4.5 stars.

Wait...am I rooting for the villain?

A clever and fun retelling/inversion of Sleeping Beauty. There was a fantastic mixture of the old with the new and some incredibly creative twists. There were a few things that I did not see coming and I nearly had to applaud when I came to them. I was just so enthralled. I'm not sure I've read many books where I've cheered for bad things happening. This book may have warped me a little, but I had oh so much fun reading it.

The writing was smooth and character centered, creating a cast that was very full-bodied and believable. I loved Alyce and found her to be the perfect antihero/villain. Princess Aurora is smart and strong and skilled, a perfect alternative to the classic helpless fairytale princess. The blending of good and evil in Alyce and the blend of gentle and determined in Aurora were incredibly well done and really made for captivating characters. And the plot? Loved it. Evil graces, devilish subplots, several layers of betrayal, an animal companion, and a semi-secret romance. Lots of good fun to be had.

I have fallen in love with this world and it's budding darkness. I cannot WAIT for the sequel.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *