Book: Malicent by Cassandra M.D.
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 4/5
In a market saturated with same-formula reads, Malicent stands out. Dark horror fantasy with major romance subplots are entering the scene for those that crave the three genres under one umbrella, and I’m here for it. Grittier than your usual romantasy and blissfully low on fluff, they appeal to those who like dark romances. 🥀
Told in dual POV, we follow Millicent and Cage. Millicent is a powerful witch sent by her coven to aid the king, though her loyalties remain firmly with her own. Witches look down on humans as an inferior race, and at ~200 years old, Millicent’s been thoroughly indoctrinated by her coven leader. She’s a strong, stabby FMC, and the king’s court clocks it instantly. There’s no “learning her powers” arc here. Instead, she wields them like the badass she is and dares anyone to get in her way.
Cage is the king’s most trusted mage and someone from Millicent’s dark past. His POV offers sharp world-building and a lens on Millicent’s prejudices. He’s cocky and infuriating a great amount of the book, but that leaves room for delicious banter between him and Millicent. The sexual tension sizzles; their mutual, unapologetic loathing fuels it. It leads this to being a… friends-to-enemies-to-hate-lusters. This is a series, so I don’t expect the “lovers” part to fully bloom for a while, and I appreciate the unhurried slow burn.
The side cast is easy to love and loaded with intrigue. King Felix is the closest thing to a cinnamon roll you’ll get in this world, and I want to protect him at all costs. And Millicent’s companion, a snarky blue imp, brings perfect comic relief and gives major Bartholomew vibes.
Despite my loving the world and characters, I knocked off a star due to the writing flow. Inconsistent tone within POVs occasionally broke my immersion, and modern slang pops up in a world that doesn’t fit the mold. I know that’s common with romantasies, but in a book this dark and enjoyable, these issues become glaringly obvious when imagining an unapologetic world.
For a debut, this hits hard. The mood is nailed, and I can see the writing leveling up with each installment. If “dark horror fantasy + dark romance” is your poison, you’re in luck. The trigger warnings are extensive, so please check them. I’m happy to add another title to the weird, wonderful corner of grimdark/dark-horror romantasy, and I’m excited for what’s next. Side note: the author’s Instagram has some very fun book art if you want to peek. 🥀🖤
Thank you for The Nerd Fam and Cassandra M.D. for the ARC. All opinions are my own.