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Maleficent: The Dark Fairy's Story by Serena Valentino
Get ready to dive into the twisted world of Maleficent, the Disney villain who's been shrouded in mystery. Serena Valentino's gripping tale will flip everything you thought you knew about the dark fairy on its head, making you question her motives and actions.
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A Disney Villain's Tale Falls Flat - Perfect for a Cup of Tea, But No Thrilling Twists
summarizeEditor's Summary
I've had this Disney villain's tale sitting on my shelf for ages, and to be honest, it's been collecting dust. I picked it up at a local kiosk for a steal, and the cover's really what caught my eye - it's made of high-quality, glossy material, and I love the simple design on a black background with large, bold features of the main characters. The back cover blurb promised a nuanced take on Maleficent's motivations, but what I got was a story that starts with Ursula's funeral. It's clear that the author, Serena Valenti, has a habit of copying and pasting text from one book to another, repeating what's already been read. Annoyingly, this book's got some pretty flat characters and a weird logic that doesn't quite add up. Still, it's a quick read, and the writing's not bad, so if you're looking for something to while away a cup of tea, this might be worth a shot. I was expecting a lot more depth and complexity, but unfortunately, this book falls flat. The author's got some interesting ideas, but they're not always executed well, and the lack of nuance is really disappointing. Overall, it's a decent choice if you're looking for a light, easy read, but if you're expecting something with more substance, you might want to look elsewhere.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
Hikaye4/10
Gelişim6/10
KitapKapağı9/10
I stumbled upon this book at a local kiosk for a steal at 200 rubles, and I've had it sitting on my shelf for a pretty long time. To be honest, I was just curious about the Disney villain series. The cover really stands out - it's made of high-quality, glossy material, and I love the simple design on a black background with large, bold features of the main characters on both the front and back.
The back cover blurb suggests that Maleficent's motivations are more complex than just revenge, and that there's something deeper and more nuanced coming from her heart.
So, the story of the Great Dark Witch Maleficent begins with... Ursula's funeral.
The witches gathered to pay their respects to the sea witch at the foot of the Lighthouse of the Gods, shining brightly in the sunlight.
It's clear that Serena Valenti has a habit of copying and pasting text from one book to another, repeating what's already been read. And while other books in this 'prequel' series might have a few decent chapters, the main story of Maleficent's true feelings, as told by her (and sometimes the Nanny) starts on page 178, in a chapter called 'The Dark Fairy's Birthday'. I mean, the actual development of Maleficent as a witch, her 16th birthday. Of course, we get a brief glimpse of her childhood, 'bullying' and all that. She was born an outcast, and the idea of being unable to change her fate is a running theme throughout the book, something the Fairy Godmother and the Nanny already knew.
Aurora never talked to her aunts about this, but she knew magic was always nearby. And for some reason, it never scared her. She even knew how to sense the presence of magic in other kingdoms, even the most distant ones.
Maleficent's backstory is pretty wild. Apparently, she was found in a hollow tree in the land of the Elves and Fairies by a nanny named Nanny. A bunch of crows were sitting around her, and they basically took on a parental role for the time being. That's when I started to wonder, was Maleficent abandoned because people were scared of her, or were the fairies just not that nice to begin with? The whole 'who's the villain' thing is still up for debate.
There was just something about her that seemed dark and ominous, and that's why the fairies thought she couldn't be one of them. At least, that's what they told themselves as they discussed it late at night. Maybe they were right to leave her in the tree, but it's hard to say for sure.
Nanny was the only one who tried to see the good in Maleficent, even when everyone else thought she was a lost cause. It took her four whole years to realize that Maleficent had some good in her, and even more importantly, magical abilities.
The rest of the book is pretty typical teenage stuff - bullying, anger issues, and the whole 'finding yourself as a Dark Fairy' thing. It's an emotional ride, but I wish the author had gone into more detail about Maleficent's life. I mean, what was it like to be a kid with a bunch of crows as your surrogate family? How did she learn magic, and what was it like to be in a dragon's skin? That's the kind of stuff I wanted to know more about.
As for the ethics of the story, there are some positive takeaways. I mean, who's to say that the wings of the fairies are inherently bad? It all depends on your perspective. The author also touches on the idea that people can change and grow as they mature. Take the three good fairies who take care of Aurora, for example. They weren't always so nice when they were younger, but they eventually learned from their mistakes and turned out okay.
I've got to give Maleficent some credit - she's a total rebel, going against the system in every way, but the question is, who's to blame? Is it her, the Nanny, the Fairy Godmother, or the people around her? Maybe it's all a bit of everything. Or maybe it's just fate.
I'm so ready to kill Philip just for the principle of it, so we don't have to relive the same old story about the young prince kissing some sleeping girl, and then she feels obligated to marry him out of gratitude.
As for the other characters, they all felt pretty one-dimensional - the Fairies, the Nanny, the Godmother. The latter two were especially disappointing with their actions and logic.
Maleficent, on the other hand, seems almost blameless, but she's still caused a lot of harm and deserves to be taken down. That's according to King Oberon, who's also in this book and has his own part of the story. All in all, the book is 350 pages long, and Maleficent gets a maximum of 100-150 pages.
On the plus side, the writing style is easy to follow, and the book is quick to read - it took me two days to finish, reading it in bits and pieces. On the minus side, the dialogue is dull, the characters are shallow, and there's not much interesting information about the main character. I wouldn't recommend reading this book - it's better to rewatch the movie with Angelina Jolie instead.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is this book a good choice for fans of the Disney villains?
While the book's got some interesting ideas, the characters are pretty flat and lack depth. If you're a fan of the Disney villains, you might enjoy the nostalgic charm, but don't expect anything too complex or nuanced.
Is the book well-researched?
Unfortunately, no. The author's got a habit of copying and pasting text from other books, and it shows in the lack of nuance and depth.
Is the book a quick read?
Yes, it's a pretty quick read. The writing's not bad, and it's easy to get through.
Is the book worth reading?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for a light, easy read, this might be worth a shot. But if you're looking for something with more depth or complexity, you might want to look elsewhere.
Is the author a good writer?
The writing's not bad, but it's not particularly memorable either. The author's got some interesting ideas, but they're not always executed well.
Is the book a good choice for a cup of tea?
Yes, it's a good choice if you're looking for something to while away a cup of tea. It's a quick read, and the writing's not bad.
Is the book well-designed?
Yes, the cover's really eye-catching, and the glossy material feels premium.
Is the book a good choice for fans of fantasy?
While the book's got some interesting ideas, the characters are pretty flat and lack depth. If you're a fan of fantasy, you might want to look elsewhere for something with more complexity and nuance.
Can I return the book if I don't like it?
Yes, you can return the book if you don't like it. However, please check the return policy of the store where you purchased it.
check_circlePros
- •The cover's really eye-catching, and the glossy material feels premium.
- •The writing's not bad, and it's a quick read.
- •The author's got some interesting ideas, even if they're not always executed well.
- •The book's got a certain nostalgic charm to it, which might appeal to fans of the Disney villains.
- •It's a good choice if you're looking for a light, easy read.
- •The author's clearly a fan of the Disney villains, and it shows in the attention to detail.
- •The book's well-designed, with a simple and effective layout.
- •The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow.
cancelCons
- •The characters are pretty flat and lack depth.
- •The logic's a bit weird, and it doesn't always add up.
- •The story's predictable, and there aren't any real surprises.
- •The author's got a habit of copying and pasting text from other books.
- •The book's not well-researched, and it shows in the lack of nuance.
- •The writing's not bad, but it's not particularly memorable either.
- •The book's too short, and it feels like it's missing some key plot points.
- •The author's portrayal of the Disney villains is a bit one-dimensional.
