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Unfortunate Soul Chronicles #1
Rise of the Sea Witch
Details of the sea witch’s banishment have been exaggerated. The body count that preempted it was not. Once an illustrious princess, her hands and tentacles were stained with the blood of thousands. No one could comprehend how the hooks of madness dragged her down from her life of privilege. Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal was one of two children born to the great King Poseidon. She and her brother, Triton, were groomed from birth to rule. Yet only one would ascend that coveted throne. While carefree Triton flits through his training with a cavalier demeanor and beguiling charm, Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people. When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point. Only when the ink black waters from the ultimate betrayal rescind, will the truth be known of how the villainous sea witch rose with one name on her vengeful lips--Triton.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2017
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2730 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
May 29, 2017
URMMM HELLO... MY FAVOURITE SEA VILLAIN HAS A BACK STORY HELLOOOOO
I love Ursula, or VANESSA as we know her in part of this story.
I loved this retelling and re imagining. I also love how Stacey added mentions and linked in the story with the song Ursula sings in the Little Mermaid. Mention of her helping mermaids who want to get skinny.. " this one longing to be thinner, that one wants to get the girl "
I love this book so much, this is a re read for me!
I love Ursula, or VANESSA as we know her in part of this story.
I loved this retelling and re imagining. I also love how Stacey added mentions and linked in the story with the song Ursula sings in the Little Mermaid. Mention of her helping mermaids who want to get skinny.. " this one longing to be thinner, that one wants to get the girl "
I love this book so much, this is a re read for me!
June 20, 2017
IN THE TIMELESS tale of The Little Mermaid, there is a backstory that has been insightfully reimaged in Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke. It’s a turbulent tale of an ambitious, young female tested by catastrophic events and its calamitous consequences. It’s brutal and heartrending. Welcome to Ursula’s untold story.
Princess Vanessa “Nessa”, daughter of Poseidon, would like nothing more than to ascend to the coveted throne of Atlantica. Yet, secrets buried deep within the sea have a penchant of surfacing, and the truth of Nessa’s origins will unfurl with revelations that will risk everything she holds dear.
The world that Ms. Rourke immerses readers in is familiar with a unique touch of its own. It's vivid and lush; enchanting and otherworldly. I really enjoyed how she uses familiar geo-landmarks, making this world accessible and plausible. There were a few characteristics that gave me pause. As a land creature, I had a hard time grasping the nuances of life in the sea. How does one drink in the water? Or, could a mermaid be “sweat-drenched”? These things didn’t bother me. It just made me curious.
Told from Nessa’s POV, her voice is quite sassy, even snarky at times. But, she can also be endearing. My fondness moments are scenes of her and Alastor—a handsome and alluring servant son who allows her to let down her guard and share her darkest nightmares with him. Unfortunately, I also find her acute moral failings disturbing, and even unforgivable at the worst of times. When Nessa arrives at a fork in the road, she tends to favor war and destruction over peace and diplomacy—devastating decisions that limit her moral complexity and undermine her vast capacity for more, for better.
Nevertheless, Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke, is an imaginative and insightful portrayal of Princess Nessa’s transformation from victim to villain. Her story is less about destination and more about journey. It is a story worth persisting through the worst so that you could enjoy the best that's to come—an illuminating portrayal of a girl who suffered an exquisite travesty in her rise to become the infamous sea witch.
{ Thank you to the author and publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review. }
Merged review:
IN THE TIMELESS tale of The Little Mermaid, there is a backstory that has been insightfully reimaged in Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke. It’s a turbulent tale of an ambitious, young female tested by catastrophic events and its calamitous consequences. It’s brutal and heartrending. Welcome to Ursula’s untold story.
Princess Vanessa “Nessa”, daughter of Poseidon, would like nothing more than to ascend to the coveted throne of Atlantica. Yet, secrets buried deep within the sea have a penchant of surfacing, and the truth of Nessa’s origins will unfurl with revelations that will risk everything she holds dear.
The world that Ms. Rourke immerses readers in is familiar with a unique touch of its own. It's vivid and lush; enchanting and otherworldly. I really enjoyed how she uses familiar geo-landmarks, making this world accessible and plausible. There were a few characteristics that gave me pause. As a land creature, I had a hard time grasping the nuances of life in the sea. How does one drink in the water? Or, could a mermaid be “sweat-drenched”? These things didn’t bother me. It just made me curious.
Told from Nessa’s POV, her voice is quite sassy, even snarky at times. But, she can also be endearing. My fondness moments are scenes of her and Alastor—a handsome and alluring servant son who allows her to let down her guard and share her darkest nightmares with him. Unfortunately, I also find her acute moral failings disturbing, and even unforgivable at the worst of times. When Nessa arrives at a fork in the road, she tends to favor war and destruction over peace and diplomacy—devastating decisions that limit her moral complexity and undermine her vast capacity for more, for better.
Nevertheless, Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke, is an imaginative and insightful portrayal of Princess Nessa’s transformation from victim to villain. Her story is less about destination and more about journey. It is a story worth persisting through the worst so that you could enjoy the best that's to come—an illuminating portrayal of a girl who suffered an exquisite travesty in her rise to become the infamous sea witch.
{Thank you to the author and publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review.}
Princess Vanessa “Nessa”, daughter of Poseidon, would like nothing more than to ascend to the coveted throne of Atlantica. Yet, secrets buried deep within the sea have a penchant of surfacing, and the truth of Nessa’s origins will unfurl with revelations that will risk everything she holds dear.
The world that Ms. Rourke immerses readers in is familiar with a unique touch of its own. It's vivid and lush; enchanting and otherworldly. I really enjoyed how she uses familiar geo-landmarks, making this world accessible and plausible. There were a few characteristics that gave me pause. As a land creature, I had a hard time grasping the nuances of life in the sea. How does one drink in the water? Or, could a mermaid be “sweat-drenched”? These things didn’t bother me. It just made me curious.
Told from Nessa’s POV, her voice is quite sassy, even snarky at times. But, she can also be endearing. My fondness moments are scenes of her and Alastor—a handsome and alluring servant son who allows her to let down her guard and share her darkest nightmares with him. Unfortunately, I also find her acute moral failings disturbing, and even unforgivable at the worst of times. When Nessa arrives at a fork in the road, she tends to favor war and destruction over peace and diplomacy—devastating decisions that limit her moral complexity and undermine her vast capacity for more, for better.
Nevertheless, Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke, is an imaginative and insightful portrayal of Princess Nessa’s transformation from victim to villain. Her story is less about destination and more about journey. It is a story worth persisting through the worst so that you could enjoy the best that's to come—an illuminating portrayal of a girl who suffered an exquisite travesty in her rise to become the infamous sea witch.
{ Thank you to the author and publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review. }
Merged review:
IN THE TIMELESS tale of The Little Mermaid, there is a backstory that has been insightfully reimaged in Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke. It’s a turbulent tale of an ambitious, young female tested by catastrophic events and its calamitous consequences. It’s brutal and heartrending. Welcome to Ursula’s untold story.
Princess Vanessa “Nessa”, daughter of Poseidon, would like nothing more than to ascend to the coveted throne of Atlantica. Yet, secrets buried deep within the sea have a penchant of surfacing, and the truth of Nessa’s origins will unfurl with revelations that will risk everything she holds dear.
The world that Ms. Rourke immerses readers in is familiar with a unique touch of its own. It's vivid and lush; enchanting and otherworldly. I really enjoyed how she uses familiar geo-landmarks, making this world accessible and plausible. There were a few characteristics that gave me pause. As a land creature, I had a hard time grasping the nuances of life in the sea. How does one drink in the water? Or, could a mermaid be “sweat-drenched”? These things didn’t bother me. It just made me curious.
Told from Nessa’s POV, her voice is quite sassy, even snarky at times. But, she can also be endearing. My fondness moments are scenes of her and Alastor—a handsome and alluring servant son who allows her to let down her guard and share her darkest nightmares with him. Unfortunately, I also find her acute moral failings disturbing, and even unforgivable at the worst of times. When Nessa arrives at a fork in the road, she tends to favor war and destruction over peace and diplomacy—devastating decisions that limit her moral complexity and undermine her vast capacity for more, for better.
Nevertheless, Rise of the Sea Witch, by Stacey Rourke, is an imaginative and insightful portrayal of Princess Nessa’s transformation from victim to villain. Her story is less about destination and more about journey. It is a story worth persisting through the worst so that you could enjoy the best that's to come—an illuminating portrayal of a girl who suffered an exquisite travesty in her rise to become the infamous sea witch.
{Thank you to the author and publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review.}
April 6, 2018
A YA Fantasy reimagine of Ursula from The Little Mermaid's POV? Uh, yes please! I received a free digital copy of Rise of the Sea Witch for being part of the promotional blog tour for the second book in this series titled: Entombed in Glass.
Ursula who is also known as Princess Vanessa has a brother called Triton, both from day one have been preparing to ascend the throne but only one of them can be victorious. Vanessa feels like an outcast as her father (King Poseidon) tends to spend more of his time with her brother and favouring him as the future leader. After tensions spill and the threats of war between sea creature and human increases, someone will just end up...dead. The length made for quick, easy reading with strong dialogue and connection between the characters. Pacing mostly worked well for me as a fast reader, however, since it was so long ago that I last read The Little Mermaid, it was a bit confusing at first regarding references and setting. Action-packed, exciting with a good conclusion, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this fresh perspective on a classic fairytale.
Ursula who is also known as Princess Vanessa has a brother called Triton, both from day one have been preparing to ascend the throne but only one of them can be victorious. Vanessa feels like an outcast as her father (King Poseidon) tends to spend more of his time with her brother and favouring him as the future leader. After tensions spill and the threats of war between sea creature and human increases, someone will just end up...dead. The length made for quick, easy reading with strong dialogue and connection between the characters. Pacing mostly worked well for me as a fast reader, however, since it was so long ago that I last read The Little Mermaid, it was a bit confusing at first regarding references and setting. Action-packed, exciting with a good conclusion, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this fresh perspective on a classic fairytale.
June 27, 2017
Now this is a villain prequel story Ive been dying to read. Following Ursela from the Little Mermaid was really exciting. I never thought Id find a book that satisfied my need to know more about her. I was able to finally understand why she became evil and how she came into her powers. Its really important for an antagonist motivations to make sense and sadly they arent always believable.
Unlike Cath in Heartless, this main character didnt frustrate me. Her progression to evil wasnt as jarring and I was rooting for her the whole time. Even though I knew where the story was heading the journey there was still captivating. The whole story made me nostalgic and want to rewatch the Little Mermaid. I freaking loved how Ursela is unapologetic and confident of her curvy body.
One of my favorite parts was how she found her pets and her relationship with them. I enjoyed seeing Ariels father, Triton as a child and the family dynamics. I loved Alastor and his mother. I was totally rooting for the romance. I also liked how Calypso and the Kraken were included in this book. The magic and politics were really entertaining. I also thought the underwater world building was fantastic.
The writing was addictive and easily pulled me in. I love it when I lose track of time while reading. This is a book that can be read in one sitting. Theres isnt any unnessecary scenes or details thrown in as page filler which I really appreciate. The ending left off at a reasonable place but Id still love a sequel just to spend more time in this world with the main character, especially since I need to know what became of Alastor.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
Unlike Cath in Heartless, this main character didnt frustrate me. Her progression to evil wasnt as jarring and I was rooting for her the whole time. Even though I knew where the story was heading the journey there was still captivating. The whole story made me nostalgic and want to rewatch the Little Mermaid. I freaking loved how Ursela is unapologetic and confident of her curvy body.
One of my favorite parts was how she found her pets and her relationship with them. I enjoyed seeing Ariels father, Triton as a child and the family dynamics. I loved Alastor and his mother. I was totally rooting for the romance. I also liked how Calypso and the Kraken were included in this book. The magic and politics were really entertaining. I also thought the underwater world building was fantastic.
The writing was addictive and easily pulled me in. I love it when I lose track of time while reading. This is a book that can be read in one sitting. Theres isnt any unnessecary scenes or details thrown in as page filler which I really appreciate. The ending left off at a reasonable place but Id still love a sequel just to spend more time in this world with the main character, especially since I need to know what became of Alastor.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
January 28, 2018
Princess Vanessa of Atlantica has all the right talents to be her father's successor. King Poseidon has two children and her brother Triton isn't as intelligent or magically talented as she is. Vanessa is the ideal candidate, but her father seems to prefer Triton. Whatever she achieves, it's never enough for her critical and demanding father, while Triton can do whatever he wants. Vanessa regularly meets resistance and when she messes up punishment is severe.
