Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-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
I really liked this book, but the pacing was so slow it made it a hard read to get through quickly.
Review to come later...
7/30/12 - This book started out with captivating my attention right away - interesting, intriguing, entertaining - then about halfway through it came to an abrupt halt and never picked back up. I wish I'd liked it more, but I just struggled. I think it's that, for me, when the author is just rambling on with narrative, it's not entertaining, it doesn't hold my attention. She uses over 1000 words to describe something when 50 (or less) would have sufficed. The only saving redemption for me was the ending and how she solved the problem of Peony and Rosie. It was interesting and unexpected (for me), and I did keep wondering how the kiss from the original would fit in as it was never mentioned until it happened. Because I struggled so much, even though I loved the beginning, I'm only giving this a 3, though probably 3.5 stars if I could. Clean read.
7/30/12 - This book started out with captivating my attention right away - interesting, intriguing, entertaining - then about halfway through it came to an abrupt halt and never picked back up. I wish I'd liked it more, but I just struggled. I think it's that, for me, when the author is just rambling on with narrative, it's not entertaining, it doesn't hold my attention. She uses over 1000 words to describe something when 50 (or less) would have sufficed. The only saving redemption for me was the ending and how she solved the problem of Peony and Rosie. It was interesting and unexpected (for me), and I did keep wondering how the kiss from the original would fit in as it was never mentioned until it happened. Because I struggled so much, even though I loved the beginning, I'm only giving this a 3, though probably 3.5 stars if I could. Clean read.
Phew! Thought I’d never finish this one! I’m not sure why this book was such a slog for me. I did enjoy it. I liked all the characters. The worldbuilding is masterful. The writing is just lovely. ... I think it was just way too long. If they’d left a good third of the word count on the cutting floor, this book would’ve been much more enjoyable.
Also, the plot beats felt off. There’s this huge buildup, with the history of the royal family, the birth of the daughter, and Katriona’s backstory and journey to the name day, that I was kind of left wondering who is the protagonist? Am I supposed to care about the queen? Katriona? The baby princess?
Then, the spotlight shifts to Rosie, and the book’s middle sags a bit with her childhood. I think it would’ve been better to fast-forward to her late teens and then spend more of the book on that part of her life and what happens after she realizes that she’s the long-lost princes.
Also, Pernicia was kind of a flat villain. It would’ve enriched the story if she’d had a better motivation for revenge than centuries-old grudges.
But, this is a good book to sink into if you just want to read a rich fairy tale and you don’t care how long it takes.
Also, the plot beats felt off. There’s this huge buildup, with the history of the royal family, the birth of the daughter, and Katriona’s backstory and journey to the name day, that I was kind of left wondering who is the protagonist? Am I supposed to care about the queen? Katriona? The baby princess?
Then, the spotlight shifts to Rosie, and the book’s middle sags a bit with her childhood. I think it would’ve been better to fast-forward to her late teens and then spend more of the book on that part of her life and what happens after she realizes that she’s the long-lost princes.
Also, Pernicia was kind of a flat villain. It would’ve enriched the story if she’d had a better motivation for revenge than centuries-old grudges.
But, this is a good book to sink into if you just want to read a rich fairy tale and you don’t care how long it takes.
This is my all time favorite book, I have been reading it for years and it was even apart of my wedding.
This is a wonderful retelling of Sleeping Beauty with j think a beautiful and empowering twist
This is a wonderful retelling of Sleeping Beauty with j think a beautiful and empowering twist
I always hated the original fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. Thankfully, in this book, Robin McKinley has redeemed it for me.
The first time I read Spindle's End, there was something about the pacing that I didn't like, but it is a book I've come to enjoy more after a couple of re-reads. Rosie is a wonderful character, and the story is lovely and enchanting.
The first time I read Spindle's End, there was something about the pacing that I didn't like, but it is a book I've come to enjoy more after a couple of re-reads. Rosie is a wonderful character, and the story is lovely and enchanting.
SUCH a good one. I knew Robin McKinley was known for being an excellent weaver of fairy tales, but this truly exceeded my expectations. If I could describe what was so great about this book, I could do it in two words: world building. SO much thought and attention to detail in building this world and magic system and kingdom and all of it. There were parts that happened quickly and were a tad hard to follow, but for the most part I was enchanted by the story and impressed by the seamless transition between POVs. A great read!
עיבודים של אגדות מוכרות הן הקאפ אוף טי שלי מאז ומעולם. קסם, פיות טובות ומכשפות רעות, נסיכה שמצילה את היום ואת עצמה ואת כל הממלכה, אווירה קלילה - מה עוד צריך? אז כן, הפתיחה ארוכה מדי והסיום קצר מדי, הקתרזיס מגושם וסיפור האהבה משונה (אני מתקשה עם כך שהוא הכיר אותה מאז ילדותה, לא עם פער הגילאים כשלעצמו). בסך הכול חמוד מאוד.
I did not pay attention to this audiobook the whole time, but I enjoyed the parts I heard. Again, still better than the crappy Disney movies.
Definitely not for me. More than once I wanted to DNF this book but I pushed through because it was highly recommended and is considered a bit of a classic retelling. The pacing was slow. I think some of that is just changes in taste and some of my own expectations but I felt like I spent a lot of time waiting for something to happen (21 years give or take). I disliked how the narrative would occasionally flash forward into time only to flash back it was clunky and awkward. The animals. Oh the animals. It just was way too much for me. When half a page is nothing but a list of animals and where they are located in a house I can't help but start skimming. I'm also not a fan of huge age gaps for romantic love. Something about him being full grown and working when she toddles into his life just isn't for me. And when you get right down to it this book just wasn't for me. I know people who would probably love the book for all the reasons I don't like it.