Poor unfortunate soul: a tale of the sea witch. Serena Valentino. 2018.

The tale of the sea king’s daughter Ariel is a beloved one of losing - and then finding - one’s own voice. The story has been told many times and in many ways. But the mergirl always wants more than her world can offer, and her father demands that she live within the confines of his domain. Her rebelliousness costs the little mermaid her voice and nearly her soul. But the power of good prevails and Ariel emerges proud and changed.

And yet this is only half the story. So what of Ariel’s nemesis, Ursula the sea witch? What led to her becoming so twisted, scorned and filled with hatred? Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account of what might have shaped the sea witch into a detestable and poor unfortunate soul.