Member Reviews
Malice is a dark retelling of the classic fairytale trope: an evil spell has befallen a beautiful princess and it can only be broken by true love’s first kiss. Well what happens when this beautiful princess befriends the evil villain the entire kingdom despises to try and break the curse her own way? What happens when the evil villain begins to fall for said princess? Oh, how the tangled webs do weave.
What really set this book off for me was the writing. It’s written just beautifully so in an eloquent language that I had to read slowly in order to savor. This book took me so long to finish because I read each line painstakingly slow, letting every word and carefully crafted sentence fully sink in. I was shocked that this was the author’s first book and really hope that a sequel will be released because I couldn’t get enough of this one.
I already knew the general plot of it so I was expecting all the twists and turns, but what made it so great was how refreshing it felt. Rooting for the bad guy and the queer love story made for an awesomely different and welcome change in a romance. It was a slow and steady build that felt natural and gave all the good feels.
The whole magic and fantasy side of the book were also done really well. Graces and their magic blood, the phrase “dragon’s teeth,” Shifters, and Vilas, it was a wonderful world to dive into. I loved how the whole village seemed to revolve around magical elixirs. To be honest beauty elixirs reminded me of the way people get filler nowadays–temporary beauty fixes that fade away. I couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about this book and for that reason I give it a solid 5 ⭐’s.
Thank you to the publisher for granting my wish with an early reader’s copy!
I was really loving this book because of the gorgeous cover and the main character’s sassy attitude. I guess I would recommend it to my library but only as an ebook purchase. I don’t see it circulating very much as a paperback or hardback. Fairytale retellings are a tough sale. I only know one author succeeding at it. Did I mention how obsessed I am with the cover?
Omg this book!
I love retellings but this one was very original and I have never read anything like it. This book definitely has some dark Maleficent and Wicked vibes. Alyce is part Vila and because of that she has green blood and is known as the Dark Grace. The Graces are gifted with magic that they can only use by mixing their golden blood into an elixir and eventually the magic wears off. Their elixirs bring about beauty, grace, etc.. Alyce's gift brings about curses and misfortune because of her Vila blood. A long time ago, a Vila cursed the Briar royal line so that the Queens could only produce female heirs and those princesses had until there 21st birthday to find true love or die. When Aurora, the last of Briar line befriends Alyce, they decide to try and break the curse without true loves kiss soo that Aurora can rule by herself.
This story was beautifully written and with every page I got sucked deeper into the world and politics of Briar. I enjoyed Briar's rich history, the world itself and the characters who truly made this story come to life. I love the f/f romance and that this story is told from Alyce's (the villain) POV.
This exceeded my expectations!
Most fairy tale retellings are hit or miss. This one was a hit for me! The LGBTQ themes felt real and not like a forced relationship to include same sex relationships. This book hit all the right marks. A twisty story where you realize the villain may not be the villain you thought. There's romance, slight gore, slight steam, and a great story where you just hope the MC makes the right moves.
There were a few plot holes near the end which is why I'm knocking a star off. I'm looking forward to the next book to hopefully clear up those holes. WILL THERE EVER BE A NEXT BOOK?
For fans for ACOTAR, The Lunar Chronicles, and Nevernight (possibly)
Review for malice
(P.S. I usually suggest reading the book first before reviews but in this case I really can’t do that. But keep in mind if you get this book and you wind up not liking it. That’s fine cause we all have different tastes in books)
First, I would like to say that I was shocked to be accepted a Netgalley Arc for this book. So thank you for that surprise! Secondly, I’m going to try to put no spoilers in here at all.
CW:(if there’s more please reference at other reviews to be sure.) blood, violence, mention of suicide, mentions of past traumatic events,bleeding of person, descriptive kissing scenes( it’s mostly mine but I wouldn’t let that stop me from enjoying this.), descriptive sensual scenes (same as the last one )
Now this retelling is very different and I like that. Like we’re dealing with faes, shifters, blood magic and more that right there is amazing. Also it’s a queerlit who doesn’t want more of those. Anyway , there’s no maleficent ( I mean not in the way we expect ) but there’s an Aurora. Heck at times it seems like a bunch more along the line of certain other princesses retellings with the MC.
