Reviews

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

annw's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. It was wonderful to have fairytale and real world issues collide in this book. I also truly appreciated at at the end, there was a fairytale ending of sorts

birchjilguero's review

adventurous hopeful

3.25

mishup_3's review against another edition

adventurous funny relaxing fast-paced

4.0

They’re lesbians, Harold!

rlouis's review

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sleeping beauty reimagined. Enjoyed the audiobook thoroughly, its short and pretty fast paced but a queer and fun afternoon read to keep me company at work. 

amandalyncreek's review

3.0

This was okay. I feel like it could have been longer. The ending seemed a little rushed to me.

ladyasteria's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

andream0885's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.75

rainbopagn's review

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I am not one for fairy tale retellings, but this was long enough to deliver. Looking at incurable or terminal illness as a curse allows so many people to feel seen. I did knock this down a star for SPOILERS BELOW. I do love the way it was written, very much like a fairy tale. 

This was knocked down from 4 to 3 stars because of the quasi cure the main character gets at the end. Miracle cures are still firmly in the world of fiction, especially for genetic mutations like hers. I cannot get behind that notion.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical trauma, and Chronic illness

katiegilley's review

4.0

I think I'd read anything written by Alix E. Harrow and decided to pick up this novella after a book hangover. It's totally different from what I usually read and was refreshing and fun. It's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, from the perspective of an irreverent 21 year old, Zinnia Gray. Zinnia doesn't expect to live past 21 due to a rare genetic disorder that is specific to her hometown. She's spent her entire life obsessed with the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale and, on her 21st birthday, she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel (I kid you not) and is taken through a series of overlapping realities in order to help save another Sleeping Beauty.

This book made me want to go back to school to study folklore and to read a LOT more fairy tales to my own children. I really only know the Disney version to these stories and am interested in their deep history in culture. So much fun.

Anyway - Alix E. Harrow is working on a whole subversive fairy tale series, so I'm looking forward to more!

kate_____'s review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25