Disney Villains — by Serena Valentino

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  Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen
  

  • Aug-2009
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  Book - 1
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This gripping novel examines the life of one of Disney's cruelest villains: the Evil Queen. Queen. She should be happy, but something about the mirror she was holding filled her with a horrid sense of dread that ...

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  The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince
  

  • Jul-2014
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  Book - 2
  

  A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp--like a beast's! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bit...

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  Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch
  

  • Aug-2016
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  Book - 3
  

  The tale of the sea king's daughter Ariel is a beloved one of losing--and then finding--one's own voice. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mergirl wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she ...

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  Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy
  

  • Oct-2017
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  Book - 4
  

  The fourth novel in Serena Valentino's Villains series (Fairest of All, Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul), features the story of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the Dark Fairy, Maleficent....

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  Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch
  

  • Aug-2018
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  Book - 5
  

  The tale of the legendary golden flower is widely known. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the flower is coveted by an old witch to keep herself young and beautiful. And always the flower is used to save a dying queen, w...

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  The Odd Sisters: A Tale of the Three Witches
  

  • Jul-2019
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  Book - 6
  

  Throughout the Villains series, the Odd Sisters have meddled in the lives of the Wicked Queen, The Beast, Ursula, Maleficent, and Mother Gothel, changing the course of fate for the greatest villains ever known. Now, it's time for their reckoning....

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  Evil Thing: A Tale of That De Vil Woman
  

  • Jul-2020
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  Book - 7
  

  Cruella De Vil is the perfect villain: stylish, witty, relentless...and possibly cursed. From her lonely childhood, to her iconic fashion choices, to that fateful car crash (you know the one), Cruella tells all in this marvelous memoir of a woman ...

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  Cold Hearted
  

  • Jul-2021
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  Book - 8
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This wicked novel uncovers the origins of one of Disney's most cold-hearted villains: Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine.This was supposed to be her happily ever after...It's a familiar tale: A kind and beaut...

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  Never Never
  

  • Jul-2022
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  Book - 9
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This swashbuckling novel tells the tale of a boy who grew up -- one of Disney's most infamous villains: Captain Hook. There was a time when James was a very brave soul, and one of the most feared and respected pi...

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  Fire and Fate
  

  • Jul-2023
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  Book - 10
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This mythic novel takes a dive into the Underworld and explores how a god turns into one of Disney's most hot-headed villains: Hades. Hades wanted nothing more than to escape the misery of his new life, but he to...

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  Kill the Beast
  

  • Aug-2024
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  Book - 11
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This exhilarating novel follows the downfall of one of Disney's most arrogant villains: Gaston.He knew he was the best. He knew he was everyone's favorite guy.You may think this tale as old as time has been ...

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  Heartbroken
  

  • Aug-2025
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  Book - 12
  

  NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This darkly captivating novel reveals the madness behind one of Disney's most dangerous villains: the Queen of Hearts.She missed the days of wonder. But those days were long past. All that remained was the anger....

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Series Premise

The series provides origin stories and deeper explorations of Disney's most infamous villains, revealing how they became the antagonists we know from the animated films. Each book focuses on one primary villain (or group) while weaving a larger narrative of fate, dark magic, family curses, and manipulation. A key unifying element is the Odd Sisters (Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha)—three eccentric, powerful witch sisters who appear across books. They often meddle in the lives of the villains, guiding (or corrupting) them toward darkness through prophecies, spells, or direct interference. Their influence creates a shared universe where events in one story ripple into others—e.g., the Wicked Queen's mirror connects to Maleficent's realm, or Ursula's past ties into Mother Gothel's schemes. Books explore tragic backstories, lost loves, family betrayals, ambition, revenge, and the seductive pull of power: - Early entries like Fairest of All detail the Evil Queen's descent from grief to vanity and murder. - The Beast Within examines the Prince's transformation into the Beast through pride and a curse. - Poor Unfortunate Soul delves into Ursula's mermaid origins and exile. - Later books shift to interconnected arcs, introducing original characters like Circe (the Odd Sisters' "daughter/sister") and Tulip Morningstar, while tying villains like Cruella, Captain Hook, Gaston, Hades, and the Queen of Hearts into a grand tapestry of fate and dark magic. The overarching plot builds toward cosmic stakes involving ancient magic, mirrors, realms, and the balance between light and dark, with the Odd Sisters as chaotic agents of destiny.

