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mayetra's review against another edition
1.0
This was a tough book to rate because it is two books in one. The first book which is the novelization of the movie was excellent. It mostly stayed true to the movie while adding lovely little touches into the mindset of the characters. There were added "seeds" planted to set up the sequel but they are mostly unobtrusive and do not pull you from the story. Had this book been solely a novel-tie in for the movie, I would have given it 5 stars.
Now for the horror show that was the second part of the book - The Sequel. First off, couldn't you come up with a better title than - The All New Sequel? Moving on, the sequel part is a lie. This isn't about the Sanderson sisters returning to run amuck on Halloween night. This is an angst fueled teenage story about love and bullies in high school. The Sandersons, the beloved Hocus Pocus characters and Halloween night are just props. The character assassination of Max and Allison turned me off immediately. We see Max take back his shoes and leave Ernie and Jay in Hocus Pocus but I always assumed they told someone where they were. In the sequel, Max leaves them locked up in an isolated spot for days without telling anyone and Allison, good, wholesome Allison, goes along with this idea. Not only that, but once they are found Max goes out of his way to get even more revenge. The lovely thing about the "love story" in Hocus Pocus is that it doesn't become the focus between Max and Allison. They have small moments but the story is focus on the Sanderson witches. The author should have just written her love story between Poppy and Isabella and found some other way to get them together. (This has nothing to do with it being a lesbian love story. I would have felt the same if Isabella had been Issac instead.) Mary Sanderson starts to have some growth and then that all goes away. The Sanderson sisters themselves trot out the same tired old spells disguised as all "new" spells. It was a mess.
I'm giving the book one star for the train wreck that was the second book.
Now for the horror show that was the second part of the book - The Sequel. First off, couldn't you come up with a better title than - The All New Sequel? Moving on, the sequel part is a lie. This isn't about the Sanderson sisters returning to run amuck on Halloween night. This is an angst fueled teenage story about love and bullies in high school. The Sandersons, the beloved Hocus Pocus characters and Halloween night are just props. The character assassination of Max and Allison turned me off immediately. We see Max take back his shoes and leave Ernie and Jay in Hocus Pocus but I always assumed they told someone where they were. In the sequel, Max leaves them locked up in an isolated spot for days without telling anyone and Allison, good, wholesome Allison, goes along with this idea. Not only that, but once they are found Max goes out of his way to get even more revenge. The lovely thing about the "love story" in Hocus Pocus is that it doesn't become the focus between Max and Allison. They have small moments but the story is focus on the Sanderson witches. The author should have just written her love story between Poppy and Isabella and found some other way to get them together. (This has nothing to do with it being a lesbian love story. I would have felt the same if Isabella had been Issac instead.) Mary Sanderson starts to have some growth and then that all goes away. The Sanderson sisters themselves trot out the same tired old spells disguised as all "new" spells. It was a mess.
I'm giving the book one star for the train wreck that was the second book.
yessibean's review against another edition
5.0
Fitting sequel to a classic story. Won't get too much into it, but there is an open ending/cliffhanger. Hopefully another book will follow.
rob_the_capricorn's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I like it because Hocus Pocus is a story that I’ve loved ever since it was released. I remember seeing it in theaters multiple times, and watching the movie annually on Halloween has become a tradition in my household. On the other hand, I felt let down.
The book is split into two halves. The first part is a retelling of the Hocus Pocus movie, but it has a few additional touches to deepen the characters and the story. It was nice to have some background insights into the Sanderson Sisters’ family, and seeing some depth to the bullies, Jay and Ernie (aka Ice).
The second half of the book is the sequel. This is where I took some issue with it. First, they couldn’t be bothered to give the sequel a title? I genuinely feel the sequel needs a title. The other jarring thing about the sequel is the writing tense changes. The first half is written in 3rd person, past tense. The sequel changes to first person, present tense. I get it: it’s a conceptual thing, but still… Personally, I hate first person narratives unless there is some sort of reason for it, like reading a diary or listening to someone recount events. First person for the sake of first person is kind of lame in my opinion. But here, the abrupt change in perspective and tense was disruptive to the flow of reading.
