Book Review - Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch (Villains #5) by Serena Valentino

The tale of the legendary golden flower is widely known. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But always the flower is coveted by an old witch to keep herself young and beautiful. And always the flower is used to save a dying queen, who then gives birth to a princess with magical hair. Not willing to lose the flower, the old witch steals the princess and locks her away in a high tower, raising her as her own. But the princess always finds out who she truly is and manages to defeat the old witch. And yet this is only half the story. So what of the old witch, Mother Gothel? Where does she come from? And how does she come across the magical golden flower? Here is one account that recounts a version of the story that has remained untold for centuries . . . until now. It is a tale of mothers and daughters, of youth and dark magic. It is a tale of the old witch.

Rapunzel is my favorite Disney Princess and I was so excited to read this book. It is the first in this series I read and I have to suggest to other readers, while it is a standalone story, it does link with the other books so I think if they were read in order it would be more beneficial. I also think since I adore Tangled that there are a few minor things that bothered me more than they should. I guess we could call them continuity errors that don't match between the book and the movie. I was also a bit annoyed at how much the Odd Sisters took over the story. I was here for Mother Gothel. Overall it was a dark and spooky book, maybe too spooky for middle grade, I'm not sure. I give it 2.5 stars.

Thank you Scholastic Australia for this copy in return for my honest and independent review.