City of Hooks and Scars is book two in the City of Villains series: a fairytale-inspired crime trilogy by author Estelle Laure. Book one, simply titled City of Villains, ended with a great battle at Miracle Lake which left tenacious protagonist Mary Elizabeth without her best friend, Ursula, her boyfriend James, and mean girl school acquaintance, Maleficient. Now Mary Elizabeth is determined to find them…

I have loved the cover art of this book series since the release of the first book and the second book cover does not disappoint either. It is an enticing visual introduction to a unique Disney mystery which sheds an entirely new light on Disney’s villains.

This second novel in the series builds on the history of conflict between Monarch City’s different factions, especially Legacy (descended from magic) and the Narrows (described as “Uptowners with no magic and a chip on their shoulder”). Mary Elizabeth returns to the key landmarks first introduced in book one, including Wonderland, in an attempt to uncover where James, Ursula and Mally have disappeared to, as well as what might befall the city next. Although Mary Elizabeth is no longer pursuing detective work with the City’s police force, she is still very much a detective on a mission all her own in City of Hooks and Scars.

Two key developments drive this story and distinguish it from Book One. First, Mary Elizabeth learns more about a mysterious voice that plagues her and which ultimately reveals a darker side to herself. Second, the story’s events uncover a more complex gray area between good and evil and compel Mary Elizabeth to make some difficult choices. The cliffhanger at the end of Book Two is excellent and will leave readers longing for what comes next. I expect that Book Three will bring with it a battle bigger than that at Miracle Lake.

For readers interested in this series, I strongly recommend starting with book one, City of Villains. The broader context of the story – beyond just Mary Elizabeth’s story – is critical to understanding the motivations of various characters and how and why some of those motivations shift throughout. It is a thrilling mystery series that blurs the lines between good and evil, black and white, and will make readers question everything.

I was a huge fan of the first book "City of Villain's" by Estelle Laure however, "City of Hooks and Scars" did not intrigue me at all. I struggled daily trying to get through this book because I felt like there was no character development once so ever and I lost the villain's aspect of the book itself. I was very excited for this book but now I can honestly say, I would not recommend it.

To me this one fell into the second book slump. I wanted more from the villain's point of view. Because Estelle Laure, the main character was actually my least favorite from the first book. I don't think I'll read the third book.

The second in the City of Villains series. The storyline continues with Mary Heart trying to find out what has happened to her friends after the battle at Miracle Lake. I really like the inclusion of the fairy tale characters we have grown up with but that are shown in a different light. I think this book is setting up the next in the series because while it did have little twists, it didn’t leave you with the OMG moment that you really wanted. I look forward to seeing how the story will progress.

City of Hooks and Scars is the second installment in author Estelle Laure's City of Villains series. This dark and edgy YA series explores the reimagined origins of Maleficent, Ursula, Captain Hook, and other infamous Disney Villains like you’ve never seen before. In this sequel to City of Villains, teen detective Mary Elizabeth Heart continues to unravel a dark conspiracy that has turned her best friend and boyfriend into villainous monsters—all while battling her own inner demons.

Picking up where City of Villains left off, this sequel finds Mary is reeling from the battle at Miracle Lake in which she watched, horrified, as her boyfriend James and best friend Ursula turned into full-fledged, villainous monsters, and she was forced to make a stunning move to save his life. Now James (aka Captain Hook), Ursula (aka Sea Witch), and Mally Saint (aka Maleficent), have gone underground and are plotting their revenge.

She's been terminated from her job, along with her former partner Belle, who is now investigating several powerful key characters like Kyle Attenborough. Meanwhile kids from all over the Scar are disappearing and her villainous friends are being blamed for it all. Mary is being held up as both a hero and a villain for what she did during the battle for Miracle Lake. She's basically an outcast at her High School since none of her friends are there to watch her back.

Now, alone, except for her Aunt Gia, she begins to question her choices even though it might mean giving into the dark side. After visiting a villain named Caleb Rothco (aka Mad Hatter), breaks out of prison after her visit, Mary begins to hearing voices telling her to make a decision on who she wants to be, and starts seeing a character called Queen of Hearts. Readers are also introduced to a new character named Jasmine, which, I think, we all know who she is based on.

