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A review by larainsidebooks
Malice by Heather Walter
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So far, I've never read a retelling from the perspective of a "villian". With nods to the true tale of Sleeping Beauty, the facts we all know and with a fresh and new world, the author really made this story interesting. Alyce as a protagonist is layered, complex, with internalized hatred towards herself, because all her life she's been told that she is evil, her power is evil and bad and she herself is hideous and not worthy. All she wanted was to be like other Graces, all of them who can do beautiful things with their golden blood, while Alyce with her green blood can only cast curses. Being part Vila, Alyce is called the Dark Grace, and even though she works alongside the "real" Graces, she is an outcast.
With that in mind, what was fascinating to me was the fact that the whole realm of Briar and most of Alyce's "sister" Graces constantly make Alyce feel unworty, telling her that she is a monster, just because a Vila long time ago cursed the whole royal lineage to die if they don't find their true love by their 21st birthday, even though Alyce herself isn't the one who cast the curse. But the nobles still come to her to curse their rivals and they use her services despite the fact that they bully her. Can you blame Alyce for wanting out of the realm and wanting revenge?
But, there's Aurora. The last princess and heir to the crown. She has a year left before she dies and she and Alyce get close. Alyce is then torn between Aurora, who promises a better future for Alyce and the other Graces, and a mysterious person in an abandoned castle, who maybe holds the secrets to Alyce's past and true powers. The author really portrayed Alyce's inner struggles perfectly, fighting a battle she can't win.
A interesting moment is where the king reveals to Aurora that Alyce has been cursing objects for him to use on his advisors and subjects and Alyce realized that she tried to absolve herself from the guilt, because even though she was the one cursing the objects, the king is using them to inflict harm. Alyce didn't mean any harm with cursing the objects and she also didn't really have a choice, because the king would likely torture her or kill her for disobedience.
The romance in this book is pretty slow-burn and it features a sapphic relationship. There are more than one villian here, with interesting twists that are original, but still have connections to the real Sleeping Beauty tale. I also really enjoyed the history of the Vila and Fae in this book, and I'm hoping that we go more in depth in the second book. I loved the ending and how it's a bit of a cliffhanger and an opening for more content in the sequel!
All in all, this book really got me thinking about many things and is now one of my favorite retellings, because it was so fresh and it has much depth! I would recommend this if you like/are looking for: morally gray characters, kind of a villian origin story, sapphic relationship, slow-burn, retellings, plot twists, curses, new kind of magic and a different take on a known story!
Spoiler thoughts below
- I knew that Alyce was the one to break Aurora's curse and their moments were so sweet <3
- Kal being evil was also no surprise to me, but I can't blame Alyce for trusting him, because he seemed to understand her and from her perspective, wanted her to be stronger. That being said, it was really satisfying to see Mortania turn on him
- also the king having bad motives is no surprise
- I don't know why the Fae lord expected Alyce not to set Kal free if LITERALLY NO ONE TELLS HER ANYTHING AND THEY PUT KAL IN A TOWER THAT ANYONE CAN GO TO?????
- Alyce choosing a new name for her rule! Nimara sounds a lot like nightmare and I like it
- Mortania inhabiting Alyce sounds cool and I can't wait to see where this goes in book two. Does Alyce work with her, is he under her influence, does she banish her from her body, what are Mortania's goals??
- Alyce growing wings at the end!!!
- Aurora actually getting cursed by pricking her finger on a spindle and the Graces softening the curse to a sleep, but she only wakes by a kiss from a suitable suitor chosen by her parents WHAT I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING
- Alyce preserving Aurora's body in thorns!!!
- I hope we get more of Alyce's backstory and more about her mother! and more about the first Vila and her mate!
- I actually trusted that Laurel was Alyce's friend and for her to betray her like that was... bad
- I kind of have a feeling Alyce will die saving Aurora or something like that..
With that in mind, what was fascinating to me was the fact that the whole realm of Briar and most of Alyce's "sister" Graces constantly make Alyce feel unworty, telling her that she is a monster, just because a Vila long time ago cursed the whole royal lineage to die if they don't find their true love by their 21st birthday, even though Alyce herself isn't the one who cast the curse. But the nobles still come to her to curse their rivals and they use her services despite the fact that they bully her. Can you blame Alyce for wanting out of the realm and wanting revenge?
But, there's Aurora. The last princess and heir to the crown. She has a year left before she dies and she and Alyce get close. Alyce is then torn between Aurora, who promises a better future for Alyce and the other Graces, and a mysterious person in an abandoned castle, who maybe holds the secrets to Alyce's past and true powers. The author really portrayed Alyce's inner struggles perfectly, fighting a battle she can't win.
A interesting moment is where the king
The romance in this book is pretty slow-burn and it features a sapphic relationship. There are more than one villian here, with interesting twists that are original, but still have connections to the real Sleeping Beauty tale. I also really enjoyed the history of the Vila and Fae in this book, and I'm hoping that we go more in depth in the second book. I loved the ending and how it's a bit of a cliffhanger and an opening for more content in the sequel!
All in all, this book really got me thinking about many things and is now one of my favorite retellings, because it was so fresh and it has much depth! I would recommend this if you like/are looking for: morally gray characters, kind of a villian origin story, sapphic relationship, slow-burn, retellings, plot twists, curses, new kind of magic and a different take on a known story!
Spoiler thoughts below
- I knew that Alyce was the one to break Aurora's curse and their moments were so sweet <3
- Kal being evil was also no surprise to me, but I can't blame Alyce for trusting him, because he seemed to understand her and from her perspective, wanted her to be stronger. That being said, it was really satisfying to see Mortania turn on him
- also the king having bad motives is no surprise
- I don't know why the Fae lord expected Alyce not to set Kal free if LITERALLY NO ONE TELLS HER ANYTHING AND THEY PUT KAL IN A TOWER THAT ANYONE CAN GO TO?????
- Alyce choosing a new name for her rule! Nimara sounds a lot like nightmare and I like it
- Mortania inhabiting Alyce sounds cool and I can't wait to see where this goes in book two. Does Alyce work with her, is he under her influence, does she banish her from her body, what are Mortania's goals??
- Alyce growing wings at the end!!!
- Aurora actually getting cursed by pricking her finger on a spindle and the Graces softening the curse to a sleep, but she only wakes by a kiss from a suitable suitor chosen by her parents WHAT I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING
- Alyce preserving Aurora's body in thorns!!!
- I hope we get more of Alyce's backstory and more about her mother! and more about the first Vila and her mate!
- I actually trusted that Laurel was Alyce's friend and for her to betray her like that was... bad
- I kind of have a feeling Alyce will die saving Aurora or something like that..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Blood
Moderate: Torture and Murder
Minor: Death and Death of parent