Alyce, a dark grace, half vila, known to give you all the curses and poisons you could ever want- knows that she will never be accepted in the kingdom of Brair. But does she really want to be accepted by the very people who are much worse than she is? The people who come to her for curses and poisons, the vain and wealth hungry people of her city?
She’s not quiet sure.
But then there’s Princess Aurora- cursed to die at 21 like the other princesses before her...unless she has true love’s kiss. The one thing that breaks any spell. But who wants to be stuck kissing strangers for most of their life?
So when the Princess comes to her, pleading for help- she only sees Alyce as a friend- not a foe. So Alyce, never having experienced such kindness, vows to help her. But how much good can a woman who was born to darkness do?

Holy CRAP. This book was freaking incredible. It’s one of those books that the blurb absolutely reels you in, and from the very start you’re addicted.
As a lover of retellings, I RAN to request this book when I saw it on Netgalley. And the biggest plus? It’s sapphic! #represent!

There’s literally so much that I loved about this book. The plot is incredible- it’s never boring and there’s always something new just around the corner.
The characters are relatable and they GROW. I found myself hating the characters that were made pure, and loving Alyce, the one made dark. Every character was different and each offered their own twist to the story, making it better and better.
The romance- okay woah, it was slow. But a good slow. The kind of slow where they actually develop real, substantial feelings for one another other than just ‘I kiss you and suddenly love you’ kind of thing.
And the ending?? I literally kept seeing how many more pages I had left because I was like ‘surely not everything will be fixed in this amount of time’ - and it wasn’t! The ending was phenomenal and has got me so entirely ready for the next book.

This is Heather Walter’s first published book, and if this incredible book was anything like the rest of their writing, I hope they create more ASAP.
I’m definitely adding them to my ‘buy first, read the blurb last’ list of authors.

In conclusion: if you like fairytale retellings with a twist, sapphic books to eat your heart out, and a series starter that gets you addicted for the next book- then you should 100% check out Malice

((Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in return of an honest review

A Sleeping Beauty retelling. Sort of. Honestly, if you took out all of the references to Sleeping Beauty and changed them to something else, this story would still 100% stand on its own.

The first 60% of this book is SOOO slow, but I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. I did not like Alyce at first, the whiny woe is me thing is not something I enjoy in a character, but she grows and becomes powerful and it's so great. The world building was very thick, that's the only word I can think of to describe it, sluggish to get through.

I loved Alyce and Aurora's relationship, it's definitely nice to get not just LGBTQ+ representation, but WLW especially. Alyce's growth as a character is fantastic.

I'm DYING to know what happens next, hopefully there's a sequel coming.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I am a sucker for a retelling,so when I saw that this was a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I was all for it.

While I liked the concept of the story, I felt like it was a bit everywhere and some of the decisions that Malice made seemed a bit out of character. I enjoy a book with a grey main character, but this Malice was seriously everywhere. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed. It was all going okay, and then all of a sudden all hell broke lose and, the end. If there is a sequel I would give it a chance, and I would read other books by this author. This one was just a bit meh for me.

This was my first ARC from net galley to review and I was absolutely excited to receive it! An honest review for this book will be a piece of cake. This book has been on my list for a while, as I’ve seen lots of other people rave about it in anticipation. I read this book quickly as it was such a great piece to devour. I love the retelling of this wonderful story, but I also loved that it was from our antiheroine’s point of view. There was so much depth to the story and the characters that I was constantly flipping through the virtual pages to see what would happen next. This author did such a great job by keeping the reader engaged in a constantly thriving plot. At no time did I find myself bored and wanting to set the book down. I loved seeing everything from Alyce’s POV. watching her maneuver through life and it’s conflicts was invigorating. I found so many pieces of myself in her. Her relationship with Aurora was my favorite. Im a sucker for sapphic fairytale retellings. There were so many great themes in this book I’m surprised they all fit but then again it was a good length for a novel. Books with A+ side characters always add depth to a novel, and this book had many of them. Each character was there for a reason and our lovely MC was constantly interacting with them, but it was always for a reason. A lesson to be learned. So many decisions and influences were slowly made throughout the story that lead towards a bigger plot. As it has been confirmed that there is going to be a sequel, I can say that the ending was a cliffhanger and I had to set the book down to decompress my feelings. Any time the author creates a world that makes you go into that little rabbit hole of existential questions, is always going to be an amazing book in my opinion. That’s exactly what this book did for me and I am so excited to read the second one. I am not a patient person but this book will be worth the wait. This review will be posted to my Goodreads account on March 8, 2021.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC.

When I first heard that Malice was a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling it soon became one of my most anticipated reads. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

The story is told from the perspective of Alyce, who in the original tale is the witch that curses Sleeping Beauty. However, in this retelling she is described as being a Vila. The Vila are a group of people who can curse others and most of them were wiped out during the War of the Fae that took place between the Vila and the Graces. The Graces are a group of people who can control specific types of magic such as beauty, healing, wisdom, etc. and they are known for looking down on the Vila.

