The Dysasters: The Graphic Novel (Dysasters, #1)

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

[Quirky Cat]

3 1/2 stars

I received a copy of The Dysasters in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Dysasters is the first novel in a new series by P.C. Cast and her daughter, Kristin Cast. Together they have created a world that’s full of wonder and more than its fair share of chaos.
The series has a lot to offer, a scientist is playing god, teenagers with special abilities, drama, arguments, and even some fantasy elements as well. Oh, and did I mention the music references? There’s more of that that you might expect.
The novel also includes a fair number of drawings to go along with some of the events occurring. A lot of them include drawings of the characters, which people will probably either love or hate, depending on their preference for picturing the characters on their own. I enjoyed seeing the characters as the authors pictured them, though I’ll confess I continued to picture them differently in my head. I couldn’t help it.



The Dysasters wasn’t the novel I was expecting, but I still found it to be a fascinating read. It was the cover that originally caught my attention for the series and my fondness for P.C. Cast’s works that convinced me that it would be worth reading.
The novel wasted no time throwing us right into the thick of things. I personally enjoy that, because I’m usually pretty anxious to see what the plot is about. Some fans may not enjoy that element quite as much though.
It took me a while to start getting to know the characters in any real way. Yes, of course, I felt for the characters as their worst nightmares occurred, but I didn’t feel it in the same way I would have, had it happened later in the novel. I did grow to like the two main perspectives, in their own way. They’re stubborn and don’t listen well to anybody, but then again, teenagers aren’t exactly well known for that.
The musical scenes in this novel are both highly amusing, and maybe just a touch bit embarrassing. You know when you’re reading, and you cringe when the character you love is about to do something silly, and you’re actively embarrassed for them? That’s how I felt during these scenes. But they were also kind of cute, and I have to give the kids credit for their music choices.
I absolutely loved the concept behind their abilities. It had this real mad scientist vibe to it, which I loved. In this case, the mad scientist also had a bunch of thugs willing to do his bidding, but that worked too. It gave the main characters something to interact with directly while saving the true antagonist for another time. It was clever.
There was something about this novel that really reminded me of I Am Number Four. Perhaps it was the tone? Or maybe it was the fact that the main characters were forced to learn about themselves and their abilities, in the same way, that the main character in I Am Number Four was forced to do. Still, I think if you loved the movie, you’ll enjoy this novel.
I’ll confess that I didn’t like this novel quite as much as I would have expected, though I still maintain that I’m glad I read it. The core concept has so much potential, and I honestly can’t wait to see more about the antagonist himself. I wonder if the next novel will have the same four perspectives? I imagine we will.


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