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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Robin McKinley does a wonderful job portraying the Sleeping Beauty/Briar Rose fairy tale in a fresh light. By delving into the people's attempt to thwart the evil fairy Pernicia, she expands the story so that when I got to the inevitable confrontation, I was rooting for Rosie and her friends, both human and animal.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Liked:
- Sleeping beauty retelling from a fairy godmothers POV
- found / chosen family
- Many animal sidekicks / companions
- Friendship is emphasized over romance
- Ending didn't force characters into roles they didn't want
Disliked:
- Age gap (unclear)
- The concept of
fairy smiths was cool but came out of nowhere How Rosie never got to really meet her birth family even though she expressed the interest to. And it's a bad deal for Peony as well who must have horrible imposter syndrome.
4 stars for the majority of the book, 3.5 for the slightly rushed ending. I'm such a sucker for fairy tales & retellings, and Sleeping Beauty's my favorite.
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley is a delightful tapestry woven from the threads of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. Transported to a realm where fairies, animals, and humans mingle in harmony, McKinley spins the fate of Princess Briar Rose, ensnared in a curse from birth. Under the guise of anonymity, Briar Rose finds solace in the idyllic countryside , but as she uncovers her true lineage, she must confront the shadows threatening her kingdom's peace.
Drawing parallels to the genteel atmosphere of "Sense and Sensibility," the narrative sways gracefully between the enchanting allure of magical elements and the cozy warmth of everyday life, with a side of Downton Abbey drama thrown in for good measure. Yet, amidst the whimsy, McKinley grapples with weighty questions of identity and nurture versus nature, stirring the reader's contemplation.
While the narrative's pace may pirouette like a whimsical fairy on a particularly spirited evening, it later mellows into a gentle rhythm, focusing on familial bonds, friendships, and the whimsical wonders of fairy magic.
However, despite occasional pacing quibbles, McKinley’s magic still enchants from cover to cover. Perfect for those seeking solace in a cozy fantasy realm, McKinley’s tale promises to slow time, allowing readers to savor every moment. From cozy enchantment to the whimsical wonders of fairyland, Spindle’s End is like a warm hug wrapped in a cloak of fairy dust. Fairy godmothers not included.
Drawing parallels to the genteel atmosphere of "Sense and Sensibility," the narrative sways gracefully between the enchanting allure of magical elements and the cozy warmth of everyday life, with a side of Downton Abbey drama thrown in for good measure. Yet, amidst the whimsy, McKinley grapples with weighty questions of identity and nurture versus nature, stirring the reader's contemplation.
While the narrative's pace may pirouette like a whimsical fairy on a particularly spirited evening, it later mellows into a gentle rhythm, focusing on familial bonds, friendships, and the whimsical wonders of fairy magic.
However, despite occasional pacing quibbles, McKinley’s magic still enchants from cover to cover. Perfect for those seeking solace in a cozy fantasy realm, McKinley’s tale promises to slow time, allowing readers to savor every moment. From cozy enchantment to the whimsical wonders of fairyland, Spindle’s End is like a warm hug wrapped in a cloak of fairy dust. Fairy godmothers not included.
Spindle’s End: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, Spindle’s End brings to life the magic of the fairytale and adds a new spin to it. Born a princess, Rosie was spirited away after being cursed by the evil fairy Pernicia, by a well meaning, very young, accidental fairy godmother. Terrified that the young princess would die, Katriona and her Aunt hide her away, and treat her like any other young peasant family of fairies. But as the princess’s 21st birthday draws nearer, both the spell that Pernicia cast as well as well meaning fairies search for the lost princess, but the princess that’s found isn’t what they were expecting, or is it the princess they need?
Like other books by McKinley, the story is told mostly through narration and not dialogue. It does take a bit to get used to, if you’re used to reading most dialogue. Because of this type of storytelling, you don’t get as connected to the characters as you can get with first person point of view. But it does read like fairytale, with lots of twists that you might not expect and a myriad of characters, both human and animal. This book keeps close to the original fairytale, while also showing the different types of powers that women can forge, and the power of friendship is the strongest of them all.
A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, Spindle’s End brings to life the magic of the fairytale and adds a new spin to it. Born a princess, Rosie was spirited away after being cursed by the evil fairy Pernicia, by a well meaning, very young, accidental fairy godmother. Terrified that the young princess would die, Katriona and her Aunt hide her away, and treat her like any other young peasant family of fairies. But as the princess’s 21st birthday draws nearer, both the spell that Pernicia cast as well as well meaning fairies search for the lost princess, but the princess that’s found isn’t what they were expecting, or is it the princess they need?
Like other books by McKinley, the story is told mostly through narration and not dialogue. It does take a bit to get used to, if you’re used to reading most dialogue. Because of this type of storytelling, you don’t get as connected to the characters as you can get with first person point of view. But it does read like fairytale, with lots of twists that you might not expect and a myriad of characters, both human and animal. This book keeps close to the original fairytale, while also showing the different types of powers that women can forge, and the power of friendship is the strongest of them all.
An amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty, vividly written. I tend to like it when a familiar story gets totally turned on its ear, and so this one hit all the right notes for me. I'd put it on my keeper shelf, if I didn't have a friend who has to read it right away.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No