Hello, my fellow bloggers! It is I, Keri, emerging from the void to FINALLY provide my 2020 reading wrap-up and perhaps even list a few optimistic goals for 2021? (Even though we’re nearly a quarter of the way through the year, whoops.) Rating: 3.5 stars “…so, are you my book?” “I’m a chaotically fun read that will leave you cursing the world that the sequel hasn’t been published yet.”
Trigger Warnings: blood-powered magic, death/murder, flashbacks of torture, bullying If you are nostalgic for Disney, but wanting something a bit older and darker, looking for more sapphic books, or adore villain origin stories, I recommend giving this book a try! Overall, it was a super fun read. I cannot wait to see where Heather Walter will take the characters and worldbuilding in the next book. To be frank, the ending saved this book in my opinion, and I will now be eagerly anticipating the sequel. The novel wasn’t without some obvious tropes, but there were also quite a few elements I didn’t see coming. The story became a jaw-dropping chaotic spiral and I was left internally screaming. And upon reaching the final third of the book, the plot transformed into a wild roller-coaster and I couldn’t bear to put down Malice. There were a lot of stereotypes that offered little to none unique twists: bitchy girl bullies, evil rulers, idealistic heirs, impoverished commoners, and frivolous nobility.īUT THEN, my interest and enjoyment significantly improved once I surpassed the halfway point. Across the board, I found myself wanting more development from the characters and the world. The book opened up with numerous blocks of exposition and the beginning felt rushed.
Additionally, I also struggled with how the story was introduced.
That’s not to say there weren’t dark undercurrents that appeared later on, but the world clashed with my original expectations. Based off the cover, I expected the book to be dark right from the beginning. To be honest, I struggled with the beginning of this book. When Alyce meets a stranger with answers to her heritage, and then befriends Princess Aurora, she begins to imagine a different future for herself.
Alyce is forced into the role of the ostracized ‘Dark Grace’ and is paid to provide curses to anonymous customers. The Kingdom of Briar is known for its Graces, women imbued with Fae magic who are able to cast enchantments with their blood. The book follows Alyce, a young woman and half Vila-dark creatures considered to be the enemies of the surrounding kingdoms. Malice is a new adult, sapphic, sleeping beauty retelling focusing on the origins of the evil sorceress.
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