The Dark Grace's Lair

Alyce, known as the Dark Grace, is Briar's only half-Vila, half-human, and the only Grace whose magic is used for curses rather than blessings. She is isolated in Lavender House, shunned by the other Graces and nobles, and forced to use her green blood to create elixirs of ugliness and misfortune for those who pay. Her existence is a contradiction: despised for her power, yet needed by the very people who hate her. Alyce's loneliness is palpable, her only companion a wounded kestrel named Callow. She dreams of belonging, but the world reminds her daily that she is a monster, a tool, and never truly one of them.

Cursed Blood, Caged Hearts

The Graces, with their golden blood and beauty, are celebrated, while Alyce is mocked and ostracized. Rose, the house's beauty Grace, is especially cruel, using every opportunity to remind Alyce of her otherness. Alyce's magic is both a curse and a commodity, and she is forced to serve those who would never accept her. The rules of Briar are clear: Graces are property, their gifts regulated and exploited. Alyce's resentment grows, but so does her longing for connection and understanding, especially as she learns more about the origins of her own power and the history of the Vila.

Masquerade of Monsters

When the Graces are invited to Princess Aurora's birthday ball, Alyce is unexpectedly included. For the first time, she has a chance to step out of the shadows and into the world of the palace, if only behind a mask. With the help of Laurel, the wisdom Grace, Alyce dons a disguise and attends the ball, experiencing fleeting moments of acceptance and even flirtation. But the masquerade cannot last. When her true identity is revealed, Alyce is publicly humiliated, confirming her deepest fears: she will never be one of them, no matter how she tries.

The Black Tower's Secret

Fleeing the pain of the ball, Alyce stumbles upon the ruins of a black tower on the cliffs. Inside, she meets Kal, a mysterious prisoner bound by ancient magic. Kal reveals that he knew Alyce's mother, Lynnore, and that Alyce is not just half-Vila, but also a Shifter—a being capable of changing form. Kal offers to teach Alyce about her true power, hinting at a legacy and potential far greater than she ever imagined. For the first time, Alyce glimpses a future where she might be more than a monster.

A Princess in Shadow

After the ball, Alyce and Princess Aurora meet in secret. Aurora, burdened by the curse that dooms all Briar's heirs, is drawn to Alyce's honesty and darkness. The two share a rare understanding, both trapped by expectations and fate. Their friendship deepens, and Alyce finds herself caring for someone who sees her as more than a tool or a threat. Together, they begin to search for a way to break Aurora's curse, delving into forbidden histories and rituals, and daring to hope for something more.

The Shifter's Truth

Under Kal's tutelage, Alyce discovers that her magic is not limited to curses or elixirs. She can command the elements, shape her own body, and even influence the magic in others. The revelation is both exhilarating and terrifying. Alyce's identity as a Shifter and Vila makes her unique—and dangerous. As she practices her abilities, she begins to see the possibility of escape from Briar, and perhaps even a life where she is not defined by others' fear and hatred. But power comes with a price, and Alyce must decide who she wants to be.

Poisoned Gifts and Rivalries

The Briar King, Tarkin, begins to secretly commission Alyce to curse objects for his own political ends, offering her gold and promises of power. Meanwhile, the competition among the Graces intensifies, especially as Rose's gift begins to Fade and she resorts to dangerous bloodrot to maintain her power. Alyce is caught between her growing abilities, the king's manipulations, and the shifting alliances within Lavender House. The lines between victim and villain blur, and Alyce's choices become more fraught.

The Royal Ball Unmasks

At another royal celebration, Alyce and Aurora's relationship deepens, culminating in a kiss that unexpectedly breaks Aurora's curse. The moment is both triumphant and terrifying, as it exposes Alyce's true power to the court and the king. Tarkin, seeing Alyce as both a threat and a weapon, moves to control her, while the Graces and nobles react with fear and suspicion. Alyce's love for Aurora is now both her greatest strength and her greatest vulnerability.

A Kiss and a Curse

The breaking of Aurora's curse sets off a chain reaction. The king, threatened by Alyce's power and the possibility of a Vila on the throne, reveals his own plans: to use Alyce to invade Etheria and seize Fae magic for himself. Aurora and Alyce are separated, and Alyce is imprisoned. The world turns against her, and even those she thought were allies betray her. The hope of love and freedom is replaced by the reality of power, politics, and sacrifice.

