Book Review: Misrule by Heather Walter

I received a free copy of Misrule from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. That being said, the moment I finished Malice, I jumped right into Misrule.

Aurora has been asleep for one hundred years.

Alyce has taken on a new name, a new court, and a new purpose: awake Aurora and save those who were shunned by society.

In the hundred years since destroying Briar, Alyce has become the Mistress of the Dark Court: the destroyed remnants of Briar. Imps, Goblins, Demons, Shifters... all races that were destroyed and exiled from every other place in the world find solace at the Dark Court.

When a young man washes up on the shore, Alyce brings him into her service. But what happens when he finds Aurora and kisses her? Breaking the curse that Alyce had fought so hard to break herself?

I loved every second of this book. I loved the push and pull. I loved the world building. I loved the imps and their mischief. This was a fantastic follow up to Malice, and it ended on such a beautiful note that I really would love to see Walter write more in this world!

Abbie

Book Review: Malice by Heather Walter

Malice has been on my to-read list for a very long time. I just hadn't bit the bullet. However, I received a free copy of the sequel, Misrule, through Netgalley and figured it was time!

I've been craving a villain story for a long time. I have ready so many that promise it in the premise but never deliver. I have a deep love for characters with shades of gray.

Malice did not disappoint.

Firstly, it's an LGBTQ+ novel. Set in the kingdom of Briar, Alyce is known as the Dark Grace. She is who people come to when they want to do harm to others, and because of her mysterious Vila powers, she can make it happen. Of course, only from the shadows.

Alyce was abandoned as a child and placed in the care of Miss Lavender. There are many Graces throughout Briar, but Alyce isn't a Grace. Not really. Where their blood runs gold and is used to enhance people's beauty or craft amazing innovations, Alyce's blood is green and it makes her a pariah among "polite" society.

When Alyce attends a ball at the castle and is unmasked and ridiculed for not belonging, she flees to the garden where she meets Princess Aurora.

This story is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty but with some pretty incredible world building. Walter brings in so many elements of the original fairytale and creates new ones. Because this is a villain's story, I literally found myself shouting yaaaassssss at the end, which I won't spoil. You should definitely read this!

Thanks,

Abbie

Book Review: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

After reading House on the Cerulean Sea, I just knew that I'd love whatever TJ Klune published!

Under the Whispering Door begins with Wallace, an embittered lawyer whose entire life has been about his job. He's firing someone and she's crying and he doesn't really care.

Then, something happens.

Wallace dies the next day. Heart attack. He went quickly.

At his funeral, he sees a woman he doesn't know, and there are only a few people there to begin with. No one can see him, right? Because he's dead. But this woman does.

Lo and behold, the woman, Mei, is a Reaper, come to guide his soul into the next. She brings Wallace to Charon's Crossing, a tea house in basically the middle of nowhere, to the ferryman, Hugo, who is meant to help Wallace into the afterlife.

Y'all. I had a feeling I would enjoy this book, but I didn't expect for it to make me laugh out loud or cry. It did both.

At the tea shop, Wallace goes through many stages of grief. Anger. Denial. Depression. I really liked the way Klune showed this, because he also showed how it doesn't always happen in stages, nor does it happen in order.

One of my favorite tropes has always been found family. Here, Wallace finds his family in Mei, Hugo, and a couple of friendly ghosts (including a loyal pupper!) along the way.

This story is a beautifully crafted piece of literature. Klune has so much heart. His stories are whimsical. They're funny and beautiful and, most of all, gay!

Do NOT sleep on this book, yall. It's SO good.

Abbie