2021 Most Anticipated - Malice

The next book on my 2021 most anticipated list is another retelling. This one is more of a villain focused take on the story and will definitely appeal to those who love Disney villains. 

Heather Walter's Malice is a Sleeping Beauty inspired story with Maleficent being the focus. It seems like it'll dive into her origins a bit while focusing on her and Aurora.

The Goodreads synopsis is pretty much guaranteed to make you want to read this book.

A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that 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 in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. 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. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. 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.

Here are the top three reasons I cannot wait to get my hands on this:

1. A unique take on the central relationship in this fairytale. It makes the Maleficent and Aurora relationship romantic which could be interesting and offer lots of angst.

2. I love villain focused retellings. Authors get to add additional layers to these characters as they flesh them out more than the original story tend to do. 

3. It's a fairytale retelling. These are instant reads for me. This one in particular sounds fascinating because of the added twist of the perspective and romance. 

Malice releases April 13, 2021. Be sure to preorder your copy today so that you get your copy immediately. 

Chapters // Amazon // Barnes and Noble 

You can find out more about Morgan by following her on Twitter, and by visiting her her website. You can also find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next book on my 2021 Most Anticipated list.