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princess_sara_sparkles's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Great duology and story. Heart-wrenching the whole way through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lucianagrimm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
*potential spoilers throughout*
Every creature residing in Briar is so incredibly illustrated and beautifully described. I absolutely loved returning to this world and discovering the ups and downs and new curses to be broken. Alyce and Aurora are gorgeous examples of learning to love who you are despite actions of your past and believing that you can still grow to make a better future. The battles and sieges were epic and brutal and often heartbreaking. All of the characters express deep and profound emotions that resonate through each page. The conflict in both Alyce and Aurora draws on the discourse between light/dark magic and the ‘goodness’ and ‘badness’ that they’re expected to uphold. The lore and history that pieces itself together throughout the story is woven in so cleverly that it makes the chapters unveil the mystery perfectly. I love the resolution and the fulfilment of the fae prophecy and the final piece of the puzzle shimmering into place. The recreation of a newer and all inclusive Briar was constructed with elements that honour all of the magical species we’ve come to love from both of the books.
I am pleased that the sapphic romance is unbroken and the love story they share across both novels is truly beautiful but I do wish there was an epilogue to the epilogue where they live a partially more domestic lifestyle and spend time building libraries and teaching children the history of their legacy.
Every creature residing in Briar is so incredibly illustrated and beautifully described. I absolutely loved returning to this world and discovering the ups and downs and new curses to be broken. Alyce and Aurora are gorgeous examples of learning to love who you are despite actions of your past and believing that you can still grow to make a better future. The battles and sieges were epic and brutal and often heartbreaking. All of the characters express deep and profound emotions that resonate through each page. The conflict in both Alyce and Aurora draws on the discourse between light/dark magic and the ‘goodness’ and ‘badness’ that they’re expected to uphold. The lore and history that pieces itself together throughout the story is woven in so cleverly that it makes the chapters unveil the mystery perfectly. I love the resolution and the fulfilment of the fae prophecy and the final piece of the puzzle shimmering into place. The recreation of a newer and all inclusive Briar was constructed with elements that honour all of the magical species we’ve come to love from both of the books.
I am pleased that the sapphic romance is unbroken and the love story they share across both novels is truly beautiful but I do wish there was an epilogue to the epilogue where they live a partially more domestic lifestyle and spend time building libraries and teaching children the history of their legacy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
quitegood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I have to say that once its all been said and done, I did enjoy my time with duology. There's certainly many ways the books could be better, but I believe the author's intention was to write about the trauma of abuse, and how the can end up swallowing you whole if you're not careful. I myself am a survivor of constant bullying in school resonate with Alyce, and seeing her stumble way throught the maturation one needs to go through in order to get over the bullying was equal parts inspiring and frustrating. And I fully believe that frustration was intentional, because it can be difficult to help someone with trauma. You're brain is like that of a teenager; illogical and regressed. Outside obersevers can see so many paths to a better you, but you as the victim see them all, and the indecision can be crushing!
If I was to offer literary criticism, I'd ask for more world building. I can't place my finger on it, but the world didn't feel rich enough. It felt like I was reading a text book at times, as opposed to a narrative. Maybe the author was going for a more magical realism vibe, but considering large plot-points hinge on how the magic works in this world, it reading less like an instruction manual might have helped. I also feel teh characters were a little inconsistent. Their logic didn't quite work, and while yes, its a story about victims of trauma and how you can't think straight, the book would spell out a character's internal logic, and then they'd act completely against it.
All that criticism aside, I did like the ending. No spoilers, but it was a refreshingly real ending what wasn't bitter sweet.
If I was to offer literary criticism, I'd ask for more world building. I can't place my finger on it, but the world didn't feel rich enough. It felt like I was reading a text book at times, as opposed to a narrative. Maybe the author was going for a more magical realism vibe, but considering large plot-points hinge on how the magic works in this world, it reading less like an instruction manual might have helped. I also feel teh characters were a little inconsistent. Their logic didn't quite work, and while yes, its a story about victims of trauma and how you can't think straight, the book would spell out a character's internal logic, and then they'd act completely against it.
All that criticism aside, I did like the ending. No spoilers, but it was a refreshingly real ending what wasn't bitter sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really really wanted to love this book a lot more than I did. Malice was absolutely phenomenal but this sequel fell a little short.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book but I really did enjoy reading it. However, once Aurora woke up it kind of went downhill. Aurora spends her whole time showing that her allyship for the magical creatures from the first book was pretty much all performative. She really can't let go of what Alyce has done (which fair), but keeps putting her through this on again off again things which is just very toxic for everyone involved. Honestly I just stopped liking her and I was rooting for them to completely end their relationship.
Additionally I feel like there were a lot of loose threads that tied up too quickly and in a rather unsatisfying manner.
However it was the last couple of chapters that really frustrated me. Regan died?! Why?? It felt like it was just to avoid dealing which the romance between her and Alyce.
And then there was Aurora getting all the power to unite the kingdoms. I don't think she deserved that at all. And I can't think of anyone worse for the job after the way she acts throughout the book.
Honestly I'm glad Alyce and Aurora don't end up together but I wish it had been a clean break, none of this maybe we'll get back together in 100 years because you are my true love stuff.
