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kairos93's profile picture

kairos93 's review for:

Malice by Heather Walter
3.5
adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Malice by Heather Walter is an inventive and entertaining reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, blending a sapphic romance with the darker allure of a villain origin story. It’s an alright read for fans of fairytale retellings, though it leans into familiar YA tropes and a straightforward writing style.

What I enjoyed most was the worldbuilding surrounding the Graces and their magic. I only wish this aspect had taken centre stage more often, as it added richness to the narrative.

The book started strong, drawing me in with its creativity and promise of darker themes. However, the ending left me a underwhelmed. For a story about a villain’s rise, it didn’t quite deliver intensity I was hoping for. It fell very short.