You know those books that you start and are enjoying, but then one of your favorite authors publishes a new book and you put said book on the shelf for a time and forget about it for a while? That was me with John Gwynne's debul novel Malice and I am so glad I remembered it and picked it back up.

The first thing I want to mention is that John Gwynne really has a way of making you care about each and every character in the story. Whether it was one of the main POV characters(Corban, Kastell, and Veradis) or the "side characters" like Gar, Cywen, Thannon, etc. There are so many people in this story, but I did not find it confusing in the least. Gwynne wove it together like a tapestry depicting a tragic play. And I cared about every single death that happened. There were times where I laughed out loud, where I felt tears welling up, where I felt sad, etc. Character relatability and growth is one of the most important aspects of any story to me and this is one of Gwynne's biggest strengths.

Also, the plot was intriguing from the start. There were a few times where I guessed different twists the plot would take, but it didn't really bother me over much. I was so caught up in the characters, the intensity of what was happening, and the action which was plentiful but not overdone.

Some dark things happened(THERE ARE SO MANY DEATHS), but this book is not grim dark by any means. It is more a good vs evil done in a new way. A refreshing take on an old, beloved trope. Put quite simply, I loved the characters and the story and am excited to start book 2.....like today.