Allies and Betrayals

Laurel, once a friend, is revealed to have been spying on Alyce for Endlewild, the Fae ambassador, in exchange for her own ambitions. Kal's true nature is also exposed: he is not just a mentor, but a manipulator, seeking to use Alyce to resurrect Mortania, the ancient Vila who cursed Briar. Alyce's trust is shattered, and she is forced to confront the reality that she is alone, surrounded by those who would use or destroy her. The line between hero and villain blurs further, and Alyce must decide who she can become.

The King's Commissions

With her gold stolen and her escape blocked, Alyce is trapped by Tarkin, who uses her to curse objects and people for his own gain. The king's ambitions grow darker, and Alyce's complicity weighs heavily on her. She tries to subvert his orders, but the consequences are dire. The Graces are punished, the council is purged, and the realm teeters on the brink of war. Alyce's power is both a blessing and a curse, and she must find a way to break free before she is lost forever.

The Sleeping Curse

In a desperate attempt to save Aurora and stop the king, Alyce crafts a sleeping curse, hoping to incapacitate Tarkin. But her magic is manipulated by Kal and Mortania, and the curse is turned against Aurora herself. Aurora falls into a deathlike sleep, and Alyce is blamed for her condition. The world sees her as a monster, and even those she loves are lost to her. The sleeping curse becomes a symbol of Alyce's power and isolation, and the final barrier between her and happiness.

The Tower's Prisoner

Kal, freed from his enchantment, reveals his true intentions: to resurrect Mortania and use Alyce as her vessel. He manipulates Alyce's magic, curses Aurora, and unleashes Mortania's power within Alyce. The betrayal is devastating, and Alyce is forced to confront the darkness within herself. She kills Kal, but not before Mortania's spirit merges with her own, granting her unimaginable power—and a hunger for vengeance.

The Vila's Legacy

With Mortania's magic inside her, Alyce's power grows beyond anything Briar has ever seen. She unleashes her wrath on the realm, destroying those who wronged her and burning the world that caged her. The line between Alyce and Mortania blurs, and she becomes the monster the world always feared. Yet, in her destruction, there is a twisted sense of justice and liberation. Alyce is no longer the Dark Grace—she is something new, something terrible, and something free.

The Queen's Edict

Tarkin's plan to seize the throne and invade Etheria is revealed in full. He uses Alyce's magic to eliminate his enemies and consolidate power, but underestimates the force he has unleashed. The queen and Aurora are powerless to stop him, and the realm descends into chaos. The old order collapses, and the future of Briar hangs in the balance. Alyce's actions, both deliberate and manipulated, are at the heart of the realm's undoing.

The Trial and the Shackle

In a public trial, a Grace named Narcisse is accused of breaking the laws and is bled nearly to death as punishment, using a shackle cursed by Alyce. The spectacle is a warning to all Graces, and a turning point for Alyce, who realizes the true cost of her complicity. The king's cruelty is laid bare, and the Graces are reminded of their powerlessness. Alyce's guilt and rage grow, fueling her transformation.

Gold Stolen, Trust Broken

Alyce's gold, her means of escape, is stolen by someone she trusted. She is betrayed by those closest to her, and her isolation is complete. The revelation that Laurel has been spying on her for Endlewild is the final blow. Alyce's trust is shattered, and she is forced to rely on herself and the darkness within her. The world has made her a monster, and she begins to embrace that role.

The Summoning Ritual

Alyce and Aurora attempt a forbidden Nightseeker ritual to summon the Vila who cast the royal curse, hoping to find a way to break it. The ritual unleashes dangerous magic and brings Mortania's presence closer to Alyce. The boundaries between past and present, self and other, begin to blur. The ritual fails to save Aurora, but it sets in motion the final transformation of Alyce into something more than human.

The King's Coup

Tarkin's coup is complete. He imprisons Alyce, manipulates the council, and prepares to seize Etheria. Aurora is cursed and rendered helpless. Alyce, alone in the dungeons, must decide whether to fight for love or give in to the monster she has become. The world is on the brink of destruction, and Alyce holds the key to its fate.

The Shifter's Betrayal

Kal, once Alyce's mentor, is exposed as the Shifter who helped Mortania curse Briar. He manipulates Alyce, curses Aurora, and seeks to use her as a vessel for Mortania's return. The betrayal is complete, and Alyce is forced to kill Kal to save herself. But Mortania's spirit merges with her own, and Alyce is forever changed.