Disney Villains Series Characters

The series spotlights villains as protagonists, with original characters driving the overarching narrative.

The Odd Sisters (Lucinda, Ruby, Martha): Eccentric, powerful witches—often chaotic, prophetic, and manipulative. They appear in most books, serving as catalysts for villainy through spells, advice, or direct meddling. Their backstory (revealed in The Odd Sisters) involves tragedy, magic, and a "daughter" figure, Circe.

Circe (introduced later): A mysterious young woman tied to the Odd Sisters; central to many plots, representing innocence corrupted or a force of balance.

Tulip Morningstar (original character): A kind-hearted princess who appears across books, often as a moral counterpoint or victim of the Odd Sisters' schemes.

Villain protagonists include:
- The Evil Queen (Fairest of All): From grief-stricken widow to vain tyrant.
- The Beast/Prince (The Beast Within): Prideful prince cursed by his own flaws.
- Ursula (Poor Unfortunate Soul): Exiled sea witch with mermaid origins.
- Maleficent (Mistress of All Evil): Dark fairy seeking power and revenge.
- Mother Gothel (Mother Knows Best): Manipulative witch obsessed with youth.
- Others: Cruella de Vil (Evil Thing, Cold Hearted), Captain Hook (Never Never), Gaston (Kill the Beast), Hades, and the Queen of Hearts (Heartbroken).

Supporting figures include fairy-tale characters reimagined (Snow White, Belle, Ariel) and original witches or allies.

Setting of the Disney Villains Series

The settings draw from Disney fairy-tale worlds but expand into a connected multiverse of enchanted realms, mirrors, and hidden kingdoms. Primary locations include:
- Enchanted forests, castles, and kingdoms from classic tales (Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, etc.).
- Underwater realms (Ursula's domain), gothic manors (Gothel's tower), Wonderland-inspired chaos (Queen of Hearts), and Never Land echoes (Captain Hook/Peter Pan).
- A recurring "mirror world" or realm of reflection serves as a magical nexus, allowing crossovers and visions.

The atmosphere is gothic fairy-tale: misty woods, crumbling castles, stormy seas, opulent yet decaying palaces, and shadowy realms where time and reality bend. The tone evokes classic dark fantasy—beautiful yet sinister—blending Disney nostalgia with a more adult, ominous edge.

Tone & Themes of the Disney Villains Series

The tone is dark, gothic, tragic, and atmospheric—darker than typical Disney fare, with elements of horror, psychological drama, and fairy-tale melancholy. Valentino infuses the stories with sorrow, obsession, madness, and moral ambiguity, portraying villains as complex figures shaped by pain, loss, and manipulation rather than innate evil. The mood is eerie and foreboding—curses, mirrors, ghosts, and shadowy magic create a sense of inevitable doom—yet there's poetic beauty in the prose, with lyrical descriptions of longing, beauty, and power. Themes of motherhood/daughterhood, sisterhood, jealousy, and the corrupting influence of magic add emotional weight. While tragic and often bleak, the books avoid gratuitous horror, focusing on emotional and psychological descent. Humor is minimal but present in quirky Odd Sisters banter or ironic twists. It's YA-appropriate (ages 12+) but appeals to adults for its mature themes and depth.

Serena Valentino's Disney Villains series masterfully reimagines beloved antagonists as tragic, multifaceted figures in a richly interconnected dark fairy-tale multiverse. Across 12 novels (with more planned), the books peel back the layers of iconic villains—from the Evil Queen's shattered heart to the Queen of Hearts' madness—while weaving a grand saga of dark magic, sisterhood, fate, and corruption through the ever-present Odd Sisters. With its gothic atmosphere, emotional depth, and clever ties to Disney lore, the series offers a captivating "what if" exploration of villainy that's equal parts haunting and hypnotic. Perfect for Disney fans craving darker origins, these stories transform familiar tales into something shadowy and profound—reminding us that every villain has a story, and sometimes, the mirror reflects more than beauty. Whether you're drawn to the tragedy of lost love or the allure of forbidden power, Valentino's saga delivers a deliciously wicked escape into the hearts of Disney's most infamous characters.