up…
The story is about an initial group of five kids, the Keepers, who play detective in the Magic Kingdom foiling the plots of the Overtakers. There is something in the hologram code that allows the kids to dream their way over to Disney World and into their holographic counterparts. The kids have the usual issues with school and their parents although the whole running around in hologram bodies while their physical bodies are asleep is a bit different from the usual. Even as they have terrific adventures on various rides in the Kingdom.
And it's not just the Overtakers the Keepers have to avoid. According to their DHI contracts, they're not allowed to walk into the park any ol' time. And getting caught could void their contracts and stop the flow of all the college money! They also have to get out of the park before day breaks or suffer Sleeping Beauty Syndrome!
Interesting little talk Philby has with Maybeck about the chip on his shoulder. Philby makes a good point.
I do like the challenges Pearson comes up with for the kids. Uh-ohhhh, Finn's mom, the NASA scientist, gets really suspicious! Poor Philby! Getting ready to dream one night, he gets caught out in his underwear!!
For the film-geeks, Pearson includes information on how Disney coordinates Soarin' and the big show that is the denouement for the story.
The Story
Finn and the gang are desperate to find Wayne. The Overtakers have kidnapped him and the kids desperately need him back. For himself. For the knowledge he has of the Kingdom.
The Characters
Wayne Kresky is the old Imagineer who started them on their original adventures, but the Overtakers have kidnapped him.
Finn Whitman is turning into a natural leader for the Kingdom Keepers with increasingly better control of turning himself into light. Charlene Turner is the "clean cheerleader" type with uncanny physical ability who has finally found her niche in the group. Isabella "Willa" Angelo. Dill Philby is the geeky sports enthusiast with a major talent for computers and he, Maybeck, and Jess finally manage to do Whitman's light trick---in the nick of time. Terry Maybeck is the oldest of the group and is starting to consider others.
Amanda Lockhart and Jezebel "Jess" are Fairlies, something more than human. Amanda has some magical ability while Jess dreams the future. After their last adventure, their refuge was discovered and now they're in fostercare with Mrs. Nash. Finn and company need their help and Philby is determined to film them and create DHIs of Amanda and Jez. Wanda Alcott is actually Wayne's daughter and plays a very useful part in this installment. I'm hoping she or one of the other parents will help out with Amanda and Jess.
Aunt Bess "Jelly" Maybeck is Terry's aunt with whom he lives. Gladis Philby is Philby's very worried mother. Maleficent, the nasty witch from Sleeping Beauty is the chief villainess and she's fronting for an even bigger villain, Chernabog.
Greg "Lousy" Luowski, a fellow student at their school, has a thing for Amanda, but bullies everyone. His "pilot fish" friends are Mike Horton and Eric Kreuter.
The Cover
I do love these hologram covers! In this one, Finn is flying through the air hanging onto the snake's tail while Spaceship Earth does a good job of imitating that holographic effect. Charlie and Willa are running to yet another disaster.
The title set-up drives me nuts. Again. The series name with its number are huge while the actual title of this book about five times smaller...almost a nonentity.
October 23, 2012
Disney in Shadow is Book 3 in the Kingdom Keeper Series. While this book does provide segments of back story as needed there are many elements that seem to rely at least somewhat on familiarity with the previous books. So if you haven't read those, you should probably do so before jumping in here. That said, the storyline does stand on its own without relying heavily on the history from the previous two books.
The DHIs know that trouble is brewing. At the end of book 2, the DHIs have saved Jez but were unable to prevent the escape of Maleficent and Chernabog. Worse still (or maybe just as bad), Wayne has vanished. During the second book, Wayne was in hiding and only communicating with the kids through secure and cryptic messages. At the end of the book it is apparent that the Overtakers have captured Wayne.
Knowing that Wayne is the only person who has the knowledge to adequately guide the kids, Finn desperately leads the DHIs in an effort to find him. From his experience inside the Disney computer system in book 2, Philby is able to hack into the DHI system and help control when and where the kids materialize after dark. This is helpful but there is still too much ground to cover. Amanda and Jess get more fleshed out as characters and we learn more about their special powers. Unfortunately they are also being threatened with a return to a "foster care" facility that would take them out of the state and thus unable to help. Crunched for time, the kids come up with a plan to make Amanda and Jess into DHIs as well. They area also introduced to a woman claiming to be Wayne's daughter. There is a lot of distrust at first but she proves very helpful later on.
Even though the kids search for Wayne in all of the different parks, most of the action in this book takes place in Disney Studios and in Epcot. Jess has dreams and premonitions that she records in a diary. Wayne seems to have some idea of what Jess might see and so he's able to send clues to her through her diary messages. Wayne's sister also provides a cryptic clue for the kids to follow. One of Wayne's messages also seems to suggest a potential traitor in the group which puts everybody on edge.
