Marshal Knight: Kingdom Keepers 5: Shell Game Review - May 25, 2012

Marshal Knight: Shell Game Review
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by Marshal Knight (archives)
May 25, 2012
Guest reviewer Marshal Knight reviews the latest in the Kingdom Keepers series, Kingdom Keepers 5: Shell Game.


 

On average, I can finish a book in about a week and a half, one week if it is really good; take into consideration that I rarely read at home and I only read at down time in school (If I am early to class, if I finish an assignment early, etc.). I took 2 1/2 weeks to read Kingdom Keepers 5: Shell Game. It was THAT bad. Now, I am a diehard Kingdom Keepers lover. I have read the books for years, always anticipating the next one, so I was eager to open up the fifth in the series and read all its Disney goodness, but sadly, I was extremely disappointed.

In a nutshell, here is the series premise: 5 kids were filmed as DHI’s (or holograms) to be virtual tour guides at the Disney parks. As a result of the filming and holograms, when the kids go to sleep…they return to the parks at night. At night in the parks is a whole different world. The rides come to life…and it seems that everyone is after them. Maleficent leads a group of characters called “The Overtakers” which are the Disney villains. They are trying to destroy the kids and take over the parks, and then the world, for themselves. In this book, we catch up with the kids heading aboard the Disney Dream to unveil the DHI’s for the Disney Cruise Line. The Overtakers have followed them onboard; along with some of the kid’s schoolmates they have recruited to the dark side, trying to stop them and vise-versa.

I thought A TON of things were wrong with the book this time around. First off, in the previous book, good characters were introduced who helped the DHI’s out. Ariel, Minnie, Pluto and others flooded the pages trying to stop the Overtakers with the kids. Even the villains varied in the fourth edition. Frollo, Cruella Deville, and the Green Army Men were just a FEW of the evil creatures who helped add references and familiarity to the book. In the fifth one, there was only one major villain who showed up, Tia Dalma, the voodoo queen from Pirates of the Caribbean. I know…BORING! King Triton decided to show up as well…for a 5 page spread. Mr. Triton, you are not a model in Elle magazine, you are a Disney hero…HAVE SOME SUBSTANCE!

Another thing that troubled the book was the plot. Multiple items happened in the book that, at the time, seemed important…but were never mentioned again. If they were mentioned again, it didn’t really fit into the puzzle. SPOILER ALERT UP AHEAD! At one point in the book, Finn has a vision (a la That’s So Raven) and feels like he has been there before. The ending cliffhanger is him remembering to jump off a building in a similar situation (running from The Lion King hyenas)…so he decides to jump off…THE GOSH DARN EDGE OF THE BOAT! My problem was…ummm…that is stupid. I don’t care if you had a vision or you are Oprah…you don’t jump of the side of a 15 story cruise ship. With most cliffhangers leaving you on the edge of your seat, I responded to this one with a solid “Ehhh” followed up by an excited “I am finally done with this terrible book”.

I can’t deny that the book did become better in the last 45 pages, but it didn’t save the previous 500. For comparison purposes here are my other grades for the first four: 1=A 2=B- 3=A- 4=A+. I am disappointed in saying this to my favorite series, but Kingdom Keepers 5: Shell Game receives a…C-. The alright ending matched with the incredibly boring and scattered beginning and middle equal and very subpar book. I am hoping for a better book 6 with something that clears up the millions of questions that were left hanging with this book and some great additions of characters WITH SUBSTANCE! Anyways, let me know what you thought of the book, the series, the plot, my rants, etc. in the discussion boards. Until next time, Have a Magical Day!

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-- Text by Marshal Knight
-- Posted May 25, 2012