Villains Series

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.

You may think you know the story of the Queen of Hearts, the bloodthirsty tyrant known for seeing red. Surely you’ve heard of the young girl Alice, who fell through the rabbit hole to a place called Wonderland, and how she defeated its villainous ruler in order to find her way back home.

But have you ever wondered about the Queen’s own first day in Wonderland? Did she encounter the same wonders—and horrors—as Alice? Are the laws of the land her royal decree—or a desperate attempt to bring order to a place that refuses to make sense?

And why is she so angry?

It may be hard to answer, with any certainty, questions about a world created from the broken shards of others. In the end, it all comes down to a woman fighting against the darkness within, and her unlikely friendship with a little white rabbit.

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 told before. You may know about the Beauty, and the Beast, and the curse they broke together. But some stories have more than one ending. Some stories have more than one villain.

Such is the story of Gaston. Growing up, young Gaston and the prince were brothers in all but blood. Their boyhood adventures led them throughout the many rooms of the castle, and into the deep woods beyond. The woods that were home to the legendary Beast of Gévaudan, a terrifying creature whose presence loomed larger than life in their imaginations.

Then one fateful night, a violent tragedy changed their lives—and their friendship—forever, setting each of them down a very different path: the first, of greed and entitlement, the second, of determination to right the wrongs of the past.
The prince, as we know, paid a price for his wicked ways. And Gaston, fueled by the magic of three meddling witches, grew ever more haunted by a singular mission: to become the hero who killed the Beast.

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 took his responsibilities seriously…

The myth has been told for centuries: Brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades waged a years-long war against their father Cronus and his tyrannical Titans. Upon their mighty victory, Zeus split the world into three. For himself, he claimed the Sky and what fell below it. To his brother Poseidon, he assigned dominion over the Sea. And his oldest brother, Hades, would rule the Underworld.

While Hades tries to make the best of a lonely situation, eternity proves a long time to be forced live in a role—a domain—he never wanted. And the part of the story no one tells is that when your family treats you like a villain, it is far too easy to become one.

Years of being ignored and shamed by his family reach a fiery head, when three perfectly alive witches find their way into the land of the dead. Bored and lonely, Hades befriends these mysterious Odd Sisters and makes a bargain that will change the course of fate. But when you’re a god, making a deal has the potential to rewrite more stories than just your own . . .

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 pirates to sail the Seven Seas…

Before Peter Pan and Wendy. Before the Lost Boys. There was just a boy named James who wanted to get back to Never Land. As a baby, James Bartholomew fell out of his pram and was taken to Never Land. James is claimed by his parents just shy of seven days—after which he would have officially become a Lost Boy.

Once he returns to London, he never stops thinking about Never Land. As he grows up, he hates his life in London, and everything to do with growing up and eventually becoming a gentleman. So he seeks a position on the ship of the infamous pirate, Blackbeard. On Blackbeard’s ship he learns to be a cutthroat pirate, and eventually becomes captain of his own ship, which James is determined to sail to Never Land.

With the help of the Odd Sisters and a bit of magic, he just might get his wish. But returning to Never Land comes at a price—and now that he’s grown up, the whole world seems to be rooting for his demise…

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 beautiful young girl, reeling from loss. A doting father, frantic to bring a mother’s love back into his daughter’s life. And the selfish, cruel woman who insinuates herself into that family, a woman so unfeeling, so cold hearted, that when her new husband dies, she makes the girl a servant in her own home.

But who is that evil stepmother, that icy lady of the house? How did she become so closed off that, in the face of a child’s grief, she thought only to seek wealth and power for herself and her abhorrent daughters? Before that fateful ball, before the glass slipper and the prince, there was another story, a story of love and grief, of hope and of dreams dashed. It is the story of Lady Tremaine.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This stylishly twisted novel follows the rise and fall of one of Disney’s most relentless villains: Cruella De Vil.

The real story. It is fabulous, after all. Behold! The story of me. Cruella De Vil!

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 doomed. Even the cruelest villains have best friends, true loves, and daring dreams. Now it’s Cruella’s turn to share hers.

This darkly fascinating novel in the wildly popular Villains series brings readers a tale told by the Evil Thing herself―a tale of the complicated bonds of female friendship, of mothers and daughters, and of burning, destructive desire.

After all, nothing is as simple as black and white.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This bewitching novel follows the reckoning of the twisted trio who have meddled in the lives of villains: the Odd Sisters.

They’ve wreaked havoc and chaos, destroying everyone and everything in their path…

Throughout the Villains series, the Odd Sisters have meddled in the lives of the Evil Queen, The Beast, Ursula, Maleficent, and Mother Gothel, changing the course of fate for the greatest villains ever known.

This novel by the author of the wildly popular Villains series goes deeper into the lives of the twisted, diabolical Odd Sisters, finally revealing the dark truth about who they are and where they’re from. The Odd Sisters will appeal to fans who can’t get enough of the mischievous sisters, as well as draw new readers to Serena Valentino’s darkly fascinating take on the Disney Villains.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This enchanting novel examines the tangled truths behind one of Disney’s most devious villains: Mother Gothel.

Sometimes…she just let herself drift into other worlds—worlds she desperately wanted to inhabit. The world of magic. And this day was no different…

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, who then gives birth to a princess with magical hair. Not willing to lose the flower, the old witch steals the princess and locks her away in a high tower, raising her as her own. But the princess always finds out who she truly is and manages to defeat the old witch.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of the old witch, Mother Gothel? Where does she come from? And how does she come across the magical golden flower? Here is one account that recounts a version of the story that has remained untold for centuries . . . until now. It is a tale of mothers and daughters, of youth and dark magic. It is a tale of the old witch.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This spellbinding novel unveils the dark power behind one of Disney’s most evil villains: Maleficent.

Sadness. That feeling had eluded her for so long that her memory of it was like a faded dream…

The tale is told as if it’s happening once upon a dream: the lovely maiden meets her handsome prince in the woods. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the maiden finds out that she is a princess—a princess who has been cursed by a dark fairy to prick her finger on a spindle and fall into an eternal sleep. Though the Three Good Fairies try to protect her, the princess succumbs to the curse. But the power of good endures, as her true love defeats the fire-breathing dragon and awakens the princess with true love’s first kiss. The two live happily ever after. And yet this is only half the story.

So what of the dark fairy, Maleficent? Why does she curse the innocent princess? What led to her becoming so filled with malice, anger, and hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account, pulled down from the many passed down through the ages. It is a tale of love and betrayal, of magic and reveries. It is a tale of the Mistress of All Evil.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This haunting novel reveals the dark ambition of one of Disney’s most cunning villains: Ursula, the sea witch.

Hate. Her magic was infused with it. And in that hate was a deep, penetrating sorrow…

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 live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of Ariel’s nemesis, Ursula, the sea witch? What led to her becoming so twisted, scorned, and filled with hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account of what might have shaped the sea witch into a detestable and poor unfortunate soul.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This thrilling novel explores the curse of one of Disney’s most monstrous figures: the Beast.

The Beast wondered if he was capable of such a sacrifice. He wondered if he was capable of love…

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 bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?

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 she could not account for…

For anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, you’ll know that the Evil Queen is one wicked woman! After all, it’s not everyone who wants to cut out their teenage step-daughter’s heart and have it delivered back in a locked keepsake box (and even if this sort of thing is a common urge, we don’t know many people who have acted upon it.)

Now, for the first time, we’ll examine the life of the Evil Queen and find out just what it is that makes her so nasty. Here’s a hint: the creepy-looking figure in the magic mirror is not just some random spooky visage―and he just might have something to do with the Evil Queen’s wicked ways!