I liked this spin. I really enjoy fairytale retelling and this one was done pretty well. I also like a villain origin story. I just wish the relationship wasn't as rushed as this felt.

I just couldn't get into this one. It presented as a mean girls story, and I hate the flatness that "mean girls" necessarily have. For those into fairy tale retellings though, this may hit the spot.

This was really good, but didn't quite live up to the hype for me. I loved the relationship build-up between Alyce and Aurora, and the world itself was built really well, too.
The highlight of this book was the characters, namely Alyce. Walter's ability to show her progression into the villain that we are all familiar with was fascinating, and I couldn't help but root for the morally gray heroine as I followed her through the story.
My biggest issues were with the villain monologues, and how it was a fairytale retelling in the exact sense, where the story felt like it never truly deviated from the source material. Really the only "twist" was the romance between Aurora and "Malificent."
In the end, I thought it was just an average read overall. With Sleeping Beauty being one of my all time favorite fairytales, I had really high expectations for this one and they just didn't quite reach it. However, I would still recommend this to anyone who loves a good fairytale retelling, even if it follows the original story just a bit too closely for my taste. (Also, I always appreciate a sequel, but this doesn't really need one and stands pretty well on its own.)

A slow setup narrative to a thrilling and satisfying end. An amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty, complicated, romantic, doomed and tragic.
Alyce is half Vila - abhorred and shirked by society, as well as her house Sisters. Graces are blessed by a light magic, used by those who can afford their services. Alyce shares a house with Rose - a beauty Grace; as she is valued as the opposite of beauty, Rose and Alyce share a mutual disdain for each other.
Alyce is used for her magic as well - vials to give warts, ugliness. Alyce hates every day.
Until she meets Aurora - the last Briar Princess, waiting for true love's kiss to release her from the curse of death at the age of 21.
Their friendship grows as together they search to end the Briar Curse - Alyce finally feels worthy, valued. Until they are torn apart.
This complex plot cannot be summarized without giving anything away.

Absolutely loved this book it gave magic, meets sleeping beauty meets maleficent and everybody had me sing for more

Great book! Thank you for sharing the ARC. Will definitely be adding it to our library collection. This book will be enjoyed by YA readers in our community.

This was definitely not how I expected it would be. Darker than I'd hoped. It was well written and a good story. However, I didn't love it. Too dark for me.

I was excited to read MALICE, and really enjoyed this queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

Heather Walter has put her own spin on this beloved fairytale, as the story follows Alyce, the “villain” and Dark Grace who spends her days creating potions and tinctures she’s hired to make.

Overall I thought it was a great debut, and I can’t wait for the next book!

*many thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I picked it up because I thought the idea of the evil sorceress being Aurora’s true love was such a clever twist. And the book did not disappoint. The middle was a little slow but the ending was perfect. I loved how it turned everything on it’s head. I definitely didn’t see it coming.

This book explores the complicated question of good vs. evil. And much like the movie Maleficent or the play Wicked, asks you to look at the motivations behind the “evil” and whether evil really is evil or just misunderstood or pushed to the brink.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC copy. My opinions are my own.**

Fantastic retelling from the villain PoV. Suspenseful page turner. Absolutely cannot wait for book two!

This was a really interesting retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty story that did a good job of injecting life back into the story we all grew up with. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, although it was a bit predictable (what else to expect with a retelling though, so it’s not a real complaint—just statement of fact)

Alyce serves as the only Dark Grace in Briar and absolutely hates her life. The Graces-magically gifted individuals who are able to use their powers to impact the lives of those around them—are required to help anyone who pays for their service. As the Dark Grace, Alyce is able to make peoples lives a bit worse: an outbreak of warts, temporarily terrible breath, a sudden inability to dance, or any other sort of pettiness that the courtiers would bring to their competition. As such, Alyce is seen as a necessary evil to keep in the town, but they won’t let her forget the “evil” part no matter what.

Malice let’s us follow along with Alyce’s journey to figure out who she is and how that differs from what she came from. Overall a great take on the tale, and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Thank you to Ballantine Del Rey and NetGalley for the gifted ebook of Malice! All opinions in this review are my own.

In this queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty, what if it's the "villian" that is able to break Aurora's curse?

