Rise of the Sea Witch

Unfortunate Soul Chronicles, Volume 1

By: Stacey Rourke

Narrated by: Tiffany Marz

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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 to 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.

©2017 Stacey Rourke (P)2018 Stacey Rourke

If you ever wondered...

I really liked this deeper look into a classic character.

Vanessa got the raw end of the deal her whole life...always living in her younger brother's shadow, never good enough no matter how she tried.

She's different, she's powerful, and the past is full of secrets she never guessed at.

Dark and a bit heartbreaking. Really puts a different spin on things and makes so much sense.

The narrator took a bit of getting used to but, I think she did a really good job bringing the story to life and, I enjoyed the sound effects!

Rise of the Sea Witch

Princess Vanessa struggled all her life to get her father Poseidon's approval and to show she was worthy enough to become Queen of Atlantica. Everything she ever did was for the kingdom or her family, but somehow it never went right. This book has me mad at everyone against Vanessa and rooting for her. In the end Vanessa didn't prevail. Instead we ended up with the birth of a sea witch named Ursela. Awesome story. I loved this view on how Ursela came about.

I give it a 4.5. Five for the story and four for the reading. For the most part I enjoyed the narration, but there was a couple of times where I had a harder time understanding it when there were several voices or echoing voices at once. Only happened a couple of times. I definitely recommend this story!

AMAZING Audio Book

The author nailed it when she chose this talented narrator for Rise Of The Sea Witch. The various voices and sound effects she did created such an amazing experience while listening. I cannot tell you how many times I just sat in my car in the driveway because I was not ready to stop listening. The story is truly intense and the narrator only adds to the storyline. The characters were all brought to life from Flotsom and Jetsom to Starling. I loved this audio book and I hope she gets the same narrator to read Entombed In Glass!! This is a MUST listen even if you have already read. It truly brings the story alive in a whole new way

Amazing!

The storytelling was my favorite part of this book. The narrator did a fantastic job.
I originally downloaded this book to listen to at work but it pulled me in to well I had to listen elsewhere. Most books I don’t re-read, but the preference was done well and the story itself wasn’t bad either.
If you wish to know Ursula’s side of the story, then it is a must read/listen. Villains are not born bad!

WOW! Gripping and Heartwrenching!

Ursula was not always a villain. Rourke has written the perfect backstory for this infamous Disney villain. This story was gripping and hard to put down! The narration was wonderful and I loved the sound effects. Some of the sound effects were hard to hear so I had to go back and re-listen to them but they made the performance that much more exciting. If you like fairytale's and you're looking for something fun to listen to this is it! Don't walk, run!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

good read. buy the book

My biggest struggle with this was the narrator's sing -songy voice. It went up and down way too much for me to enjoy it at most points. I liked the story overall, some parts were cheesy.

Surprisingly Good!

If you have watched the movie “The Little Mermaid,” then this is a must read! The story of a villain could not tug onto your heart the way that this story pulls you in. Enticing you with mystery and realism of betrayal and love. Now there has be a part two because there are so many questions unanswered… but this is a must read!

Why haven't you listened to this yet??

One of the best stories based on such a classic sea witch. Tiffany Marz does it again with an extraordinary narration that left me breathless. I wanted more once we were finished listening to it. Huge kuddos to Stacey Rourke for keeping me entertained with her writing. Loved every single second of it!

Story okay but narration annoying

It's an okay story but I found it difficult to listen because it's all in that rich-girl-catty effect which doesn't do anything for feeling connected to the character Vanessa.

Fantastic narration and sound effects.

The Story
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.

The Narration
I was blown away by Tiffany Marz's performance. I say performance because she didn't simply read the story and add creative accents. Marz made this an Oscar-worthy performance! She brought the entire cast and story to life and enhanced it with her beautiful narration and sound effects. Bravo Tiffany Marz.