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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Dnf'd. I thought this was such a good concept, but I found the first person narration irritating.
Malice // by Heather Walter
As it happens so often, by the time I get around to actually reading a book, I've already forgotten the description of it. I just know I really want to read it. And with multiple reader friends recommending it, I had no hesitation when I did finally pick this up. I dove right into it and let me tell you, I barely put it down once I started.
Looking back at it now, the description clearly says that the main character is a villain. Of course, I did not remember that though. So I went through the first half of the book learning about this young lady, enjoying her magic that is obviously quite different from everyone else's, learning about her take on society's rules, and cheering on her small victories -- all the while waiting for her big moment. And oh that moment came! This is truly a villain origin story and I am here for it! This is such a fun retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a unique take. While it isn't actually marked as YA, it does remind me of their usual writing style for fantasy - something I often don't really enjoy but that really worked for me here.
I do wish there was a little more description of the world and the magic system, maybe a little more intricate character work, but to be honest, the action swept me along so much that I didn't even think of those things until it was over. So clearly despite those short-comings regarding my personal preferences, it still was an excellent read that provided enough fun and action that look past those things. I definitely recommend this read and cannot wait for book 2 to come out!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
As it happens so often, by the time I get around to actually reading a book, I've already forgotten the description of it. I just know I really want to read it. And with multiple reader friends recommending it, I had no hesitation when I did finally pick this up. I dove right into it and let me tell you, I barely put it down once I started.
Looking back at it now, the description clearly says that the main character is a villain. Of course, I did not remember that though. So I went through the first half of the book learning about this young lady, enjoying her magic that is obviously quite different from everyone else's, learning about her take on society's rules, and cheering on her small victories -- all the while waiting for her big moment. And oh that moment came! This is truly a villain origin story and I am here for it! This is such a fun retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a unique take. While it isn't actually marked as YA, it does remind me of their usual writing style for fantasy - something I often don't really enjoy but that really worked for me here.
I do wish there was a little more description of the world and the magic system, maybe a little more intricate character work, but to be honest, the action swept me along so much that I didn't even think of those things until it was over. So clearly despite those short-comings regarding my personal preferences, it still was an excellent read that provided enough fun and action that look past those things. I definitely recommend this read and cannot wait for book 2 to come out!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
W skrócie: jest to retelling historii Śpiącej Królewny, opowiedziany z perspektywy"złej czarownicy". Jednak mamy tutaj zwrot akcji, bo czarownica jest w wieku księżniczki i się w niej zakochuje. Z wzajemnością...
Powiem Wam, że nie spodziewałam się, że ta historia mnie aż tak wciągnie i aż tak mi się spodoba! Myślałam, że będzie to po prostu nudnawy typowy retelling baśni, że jedyne co się zmieni to wątek miłości królewny i czarownicy. A jednak mamy tutaj sporo różnych ciekawych wątków, które urozmaicają i rozbudowują historię, w jednym w pierwszych rozdziałów mamy tutaj też sceny rodem z Kopciuszka. Pojawiają się tutaj fae, ich magia, stara wojna, która właściwie nigdy się nie skończyła... Dlatego myślę, że opisy podawane na stronach księgarni zdecydowanie nie oddają jej pełnej wartości. Znowu porównuję do Dworów, ale "Malice" jest podobnie luźno bazowana na Śpiącej Królewnie, jak "Dwór cierni i róż" na Pięknej i Bestii, mamy tutaj wykreowany zupełnie inny świat niż ten baśniowy (i też mamy fae!).
Jeśli chodzi o nasze bohaterki, Podobało mi się to, że Aurora, księżniczka, która w baśni jest dość bezosobowa i nudna, tutaj ma niezły charakterek i kiedy tylko się pojawiała na mojej twarzy pojawiał się uśmiech. Skradła moje serce swoimi ciętymi ripostami i ostrymi komentarzami. Alice, główna bohaterka, również mi się spodobała. Przez cały czas przechodziła ona jednak ogromną przemianę, zwłaszcza w drugiej połowie książki, i sama już nie wiem, którą jej wersję bardziej polubiłam. A zakończenie mnie po prostu zszokowało, chociaż niektóre jego elementy przewidziałam (pomijając już wątek snu królewny). Całe szczęście, że w planach jest kontynuacja...
Powiem Wam, że nie spodziewałam się, że ta historia mnie aż tak wciągnie i aż tak mi się spodoba! Myślałam, że będzie to po prostu nudnawy typowy retelling baśni, że jedyne co się zmieni to wątek miłości królewny i czarownicy. A jednak mamy tutaj sporo różnych ciekawych wątków, które urozmaicają i rozbudowują historię, w jednym w pierwszych rozdziałów mamy tutaj też sceny rodem z Kopciuszka. Pojawiają się tutaj fae, ich magia, stara wojna, która właściwie nigdy się nie skończyła... Dlatego myślę, że opisy podawane na stronach księgarni zdecydowanie nie oddają jej pełnej wartości. Znowu porównuję do Dworów, ale "Malice" jest podobnie luźno bazowana na Śpiącej Królewnie, jak "Dwór cierni i róż" na Pięknej i Bestii, mamy tutaj wykreowany zupełnie inny świat niż ten baśniowy (i też mamy fae!).
