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lillianerin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Violence
ash_cypher's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Murder
chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Was this the greatest book ever written? No. Did I love the overall story, the changes made for the retelling, and the fact that there was a sapphic romance? Absolutely š„°š„°
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Torture
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and War
ghostmomxoxo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
veggiestrawenjoyer13's review
dark
emotional
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
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. Before I get into the details, I will be reading the second because Iām interested enough to finish the series.
It had a bit of a slow start, but thatās not necessarily a bad thing. It gave me time to understand the characters and adjust to the writing style. I enjoyed the worldbuilding even if occasionally it seemed out of place. I will say the writing was not the best quality (in my opinion). However, the other aspects such as the plot and cast of characters pulled through for me.
The romance was one of the iffiest parts. I love love love the concept and I do like the love interests together. Though I felt that their relationship couldāve been developed more beyond conversations to move the plot forward. Iād kill for a nice domestic or just..simple banter between them. That could just me by taste in romance.
The end was definitely one of my favorite parts. I liked the build-up and plot twists. While I was suspicious of some things, the actual reveals were so good. I can see now the hints towards the truth, which is a nice feeling as a reader. Overall, the book was kinda mid compared to my expectations but it had its good parts.
It had a bit of a slow start, but thatās not necessarily a bad thing. It gave me time to understand the characters and adjust to the writing style. I enjoyed the worldbuilding even if occasionally it seemed out of place. I will say the writing was not the best quality (in my opinion). However, the other aspects such as the plot and cast of characters pulled through for me.
The romance was one of the iffiest parts. I love love love the concept and I do like the love interests together. Though I felt that their relationship couldāve been developed more beyond conversations to move the plot forward. Iād kill for a nice domestic or just..simple banter between them. That could just me by taste in romance.
The end was definitely one of my favorite parts. I liked the build-up and plot twists. While I was suspicious of some things, the actual reveals were so good. I can see now the hints towards the truth, which is a nice feeling as a reader. Overall, the book was kinda mid compared to my expectations but it had its good parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, and Classism
Minor: Suicide
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
5 ā CW: blood, violence, child abuse mention, torture, sexual content
Malice by Heather Walter is book one in the Malice Duology. This is a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling that was absolutely incredible. Instead of following a princess, we follow the villain, and see how she became the monster everyone always insisted she was.
We follow Alyce, a Dark Grace living in Briar. Unlike all the golden blooded Graces whose powers are of the light, Alyce's blood is the green of the Vila, a dark fae. She is ostracized and reviled all the while nobles paying her to create curses. She and the other Graces are chained by the king. Alyce has never known kindness until she meets Princess Aurora, who shows her that she doesn't have to be the monster they make her out to be.
All the princesses in Aurora's family have been cursed to die at age 21 by a powerful Vila centuries ago, but the Fae of Etheria softened it so that true love's kiss can break it. Alyce and Aurora set out to break the curse and fight against everything Aurora's father has done to the kingdom. Meanwhile, Alyce is learning the true extent of her powers.
This book is so full of rage. I love that the author made an MC that isn't beautiful and sweet and "good". Alyce may have become villainous, but she could only be what everyone in the kingdom made her. I did guess a couple of twists, but it didn't make it less enjoyable. I loved Alyce's relationship with Aurora, and I loved that Aurora wasn't just a helpless damsel in distress.
We left off on a major cliffhanger, and now I really need book two!
Malice by Heather Walter is book one in the Malice Duology. This is a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling that was absolutely incredible. Instead of following a princess, we follow the villain, and see how she became the monster everyone always insisted she was.
We follow Alyce, a Dark Grace living in Briar. Unlike all the golden blooded Graces whose powers are of the light, Alyce's blood is the green of the Vila, a dark fae. She is ostracized and reviled all the while nobles paying her to create curses. She and the other Graces are chained by the king. Alyce has never known kindness until she meets Princess Aurora, who shows her that she doesn't have to be the monster they make her out to be.
All the princesses in Aurora's family have been cursed to die at age 21 by a powerful Vila centuries ago, but the Fae of Etheria softened it so that true love's kiss can break it. Alyce and Aurora set out to break the curse and fight against everything Aurora's father has done to the kingdom. Meanwhile, Alyce is learning the true extent of her powers.
This book is so full of rage. I love that the author made an MC that isn't beautiful and sweet and "good". Alyce may have become villainous, but she could only be what everyone in the kingdom made her. I did guess a couple of twists, but it didn't make it less enjoyable. I loved Alyce's relationship with Aurora, and I loved that Aurora wasn't just a helpless damsel in distress.
We left off on a major cliffhanger, and now I really need book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child abuse
jackiepreston's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse and Torture
Minor: Sexual content
mirandyli's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great sapphic fantasy with an underdog main character. Predictable at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
winryrose's review
adventurous
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can honestly not say enough about this dark and twisted retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Magic, elixirs, betrayal, etc. An LGBTQ+ story as well!? Yes, please. I cannot wait to purchase book 2 (misrule).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Blood
ko2h3ckh's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Fairy tale from the villains perspective, which goes about as well as you'd expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content