Review: Malice by Heather Walter!

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Goodreads Blurb

“A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that 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 in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. 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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My Review

I buddy read this with Dini, and we had some issues with this one. It seems that we are both are in the unpopular opinion category. I’m glad I finally read it and marked off the TBR.

This book had a lot of issues and the main one being it’s so slow. It took a good 60% of this book before we both became interested in the plot. There are so many info dumps throughout this book, and it just goes over your head. I started skimming them because there really isn’t much of a point. Yet, there were many questions that we never had answered. This was something that really frustrated both of us.

Another thing, I didn’t love the romance. I just got friendly vibes and I think it’s because it just wasn’t developed very well. There is intent but most of the times they saw each other (very little) it just didn’t get me to where it was supposed to. I am not a fan of insta-love, at all. It’s my least favorite trope and this is kind of what that felt like.

The overall idea and characters of the book had so much promise. It was such an interesting take on the retelling concept. The creatures and world she built were unique and interesting. The whole Graces’ and their powers were really cool. The different places and creatures were also something I enjoyed.

I really did like Alyce as a character. She was always towing that line between good and evil. Her character was really the best part of this book. It always drives me crazy how people don’t understand one simple thing- hate breeds hate. She just wants to be loved and accepted but they treat her like a monster. What do you expect to happen? A person can only take so much.

Overall, this was a book that just left me a bit disappointed. Her take on the retelling was interesting and intriguing but it just didn’t get there, for me. There are some plot holes and too much information about things that didn’t matter. I really had high hopes for this book and wanted to love it, but I just didn’t. It’s not all bad but my overall impression is that it was just “okay.”

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