**Disclosure – I received these books for review purposes from the Disney Book Group. All opinions are my own.

Story time is always a favorite in this Neurotic Disney home. NDK (Neurotic Disney Kid) is old enough to read, but not too old to still be read to! Books are wonderful on so many levels. We keep them everywhere – even in the car! Disney Books are a great way to keep Disney at home. Disney Book Group was kind enough to send these books for NDK approval – be sure to look for the NDK Review after the description of each book!

The holidays are a great time to refresh book shelves. Books make a wonderful gift idea – and Disney Books have so many new titles! The possibilities are endless. My Neurotic Disney Kid (NDK) is completely enamored with Serena Valentino books. She has read all of them, except The Beast Within. Santa may have to leave that one under the tree! But don’t just take my word for it – see what she has to say about the newest addition to her Villains Series. It really says something about an author when your child has a countdown to the release date for the next book!

  • Mistress of All Evil by Serena Valentino
  • page count: 304 * ages: 9-12 years

Mistress Of All EvilMistress of All Evil is a story about Maleficent and how she became who she is today. Maleficent was not always an evil witch. She was born in the Fairy Lands, and raised by a fairy; but Maleficent is not a fairy. Even though everyone calls her the ‘Dark Fairy,’  she is really a witch. This book tells the story of Maleficent from when she was a little girl, to when Aurora, aka Sleeping Beauty, was 16.

The Villain Series by Serena Valentino is one of my favorites. I enjoy the twists of these regular fairy tales and how the author explains more of the back stories of these villains. The villains weren’t always evil. Something had to happen to make them evil. This story lets us know exactly when and why Maleficent became evil and went after Princess Aurora. And trust me, this isn’t the story you think you know!

My only complaint about this story is the bad language. I know this story is for older kids (9-12), but I do not understand why it is necessary .There are so many other ways to express how the character is feeling without actually “saying” the bad word. This book only had a few instances, not a lot. But still. It bothers me.

I would recommend this book for people who like to find the best in people. These stories offer a twist on the villain, they weren’t always bad guys! Maleficent’s fairy mother always tried to find the best in her – and she DID have a good side! This is also a great lesson to learn in life. Be sure to read the other Villain Series books by Serena Valentino. I am looking forward to the fifth book in her series next summer!

Be sure to check out other Serena Valentino books that I have reviewed!

from the publisher:

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 her 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.

What do you think?

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