Mother Knows Best

The Villains Series, Book 5

By: Serena Valentino

Narrated by: Lucy Rayner

The tale of the legendary golden flower is widely known. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the flower is coveted by an old witch to keep herself young and beautiful. And always the flower is used to save a dying queen, who then gives birth to a princess with magical hair. Not willing to lose the flower, the old witch steals the princess and locks her away in a high tower, raising her as her own. But the princess always finds out who she truly is and manages to defeat the old witch.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of the old witch, Mother Gothel? Where does she come from? And how does she come across the magical golden flower? Here is one account that recounts a version of the story that has remained untold for centuries...until now. It is a tale of mothers and daughters, of youth and dark magic. It is a tale of the old witch.

©2018 Disney Press (P)2018 Disney

Great background story

Not my fav Disney story in general but this gave me a better appreciation for the original.

Twisted Truths: Mother Gothel’s Dark Tale Unveiled

I am absolutely enchanted by Serena Valentino's Villains series and the captivating Odd Sisters. These misfit witches have become some of my all-time favorite characters, brimming with humor, chaos, and unmatched charm. Their stories are nothing short of a masterclass in imagination and storytelling, and I cannot express how much joy and inspiration they’ve brought me.

The Odd Sisters evoke the same timeless magic I’ve always cherished in iconic trios like the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. Their delightful insanity, razor-sharp wit, and deeply layered personalities are a testament to Valentino's genius. Each book in this series is like a beautifully crafted spell, weaving together the threads of classic fairytales with a touch of dark mischief. The seamless connections between these stories leave me in awe—it's a literary standing ovation, truly!

I don’t want these tales to end. I long for more adventures with the Odd Sisters and their wonderfully meddlesome ways. The idea of them having their own corner of a Disney park or starring in their own movie gives me chills in the best way. Imagine a land of the dead brought to life at a Disney park—pure brilliance!

Thank you, Serena Valentino, for this extraordinary gift. Your attention to detail, creativity, and passion shine through every page, and I’ll be singing the praises of these books to anyone and everyone. They deserve all the love and recognition. I truly hope this isn’t the end for the Odd Sisters, because I’d happily follow them into whatever chaos they conjure next!

The BEST of the series

The story was so detailed and entertaining. The performance was magnificent. Some villains are born, some are made by good intentions with horrible actions. FABULOUS read!!

amazing

loved this story! the author does an amazing job!! Can't wait to listen to the next one in the series!

Great listen

Wonderful all the way around ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m excited to add the book to my collection! Hands down

Mother Gothel explained so well

Love how it gives you the story of where she goes when she’s not with Rapunzel and why she wants the flower so much!

Shocking

This makes a lot of sense now so far this is my favorite . The detail was perfect

Good but not great

This one was good but not as good as the other ones have been.

wow not at all what I expected

love how each books adds more to the story! it's one long narrative that I can't get enough of and each book adds more more details and connections between characters! can't wait to read the next one!

The intrigue!!

I just need to know more. Everything is getting so suspenseful and exciting! The narrator is perfect as always and seeing the reason everything happened is so creative