Misrule

Malice Duology, Book 2

By: Heather Walter

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

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

©2022 Heather Walter (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Fans of reimagined fairy tales and LGBTQ+ themes will be delighted with the conclusion of this fantasy duology.”—Booklist (starred review)

“For readers looking for a sapphic romance with a dash of dark magic, Misrule is a satisfying conclusion to the Malice duology.”—Nerds & Beyond

“The many twists and dark moral questions keep the pages flying.”—Publishers Weekly

Amaaaazing!

Loved-Loved-Loved this duology! Certainly the best in the past couple of years for me. Finally!! A great story and narrator that I would rate 10 stars for if I could. F'ing Bravo!

The Malice Duology is Bittersweet

For me, the most moving stories that stay with me longest demonstrate the complexities of love.

Great conclusion to a great series.

This book was great. I loved the character development and story. A much more realistic ending to a love story plagued by that many issues as Aurora and Alice had. Although, I could have heard “Dragons teeth” about 500 times less than I did.

I Couldn't Stop Listening

From start to finish, this one grabbed me. I was hooked. It was a nonstop anxiety inducing nailbiter. Great time!

It’s a happy ending when you know what healthy boundaries are like

Such a great story, the emotions are absolutely captivating. I think the epilogue ended this beautifully. It’s stories like these that make me yearn for more. They make me want to see the happily ever after after that.

Wonderful story

This is what every lesbian, who still believes in fairy tales, needs to hear.

I love this story <3

Malice is such a fun story to listen to with quite an amazing nerrator! IMO characters were very person-like in their mistakes and stubbornness, akin to irl. I attribute one characters sudden death at the end as a missight on their part from the chronic mental strains, truly was hoping better for them. Totally want signed physical copies of this duology <3

Brilliant Emotional Rollercoaster!

Heart broken and mended over and over, frustrating in the best ways. Serious book hangover, I’m not quite ready to move on from all the characters you’ll come to love in this series.

I loved everything!

I wish there is more books but I loved malice and I love this one even more. I loved all the characters and the action. The ending isn’t what I pictured but still satisfying and a good ending to everything that went down.

A beautiful tale

I cannot describe how impactful this story was to me. I held off on listening to this book because of my anxiousness of how things ended in the last book. I didn’t know how Alice could ever come back from any of that. I think my heart broke. 😅 I’m so glad I finally decided (after a year) to press on. Complex love is put on display here and navigating that is so hard, even if you have lived hundreds of years. I’m tremendously sad about one character that did not make it out the other side. I really wanted her, steadfast, and sure, to get the girl.. but alas.

I’m shaking typing this as I hear the last words of the book in my ear. I wish there was just a little bit more. Feeling both sated and ravenous all at once. I’ll keep this tale close to me.. always.

To the author, thank you so much for gifting us your work. I know you poured your soul into this. And I think anyone who will read this will feel the same way. <3