Villains

Serena Valentino

Long before she became the Wicked Queen, she was a woman shaped by love, loss, and the desire to protect the life she had built. When a mysterious mirror enters her world, it awakens powerful ambitions and dark possibilities, drawing her toward a fate that will transform her into one of fairy tale’s most infamous villains. This richly imagined retelling explores jealousy, grief, identity, and the dangerous allure of beauty and power. With its sympathetic perspective and gothic atmosphere, the story invites readers to look beyond the legend and discover the woman behind the wickedness.

V.E. Schwab

Two college roommates, driven by ambition and a shared fascination with near-death experiences, unlock the secret to extraordinary abilities, but their groundbreaking discovery leads to a catastrophic falling out. Ten years later, one escapes prison seeking revenge, while the other hunts down those with powers, setting the stage for a brutal confrontation fueled by betrayal and loss. This gritty, comic-book-inspired world questions the nature of heroism and the corrupting influence of power, as archnemeses Victor and Eli collide in a battle for survival.

Serena Valentino

Before he became the Beast, he was a charming prince whose easy laughter and beloved reign concealed a deeper vulnerability. When arrogance, isolation, and a fateful enchantment reshape his life, he must confront the consequences of his choices and the loneliness that follows. Reimagining the classic Beauty and the Beast from the cursed prince’s perspective, this darkly engaging tale explores love, redemption, inner transformation, and the possibility of seeing beyond appearances.

Serena Valentino

In this darkly enchanting reimagining of *The Little Mermaid*, the sea witch Ursula takes center stage, revealing the history and motives behind the feared figure beneath the waves. As her past, rivalries, and complicated connections to the mermaid kingdom come to light, familiar events unfold from a perspective shaped by betrayal, longing, and the desire for power. Blending fairy-tale atmosphere with themes of identity, resentment, and redemption, the novel invites readers to reconsider who the true villain is.

Serena Valentino

Before she became one of the most feared figures in the kingdom, Maleficent was shaped by power, betrayal, and a deep sense of injustice. This dark fairy-tale retelling explores her origins, her complicated relationships, and the forces that drive her toward vengeance. Blending familiar Disney mythology with gothic atmosphere and psychological depth, the story invites readers to reconsider what makes a villain—and whether evil is ever truly born or made.

Serena Valentino

Long before the story of the golden-haired princess became legend, Mother Gothel’s own history was shaped by family, ambition, and a dangerous hunger for eternal youth. When an enchanted flower enters her world, it sets in motion a tale of dark magic, complicated mother-daughter bonds, and choices that will echo through generations. Reimagining the untold origins of the infamous witch from *Tangled*, this richly atmospheric novel explores the woman behind the villain and the forces that shaped her. It offers a darker, more intimate perspective on a familiar fairy tale while examining the cost of beauty, power, and possession.

Serena Valentino

In this spellbinding entry in the Villains series, the enigmatic Odd Sisters step out of the shadows to reveal the origins of their tangled bond and their taste for mischief. After influencing the fates of infamous figures such as the Evil Queen, the Beast, Ursula, Maleficent, and Mother Gothel, the sisters confront secrets that reach far beyond the stories readers thought they knew. Blending fairy-tale fantasy, dark humor, and themes of sisterhood, power, and destiny, the novel offers a deeper look at the forces behind the series’ most dramatic events.

Serena Valentino

Before she became one of Disney’s most infamous villains, Cruella de Vil was a woman shaped by ambition, desire, and the complicated bonds of love and friendship. Told from Cruella’s own perspective, this origin story reexamines the familiar tale of the Dalmatians while exploring the experiences and choices that lead her toward darkness. With themes of identity, betrayal, obsession, and the blurred line between good and evil, the novel offers a stylish, character-driven look at the person behind the legend.