#Misrule

[sapphic-book-tournament]

#nona the ninth #harrow the ninth #gideon the ninth #gideon the 9th #Gideon the locked tomb #the locked tomb #harrow the 9th #harrow the locked tomb #alyce and aurora #malice #misrule #nona the 9th #Nona the locked tomb #heather walter #tamsyn muir #sapphic book tournament #sapphic #sapphic books #lesbian #lesbian books #lesbian romance #lesbian romance novels #fantasy #malice duology #Lgbt #gay #lgbt books #lgbt fiction #lgbtq #lgbtq books

[layaart]

poison witch aesthetic 🌿 💀 🥀 malice inspired!

#malice #misrule #malice by heather walter #books #also sticker sheets which will be available this week probably! #also yes this is low quality image i'm trying to compress things before posting to stop stealing lmao #2022 fanart

[bookwyrminspiration]

i somehow have the audacity to be surprised when the sleeping beauty inspired story, a story where a major part is the 100 year sleep, has a 100 year time skip

#malice #misrule #heather walter #the one page after the prologue in book 2: 100 years later #me. reading a sapphic evil sleeping beauty retelling: *surprised pikachu* #anyway. I’m back with alyce (now named nimara) and Aurora I’ll let you know how it goes

[melanielocke]

Book recommendations: retellings part 1

I love a good retelling. So much so that I had to split the retelling section in two, possibly three parts or there'd be too many books to fit into a picture properly. I love getting creative with old and familiar stories, while other books retell stories I wasn't that familiar with at all.

I'm starting with Six Crimson Cranes and the Dragon's Promise

The first book is an East Asian inspired retelling of the swan princess, I'm not sure if the second book is a retelling of anything. If you don't know the swan princess, the basic premise is that the evil stepmother sorceress turns the princess' brothers into swans and she has to find a way to undo the curse.

The series follows Shiori, the princess and youngest child of the emperor. In Kiata, magic is locked away and forbidden, but Shiori was born with magic and had to keep is hidden away. At the day of her betrothal ceremony, she loses control and catches the attention of her stepmother Raikama, who uses her own dark magic to turn her brothers into cranes and curses Shiori so that when she speaks one of her brothers will die. Voiceless and alone, she has to find her brothers and undo the curse.

These books really feel and read like a fairytale, and while I am not super familiar with the swan princess I like how elements of the fairytale are woven into the book. Pun intended, because weaving a net is a big part in both the book and the original fairytale. My favorite part is Raikama, the stepmother, and villain of the first book. She's a very complex character and I loved learning more about her and why she cursed Shiori and her brothers.

The editions I have of this book are absolutely gorgeous, and I believe they're the UK edition hardcovers. I'm not sure if people in North America will be able to find these editions, and the US edition has a different cover.

Next up is the Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

This is a retelling of a Korean fairytale that I'm not familiar with, and the story itself reads like a fairtale very similar to Six Crimson Cranes. I'd say if you like this one, you'll like Six Crimson Cranes and vice versa.

Mina comes from a land plagued by deadly storms and the people believe the sea god, who was once their protector, has turned against them. Every year they choose a girl who is thrown into the sea in the hope that she turns out to be the sea god's true bride and will appease him. This year, Mina's brother's girlfriend is chosen to be the sacrifice and her brother goes after her to save her, which could result in his death. So Mina jumps into the sea instead, sacrificing herself. She finds herself in the spirit world, the world of gods, a place where a mortal like her can't survive long. There, she finds out the sea god is sleeping, and the storms won't end until he wakes. But not everyone wants the sea god to wake up, and they will do anything to stop Mina.

I think one of the best aspects of this book is the slowly developed dislike to romance with Mina's love interest, who is not the obvious choice here, and I love the mystery behind what happened to the sea god and the eventual explanation.

Like with Six Crimson Cranes, the edition shown on the picture is a UK edition with a different cover from the US one.

So this is Ever After counts as a retelling of King Arthur, but it is really more of a rom com in a medieval fantasy setting.

The story takes place after the main quest where Alek pulls a magic sword from a stone (which did not come pre sharpened) with which he beheaded the evil sorcerer king (rather clumsily).

To make sure another evil ruler doesn't take over while they go rescue the princess, Alek temporarily assumes the crown at his mage best friend Matt's advice. Only it turns out the princess is already dead and Alek is stuck as king now.

Worse, there is no way to undo his coronation and if he doesn't get married before his next birthday he'll fade away. Alek doesn't want to marry just anyone, and since he has a little time left, he decides to test potential romantic connections to all this quest companions with Matt's help using common romance tropes he finds in the dead princess' diary. But it turns out love might have been right in front of him all along.

This book is hilarious and pokes fun at lots of common rom com tropes as well as fantasy tropes. The land is called "the land of Ere in the realm of Chickpea". Alek and Matt are both so clueless about each other's feelings, it is funny but at times also frustrating, and they try the most ridiculous things to see if they can pair him up with one of their other companions. If you dislike miscommunication or main characters being dumbasses, you probably won't like this book. There's a fun secondary cast, and their companions all fit pretty much into classic dnd classes such as the rogue, the bard etc

Also by this author: In Deeper Waters, a little mermaid retelling that I'll cover in retelling part 2

Last but certainly not least is Malice by Heather Walter

Now, for most of the books I rewrite the summary in my own words with what I think are the most important things to mention, but the official synopsis of the first book is so brilliant and I could never outdo that, so the next part is copy pasted from Goodreads.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no 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 didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred 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 it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating—and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again.

Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I—

I am the villain. 

This in an adult fantasy duology, and retelling of Sleeping Beauty told from the perspective of a character based on Maleficent. Alyce is not the one who cast the curse on Aurora, but she does have similar powers to the original vila who placed the curse. The way the curse works is all women descended from the original queen of Briar are cursed and will die without their true love's kiss. Cursed women also only have daughters. To make sure this doesn't spread to too many descendants, only the Queen is allowed to have children and other female relatives are not. Some survive the curse by kissing the right person on time, some die. Aurora's mother survived, but true love's kiss doesn't guarantee a good partner or relationship. Aurora's two older sisters both died, and Aurora doesn't have long left. Because of this, she's forced to kiss random men pretty much every day.

The fairies from the original fairytale are graces here, women blessed with minor magical powers to enhance beauty, intelligence, creativity and such, but they are bound by strict laws telling them they have to use their power for the people, they cannot move to a different country, etc. Alyce is the dark grace, her powers don't really work the same but she makes elixers to, but to harm people, at the request of rich people. I found it really interesting how the culture built around graces lead to people being extremely vain and superficial. Alyce was an easy to root for villain, and I love her dynamic with Aurora, especially how it develops in book 2, which I won't say too much about yet because spoilers.

@alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer @life-through-the-eyes-of @astriefer @justanormaldemon @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised @amchara @all-for-the-fanfiction @imsoftforthomastair @ddepressedbookworm @queenlilith43 @wagner-fell @cant-think-of-anything @laylax13s @tessherongraystairs @boredfangirl16 @artist-in-soul @bottomdelioncourt @ikissedsmithparker

#six crimson cranes #the dragon's promise #elizabeth lim #malice #misrule #heather walter #the girl who fell beneath the sea #axie oh #so this is ever after #f.t. lukens #retellings #book recommendations

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

JOMP BPC - September 18th - One Word Title

loved the one-word titles of Jodi McAlister's Valentine trilogy, an amazing Australian YA series perfect for fans of the fae who are actually out to get you

#valentine #ironheart #misrule #jodi mcalister #loveozya #justonemorepage #jompbpc #booklr #bookblr #trcc original #portraits

[pembroke]

i loved malice when i read it last year, so i’m very excited to dive into the sequel misrule. here’s the alyce and aurora fanart i did last year when i finished the first book

#malice #misrule #alyce #aurora #mine #fanart

[shy-fairy-levele3]

My latest Library Haul is mostly sequels to other books I read earlier this year.

As the count down is on, which duology should I finish first?

#book list #level reads #library haul #the storm of life #misrule #prairie fire #sequels #duologys #tbr #books #reading

[metalatl]

If I had a nickel every time someone named Tarkin was part of a corrupt government, I'd have two nickels

Which is not a lot, but it's weird it happened twice

#grand moff tarkin #king tarkin #(I dont remember if he had a last name and I'm not searching the whole book just for this) #malice #misrule #star wars

[backlogbooks]

JOMP BPC | Day 2 | Currently Reading

Going to start Misrule today! excited and scared for the second (and last? i think?) book in this series

#jompbpc #justonemorepage #malice #misrule #heather walter #library books #mary emma's posts

[poisonerspath]

The Law of Misrule turns everything upside down in a Saturnalian ritual reenactment of the mythical Golden Age of which Saturn was ruler. This is the time before time. The eternal and paradisiacal Witches’ Sabbath when human, animal and spirit are one. The Gnosis of the Fool is the realization of this eternal and perfect state, who casts away social norms and lives without restraint, fully aware of their divine nature. What was ignorant bliss becomes divine illumination when the clock is set back to zero and all things are possible. #saturnalia #misrule #lordofmisrule #yule #witchcraft #folkwitchcraft #europeanwitchraft #capricorn Photos from Masks of Misrule by Nigel Jackson https://www.instagram.com/p/CmUqwh4Oq2_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#saturnalia #misrule #lordofmisrule #yule #witchcraft #folkwitchcraft #europeanwitchraft #capricorn

[stardustandrockets]

Do you prefer the hero or the villain?

If you've been around my account for a decent amount of time, you'll know I have a soft spot for a well written villain. They're not always as monstrous as they seem.

I haven't read Malice by Heather Walter, but after reading the synopsis, I'm definitely adding it to my tbr. Sleeping Beauty retellings are maybe my second favorite next to Cinderella. Which is what the February collectible magnet is inspired by. This super cute art of Aurora and Alyce was done, as always, by @jamielynnlano.

#malice #misrule #heather walter #sleeping beauty #fairy tale retelling #rainbow crate #rainbow crate book box #rcfeb23 #duality #good vs evil #lgbtq reads #lgbtqia #queer book recs #read with pride #read queer all year #read more sapphic books #stardustandrockets #backlog from march #march 29

[sapphic-book-tournament]

Okay everyone! Next tournament will be specifically for sapphic fantasy books. Let me know your recommendations in the comments please!

