Evil Thing

Trigger warnings: death of a parent, death of a spouse

Cruella De Vil's past is much different from what you'd imagine.

Cruella’s tale is a sad story; as a child she is raised by servants and is constantly striving for her mother’s love. Because the book is written in the first person, it reads like a diary or oral history of Cruella's life.

Why Cruella became obsessed with Dalmatians and fur coats is explained through her relationship (or lack thereof) with her cold and unloving mother. Her mother’s gifts of fur coats make the young Cruella believe that money buys love.

Cruella is driven mad by her grief and loneliness in the end because she has ostracized the few people who really cared about her. Her friend Anita is removed from her life because Cruella's mother doesn't approve of her. Her puppy Perdita (yes, that Perdita), a final gift from her deceased father, is given to Anita when Cruella's mother disapproves of animals.

While the other books in the series may need to be read in order, this novel is a standalone that can be read without knowledge of the rest of the series. Fans of the Disney movie Cruella will have a much different story here, which may disappoint some readers.

Susanne Blakeslee is the perfect narrator for this book. She captures Cruella's drama and preoccupation with fashion and wealth.

Recommended for Disney fans and readers who like stories from the villain's perspective.

Serena Valentino is the author of both comic books and novels. She lives in New Orleans.

Series: Villains, #7

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Narrator: Susanne Blakeslee

Running Time: 7 hours, 25 minutes

Length: 352 pages

Release Date: July 7, 2020 (print); October 26, 2021 (audio)

I received an electronic audio recording of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.