Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss. Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die.

Keep reading this book review to find out my full thoughts. Because I love the construction of monstrous women and seeing the stories behind what we’ve been taught to see as villains. I’ve been excited for Malice ever since you told me queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling from Malice’s POV. Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess.I will always be willing to read queer fairy tale retellings – no exceptions. Perhaps together we could forge a new world. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it.

Even though a power like mine was responsible for her curse.īut 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. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. 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.

“Walter’s spellbinding debut is for all the queer girls and women who’ve been told to keep their gifts hidden and for those yearning to defy gravity.”- O: The Oprah Magazine But in this “bewitching and fascinating” (Tamora Pierce) retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale. A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress.

Malice book heather walter