I don’t read middle grade often, but Maleficent written by Holly Black was not something I was going to pass up.

I loved getting POVs from everyone. Of course I expected to be in Aurora’s head, so seeing things from Maleficent’s view was fantastic. There were also mini chapters from a few other people and I like how it rounded things out.

Plot wise it was good. Things moved quickly as there are a few plot threads and several moving pieces. It was a bit more detailed and layered than I was expecting and I really enjoyed how everything played out. Even with knowing how Sleeping Beauty ends, I was wondering if there would be a different outcome.

Overall, it was a quick read with a satisfying ending and this books just helps solidify my decision to read any faerie book that Holly writes.

**Huge thanks to Disney Press for providing the arc free of charge**

Heart of the Moors is told mostly through Aurora and Maleficent’s point-of-view. If you’ve seen the movie, you may be familiar with the back story that is being used for this one. I picked this book up mostly because it was written by Holly Black, and I have been obsessed with her writing since Tithe.
This story was fast-paced and kept me interested, but it was definitely a middle grade read. I am not the target for this book, though I feel that middle grade readers will appreciate it. It’s a cute quick read that’s not overly complicated. I was slightly disappointed, though, with how Holly didn’t get too much into Maleficent and her character. Overall an okay read for me. Definitely not a favorite of Holly’s. It was missing something.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well that summary certainly doesn’t tell you much does it? But I bet many of you will be wanting to read this just because it is Holly Black. I know that is why I picked this one up, even though I have never seen the movie that it is based on. (I thought I had, but it turns out nope.) I did like this story, but I think it would have been better if I had seen the movie. I might have understood the characters a bit better and perhaps the plot would have been smoother for me.

The story is mostly told through Aurora and Maleficent’s point of view, although there are others telling parts here and there. I really liked Aurora, she is sweet and kind and really wants to do right by her kingdom, but she is a bit over her head. But I give her credit that when an issue comes up she wants to know all sides of the story. She is caught though between her two worlds which makes things that much harder for her.

Maleficent was an interesting character. She wasn’t super evil, but she wasn’t quite on the good side either. She wants Aurora to succeed and to unite the kingdoms, for the most part, but I also think she doesn’t want her to succeed. She does some evil stuff, but when asked will undo what she can. I loved the fact that she kept changing people who got in her way or annoyed her into animals. Wouldn’t that be a nice trick to have.

Prince Phillip was okay, but I wasn’t sure he was right for Aurora. Although he does prove himself in the end. Maybe his character was more developed in the movie, but he was just sort of there in this book. He was a good friend to Aurora though, so he got points for that. The romance was a bit lukewarm but this is for middle grades, so I guess that is okay.

There were some characters who ended up more evil than Maleficent, but I don’t want to spoil anything by saying who, although they are pretty easy to guess. One I wasn’t so sure about till the end though. The plot moves quickly and was entertaining. But again many things that happened in the movie were mentioned and seemed somewhat important to this plot, so it was hard to understand parts. But it is still a good story and of course well told.

Fans of the Maleficent movie will probably adore this book and fall in love with it. It has certainly made me more interested in seeing the movie. It can be read by those of us who haven’t seen it, but are Holly Black fans, but you might feel like something is missing like I did.

Heart of the Moors hits the ground running from the very first page. Aurora has just returned to her kingdom of Perceforest after awakening from her curse and being named Queen of both Perceforest and the Moors. So while her Godmother, Maleficent, is protector of the Moors Aurora is officially the Queen. Prince Phillip of the kingdom of Ulstead is also among the cast of characters. While his kiss may not have been what awoken her from her cursed sleep, she sees him as one of her best friends and confidants. With the mess that both her father and Maleficent created behind them, Aurora wishes to unite both her kingdoms and bring peace to her peoples. While a challenge in and of itself there are other forces at work, ones who wish to keep the fae and humans from uniting. It's the typical Disney story of love, romance and deception all crafted with Holly Black's typically beautiful and melodic writing. Black knows her fae folklore and it was interesting seeing that focus on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale.

I hadn't really looked into the background of this book before picking it up, so it wasn't until I was 20%-30% in that I decided to do some research. It starts off fast and I felt like I was reading the second book in a series versus a standalone. I was missing information and while it wasn't getting in the way of my enjoyment of the book, it was a tad hard to push on while hoping things would be better explained later. Heart of the Moors, from what I understand, is meant to be a bridge between the 2004 Maleficent movie and the new 2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil movie. So all this information I was missing I found by rewatching the first movie. Not a big deal but I do wish that had been stated in the synopsis maybe or even just restated in the novel. This didn't affect how much I loved the book though and I ended up finishing it in one sitting.