Let’s start off with the writing for a debut novel of this author. I am truly loving it . It’s so poetic and enchanting. It has really hooked me in very well. I’m really surprised that I really was invited to read this.
The main character is actually a vila , ( ‘ a type of fae with green blood like that right there caught my eyes. Also I believe she is the last.) named ‘ Alyce.’ One interesting character and no one can tell me otherwise. Who’s not really accepted in the world of the Graces cause of her being a vila. Like they’re so rude and the mistreatment is like Cinderella level.( you’ll get it once you read it) But she’s still so strong willed in her own way and her personality is just amazing.
Then there’s Aurora, who’s the most realistic princess I have ever seen. Like just she’s much more spunky and overall a joy. She’s cursed just in the original sleeping beauty. On her 21st birthday if she’s not kissed by her true love , she will sadly perish like her other sisters Let me mention we’re not dealing with 15/16 year old Aurora. Which is amazing in itself.
Now onto topics mentioned in the plot. ( I swear still spoiler free) like racism,l( or something like that) with alyce and her being a vila. Especially as we learn the true history of the war.( which I hope stays in the finish copy) it shows how much years of misinformation (especially in print)can twist a entire group of people judgment. Even how people suffer differently even if someones life seems perfect. I think that’s an important one and it’s highly talked about here.
Overall I just really loved this book. Holy shxt that twist at the end dang , I really didn’t notice it but events of the past led to this . That just blew my mind. I can’t get over it. But the ending is nether good or bad just gray if you get what I mean
I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves retellings that aren’t like copycats, fantasy , interesting magic systems, the apparent slow burn romance( which I didn’t care for), lgbt + books, dark fantasy, faes, and so much more.
A fun retelling of a classic story. I love the inclusion of LGBTQ history in classic fairy tales!
It was a bit too info-dumpy for my tastes, however. I was getting a bit confused keeping everything straight and found myself skimming those passages, but a more patient reader might enjoy that aspect of the story. I also was a bit frustrated with how often the main character was described as gross. I know the writer was working to create a main character that doesn't have to be beautiful and saved by a man, but if she was so gross, how did Aurora fall in love with her? I just wish she'd been. clean at least. The oily hair passages skeezed me out a bit.
Overall, though, a fun read and a new addition to a long-standing genre.
Book Review for Malice by Heather Walter
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!
Thanks so much to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I am a huge fan of fairytale retellings, and this twist on Sleeping Beauty is no exception. The world-building (particularly the magic system) was fully developed and unique. Alyce and Aurora's relationship was a nice slow burn, and I loved Aurora's character, especially at the beginning of the book. I was a little surprised when I got to the end of the book, since I was expecting this to be a retelling, when in reality it felt like a prequel. I wish I would've known that going into it, because I think I would have enjoyed everything more. That being said, the end was the definite highlight of the book for me; the last 10% or so of the book was hugely compelling (albeit moderately predictable).
The only thing I didn't particularly like about the book was the pacing - I thought the beginning was compelling and the end was fantastic, but the middle felt a little slow. I wish less time was spent on Alyce's relationships with her housemates, and more time spent on her relationships with Kal and Aurora.
I rarely deviate from whole numbers for star ratings, but I do feel that this deserves 3 1/2 stars - I've rounded up to 4 just because I loved the ending so much. Overall, it's a really fun dark fairytale retelling, and I very much enjoyed my read!
A review of this book will be posted on michelleamandawilson.com closer to the release date.
Sapphics win yet again.
