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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
400+ pages in a day? Didn't feel like it! Needless to say, the novel was unputdownable. Alyce was an amazing character, and the buildup to her descent into villainy was fantastic. I look forward to her redemption arc and of course, her reunion with Aurora.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everything about this book screams Morgan, and it was one of my most anticipated reads for a long time. I didn’t love it as much as I expected but the second half is really good and I’m excited to pick up book 2! The first half of the book felt slow to me; I wasn’t connecting to Alyce and it was a bit of a chore to pick up even though I loved the lore and worldbuilding. But when Alyce met Aurora it definitely picked up, and the last 100 pages in particular were so good! I like how Heather Walter has twisted the Sleeping Beauty story, it’s very clever. And the characters grew on me; there were parts that felt kind of info dumpy, while also being purple prose. I don’t know. But I would still recommend it, it’s a good story that took a little while to capture my full attention.
This was SO good!
I loved this story. Alyce was a great character, and it was great to have a MC who wasn’t the usual standard of beautiful. She wasn’t good. She wasn’t perfect. She was flawed, and lonely. She wanted to find a place to belong, for someone to accept her.
I was never much of a Sleeping Beauty fan, but this retelling! It was nothing like I expected it to be, and in a good way.
I didn’t realise this was part of a series though, so that made me sad realising the next book isn’t even out yet!
I loved this story. Alyce was a great character, and it was great to have a MC who wasn’t the usual standard of beautiful. She wasn’t good. She wasn’t perfect. She was flawed, and lonely. She wanted to find a place to belong, for someone to accept her.
I was never much of a Sleeping Beauty fan, but this retelling! It was nothing like I expected it to be, and in a good way.
I didn’t realise this was part of a series though, so that made me sad realising the next book isn’t even out yet!
3.5⭐️
This was a retelling of sleeping beauty that didn’t really feel like it, which I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad thing, but I liked it.
Alyce was an interesting character, but I wish we knew even more about her, her past and her powers, though I guess that part is going to be talked about in the second book so I can’t be mad about that.
The pacing was a bit weird cause the first 80% of the book was at a normal pace, maybe a little slow sometimes, and then the last 20% is just AAAAAA CHAOS. I think that’s my biggest critique of this book, because I’ve also seen many people say that they dnf’ed this because they felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. I didn’t dnf it because I always finish books but I was definitely tempted so yeah.
This was a retelling of sleeping beauty that didn’t really feel like it, which I can’t tell if it’s a good or a bad thing, but I liked it.
Alyce was an interesting character, but I wish we knew even more about her, her past and her powers, though I guess that part is going to be talked about in the second book so I can’t be mad about that.
The pacing was a bit weird cause the first 80% of the book was at a normal pace, maybe a little slow sometimes, and then the last 20% is just AAAAAA CHAOS. I think that’s my biggest critique of this book, because I’ve also seen many people say that they dnf’ed this because they felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. I didn’t dnf it because I always finish books but I was definitely tempted so yeah.
I have very mixed feelings on this book. While there were parts I thoroughly enjoyed, some of it seemed to fall a little flat for me. One major downfall was that I didn't connect with many of the characters, least of all Alyce, the protagonist. She was such a woe-is-me, while simultaneously telling the audience again and again how different she was from everybody else. It gets a touch repetitive once you really get into the story.
On the positive side, I did enjoy the writing. Heather Walter has the type of voice that's just simplistic and fun enough that I can read her for hours on end. The concept is spectacular, and I really enjoyed seeing the story of Sleeping Beauty told from a new perspective. Malice is one of those books that, even if it isn't precisely what I typically read and write, it lends some inspiration to me in my own work, something that I am always grateful to find. In that sense, I am inclined to say I'm happy to have read the book, even if I didn't think it was the perfect fit for me. And I will be moving onto the sequel in the near future, since I have an ARC. I'm interested to see where she's headed from here.
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On the positive side, I did enjoy the writing. Heather Walter has the type of voice that's just simplistic and fun enough that I can read her for hours on end. The concept is spectacular, and I really enjoyed seeing the story of Sleeping Beauty told from a new perspective. Malice is one of those books that, even if it isn't precisely what I typically read and write, it lends some inspiration to me in my own work, something that I am always grateful to find. In that sense, I am inclined to say I'm happy to have read the book, even if I didn't think it was the perfect fit for me. And I will be moving onto the sequel in the near future, since I have an ARC. I'm interested to see where she's headed from here.
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3.5⭐
I don't write reviews really unless I have negative things to say about the book, so buckle up.
I felt very conflicted with this one. The premise was amazing and I really did enjoy the romance and the sapphic rep, but there were just some things that bothered me.
