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Poor Unfortunate Soul

A Tale of the Sea Witch

Part of Villains

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This haunting novel reveals the dark ambition of one of Disney’s most cunning villains: Ursula, the sea witch.

Hate. Her magic was infused with it. And in that hate was a deep, penetrating sorrow…

The tale of the sea king's daughter Ariel is a beloved one of losing―and then finding―one's own voice.

The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mergirl wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of Ariel's nemesis, Ursula, the sea witch? What led to her becoming so twisted, scorned, and filled with hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account of what might have shaped the sea witch into a detestable and poor unfortunate soul.
Serena Valentino has been weaving tales that combine mythos and guile for the past decade. She has earned critical acclaim in both the comic and horror domains, where shies known for her unique style of storytelling, bringing her readers into exquisitely frightening worlds filled with terror, beauty, and extraordinary protagonists. The books in her New York Times bestselling Villains series are best enjoyed when read in the following order: Fairest of All, The Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul, Mistress of All Evil, Mother Knows Best, The Odd Sisters, Evil Thing, Cold Hearted, Never Never, Fire and Fate, Kill the Beast, and Heartbroken. She is also the author of Evil Thing: A Villains Graphic Novel, Fairest of All: A Villains Graphic Novel, and the stand-alone novel Raising the Horseman. View titles by Serena Valentino

About

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • This haunting novel reveals the dark ambition of one of Disney’s most cunning villains: Ursula, the sea witch.

Hate. Her magic was infused with it. And in that hate was a deep, penetrating sorrow…

The tale of the sea king's daughter Ariel is a beloved one of losing―and then finding―one's own voice.

The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the mergirl wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails, and Ariel emerges proud and unchanged.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of Ariel's nemesis, Ursula, the sea witch? What led to her becoming so twisted, scorned, and filled with hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account of what might have shaped the sea witch into a detestable and poor unfortunate soul.

Author

Serena Valentino has been weaving tales that combine mythos and guile for the past decade. She has earned critical acclaim in both the comic and horror domains, where shies known for her unique style of storytelling, bringing her readers into exquisitely frightening worlds filled with terror, beauty, and extraordinary protagonists. The books in her New York Times bestselling Villains series are best enjoyed when read in the following order: Fairest of All, The Beast Within, Poor Unfortunate Soul, Mistress of All Evil, Mother Knows Best, The Odd Sisters, Evil Thing, Cold Hearted, Never Never, Fire and Fate, Kill the Beast, and Heartbroken. She is also the author of Evil Thing: A Villains Graphic Novel, Fairest of All: A Villains Graphic Novel, and the stand-alone novel Raising the Horseman. View titles by Serena Valentino

Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Each May, we honor the stories, histories, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a selection of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators to share with your students this month and throughout the year. Find our full collection of titles for Higher Education here.

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