This book you guys. So I am going to sideline here and just say that most sapphic romances in YA disappoint me. Instalove without a real growing attraction or relationship. Butterflies and rainbows. I've long since yearned for my perfect dark sapphic love story and this is it! Aurora and Alyce's relationship is a small part of a bigger picture in this book. It's a beautiful slow burn that takes time and growth and trust. While the two are drawn to each other, they are not instantly "butterflies in my stomach"- the build up and realization of attraction- and the tension between the two is one of the biggest hi lights of the book. This is a genuine and natural relationship .
The retelling is some of the best i've seen in fiction. For a single / non series, I am blown away by the vast amount of organic world building done in Malice. The world is so complete that by the end you have a full understanding of the rules of the magic and political structure/history of the Brier, which makes the whole story feel so much more intense. This is as much a dark fairy tale as it is a love story, and its world and side characters get a lot of play. I found myself wanting more at every turn. More side characters. More backstory. I wasn't just fumbling through this book to get to the romance. It absolutely stays true to Sleeping Beauty while giving the story a plausible and dark twist.
The tone of Malice is dark dark dark- and it rarely lets up. This isn't really a hopeful and cheery book, and Alyce isn't a perky main character. She's an incredible morally grey protagonist- along with the majority of the cast.
So really, Malice has it all. Its a grimdark YA fairy tale retelling with rich lore, a great romance, and and amazing writing. I knocked a star off because the last leg of the book really slowed down for me, but it was VERY well done and YOU. WANT. THIS. BOOK. I hope it gets more hype closer to the release date.
I always enjoy "twisted" fairy tales and versions of familiar stories that are fresh and unique. This book is just that. Its' perspective from the villain of a well-known tale, Sleeping Beauty is engaging and draws the reader in almost instantly. This dark and bewitching tale is entertaining and dynamic in the character development that we see throughout. I highly recommend this because, though you may not realize you need this in your life now, you certainly do! Well done!
This take on a Sleeping Beauty fairytale with a twist is just as beautiful as it is dark. Alyce is the Dark Grace. She is at least half Vila, which is a different kind of Fae than all the other Graces she works around in the kingdom of Briar. A Grace usually uses her power to make a person more beautiful, more charming or more wise, not so with Alyce. Alyce is marked different, not only by her blood, but by her mainly negative potions she creates for others to use against their enemies. She usually will create something to cause warts, or perhaps hair loss, before a big event. This and the cruel treatment of the other Graces causes Alyce to believe she really is a monster. It is not until she meets Princess Aurora that things change. Princess Aurora has a curse upon her, a curse that will kill her at age 21 unless she receives true love's kiss. Alyce must find a way to help the princess, grow stronger in her true power, all without becoming the monster almost everyone believes she is. The question is, will Alyce save the kingdom or destroy it? I highly recommend this gorgeous fairytale to fans of fantasy. It is a truly mesmerising story that had me reading late into the night! Expect Malice to be released in April of 2021. I'd also like to thank Netgalley for this ARC!
This book is a innovative take on twisted fairy tale, the addition of lgbt characters and getting the story from the "villains" point of view is very good. It grabs your attention quickly and is hard to put down.
I'm a sucker for a fun and creative retelling of classic fairytales, and Malice proved to be no exception. Malice pulls heavily from Disney's portrayal of Sleeping Beauty but does not limit itself to Disney's characters and settings; in this book, Heather Walter [hm, a flower name; is she a Grace?] creates a world and kingdom that is truly her own while deftly pulling in references and cameos that fans will appreciate with more success than Disney's own recent retelling (the Maleficent films). I particularly enjoyed Walter's worldbuilding, providing interesting and compelling explanations for the Alyce's and the 'fairy' magics, curses, setting, etc. Alyce (or "Malyce") is a wonderfully snarky if lonely girl making her way in the world and seeking love and acceptance, rather the aloof, cold Maleficent that we all know. I enjoyed her journey, railing with her at the unfairness of the world and celebrating her successes.
