Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Our Vengeful Souls

Rate this book
When magical mermaid Sereia saves her little sister and overshadows brother and rightful heir, Triton, the position of next ruler of the sea is in question. Determined to keep his throne, Triton curses Sereia, transforming her into a human and stripping her of magic. Banishing her from their underwater kingdom, he gives her a final warning: if you should ever return, you will become a monster.

Left for dead, Sereia washes up on the shores of Atlantis, discovered by a kind merchant with a tragic past. Patient and charming, he helps her build a life on land, leaving her realizing that everything she was taught about humans may have been wrong. But legends are powerful forces, and mermaids are burned for their magic by humans who fear their power. Sereia is forced to keep her true identity a secret, even as her feelings for her savior deepen.

Channeling her skill with a blade, she finds a place within the ranks of the Atlantean army, finally giving her the chance to become the respected warrior she always desired. During her training, however, she discovers the legend of a trident of equal power to her father’s exists, and is within her grasp in Atlantis. With a way back to the sea in her grasp, she wavers between the pull of revenge and the possibility of love on land, all under the hateful eye of a vengeful enemy within her ranks. But when the fate of a friend is in the balance, she must make the hardest decision of all: be burned at the stake as a witch, or turn into a monster should she return to the sea.

In line with the classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid (Hans Christian Anderson) and the mythological adventure Lore (Alexandra Bracken), Our Vengeful Souls takes you on a journey of loss, love and vengeance, into the life of one of fairy tales most famous villains.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2023

17 people are currently reading
12844 people want to read

About the author

Kristi McManus

6 books96 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
128 (24%)
4 stars
225 (43%)
3 stars
134 (25%)
2 stars
28 (5%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
Profile Image for ✨ Helena ✨.
392 reviews1,137 followers
October 2, 2023
‘From this moment, my path is clear. My name will die off into myth, but my power and fury will remain legendary.’

description

I’ve only read one villain origin story before – Heartless by Marissa Meyer – and similar to that novel, I loved this. Unlike Heartless however, which follows the Queen of Hearts in the mad and curious world of Wonderland, Our Vengeful Souls follows the Sea Witch who remained unnamed in Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale, The Little Mermaid …and is now more commonly known as Ursula due to Disney’s animated film (aka my third favourite Disney film behind Hercules and Beauty & the Beast).

In Our Vengeful Souls, our protagonist begins as the mermaid Sereia (which coincidentally means ‘mermaid’ in Portuguese), who lives in the underwater world of Valeria, not Disney’s Atlantica. She is the sea goddess daughter of King Poseidon and Queen Amphitrite (yay, some Amphitrite inclusion!) and the sister of Triton (later Ariel’s father in Disney's Little Mermaid). In doing so, the author weaves together not only elements of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, but also many aspects from Greek mythology – which, of course, I loved – including Plato’s cautionary tale of Atlantis from Timaeus and Critias .

Sereia is second-in-line to her father’s throne, the spare to the heir, who just so happens to be her brother, Triton. Where he excels in brute strength, she excels in divine magic. And when it seems like their father might choose to name Sereia as the heir apparent, Triton sabotages her chances by cursing her: her fins transform into human legs, exiling her to the land above in Atlantis. This leaves her without immortality, magic, family or a home.

‘I am powerful. I am strong. I am deadly. I will prove to my father that I am to be feared, pray word of my victory carries on the whispers of those I defeat and finds his ear before my blade finds his son’s heart.’

Desperate to revert back to her true form, re-claim her rightful place and seek revenge against Triton, Sereia must learn to adapt to life above the surface and comes to rely upon the cutest cinnamon roll that ever was, Callan. Despite his military training, mainly due to encountering so much loss, he lives a quiet life and serves as a healer, even nursing a wounded Sereia back to health when he finds her washed ashore. These two were absolutely precious together. <3

description

If I had any complaints about this book, it would be its length, especially since the ending was a tad rushed. The story felt like one training scene after another without moving forwards, and don’t get me wrong – I love training scenes – but it felt as though the book could’ve benefitted from a bit more plot. I wished to spend more time with Sereia and Callan, more time exploring Atlantis, just more time in this story altogether. Rather, Sereia seemed to be engaging in one fight after another, and then, before I knew it, the book had ended far too soon.

