Malice cover art

Malice

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Malice

By: Heather Walter
Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

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.

©2021 Heather Walter (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Magic Royalty Science Fiction & Fantasy

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Critic reviews

"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)

"The story grows deliciously darker at every turn.... Fairy tale lovers of all ages will be thrilled." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

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For a first novel, it's amazing, and I am can't wait for the next book.

Amazing

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I tend to stay away from Fairytale retellings but I’m so so glad I gave this one a shot. I’m not a huge fan of first person narrative books but again, so glad I gave this a go.
This was a rollercoaster of emotions. I fell in love with Alyce from the start! Her shyness and awkwardness with Aurora was adorable.
Aurora pretty much sleeping beauty was cute.
Kal - I couldn’t decide what way he’d go but I had a feeling it would end up like it did.
So so good! Would highly recommend! Cannot wait for book 2!

Wow!

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I loved this book it was amazing, it has everything you want in a fantastic book, their’s plenty of action with magic, fantasy and finding true love.

Alyce the only Dark Grace has life hard, as everyone has been scared of her from the moment she was born, you feel sorry for her as she is trapped. Aurora is the princess and she needs to lift the curse before she is 21 or she will die, she has to find the right person to kiss for the curse to be lifted.
I love fairytales and books like these are rare, especially when the main characters are lesbian.
I will say the ending shocked me and I was like where is book 2, I need to listen to book 2 NOW, so I can carry on the fairytale of the story.

The book was written from Alyce’s point of view.

I look forward to listening to book two, and I can’t wait to listen to more books from this author and narrator.

Please do other fairytales with lesbian main characters.

Blood ties and fairytale

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Even though I guessed every twist, I was still tense waiting for it to happen. Really great take on a classic story, and one which I’d never seen adapted before

Predictable but gripping

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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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