During their search, the DHIs once again have to watch out for the normal Disney security and maintenance teams as well as a growing supply of Overtakers. There are some pretty exciting sequences where the kids are battling with or fleeing from the various Overtaker minions. Even though the kids still do some very extraordinary things against extraordinary odds, this book seemed more realistic in terms of the kids actually being in mortal danger.
The climax of the story takes place during a rehearsal for Fantasmic (one of my favorite Disney Parks shows). The scene does a great job of ratcheting up the tension as well as making any success come at great cost and loss.
So far this is my favorite of the Kingdom Keeper books, mainly because it is increasing in complexity and intensity. The characters are still a little cheesy, but they seem to be growing more relatable. The situations are crazy of course but there is just enough realism to keep the suspense going. Probably my biggest complaint at this point is that I want the kids to have more allies…or any allies really. Specifically I would love to see some of the "good" Disney characters show up to start helping the DHIs. After all, the Overtakers have amassed quite the little army. It only seems fair that the DHIs should have some Disney heroes on their side. At the same time, that might make things either too unbalanced or too over-the-top.
All in all, this is another fun addition to a fun series. It's not "high literature" by any means and it's definitely geared towards kids…but for a Disney fan like me, it's a lot of fun and I'm ready for the next adventure.
***
3 out of 5 stars (for adult readers)
****
4 out of 5 stars (for child readers)
The DHIs know that trouble is brewing. At the end of book 2, the DHIs have saved Jez but were unable to prevent the escape of Maleficent and Chernabog. Worse still (or maybe just as bad), Wayne has vanished. During the second book, Wayne was in hiding and only communicating with the kids through secure and cryptic messages. At the end of the book it is apparent that the Overtakers have captured Wayne.
Knowing that Wayne is the only person who has the knowledge to adequately guide the kids, Finn desperately leads the DHIs in an effort to find him. From his experience inside the Disney computer system in book 2, Philby is able to hack into the DHI system and help control when and where the kids materialize after dark. This is helpful but there is still too much ground to cover. Amanda and Jess get more fleshed out as characters and we learn more about their special powers. Unfortunately they are also being threatened with a return to a "foster care" facility that would take them out of the state and thus unable to help. Crunched for time, the kids come up with a plan to make Amanda and Jess into DHIs as well. They area also introduced to a woman claiming to be Wayne's daughter. There is a lot of distrust at first but she proves very helpful later on.
Even though the kids search for Wayne in all of the different parks, most of the action in this book takes place in Disney Studios and in Epcot. Jess has dreams and premonitions that she records in a diary. Wayne seems to have some idea of what Jess might see and so he's able to send clues to her through her diary messages. Wayne's sister also provides a cryptic clue for the kids to follow. One of Wayne's messages also seems to suggest a potential traitor in the group which puts everybody on edge.
During their search, the DHIs once again have to watch out for the normal Disney security and maintenance teams as well as a growing supply of Overtakers. There are some pretty exciting sequences where the kids are battling with or fleeing from the various Overtaker minions. Even though the kids still do some very extraordinary things against extraordinary odds, this book seemed more realistic in terms of the kids actually being in mortal danger.
The climax of the story takes place during a rehearsal for Fantasmic (one of my favorite Disney Parks shows). The scene does a great job of ratcheting up the tension as well as making any success come at great cost and loss.
So far this is my favorite of the Kingdom Keeper books, mainly because it is increasing in complexity and intensity. The characters are still a little cheesy, but they seem to be growing more relatable. The situations are crazy of course but there is just enough realism to keep the suspense going. Probably my biggest complaint at this point is that I want the kids to have more allies…or any allies really. Specifically I would love to see some of the "good" Disney characters show up to start helping the DHIs. After all, the Overtakers have amassed quite the little army. It only seems fair that the DHIs should have some Disney heroes on their side. At the same time, that might make things either too unbalanced or too over-the-top.
All in all, this is another fun addition to a fun series. It's not "high literature" by any means and it's definitely geared towards kids…but for a Disney fan like me, it's a lot of fun and I'm ready for the next adventure.
***
3 out of 5 stars (for adult readers)
****
4 out of 5 stars (for child readers)
June 12, 2015
A Review of Kingdom Keepers 3 by Ridley Pearson
Being a Disney Host is glorious. You get to be a hologram guiding people around the Disney Parks. But Finn and his friends aren't just holograms that guide people around. At night, when they go to sleep, they wake up in Disney World as DHI's (holograms) and they fight evil to keep Disney safe. The "evil" is called the Overtakers, and they are trying to make Disney World a nightmare come true instead of a dream come true. The Keeper's Mentor, Wayne, is being kept hostage by the Overtakers but they don't know where. This book is called Kingdom Keepers 3 by: Ridley Pearson and it's a fantasy. Anyone who enjoys a mysterious adventure would really enjoy this. I like how this book makes you want to read on, how it's a mystery and also how they are on an adventure.