I liked the new main characters in the sequel overall. I am glad the writer had a diverse cast to boot! The Witches were decent, but there were some parts in their dialogue that felt off, or out of character for the witch saying the line. Regardless, it was fun to see them on their mission for immortality again.
Perhaps, the biggest issue that I had was with how convenient it was that one of the characters had supernatural powers as well, which helped the teens overcome their biggest challenge. I wish the writer had kept the story grounded with the teens having to use a different method to beat the villains that didn’t involve introducing the idea of inherited witchy powers.
Overall, I give the book a three star rating. I had issues with the writing style, the tone, and the story. I would not recommend this book to read, nor will I revisit it. I would say only to read the book if you want the official Disney take on what happens after the 1993 movie.
The book is split into two halves. The first part is a retelling of the Hocus Pocus movie, but it has a few additional touches to deepen the characters and the story. It was nice to have some background insights into the Sanderson Sisters’ family, and seeing some depth to the bullies, Jay and Ernie (aka Ice).
The second half of the book is the sequel. This is where I took some issue with it. First, they couldn’t be bothered to give the sequel a title? I genuinely feel the sequel needs a title. The other jarring thing about the sequel is the writing tense changes. The first half is written in 3rd person, past tense. The sequel changes to first person, present tense. I get it: it’s a conceptual thing, but still… Personally, I hate first person narratives unless there is some sort of reason for it, like reading a diary or listening to someone recount events. First person for the sake of first person is kind of lame in my opinion. But here, the abrupt change in perspective and tense was disruptive to the flow of reading.
I liked the new main characters in the sequel overall. I am glad the writer had a diverse cast to boot! The Witches were decent, but there were some parts in their dialogue that felt off, or out of character for the witch saying the line. Regardless, it was fun to see them on their mission for immortality again.
Perhaps, the biggest issue that I had was with how convenient it was that one of the characters had supernatural powers as well, which helped the teens overcome their biggest challenge. I wish the writer had kept the story grounded with the teens having to use a different method to beat the villains that didn’t involve introducing the idea of inherited witchy powers.
Overall, I give the book a three star rating. I had issues with the writing style, the tone, and the story. I would not recommend this book to read, nor will I revisit it. I would say only to read the book if you want the official Disney take on what happens after the 1993 movie.
thedestinydyer's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay book. Truly if you’re like me and seen the movie on repeat then the first half of the book is just boring and I skipped most of it. The second half is the authors idea of what happened next.
The second half of the book was so good it brought back old characters while moving forward. Now as an adult reading it I didn’t have high expectations because I understand it was aimed more at the younger generations but I was pleasantly surprised.
The second half of the book was so good it brought back old characters while moving forward. Now as an adult reading it I didn’t have high expectations because I understand it was aimed more at the younger generations but I was pleasantly surprised.
thriller_chick's review against another edition
5.0
I have a lot of thoughts so I’ll try to summarize here. As a HUGE fan of Hocus Pocus, I needed this in my life.
I really liked the first half as it gave back story that the movie doesn’t show. I know the movie basically line for line so it was a quick read.
The second half is the sequel and I certainly think it would be fun on screen.
This is one of those genres that I would never read if it wasn’t a story that I already love so much.
I believe the cast of Hocus Pocus is what makes it so great.
I really liked the first half as it gave back story that the movie doesn’t show. I know the movie basically line for line so it was a quick read.
The second half is the sequel and I certainly think it would be fun on screen.
This is one of those genres that I would never read if it wasn’t a story that I already love so much.
I believe the cast of Hocus Pocus is what makes it so great.
amandaplease's review against another edition
2.0
This review and rating is strictly about the Hocus Pocus sequel.
I don't think anybody really ever reads my reviews, but in case they do, be warned, you might not like this review, but I'm being honest here.
There was so much wrong with this book. They pushed REALLY hard to make sure readers knew it was 2018. From mentions of Etsy and Instagram and iPhones, it was like ok, it's 2018, cool.