1. The way the other Graces treated Alyce. Specifically Rose. I feel like there was so much potential to show a relationship between two women who don't like each other, but can respect each other in the end. And that just never happened. There were so many parts where I thought that they would finally have a breakthrough moment where they wouldn't necessarily be friends, but rather be allies in a sense. Rose's hatred towards Alyce was just so stupid and had no real purpose behind it. Rose's character being dumbed down to the mean girl who harasses the main character really took away from the book.
2. Half-breed. Wtf. The amount of times that is said as if that's a normal thing? Alyce is affected by the phrase, but the author never really dives into why that should NEVER be a descriptor for a person. And somehow everything Endlewild did to Alyce is just excused? Including his usage of that phrase. It felt like we were supposed to sympathize with him or excuse what he did, but I never got to that point reading it.
3. Going along with Endlewild, Laurel's betrayal and her relationship with him. Literally everything she said at the end made me so mad because why was anything Endlewild did okay? Every chance she got she defended the man who caused Alyce severe trauma TO ALYCE. She never understood Alyce's trauma and it just frustrated me how little importance she gave to Alyce and how she felt about everything.
The romance was good. I really enjoyed Alyce becoming the villain in the end (women who are villains are superior). But the character arc of Rose, Endlewild's character in general, and Laurel's betrayal really took away from the book. Read this for the sapphic villain and don't expect too much else.
I don't write reviews really unless I have negative things to say about the book, so buckle up.
I felt very conflicted with this one. The premise was amazing and I really did enjoy the romance and the sapphic rep, but there were just some things that bothered me.
1. The way the other Graces treated Alyce. Specifically Rose. I feel like there was so much potential to show a relationship between two women who don't like each other, but can respect each other in the end. And that just never happened. There were so many parts where I thought that they would finally have a breakthrough moment where they wouldn't necessarily be friends, but rather be allies in a sense. Rose's hatred towards Alyce was just so stupid and had no real purpose behind it. Rose's character being dumbed down to the mean girl who harasses the main character really took away from the book.
2. Half-breed. Wtf. The amount of times that is said as if that's a normal thing? Alyce is affected by the phrase, but the author never really dives into why that should NEVER be a descriptor for a person. And somehow everything Endlewild did to Alyce is just excused? Including his usage of that phrase. It felt like we were supposed to sympathize with him or excuse what he did, but I never got to that point reading it.
3. Going along with Endlewild, Laurel's betrayal and her relationship with him. Literally everything she said at the end made me so mad because why was anything Endlewild did okay? Every chance she got she defended the man who caused Alyce severe trauma TO ALYCE. She never understood Alyce's trauma and it just frustrated me how little importance she gave to Alyce and how she felt about everything.
The romance was good. I really enjoyed Alyce becoming the villain in the end (women who are villains are superior). But the character arc of Rose, Endlewild's character in general, and Laurel's betrayal really took away from the book. Read this for the sapphic villain and don't expect too much else.
very very interesting premise. awful awful ending though. a complete tone shift, that wasn’t led up to by the first 90% of the book. one of the most jarring endings i’ve read. not even shocking, just completely unearned.
also the phrase dragons teeth was so overused here. every other page. dragons teeth. dragons teeth. dragons teeth. please, i beg.
i love the world building here, which makes this novel even more disappointing. this was about 3.5 stars until the ending, which easily dropped this down to 2 stars.
also the phrase dragons teeth was so overused here. every other page. dragons teeth. dragons teeth. dragons teeth. please, i beg.
i love the world building here, which makes this novel even more disappointing. this was about 3.5 stars until the ending, which easily dropped this down to 2 stars.
4.5 stars rounding up despite being a little disappointed but that's probably 100% because I generally read standalones and this books ends in several different cliffhangers.
This book was wonderful. The tale is crafted so beautifully that you are still waiting for the obvious plot points with bated breath, but also surprised by many things. I have only recently started reading again and it has been many years since I have read a book like this. I am infinitely sad that I have to wait for the next one!
Also super happy for the representation and depicting a main character who isn't good and perfect and kind all of the time.
(My reviews are largely to remember my own thoughts, apologies if it's not well-spoken!)
This book was wonderful. The tale is crafted so beautifully that you are still waiting for the obvious plot points with bated breath, but also surprised by many things. I have only recently started reading again and it has been many years since I have read a book like this. I am infinitely sad that I have to wait for the next one!
Also super happy for the representation and depicting a main character who isn't good and perfect and kind all of the time.
(My reviews are largely to remember my own thoughts, apologies if it's not well-spoken!)
This book had it’s flaws ofc, and it was a bit slow or felt rushed in certain parts, but once I got out of my reading slump… Bro, I DEVOURED this in like two days. Like, I loved Alyce and Aurora. They’re everything to me. I’m totally reading Misrule. I need to after that ending.