The Spindle's Sting

Kal uses Alyce's own cursed spindle to wound Aurora, merging Mortania's magic with Alyce's and dooming Aurora to a deathlike sleep. Alyce is powerless to save her, and the world turns against her. The spindle becomes a symbol of Alyce's failure and the darkness that now defines her.

The Monster Unleashed

With Mortania's power inside her, Alyce unleashes her full fury on Briar. She burns the Grace District, slaughters her enemies, and becomes the monster the world always feared. The line between justice and vengeance is obliterated, and Alyce embraces her new identity as Nimara, the harbinger of a new age.

The Library of Thorns

Alyce barricades herself and Aurora in the old library, using her magic to create a fortress of thorns. The world outside burns, and Alyce is hunted by the king, the Graces, and the Fae. She refuses to let anyone take Aurora from her, even as the cost of her power grows. The library becomes a tomb, a sanctuary, and a symbol of Alyce's transformation.

The End of Alyce

In the ashes of Briar, Alyce sheds her old self and becomes Nimara, a being of darkness and power. She is no longer the outcast, the victim, or the tool. She is the monster, the queen, and the beginning of a new story. The world will remember her not as Alyce, but as the force that remade it in fire and blood.

Characters

Alyce (Nimara)

Alyce is the half-Vila, half-human "Dark Grace" of Briar, marked by her green blood and feared for her power to curse rather than bless. Isolated and reviled, she is shaped by years of cruelty, envy, and longing for acceptance. Her psychological journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns she is also a Shifter, capable of changing her form and wielding magic beyond anyone's imagination. Alyce's relationships—with Aurora, Kal, Laurel, and the Graces—are fraught with betrayal and hope. Her love for Aurora is transformative, but ultimately, Alyce is forced to embrace the monster the world made her. By the end, she becomes Nimara, a being of darkness and power, both villain and liberator, rewriting the story of her own existence.

Princess Aurora

Aurora is the last heir of Briar, doomed by a Vila's curse to die at twenty-one unless saved by true love's kiss. Trapped by duty and expectation, she is both a symbol of hope and a victim of her own lineage. Aurora's bond with Alyce is the heart of the story—a relationship built on shared pain, understanding, and defiance. She is brave, clever, and determined to change Briar for the better, dreaming of a world where Graces are free and love is not a weapon. Aurora's fate is intertwined with Alyce's, and her willingness to risk everything for love is both her strength and her undoing.

Kal

Kal is the mysterious prisoner of the black tower, a Shifter who claims to have known Alyce's mother. At first, he is a guide and teacher, helping Alyce unlock her true power. But his motives are revealed to be selfish and vengeful—he seeks to resurrect Mortania, the ancient Vila, and use Alyce as her vessel. Kal's betrayal is devastating, forcing Alyce to confront the darkness within herself. He is both a victim of the Fae and a perpetrator of violence, embodying the cycle of pain and revenge that haunts Briar.

Rose

Rose is Alyce's chief tormentor in Lavender House, obsessed with her own beauty and status. Her cruelty masks deep insecurity and fear of Fading, the loss of her Grace power. Rose's rivalry with Alyce is both personal and symbolic—a battle between light and dark, acceptance and rejection. As her power wanes, Rose resorts to dangerous means to maintain her place, ultimately becoming a victim of the very system she upheld. Her relationship with Alyce is complex, shifting from hatred to a grudging understanding.

Laurel

Laurel is the wisdom Grace of Lavender House, more thoughtful and reserved than her peers. She befriends Alyce, offering support and guidance, but is later revealed to be spying for Endlewild, the Fae ambassador. Laurel's motivations are a mix of self-preservation, ambition, and genuine concern for the Graces. Her betrayal is a turning point for Alyce, highlighting the impossibility of trust in a world built on secrets and power. Laurel's fate is a cautionary tale about the cost of compromise.

King Tarkin

Tarkin is the mortal king of Briar, married to Queen Mariel and father to Aurora. His hunger for power drives him to manipulate, betray, and destroy anyone in his way. He uses Alyce's magic to eliminate his enemies and plots to invade Etheria, believing himself destined for greatness. Tarkin's cruelty is matched only by his cunning, and his downfall is both inevitable and catastrophic. He is the embodiment of the corrupt system that Alyce and Aurora seek to overthrow.

