Disney Mystery Coloring - Best of Love Stories : Full Review

The Best of concept

Before going further, there's something important to understand: this book is a "Best of". That means the colorings in this volume are not new. Hachette Heroes selected the most beautiful drawings from several previous volumes of the "Disney Mystery Coloring" collection to gather them into a single book. It's great for discovering the best of the collection in one purchase, but it also has an important consequence: if you already own several Disney volumes, you'll inevitably find colorings you already have, or that you've already done.

Personally, I know the collection well and I was able to spot several drawings that come from volumes I've already reviewed. But to be clear: if you're an absolute Disney fan and you love the franchise, that's not necessarily a problem. You can redo the colorings with a new color palette, see if you've improved compared to the first time, or simply file them in a new collection. It's almost a "memory" book that gathers the best moments.

On the other hand, if you're discovering the world of Disney mystery colorings with this book, then you're getting a great deal. 100 quality drawings from the best volumes is a fantastic gateway into the collection.

The strengths

As usual with Hachette Heroes, the illustrations are gorgeous. That's one of the things that always makes me happy with this collection: the quality of the drawings is consistently great. The Disney characters are faithful to the originals, the expressions are well done, the compositions are thoughtful. It's beautiful work.

I also love the presence of double-page spreads in this volume. A double page is a coloring that extends across two facing pages, giving you a spectacular large format once finished. It's my favorite format because the final result is really impressive and it changes from the standard format.

The paper quality is premium. It's thick, pleasant to the touch, and holds colors well. Standard ink markers go on without any issue, colored pencils too. It's a book that will last over time without yellowing or getting damaged.

The weaknesses

The first point that might bother you: the printing is double-sided. For alcohol marker fans, that's a problem. Alcohol markers bleed through the paper and risk ruining the drawing on the back. If you mainly use alcohol markers, this book isn't the right choice for you. Stick to single-sided volumes, or limit yourself to colored pencils and standard ink markers.

Second point: some colorings have non-solid white zones. In practice, that means you'll need a white marker (Posca-type) to fill certain areas. Not all books require this, but this one has a few colorings where it's necessary. Not dramatic but good to know before buying.

Third point: some colorings have less defined outlines with lots of small zones to color. On these particular drawings, coloring can become a bit tedious because you have to be careful not to go outside the lines, and the concentration required is higher. It depends on the drawing and the author, it varies from one coloring to another.

And of course, the point we already mentioned: duplicates with other volumes in the collection. If you already own several Disney books, expect to find familiar colorings.

Neutral points to know

As in most well-detailed Hachette Heroes volumes, the very small zones are already pre-colored. It's normal and even a good thing: it means the color code couldn't have fit inside without disturbing the readability. So Hachette pre-colors them directly to make the work easier. It doesn't disrupt the final coloring at all.

Some colorings require many shades of a same color. You'll need several pinks, several blues, several greens to bring out the volumes properly. If you're looking for brands with a wide variety of shades, I recommend two options on the blog:

• The Tooli Art acrylic markers for a beautiful acrylic finish with a rich palette.
• The Faber-Castell Black Edition colored pencils set of 100 for beginners who want lots of variety without breaking the bank.

Difficulty: who is this book for?

Since it's a Best of, the difficulty varies enormously from one page to another. Several authors contributed to this volume, and each author has their own style and their own complexity level. You'll find very accessible colorings with large clearly defined zones, and others very detailed with micro-zones that require patience.

If you're a beginner, my advice: start with the colorings that look easiest at first glance, and progressively increase the difficulty as you gain confidence. It's actually a great way to learn, because you naturally improve as you go through the book.

If you're experienced, you'll find plenty to enjoy with the most complex colorings. It's very satisfying to complete a highly detailed drawing after several hours of coloring.

My verdict

Disney Mystery Coloring - Best of Love Stories is a beautiful volume, with 100 quality colorings and a polished presentation. If you're discovering the collection or only own a few Disney volumes, it's an excellent deal that lets you see the best of several books at once.

On the other hand, if you already own a good portion of the Hachette Heroes Disney collection, expect to find colorings you already know. In that case, consider this book as a "memory" or a "progression exercise" rather than a new discovery.

For absolute fans of the Disney franchise, this book is a must-have. For others, make your choice with full awareness!