Malice is a beautifully dark, sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Alyce has always been ostracized for her green skin and rare magical powers. Upon meeting Princess Aurora, doomed to die unless she can find her true love, Alyce assumes that Aurora will be like the rest of the intolerant court. When she realizes that Aurora would rather break her own curse than rely on a prince, Alyce teams up with the princess to help her escape her fate. As her magical powers grow, Alyce begins to draw attention and must choose whom to trust.

I love stories featuring morally gray characters! This is a lovely and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty, filled with plenty of magic and interesting worldbuilding. I always love when a princess plans to save herself and this was no exception. The love story between Aurora and Alyce is a delightful slow-burn romance. As Alyce learns about the history behind her powers and heritage, the carefully crafted worldbuilding shines. If you enjoy retellings of tales we assume we know, LGBTQ rep, and morally gray characters then you will love Malice. Thank you to Heather Walter, Del Rey Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.