The kingdom has been at war with humans for a long time. The situation is getting worse and this is a chance for Vanessa to prove herself. The kingdom needs Vanessa's magic, but complex family relationships and dark secrets are making it difficult for Vanessa to succeed. The bond she has with Triton is constantly under pressure. How much can it withstand before it breaks and what will Vanessa do when she discovers she has fewer allies than she once thought?
Rise of the Sea Witch is a fantastic fairytale. I was instantly impressed by Vanessa. She's strong, talented, capable and she cares deeply, but she's being treated unfairly. She hardly has any support and she repeatedly has to fight battles against those who should protect her. I loved her determination and resilience. She's going through so much, but she never gives up, even if her heart is being shattered and those who should stand by her betray her in the worst possible way. I was fascinated by her personality and her journey from beginning to end.
Stacey Rourke has a wonderful enchanting writing style that perfectly suits the kind of stories she writes. I was spellbound by her beautiful descriptions of the sea and her fabulous world building. I also liked the way she writes about magic, she describes it as something dark and twisted with consequences in an amazing colorful way. I love reading underwater stories and Rise of the Sea Witch is definitely a good one. It's a terrific captivating book filled with surprising twists and turns and plenty of fantastic action.
The kingdom has been at war with humans for a long time. The situation is getting worse and this is a chance for Vanessa to prove herself. The kingdom needs Vanessa's magic, but complex family relationships and dark secrets are making it difficult for Vanessa to succeed. The bond she has with Triton is constantly under pressure. How much can it withstand before it breaks and what will Vanessa do when she discovers she has fewer allies than she once thought?
Rise of the Sea Witch is a fantastic fairytale. I was instantly impressed by Vanessa. She's strong, talented, capable and she cares deeply, but she's being treated unfairly. She hardly has any support and she repeatedly has to fight battles against those who should protect her. I loved her determination and resilience. She's going through so much, but she never gives up, even if her heart is being shattered and those who should stand by her betray her in the worst possible way. I was fascinated by her personality and her journey from beginning to end.
Stacey Rourke has a wonderful enchanting writing style that perfectly suits the kind of stories she writes. I was spellbound by her beautiful descriptions of the sea and her fabulous world building. I also liked the way she writes about magic, she describes it as something dark and twisted with consequences in an amazing colorful way. I love reading underwater stories and Rise of the Sea Witch is definitely a good one. It's a terrific captivating book filled with surprising twists and turns and plenty of fantastic action.
June 26, 2017
I was so excited to be able to get a chance to read a copy of this book. Once I saw the cover and read the synopsis I knew I needed this book in my life. As always Stacey does not disappoint, I couldn’t wait to see her take on how Ursula became the Sea Witch.
The story is told in Vanessa (Ursula) POV. Vanessa and Triton are siblings. Poseidon is their father and sadly he really didn’t pay as much attention to Vanessa as he did Triton. Vanessa tried so hard to prove herself to him, she has a big heart and loved her kingdom. She was fighting hard to become the ruler of Atlantica. The story starts when they are young, I thought this gave some good character build. I also liked that it moved ahead in years, I think 6 or 7 years ahead. I really felt bad for Vanessa she just couldn't seem to catch a break, but with a few twists and turns and a huge secret, things get even worse for her. It was fantastic.
Reading about her turning into the Sea Witch was my favorite part. Overall, I thought this was well done, I really enjoyed reading about her early years and finding out what made her became the evil villain Ursula….I must say I don’t blame her. Highly recommend to YA and adult! I love Stacey’s writing and her humor and snark always comes out in her characters! I love it! This is a really great telling of Ursula’s story and how she become the Sea Witch.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my review.
Have a great day and Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
July 2, 2017
My expectations might have been set too high for this book. I was expecting it to leave me heartbroken like Heartless did. I knew what the ending would entail. (haha) Ursula is one of the best Disney villains. My biggest issue with this book was the writing style. I didn't see or understand the point in Ursula telling the story. Her random commentary didn't make any sense. In this book, we get to explore the sea witch's history before she is well a sea witch. She got dealt some pretty unfortunate (sorry lol) cards. The things I did like the pets and how they came into the picture. The nostalgic of The Little Mermaid was there. There was just a lot of things that upset me but perhaps that was the point. Life wasn't fair for Ursula, some of those events that led to her being evil wasn't her fault. I could point fingers but that would require me to spoil such things.
January 26, 2025
If you are like me, you grew up watching The Little Mermaid, and only knowing Ursula as the villain.
In Rise of the Sea Witch, Stacey Rourke gives us an origin story for Princess Vanessa, daughter of King Poseidon and sister of Prince Triton.
Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal has been groomed since birth to rule the kingdom. Though she is the elder of the two, she is far from the favorite of the king to succeed him to the throne. Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people. When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point.
This book was so much more emotional than I was prepared for!
First, the characters. Stacey Roarke wrote a likeable, passionate, strong and ambitious Princess Vanessa, who you will cheer for from the get go. She is a shining example of strength and courage, and even feminine rage as she overcomes each torture and abuse thrown her way. Stacey Roarke also did a great job in writing amazing loathsome characters in King Poseidon and Neleus, in their cruel and brutal treatment of Vanessa. I found myself regularly being disgusted and angry with multiple characters throughout the book and by the end was 100% on board with vengeance.
I love the relationships she has with her brother and Alastor. She is a patient, protective and loving sister, and continues to show her care and protection throughout the book no matter how devastatingly she is betrayed. Her love for Alastor also adds a bit of romance and passion.
The plot was wonderfully paced and I found myself continuing to come back to read more. I became fully attached to what was happening with Vanessa, and felt like I was a close friend sharing in her heartbreak and rage. The writing was engaging and detailed, and I felt like I was transported into the underwater kingdom right alongside the characters.
I can’t wait to read the next book!
In Rise of the Sea Witch, Stacey Rourke gives us an origin story for Princess Vanessa, daughter of King Poseidon and sister of Prince Triton.
Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal has been groomed since birth to rule the kingdom. Though she is the elder of the two, she is far from the favorite of the king to succeed him to the throne. Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people. When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point.
This book was so much more emotional than I was prepared for!
First, the characters. Stacey Roarke wrote a likeable, passionate, strong and ambitious Princess Vanessa, who you will cheer for from the get go. She is a shining example of strength and courage, and even feminine rage as she overcomes each torture and abuse thrown her way. Stacey Roarke also did a great job in writing amazing loathsome characters in King Poseidon and Neleus, in their cruel and brutal treatment of Vanessa. I found myself regularly being disgusted and angry with multiple characters throughout the book and by the end was 100% on board with vengeance.
I love the relationships she has with her brother and Alastor. She is a patient, protective and loving sister, and continues to show her care and protection throughout the book no matter how devastatingly she is betrayed. Her love for Alastor also adds a bit of romance and passion.
The plot was wonderfully paced and I found myself continuing to come back to read more. I became fully attached to what was happening with Vanessa, and felt like I was a close friend sharing in her heartbreak and rage. The writing was engaging and detailed, and I felt like I was transported into the underwater kingdom right alongside the characters.
I can’t wait to read the next book!
June 25, 2017
I have to DNF this book. The story while it seemed promising at first, just became a mess with every page. The amount of grammar and spelling errors I came across while reading this made the story all the more frustrating. However, what ultimately caused me to DNF this book was the joking way in which the author had Vanessa describe her mentor as bipolar. I am marking this book as finished because of the effort it took me to just make it through 80 pages where I ultimately stopped.
June 21, 2017
I need to start out by saying that I've never watched Disney's "Little Mermaid" so while the book is a retelling it was somewhat more original to me. However, I can appreciate the hard work Rourke out into fleshing out the origins of this popular tale and it's one I thoroughly enjoyed and which will be counted among my favorites for some time to come.
Princess Vanessa (who eventually morphs into the Ursula people either love or hate) has spent her whole life wanting to be named as father Poseidon's successor to the land of Atlantica. Her mother died when she was fairly young and try as she might, Nessa has never been able to obtain the love and respect from her father. She feels like an outsider in her own family all except for her brother Triton. Their relationship is like many other siblings where they jab at each other from time to time but ultimately love each other and would do anything which is possible for each other. Throughout the course of the book Nessa makes attempt after attempt to do the right thing in the kingdom and is basically let down by everyone around her. This leads to her transformation into Ursula the sea witch and all I can say is I can't really blame her.
Rourke weaves a thrilling tale within a beautiful setting. The vivid descriptions of Atlantica and its inhabitants are an added bonus to the tale of love, loyalty and deception told on the pages. For any clue on what you might be in store for, just look at the lovely cover! The story is told from Nessa's POV and let me add that girl has lots of spunk and a beautifully snarky attitude. My favorite characters in the whole book though were Nessa's pet zebra sharks, Flotteson and Jetteson. These vicious creatures were the perfect loyal companion to Nessa and stand beside her through thick and thin. Heck, Rourke even made me feel sorry for the Kraken (of course I tend to love anything with tentacles anyway).
If you like books about villains or mermaid tales, this one definitely has to go on your TRB. I received this book from XPresso book tours in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Vanessa (who eventually morphs into the Ursula people either love or hate) has spent her whole life wanting to be named as father Poseidon's successor to the land of Atlantica. Her mother died when she was fairly young and try as she might, Nessa has never been able to obtain the love and respect from her father. She feels like an outsider in her own family all except for her brother Triton. Their relationship is like many other siblings where they jab at each other from time to time but ultimately love each other and would do anything which is possible for each other. Throughout the course of the book Nessa makes attempt after attempt to do the right thing in the kingdom and is basically let down by everyone around her. This leads to her transformation into Ursula the sea witch and all I can say is I can't really blame her.
Rourke weaves a thrilling tale within a beautiful setting. The vivid descriptions of Atlantica and its inhabitants are an added bonus to the tale of love, loyalty and deception told on the pages. For any clue on what you might be in store for, just look at the lovely cover! The story is told from Nessa's POV and let me add that girl has lots of spunk and a beautifully snarky attitude. My favorite characters in the whole book though were Nessa's pet zebra sharks, Flotteson and Jetteson. These vicious creatures were the perfect loyal companion to Nessa and stand beside her through thick and thin. Heck, Rourke even made me feel sorry for the Kraken (of course I tend to love anything with tentacles anyway).
If you like books about villains or mermaid tales, this one definitely has to go on your TRB. I received this book from XPresso book tours in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2017
Princess Vanessa of Atlantica and her brother Triton have been in training all their life to rule the merfolk after their father King Poseidon’s reign. While Vanessa has taken her training very serious Triton has not. Triton could care less about being the king and wants no part of it but we all know who will be king. Vanessa has fault all her life for her father to pay attention to her and care about her but with no luck. King Poseidon has always ignored Vanessa and pretended that she was not there. Triton is another story he is the apple of his father’s eye as they say.
The merfolk have been in war with the humans for long while now and when Vanessa speaks up trying to help with the war and tragedy strikes Vanessa is put to blame and is punished for it. She is in hope that her people and her father would stand up for her and take her side in the matter but she is sadly mistake when everyone turns on her.
Vanessa has very big heart and has always wanted what was best for her people but after a while when people just keep turning against you and putting you down it starts to take its toll and it will and can turn the softest hearts hard and that is just what happens to Vanessa. Her poor little merheart can’t take it anymore and must fight back for what is right.
I really enjoyed following Vanessa on her journey through the merworld and watching her grow up and becoming a fine young lady who cared deeply for people and just wanted to help. I loved reading about the merworld and about the merfolk from all seven oceans. All the characters were great people but I would have like to know more about their lives and who they were.
If you like to read fairy tales and re-tellings then you are going to love Rise of the Sea Witch. Pick up your copy today and get lost in the merworld. Come join Vanessa and Triton as they swim along at the bottom of the ocean in the merwold with all their little friends.
The merfolk have been in war with the humans for long while now and when Vanessa speaks up trying to help with the war and tragedy strikes Vanessa is put to blame and is punished for it. She is in hope that her people and her father would stand up for her and take her side in the matter but she is sadly mistake when everyone turns on her.