In the original Sleeping Beauty we never really get to know Aurora on a personal level. I also never really considered what happened after she woke up. Aurora was a kind person with a big heart, but she was also strong and smart. Being Queen of two kingdoms where the peoples of each fear or even hate each other is hard. Attempting to unite them together is hard work and not something easily accomplished overnight. It was interesting to see her approaches to making this happen. Toss in little to no sleep because she's terrified of not being able to wake up and a hot prince who she might kind of like/love but didn't break the curse with true love's kiss and Aurora has a lot on her plate. She's also still trying to figure out who to trust at court and how to trust in love after love got her into the curse situation in the first place. She never falters though and she stays true to herself and loyal to both the fae and the people of Perceforest.

While we get to learn more about Aurora, the multiple POV allows us to also explore a different side of Maleficent. Her love for her goddaughter is obvious, if not a tad misguided at times. We get to see her try to be the person Aurora thinks her to be though and not the evil witch King Stefan made her out to be. Her main priority now is Aurora and her safety. While a main character I felt like she took a backseat to the other events happening in the book. Always there but more of an unseen force than a main spectacle. I really enjoyed her moments with Prince Phillip though. She questions his motives and the validity of his feelings for Aurora like any real mother figure would do. It was a bit funny seeing her step into that role but very fitting.

Prince Phillip kept me guessing until the very end. We also get chapters from his POV and thank goodness because the opening of the story had me confused as heck. His kiss didn't break the curse and then Aurora is describing him as a friend. Just no. That was not the story I signed up for and I needed love now. But then, just like Phillip and Aurora, I started thinking about how in real life you really don't "love" someone after just meeting them one. This was a more realistic take on true love versus the Disney fairytales we've all grown up with. We, like Aurora, get to know him as a person and not just as the prince that valiantly tried to save her. He seemed like a genuinely good guy, but then Aurora's advisor drops that the Prince might just be after the kingdom and is using Aurora. I doubted Phillips' motives the whole time. Even while liking him I still considered the possibility of betrayal. We also have Maleficent questioning his motives as well which added to the growing doubt. Will he be another King Stefan and betray Aurora as Stefan did Maleficent? Or is he really only there because of his love for Aurora?

Minus the missing details at the beginning I really loved this book. Black did a magnificent job of bringing her fae knowledge and background into this classic tale and really fleshed out these characters we grew up both loving and hating. My favorite part was probably the riddles scattered throughout the story. It was a sweet way of connecting not only Aurora and Phillip, but bringing in that classic fae mischief. Disney fan or not this is a must read and is perfect for people of all ages to pick up. A well written twist on a classic story.

This was a great extension of the Maleficent story. You can really sense Holly Black's fairy style throughout the book while still feeling distinctly Sleeping Beauty-ish. Her writing style blended nicely with the concept of the 2014 movie, but instead of focusing on Maleficent, it focuses more on Aurora. It was a great way to raise excitement for the upcoming film.

What happens after after the fairytale princess vanquishes evil and gains not one, but two kingdoms? It’s not all wine and roses, friends (disclaimer: there are plenty of roses...very intimidating roses). On the surface, this is the continuation of the story of Aurora as she learns to navigate the politics of court and discovers what true love really is. Aurora is sweet and innocent, but it turns out that she has brains to back up her beauty. As Aurora tries to find a balance between human and faerie courts, Maleficent, like any good parent, struggles with her need to interfere in her young goddaughter’s affairs. The love and trust between these two characters is a beautiful thing.
Takeaways:
1. Good > evil.
2. Love conquers all.
3. Holly Black is a ROCK STAR!

What happens when you take an iconic Disney villain (in this case, Maleficent) and put her in the hands of Holly Black, doyenne of YA fantasy? A delightful tween story that humanizes the villain and puts a new spin on the world of Sleeping Beauty.

In this telling, Princess (now Queen) Aurora grew up in the Moors, raised by her godmother Maleficent and three pixie aunts. She has inherited her father’s throne upon his death, and court life is completely alien to her. To make matters more challenging, Maleficent has crowned her queen of both the fae-controlled Moors and the human country of Perceforest, and mistrust between her fairy and human subjects runs deep.