The representation in this book was lacking and felt pushed. The main character, Poppy, is lesbian (?) and it's mentioned that she likes her best friend a couple times but there's no mention of if she's "out" or how the people have reacted if she is. There are no mentions of any hardships due to get sexuality. Honestly, it felt like an afterthought. Also, her best friends, Travis and Isabella, are black and this too felt like an afterthought to give some representation.
So Poppy is Max and Allison's teenage daughter and she has been told her whole life about The Sanderson Sisters and of course she doesn't believe them. She and her friends decide it's a good idea to take a knock off Ouija board to the Sanderson house. Of course the Sanderson Sisters come back.
After this, there's a series of events that seem silly. Eventually, good guys win, bad guys lose. There was a slight twist at the end and the book ended on a cliff hanger, but it wasn't enough to make me know want to read a possible "3rd" book.
I don't think anybody really ever reads my reviews, but in case they do, be warned, you might not like this review, but I'm being honest here.
There was so much wrong with this book. They pushed REALLY hard to make sure readers knew it was 2018. From mentions of Etsy and Instagram and iPhones, it was like ok, it's 2018, cool.
The representation in this book was lacking and felt pushed. The main character, Poppy, is lesbian (?) and it's mentioned that she likes her best friend a couple times but there's no mention of if she's "out" or how the people have reacted if she is. There are no mentions of any hardships due to get sexuality. Honestly, it felt like an afterthought. Also, her best friends, Travis and Isabella, are black and this too felt like an afterthought to give some representation.
So Poppy is Max and Allison's teenage daughter and she has been told her whole life about The Sanderson Sisters and of course she doesn't believe them. She and her friends decide it's a good idea to take a knock off Ouija board to the Sanderson house. Of course the Sanderson Sisters come back.
After this, there's a series of events that seem silly. Eventually, good guys win, bad guys lose. There was a slight twist at the end and the book ended on a cliff hanger, but it wasn't enough to make me know want to read a possible "3rd" book.
readwithpitties's review against another edition
4.0
cute edition to the movie! especially for a teen who loves Halloween! very cute and enjoyable for all ages though, but written for YA. We get a lot of nods to the first movie in this one! With the main FMC the daughter of Alex and Max! And we even get a bit of help from aunt Dani (how fun is that!) the story line was fun! And the Sanderson sisters are just as funny and devious as they are in the movie! We also a little bit of FF love with our main character falling for her friend and it was precious! I read this a few years ago
Now but would re read again!
Now but would re read again!
cheesehead_reader's review against another edition
2.0
The Sequel did not thrill me. I found it darker than the original story (sending people to hell) but also not as funny. It was just ho-hum... Maybe it would play better as a movie? The most interesting thing was the last 3 pages. Since I was listening to the audio I started yelling "What? Huh? What did I miss?" This has me thinking there will be a third book which based on just the sequel I would've passed on a third. But that epilogue has me intrigued.
booksonawire's review against another edition
4.0
The first half was a pretty spot-on retelling of the film. I didn't necessarily need it in book form, so I skimmed most of it to my favorite parts i.e., the Sanderson sisters.
The sequel was cute. Good to see Max's daughter was annoying as him, but rather than having a Dani, who was my favorite human character, now we have Poppy's best friend, Travis, her crush Isabella, and her enemy, Katie. I warmed up to Katie, but she started out your stereotypical mean girl. As usual, the Sanderson's stole the show, but the magic just wasn't the same. I kind of felt we, as readers, are being tested for a reboot and sorry, not sorry, I have no desire for another film or a reboot. This was fun reading but nothing more...3.5 stars
The sequel was cute. Good to see Max's daughter was annoying as him, but rather than having a Dani, who was my favorite human character, now we have Poppy's best friend, Travis, her crush Isabella, and her enemy, Katie. I warmed up to Katie, but she started out your stereotypical mean girl. As usual, the Sanderson's stole the show, but the magic just wasn't the same. I kind of felt we, as readers, are being tested for a reboot and sorry, not sorry, I have no desire for another film or a reboot. This was fun reading but nothing more...3.5 stars