Vanessa has very big heart and has always wanted what was best for her people but after a while when people just keep turning against you and putting you down it starts to take its toll and it will and can turn the softest hearts hard and that is just what happens to Vanessa. Her poor little merheart can’t take it anymore and must fight back for what is right.
I really enjoyed following Vanessa on her journey through the merworld and watching her grow up and becoming a fine young lady who cared deeply for people and just wanted to help. I loved reading about the merworld and about the merfolk from all seven oceans. All the characters were great people but I would have like to know more about their lives and who they were.
If you like to read fairy tales and re-tellings then you are going to love Rise of the Sea Witch. Pick up your copy today and get lost in the merworld. Come join Vanessa and Triton as they swim along at the bottom of the ocean in the merwold with all their little friends.
May 20, 2023
So no specific book fanart. But here I'm loving this piece of Ursula that I want to share.
This was a fun series I had on my to-read list for a while already. I love this trend of telling stories from the villain's view. They say there are two sides to every story, and it's fun to see why a villain might turn out as one.
In this one, Vanessa really was a victim of things outside her control. Yes, she made some bad choices, but considering the events leading up to it, who can really blame her? The next book follows Alastor who is Vanessa's love interest in this book. So even the sequels tie into each other in a way.
This was a fun series I had on my to-read list for a while already. I love this trend of telling stories from the villain's view. They say there are two sides to every story, and it's fun to see why a villain might turn out as one.
In this one, Vanessa really was a victim of things outside her control. Yes, she made some bad choices, but considering the events leading up to it, who can really blame her? The next book follows Alastor who is Vanessa's love interest in this book. So even the sequels tie into each other in a way.
dnf
April 13, 2021DNF @ 36%
No there isn't anything wrong with this book necessarily. I am not interested. I feel like it is taking forever to read and I am wanting to use my time up wisely. I have many books to attend to and I really don't want to have to drag my feet to finish one.
A total "it's not you, it's me" moment.
No there isn't anything wrong with this book necessarily. I am not interested. I feel like it is taking forever to read and I am wanting to use my time up wisely. I have many books to attend to and I really don't want to have to drag my feet to finish one.
A total "it's not you, it's me" moment.
October 20, 2018
I loved Nessa/Ursula's story so much like she was so treated badly and the story defiant captured that.
September 20, 2018
DNF @ 46% The writing style is driving me nuts. I have been trying really hard to finish it, but I just don't want to so I am giving up.
June 23, 2017
Vanessa has only had one dream and that is to be Queen of Alantica. Her every move has been designed to try and win her father's affection and approval, when it is so easily given to her younger playful brother Triton, who wants nothing more than to play. It seems that fate may not be on Vanessa's side though, and her path to the crown has more challenges that she may be able to handle.
Oh my geez, this was a great book, but is was so hard to read (in my opinion because of the life of Vanessa)! I will admit that I did not realize that this was the back story to the evil sea witch from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid, I just thought that this was a new mermaid book (with a completely gorgeous cover which I am drawn to regardless of content). Well, I found out pretty quick that this is Ursela's backstory and I loved how Ms. Rourke was able to create this history that made me love this terrible villain. Rourke was able to create depths and motivation, causing me to empathize with Vanessa and understand her in a way I never expected- her misdeeds seemed reasonable and just herek. Can I just say, that hands down, Poseidan was an epic Tool and needed to be punched, even to the end (but let's not get into that). The way he treated Vanessa was so awful, and sure it was not physical abuse and she did not want for any physical possession, but she was abused by neglect and contempt. I wanted to stage an intervention at multiple times in the story and whisk her away, and even her evil deeds I felt more ambivalent about.
My favorite part of the story was the offhand references to the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. For example, the phrase poor unfortunate souls (hint hint the title?) was thrown around the book, made famous from Ursela in the movie. Also, "little mermaid" was what Vanessa was called a few times as a snarky put-down, "body language" was referenced (which made me chuckle to myself and want to break out in the song from the movie), a helpful seagull was mentioned, and Vanessa ends up having her voice taken away at one point just like Ariel did (but much more gruesome). I loved seeing these tidbits incorporated into the book's plot to make a seamless connection between the beloved Disney movie and this entirely new back story. I think it helped to draw me in more, making me engaged in actively finding more connections to tie the stories to together.
I found this book to be a pleasant surprise that kept me reading and anxiously invested to see what would happen next. I honestly wanted nothing but happiness, or at least love and acceptance and perhaps some contentment for Vanessa, even though I know how this story ended. I also found interesting the transition from pretty little mermaid Vanessa to full figured Ursela (and the name Ursela now makes perfect sense) to be well done and matched the expectations for the character very well. I have so many concerns for her future as well as what will happen between her and Triton that I would love to get my hands on the next book in the series to continue the journey. This is perfect of fans of The Little Mermaid, villains backstories like the Maleficent movie, general mermaid stories and anything else different you may be looking for. Pick it up, you will enjoy it.
Visit my blog for more book stuff: http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Oh my geez, this was a great book, but is was so hard to read (in my opinion because of the life of Vanessa)! I will admit that I did not realize that this was the back story to the evil sea witch from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid, I just thought that this was a new mermaid book (with a completely gorgeous cover which I am drawn to regardless of content). Well, I found out pretty quick that this is Ursela's backstory and I loved how Ms. Rourke was able to create this history that made me love this terrible villain. Rourke was able to create depths and motivation, causing me to empathize with Vanessa and understand her in a way I never expected- her misdeeds seemed reasonable and just herek. Can I just say, that hands down, Poseidan was an epic Tool and needed to be punched, even to the end (but let's not get into that). The way he treated Vanessa was so awful, and sure it was not physical abuse and she did not want for any physical possession, but she was abused by neglect and contempt. I wanted to stage an intervention at multiple times in the story and whisk her away, and even her evil deeds I felt more ambivalent about.