Maybe I’m just a greedy reader :P, but…

description

Regardless, I truly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. I also hope that the author will pen another retelling soon. With her penchant for both faery tale retellings and mythology…perhaps Hercules could be next? I’d love to see Disney’s sassy and iconic interpretation of Hades retold, as well. Or if not Hades, then someone else! Just give me more! :)
Profile Image for Danielle Pulliam .
481 reviews77 followers
December 16, 2025
**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑽𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊 𝑴𝒄𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒔

Release Date: June 6, 2023

4.5⭐️2🌶

This Little Mermaid retelling swept me away! I always love reading new magical worlds and destinations and this book did not disappoint. Sereia is a young Princess who's older brother, Titen, is heir to her fathers throne. However, she has more magical power and frequently bests him during training. 

When their younger sister is in danger, Titen is unable to save her, and Sereia steps up and saves her easily. Their father begins to see her as an asset. Whereas before, he only saw her as a tool to help train Titen.

Titen is overcome with jealousy, and does his best to get rid of his sister.

A big thank you to @netgalley for approving me for this ARC!
Profile Image for Christina.
289 reviews41 followers
July 21, 2023
This is my first mermaid book. I'm glad that I went in blindly without knowing it was an origin story. (So I won't give details on that) but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and would definitely recommend. I think this one is underrated on Goodreads, a solid 4 - 4.5 star read for me.
Profile Image for Claude's Bookzone.
1,551 reviews271 followers
September 20, 2023
I'm going straight in with a hidden spoiler. You have been warned. Now that spoiler coupled with the blurb will tell you everything you need to know about this wonderfully dark magical tale. I so wanted there to be a sequel but the story has already been told. Hopefully a new dark spin more akin to the original? Go on, Kristi. You know you want to. This has to be the most cryptic review I've written. Anyhoo, I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Mariana ✨.
351 reviews440 followers
Want to read
September 4, 2022
this sounds cute but i can't get over the fact that the MC's name is Sereia, which literally means Mermaid in portuguese....... this is literally a story about a mermaid called Mermaid 😭😭😭
Profile Image for Coffee&Cliffhangers.
195 reviews109 followers
July 20, 2024
If you love fairytale retellings and mermaid stories than this book is for you. Kristi McManus had me fooled until the very end. And Suzanne Elise Freeman did an amazing job bringing this story to life.
Sereia and her brother Tritan are pitted together by their Father to be the next ruler of the sea. Tritan is favored while Sereia is overlooked even though her power surpasses him. Tritan takes matters into his own hands and curses his sister reducing her to a mere human who must now live on land, and if she returns to the sea she will return a monster. Rescued from the sea by a man with his own tragic past, she learns that humans aren't the monsters her people portrayed them to be. As she begins a new life where she is loved and appreciated, she is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.
Even though this was a bit of a slow burn, and I would have loved more on her relationship with Callum, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was completely invested in Sereia's need for Vengeance.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Morgan Shamy.
Author 6 books372 followers
December 12, 2022
I absolutely loved this story! I've never read anything like it. I was captivated from the first page. Such a fun, unique world. Romance and adventure and heartache and mystery and action. I devoured this book in just a couple of days. I'm excited for everyone to read this!
Profile Image for Betweenpaperbackworlds .
522 reviews7 followers
July 11, 2024
This book is sooooo good!! I loved it. I have never read a little mermaid retelling before and it was really good. The writing was really nice and you knew just enough to understand what was going on but not enough to see the small twist of what this book is really about and I liked that. Very well done 👍🏽😊🫶🏾!!
Profile Image for Jessica Fuller.
410 reviews79 followers
May 23, 2024
A little mermaid retelling!! How exciting. I enjoyed this one so much so thank you NetGalley. The author did a really good job at keeping the book engaging and interesting. The ending was such a shock. Definitely check this one out if you want an interesting spin on one of the best fairytales.
Profile Image for Cristy.
238 reviews8 followers
July 14, 2023
It all started with a curse…

Our Vengeful Souls is a Little Mermaid reimagining with the sea witches origin story. It takes you on a journey of betrayal, love and vengeance. I loved the world building and Greek Mythology thrown in. It definitely tests your view on what makes a hero and a villain.

“You are a terrifying, enchanting creature, and most of the time, I don’t know if I should fear your power or fall completely in love with you.”

I really loved this book, I just wished it showed more of the romance between Sereia and Callan. It was such a small part of the story, but was such a big part in her origin to becoming a villain.

