I'm a big fan of re-imagined fairy tales, and this one kept me turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it. At first, I was disconcerted by the ending .... but as the dust of reading settled, I became comfortable with how "Malice" fits in well with the already-published "Sleeping Beauty" body of work. Kudos to a well-imagined and well-executed tale!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I wanted to love this book so badly. Dark retelling if a fairy tale, and making it sapphic?? That’s my jam. As soon as I’d heard of this book, I’d had it on my to-read list and I was thrilled when it was on NetGalley and even moreso when I was accepted for it.

However, the book starts off with Alyce, the Dark Grace as very much another NLOG (Not Like Other Girls) trope that was popularized in mid-2000s. Unlike most versions of the trope, she doesn’t have good relationships with boys instead, thankfully. She has fairly shallow and negative relationships with her fellow Graces, nearly all who despise and look down upon her throughout the book for her Vila blood. Her most positive relationship with another women who isn't Aurora is a woman she buys supplies from. While I know that this is certainly meant to be a darker take with morally grey protagonist, I would have hoped that Alyce might have at least a few female acquaintances who were feminine, to balance out Alyce's many rivals who were very feminine themselves. There are some minor plot holes having to do with magic

There are certainly concepts that I liked-- a rose-and-brair-crown dipped in golden fae blood that can only be worn by those of a certain bloodline, how families might take matters in their own hands to avoid passing down bloodline curses, how to deal with curses that can only be broken by a "true love's kiss", discussion of how not all "true love kisses" are good, how power can whittled away through generations, and what happens after fairy magic might fade. There's an intriguing sequel hook that I'll likely be reading!

I wish I liked this book more. I really do.

This book is well written and has good character development I just couldn’t personally get into the story and found it a little bit of a struggle to keep reading. Either way it just left a little lacking for me personally. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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.

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

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.

Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for a digital ARC of Malice.

We are getting a sequel right? I NEED a sequel after that ending.

Malice is a YA fantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with a twist. There is no Prince to save the Princess Aurora, instead it is Alyce, the villain of the story, not because she is truly one but because she is branded as one due to her unique gifts and the color of her blood. Alyce has lived all of her life being humiliated and shamed for being what she is, she does not truly not what joy or happiness is until she meets Aurora. Aurora is cursed, but not with the curse that we have know, and she is a headstrong princess that wants to make up her own mind and change how the kingdom is.

Let me tell you that this book had be at the edge of my seat. I loved the magic system and how atmospheric it felt at times. I absolutely adored that Alyce is not your typical villain, and she truly is not good or evil, she's balanced as both.

I rated this book 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 and cannot wait to see if we are going to get more of the Malice universe.

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!