Queen Mariel

Mariel is the Fae-blessed queen of Briar, but her authority has been eroded by generations of kings and political machinations. She is both a victim and a participant in the system that oppresses the Graces and her own daughter. Mariel's love for Aurora is genuine, but she is unable to protect her from the forces that seek to control them both. Her story is one of regret and resignation, a warning about the dangers of surrendering power.

Endlewild

Endlewild is the Etherian ambassador to Briar, tasked with upholding the alliance between the Fae and the mortal realm. He is cold, calculating, and deeply prejudiced against Alyce and the Vila. Endlewild's interventions are always self-serving, and his alliance with Laurel reveals the Fae's willingness to manipulate events for their own ends. He is both a guardian and a threat, embodying the ambiguous morality of the Fae.

Mortania

Mortania is the spirit of the Vila who cursed Briar, imprisoned for centuries and ultimately merged with Alyce. She is a force of vengeance, rage, and power, representing the legacy of pain and injustice that haunts the realm. Mortania's presence within Alyce is both a gift and a curse, amplifying her abilities and her darkness. She is the voice of the past, urging Alyce to embrace her monstrous nature and remake the world in fire and blood.

Callow

Callow is Alyce's only true companion for much of the story—a bird rescued and healed, but never able to fly free. Callow mirrors Alyce's own journey: broken, caged, and longing for freedom. In the end, Callow's flight alongside Alyce is a symbol of liberation, vengeance, and the possibility of transformation.

Plot Devices

Duality of Power and Otherness

The narrative structure hinges on Alyce's journey from outcast to monster, exploring the duality of her power—used for harm and, briefly, for love. The story uses foreshadowing through Alyce's isolation, the legends of the Vila, and the warnings of the Fae. The motif of the mask recurs, both literal and metaphorical, as Alyce tries to hide her true self and is ultimately unmasked. The plot is driven by betrayals and shifting alliances, with each revelation pushing Alyce further from humanity and closer to her monstrous heritage. The use of cursed objects, sleeping spells, and the merging of spirits (Mortania and Alyce) are key devices that escalate the stakes and blur the line between victim and villain.

Subversion of Fairy Tale Tropes

The story reimagines the Sleeping Beauty myth, centering the "villain" as protagonist and the "princess" as her beloved. The curse is both literal and symbolic, representing the weight of history, prejudice, and expectation. The breaking of the curse is not a simple act of love, but a catalyst for chaos, transformation, and the collapse of the old order. The narrative structure uses familiar fairy tale beats—balls, betrayals, magical tests—but subverts them at every turn, challenging the reader's assumptions about good, evil, and the nature of power.

Psychological and Political Manipulation

The plot is propelled by secrets, spying, and manipulation—Laurel's betrayal, Kal's deception, the king's machinations, and Endlewild's interventions. Alyce's psychological arc is shaped by these betrayals, forcing her to question her own motives and desires. The political structure of Briar, with its laws, councils, and hierarchies, is both a backdrop and a weapon, used to control and destroy. The story uses foreshadowing through the recurring theme of cages—literal (the Lair, the tower, the dungeons) and figurative (social roles, curses, expectations).

Transformation and Identity

The Shifter magic is both a plot device and a metaphor for Alyce's search for identity. Her ability to change form mirrors her psychological journey, as she moves from self-loathing to self-acceptance to monstrous empowerment. The merging with Mortania is the ultimate transformation, erasing the boundaries between self and other, past and present, victim and villain. The story's climax is a literal and figurative rebirth, as Alyce becomes Nimara and claims her place in the world.

Analysis

Malice is a radical reimagining of the Sleeping Beauty myth, told from the perspective of the "villain" and centering queer love, monstrous femininity, and the politics of power. Heather Walter's novel interrogates the binaries of good and evil, beauty and ugliness, victim and villain, showing how systems of oppression create monsters—and how those monsters can become agents of change. Alyce's journey is both deeply personal and profoundly political: her longing for love and acceptance is set against a backdrop of exploitation, betrayal, and revolution. The story's subversion of fairy tale tropes—true love's kiss, the curse, the monstrous other—invites readers to question who gets to be the hero, who is cast as the monster, and what it means to claim one's own story. In the end, Malice is a meditation on the cost of survival, the hunger for justice, and the transformative power of rage. It is a story for anyone who has ever been told they are too much, too different, or too dangerous—and who has dared to become exactly that.

Last updated: October 26, 2025