Villains: Mother Knows Best, Book 5

In "Mother Knows Best," Serena Valentino explores the backstory of Mother Gothel, the villain from Disney's "Tangled." The novel delves into Mother Gothel's past, revealing her origins as a young woman named Gothel who possesses a powerful gift: the ability to control and manipulate plants.

As a child, Gothel discovers her abilities and becomes fascinated by the magical properties of certain plants. However, her curiosity leads her to make a dangerous deal with the mysterious woman known as Mother, who offers to teach her how to unlock her full potential in exchange for her obedience.

Under Mother's tutelage, Gothel learns to harness her powers and becomes increasingly obsessed with youth and beauty. When she discovers the existence of the magical flower that holds the secret to eternal youth, Gothel will stop at nothing to possess it for herself, even if it means betraying those she once cared about.

The novel also explores the relationship between Mother Gothel and Rapunzel, the princess with magical hair. As Gothel's obsession with youth grows, she kidnaps Rapunzel and raises her as her own daughter, imprisoning her in a tower to keep her powers hidden from the world.

As the story unfolds, readers gain insight into Mother Gothel's motivations and the events that led her to become the manipulative and narcissistic villain audiences know from "Tangled." Through a series of flashbacks and revelations, the novel explores themes of vanity, obsession, and the lengths people will go to in pursuit of their desires.