Some of the development of/between characters felt a little heavy-handed and quite predictable though I cut the book a lot of slack given that, at its core, it is a fairytale. The climax and ending of the book felt a bit rushed, and I walked away with a lack of closure, particularly as the book sets the stage for what could only be another book as the plot/characters have deviated enough from the original tale that the fate of the characters remain very uncertain. I do hope Walter continues this tale in another volume.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Dark and bewitching Malice is the story i didnt know i needed! i love a good villian tale but this was a FANTASTIC villain story the only thing i would have asked for was a tad bit more info on Kal but otherwise absolutely stunning and i cannot wait for the sequel. Set in a world where humans and fae joined forces long enough to defeat the Vila - magical creatures of the dark. The king of the fae bestowed the Briar crown on a human woman as thanks. In return, the Vila cursed the human queen so that all of her heirs would die but the fae lightened the curse. Each princess can break her curse and live if she receives true love's kiss. While Alyce and Aurora were well developed, the other characters fell flat for me as previously described.. The bad characters were very bad with no redeeming qualities. As a fan, I hope there's a sequel in the future.
3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley for my early review copy of Malice.
A retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Heather Walter took inspiration from the original story and really made it her own. Set in Briar there is light and dark fae, a curse and a love story.
It did take about a third of the book to really get invested in Alyce's story and much of the book was spent in conflict with her housemates which at times cold get tiresome, but the second half of the book when Alyce meets Aurora is when the plot really takes off. The last half of the book moved very quickly and I cannot wait for the sequel!
This review will be posted to nicolesbookthoughts.wordpress.com and my Goodreads closer to the release date, as specified in the requirements.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this arc copy of Malice*
This book immediately grabbed my attention based purely on the cover alone. Covers with skulls and simplistic covers have my heart completely, and this is no different. After reading the synopsis, I was sold. I always felt like Sleeping Beauty should have explored the possibility that Aurora may not be straight. I'm so glad I got to read it though because it brought out a new way to see Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent.
This book covers the start of the villain we know as Maleficent. From the green blood to the crow it's all here. But what was ignored in Sleeping Beauty is why she cared so much about Aurora, and why she wanted to destroy Briar. This book covers it all and even takes a look into how the fairies' lives.
This book was a great retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Walter took a story that is rather mundane, a girl is woken by her prince, and turns it on its head. Focusing on the villain was a great choice, and having the reader learn with Alyce was a smart choice to make the changes to the original story seamless. Malice focuses on identity, and what that means to a person, and how it's shaped. I thought the way this was done was beautiful. It explores being ostracized, and the trauma that stems from that, learning more information to shape your own beliefs, and even brings in the ethical topic of "for the greater good."
The conversations and the characters were amazing. MY personal favorite character was Rose, even though this was meant to follow Alyce. I loved seeing the physical and mental strain that she was put through, as well as the expectations. There is no better time for this book to be published than when the world is trying to determine how to answer the same questions Alyce (or Malyce) are trying to answer.
The things I liked aside, there is one small complaint that I have that I want to mention as a warning for those looking to read it. The first about 25% of this book is rather slow. It felt like I was reading at half speed, and I wondered when it would pick up. But once it did, the story got going and I finished the book that day. I spent about two weeks reading it, and 13 of those 14 days were reading that first quarter. But I do think it was necessary, since it was setting up where Alyce was mentally, and establishing Walter's version of Briar.
The slow start is the only complaint I have as of now, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fresh fairytail retelling, or anyone that loves villain stories (of which I am a proud member of).
A truly original dark twisted take on the Sleeping Beauty story and I Loved every minute of it. You think you know the story of sleeping beauty and maleficent ? This novel gives us a new story with characters we are familiar with . Told entirely from Alice’s point of view you will love this new fresh dark take on a story we all love
Malice is an interesting retelling of a few fairytales, I overall enjoyed they story and characters, but did find it a bit slow at times.