In the whole Kingdom Keepers series, I've been wanting to read on, but in this one I wanted to continue the most. Kingdom Keepers 3 makes you want to keep going because when they walk around the park or go on a ride, something overwhelming happens. For an example, when the kids were riding Test Track, the car started going way faster then it's supposed to go out of nowhere. Also the seat belts got locked when Maleficent, the evil fairy, was chasing after their car. Another thing that kept me on the edge of my seat was when they were trying to get inside a building, but a gigantic fast snake was guarding it so they couldn't get inside.That part made me feel like I was actually being chased by a snake because of all the sound effects. Overall, this book kept me excited to keep reading.
This book, like others in the series, was a mystery. It kept me interested about how they were solving a mystery of finding Wayne, their mentor. I was so anxious to find out where Wayne was throughout the book. For me when I was reading this book, I was relating it to the Scooby-Doo gang. Wayne left many challenging clues that they had to figure out. One of them was a big group of scrambled letters that they had to rearrange to find out where they had to look next. The clues were very interesting and hard to figure out. They even had to get help from their parents! I thought it was very cool how the Kingdom Keepers had to use the clues to find out where in the park or what ride the next clue would be at. Sometimes they even had to travel to a different park to find something out.
One of the many fun touches that this book expressed was how they were on an adventure. Throughout the whole book, the Keepers were on an journey through the parks and rides. I enjoyed when they were in Epcot and statues came alive and started to fight them. When Jesters were chasing them around the different "countries", it was exciting. Did I also forget to mention that they pose as actors for "Fantasmic"? Things that look like just plain old robots during the day, go crazy with evilness at night.
Overall this book is a great read. It will make you very excited to read on, for the whole book. There wasn't one part in this book where I was bored. I never wanted to put this book down. It will thrill teens who are obsessed with Disney World and characters. Once you read this book you will want to read it over and over again.
Being a Disney Host is glorious. You get to be a hologram guiding people around the Disney Parks. But Finn and his friends aren't just holograms that guide people around. At night, when they go to sleep, they wake up in Disney World as DHI's (holograms) and they fight evil to keep Disney safe. The "evil" is called the Overtakers, and they are trying to make Disney World a nightmare come true instead of a dream come true. The Keeper's Mentor, Wayne, is being kept hostage by the Overtakers but they don't know where. This book is called Kingdom Keepers 3 by: Ridley Pearson and it's a fantasy. Anyone who enjoys a mysterious adventure would really enjoy this. I like how this book makes you want to read on, how it's a mystery and also how they are on an adventure.
In the whole Kingdom Keepers series, I've been wanting to read on, but in this one I wanted to continue the most. Kingdom Keepers 3 makes you want to keep going because when they walk around the park or go on a ride, something overwhelming happens. For an example, when the kids were riding Test Track, the car started going way faster then it's supposed to go out of nowhere. Also the seat belts got locked when Maleficent, the evil fairy, was chasing after their car. Another thing that kept me on the edge of my seat was when they were trying to get inside a building, but a gigantic fast snake was guarding it so they couldn't get inside.That part made me feel like I was actually being chased by a snake because of all the sound effects. Overall, this book kept me excited to keep reading.
This book, like others in the series, was a mystery. It kept me interested about how they were solving a mystery of finding Wayne, their mentor. I was so anxious to find out where Wayne was throughout the book. For me when I was reading this book, I was relating it to the Scooby-Doo gang. Wayne left many challenging clues that they had to figure out. One of them was a big group of scrambled letters that they had to rearrange to find out where they had to look next. The clues were very interesting and hard to figure out. They even had to get help from their parents! I thought it was very cool how the Kingdom Keepers had to use the clues to find out where in the park or what ride the next clue would be at. Sometimes they even had to travel to a different park to find something out.
One of the many fun touches that this book expressed was how they were on an adventure. Throughout the whole book, the Keepers were on an journey through the parks and rides. I enjoyed when they were in Epcot and statues came alive and started to fight them. When Jesters were chasing them around the different "countries", it was exciting. Did I also forget to mention that they pose as actors for "Fantasmic"? Things that look like just plain old robots during the day, go crazy with evilness at night.
Overall this book is a great read. It will make you very excited to read on, for the whole book. There wasn't one part in this book where I was bored. I never wanted to put this book down. It will thrill teens who are obsessed with Disney World and characters. Once you read this book you will want to read it over and over again.
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