Like you know how it’s going to end for her (thanks Disney), but you still want to cheer for her and have her get her happy ending.

And that epilogue was everything my childish heart needed
Profile Image for Stefani Robinson.
414 reviews107 followers
August 13, 2024
This book was spectacular! There is no other word for it. It felt magical. The words came to life, the world and characters came to life. From the first word, I was hooked. Sereia is a great character. She has always felt lesser than her brother. She has skill with fighting but only useful to her father as a sparing partner for Triton. She has skill with magic but it’s never respected. She has more of a head and disposition for leadership, but she’s female so it doesn’t matter. She has spent her entire life feeling overlooked. And then her sister goes missing. When they find her, Sereia gets the unexpected opportunity to step in where her brother failed and save their sister. She can prove to her father that she’s better than him. And she does. Her father starts to reconsider Triton as his heir, and Triton doesn’t like it.

That’s where the story really kicks off. This was a difficult story to write, I am sure of that. The author is trying to weave elements of The Little Mermaid fairytale, Greek Poseidon mythology, and Atlantis mythology all into one book. There are countless ways that she could have failed, but she didn’t. She wove all of those threads together seamlessly. The stories are so blended that they make perfect sense and it feels as though they were all the same story all along.

The story of Sereia and Callan was amazing. They don’t get off to the best start. He rescues her from death, sunburned, wounded, and unconscious on the beach. She repays him by stabbing him as soon as she wakes up. But he is ever patient with her. With teaching her all about Atlantis, teaching her to walk, teaching her to make food for herself, and most importantly he always lets her be exactly who she is. As Sereia learns about Atlantis’ history she discovers a potential way to get home. But by the time she does, she isn’t entirely sure that she wants to leave. She has fallen in love with Callen. She has built a life for herself with friends and being a fighter in the Atlantean army. Ultimately she believes that she has come up with a plan to do both, get her revenge on her brother and then return to Atlantis. Which is when the whole story takes a sideways turn.

Until the last 50 pages or so, I was convinced that this book was going to end on a cliffhanger and a lead in to another book. The first twist to the story is one that I expected, they tell you about it in the blurb. But immediately after that came another bombshell, then another. In just a single chapter the entirely trajectory of this story changed. I felt dizzy but I couldn’t stop reading. I sat in my living room completely silently and read the last 50 pages in one sitting. I was riveted. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but it fit the story so perfectly. And it was a completely standalone story in the end. It was perfect and I couldn’t have loved it more.

“You believe you have won, and maybe for a time you have. But I will never forget, and I will never forgive. One day, perhaps centuries from now, I will bring you to your knees. And as your world crumbles and burns, I will rise like a phoenix from your ashes.”

One last thing, that epilogue, holy cow! It was everything. Literally everything that I have ever wanted in an epilogue.
Profile Image for Skylar Faidiga.
9 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2024
This was a very fun and interesting perspective of Poseidon and his children. Mainly focusing on Triton and Sereia, we go through the intense story of betrayal and struggle. Sereia's story was truly captivating and the ending left me surprised. It wasn't until the last chapter and epilogue that the whole story really tied together to tell of something centuries in the future. Overall really enjoyed this young adult read and if you are looking for something to shed light on some of your favorite characters, I would take a gander into this one! Thank you NetGalley for the read.
Profile Image for Anne.
801 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2023
Ursula origin story and a good lesson on why forgiveness is important rather than letting hate, pride and entitlement fester.
Profile Image for Colleen.
362 reviews
July 9, 2023
Solid 3/5. Fun story, definitely kept me engaged. The writing left a little to be desired. The author relied a lot on the “verbing blah blah, subject verb…” sentence structure, and not only was it noticeable enough to grow tiresome (same with “plucking” books and lips “quirking”!) but often the first clause was not needed and/or actually didn’t make a ton of sense. Every female character seemed to have a “slim” figure, which just felt lazy… and a bit ironic considering Disney’s Ursula isn’t thin. But despite all that I was able to get into the story — I think it would’ve only needed a touch more editing to really shine.
Profile Image for Janine.
517 reviews75 followers
May 10, 2024
Mermaids are one mythical creature that can draw me straight to a story, almost 100% success rate. So picking up Our Vengeful Souls was an easy choice. Glad to say that I enjoyed this villain origin story of The Sea Witch, tragic and heartbreaking as it may be.

