You know how most Disney movies end with the villain falling off a cliff or getting turned into a pile of ash? It's clean. It's final. But Serena Valentino basically looked at those endings and said, "Yeah, but why was she so mad in the first place?"
If you’ve ever found yourself sympathizing with the lady in the purple octopus dress more than the mermaid who gave up her voice for a guy she met three minutes ago, you're the target audience. The Serena Valentino villains series in order isn't just a list of books. It’s a massive, sprawling multiverse where the Evil Queen is best friends with Maleficent and a trio of creepy witches called the Odd Sisters are pulling every single string behind the scenes.
Honestly, if you read these out of order, you’re going to be so confused. Most people think they can just pick up the book about their favorite character—say, Cruella or Hades—and dive in. You can, but you’ll miss the entire overarching plot involving Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha (the aforementioned Odd Sisters). Trust me, the lore gets deep.
The Definitive Serena Valentino Villains Series in Order
The series kicked off back in 2009. Since then, it has exploded into a 12-book (and counting) saga. Here is the chronological release order, which is also the way you absolutely must read them if you want the "Odd Sisters" subplot to make any sense at all.
1. Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen (2009)
This is where it all starts. We see the Wicked Queen before she was "Wicked." She was actually a pretty decent person who loved her husband and Snow White. Then a magic mirror and some trauma happened. Classic.
2. The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty’s Prince (2014)
This one focuses on the Prince from Beauty and the Beast. It’s a bit of a departure because he's not a "villain" in the traditional sense, but Valentino explores his arrogance and the curse in a way that feels much grittier than the cartoon.
3. Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch (2016)
Ursula’s turn. We get the backstory on her relationship with King Triton. If you thought they were just enemies, think again. There’s a lot of family drama here.
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4. Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy (2017)
Maleficent. This is a heavy one. It deals with her childhood and her "friendship" with the Odd Sisters. This is where the series starts to feel like one big connected story rather than just individual character studies.
5. Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch (2018)
Mother Gothel from Tangled. This book goes back centuries. It’s arguably one of the darkest entries in the series because Gothel is just... a lot.
6. The Odd Sisters: A Tale of the Three Witches (2019)
This is the "Avengers" moment of the series. It’s not about a Disney villain; it’s about the original characters Valentino created. It ties up the first five books and explains who these witches are and why they keep ruining everyone's lives.
7. Evil Thing: A Tale of that Deuced Girl (2020)
Cruella de Vil. Unlike the others, this isn't magical. It’s a "memoir" written by Cruella herself. It’s surprisingly emotional, focusing on her posh upbringing and her descent into fur-obsessed madness.
8. Cold Hearted: A Tale of the Wicked Stepmother (2021)
Lady Tremaine from Cinderella. This book tries to explain how she became so bitter. Hint: It usually involves a dead husband and a lot of social pressure.
9. Never Never: A Tale of the Sashash (2022)
Captain Hook. We get the Neverland lore, the Peter Pan rivalry, and more Odd Sisters meddling.
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10. Fire and Fate: A Tale of the Lord of the Dead (2023)
Hades. This one is fun because it’s Hades, but it’s also tragic. It explores his time in the Underworld and his deal with the three witches.
11. Kill the Beast (2024)
A return to the Beauty and the Beast world, but from a different perspective. It’s a bit of a "revisit" that adds more layers to the Beast’s transformation and the magic surrounding the castle.
12. Heartbroken (Scheduled for July 2025)
The newest entry focuses on the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. It promises to dive into the "wonder and horrors" of Wonderland and why she’s constantly screaming for people's heads.
Why the "Odd Sisters" Change Everything
Most people searching for the serena valentino villains series in order just want to see the Disney characters. But here’s the thing: Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha are the heart of this series.
They are triplets. They are strange. They talk in unison. And they are basically the reason every Disney villain fails. Valentino used these characters to link the Disney universes together. In her world, the Evil Queen, Maleficent, and Ursula all know each other because of these sisters.
If you skip The Odd Sisters (Book 6), the rest of the series will feel like it’s missing a limb. It’s the "bridge" book. It explains the sisters' daughter, Circe, who is a much kinder witch and often tries to clean up her mothers' messes. The dynamic between the wicked mothers and the "good" daughter is what makes these books more than just simple retellings.
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Is the series finished?
Not even close. While Book 6 felt like an ending for the first arc, the series has continued with "stand-alone" stories that still reference the larger world. With Heartbroken coming out in 2025 and rumors of at least three more books after that, Valentino seems to be building a permanent library of Disney darkness.
Reading Tips for New Fans
Don't just rush through. These books are short—usually around 200 to 300 pages—but they are dense with references.
- Watch the movies first. I know that sounds obvious, but Valentino assumes you know the Disney "canon" endings. She writes around the movies, filling in the gaps.
- Look at the covers. The art is iconic. Usually, the dust jacket shows the "human" face, and the actual book cover underneath shows the "villain" or a decayed version. It’s a cool touch.
- Expect a different tone. These aren't for little kids. They aren't "horror" exactly, but they deal with depression, obsession, and some pretty grim psychological stuff.
What to Read After You Finish the Series
Once you’ve conquered the serena valentino villains series in order, you might feel a void. Disney has a few other "dark" lines, but they aren't the same.
The Twisted Tales series (by authors like Liz Braswell and Jen Calonita) is the most common recommendation. However, those are "What If" stories (e.g., What if Sleeping Beauty never woke up?). They don't have the same interconnected continuity that Valentino’s books do.
If you want more Valentino, she has a graphic novel series called GloomCookie and a series called Nightmares & Fairy Tales. They have that same gothic, spindly-fingered energy.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
- Start with Fairest of All. Even if you aren't a huge Snow White fan, it sets the rules for the magic system.
- If you're a collector, look for the box sets. They often group the first three or first seven books, which is way cheaper than buying them individually.
- Keep an eye out for the Villain Tales graphic novels if you prefer more art with your angst.
The real joy of this series is seeing the "villain" as a person who was once whole and watching the exact moment they broke. It makes the movies way more interesting to rewatch.