Malice

A princess isnΓÇÖt supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this ΓÇ£bewitching and fascinatingΓÇ¥ (Tamora Pierce) retelling of ΓÇ£Sleeping Beauty,ΓÇ¥ true love is more than a simple fairy tale. ΓÇ£WalterΓÇÖs spellbinding debut is for all the queer girls and women whoΓÇÖve been told to keep their gifts hidden and for those yearning to defy gravity.ΓÇ¥ΓÇöO: The Oprah Magazine Once upon a timethere was a wicked fairy whoin an act of vengeancecursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true loveΓÇÖs kiss. YouΓÇÖve heard this beforehavenΓÇÖt you? The handsome prince. The happily ever after. Utter nonsense. Let me tell youno 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 didnΓÇÖt careeither. Until I met her. Princess Aurora. The last heir to BriarΓÇÖs throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isnΓÇÖt bothered that I am Alycethe Dark Graceabhorred 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 a power like mine was responsible for her curse. But with less than a year until that curse will kill herany future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegratingΓÇöand she canΓÇÖt stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curseperhaps itΓÇÖs what can lift it. Perhaps together we could forge a new world. Nonsense again. Because we all know how this story endsdonΓÇÖt we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And IΓÇö I am the villain. Book One of the Malice Duology