Details of the sea witch’s banishment have been exaggerated. The body count that preempted it was not. Once an illustrious princess, her hands and tentacles were stained with the blood of thousands. No one could comprehend how the hooks of madness dragged her down from her life of privilege. Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal was one of two children born to the great … King Poseidon. She and her brother, Triton, were groomed from birth to rule. Yet only one would ascend that coveted throne. While carefree Triton flits through his training with a cavalier demeanor and beguiling charm, Vanessa’s hunger for her father’s acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people. When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point. Only when the ink black waters from the ultimate betrayal rescind, will the truth be known of how the villainous sea witch rose with one name on her vengeful lips–Triton.
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We all know the story of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. I had preconceived notions about Vanessa going in. But as her story unfolded, I couldn’t help but trumpet her cause. In a way only Rourke can she weaves and turns the tide so that the villain is the one you find yourself championing behind. I will never look at The Little Mermaid the same way.
Rise of the Sea Witch opens with the absolute best prologue ever! It vividly played out in my mind like a Disney movie and you can’t help but read it in a sing song Ursula voice. Go ahead. Try it.
This novel is going to make Stacey Rourke a household name. If you thought she painted a ghastly story that leapt from the pages in the Legends Saga, wait to see her flowery prose paint a world under the sea in Rise of the Sea Witch.
Always the fan of Stacey Rourke’s work, Rise of the Sea Witch did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book (wish I could give it a 4.5 stars). I was even on the verge of absolutely loving it, but there was one thing that kept me from being swept away. In typical Stacey Rourke fashion, there’s lots of humor in this story, and while I enjoyed it, for some reason it kept the darkness of the story from totally encompassing me.
I love the imagination of this story. I love how Rourke can take a somewhat well-known fairytale character, or a very popular Disney character, and turn their story around to suit her and almost make them better. Many times people don’t think about giving villains an origin story, but where as villains are usually the most interesting characters, they can also have the most interesting origin stories. Rourke has definitely presented a story that makes you want to love and hate this villain in so many ways.
To say that this story is a sibling rivalry is an understatement. Vanessa wants it all and her brother doesn’t really want anything (he just expects favor). Of course, they are pit against each other to fight for the throne. This story, from beginning to end, is really kind of sad, which is why I felt like the humor sometimes took away from the tone. Vanessa’s whole life has been about trying to receive acceptance and or praise, but not necessarily in a prideful way. I don’t consider Vanessa to be vain; I just see her as expecting people to see her for what she is, a royal and valid candidate for the throne. There are so many elements to this character that you can’t just write her off as a villain. Vanessa is smart and she’s a fighter. But it doesn’t matter what she is; she’s never enough, even right down to the end.
This is one villain who couldn’t escape her future. It seems no matter what Vanessa did, she was going to end up the villain because someone was going to take advantage of her. And I feel like that’s what ultimately happened in this story. By the end of this story you could totally understand how she became so evil and why she wants to take revenge against Triton. And even though you can sympathize with this character and you feel her pain, when you think about what this character of the sea which becomes later on in the Disney fairy tales, she still pretty darn evil.
I think that’s a sign of a great story, when you can sympathize with a character, relate to where they’re coming from, and still accept the fact that they make bad choices or do bad things. In my mind, Stacey Rourke has done her part to pay homage to Hans Christian Andersen and Disney Film Studios while making a name for herself. This is a truly unique Rourkesque take on this character and I applaud her.
Highly recommended to fans of YA fantasy and fairytale retellings, and anyone who appreciates a good villain.
Rourke left me wanting more from the wonderful world building she created in Rise of the Sea Witch. I am eagerly counting down the days until Mirror Mirror comes out, the second book of the series.
I freaking cried at this book. Like. Sobbed. This is definitely rhe best retelling of Ursula’s story i’ve ever read, and i can’t recommend it highly enough. This book has ALL THE FEELS!
This was my first book by this author and I was hooked! A new, 1-click author for me!! I loved her take on the Little Mermaid! The story that this author brought to life was captivating and breath taking!
This is the fourth of Stacey Rourke’s novels I have read, after The Legends Saga and Adapted for Film, and I’m happy to say that Rise of the Sea Witch had everything I’ve come to love about Rourke’s writing. If you enjoy a healthy dose of sarcastic humor and amazing one liners bundled together with plenty of action, a bit of romance, and an origin story of a well-known villain then read this immediately. After viewing four different productions of The Little Mermaid stage musical in one year, I was beyond excited to read an explanation of why Ursula is the way she is, and this book did not disappoint.
WOW! I listened to the audio book version of this and just wow. I don’t listen to too many audio books because I just don’t have the time, hence why this took me almost a month to listen to. But goodness me, this one is totally worth it! The voices of the narrator is truly something magical. Now on to the story.