In a nod to the “sleeping” part of the fairytale, young Queen Aurora now has trouble sleeping, fearing that she’s going to be unconscious for a hundred years. Managing the two kingdoms is a challenging job. The fairies and their mischief prove hard to keep in check. And on the human side, royal advisor Lord Ortolan wants to control Aurora and make all her decisions for her, while the duplicitous Count Alain seeks her hand in marriage for his own ends. Neither human is a friend to the fairies — particularly Maleficent, whom they fear and suspect.

Luckily, Aurora has a loyal confidante: Prince Phillip, from the neighboring kingdom of Ulstead. When Prince Phillip decides to declare his love for her, Maleficent threatens him, but even that doesn’t discourage the prince. However, when he tells Aurora, she turns him away, afraid of love’s power.

Aurora decides to invite both humans and fae to a festival, so that they will come to know each other better and sign a treaty forging a new peace. But as the festival approaches, forces conspire to threaten Aurora’s plans.

Throughout, Black tells her tale in lean, yet poetic language, packed with nuggets of wisdom, as in this scene where Maleficent tells Lord Ortolan:

“But if there’s one thing I know it’s that it’s very foolish for the wicked not to be afraid of the good. I for one find goodness very alarming. And unlike you, Sir Ortolan — or me — Aurora is very, very good.”

Part of the fun of the tale is seeing the wicked Maleficent’s softer side, which she denies, and well as her joy in wicked deeds like turning a storyteller into a cat and threatening all and sundry. This story will be a hit with all those who like their fairytales served with a little grit and humor.

Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip, Maleficent. Do any of those names ring a bell? This book follows the story of the new queen, Aurora and her godmother, Maleficent. Prince Phillip broke the curse and woke the sleeping beauty up from her "eternal" sleep, but what's the rest of the story? In this book, Holly Black takes us back to Aurora's kingdom, Perceforest, where she is trying desperately to get the Faire Folk and humans to sign a peace treaty and get along. A great book for Disney fans, Sleeping Beauty enthusiasts, and also a must-read for Holly Black fans

Heart of the Moors: An Original Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Novel by Holly Black is a fun middle grade fantasy novel set in the world of the upcoming movie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. I haven’t seen the first Maleficent movie but I’ve seen the original Disney Sleeping Beauty movie so I’m familiar with all the characters. It was fun to have those characters interact in this new story.
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The story revolves mostly around Queen Aurora but I would have liked to learn more about Maleficent. The faeries add whimsy and Prince Phillip makes the perfect love interest. I think because I was such a fan of Sleeping Beauty when I was younger that’s why I enjoyed this book.

~ARC provided by NetGalley ~

I love Holly Black for reals and of course I love me some fairytales - be it fractured or otherwise. However I can't say this story was all that compelling. It only took me a day to read and it was just sort of ok. Upon realizing it was more of a middle grade rather than YA book I can see why it was so tame compared to her other writings. It'll be a nice novel for any young girl who enjoys these types of stories. ♡

An enticing adventure awaits within these pages as beloved Aurora leads the healing between two torn lands, the humans and the fairies. Maleficent weaves her twisted protection as readers journey through the Heart of the Moors. Young readers will see Prince Phillip and Aurora together as they develop their budding relationship of friendship and both soon realize they want more, all while Aurora leads her two lands with wisdom and grace. Readers will grasp as Maleficent transforms troubles and learns that meddling may not always be the best solution to show Aurora her care. In the end, a heart of purity and so much good writes the perfect ending and our characters arc into the personalities readers have grown to love over the years.
I received this copy from Negalley in exchange for any honest review

I don't think I can say enough good about this book. It was wonderfully atmospheric. I loved the complexity of Maleficent, her relationships with the other characters and the way that Holly Black wove a new tale out of the old. After reading this I found myself dying to watch the films (I'd avoided the first Maleficent even though I adore the character and Disney in general). I highly reccommend this book.

*Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review *- lucky me because I honestly loved this book

The writing is so rich! Transports you completely to another world and slows your reading because you don’t want to leave. A must buy that will be in high demand.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is lush and fantastic, a combination Holly Black does better than anyone else.

However, the plot was pretty cliched. I had guessed everything that would happen in just a few chapters. Disney itself can be a bit cliched but they always bring a fresh look or twist onto their cliched plot. I didn't get that feeling from this novel. It felt like a plot I've seen a million times before and the plot combined a good deal of overdone, cliched plot points.

I'm also confused on how this fits in the Maleficient timeline. The new movie calls Aurora the soon to be queen and doesn't mention her having ruled at all. Yet, Aurora is ruling in this book. The film isn't out yet, but none of the information about the new movie suggests that these two things could be linked at all. The summary could be misleading but as of right now, I am wholly confused.

