This is a dark Sleeping Beauty retelling with a few hints of Cinderella mixed in. I love a good retelling and I typically like it when the story strays from the original (or should I say Disney version cause that’s what I know) and twists in a different direction. The dark additions make it fun for me.

Alyce is an abused, neglected and used Dark Grace. She’s different than the other Grace’s because her elixirs seem to only cause harm where the others are for beauty and wisdom and more. Alyce is a great morally gray character . Her hard life has caused her to mistrust everyone. It also festers inside her so it’s suspenseful waiting to see if she breaks or conforms. I really liked her and the pacing until the last quarter of the book. It’s almost 500 pages so my attention might’ve waned a bit but I lost interest right when the action started happening and it didn’t quite come back. There was a twist that I didn’t love that made a character change and it didn’t jive with what my feelings were at that point. It changed enough for me to lose a bit of the interest that had kept me going.

Content Summary: The protagonist is actually 20yo and everyone else is about that age or older. It still felt like YA so that wasn’t an issue until the intimacy became quite detailed. It’s definitely one to review before handing to a younger teen. The language was fairly low and had 4 F words. Those F words felt oddly out of place when the other language was so minor. Violence was pretty detailed when it came to abuse, and blood was mentioned many times.

Thank you to Ransom House Publishing Group- Ballatine/ Del Rey for the gifted copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Malice is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story where Aurora falls for her magical friend, Alyce, rather than a prince. She has no time for silly princes away since she’s got dreams for political change when her curse is broken and she takes the crown. Alyce just wants to belong. But always remember, Alyce is the villain.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I thought it was an interesting perspective on the original fairy tale with some different twists and turns. Aurora’s curse that can be broken by love’s first kiss, is generational and passed down to all females in succession. There are also some interesting political challenges for this kingdom, with some complicated history that sometimes I got a little lost in but it all seemed to come together toward the end.

I liked Alyce as a character. I think this was an excellent twist on that villain character. Poor darling. She struggles with similar issues that I have in being adopted and never quite fitting in. I thought the interaction between the other Graces was well done and I liked those personalities as well. Very “ugly” step-sister you might say. I wasn’t sure what to expect about the ending as the story progressed but was quite pleased with it. I think any girl who always imagined having her curse broken by a girl (instead of a prince) will enjoy this book.

I loved this. I loved this so much. I mulled over whether to give it 4 or 5 stars, but it really took me by surprise and I was so into the world and the characters that I have to go with 5 stars. Oh man, this is how a retelling should be done!

First off, I missed the memo about this being a queer book. I saw it was a Sleeping Beauty retelling with the villain and princess somehow working together to break the curse and I simply hit "request" on Netgalley. I'm a simple girl - if it says "retelling," I request. I just assumed that the relationship in here would be a mother/daughter love like it was the Maleficent movie and it was most definitely not lol. I've struggled to find a f/f book that speaks to me and I feel like I've finally found it. This was a slow build romance starting with a princess and a Dark Grace who both didn't really fit into Briar and their love was built on respect and friendship. It just felt so believable which is why it roped me in.

Aside from the romance, the retelling itself was fantastic. Instead of a whole kingdom being placed under a sleeping curse, it was the line of Briar heirs that were cursed. If they weren't kissed by their one true love by the time they turned 21, they would die. The most interesting and creepy part about this curse is the line of suitors who would visit the realm just to kiss the next heir. Aurora mentioned to Alyce how her 8 year-old aunt (I think it was her aunt but I could be wrong there) had her curse broken by someone 30 years older than her, meaning that it was just accepted that these princesses should be expected to be kissed by anyone from the time of their birth. Creepy, yes? It really makes you think about consent and bodily autonomy. I really enjoyed how it took the fairy tale ending we've come to know (prince saves princess by kissing her and they live happily ever after) and showed a darker side of it.

There were some other great things in here too as far as the world-building went - I loved the idea of Graces who were regulated by the throne and whose blood was only magical for a certain amount of time before they started to "fade." I also liked that Malyce was different than the other "pretty" Graces because she was part Vila. It provided a reason for her different, stronger magic that doesn't fade as well as further reason why she would feel out of place in a kingdom that exterminated her people.

This book was so good. SO SO GOOD. If a f/f Sleeping Beauty retelling sounds good to you, then you need to try this one.

12 hours later and I'm still thinking about this book. If you ever loved the story of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), this is a wonderful retelling. Alyce is a Dark Grace or so she thinks. A chance meeting with the Princess and both of their worlds are blown apart. How do you find love when you are the very thing that people despise because of your skin color/your blood? Well, read this and find out. Thank you to the author for building both a relatable world, one full of cruelty and injustice, and characters who have to deal with the difficult stuff.

First off, I am happy to report that it is in fact GAY and it SLAPS. This book pulled me out of the slump I went through at the end of March. I absolutely fell in love with Alyce and Aurora’s story and I wish it was longer! It was just so much fun to watch their relationship grow and blossom and the absolute lengths Alyce is willing to go through for her love. Truly, I just love when women. Especially when angry women. Just an overall amazing sapphic twist on a classic fairytale and I CANNOT wait for the second book in the duology to be released after that cliff hanger!

