Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen (Villains Series #1)

by Serena Valentino

Overview

For anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Snow White, you’ll know that the Wicked Queen is one evil 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 Wicked Queen and find out just what it is that makes her so nasty. Here’s a hint: the creepy-looking man in the magic mirror is not just some random spooky visage—and he just might have something to do with the Queen’s wicked ways!


Enjoy Serena Valentino's entire Villain's series.

• Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen (Book 1)
• The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince (Book 2)
• Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch (Book 3)
• Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy (Book 4)
• Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch (Book 5)
• The Odd Sisters: A Villains Novel (Book 6)
• Evil Thing (Book 7)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368011464
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Series:	Serena Valentino's Villains Series
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	22,811
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Serena Valentino has been weaving tales that combine mythos and guile for the past decade. She has earned critical acclaim in both the comic and horror domains, where she is known for her unique style of storytelling, bringing her readers into exquisitely frightening worlds filled with terror, beauty, and extraordinary protagonists. The books in her best-selling Villains series are best enjoyed when read in the following order: Fairest of All, The Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul, Mistress of All Evil.

Editorial Reviews

The evil stepmother in this retelling of “Snow White” starts life as a commoner who marries the king and becomes a loving mother to his little girl. How does she develop into a murderous monster? Valentino constructs an emotionally complex story that investigates the queen’s origins as the daughter of a cruel mirror maker. The bitter man never showed his daughter any love, frequently telling her she was ugly. He bargained away his soul to give the beautiful wife he cherished the child she longed for and was devastated when she died in childbirth. The queen discovers that three witchy sisters—the king’s cousins—brokered this supernatural deal. They appear throughout the story, continually weaving their evil magic into the queen’s life and encouraging her to do horrible deeds. The royal family’s lives are richly described, with the inclusion of a new character: trusted lady-in-waiting Verona. Also called “the fairest one of all” by the magic mirror, Verona is banished by the queen. The dwarves are barely seen, but many familiar plot points remain in this graphic adaptation. The tolls of parental resentment, jealousy, envy, and magic manifest in the queen’s behavior as the story progresses. The illustrations, in black and white with large quantities of off-putting green, are striking. The queen’s and Snow White’s likenesses to Disney characters are evident; most characters read White. Of interest to readers who wish to deeply explore a tale remembered from childhood. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)- Kirkus (Mar 1, 2023)

From the Publisher