You won't be upset about the signature Holly Black style of writing but the plot leaves a lot to be desired. If you're a fan of Sleeping Beauty or Maleficent, this quick read is still worth your time.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Disney Hyperion through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I feel bad, but this did nothing for me. I was so excited by the idea of this book: HOLLY BLACK! Playing with Disney origin stories! But it felt by the book. What I wanted was what you get from great fanfiction - a fresh perspective on characters or settings you already love - but this didn't feel fresh. It felt like exactly what I would've expected, with no special Holly Black flair.

Aurora is now Queen of Percefort and the Moors. Both faeries and humans are under her rule. Aurora wants to bring them all together, but fear between them is rampant, and none, including her beloved Godmother Maleficent and her court, want to trust each other. While Aurora is working on signing a treaty and holding a festival, people close to her are plotting betrayal. Taking place between the original Maleficent movie, and the one coming out in 2019, Heart of the Moors expands on Maleficent, Aurora, and Prince Phillip’s stories. After Maleficent turns a storyteller into a cat in the first few pages the tale is action packed to make this a quick read. Movie tie-in and well-known faerie author Holly Black will attract readers.

I enjoyed the movie Maleficent, I love fractured fairy tales, and I like Holly Black so I was excited to receive an ARC of Heart of the Moors. This book did not disappoint! I haven't read any other Maleficent stories, so I have no idea if there's background on her to really be true to, but this one really built on the character established in the Maleficent Disney film. I love how Aurora isn't immediately in love with Prince Philip , who she just met! I love how she desires to draw her two worlds together but we see how prejudice and fear play a real role in life. Holly Black just does a good job with writing characters that are believable and relatable.

Taking place after the Maleficent movie, Aurora has just been crowned queen of both the Moors and Perceforest after the death of King Stephan, her father. Years of war have ravaged the land and built up serious hate and mistrust on both sides. Add that to the basic cultural differences between the fairies of the Moors and the humans of Perceforest, and Aurora has her work cut out for her. Add to that the fact that the human courtiers don't trust someone who was raised among the fairies, and Aurora faces threats from both without and within.

Aurora's been working for months on establishing a treaty between the two kingdoms she rules when a young stable boy from the palace stables disappears. The humans think he's been stolen by the fairies. Then on a pleasure ride with members of the court, a mischievous fairy inadvertently insults the sister of one of the most admired courtiers and he goes into the Moors and shoots an arrow at that fairy to defend her honor. Aurora is determined that the two kingdoms should see each other the way she does, but with tensions at an all-time high and no idea who she can actually trust, will Aurora be able to establish peace between her kingdoms? Will she even be able to retain her two crowns or her life?

This book was fun! Lots of twist and turns and, though a few things were a bit predictable, things you didn't see coming. I enjoyed the magic and the characters and definitely recommend it!

Disclaimer: A received a free electronic copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Obviously, I’m not the targeted audience for Heart of the Moors since it is for middle grade/younger readers, but I was definitely intrigued because it’s Holly Black and needed something to tide me over to The Queen of Nothing. After reading Heart of the Moors, I can see the appeal for younger readers, but it was bit lack luster for me. However, Black does add some depth to the misunderstood Maleficent and often times boring Aurora. As someone who expects Holly Black’s usual wicked and dark style from her previous novels, this book felt very tame. Maleficent + Holly Black in a novel geared towards an older audience, I think, would have been a better fit.

Seeing as this is a middle grade book, I found myself bored and skimming a lot. It was okay. I’m definitely not the target audience but I do believe that the middles will like this. There was intrigue and excitement but not enough to hold me captive.

It was nice to see more about Maleficent than we usually do. There was a side to her that was new. Her chapters were the best part of this.

The relationship between Aurora and Prince Phillip was portrayed differently than I’d hoped. If I’m being honest, as a romance lover, it actually made me sad for most of the book. Definitely not what I was hoping.

Three stars should be more positive but alas, I’m not feeling it.

Heart of the Moors picks up where Disney's Maleficent movie ends. Aurora is now the queen of the Perceforest and of the Moors. Things aren't going exactly as planned. Aurora still hasn't found her true love yet, and the pressure is on. There's a lord in the court who is scheming for power, and people are still afraid of the Moors. Can Aurora bring her two kingdoms together and find happiness for herself? Read to find out!

I equate Holly Black with magic. When I heard she was continuing the Maleficent story, I was beyond excited. I'm so happy that I got to read this book! I gave it 5 stars. It has a magical tone will give young readers the knowledge that they can take charge of their own destinies.