That is only part of the reason why I enjoyed Malice so much, but it certainly didn’t hurt. I think it makes them feel less the villain.”įirst, can I just say that I love novels written from the perspective of the ‘villain?’ Especially when their perspective forces us to look at them through a different light. “New patrons are always so grateful when I offer suggestions. She stands a better chance than most, since it was a similar magic that created the curse in the first place.

Now Alyce is racing against time, desperately seeking to find a cure to save Aurora. She treated Alyce with kindness when everyone else treated her with fear and disgust. Aurora changed the way she saw the world.

She’s never had any reason to care about the royalty, or really anybody else. It was just the way things were.įor her whole life, Alyce didn’t care either. Every princess was doomed to die, but for the most part, people didn’t care. Once upon a time, there was a witch, and she cursed the royal line. The story starts, as all fairy tales do, with a ‘Once upon a time…’ The rest of the story refuses to follow that tradition. If so, then look no further! Malice, written by Heather Walter, is the book for you. Aurora is the beautiful princess.Are you looking for a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty? (Well, the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, that is. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.īut we all know how this story ends. If my power began the curse, it might be the one to lift it. But with less than a year before the curse kills her, any future I might imagine for us is quickly disappearing - and she can't stand to kiss yet another idiotic prince. 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. Princess Aurora, last heir to the throne, the future queen her realm needs. Let me tell you, no one in Briar cares what happens to our princess. A curse that could only be broken by true love's kiss. Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. '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 again. This story is beautiful, vicious magic.' Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand ' Malice is the dark and wicked heart of a fairytale carved into a book. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Holly Black. But in this darkly magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty, true love is more complicated than a simple fairy tale. The princess isn't supposed to fall for an evil sorceress.

Heather walter malice