One of the better fairytale retellings I’ve read in awhile, Malice was above all, a lot of fun. Placing a very lovable female couple at the center of the Sleeping Beauty story, which is of course a welcome update, the book considers the revolutionary possibilities opened up by the courage and vulnerability of “true love,” as well as the weight of history and its impact on individual agency. Taken on its own, it’s a beautiful and romantic tragedy, though I’ve heard there will be a sequel, so that makes things even more interesting...😍 Great world-building and good chemistry between the two protagonists; the secondary characters felt a little two-dimensional to me at times.

”If they want a monster, they shall have one.”

A cursed shapeshifter, doomed to haunt an abandoned tower forever. A calculating king, strategically planning his next political move to strengthen his empire. A litany of untold secrets, each with the power to alter the course of a kingdom’s history. And a rejected, green-blooded girl, who hasn’t even scratched the surface of what her power can do.

”There’s power in you. More than you know...”

Malice is enchanting, immersive, and entirely unputdownable! This revisionist tale of the witch who cursed Sleeping Beauty puts a new spin on the backstory and formative experiences that made this allegedly-wicked creature who she is, and I am here for all of it.

”I’m better than this. More than the villain they’ve created.”

Heather Walter has created the most atmospheric world, filled with fae kingdoms, blood magic, ancient curses, and longstanding rivalries. Walter offers rich descriptions and insights into the enchanted settings, the kingdoms’ histories, and the elements of magic used. She has considered every angle and answered every question in vivid detail. A more thorough fairytale retelling, you’d be hard pressed to find.

”Both he and Aurora, on opposite sides of an ancient war, depending on me to survive. I want to save them both, but I can’t help but feel that by allying with one, I’m damning the other.”

There is an element of romance in Malice, but it is far from being the dominant feature of the story. Rather, the unexpected romantic relationship, that blooms out of an unlikely friendship, takes a backseat to the central character’s development. We see far more of Alyce learning who & what she really is, recovering from emotional wounds left by a life of abuse & cruelty, and ultimately leaning in to her abilities in jaw-dropping ways.

”I know what it’s like to want out of your life so badly you’ll do something desperate.”

As Alyce begins to explore the untapped strength of her power, she wonders often whether she is dark or light, and she begins to question if anyone truly fits neatly into either box. Her LGBTQ romance lends beautiful evidence to the notion that she is, indeed, worthy of love, but even if this sweet twist hadn’t been a part of her story, Alyce’s worth is clear to readers from the start.

”It is both a relief and a terror to be around someone who doesn’t consider me an abomination.”

Fans of vivid fantasy, or of revisionist stories in general (think of Wicked or Heartless!) will devour Malice in one sitting, as I did. Easily one of the best books I’ve read all year. 5 well-deserved stars!

”I’ll never be a heroine like Leythana. In Briar, I’ll only ever be a villain.”

——

A huge thank-you to Heather Walter, Random House, Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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here's the thing, i really wanted to like this book. people on instagram were really hyping up this book, so i was so excited to get an arc and to start reading. but, this was just not the book for me, at all.
the writing- it just didn't make sense, like they would talk about everything that was happening that was like first person, but it wasn't actually first person, and it was just so weird. and it also was just super info dumpy and it was just very repetitive and confusing.
another thing was that this book was super boring. like, everything in this book was just so freaking slow, and it really took away from my enjoyment of this story, and with the pacing and the writing, i just didn't understand what was happening.
the world building was also so bad. like i said, the info dumping wasn't helping, and it was just not doing it for me, and i just was so confused, since i don't really remember a map and nothing was being explained that much, so it was just so weird and confusing.
but, thank you for an arc of this book, even if it was pretty bad, but it might just be a reading slump talking lol. but, i was really excited to see a queer retelling of sleeping beauty, but i don't think i want to risk a reading slump enough to actually read this.

Retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. Started off okay, but sputtered for me by the end. Interesting worldbuilding, so-so writing. Does get points for making the key relationship queer. Book is the first in a duology; not sure if I will read the second.

Malice follows Alyce, this story’s reimagined Maleficent who is a young woman known as the Dark Grace. Alyce is living in a home with Graces who all despise her because she is different from them and they believe that she is only evil. We follow Alyce as she learns the true nature of her powers and how deep they can truly go throughout the book. As readers we also follow Princess Aurora who is on her very own difficult journey. Many years ago a Vila cast a curse on Princess Aurora’s bloodline where all they only have females and they are all cursed to die on their 21st birthday unless they are kissed by their true love. Now, Princess Aurora is the last of the bloodline and she has one year left to live and she is bound to break the curse on her own instead of with a true love's kiss by one of the many men her parents force her to kiss daily.

