sophie_t's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kristinna_k's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
carleeiigh's review
5.0
Talk about a corruption story!
I loved this a lot more than I thought I would. Honestly I'm not sure it needs another installment, unless the authors are planning to have a redemption arc after a rather long corruption arc lol - but if it ends with Alice and Aurora finally being together and ruling the kingdom as co queens, I'm all for it!
I like the worldbuilding with the graces, fantasy series where blood color comes into play just really appeals to me. The graces are as beautiful as theyre meant to be, gold blood, beautiful tinctures and HG Capitol-like patrons. Malice being subjected to only cursed tinctures was a really interesting beginning for her. The little insults that she just can't seem to shake off that leads to her isolation and real loyalty to anyone who does show her true kindness.
I will say it was tedious how many times she was manipulated into doing something horrible without realizing, and just HOW MANY people end up betraying her. I liked Cal! I thought he was sweet, I wasn't expecting him to be secretly evil! With audiobooks I don't always pick up on these things, so I'm sure its not out of nowhere, and I'm a sucker for a tortured soul with a heart of gold who just needs a hug lol
Aurora is a bit underdeveloped but also very fun. I love how reckless she is, feisty. Thought it was tragic that Alice was sort tricked into cursing her? Even though it was really Cal? But it was a nice touch to have her prick her finger on the spinning wheel and everything. Also just the Briar curse in general is pretty cool
Also going read hard with a corruption arc- not like Wicked where people only believe she did bad things - Alice actually gets sort of possessed and lets all her anger out in a total rampage in the last chapter. Brutal. Love it
I loved this a lot more than I thought I would. Honestly I'm not sure it needs another installment, unless the authors are planning to have a redemption arc after a rather long corruption arc lol - but if it ends with Alice and Aurora finally being together and ruling the kingdom as co queens, I'm all for it!
I like the worldbuilding with the graces, fantasy series where blood color comes into play just really appeals to me. The graces are as beautiful as theyre meant to be, gold blood, beautiful tinctures and HG Capitol-like patrons. Malice being subjected to only cursed tinctures was a really interesting beginning for her. The little insults that she just can't seem to shake off that leads to her isolation and real loyalty to anyone who does show her true kindness.
I will say it was tedious how many times she was manipulated into doing something horrible without realizing, and just HOW MANY people end up betraying her. I liked Cal! I thought he was sweet, I wasn't expecting him to be secretly evil! With audiobooks I don't always pick up on these things, so I'm sure its not out of nowhere, and I'm a sucker for a tortured soul with a heart of gold who just needs a hug lol
Aurora is a bit underdeveloped but also very fun. I love how reckless she is, feisty. Thought it was tragic that Alice was sort tricked into cursing her? Even though it was really Cal? But it was a nice touch to have her prick her finger on the spinning wheel and everything. Also just the Briar curse in general is pretty cool
Also going read hard with a corruption arc- not like Wicked where people only believe she did bad things - Alice actually gets sort of possessed and lets all her anger out in a total rampage in the last chapter. Brutal. Love it
galliexyc's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kaitykat's review
5.0
Wow. This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, thrilling, and everything in between. I had been looking forward to reading this book all year and it exceeded my already high expectations. It was everything I could have wanted from a fairy-tale retelling! The world building, the magic, the characters.. Alyce was relatable in many ways and I was rooting for her all the way through, and I’m excited - maybe scared - to see how her new transformation and journey will play out in the next book; I need it now!! ✨ Also, the friendship to lovers bond that Aurora and Alyce had.. who needs a prince?? I am so happy to have found lgbtq+ representation in a fairy telling retelling. We need more of these! The writing was phenomenal too. It played out like a movie in my mind because it was so easy to fall into the pages and become a part of the kingdom of Briar.
Overall, this book was super exciting and unlike any Sleeping Beauty retelling I’ve ever seen or read. It was the best and took me on such an adventure full of twists and turns. 5 stars!! I can’t wait for the next book, eeep!! Also, I read the acknowledgments and thank the author for her inspiring words and for her amazing story. Thank you for providing a wonderful adventure that was very much needed.
Overall, this book was super exciting and unlike any Sleeping Beauty retelling I’ve ever seen or read. It was the best and took me on such an adventure full of twists and turns. 5 stars!! I can’t wait for the next book, eeep!! Also, I read the acknowledgments and thank the author for her inspiring words and for her amazing story. Thank you for providing a wonderful adventure that was very much needed.
asteridius's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.5
beesarenotflies's review
3.0
Pacing was weird and though the narrative was interesting, there was not a ton of development of the romance. So it was a little hard to buy into the love story. However, I'm invested enough to read the second book.
books_r_cool's review
dark
emotional
i really enjoyed reading this book because of the amazing magic system and just the magical vibes it was so atmospheric at times.
and then the plot was so good like it had me hooked the whole time!! the first half of the book was sort of introductory to the world and everything but things still happened BUT THEN the last 30% was wilddd i read it in one sitting and it was just thing after thing happening to alyce.
the whole story wove a wonderful narration around ‘good and evil’ and the complexities of that and i really felt for alyce. i will say, something i didn’t love was in the first half of the book there wasn’t much chemistry between alyce and aurora and aurora’s character felt too perfect but then as the story progressed it was fine.
the ending?!? i loved alyce’s descent into the ‘evilness’ that was perceived of her and that was when you saw the sleeping beauty aspects come in. it was just so inevitable but terrible because alyce wasn’t actually a bad person, she just had dark magic.
anyways i could talk about this for a longg time but this book was really good and i love ya fantasy (i’m probably going to read the second book$
and then the plot was so good like it had me hooked the whole time!! the first half of the book was sort of introductory to the world and everything but things still happened BUT THEN the last 30% was wilddd i read it in one sitting and it was just thing after thing happening to alyce.
the whole story wove a wonderful narration around ‘good and evil’ and the complexities of that and i really felt for alyce. i will say, something i didn’t love was in the first half of the book there wasn’t much chemistry between alyce and aurora and aurora’s character felt too perfect but then as the story progressed it was fine.
the ending?!? i loved alyce’s descent into the ‘evilness’ that was perceived of her and that was when you saw the sleeping beauty aspects come in. it was just so inevitable but terrible because alyce wasn’t actually a bad person, she just had dark magic.
anyways i could talk about this for a longg time but this book was really good and i love ya fantasy (i’m probably going to read the second book$
annelisedonnell's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Super fun read. Kinda slow in the middle, and the ending was CRAZY. I enjoyed the very whimsical magic system, and the descriptions for how wielding her magic works. The plot made me feel angry and sad for how the MC is treated by practically every character in the story. It did not have a “happy ending”, but I have a feeling we are no where near the “end”. I don’t know where the story will go in the sequel, but I am intrigued and am rooting for her happily ever after.