The magic and social construct reminded me a lot of The Belles.
The characters were interesting and Alyce was intriguing to get to know as she tries to find out more about her past and how to break away from the life she was forced into. I think the dynamic between her an Aurora worked well, but I would have like to see more interaction between them.
The "villian" of the the story is hard to pin down, and the way a few characters each take some of the spotlight pulled away from the plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Malice as it is a retelling of a fairy tale(or three) but with a twist. Aurora is a princess who will die on her next birthday if the curse on her family is not broken. Alyce is a Vila, well at least half of her is...the same kind that put the curse on her family so many years ago. She lives with the Graces, who are all a bout Beauty, Charm, and Wisdom and get everything handed to them in exchange for the spells they cast. Alyce, herself, can do nothing but cause pain or warts, or bring death quicker to someone that is already dying. Or at least that is what she believes until she meets a man trapped in a tower and tied to his own curse. Through him Alyce comes to learn who she really is and what can really do. Somehow Alyce and Aurora meet and Aurora is not freaked out or disgusted by Alyce and her appearance...and they fall in love. What I loved about this book is that there were quite a few twists and turns and the amazing amount of character development that we see Alyce go through. The first part was somewhat slow as we are meeting all of the characters but it didn't take long to get interested and stay interested.
I received an eArc of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Have you seen Maleficent, Disney's attempt at retelling Sleeping Beauty from the villain's perspective?
This book is a version of that story. Many generations ago, a female warrior completed a challenge set by the High King of the Fae. Her rewarded was the Kingdom of Briar, a monopoly of the mining of magical ore and an alliance with the Fae. Over the years, a war between the Light Fae and the Vila, dark Fae, has left the Kingdom of Briar with female heirs who die at 21 unless they experience true love's kiss, power hungry kings, and the gift of Graces. The Graces are human children blessed by the light Fae with the ability to imbue the people of Briar with wit, beauty, music, etc, at the cost of their blood.
Alyce, or Malyce, is a Dark Grace serving the Kingdom Of Briar. She's tired of being treated like garbage by the very people who use her gifts to embarrass their rivals. Over the course of the book, Alyce learns the full extent of her powers. Her attempts to learn more about the Fae and Briar brings her into contact with the last remaining heir to the Briar Crown, Princess Aurora. Aurora has less than a year to live before the family curse will end her life. She is desperate to end the curse by any means other than true love's kiss. Aurora has seen first hand what true love has done to her family and refuses to allow it to consume her reign.
I won't say more to prevent spoiling the majority of the plot.
I gave this book a 4/5 stars. This is a pretty strong first novel and fairy tale retelling. There are LQBTQ+ elements to the story and they make the story more enjoyable. I liked Alyce as a main character. This book is really about her journey since we pretty much know how it will end. Princess Aurora was also a refreshing take of the character. Here she is motivated by love of her people and the drive to fix the problems she sees the kingdom. The story itself is familiar, but twisted just enough to keep my attention and puzzling over how exactly the "hero's journey" will play out. I did also like that several peripheral characters pointed out that the light Fae aren't purely good and the Vila weren't inherently evil..
My problem with this book is two-fold. While I appreciated the world building Heather Walter did in this book, I think the amount of world building was overkill. Almost half the book is explaining how the world works. Its a well thought out world and magic system, but there's just too much explanation.. I would suggest she cut down on the information dumps and allow us to discover the information naturally through the conversations and training the characters complete. As my husband would say "make your world building more Weiss/Hickman and less R.A Salvatore".
The plethora of worldbuilding led to a pacing issue. The plot felt squished into the second half of the book, and ended abruptly in a strange spot. The pacing left me wondering if this book was intended to the be start of series, or duology. If it is in fact part of a series, I'd be happy to read the sequel. However, if this is a stand-alone I feel like Ms. Walter has done her worldbuilding a disservice. I guess time will tell.