My favorite part of the story was the offhand references to the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. For example, the phrase poor unfortunate souls (hint hint the title?) was thrown around the book, made famous from Ursela in the movie. Also, "little mermaid" was what Vanessa was called a few times as a snarky put-down, "body language" was referenced (which made me chuckle to myself and want to break out in the song from the movie), a helpful seagull was mentioned, and Vanessa ends up having her voice taken away at one point just like Ariel did (but much more gruesome). I loved seeing these tidbits incorporated into the book's plot to make a seamless connection between the beloved Disney movie and this entirely new back story. I think it helped to draw me in more, making me engaged in actively finding more connections to tie the stories to together.
I found this book to be a pleasant surprise that kept me reading and anxiously invested to see what would happen next. I honestly wanted nothing but happiness, or at least love and acceptance and perhaps some contentment for Vanessa, even though I know how this story ended. I also found interesting the transition from pretty little mermaid Vanessa to full figured Ursela (and the name Ursela now makes perfect sense) to be well done and matched the expectations for the character very well. I have so many concerns for her future as well as what will happen between her and Triton that I would love to get my hands on the next book in the series to continue the journey. This is perfect of fans of The Little Mermaid, villains backstories like the Maleficent movie, general mermaid stories and anything else different you may be looking for. Pick it up, you will enjoy it.
Visit my blog for more book stuff: http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
June 19, 2017
I’ve always been a fan of Stacey Rourke’s retellings. They’re usually far more dark and sinister, closer to Grimm than Disney and I adore that kind of twisted carnage. This is a YA retelling of how Ursula, like from The Little Mermaid, came into existence. It explores what it takes to make an innocent and caring person turn dark, how much betrayal and anguish a person (mermaid) can take before they
crack, and whether love can truly heal all wounds.
Here’s what I loved:
Princess Vanessa is a victim and it is so not her fault. All she has ever done is try to be a perfect daughter to the point of stifling who she is. She’s young, idealistic, and so hopeful. She has a pure and beautiful heart, she truly cares, she’s funny, her sarcasm is on point. She’s pretty awesome. And then she gets better. She is forced to make choices that transform her from the inside out. She must embrace her magic and she does not always make the best decisions, in fact, sometimes they’re downright cruel and propelled by anger. BUT that’s what makes her more real; she’s flawed and hurt and sometimes broken but never, ever defeated and there’s power in that.
The world building is amazing. Each ruler of the Seven Seas is unique and they all have tons of personality. There are whole cultures and ideals in tiny details that fit so well together. You can totally picture little under water countries.
Vanessa’s relationship with Triton. She adores him. Even though he’s like a little free-spirited hippie who would rather frolic around than be responsible, how could you not love those golden curls? Their relationship is a complex one. But it’s adorable. And then crash and burn. You’ll think about how the children you met in the very beginning of the book transformed into these two strangers. It’s heartbreaking.
Plot twists. There are a ton and they’re truly shocking. You don’t expect them. But when they’re revealed you’ll definitely think, ahhhh, it all makes sense now.
I love love love Vanessa and Alastor. Epitome of slow burn. The way he cares for her. It’s so sweet, omg.
Here’s what I disliked:
The structure. I don’t know if it’s because of my ARC or if this is in the finalized version, but the blending of past with present, the sort of omnipotent voice that runs through in Italics and then the time jumps. There are big gaps in time that range from 2 months to several years. Which is fine, but when coupled with the italics it’s a little confusing and took me time to readjust. Initially the whole prologue was iffy. You assume who it’s about and what’s going on from prior knowledge but it reads as a stream of consciousness merging of random thoughts that kind of feel out of place sometimes. The organization-style choice- wasn’t my favorite.
Some plot points ended abruptly. There’s this whole build up on animosity between Vanessa and another character and then boom, over. I guess, I just wished there was more…hands on retribution.
crack, and whether love can truly heal all wounds.
Here’s what I loved:
Princess Vanessa is a victim and it is so not her fault. All she has ever done is try to be a perfect daughter to the point of stifling who she is. She’s young, idealistic, and so hopeful. She has a pure and beautiful heart, she truly cares, she’s funny, her sarcasm is on point. She’s pretty awesome. And then she gets better. She is forced to make choices that transform her from the inside out. She must embrace her magic and she does not always make the best decisions, in fact, sometimes they’re downright cruel and propelled by anger. BUT that’s what makes her more real; she’s flawed and hurt and sometimes broken but never, ever defeated and there’s power in that.
The world building is amazing. Each ruler of the Seven Seas is unique and they all have tons of personality. There are whole cultures and ideals in tiny details that fit so well together. You can totally picture little under water countries.
Vanessa’s relationship with Triton. She adores him. Even though he’s like a little free-spirited hippie who would rather frolic around than be responsible, how could you not love those golden curls? Their relationship is a complex one. But it’s adorable. And then crash and burn. You’ll think about how the children you met in the very beginning of the book transformed into these two strangers. It’s heartbreaking.
Plot twists. There are a ton and they’re truly shocking. You don’t expect them. But when they’re revealed you’ll definitely think, ahhhh, it all makes sense now.
I love love love Vanessa and Alastor. Epitome of slow burn. The way he cares for her. It’s so sweet, omg.
Here’s what I disliked:
The structure. I don’t know if it’s because of my ARC or if this is in the finalized version, but the blending of past with present, the sort of omnipotent voice that runs through in Italics and then the time jumps. There are big gaps in time that range from 2 months to several years. Which is fine, but when coupled with the italics it’s a little confusing and took me time to readjust. Initially the whole prologue was iffy. You assume who it’s about and what’s going on from prior knowledge but it reads as a stream of consciousness merging of random thoughts that kind of feel out of place sometimes. The organization-style choice- wasn’t my favorite.
Some plot points ended abruptly. There’s this whole build up on animosity between Vanessa and another character and then boom, over. I guess, I just wished there was more…hands on retribution.
February 11, 2018
This was the first book I read during the January round of #24in48. I was so excited going into this book, even though there was like no hype for this book. I love retellings and anything that is similar to The Little Mermaid or based on aspects on if, I'm completely down for.
With that being said, I may have set my expectations too high for this book just based on the fact it was about the Seat Witch. It's safe to say my expectations were not met because I was slightly disappointed with it. Don't get me wrong the book was still good and quite enjoyable given my 3 star rating, I just wanted more from it.
I think one of the things that took my by surprise was that it was A LOT more action packed than I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a back story type of retelling, which it kind of was but not to the extent I thought it would be. Downside of not wanting to know anything about a book before you go into it.
