Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost–a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world.
Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon’s Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She’ll just need a little help from her “friends.” In their quest for the Dragon’s Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain’t so bad.
If you can’t get enough of Melissa de la Cruz’s tale of good and evil (currently the #1 title on Publisher’s Weekly’s children’s frontlist fiction bestseller list), check out these magical indies:
The Secret Zoo by Brian Chick
Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?
Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it’s up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, will they discover there’s much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed?
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon by Terry John Barto
Dragons are magical. Some are ferocious, and some are friendly, but whatever kind of dragon it is, we love reading about them and their incredible adventures. Nickerbacher wants to make his family proud of him, but he doesn’t want to be like all the other dragons.
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon is the winner of the coveted Purple Dragonfly Book Award, National Parenting Publications Award, Family Review Center Gold Award, Mom’s Choice Gold Award and is Story Monster Approved.
The Stolen Kingdom: A Free Fantasy Book for Middle Grade Readers by Ross Rosenfeld
A book for young readers and adults who simply love a great adventure. You’ll ride with Taylor James and Robert of Roth as they attempt to defeat the evil Dark Duke. Along the way, you’ll have to survive the dangers of Cheshire Woods, battle brutes and monsters, and overcome incredible odds.
If you like stories such as The Princess Bride, King Arthur, and Lord of the Rings, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this engaging tale. Recommended reading level: 5th grade and up. Great for teens!
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler and Sarah Gibb
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep her away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery – about her own identity, the mysterious father she’s never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water’s surface.
With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident – an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.
A Fairy’s Guide to Disaster (An Away from Whipplethorn Book 1) by A.W. Hartoin
Matilda Whipplethorn is about to get what she’s always wanted, and it’s a bad thing.
Being a babysitter isn’t much of a dream for the average thirteen-year-old, but Matilda is anything but average. She’s half a centimeter tall, invisible to the human eye, and hearing-impaired. Her mother won’t let her forget any of that. So for Matilda, adventures are in short supply. Finally agreeing to let Matilda take some responsibility, her mother gives her a list of emergency procedures for babysitting. The only problem; humans aren’t on the list.
The Catbird Seat by Emmanuel Sullivan
Cociel couldn’t take it anymore. Like all the other mice on the Reservation, he was ruled by the tyrannical cats of the Kingdom, especially their so-called Prime Minister, the brutal and greedy Whiska. But all the other mice were terrified of taking action, and for good reason: Cociel’s own mother had been jailed, as so many other mice had been.
But when Cociel finds out that Whiska plots to take over a portion of the Reservation and use it to hunt mice, he is determined to save his people from feline oppression.
Abracadabra Tut by Page McBrier
When Fletcher Perry mysteriously wins the bid for a genuine mummy’s coffin at a magician’s tag sale, he decides to use it as a prop in his upcoming magic show at school. Then Fletcher and his new assistant, the mega-popular Arielle Torres, find themselves unexpectedly transported via the coffin back to King Tut’s temple, where Fletcher’s modern-day magic tricks attract the attention of the young king’s guardians. Thinking Fletcher must be a powerful sorcerer, the guardians press him into service as the king’s special protector.
This action-packed adventure is unstoppable. Abracadabra Tut pulls readers into an exciting journey filled with stage magic, mystery, chariots, cobras, and historical intrigue.
Let yourself wander into the worlds beyond the page as you become wrapped up in these sensational indie tales of wonder. The possibilities are endless in the worlds you are about to explore, so be sure to leave a trail of breadcrumbs and polish up your magic wands—this is gonna be an adventure!
Note: Many of the titles featured in this story are also available through IndieBound. Enjoy!