Although it took a little while for me to get into, I ended up really enjoying Malice! When I read retellings, I spend a lot of the time in the beginning looking for similarities to the original text. Malice stands out from its original source material and the world that Walter has created should be explored with a new mind. While Malice is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, it does go beyond the original fairy tale and I recommend trying not to compare the two.

I cannot wait for the second book in this duology!

This was such an unexpected favorite. I loved how the storyline felt similar enough to the original tale but different enough that you're not able to fully predict the ending. Alyce's crave for love and acceptance shows through each page, as well as her growing control of her magic and infatuation with Princess Aurora. Thoroughly good start to this duology!

#Malice by author # Heather Walter is a fun novel. It's book one in her series. This is her debut. What a debut!!
Description:
The last heir to the throne of Briar, Princess Aurora is a kind future queen. With less than a year until a curse that will kill her. Alyce, the villain whom is feared for her dark magic. And of course responsible for the curse..... 💜🐾🐾

4 stars

I'm so mad at myself for putting this off because I read it in one day! I loved it and this twisted retelling. Alyce and Aurora might be my favorite FF couple. I can't wait to read Misrule!

The fact that this book has 470 pages and I finished it in four days speaks for itself.

When I first got an invitation to read and review Malice I thought it was ya book, but man, when I started it I was pleasantly surprised that it was adult story.
However, it doesn't have graphic or violent scenes (there is one scene about hm hm adult activity but it isn't detailed), so I feel like it is perfect choice for readers who usually read ya fantasy but would like to explore adult books in that genre.

The book follows Alice who people call Malice, because of her dark magic and her look, which is different from what their society considers as beautiful.
Alice is also a narrator of this story that is written in first person.

The whole atmosphere in the novel is dark and gray, at least that is how I imagined it, and therefore it is perfect to read during winter.

This is Sleeping Beauty retelling (with some parts that reminded me of Cinderella) and it is also a fantasy romance in which protagonists are our dear Malice and Aurora.
To some it might sound cheesy, but trust me, it isn't. In matter of fact, it is a good story, with interesting plotline in which love story isn't in main focus, although it is important part.
Because of it, I think this book could appeal to big audience and not just romance lovers.
If you like retellings, you will probably appreciate this novel.

With more than few surprises the story left me confused at times, but still it was so enjoyable and also, the cast of characters was interesting to follow.

The ending was good but at the same time I wish it had better closure...
I mean, I felt like it was cut off in the middle of the action, which makes sense since this is duology...
Now I wish I had the sequel already, but I guess I'll have to wait for another year...

This is a really interesting retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. Where some retellings stick very close to the source material, the author's world-building and character development does a good job at making it feel like its own story. It does end on a cliffhanger, but I am excited to see where the story goes!

A lovely twist on “Sleeping Beauty” with a unique magic system and a F/F relationship that makes it fun and modern. A cute YA fantasy story that’s very creative

A gorgeous, dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty in which the princess falls hard for the evil sorceress. I absolutely loved every page of this book, all the way up to the heart-pounding crescendo ending. Alyce channeling her inner Daenerys was a scene to die for!

Alyce is half-Vila, half-shifter and she has been forced to work in Briar, in the Grace district, as the Dark Grace, which essentially means she is required to make dark potions with curses for an endless stream of entitled, spoiled, rich patrons. She is the outcast, the hated and despised “half-breed” capable only of harming people with her magic. The Graces are her polar opposites, or so it seems. Their golden blood allows them to create magic potions that make people beautiful, smart and talented. Alyce’s green blood is a curse in itself.

When she meets Kal - a shifter cursed and bound to the decaying tower at the edge of sea cliffs - she starts to learn about the true history of Briar and the power within herself.

Can Alyce change her fate and escape from Briar? Can she help princess Aurora break the curse that will kill her as soon as she turns 21?

Malyce is such a great retelling, I just loved the queer spin on Aurora’s story and absolutely loved the flawed, temperamental character of Alyce. The ending of the first volume was such a heart-pounding thrill ride - it would make for a visually stunning movie adaptation! I loved the world-building and political intricacies of the plot line, enjoyed learning about the realms and different types of magic. This was a very well fleshed out story, full of details and chemistry between characters. Can’t recommend it enough!

A decent story. I love the twist on a retelling. This is a story of Princess Aurora and villainous Alyce, who is outcast as a monster because of her gift. But is she really a monster. This stories brings about metaphors of greed in human nature. So many twist and turns. I finish this book so fast. Can’t wait to read the next book!