Malice

In this bewitching reinterpretation of Sleeping Beauty, the tale takes a turn where the protagonist isn't expected to fall for a malevolent sorceress. Yet, love in this narrative is far more intricate than one might anticipate from a traditional fairy tale. Enthusiasts of Naomi Novik and Holly Black will find this story captivating. Tasha Suri hails 'Malice' as the sinister core of a fairy tale manifesting in book form, offering a narrative rich in both beauty and cruel magic. Meanwhile, S.A. Chakraborty describes it as a brilliantly unique retelling that will have readers questioning their previous perceptions of Sleeping Beauty. In a bygone era, a vengeful wicked fairy placed a deadly curse upon several generations of princesses, a spell that could supposedly be undone with a simple kiss of true love—pure myth. In Briar, no one spares a thought for the fate of the princess, and I, too, believed I was indifferent—until I encountered her. Aurora, the princess destined to inherit the throne, is the future monarch her people desperately need. Despite my reputation as Alyce, the Dark Grace, infamous and dreaded for the shadowy magic coursing through me, Aurora remains unperturbed. However, with the curse threatening her life in less than a year, our envisioned future is becoming increasingly untenable—she refuses to tolerate another foolish prince’s kiss. Maybe I hold the key to her salvation. If my magic initiated the curse, perhaps it can also break it. Together, we could possibly build a world anew. But the conclusion of this story seems preordained. Aurora is the lovely princess, and I am cast as the antagonist. The second installment of the Malice Duology is now available for preorder!