Jeśli chodzi o nasze bohaterki, Podobało mi się to, że Aurora, księżniczka, która w baśni jest dość bezosobowa i nudna, tutaj ma niezły charakterek i kiedy tylko się pojawiała na mojej twarzy pojawiał się uśmiech. Skradła moje serce swoimi ciętymi ripostami i ostrymi komentarzami. Alice, główna bohaterka, również mi się spodobała. Przez cały czas przechodziła ona jednak ogromną przemianę, zwłaszcza w drugiej połowie książki, i sama już nie wiem, którą jej wersję bardziej polubiłam. A zakończenie mnie po prostu zszokowało, chociaż niektóre jego elementy przewidziałam (pomijając już wątek snu królewny). Całe szczęście, że w planach jest kontynuacja...
Great story until the end, it was frustrating to end in a BIG cliffhanger and the other book not coming until about a year from now. I recommend reading it until after you have both books.
nothing like a good fairytale retelling , alyce and aurora were soo cute and adorable at the begining i was kicking my feet twirling my hair BUT then the last 40% WOAHHHFKHJ alyce is my favourite character she's amazing and everything you can ask for in a protagonist
really excited to read the second book
really excited to read the second book
nothing like a good fairytale retelling , alyce and aurora were soo cute and adorable at the begining i was kicking my feet twirling my hair BUT then the last 40% WOAHHHFKHJ alyce is my favourite character she's amazing and everything you can ask for in a protagonist
really excited to read the second book
really excited to read the second book
What would happen if Maleficent fell in love with Princess Aurora? Just the perfect Sleeping Beauty retelling, but gay.
Alyce is a Dark Grace, hated and feared for her mysterious magic. Humiliated and shamed all her life, everything changes when she meets Aurora, the cursed princess of the kingdom.
I loved Alyce and the insight into her thoughts and feelings. I loved reading how there is not just good or evil; there are many shades. People we consider evil can have a kind heart, and even the sweetest of people can have a dark side. Our choices define who we are,that's what dictates which side we lean to.
I loved the dark touches given to the story of Sleeping Beauty. I found it fascinating to read the perspective of a villainess. We get to see her inner struggle. I don't think I've read many books from this perspective so it was a really cool experience. This was even the first retelling I've read and it has motivated me to give others a chance. Especially with this perspective.
I loved the romance. There is no instant love, the relationship has its pace and I loved every moment together. I was destroyed by the ending. I hope the relationship picks up and strengthens in the next book.
I loved this story. The characters are beautifully written and had me emotionally invested. The whole thing was a roller coaster which I enjoyed.
I recommend this book and the sequel completely.
mysterious
tense
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
From the opening pages of Heather Walter's debut, I was hooked on Malice. Alyce is a complex character, so reviled by all of her peers it's impossible not to sympathize with her plight. The last known member of her kind, Alyce is a Dark Grace, part Vila, green-skinned and blooded. Vilas deal in curses and terror, punishment and revenge. The rest of the Graces of Lavender House and throughout Briar have gifts in magic in beauty, wisdom, art, and other attributes everyone desires, blessed by the fae of Etheria. Universally hated, all Alyce wants is to save up enough money to escape Briar and go somewhere to live out her own life without being forced to use her gifts to create elixirs and curses for the petty people of Briar.
But all of that changes when she has a chance meeting with the crown princess Aurora. The last surviving heir to Briar's throne, Aurora has only months left to live before the curse that claimed her sisters ends her, too. If she doesn't find true love's kiss before her 21st birthday, Aurora will die just like her sisters. When Aurora is the only person to accept Alyce as she is and not judge her for the actions and crimes of her ancestors, Alyce finds herself unable to resist helping Aurora in any way she can.
This LGBTQIA retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the evil sorceress's point of view was engrossing right from the beginning. While some may find the pacing to be slow, I loved that Walter takes the time to describe so many elements of world-building. It's intricate and vivid, and Walter nails the details of the history of the realms, the magic of the Graces and Vila, and the war between the fae and the humans. Walter's characters are all vivid and interesting, with so many dwelling in that gray area between hero and villain it's nearly impossible not to empathize with them all.
Malice ends with enough closure to be satisfying and still leaves readers wanting more. I'm so excited for the second book. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC of this book.
But all of that changes when she has a chance meeting with the crown princess Aurora. The last surviving heir to Briar's throne, Aurora has only months left to live before the curse that claimed her sisters ends her, too. If she doesn't find true love's kiss before her 21st birthday, Aurora will die just like her sisters. When Aurora is the only person to accept Alyce as she is and not judge her for the actions and crimes of her ancestors, Alyce finds herself unable to resist helping Aurora in any way she can.
This LGBTQIA retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the evil sorceress's point of view was engrossing right from the beginning. While some may find the pacing to be slow, I loved that Walter takes the time to describe so many elements of world-building. It's intricate and vivid, and Walter nails the details of the history of the realms, the magic of the Graces and Vila, and the war between the fae and the humans. Walter's characters are all vivid and interesting, with so many dwelling in that gray area between hero and villain it's nearly impossible not to empathize with them all.
Malice ends with enough closure to be satisfying and still leaves readers wanting more. I'm so excited for the second book. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I really was not feeling a connection to the characters or the story.