#sapphic book tournament #sapphic books #lesbian #lesbian books #sapphic #lgbt #lgbt books #sapphic fiction #lgbt characters #lesbian romance #the priory of the orange tree #the roots of chaos #the burning kingdoms #the jasmine throne #the oleander sword #crier’s war #iron heart #nina varela #malice #misrule #malice duology #girl serpent thorn #this poison heart #this wicked fate #kalynn bayron #melissa bashardoust

[layaart]

And here’s a bunch of side characters from Malice & Misrule! // Alyce / Aurora

#malice #misrule #misrule spoilers #heather walter #malice by heather walter #i am lazy at drawing magic staffs lol #books #2022 fanart

[fablesbookstuff]

I want to commit to reading at least one book a week if possible this year and trying to read books on my bookshelf I haven't read before and so im gonna put them here and cross them off each week when I read them.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Ruin of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan

Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

Misrule by Heather Walter

A Song of Wraiths and Ruins by Roseanna A.Brown

A Psalm of Storm and Silence by Roseanna A.Brown

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

A lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

The Sun and the Star Rick Riordan

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Forget me Not by Alyson Derrick

LegendBorn Tracy Deon

BloodMarked Tracy Deon

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

The Serpents Shadow by Rick Riordan

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

Kings Cage by Victoria Aveyard

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

ThreadNeedle by Cari Thomas

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

This Poison Heart by Kaylynn Bayron

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien

The Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien

The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien

These are all the ones I have on my bookshelf currently that I either have not read yet or I plan to read again this year. And hopefully I can stick to this one book a week deal

#king of scars #reading #books #readers of tumblr #booklr #ruin of wolves #six of crows #crooked kingdom #hell bent #girls of storm and shadow #girls of fate and fury #Girl Serpent Thorn #Lost in the Never Woods #Misrule #a song of wraiths and ruin #a psalm of storms and silence #red pyramid #throne of fire #serpents shadow #the raven boys #the priory of the orange tree #a day of fallen night #reading list 2023

[melanielocke]

My favorite books of 2022

Unfortunately, no picture for this post, and I won't talk a lot about each book so it becomes readable. If you want to know more about a certain book or talk about it, send me an ask! Since I read 110 books this year, this list will only feature books that were also published in 2022 and the list will be in order of me reading them because there are simply too many to play favorites.

The Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea - Axie Oh

Misrule - Heather Walter

A Cruel and Fated Light - Ashley Shuttleworth

So This is Ever After - F.T. Lukens

This Wicked Fate - Kalynn Bayron

Sofi and the Bone Song - Adrienne Tooley

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance - Foz Meadows

The Oleander Sword - Tasha Suri

A Taste of Gold and Iron - Alexandra Rowland

The Sunbearer Trials - Aiden Thomas

A Restless Truth - Freya Marske

Ocean's Echo - Everina Maxwell

Lord of Silver Ashes - Kellen Graves

Fire Becomes Her - Rosiee Thor

Silver in the Mist - Emily Victoria

#the girl who fell beneath the sea #axie oh #misrule #heather walter #a cruel and fated light #ashley shuttleworth #so this is ever after #f.t. lukens #this wicked fate #kalynn bayron #sofi and the bone song #Adrienne tooley #a strange and stubborn endurance #foz meadows #the oleander sword #tasha suri #a taste of gold and iron #alexandra rowland #the sunbearer trials #aiden thomas #a restless truth #freya marske #ocean's echo #everina maxwell #lord of silver ashes #kellen graves #fire becomes her #rosiee thor #silver in the mist #emily victoria

[supitsgdo]

Book review: Malice & Misrule by Heather Walter

Rating:

Malice: 4⭐️

Misrule: 3⭐️

𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞: Sleeping beauty meets Cinderela. I knew that this was going to go down south but still, I was surprised. I sympathize with Alyce. She is mischievous, wicked, sarcastic, funny, and easily likeable. This story is told from the villain's perspective. But is she really one? She was born on the wrong piece of land and immediately labeled as a monster. Solely because of previous history and because her powers are different. She was bullied in her house (Cinderela trope); mistreated by everyone except Aurora; she finds her true love (sleeping beauty trope) and that’s immediately taken away merely because of who she is. She gets betrayed a lot of times and makes mistakes because of how misguided she was. However, she's also at fault at times, there were some decisions taken in which she knew fully well what she was doing. But she ended up becoming the person they labelled her as, because of other people’s decisions in the first place. (They tainted her) What I want to say is: it's not always black and white, there are some grey areas. It's important to acknowledge that. And we see that plainly in this book.

𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞: This one didn't hit home like the previous book. I like how the book ended and it was fair. I actually wanted the story to end like that. However, the whole book was just one same cycle, repeating itself. Which I think makes sense, but I wasn't feeling sentimental like I thought I would be. If you know what I mean. But either way, it was a nice story.

#book recommendations #book review #reading challenge #goodreads #2022 #malice #misrule #heather walter