Book Review | Malice

Princess Aurora is the last heir to Briar’s throne. However, she’s cursed to die on her twenty-first birthday unless the curse is broken by true love’s kiss. Now twenty, she has only one year remaining, and Alyce, a Dark Grace—feared by all the queendom--wants to do anything in her power to try and save her.

A sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty? A sympathetic villain origin story from the eyes of the villain?

Yes, please.

I wanted to love Malice by Heather Walter so badly. It had so much promise and potential, but what I got was a mixed bag of disappointment.

I think this partially boils down to pacing and focus issues. For instance, there were aspects of the story that I found really compelling (like the Graces being used and treated like commodities or the politics between Briar and the Fae). However, the beginning choses instead to focus on petty catfights and insults between the Graces.

Then the ending itself felt incredibly rushed to me. The last third of the novel introduces several serious plot developments—many of which are quickly and unceremoniously resolved.

Overall, the concept was fantastic, but unfortunately, I felt the execution was sloppy here.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details:

Publication Date : April 13, 2021
Publisher : Random Publishing House (Del Ray)
ISBN : 1984818651
Pages : 480

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