Throughout the book Aurora and Alyce form an unlikely bond and Alyce is determined to help Aurora break her curse because for her, it would be too hard to live without Aurora.

Malice was truthfully a delight to read! It is by far one of my new favorite retellings. I love how complex the characters are in their own natures but how we can still see their original fairy tale roots within them.

The relationship between Alyce and Aurora was so pure and beautiful. I loved seeing their friendship bloom into so much more. Their relationship is raw and real because neither of them have had a true friendship with anyone before and seeing them be each other’s safe place was beautiful.

Overall I 1000% recommend this book! I’m not sure how anyone could pass up a queer Sleeping Beauty to begin with but don’t sleep (yes yes I’m sorry) on this book!

Thank you for this. I ended up DNFing this book, but did make it a decent way in and ended up skimming the end.
I just wasn't relating to it, and I REALLY did not like how the ending came to be. I don't think this is a bad book, I just think it is a not for me book.

When humans aided the light fae during a great war, they were gifted with the Graces: women born with special powers who could produce small enchantments. Though Alyce lives and works with the Graces, she’s something else entirely. Alyce is half Vila, a descendant of the dark fae who placed a dangerous curse on the royal family. And those around her have never let her forget it, constantly ridiculing and threatening her. But Alyce hates her gift, and her greatest wish is to leave the kingdom altogether ... that is, until she meets the crowned princess Aurora, who seems to be the first person to see Alyce not for what, but for WHO she is.

I liked this book. It’s a really unique sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a Red Queen-like magic system. I had a feeling there would be some kind of betrayal, but I didn’t know who or where it would come from, so I enjoyed that this book kept me on my toes. I almost gave it 4/5 stars, and I would have, except for the ending. I thought it went completely against all of the character development throughout the rest of the story, and it left me with the same taste in my mouth as Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 5 (if you know, you know). So that’s why I had to bump my rating down to 3/5 stars. I’m still looking forward to reading the sequel, though! I need to know what happens next.

Golden blood is drained from Graces, women with fae blessed blood, to create beauty and cunning enchantments for those rich enough to pay. Alyce's blood bleeds emerald though, her bottled magic creating warts and curses, and the kingdom hates her for it even as they pay for each enchantment. Initially I was disappointed that Alyce was not the villain promised to steal a Princess's heart. Alyce carries her burdens and abuse like a bitter Cinderella, quietly simmering inside while berating herself. She is no villain but a poor and tortured creature, until she meets Princess Aurora and finally this story took off. Aurora is charming, bold, and inspiring the way a future queen rarely is in fairytales. The banter between her and Alyce is entrancing, and I tore through the book waiting for each moment these two women were together again. The strongest part of this book is Alyce's relationship with the other characters which always teeters between potential allies or deadly enemy. The Queendom is better fleshed than some characters, with history, political outreach, slavery guised with a capitalistic mask, and an insidious weakening of royal power within that soon sets Alyce to become the villain I craved to read about in this book.

Appreciate the opportunity to read this one, however I must say it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I felt it was slow, hard for me to get into. I kept trying to dive in, but for me, it just didn’t work out. Thanks!

Malice is loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. This is the best fantasy book I’ve read in some time. Heather Walters does a fantastic job at retelling this story in a unique and unexpected way. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre!

An intriguing retelling of the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Heather Walter creates a whole world for her story. There is light magic and dark, beauty and ugliness, greed and generosity. The magic is fascinating in its abilities and creation. And there is a love story mixed together with hate and fear. Do you think you know how this story goes? Open this book and let its magic carry you far, far away.

If you love Disney, villains, origin stories or any of the twisted tale books, MALICE IS FOR YOU! Heather Walter puts a new spin on the timeless story of Sleeping beauty. Malice is so different than any of the many retellings of princess Auroras' timeless story, especially because the tale is told from our villains perspective. And what if that villain falls for said princess? I could not put this book down. Highly recommend and cannot wait for the conclusion to this spellbinding duology!

Malice by Heather Walter is a good YA fantasy LGBT+ retelling of Sleeping Beauty. That said I don't think I've ever read another Sleeping Beauty retelling so I don't have a point of reference for others, but nevertheless this is great debut novel. I particularly enjoyed that the story focuses on the character of Alyce who is the Maleficent of this retelling. I also appreciated that the story clearly shows the gray area between good and evil. I have a feeling you'll enjoy this retelling if you appreciate the darkness of the Brothers Grimm and Regina from Once Upon a Time. I'm looking forward to seeing what this Heather Walter will do in the future.

I was really looking forward to reading Malice, but it ended up falling short of my expectations. Quite frankly, it was boring. I ended up skimming most of it. There was so much info dumping it just couldn’t hold my interest. I also wanted so much more from the romance between Alyce and Aurora. Unfortunately this book ended up being a disappointment.

3.75 stars. A compelling retelling of Sleeping Beauty, in which the curse is broken by an evil sorceress. A little too info-dumpy but the last 60 percent picked up. A very worthwhile f/f fantasy!