The first three books in Serena Valentino's New York Times
best-selling Villains series, together in one paperback box set for the
first time! With all-new art, this box set is the perfect entry point
for newcomers to the series, and is a covetable collectible for existing
fans.
Fairest of All
The tale of the young princess Snow White and her evil stepmother the
Wicked Queen is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to
telling, the story remains the same--the Queen was jealous of the girl's
beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen's attempt on the
sweet, naive girl's life. Another tale far less often spoken of is the
one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously
vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the
Queen's true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal
appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen
might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King's first wife.
Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never
loved another being during the course of her miserable life. In fact,
the theories about exactly what caused the Queen's obsessive vanity and
jealous rage are too numerous to catalog. This book recounts a version
of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of
love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the
Wicked Queen. . .
The Beast Within
The tale is as old as time: a cruel prince is transformed into a beast.
A lovely maiden comes into this monster's life. He is transformed by her
compassion, and the love he feels for her in return. The two live
happily ever after. But any tale, especially one as storied as Beauty
and the Beast's, has been told many different times, and in many
different ways. No matter which version one hears, the nagging question
remains: what was it that transformed the prince into the beast we are
introduced to? This is one version, pulled from the many passed down
through the ages. It's a story of vanity and arrogance, of love and
hatred, of beastliness, and, of course, of beauty.
Poor Unfortunate Souls
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 changed. 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.