Things I liked about this book are that Alyce is portrayed as someone who is looked down upon simply because of her different magical abilities. It gives you the sense that she is not really a villain but rather someone who is sick of everyone mistreating her. I also liked that Aurora was portrayed as a strong willed individual who does not need the approval of the kingdom to go after what she wants.

Now onto the aspects I didn't like. I found the writing to be very repetitive. I also felt like there was poor worldbuilding. It seemed like pieces of information were just being randomly thrown out there for the reader. For example, towards the beginning of the book it is mentioned that they are fae but then it's never brought up again and expanded upon. Also, I found that I didn't really connect with any of the characters and the romance between Alyce and Aurora seemed rushed. Throughout the book I kept waiting for the plot to pick up and when I finally thought it was going to the conflict immediately resolved.

This book had a lot of potential but fell short for me. It did end on a cliffhanger and I believe this is going to be a duology so perhaps I will give the second book a try.

Malice is an extremely satisfying twist on the classic fairytale stories. This was a wonderful blending of multiple tales—Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella in particular. Alyce is part Vila, a magic-wielding race that has been nearly exterminated. Due to her lineage, she is treated with fear and revulsion by nearly everyone she meets. Alyce serves in the Lavender House, providing curses to the denizens of the city as the Dark Grace. Aurora, on the other hand, is the last remaining princess in a line of cursed daughters, all doomed to die if they do not kiss their true love before they turn 21.

The worldbuilding in this story was fantastic and I greatly enjoyed reading every new detail about the world at large. The story is well-written and the pacing was good. I’m a big fan of slow-burn, queer romance stories and Malice definitely delivered on this front. I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who is a fan of fairytale retellings who’d like a queer twist on the genre. Without giving any spoilers, the only aspect I wasn’t a huge fan of was how the book ended. I’m really hoping the author intends to continue Alyce and Aurora’s story.

This Sleeping Beauty retelling where the princess and the "evil" sorceress was wonderful. I couldn't stop reading it. Dark and beautiful, this book tackles the concepts of being an outcast, conforming to society, following your heart, being true to yourself, and standing by your principals. The writing was vivid and lyrical and I've already recommended this book to multiple friends.

I truly enjoyed this very different take on a classic fairy tale. Right from the outset it was easy to tell that Alyce was not going to be the stereotypical fairy tale character. I loved how the author upended a lot of long-standing fairy tale conventions in this book. I definitely didn’t think Sleeping Beauty could be told in this way and have it be enjoyable but it was a great new spin on an age old story. I loved how complex the characters were and it was easy to see why Alyce for example made some decisions that made her the villain. I also enjoyed that there was lgbtq romance as a central part of the plot. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this series. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to provide my honest feedback.

First, thanks to Random House and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so desperately wanted to love this. Sleeping Beauty is my absolute favorite fairy tale, I love retellings, and I was a big fan of Maleficent. The first half of the book was pretty detailed in the world-building, but it was soooooo slooooooow. It started to pick up in the second half before barreling towards the ending around 80% in. I was rooting for Alyce and feeling so much of her pain, but her actions at the end seem a bit out of character in a way. I hated how much agency was taken away, not just from Alyce, but also Aurora (and I know that’s kind of the point, but I still hated it). It’s clearly set up for a sequel, and I’ll see how that goes. But I also wonder if the story couldn’t have been tightened up to fit within one book.
On the surface, I should have loved this, but the execution fell short for me.

3.25 stars

Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Ray, for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best books that I have read all year and is likely a new favorite of all time as well!

I devoured this story as quickly as I could. Not that I wanted it to be over with but because I was so invested in the story and needed to know what was going to happen next. The writing style in this book is INCREDIBLE and lovely to read. It is the perfect blend of flowery and direct which works so well for me.

I love our morally gray main character, Alyce. She is so easy to root for, even as she makes questionable decisions. I adore morally gray characters and this book did a great job of that! The romance in this book is SO slow burn, I adore it! It felt natural and the chemistry between Alyce and Aurora is so electrifying, I adore it.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. It is absolute perfection to me and I am desperate for more people to read this book when it comes out. I for sure need my own physical copy now and translate all of my highlighted notes from my eARC copy to the finished copy! I think this is the most I have ever annotated an eARC before, that's how much I loved it. Overall, if my review hasn't convinced you enough, PLEASE GO READ THIS BOOK. It is magical, dark, lush, beautifully written, riddled with plot twists that you don't see coming, a slow burn F/F romance and so so much more. I highly recommend this book and am desperate for more from this author!

"Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily ever after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she...cares for me. Even though a power like mine was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating - and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps together we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I-

I am the villain.

Book One of the Malice Duology."

I might be a tad Sleeping Beauty obsessed and I just love that we're getting such a unique new spin on it!

I love a fairy tale retelling, and this is an interpretation of Sleeping Beauty unlike any other I've read. I enjoyed it tremendously, and thought the queer spin on it was an excellent feature. The characters are vividly colored and unexpectedly layered and complex. Loved it!

(3.5 rounded up)

I received this book as an advanced readers copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the world-building and magic system. The author did well in explaining it and helping the reader understand the main character’s circumstance.