Overall I think this book had so much potential. I really do enjoy the author's writing and her characters. I could 100% have read a whole book on Alyce, the dark court and their war. I'd even enjoy Derek being there.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book but I really did enjoy reading it. However, once Aurora woke up it kind of went downhill. Aurora spends her whole time showing that her allyship for the magical creatures from the first book was pretty much all performative. She really can't let go of what Alyce has done (which fair), but keeps putting her through this on again off again things which is just very toxic for everyone involved. Honestly I just stopped liking her and I was rooting for them to completely end their relationship.
Additionally I feel like there were a lot of loose threads that tied up too quickly and in a rather unsatisfying manner.
However it was the last couple of chapters that really frustrated me.
And then there was Aurora getting all the power to unite the kingdoms. I don't think she deserved that at all. And I can't think of anyone worse for the job after the way she acts throughout the book.
Honestly I'm glad Alyce and Aurora don't end up together but I wish it had been a clean break, none of this maybe we'll get back together in 100 years because you are my true love stuff.
Overall I think this book had so much potential. I really do enjoy the author's writing and her characters. I could 100% have read a whole book on Alyce, the dark court and their war. I'd even enjoy Derek being there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery
meghansarmiento97's review against another edition
Too slow, got bored, first book was better
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn's review against another edition
The first one wasn't really my thing, and I think I don't like "will they get back together" plots where their original romance was brief and one person truly became awful in the meantime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Self harm
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
shatteredspace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Slavery and Torture
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I really liked Malice when I read it last year, and I wasn’t sure the sequel was going to hold up. To my pleasant surprise, I liked Misrule even more.
It’s been one hundred years since Aurora fell into an enchanted sleep and Alyce burned most of the kingdom of Briar to the ground. All but one of the side characters are dead. Alyce, now going by the name Nimara, rules over the Dark Court, a place of refuge for all the creatures who are welcome neither are the fae courts nor in the human realms.
Misrule is a very different beast from Malice. This is a book about morality, about moral greyness, about collective memory and trauma, about personal and cultural growth, and about the very concepts of good and evil. Everyone in this book does awful things, and no one in it feels fully irredeemable. Needless to say, I was impressed.
There were a lot of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that were executed very well. The character of Derek in particular was utilized in some very interesting ways. I won’t say more than that because I want readers to be able to go on that journey themselves.
And of course, the sapphic element of this book is fantastic. The romance is much less important here than it was in book one, but I loved the way that Heather Walter explored Alyce/Nimara and Aurora’s relationship. If you’re okay with fictional relationships being angsty and a little fucked up, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
The beginning of the book was slow and very confusing, mostly because nothing was the same from book one, but once the plot got going, I read through to the end in two days.
I do have one major issue with this book, and it’s more of an issue because it seems to be a pattern in Heather Walter’s work: the only important character who is firmly stated to be a dark-skinned person of color dies in service of the nonhuman but white-coded main character’s growth. This happened in Malice as well, and there simply is no excuse for this in 2021/2022.
I really liked Malice when I read it last year, and I wasn’t sure the sequel was going to hold up. To my pleasant surprise, I liked Misrule even more.
It’s been one hundred years since Aurora fell into an enchanted sleep and Alyce burned most of the kingdom of Briar to the ground. All but one of the side characters are dead. Alyce, now going by the name Nimara, rules over the Dark Court, a place of refuge for all the creatures who are welcome neither are the fae courts nor in the human realms.
Misrule is a very different beast from Malice. This is a book about morality, about moral greyness, about collective memory and trauma, about personal and cultural growth, and about the very concepts of good and evil. Everyone in this book does awful things, and no one in it feels fully irredeemable. Needless to say, I was impressed.
There were a lot of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that were executed very well. The character of Derek in particular was utilized in some very interesting ways. I won’t say more than that because I want readers to be able to go on that journey themselves.
And of course, the sapphic element of this book is fantastic. The romance is much less important here than it was in book one, but I loved the way that Heather Walter explored Alyce/Nimara and Aurora’s relationship. If you’re okay with fictional relationships being angsty and a little fucked up, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
The beginning of the book was slow and very confusing, mostly because nothing was the same from book one, but once the plot got going, I read through to the end in two days.
I do have one major issue with this book, and it’s more of an issue because it seems to be a pattern in Heather Walter’s work: the only important character who is firmly stated to be a dark-skinned person of color dies in service of the nonhuman but white-coded main character’s growth. This happened in Malice as well, and there simply is no excuse for this in 2021/2022.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Gore
Additional content warning for the sort of dubious consent inherent in a sleeping beauty retelling.victoriousbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was obsessed with Malice at the beginning of the month and let me tell you, the second book in this duology was just as amazing.
The prologue picks up a year after the events of the first book, then jumps to 100 years later where so much has changed. The Dark Court now rules the land that used to be Briar and Alyce’s journey is not over yet.
This is one of those stories that will stay with me for a very long time, living rent free in my brain and heart. I loved these books with my entire heart and felt every emotion.
This is one of those stories that will stay with me for a very long time, living rent free in my brain and heart. I loved these books with my entire heart and felt every emotion.
I highly recommend you read this book if you like:
Fairytale retellings
Sapphic fantasy
Dragons, Fae, and Magic
Coming of age/self discovery
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gore and Slavery
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
redheadorganist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury