Evil Thing
Serena Valentino
Amazon Summary:
From her lonely childhood, to her iconic fashion choices, to that fateful car crash (you know the one), Cruella tells all in this marvelous memoir of a woman doomed. Even the cruelest villains have best friends, true loves, and daring dreams. Now it's Cruella’s turn to share hers.
This latest novel by the author of the wildly popular and darkly fascinating Villains series brings readers a tale told by the Evil Thing herself―a tale of the complicated bonds of female friendship, of mothers and daughters, and of burning, destructive desire.
My review:
10/10
I recently fell in love with Cruella as a character in the Disney universe. And I am always looking for a good Disney book, so I finally got to Evil Thing. I think this was the best book in the series for many reasons.
Firstly the perspective was different. In other Villains books by Serena Valentino, they all are from third person POV. But this one was in the first person. Also the author got Cruella's voice right on the nose. Cruella is known as being cruelly funny, and Serena Valentino captured that perfectly.
Secondly I liked this book because it is the only standalone novel in the whole 9 book series. All the other books connect to one another, being in the same kingdom and all, but Evil Thing is it's own right. Tey mention the whole series, but to Cruella it is just a fairytale, from a book.
Thirdly, who doesn't love a good backstory? Cruella 2021 was fantastic. And this was different than the movie storyline. This went back further, to when cruella was a wee child.
Lastly the story. We was a society have always known Cruella De Vil as a greedy woman, who just wanted to make money. But this version of Cruella is all about how she is trying to make her mother proud, even though the mom is never home. Even as an adult, the mother is only out for money. She has this perception that her mother loves her, but in reality, she only wanted what Cruella's father left to her, Cruella, in the will. All she wants is to be validated by her mother. In a way it is kind of a tragic story. Loosing people you love, the one person who is still family by blood is never around, having no one to talk too? I feel like I understand her now, more than I ever had.
OVERALL:
If you are a fan of Cruella, or have never read a Villains tale, this is the perfect book for you. It is a standalone and truly a fun read.