I was absolutely in love with this story, but the end left me disappointed. While I’m aware this is the first book in the series and loose ends are expected, I felt like the ending just didn’t make sense, thee plot became messy and disorganized.

Additionally, I felt like Alyce’s actions towards the end were extremely out of character (while I recognize the reason for this, it will be omitted for the sake of spoilers) and I felt like her reason why was an unnecessary addition to an already over complicated conclusion.

Hopefully the author manages to solve these issues later in the series, I am looking forward to it.

What a fresh and different take on the Sleeping Beauty tale! I'm so excited to see a F/F retelling of this story, especially one that explores the infinite shades of gray between good and evil. I was so drawn into Alyce's story and felt so much empathy for her, so much so that the ending and her final choices made perfect sense to me. And, oh my word, THIS AUTHOR'S WRITING. The turns of phrase are just beautiful, poetic in their perfection, and I found myself constantly highlighting sentences for no other reason than I wanted to be able to read over them later and savor the loveliness of the way the words fell together.

A treat from beginning to end from this wonderful new debut author!

I have always enjoyed fairy tales. A flipped retale is always a nice change. Malice is a different tale. I enjoyed the characters and story line. Alyce is a dark power compared to the Grace powers. She is always picked on and hated. Aurora, the princess is cursed and needs to find true love. From here the tale changes and changes. There is mating so this is not for a younger audience.i was surprised by the ending, so worth the read.

I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing fairy tale retelling!

I love fairy tale retellings, and there have been so many incredibly great ones lately, especially in the realm of YA, but I think Malice is my favorite so far of the past few years. I absolutely love retellings from the perspective of the villain, and Malice absolutely does the villain perspective justice. The protagonist is Alyce, who is half Vila, a race of reviled creatures who have been almost entirely eradicated and who, many many years ago, put a curse on the royal family of Briar. Alyce is hated and ostracized but also used for her dark magic. She meets the princess Aurora, who is the first person who doesn't hate and fear Alyce's very being, and Alyce is able to finally start to become comfortable with herself as well. The relationship between Alyce and Aurora is incredibly poignant and I really enjoyed watching it develop throughout the book. Alyce makes an incredibly sympathetic villain, and the way she is used and manipulated throughout the story is heart-wrenching. Everyone in Briar is trapped in their roles, and I really loved that so much of the plot was driven by various characters trying to break free of those roles. This book takes standard fairy-tale tropes and turns them on their heads, and the end result is both incredibly dark and incredibly satisfying.

Highly highly recommend!

I love retellings so if that’s something you like, I bet you’ll enjoy this. I’m starting to see more love for “morally grey” characters, especially if they are villains. But I do believe it gives a different perspective and take on the antagonist on every plot and storyline.

Alyce is a Dark Grace, “gifted” by the Fae a special ability a portion of their blood in which allows her to create magical and dark elixirs. Except her elixirs aren’t like the other Grace’s elixirs full of beauty and light. Her elixirs are sinister and maleficent and full of ill intent. These differences cast her in a shameful light in the Caste system within Briar. The people there are scared of her and are only willing to approach her when they need a dark elixir.

But is she really any different than any of the other Grace’s? They’re held captive and bound by the same laws that she is. They have to use their blood to create elixirs for the people of Briar as well. Cursed to use their magic until it fades away?

Alyce thought her life would be nothing more than her dingy lair and creating elixirs for people who were scared of her until one night she was invited to a masquerade ball in the castle and had a surprising run in with princess Aurora.

Now, nothing is as it seems. Princess Aurora doesn’t shy away from Alyce like all of the others.


This novel was good. It had a great LGBQT moment in there that I was excited to see! I was also excited about the characters of the classic fairytales being spun in such different story. I enjoyed reading all of the novel and devoured it all in less than 24 hours.

What I didn’t like about the novel was the amount of back story we got. There was way too much of it and I felt like the plot was lost at times due to the amount of backstory given. In fact, you can skip entire pages due to backstory and you’ll not have missed anything needed for the storyline. Due to this, some of the reading felt stalled. That being said, with all of the elements in the novel present, i sallied forth and enjoyed the novel with all of the backstory.

I received an ARC from NetGallery for review.

A reimagining of Sleepy Beauty, but not exactly what one would expect. Graces are magical women that can create potions and magic that help singing voices croon, blemishes vanish, and dispense wisdom. Not Alyce. Alyce is the Dark Grace, abhorred by upper society, but still requested to wreak havoc on fellow folk. Her magic is dark and twisted and can only bring forth boils and suffering...which of course, people will pay top dollar for. Alyce hates it. Until one day she meets her royal highness, Aurora...who sees past

Absoluuuuutely LOVED this book! Great romance, great storytelling, fascinating magic! I literally don't have any problems with it, it hit all the marks right. I guess the only thing is the language is kinda flowery but, really, it makes sense within the story.

Alyce is a fascinating protagonist that doesn't follow typical protagonist rules, she's belittled and spat at, but instead of "being better than them" she gives into mischief at times for her minor revenge. Which is entertaining to read!

Aurora was really sweet as well, their relationship felt fleshed out and believable. Poor Alyce though, life loves throwing hardballs at her. Can't wait for the sequel! :)