I will say it did put a very interesting spin on how Ursula the Seat Witch became to be. I also really enjoyed the parts that stated true to the Disney movie (but they were few and far between). I really enjoyed King Triton's character and how he came to be King, even though it seemed like a completely different character than you see in the movie.
Rourke did an awesome job of making the reader sympathize with Vanessa because I was definitely on her team the entire time. I think my favorite character was Alastor! And OMG *insert crying emoji here*
There were a lot of aspects of the book that I LOVED, but overall the book was kind of meh for me. I think this downfall came from me hoping it was more similar to the Disney movie, so if you go into this book knowing its really nothing like that, then you should have more of an enjoyable experience.
Part of my "meh" experience came from the fact that the writing was very intense and wordy, so you really have to focus and pay attention or you will miss something. Just to piggyback on that thought, I was tempted to skim. But when I would do that all the words would make me over look a detail leaving me confused and I would have to go back and read it again just to understand everything. So I think some of the points got lost amongst all the unnecessary words. If that makes any sense at all.
It was still very enjoyable and I think having a different mindset about what I was expecting would've lead to a better reading experience. I do want to say I cant fault the author or the book because I didnt even read the summary (as I never do this for any book), so I'm not saying it was portrayed to be anything like the Disney movie. It was just the expectation I jumped to.
With that being said, I may have set my expectations too high for this book just based on the fact it was about the Seat Witch. It's safe to say my expectations were not met because I was slightly disappointed with it. Don't get me wrong the book was still good and quite enjoyable given my 3 star rating, I just wanted more from it.
I think one of the things that took my by surprise was that it was A LOT more action packed than I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a back story type of retelling, which it kind of was but not to the extent I thought it would be. Downside of not wanting to know anything about a book before you go into it.
I will say it did put a very interesting spin on how Ursula the Seat Witch became to be. I also really enjoyed the parts that stated true to the Disney movie (but they were few and far between). I really enjoyed King Triton's character and how he came to be King, even though it seemed like a completely different character than you see in the movie.
Rourke did an awesome job of making the reader sympathize with Vanessa because I was definitely on her team the entire time. I think my favorite character was Alastor! And OMG *insert crying emoji here*
There were a lot of aspects of the book that I LOVED, but overall the book was kind of meh for me. I think this downfall came from me hoping it was more similar to the Disney movie, so if you go into this book knowing its really nothing like that, then you should have more of an enjoyable experience.
Part of my "meh" experience came from the fact that the writing was very intense and wordy, so you really have to focus and pay attention or you will miss something. Just to piggyback on that thought, I was tempted to skim. But when I would do that all the words would make me over look a detail leaving me confused and I would have to go back and read it again just to understand everything. So I think some of the points got lost amongst all the unnecessary words. If that makes any sense at all.
It was still very enjoyable and I think having a different mindset about what I was expecting would've lead to a better reading experience. I do want to say I cant fault the author or the book because I didnt even read the summary (as I never do this for any book), so I'm not saying it was portrayed to be anything like the Disney movie. It was just the expectation I jumped to.
July 13, 2018
~*3.7 Stars*~
*This review has spoilers*
I chose this as one of my books to read during a readathon (retellathon) and I did like "Rise of the Sea Witch". At the beginning of the book I was enjoying it so much I really thought that this was going to be a five star book for me but the more I read, I began to see the stars kind of falling away. The tone of the book was right, you really could hear Ursula's voice, her atitude as you read. The problem for me was that she really seemed to have no connections to anyone. There is a love interest that never seemed to show a true connection though she claimed to love him. There is Triton, her younger brother whom she helped raise and yet there just did not seem to be a real closeness between them and I must say that it is she who always seemed to pull away. The only relationships you truly feel matter to Ursula (Vanessa throughout most of the book) is her maid that has raised her and Flotsam and Jetsam who are basically her children. I did truly enjoy the way she loved and cared for her babies. I treat my furbabies as real ones!
My thought is that Vanessa was always going to be Ursula. I always felt that this was her destiny. Did characters and things happen to lead her along this path? Yes. Could she have been a good Queen? Yes, she could have been a good Queen but there was always a darkness ready to bubble up and she was always there to embrace it.
I did love that she was referred to often as "The Little Mermaid". I also want to say that she was wronged horribly and scapegoated often. The problem was that I wanted to love Vanessa/Ursula. I wanted to cry when bad things happened to her but I just could not muster up the feelings that I wanted to and it's sad because I have always thought Ursula to be such a glorious villain. So, though I wanted to give this five stars in the end I could only give it 3.7 stars.
*This review has spoilers*
I chose this as one of my books to read during a readathon (retellathon) and I did like "Rise of the Sea Witch". At the beginning of the book I was enjoying it so much I really thought that this was going to be a five star book for me but the more I read, I began to see the stars kind of falling away. The tone of the book was right, you really could hear Ursula's voice, her atitude as you read. The problem for me was that she really seemed to have no connections to anyone. There is a love interest that never seemed to show a true connection though she claimed to love him. There is Triton, her younger brother whom she helped raise and yet there just did not seem to be a real closeness between them and I must say that it is she who always seemed to pull away. The only relationships you truly feel matter to Ursula (Vanessa throughout most of the book) is her maid that has raised her and Flotsam and Jetsam who are basically her children. I did truly enjoy the way she loved and cared for her babies. I treat my furbabies as real ones!
My thought is that Vanessa was always going to be Ursula. I always felt that this was her destiny. Did characters and things happen to lead her along this path? Yes. Could she have been a good Queen? Yes, she could have been a good Queen but there was always a darkness ready to bubble up and she was always there to embrace it.
I did love that she was referred to often as "The Little Mermaid". I also want to say that she was wronged horribly and scapegoated often. The problem was that I wanted to love Vanessa/Ursula. I wanted to cry when bad things happened to her but I just could not muster up the feelings that I wanted to and it's sad because I have always thought Ursula to be such a glorious villain. So, though I wanted to give this five stars in the end I could only give it 3.7 stars.
April 15, 2019
Dude, this was awesome!!!! I recommend this to any little mermaid fan or any villain fan!