Sereia is a mermaid princess that despite her superior magical abilities, is seen as lower than her brother, Triton, pitted against each other by her father, King Poseidon. Out of jealousy and fear, he curses Sereia, forcing her above land without magic.

Sereia just needs a giant hug. After a lifetime of being told she's lesser than the men in her life, she finds an identity beyond the one given to her from the sea, connecting with others, etc, and discovering how strong she can be, as well as the power of love. The other characters were fleshed out and there were clear good guys and bad guys in the narrative, so there wasn't too much of a morally gray here.

In addition from borrowing from the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, it also takes cues from Greek mythology, with the city of Atlantis being a central setting to the story. It's got an ancient Greece feel to the world as well, and feels very advanced technology wise. I do feel I was mostly in the setting, but sorta wished a few things were fleshed out better in terms of the islands, but that might have been solved with a map, not in the audiobook version.

The story gripped me from the start with an intriguing start. The only real issue was it's pace in the middle to the end; it felt like it should have been a bit longer than it should have been with everything that's covered, especially the climax. Though the ending was very tragic indeed and broke my heart of how everything went down and how the Sea Witch came to be and the devastating power of revenge. Even though I came in not realizing what it was until near the story's tragic end.

The prose flowed well, with Elise Freeman narration being just right.

If you love mermaids, villain origin stories, and a touch of Greek mythology, check this out.

*I received a review copy from Netgalley and CamCat Books. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Visubooks (Sofia).
476 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2023
This was a great read!!! Loved this retelling of the origins of the sea witch! Thought the plot was really unique and captivating from start to end! I enjoyed the characters a lot and thought they were developed really well! I enjoyed the pacing of the book keeping me hooked up till the end without any moments were I felt truly bored while reading! I enjoyed the fantasy elements in this book thought they tied in well to the original fairytale while still giving this retelling it’s own unique twist! I also enjoyed then Atlantis elements in this books thought it was a unique tie into the story and really became a focus for the story and a plot device for the book which was really unique! Definitely recommend checking out this book if you enjoy fairytale retellings, the little mermaid, villain origin stories, and fantasy books with mermaids and magic!!
Profile Image for Emily-Rose At The Rose House.
102 reviews119 followers
May 21, 2024
"Don't feed your fear; it will only swallow your strength."

I dived into this without realizing it was a fairytale retelling. I loved the surprise at the end when I discovered who Sereia is within "The Little Mermaid."

This is a true exploration of the different paths of vengeance.

If you love:
>Fairytale retellings
>Mermaids
>Magic & curses

This book is for you! I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator kept me engaged the entire time.

The ending truly shocked me. I went back and re-listened to it a second time because I didn’t believe it! Sereia truly decided to take her revenge to the next level.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Alex.
476 reviews
August 15, 2024
I really enjoyed the world-building and the little details in this book, and I didn't realize it was an origin story until like the very end, so that was a pleasant surprise. I was just taken aback when the main character did THAT thing at the end and it seemed like she didn't care about all the previous people, with whom she had forged relationships, anymore. Seemed a bit out of character? Also, definitely YA compared to the other books I've read recently so that took some getting used to. But overall, a cool story that I would love to get a movie of sometime, just like Cruella.
Profile Image for Katie Dempsey.
4 reviews
June 30, 2023
Our Vengeful Souls is beautifully written. It takes you on a journey of frustration, betrayal, love and vengeance.

The story is an exciting and unique twist on an old tale. Told from another viewpoint, it leaves you longing for more. It will test your faith in what makes hero’s and villains. Did I mention the shocking twist at the end?

Profile Image for Andi ♡.
405 reviews8 followers
February 2, 2024
A story of vengeance and love, this kept me hooked from the very first page.

Mermaid Sereia, eldest daughter of Poseidon, knows she is a better fighter than her brother, but yet, her father wants Triton to take over the throne, not her. She’s tried to prove her worth over and over, but everyone notices besides her father. When word gets out that her mother is trying to convince her father that Sereia is the better choice for the throne, Triton takes matters into his own hands. He tricks and banishes Sereia from the sea, to a life on land. Should she ever return, she will turn into a monster.

Clinging to life, Sereia washes up onto shore and is discovered by Callan, a handsome man who nurses her back to health. Once she gets used to her new legs, she joins the Atlantean army. She visits the library, day in and day out to try to find a way to reverse Triton’s curse. She makes friends and realizes that humans may not be as bad as the legends say.