Stacey never disappoints, this story. When you love the villain you KNOW the author did something right. What a heart wrenching tale.
I really loved this story. Growing up and having watched many Disney movies, I always wondered why villains have so much hatred for those they want to hurt. Sometimes there are valid, but not excusable, reasons to why they are evil.
Here we have the backstory of Ursela, who is Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, daughter of Posiden, sister of Triton. The story starts with her as a young child who had just lost her mother. She is often ignored and her father gives all his attention to Triton and favors him to take over the throne, even though both have an equal chance to it.
As she gets older, we see just how sad and unfair her life is. All the dark dreams, the lack of love and support from her own father and the kingdom, all the negative judgments thrown her way gives us a girl who is emotionally and mentally abused but who also has a strong love for her kingdom and shows immense strength through it all. She works very hard to show that she deserves the throne as much as her brother, even though her hard work earns her no praise. No matter how hard she tries to prove herself and helps the kingdom, she is always viewed as the bad guy and is punished unfairly on many occasions.
Overtime, dark family secrets come out and in the end, the ultimate betrayal leads to what we know her as now, the Sea Witch.
I love how certain mentions from the movie are explained and connected to her story and I love her strength and sassiness. I wish the author did take a little more time to explain certain things near the ending and a certain merman but I was very happy with the overall story. In the end, I totally understand why Ursela became who she is and kind of wish now she succeeded in the Little Mermaid lol! Anyways, for those who love Ursela, the Little Mermaid, or anything mermaid and fantasy related, I recommend this book.
Great read!
Stacey Rourke is my favorite author and I was very excited to learn that she was writing a backstory to one of my favorite movies when I was a little girl. I never really was a fan of villains until recently, so I was very intrigued to learn the sea witch’s back story. Ursuals real name is Vanessa and can you believe that I actually fell in love with her because of this book.
Stacey writes in a way that captivates you and makes you feel what the character is going through.She paints a picture to make you feel like you are right there alongside the characters and seeing first hand what is happening, not that you’re just holding the book in you hand and reading. I know that I was crying when I was reading this, the raw emotions that it brings on. I was rooting for Vanessa the whole time, while everyone was against her. I feel that she was robbed of her happy ending. I can understand just how the Sea Witch came to be. You never know what you would do if you were put in this situation, but I feel like she has every right. I don’t want to give away too much of the story because I truly could not do it justice of how Stacey has written this.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Just read it I know that you will not be disappointed
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Wow! I am just blown away at how much this book took the “origin” of Ursela’s story to another level! After “turning” the last page, I was completely speechless… AND in awe at Stacey’s amazing writing that created this compelling and poignant story of a mermaid’s downward spiral into a life that condemned her to become the Sea Witch.
With Stacey’s vivid and descriptive writing of these characters and world building, I could visualize “everything” through Vanessa’s eyes. I was so overwhelmed with all the emotional turmoil that these characters experienced in between these pages. The book dripped with adventure, action, and drama that was so convincing that one would empathize and connect with these mermaids.
Told in Vanessa’s point of view, we get a first hand telling of her troubled upbringing, and, in the end, we endure Vanessa’s struggle for acceptance. I am in awe at how much I got so involved with this. I just couldn’t put down this book, except when I had to go to work. That darn job…Haha!!! The entire time reading, I kept visualizing how this story will tie in with The Little Mermaid story. Of course, I kept visualizing Disney’s Ursela. Hmmm… This would definitely be a great Disney movie!! Just like Maleficent which starred Angelina Jolie…Right!?! Just a thought…haha!
This was an undeniably clever and intriguing “origin” story of a classic villain that we have grown up to “love” and “despise” through the classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. Complete with striking and animated imagery, Stacey Rourke brought an intense and entertaining story of a villain with a difficult childhood. I definitely am looking forward to more into Ursela’s story…eventually, her timeline will cross with Ariel’s…lol!
This story was AMAZING. I am always drawn to Stacey Rourke’s work, she never disappoints and continues that trend with this tale. Such an awesome twist of the history of Triton and Ursula (before she was the sea witch). This adaptation fills in a LOT of blanks and explanations to the treasured movie, but also brings up a lot more. I cannot wait for the next book!!!! If you liked the little mermaid you HAVE to read this!!!!
Stacey Rourke has an unparalleled imagination and she uses it fully in Rise of the Sea Witch! A story so well told you will find yourself, “under the sea,” swimming along with the characters. A fabulous prequel for Ursula that could only come from the mind of Stacey Rourke. I can’t recommend this work highly enough. Grab your copy and dive in!!!
E-copy purchased from Amazon!