I honestly didn't think I'd love it as much as I do. I thought it was going to be a typical "boohoo my childhood was bad so now I'm angry and evil all the time."
nope. None of that. yes there is tragedy but we see how these things along with the influence of magic push her into madness and blurring the lines between good and bad, how being a sea witch empowered her in a sexist and patriarchal society that stifled her and often used her as a scapegoat. So even though this was a fantasy story about mermaids and sea creatures, this was a very "real" book in the sense it dealt with very real and relatable issues in our society, like misogyny and how women must work and manipulate within a system that is set against them.
I loved this book. So many nods to the Disney movie and it was great seeing it all add up to how we know our beloved villain. It was unique and we'll though out. This was so imaginative and I really appreciate and adore how things turned out. I could not have imagined a better back story for this great Disney villain.
I honestly didn't think I'd love it as much as I do. I thought it was going to be a typical "boohoo my childhood was bad so now I'm angry and evil all the time."
nope. None of that. yes there is tragedy but we see how these things along with the influence of magic push her into madness and blurring the lines between good and bad, how being a sea witch empowered her in a sexist and patriarchal society that stifled her and often used her as a scapegoat. So even though this was a fantasy story about mermaids and sea creatures, this was a very "real" book in the sense it dealt with very real and relatable issues in our society, like misogyny and how women must work and manipulate within a system that is set against them.
I loved this book. So many nods to the Disney movie and it was great seeing it all add up to how we know our beloved villain. It was unique and we'll though out. This was so imaginative and I really appreciate and adore how things turned out. I could not have imagined a better back story for this great Disney villain.
August 31, 2020
Rise of the Sea Witch is a stellar novel. Not only is it a great story overall, but it’s an excellent origin story for Ursela. The plot is great, the characterization is wonderful and it turns the sea witch into such a compelling and sympathetic character. While I wasn’t a fan of the asides to the reader and a few other things, they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book very much. I fully intend on reading the next novel to see what happens. I’d recommend this novel to any Little Mermaid fans and anyone who loves fairy tale retellings.
My full review can be found here
My full review can be found here
April 23, 2017
I can't say enough about the fantasticness of this book! Haven't you always wanted to know how Ursula became so... Ursula? How do her and King Triton know each other? Why are the feelings they have toward each other so passionate? Well, prepare to have your sea legs knocked out from under you, because you will never expect what is coming!
True to Stacey Rourke fashion, our leading lady is full of snark and wit, and you will LOVE her! And your heart will break for her! Riddled with twists and cross overs that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and we get to meet so many unique characters! An entire ocean at our fingertips. There are so many great characters in this book, and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the story and find out what happens next!
True to Stacey Rourke fashion, our leading lady is full of snark and wit, and you will LOVE her! And your heart will break for her! Riddled with twists and cross overs that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and we get to meet so many unique characters! An entire ocean at our fingertips. There are so many great characters in this book, and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the story and find out what happens next!
June 7, 2022
This book hit all the parts of Ursela that you could think. I felt so sorry for Vanessa throughout everything. I couldn’t believe Poseidon and Triton. She had been subjected to so much and continued to rise above. I really loved watching her grow into her “villainous ways”. If it weren’t for her step-mother, there always seems to be an evil-stepmother involved, she may have had a chance. And I really loved how the author did put Morgona into this book.
The whole mom being visible- freaked me out, especially the details- but it really seemed to fit into how Ursela came to be.
The whole mom being visible- freaked me out, especially the details- but it really seemed to fit into how Ursela came to be.
November 11, 2018
WOW! I listened to the audio book version of this and just wow. I don't listen to too many audio books because I just don't have the time, hence why this took me almost a month to listen to. But goodness me, this one is totally worth it! The voices of the narrator is truly something magical. Now on to the story.
Stacey never disappoints, this story. When you love the villain you KNOW the author did something right. What a heart wrenching tale.
Stacey never disappoints, this story. When you love the villain you KNOW the author did something right. What a heart wrenching tale.
May 4, 2019
What great backbones to be a before-they-were-villains story...but...the writing...just so many memories of not-so-great fanfiction!
I absolutely loved all of the allusions to Disney's The Little Mermaid...especially Ursula's ode to the poor unfortunate souls...but just when I though this could be a 4-star story, the author writes a sentence which repeatedly refers to a character's armpits as pits; and suddenly, the star just slips away.
I absolutely loved all of the allusions to Disney's The Little Mermaid...especially Ursula's ode to the poor unfortunate souls...but just when I though this could be a 4-star story, the author writes a sentence which repeatedly refers to a character's armpits as pits; and suddenly, the star just slips away.
June 28, 2017
Rise of the sea witch
The Rise of the Sea witch was in gaging. Riveting and amazing. The story of how Ursala became to be. Was breathtakingly detailed. I laughed I cried it left me wanting more. I didn't want to put it down but had to to sleep and have a life. Stacey blew it out of the Water.
The Rise of the Sea witch was in gaging. Riveting and amazing. The story of how Ursala became to be. Was breathtakingly detailed. I laughed I cried it left me wanting more. I didn't want to put it down but had to to sleep and have a life. Stacey blew it out of the Water.
April 20, 2020
Loved it!!
I've always been a fan of the story of The Little Mermaid, however; it was Ursala who was my favorite. Reading this book gave me a little backstory to her and who she was. I loved the story. I love Ursala even more now.
I've always been a fan of the story of The Little Mermaid, however; it was Ursala who was my favorite. Reading this book gave me a little backstory to her and who she was. I loved the story. I love Ursala even more now.
May 17, 2020
This was my first book by this author and I was hooked! A new, 1-click author for me!! I loved her take on the Little Mermaid! The story that this author brought to life was captivating and breath taking!
November 30, 2023
Awesome
Loved this story of the making of Ursula. The betrayal Vanessa goes through is horrible but she overcomes. The step mother uses manipulation to get her use her magic and with it comes a cost. I can't wait to read the next book to fi d out what Ursula does next.
Loved this story of the making of Ursula. The betrayal Vanessa goes through is horrible but she overcomes. The step mother uses manipulation to get her use her magic and with it comes a cost. I can't wait to read the next book to fi d out what Ursula does next.
March 30, 2018
Review to come soon on thebookdutchesses.wordpress.com
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