Mary's paranoia is real in that there's a new group called Watchers who seem to be everywhere she goes. Mary isn’t a stranger to loss, having lost her parents and sister, and with the introduction of magic back into the Scar, she knows that she has to peel back the layers of the conspiracy. The majority of the book focuses on Mary’s investigation plus how she deals with her trauma and what she did to James in order to free him from the cruel lab where Mary was injected with magic that seems to have altered her in ways she will soon have to decide to accept, or refuse.

City of Hooks and Scars pretty much goes in way you expect. After all, this is a series about villains, not heroes, ergo, you will be seeing a whole new cast of villains coming soon.

I found this second book in the City of Villains series to be stronger than the first. It's still got the mystery aspect mixed with Disney characters, but the world has already been built, so getting into the story doesn't take as long.

I like too how this story is different than other "modern" settings with the Disney Villains. It's not just a rehash of the Descendents series or Once Upon A Time. It's telling it's own unique story and I think that really is it's strength.

This book isn't the end of the series, so I'm excited to see where Estelle Laure takes it next.

This is the second book in the A City of Villains series. I highly recommend reading this series in order so that you understand what is happening in this sequel. I enjoyed City of Hooks and Scars and am looking forward to reading more from Estelle Laure.

In this sequel to City of Villains, Mary Elizabeth is left on her own. Her three friends have gone into hiding and she is secluded because of the press camping outside her place. Mary Elizabeth sets out to find her friends and figure out more information about the magic. She does enlist some assistance because she needs the help.
Opinion
This book is just as good as the first. Laure did a stand up job continuing the story. The most fun part for me was playing with each characters name to see if I could come up with what Disney character they were. This twist of a story is great for any Disney fan but especially for the villians fans.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the City of Villains trilogy. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE THIRD ONE. We pick up right where we left off after the battle and disappearance of James, Mally, and Ursula. Mary Elizabeth tries to figure out where they are and what is going on. Who can she trust? Who is the Red Queen that seems to be sending personal messages her way? My only wish for the series, is for a map of the city. Please please please Disney, turn this into a movie series.

Mary Elizabeth is still investigating the disappearance of her friends and what exactly is going on in her city all the while battling the voice in her head. Her best friends and boy friend disappeared after the battle of Miracle Lake to plot their next move, but Mary decided not to go with them and has now changed her mind and wants to be be with them however, she can't quite figure out where they are or how to get there. Meanwhile kids from all over the Scar are disappearing and her villainous friends are being blamed for it all.

I love this book, isn't there always a like devilish voice inside of us wanting us to do the thing we wish we could do if we only knew we could get away with it. That is Mary's voice and it keeps things exciting especially every time the Red Queen shows up, off with their heads! This book has a lot of action but even more suspense and I can not wait to see what happens next.

This review will appear on my blog on May 31st

Villains on the loose, a mystery at hand, and one girl who will have to embrace her inner legacy. The story picks up where the first one left off with Mary’s friends and boyfriend all becoming their true villain selves and disappearing, leaving her trying to find them again. It doesn’t help that there’s a voice inside her head now telling her to chop people’s heads off... (aka the Red Queen). Now she’ll have to team up with Belle and Jasmine to uncover the conspiracy and try and find her friends and boyfriend again. She’ll have to face magic and dig deep deep into the dark underbelly of Monarch City to discover what is really going on. Can she save her friends or will she succumb to her inner villain? The story definitely felt like I was reading a Descendant’s novel. It definitely is a middle grade story. The story ends off on a cliffhanger and I am curious to see where the next book goes.

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

City of Hooks and Scars by Estelle Laure is the sequel to City of Villians. Characters are based on Disney classic characters like Ursula, Captain Hook, Mad Hatter, Malificient, Belle…but this is not Once Upon a Time. The Narrows are the haves and the Legacy who live in the Scar are the have nots, but they have magic in their blood and that magic is coming back. At the heart of this fantasy novel is a political conspiracy and corruption where no one is who they seem. Belle and Mary Elizabeth join with reporter Jasmin to untangle all the pieces. I love the nods to all the Disney classics. Though I found reading this time that Mary’s aunt in my mind was Marisa Tomei’s version of Spider-Man’s Aunt May and villainous Kyle Attenborough had some parallels to a certain ex-president. Reading book one, I had thought Mary Elizabeth may have been written as a Mary Sue, but more of her is discovered in this volume. Fair warning, this is book two, but the story is only getting started. #NetGalley #May2022