As feelings for Callan develop, she has to decide whether she wants to risk it all to get back to her home or stay in Atlantis and chance a life with Callan. What she chooses just might destroy her world either way.

I can’t fully do a review on this without spoilers, but I’ll give a few thoughts. I went into this not realizing it was an origin story and I must admit it took me a minute to figure out whose it was. Regardless of that, I was so engaged with this honestly heartbreaking story. I loved almost every minute of it. I came out the end feeling sad and angry. The whole thing was so unfair and I know it was supposed to be an origin story, but I hated the end. I also wish we would have gotten something about what happened with the little sister.
Profile Image for Christen.
135 reviews12 followers
March 5, 2025
That twist...holy hell. This is a hard one to rate. I was loving it, and then found myself feeling conflicted about certain things happening...or not happening actually... but then when you get to that final twist in the epilogue, it all makes sense. Was torn between a 4 or 5 star rating... 4.5 perhaps? Not sure, but I definitely would recommend this one, especially to my fellow mermaid lovers.
Profile Image for Jordan Bartlett.
Author 9 books148 followers
Read
May 8, 2023
McManus does a great job with the endearing "everything is new for a mermaid" sequence. Honestly, the epilogue gave me absolute chills. What a wonderful way to round out the story!

This books is great for people who like retellings, betrayal, royal intrigue, true love and heartbreak, sibling rivalry pushed to the extreme, and of course- mermaids.
Profile Image for MoonChild.
190 reviews8 followers
May 30, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley the Publisher, of CamCat Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, and the author Kristi McManus for providing and allowing me to review this book. Which, I'm giving my honest and sincere review.

"Our Vengeful Souls" by Kristi McManus, Narrated by Suzanne Elise Freeman
Suzanne Elise Freeman delivers an exceptional performance in the audiobook adaptation of Kristi McManus's "Our Vengeful Souls." Freeman’s narration is both engaging and emotionally resonant, bringing depth and vibrancy to each character and immersing the listener in the richly detailed world McManus has created. Her voice captures the essence of Sereia's journey, making it an enthralling experience from start to finish.


Plot Summary

Sereia, a magical mermaid, saves her younger sister and inadvertently threatens her brother Triton's claim to the throne. In retaliation, Triton curses Sereia, transforming her into a human and banishing her from their underwater kingdom with a dire warning: if she ever returns, she will become a monster. Left for dead, Sereia washes up on the shores of Atlantis, where she is discovered by a kind merchant with a tragic past.
As Sereia adjusts to life on land, she learns that much of what she was taught about humans may be wrong. Despite needing to keep her true identity a secret, Sereia finds herself drawn to her savior, and her feelings for him deepen. Determined to make a life for herself, Sereia channels her skills into joining the Atlantean army, aspiring to become the respected warrior she always desired to be. During her training, she discovers the existence of a powerful trident, rivaling her father's, hidden within Atlantis. This revelation presents Sereia with a potential path back to the sea and her magic.
However, Sereia is torn between the pull of revenge and the possibility of a new life on land, especially under the watchful eye of a vengeful enemy within her ranks. Ultimately, when a friend’s fate hangs in the balance, she faces an agonizing decision: risk being burned at the stake as a witch or transform into a monster by returning to the sea.


Opinion

Listening to "Our Vengeful Souls" was an incredibly captivating experience. The plot is richly layered with themes of loss, love, and vengeance, reminiscent of classic tales like "The Little Mermaid" and mythological adventures like "Lore." McManus crafts a compelling narrative with complex characters, and Sereia's internal struggles add significant depth to the story. Freeman's masterful narration enhances this, making each twist and turn even more engaging.


