Scan barcode
max_the_lesbrarian's review
5.0
A very creative, fun story! Not gonna lie I probably would've given this only 4 stars but the "Harold, they're lesbians" made me fucking cackle.
Edit: Even better the second time around, can't wait to read the sequel!
Edit: Even better the second time around, can't wait to read the sequel!
peachyteachy's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun; inspiring; female-centred; unique
willrefuge's review
4.0
3.5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/10/05/a-spindle-splintered-by-alix-e-harrow-review/
Zinnia Grey is a normal 21-year old—one that has but one year to live. Born with a rare illness, she’s grown up knowing that no one has ever lived past the age of 22. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—Zinnia has developed a full-on obsession with Sleeping Beauty. Not the Disney version either, but the older, darker, Grimm’s one. And as such, it should be no surprise when her best friend Charm throws Zinnia a sleeping beauty bash, complete with a tower and spinning wheel.
But when Zinnia accidentally pricks her finger on the spindle, something strange happens. Something that sees her awaken in a strange tower, in a strange world, with a strange honest-to-god princess also keen to escape her own fate. Something Zinnia can relate to.
And, maybe, something she can help with.
A funny and entertaining retelling that unfortunately suffers from holes in its story, setting, and otherwise short format. What A Spindle Splintered does have is a full cast of badass heroines, and if that’s what you came for—that should be enough to see you through. A love-at-first-sight romance complete with a fully fairy tale ending, whereas the subject itself goes in an entirely different direction.
I rather enjoyed Zinnia’s POV (which is the only one in the book), particularly her wit and sarcasm, and the fact that she totally owns her disease enough to constantly refer to herself as “the dying girl”. This title even comes with its own set of rules of living—complete with swearing off distraction, romance, and school. The humor of this is pretty heavily self-deprecating, as Zinnia attempts to grapple with the reality of her own mortality, one that is now looming over her. It’s one thing to hear that you’ll never make it past 22—but when you get to 21 it all suddenly gets real. The way she copes with this (mostly through humor), and how her journey into a faerie tale makes her confront it again is quite the thing.
The story wasn’t a complete hit with me, I’m afraid. The setting is incomplete, something I feel the short format (as a novella) worked against it. There just wasn’t enough time to build up the faerie tale, little alone for the real world or Zinnia’s place in it. What might’ve otherwise been little details became glaring missteps when you realize that the entirety of the plot is resting on them. Like Zinnia’s cell working from a faerie tale. Or her friend just up and accepting this without comment.
A Spindle Splintered may not have blown me away, but it’s done more than enough for me to recommend it, particularly to those that need a competent, badass heroine role-model, have a love for retellings, LGBTQ+ stories, novellas, and/or Alix E. Harrow. Where I have trouble recommending this is its price. $11 for a 120 page ebook? Ridiculous. Heck, the audiobook is cheaper, and that way you get to listen to the honeyed tongue of Amy Landon—something which I did, by the way. Landon did an excellent job bringing both Zinnia Grey, and the rewritten Sleeping Beauty fable to life. Still, maybe get it on sale.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/10/05/a-spindle-splintered-by-alix-e-harrow-review/
Zinnia Grey is a normal 21-year old—one that has but one year to live. Born with a rare illness, she’s grown up knowing that no one has ever lived past the age of 22. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—Zinnia has developed a full-on obsession with Sleeping Beauty. Not the Disney version either, but the older, darker, Grimm’s one. And as such, it should be no surprise when her best friend Charm throws Zinnia a sleeping beauty bash, complete with a tower and spinning wheel.
But when Zinnia accidentally pricks her finger on the spindle, something strange happens. Something that sees her awaken in a strange tower, in a strange world, with a strange honest-to-god princess also keen to escape her own fate. Something Zinnia can relate to.
And, maybe, something she can help with.
A funny and entertaining retelling that unfortunately suffers from holes in its story, setting, and otherwise short format. What A Spindle Splintered does have is a full cast of badass heroines, and if that’s what you came for—that should be enough to see you through. A love-at-first-sight romance complete with a fully fairy tale ending, whereas the subject itself goes in an entirely different direction.
I rather enjoyed Zinnia’s POV (which is the only one in the book), particularly her wit and sarcasm, and the fact that she totally owns her disease enough to constantly refer to herself as “the dying girl”. This title even comes with its own set of rules of living—complete with swearing off distraction, romance, and school. The humor of this is pretty heavily self-deprecating, as Zinnia attempts to grapple with the reality of her own mortality, one that is now looming over her. It’s one thing to hear that you’ll never make it past 22—but when you get to 21 it all suddenly gets real. The way she copes with this (mostly through humor), and how her journey into a faerie tale makes her confront it again is quite the thing.
The story wasn’t a complete hit with me, I’m afraid. The setting is incomplete, something I feel the short format (as a novella) worked against it. There just wasn’t enough time to build up the faerie tale, little alone for the real world or Zinnia’s place in it. What might’ve otherwise been little details became glaring missteps when you realize that the entirety of the plot is resting on them. Like Zinnia’s cell working from a faerie tale. Or her friend just up and accepting this without comment.
A Spindle Splintered may not have blown me away, but it’s done more than enough for me to recommend it, particularly to those that need a competent, badass heroine role-model, have a love for retellings, LGBTQ+ stories, novellas, and/or Alix E. Harrow. Where I have trouble recommending this is its price. $11 for a 120 page ebook? Ridiculous. Heck, the audiobook is cheaper, and that way you get to listen to the honeyed tongue of Amy Landon—something which I did, by the way. Landon did an excellent job bringing both Zinnia Grey, and the rewritten Sleeping Beauty fable to life. Still, maybe get it on sale.
hkrystek's review
3.0
It was an enjoyable story, but I just think it would have been more successful as a full novel than a novella. Also, while I appreciated what they were trying to with the pictures, I felt it didn't add much to the story and if anything the inclusion confused me as it had nothing directly to do with the storyline as far as I could tell.
snipinfool's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Zinnia Gray had an incurable disease, which caused her to die during her twenty-first year. At a Sleeping Beauty themed party for her last birthday, she accidentally pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. It sent her to another universe. Once there, she befriended another version of Sleeping Beauty and tried to keep that beauty from meeting her expected fate.
This multiverse retelling of Sleeping Beauty was an interesting twist on the classic fairytale. It was short and kept the reader engaged throughout the story. I appreciated that the author didn’t end the story in the way I expected. It was a quick and enjoyable read.
This multiverse retelling of Sleeping Beauty was an interesting twist on the classic fairytale. It was short and kept the reader engaged throughout the story. I appreciated that the author didn’t end the story in the way I expected. It was a quick and enjoyable read.
opheliabox's review
4.0
4.25 ⭐️
I loved this! The only thing I wish I had was an extra chapter or two to flesh out some of the details, but the characters were great and the dialogue was excellent.
I loved this! The only thing I wish I had was an extra chapter or two to flesh out some of the details, but the characters were great and the dialogue was excellent.
cradlow's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
alishajoy's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0