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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This Sleeping Beauty retelling is unique and compelling. The charm of this story comes largely from the characters, who are very well-drawn, three-dimensional and endearing. The pace of the book is slow, but that isn't a drawback as long as you know that that's what you're getting into.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This story is rich and lovely. I feel so at peace after finishing it, and what I have discovered in reading this book will stay nestled in a special part of my heart.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm a huge fan of good fairytale retellings, which this is. And I'm a rather big fan of Robin McKinley's stories as well. Her writing isn't for everyone; it's heavy on narration, much more so than writers tend to use nowadays. but I like the magical quality that this imparts to her stories.
Many of these novels are often labeled "juvenile fiction," which isn't really wrong; YA fiction writing is rather different, and moreover, I'm not convinced that YA was a genre in 2000 when this came out. If my 8 year old wanted to read this, I'd happily pass it over to her, but I'm not sure how well it would hold her interest. McKinley expects the reader to do work as they read, only clarifying things after a little while.
Sleeping Beauty isn't my favorite fairy tale, but this one is well done. I liked the plot and I liked the story-telling. I liked the twist(s) at the end.
However,as an adult reading this while keeping my daughter in mind, I experience some issues with the age gap of an entire generation between Rosie and Narl. I know that McKinley's husband was over 20 years older than she was, and I know in my mind that adults can do what they please. But while an age gap wasn't uncommon in these nonindustrial settings that Spindle's End occurs, it strikes me with unease as a parent.
Many of these novels are often labeled "juvenile fiction," which isn't really wrong; YA fiction writing is rather different, and moreover, I'm not convinced that YA was a genre in 2000 when this came out. If my 8 year old wanted to read this, I'd happily pass it over to her, but I'm not sure how well it would hold her interest. McKinley expects the reader to do work as they read, only clarifying things after a little while.
Sleeping Beauty isn't my favorite fairy tale, but this one is well done. I liked the plot and I liked the story-telling. I liked the twist(s) at the end.
However,
retelling of sleeping beauty, kind of confusing at the end, though
slow-paced
Nope.
This book would be better if it were more queer, had no romance at all, and/or were shorter/moved faster.
As a kid I was obsessed with the blue sword, hated the hero and the crown, and adored beauty. I regularly reread beauty and consider it absolutely incredible and gorgeous. I haven't reread the blue sword in ages and now I'm worried to, and I stand by my hatred of the hero and the crown. After recently rereading beauty I was excited to read this and wanted to love it. And I did love the beginning. But at a certain point I got bored and annoyed, and the story dragged so slowly and took me so long to finish. I almost dnf'ed this book so many times but I just wanted to finish it. Idk if it was worth it, I did not like the ending, it was too ridiculous for me.
Particularly when I realized thatthe romance would be between such a young woman and such a much older man who knew her as a very young child, I really checked out. I'm realizing that that's an issue I have with many of McKinley's books and now I'm a little sad about that.
This book would be better if it were more queer, had no romance at all, and/or were shorter/moved faster.
As a kid I was obsessed with the blue sword, hated the hero and the crown, and adored beauty. I regularly reread beauty and consider it absolutely incredible and gorgeous. I haven't reread the blue sword in ages and now I'm worried to, and I stand by my hatred of the hero and the crown. After recently rereading beauty I was excited to read this and wanted to love it. And I did love the beginning. But at a certain point I got bored and annoyed, and the story dragged so slowly and took me so long to finish. I almost dnf'ed this book so many times but I just wanted to finish it. Idk if it was worth it, I did not like the ending, it was too ridiculous for me.
Particularly when I realized that