Perfect for Summer Listening

This audiobook is particularly fitting for summer, with its enchanting underwater settings and adventurous storyline evoking a sense of wonder and escape. The vivid descriptions of oceanic and Atlantean landscapes provide a perfect backdrop for beachside or poolside listening. Whether you’re lounging in the sun or enjoying a quiet evening, "Our Vengeful Souls" offers an ideal summer escape.
In summary, Kristi McManus's "Our Vengeful Souls" is a must-listen for fans of fairy tale retellings and epic fantasies. Suzanne Elise Freeman’s exceptional narration makes this audiobook a truly enjoyable experience, capturing the imagination and making it hard to pause.
Profile Image for Le Cy.
45 reviews
August 5, 2024
Another book finished after a while! I’ve got to say I fairly enjoyed it, though I do think that there are some aspects that could be done a little bit better.
The blurb had me really intrigued, I loved that the author had taken inspirations from both Greek mythology and the Anderson fairytale, both of which I really enjoy learning about. It’s interesting how she wrote it in a way that didn’t make any of the two elements feel out of place at all, and it made me want to dive in deeper to explore the dynamics between the familiar characters that she had crafted to be recognizable and yet different from their original counterparts.
I also loved the character development that we saw happening throughout the story, with Sereia having prejudices about humans her entire life. I felt proud watching her learn to live amongst humans, and learn to accept that they are not entirely as bad as she thought they were. I also loved that she became increasingly confident in herself throughout the storyline, and it was just really fun watching her finally get to kick ass!
The pacing felt a bit weird. I wasn’t really hooked into the story until I hit about the 25% mark, but even then I just felt like things were going way too slow and nothing really happened. Sure, I enjoyed watching Sereia learn how to navigate through the problems she was facing, but it was also just incredibly tedious to have to read through the entire chapter just to realize nothing really happened. It definitely picked up the pace by the latter half of the book though so that was an incredibly fun ride!
The romance wasn’t really hitting it for me. I loved the two characters, I just felt like there wasn’t much of a buildup, and it kind of just happened out of nowhere. It definitely felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. I felt like the author either should’ve developed the romance more, or just not include any romance at all.
The dialogue felt a bit repetitive at times. Especially her self-affirmations. I know what the author is trying to get at, but it just felt a bit annoying after a while.
It was my first ever audiobook, and I’m glad to say I really enjoyed the experience! The narrator was really good with her flow, and I liked the voices she gave to the characters. It was distinct enough that I knew when it was another character talking, and none of the voices felt annoying at all.
All in all, I fairly enjoyed this book. It was a fun “reading” experience, and I’m interested to see future works from the author.
Thank you CamCat Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, and Kristi McManus for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
324 reviews3 followers
May 30, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book full of mythical stories many of us may or may not be aware of, Atlas & Posiedeon brought to life through Sereia, Callum, friends, and enemies along the way.

When Sereia is cursed as a mermaid by her brother Triton, if she ever returned to sea, she would be a monster she is therefore cursed when Callum finds her as a human on the beach. As a healer, he heals her, helps her, and yes he falls in love as does she. Sereia goes to the library as much as possible, researching trying to discover how to get back to her home in the sea in such a way that can break the curse and avenge her brother.

Within her time in Atlantis, where Callum originally finds her, she goes on to become part of the Atlantean army, much to his distress. This brings its own twists and turns for both characters.

While conducting her research out taking in the views Callum takes her to the fountain where she sees the Trident and discovers the truth of her family history of Atlas and Posideon all of which had been hidden from her by her father.

The story is full of love, friendships, learning, companionship, legends, a time where the unknown are still thought of as wrong, magic was deemed as witchcraft and deemed that the only answer is for them to be burned at a stake.

As she says towards the end to her brother Triton for he is the cause of the death of so much of her grief, pain, and sorrow mainly for the loss of her true love Callum

"You believe you have won and maybe for a time you have for now but I will never forget and I will never forgive, one day perhaps centuries from now I will bring you to your knees, and as your world crumbles and burns I will rise like a pheonix from your ashes"

This part in particular just really hit my heart as much as when Sereia and Callum were at the fountain and she discovered the real truth her father had been hiding from her also hit deeply as pivotal in this tale of origin.

I know many have compared this book to the little mermaid which of course there is a connection however for me there is so much more to this book a deeper message of a history of God's of the seas which I personally feel the little mermaid also connected with. All interlinked possibly, is it too much of a stretch to believe in the mythical that we learn only from books in this day and time we live in? Or is it possible authors write from the soul where somewhere is a remembrance of something that has gone before?!?!?!?

Thank you to Netgalley and CamCat Books for this listen now copy of this audiobook.
Profile Image for Nicki White.
Author 1 book37 followers
November 25, 2023
Our Vengeful Souls by Kristi McManus is a captivating novel that explores the origin story of the iconic Disney villain, Ursula. With its dark and twisted narrative, this book delves into the depths of Sereia's character, providing a fascinating look at how she became the formidable sea witch.

