Malice Published by Random House Publishing Group on April 13, 2021 Source: Netgalley Arc
Genres: Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, General
Pages: 480
Find the Author: Website, Blog, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram
Format: Ebook Arc
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A princess isn't supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this "bewitching and fascinating" (Tamora Pierce) retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," true love is more than a simple fairy tale.
"Walter's spellbinding debut is for all the queer girls and women who've been told to keep their gifts hidden and for those yearning to defy gravity."--O: The Oprah Magazine
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
Review
Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die on their 21st birthday if they did not receive a true love kiss. A sleeping beauty retelling with a steamy LBTQ representation that was just so perfect for this story, a story about identity, relationships, knowing who you are, not who the world says you are, and coming into your own as a person. The epic character Alyce who is the evil vila in this world, has been deemed a monster due to her blood being the wrong color to be a grace. Graces are the favored ones with amazing magic that are paid to alter human apprentices, have incredible wisdom, or in some cases are pleasure graces. Alyce, though, is a dark grace cause she part vila with green blood who been branded, humiliated, and shamed as a villain all cause her gifts are horrifying, dark but mind-blowing beyond anything the good graces could imagine. The author weaves this story with fantastic imagery, the world building is impressive, and just the right amount of steamy romance. If your a maleficent fan, a fan of unique retellings, or want an epic read pick this one up today.
“Can you image what it was like for me? To be drowned in Etherian baths, fed every vile remedy, and tortured with fae magic all for my blood being the wrong shade? Check out my review of the wickedly delish book Malice by… Click To Tweet
About Heather Walter
Heather Walter is a native southerner who hates the heat. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, she is both a former English teacher and a current librarian. Perhaps it is because she’s surrounded by stories that she began writing them. At any given moment, you can find her plotting. This is her first novel.
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