Malice

A Novel

By: Heather Walter

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

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

©2021 Heather Walter (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The villain takes center stage in Walter’s superlative debut, a refreshing spin on Sleeping Beauty.... Fairy tale lovers of all ages will be thrilled.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“A truly original and clever retelling of a classic that had me racing to the end - you’ll never look at ‘Sleeping Beauty’ the same way again.” (S. A. Chakraborty, author of the best-selling Daevabad trilogy)

“Absolutely dazzling! Full of love, power, and betrayal, Malice is as compelling as a spell, as captivating as an enchantment, and as fascinating and delicious as a fairy-tale curse. I loved it!” (Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of the Queens of Renthia series)

Couldn't stop listening.

This book is exactly what I was looking for. LGBT+ representation, fantasy, magic, overcoming oppression, strong women! A somewhat familiar story but unique enough to stand alone. A few predictable parts but it ends strong. I am very pleased with the ending and fingers crossed there's more malice to come. 20 stars!

Spoilers Included in review

Very well written and cute I'm regards to the blossoming relationship. Build up and lore is impeccable unfortunately it follows along with the same old LGBTQ+ formula, one of them sorta survives and they don't get to live happily ever after. Should have expected it, yet here we are, another sad gay story, even if it slaps for 90% of the time.

Rooting for the Villian

Ever empathize with the Villain in the story? What drives villains? What pushes people beyond their limits?
Well, here we have an author who explores those questions.
I didn't like how Game of Thrones ended either.
Maybe there will be a sequel.

The villain …. Swoon!

A hero will sacrifice the one she loves to save the universe. The villain will destroy the universe to save the one she loves. Alice is a villain, and I loved her. The story is deeper and much more intricate than I had expected. The world building is great, and the twists and betrayals are sublime. I am saddened that I will have to wait a full year for book 2 :(

I highly recommend if sapphic, romantic fairy tale retelling is your thing! It wasn’t mine, but it is now!

Fabulous!

A twisting (or only a view from a different angle?) of a well known fairytale. The story seems inhuman, but it turns out to be the opposite. A girl never ac'knowledge and accepted by people around her, except for a few, reach her limits and becomes what her mockers call her and expect her to be. Very well written, and read! Recommended!

Good story but sad.

I loved the story but God that was sad how things went at the end. Guess I was hoping that things would work out but guess I saw that coming and could understand but still...

Wow

This was incredible! Thank you to the author and voice actor for this experience!

What can I say other than it's gay?

Sleeping Beauty wasn't my favorite Disney tale, but I was intrigued by the promise of an LGBT retelling.

It was interesting seeing the nods toward the original story, especially how it came full circle at the end, and it was also interesting to see the added details and fleshing out of the magic of Briar and it's inhabitants.

However, though the characters were 20+ it read like a YA story at the beginning. There isn't much complexity other than the fact that Alyce is "different" and is treated as such. A lot of the plot was very predictable and to be honest the couple in the story has almost ho chemistry. The love interest has little to no character development and her whole thing is that she's "the good one" who loves Alyce just as she is and wants to change the world. Frankly, it's just not a trope that I feel like is overdone. And the two have more arguments in the book than they do any dialouge that actually sets them up as a couple.

Additionally, the author sometimes loses track of the various plots and characters. There were times while reading it that I wondered "wait what about xyz it's almost like she forgot about it."

It did pick up a little bit about halfway through the book, but only in terms of better writing and not necessarily in plot which was still predictable up until the end (and not just because you might be familiar with the sleeping beauty story)

HOWEVER, the narrator did an amazing voice and honestly if it wasn't for her this book wouldn't have been as good.

But also, as an LGBT person I will continue to ravenously consume LGBT content. Despite it all, I am so happy that books like this exist for the younger generation and that we are getting representation of non-hetero relationships in books. I'm still going to listen to the second book in the series and hope it's better because I want to support those who are putting out LGBT content.

My favorite Briar Rose retelling ever

This was a beautiful retelling. Vivid story telling. I couldn’t get enough. The LGBT+ aspect was done authentically. I wish there was more stories like this when I was a YA.

Loved it

I loved this first book. There are definitely moments when you want to shake Alice for not coming to the realization of things sooner, but overall the story is exciting and is a great retelling.