The story follows Sereia, a young mermaid known as Triton's sister, as she navigates a world filled with secrets, betrayal, and revenge. As the layers of her past are slowly revealed, we are taken on a journey that explores the motivations behind her vengeful actions and the transformation into the iconic villain we know.

One of the standout aspects of Our Vengeful Souls is the exceptional character development. Sereia is a complex and multi-dimensional protagonist, and McManus does a fantastic job of delving into her psyche and unraveling her past. The author skillfully portrays her transformation from a seemingly ordinary mermaid to the powerful and cunning sea witch.

The writing style in this novel is gripping and atmospheric, creating a dark and eerie tone that perfectly suits the story. McManus has a talent for building tension and suspense, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover Sereia's journey. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for moments of introspection and reflection amidst the action-packed plot.

Furthermore, the world-building in Our Vengeful Souls is immersive and vivid. The author paints a detailed picture of the underwater kingdom, bringing it to life with rich descriptions and a palpable sense of atmosphere. This adds depth and authenticity to the story, making it all the more engrossing.

This book is a must-read for fans of dark and twisted narratives. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a thrilling and thought-provoking read.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
832 reviews32 followers
July 2, 2023
Our Vengeful Souls by Kristi McManus is the first book I’ve read by this author, but wow! What a read! This book captured my attention from the very first page and didn’t let go until the very end. I read this book cover to cover and couldn’t put it down.

I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology so I’m happy to say that it does make an appearance in this book. This book really has it all suspense, intrigue, mystery and magic. Sereia goes from a young woman who questions everything in her world and at points even herself to someone who knows what she wants and is willing to do anything to get it. This book is well written and I enjoyed all the lore woven throughout. The worldbuilding was great and was described well, I was able to picture everything as I read. This book took me on a rollercoaster with my emotions. Hands down an amazing read!

“It all started with a curse.”

Final review:
5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for cait.
204 reviews
May 20, 2024
I've always been a fan of retellings. I realised early on that this was a Ursula retelling and yet I still found myself hoping and rooting for Sereia. Seeing her build a life on Atlantis with her new friends was heartbreaking when you know where she ends up and how her story will inevitably end. Her pain and rage were so visceral that you can't help but root for her regardless of her less-than-ideal choices.

It truly is a story about a young girl who was betrayed and so consumed with a vengeance that she couldn't fathom a life in which she didn't enact her revenge on her brother.

The critiques I have of this book is that sometimes the dialogue, especially when Sereia was reasserting her power to herself, was a bit clunky. The final confrontation between Sereia and Triton was a bit anticlimactic, I thought that it would hit much harder than it did.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kristi McManus, and CamCat books for the chance to review!
Profile Image for AuntieErrica (audiobooks=life).
170 reviews10 followers
May 25, 2024
Our Vengeful Souls is a fantastic origin story, which I didn’t realize going into. It’s engaging from the get-go. You’re thrown into a world under the sea where siblings compete for a crown, hoping to outshine one another in their father’s eyes. When the brother becomes overly jealous and worried he’s losing, he curses his sister and sends her on land.
The author's novel had me rooting for our FMC, waiting for her to avenge herself and claim the throne. What disappointed me, though, is that I didn’t care as much for the romance. I know this is a YA novel, but I couldn’t get behind the romantic interest and was unconcerned by his fate.
I did enjoy the narrator. She did a great job acting out all the characters' lines and pulling me into the story.

This would be an excellent book for younger YA and readers looking for clean but whirlwind mermaid book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association, and Kristi McManus, for the advance listener copy!
Profile Image for Noriboo.
692 reviews41 followers
June 4, 2024
This was really good!
I listened to the audiobook, and I liked the narration done by Suzanne Elise Freeman.

It didn't hit me that I was listening to a villain origin story until I was about a quarter into it. The storytelling is very compelling in the way that the author has taken elements from Greek mythology and the Andersen fairytale and created a whole new, original story.
Without spoiling too much, I can say that after hearing this, it is hard not to root for the villain. Sereia is an interesting character, and despite knowing where the story would most possibly end, I was still rooting for her happily ever after.
The ending left me feeling so incredibly sad for her, and I wished that she could've let the need for revenge go. While I wasn't too pleased with the way things ended, I do think that it was an exciting tale from beginning to end!

•••

I received an audiobook copy through Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.