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Malice

Book One of the Malice Duology

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Malice

By: Heather Walter
Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon
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Summary

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The princess isn't supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of Sleeping Beauty, true love is more complicated than a simple fairy tale. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Holly Black.

'Malice is the dark and wicked heart of a fairytale carved into a book. This story is beautiful, vicious magic.' Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

'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.' S.A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass
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Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who cursed a line of princesses to die, and could only be broken by true love's kiss. You've heard this before, haven't you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one actually cares about what happens to our princesses. I thought I didn't care, either. Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to the throne. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn't bothered that I am the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating - and she can't stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it's what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story ends, don't we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I-

I am the villain.
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'The story grows deliciously darker at every turn . . . Fairy tale lovers of all ages will be thrilled' Publishers Weekly, starred review

 Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Magic Royalty Science Fiction & Fantasy Women's Fiction
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Continue the series
Misrule cover art
Misrule By: Heather Walter

Critic reviews

Malice is the dark and wicked heart of a fairytale carved into a book. This story is beautiful, vicious magic
A beautifully imaginative and feminist retelling of a fairytale so often swept into the dark. Walter's debut was engrossing from page one, with a vivid cast of characters, thrilling romance and a world so vivid it will wrap thorns around your dreams.
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.
The story grows deliciously darker at every turn . . . Fairy tale lovers of all ages will be thrilled
Heather Walter writes about magic-and with magic. Her retelling of Sleeping Beauty remains true to the beloved classic, yet every page is completely new and unexpected.
Enchanting - and enchanted . . . a book to savor
Bewitching characters. Fascinating story. An up-all-night read. Why are you not reading this book RIGHT NOW?
Absolutely dazzling! Full of love, power, and betrayal, Malice is as compelling as a spell, as captivating as an enchantment, and as fascinating and delicious as a fairy-tale curse. I loved it!
A spellbinding debut ... for all the queer girls and women who've been told to keep their gifts hidden and for those yearning to defy gravity.
Viciously satisfying. Malice takes Sleeping Beauty and turns everything on its head, cutting right to the core of this bejewelled world. Heather Walter has given us a villain to adore.
All stars
Most relevant
This book was amazing, one of the best I read in fact, an extremely pleasant twist to the traditional fairytale however I hated the narrator you will frequently hear words mispronounced. Not just one either, many words like palm, calm, warrior ect are pronounced in the strangest ways and will drive you crazy at times.

If I have 1 negative to say about the story it takes forever to really draw you in around half way through. Firstly you will hear about a historical event for many chapters during the start, I won't lie it's incredibly boring. I do recommend this book despite its flaws, its engaging in the second half, always has you guessing, and takes you on a journey.

I hope more people give this book a chance, even if you persevere through the first half I promise its worth it, otherwise you will miss a splendid adventure of pain, pleasure, ups, downs, loyalty and a bitter betrayal.

Amazing, a little annoying tho

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I LOVED THIS. ❤️
What a fantastic storyline that is brilliant and just kept me listening to the early hrs. I was on the edge of my seat and the narration just flowed effortlessly, a pure joy to listen to. 🎶
I definitely recommend this. 👌

BRILLIANT

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Retelling of Sleeping Beauty with some interesting spins in it. Solid writing, good story structure, ending is just wicked.
I didn't give it 5 stars only because it just didn't gave me the right feels. But objectively book is good.

Solid story, great ending

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You know those books that speak to you on a soul level; where are you read at some point, whether it be the beginning, the end, or a scene in the middle, you have that spark in your soul that connects you to this book on such a deep level that you feel like this book was written for you. Malice was this book to me.
🥀
It is rare that a book lives up to its cover and blurb, but for sure Malice did. From page one I was in the story, connecting with the Alyce, feeling, and seeing everything she did. The more you read, the more the story drew you in like you are gifted (not cursed) to journey through this with Alyce. I myself battle c-ptsd due to serious bullying from a young age and with Heather's amazingly flowing and intricately brilliant writing style, I felt Alyce's pain, her self-esteem problems, her hate for herself as if it were my own soul. I understood her hate for them, but her care for wanting to be a better person than them. Her need to escape it all. Her shame of the monster she thought she was because of others treating her with hatred.
🥀
This is not just any fairy-tale or inspired retelling, in my eyes, this is a journey of love and hatred, but above all.... of a girl who was not at heart the monster they said she was. I will say no more to not spoil the ending, but what I can say is that the ending surprised, delighted, shocked, and had me needing the sequel in my hands as soon as I finished the last word.
🥀
Thank you, Heather Walter, DelreyUK and Rachel Kennedy for this amazing arc, you will definitely be receiving an email from me when the sequel comes out to see the light of day so my emotions can journey with Alyce again.

Beautifully Dark and Loving

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although it is definitely worth a read the first 2/3 of the book is incredibly boring, the romance falls short of my expectations and the plot is now where near developed enough to compensated for that. there is a strong lack of something throughout this book the ending was not satisfying for me and it did not leave me excited for the next one it left me confused and disappointed. although i love aurora and alyce and i love that alyce hates everyone except her and wants to destroy everything and get revenge but always look after and protect aurora.

the narrator good lord were we reading the same book? there was such unnecessary accents for characters and exaggerated tone in places that did not require it. the narrator was overall really annoying and took me out of the reading experience.

awful narration average story, characters and romance

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