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, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Dragons, Fiction, Mystery

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

[Helen Cunha]

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˗]

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

[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)

[SJ NC]

S: 15/08/25
F: 15/08/25

5/5
First off, I'm kinda biased with this book because I love Bridget with all my heart and I want to learn eveything about her.

It was a fun read. It feels like reading SGE to be honest (I love SGE btw).

[Natalie Mayhugh]

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]

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

[Amanda Marie]

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]

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!

[LiteraryWondverland88]

I’m honestly convinced that if it wasn’t for what specifically was going on in my life at the moment I first started reading the first “Isle of the Lost” book I would not be nearly as attached to this series as I currently am.

I wouldn’t say the “Isle of the Lost” books are particularly amazing YA Literature or anything, but they can be fun diversions, especially if you are a Disney fan and honestly for me I find them comforting to read as well since they did provide such welcome and warm respite when I desperately needed it once. Since then I’ve gone out and bought every new installment when it came out and the same is true for this book.

I feel pretty much the same way about “Welcome to Merlin’s Academy” as I do the other books in the series. It’s nice easy reading. I personally found it comforting to be back in this weird alternate Disney fantasy world again for a bit and while at first I had a hard time making sense of the thought of some of Disney’s most notorious villains and protagonists attending a magical school together instead of starring in their own fairytales and legends, eventually I was able to settle down to it. Again I think the key is to think of this whole story world as an alternate reality from the classic animated films instead of the same stories and characters.

I enjoyed what structure of the magic school the book showed before things started going badly and I kinda liked the adventure our main characters go on to set things right. The main drawback though is that the answer to the mystery can feel like a letdown and an unsatisfying climax for the build up. Though at the same time it does feel like something Merlin might do. Still it kinda made it feel lame in comparison to what happened in the other books.

The side plot with Hades trying to flirt with Maleficent can feel a bit predictable too given what happens in the other Isle of the Lost books and the Descendants movies, but I guess I don’t hate how that went completely.

All in all, I’d say it’s one of the weaker installments of the Isle of the Lost book series, but I had a decent enough time reading it. 2.9 maybe?

[Chantal]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Mikayla]

This did not seem to really fit with the others. The characters all get along, which does not make sense for Rise of Red. I enjoyed some backstory for Hook, but otherwise this was not as soon as the first 4 books.

[Dev S]

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

[Marie]

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]

2.5*

[Cillian]

!! 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 !!

[Liv]

Ned - "how great was when Hades put the whole school on fire?"

[Kayla Phillips]

This was our family read aloud and my 9 year old loved it. You don't have to have watched the movies to follow it. Though the commentary from her was well, as you'd expect.

[Cassadydoel]

this makes the movie make even less sense. which is quite the feat.

[Helios Sunshine]

The book was overall pretty good. And it is rather cool to have a book about the characters of Merlin Academy! But there are a few things that bothered me enough to not give it a 5 star review:

-The number of 'main' characters, we follow between 5 and 7 characters, and I think having that many characters to developp is making it harder to get to know them on a deeper level. For example, the Hades and Maleficent romance subplot is cute and it's pretty great to explain how they got together, but it does take away from other characters.

-Morgie seems out of character compared to the movie.

-Hook's role. I think Morgie would have been a better character for the "am i good or am i evil" plot. Morgie was a new character in the movie and doesn't exist anywhere else, while Hook is one of Disney's most notorious villain.
In the movie, Morgie seems desparate for Uliana and the other's approval, but in this book which precede the movie, Morgie already has their approval, so did he lost it? Morgie is also the son of a powerful vilain, him questionning if he wants to be good or evil could be interesting due to his mother influence. Merlin invited him to this school while Morgana is Merlin's ennemy, it could have been nice to see him who he wants to give his loyalty to.
I also think that Hook's backstory transform him from a villain to a misunderstood guy who wants to save the children from Neverland because they might be starving. This also take away from one of the flaw of Peter Pan, which is being too childish and causing harm around him (as he was the one to feed Hook's hand to a crocodile) without realizing the dammage he's doing.
It does make up for an interesting backstory, but the book isn't the best at explaining why Hook choose to help bully Bridget and Ella. Which leads to my next point:

-The characters are too friendly with each other at the end. We end the book with all of the characters being somewhat okay with one another, but this also means that we have no idea why Uliana and the other VK's started to bully Bridget and Ella. Especially when Hook spent a good portion of the book being friend/friendly with Bridget and Ella.

But it is overall a good book, and if you liked the movie 'The Rise of Red' then I higly recommend that you read it! It's adapted for children and i would say that it is accesible for children 8 to 9 years old and plus