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.

I give Malice a solid 3. A wlw take on Sleeping Beauty and is told from Alyce's point of view. There are Fae and by their magic offer Graces, female children blessed with magic. It turns their blood gold then silver as they age or their magic Fades. Briar has an interesting history and the worldbuilding was nice. I appreciate the sapphic twist and the story was interesting. A solid 3 star.

3 Stars

STORY

Characters | 3 stars
We could have used more time building a relationship with Kal, and less info dumps. The characters of the Graces were well crafted and developed but deeper relationships we’re supposed to believe just happened in a blink were a bit of a stretch.
Alyce is doubtful of herself nearly the entire book and the end result is disastrous, but I do like when a character really snaps. And oh, did she snap.

Plot | 3 stars
While the plot did not lag, and had its share of surprises, I spotted the twists and betrayals early. I did not think the end would play out as it did, and I’m very curious to know if there would be another story coming after this one.

Setting | 3 stars
Interesting setting, I felt I understood the system of the world and our characters’ places both in the city of Briar and the outer world.

TECHNICAL

Writing | 3 stars

Editing | N/A
As an ARC, this is not a final version and editing will not be rated.

Execution | 3 stars
The ending was a surprise and probably saved my opinion, but the majority of the book was extremely long info dumps.

EMOTIONAL

Engagement | 4 stars
Definitely engaged, once I got a few chapters in I needed to know how things would play out.

Emotional Connection | 2 stars
Overall did not connect much with the characters and while I loved to see the ff romance I did not think it believable at all (I should clarify that I don’t see any romance at all as necessarily believable in this story). I don’t care how much you love the inner self; when the entire book describes a character as greasy, smelly, and with flaking, scaly skin I just do not believe for an instant that physical attraction exists. Anytime Aurora and Alyce bonded through conversation and shared ideas? Yes. But nothing else.

This was honestly really good! You could really feel Alice's trouble and feel real sympathy with her. She may be the "villain" eventually but every villain has an origin story. She did not just wake up one day and decide to be "evil".
Alice's part of the story not only reminded me of Maleficent but also Cinderella in the way that she was an outcast and everyone she lived with really did not like her.
The whole time reading I was really rooting for Alice and Aurora to eventually find a way, knowing that it probably would not happen, considering the story it is based on. I still wanted to believe it to happen, though.
I did feel that I could've used more backstory on the other species in the book, but knowing that it is written from Alice's point of view, and that she probably doesn't know that much either, it's fine. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be recommending this!

Holy Wickedness!!!!!!!

Alyce - Malyce - The Dark Grace - Part Vila ....... and other things.



This is the ya fantasy book that should be like all ya a fantasy books. Oh, and before I forget, let’s take a moment to admire that beautiful cover -CUE ELEVATOR MUSIC....

Now that’s done let me tell you how much I love Alyce. She’s wicked but not really wicked and she’s also something else entirely. BUT, when you beat someone down all of their life at some point shit’s going to hit the fan.

Oh and she had this beautiful Kestrel she saved from dying as a baby and her name is Callow. She had a frog too.



Anywayyyyy..... Alyce becomes friends with Princess Aurora and it’s just wonderful until some twats come along and mess it up. And some other friends turn on her and that gets messed up and people want to use her, kill her, etc and so on.

At some point your girl is gonna break! I’m not saying any more, you’ll have to read it for yourself and decide if you like it. I loved it!! 😘



I’m sooooo looking forward to these books and will be adding to my collection.

*I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House for a digital copy of this book!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

From the exquisite cover to the stellar blurb, this book was an instant click request for me. I love fairy tale retellings, and Sleeping Beauty holds a soft spot in my heart. My daughter's favorite princess, there's not a week that goes by that we don't read the classic Disney version of Aurora and her curse, so I was thrilled to be approved for this title.

Alyce is the Dark Grace, an eponym she's not fond of and can't shirk. Different from her sisters, the Graces, Alyce can't charm beauty or wit, and no one lets her forget her outcast status. But as the fate of the princess Aurora becomes dire, Alyce finds herself in an interesting position. She's learning more about her history, about her powers, about herself, and these strands just may lead to the path of saving Briar from the centuries-long curse.

This is an excellent read.

First, I'm not a fan of long, drawn-out worldbuilding sequences. I want to know details as I need them, not be handed exposition on a fifty-page platter, and Walter structured this story well. I loved getting to know the nuances of Briar's history, the war and all its effects, and the law system controlling the Graces. This is where the story really shone for me. The Graces hold so much power, but aren't free to use this power at will. The court controls their lives, and because of this, we're given the perfect motivation for unrest.

The connection between the past and present, too, is necessary in highlighting the urgency of Alyce's turmoil. As a narrator, I found her voice to be strong and endearing. I got some Cinderella-esque dynamics between her and her sisters, and I quite enjoyed her interactions with the other Graces. It's difficult to create a character shunned for her differences who overcomes doubt in order to blossom without depicting a trope. This is even more so the case when you're focusing on a story that everyone knows and some consider cannon. However, Walter gave us a sapphic take on this tale that was fresh and ethereal. The romance between Alyce and Aurora has potential to launch a solid series.

I will say that this is a slow build to the action. That's not to say the first half of the book drags or lacks interesting details, but for me, the real magic started happening at about the halfway point. Character arcs started developing depth, and the conflict became more obvious yet layered. The final chapter is especially spectacular, and if you're looking for a book that goes out with a bang, this will definitely be the one for you.

Mysterious, charming, and engrossing, Malice is a wonderful take on a classic fairy tale that you won't want to miss. Out in April 2021, add it to your TBRs now.

Big thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Malice by Heather Walter takes everything you thought you knew about one of the world's most famous fairytales and turns it on its head. Walter crafts a thorough and expansive world around the main character, Alyce, filled with troublesome class structures, prejudices, and power hungry royals. At the beginning of the novel, I believed it to be quite different from the typical Sleeping Beauty retelling, until twist after twist somehow brought me to the exact story I grew up with, but now with an entirely new outlook on the events unfolding. It was constantly clear that the author was ten steps ahead of me, and no matter how much I believed I knew who and what to trust.
As a sapphic reader, my heart swelled to see two women falling in love inside a classic tale. We've all consumed countless stories in which princes save the day and get the girl, and I don't believe I'm alone in craving more than that. I've heard that 2021 is supposed to be the year of Queer Reads, and this book does not disappoint.
I am a firm believer that the final chapter of a book is always its best, and I can confidently say that this ending had me completely reeling. Walter is incredible at offering tiny bits of hope, only to rip them away from you at the most painful moments. I believe our leading lady, Alyce, would agree with me.
Malice is a perfect read for fans of Heartless by Marissa Meyer.

Malice is a beautifully dark, sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Alyce has always been ostracized for her green skin and rare magical powers. Upon meeting Princess Aurora, doomed to die unless she can find her true love, Alyce assumes that Aurora will be like the rest of the intolerant court. When she realizes that Aurora would rather break her own curse than rely on a prince, Alyce teams up with the princess to help her escape her fate. As her magical powers grow, Alyce begins to draw attention and must choose whom to trust.

I love stories featuring morally gray characters! This is a lovely and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty, filled with plenty of magic and interesting worldbuilding. I always love when a princess plans to save herself and this was no exception. The love story between Aurora and Alyce is a delightful slow-burn romance. As Alyce learns about the history behind her powers and heritage, the carefully crafted worldbuilding shines. If you enjoy retellings of tales we assume we know, LGBTQ rep, and morally gray characters then you will love Malice. Malice releases on April 13, 2021. Thank you to Heather Walter, Del Rey Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For the publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble etc.