Misrule: Book Two of the Malice Duology
Does true love break curses or begin them? The dark sorceress of "Sleeping Beauty" reclaims her story in this sequel to Malice.
"Fans of reimagined fairy tales and LGBTQ+ themes will be delighted with the conclusion of this fantasy duology."--Booklist (starred review) The Dark Grace is dead. Feared and despised for the sinister power in her veins, Alyce wreaks her revenge on the kingdom that made her an outcast. Once a realm of decadence and beauty, Briar is now wholly Alyce's wicked domain. And no one will escape the consequences of her wrath. Not even the one person who holds her heart. Princess Aurora saw through Alyce's thorny facade, earning a love that promised the dawn of a new age. But it is a love that came with a heavy price: Aurora now sleeps under a curse that even Alyce's vast power cannot seem to break. And the dream of the world they would have built together is nothing but ash. Alyce vows to do anything to wake the woman she loves, even if it means turning into the monster Briar believes her to be. But could Aurora love the villain Alyce has become? Or is true love only for fairy tales? Book Two of the Malice Duology
"Fans of reimagined fairy tales and LGBTQ+ themes will be delighted with the conclusion of this fantasy duology."--Booklist (starred review) The Dark Grace is dead. Feared and despised for the sinister power in her veins, Alyce wreaks her revenge on the kingdom that made her an outcast. Once a realm of decadence and beauty, Briar is now wholly Alyce's wicked domain. And no one will escape the consequences of her wrath. Not even the one person who holds her heart. Princess Aurora saw through Alyce's thorny facade, earning a love that promised the dawn of a new age. But it is a love that came with a heavy price: Aurora now sleeps under a curse that even Alyce's vast power cannot seem to break. And the dream of the world they would have built together is nothing but ash. Alyce vows to do anything to wake the woman she loves, even if it means turning into the monster Briar believes her to be. But could Aurora love the villain Alyce has become? Or is true love only for fairy tales? Book Two of the Malice Duology
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Community Reviews
** Many thanks to NetGalley for kindly providing me with this ARC **
100 years after the curse was cast that sent Aurora into deep sleep, Alyce has built her own dark court. Briar no longer exists, and nor does Alyce. Under the new name Nimara the former Dark Grace now rules over her new kingdom. She is desperate to bring the princess back to life, though scared things will not be the same between the two of them. When Aurora is accidentally awakened by someone not supposed to break her curse, what will happen to a kingdom whose heir has risen to find a wholly different world than the one she was meant to rule? This book has everything; morally grey characters, rich imagery, sapphic relationships, interesting twists and turns. I liked Malice and the foundation it laid, but its sequel added so much more depth to the world and its characters. The world we were introduced to in the first one is now being expanded and reconstructed, as much has changed in 100 years. The characters felt a lot more round, and I found the pacing to be just right. Alyce and Aurora’s relationship felt so realistic, and I am more than happy with the ending. Reading this book felt bittersweet in the best way possible.
100 years after the curse was cast that sent Aurora into deep sleep, Alyce has built her own dark court. Briar no longer exists, and nor does Alyce. Under the new name Nimara the former Dark Grace now rules over her new kingdom. She is desperate to bring the princess back to life, though scared things will not be the same between the two of them. When Aurora is accidentally awakened by someone not supposed to break her curse, what will happen to a kingdom whose heir has risen to find a wholly different world than the one she was meant to rule? This book has everything; morally grey characters, rich imagery, sapphic relationships, interesting twists and turns. I liked Malice and the foundation it laid, but its sequel added so much more depth to the world and its characters. The world we were introduced to in the first one is now being expanded and reconstructed, as much has changed in 100 years. The characters felt a lot more round, and I found the pacing to be just right. Alyce and Aurora’s relationship felt so realistic, and I am more than happy with the ending. Reading this book felt bittersweet in the best way possible.
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