Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley – This is not the Sleeping Beauty you are familiar with, but it is lots of fun! There are some really fantastic quotable moments in this one, so don’t be intimidated by the heft of this novel! Happy Reading!
I enjoyed it. I find that when you take a classic tale and put your twists on it, it can get confusing on how you got to that place. It was an easy read and fun brain candy.
couldn't finish it. Still like Donna Jo Napoli way better.
I picked up a copy of Robin McKinley's Spindle's End at a used bookstore ages ago and have had it sitting on my shelf as an In-Case-of-Emergency-Reading-Shortage standby. McKinley is one of those authors that has a reliable style, and one that I know I can enjoy. Spindle's End of course delivers on the two McKinley necessities: strong female main character and a rich re-imagining of a classic fairy tale. McKinley knows what she's doing when it comes to fairy tales. She has the style of writing that keeps the quaintness and Once-Upon-A-Time mood so effortlessly that she's able to completely re-write the story, tweak it, and flesh it out with fresh details without corrupting the fairy tale experience.
In Spindle's End McKinley retells the story of Sleeping Beauty. In this version, the princess is whisked away by the young fairy, Katriona, to the little village of Foggy Bottom after a curse is laid on her by the evil Pernicia. Rosie grows up with the gift of Beast Speech, communicating with the animals around her and developing a penchant for horses. She becomes a typical tom-boy and a horse leech. When she turns twenty however, an enigmatic fairy arrives to reveal the truth of her birthright and prophesied death. It is then that Rosie, her girly friend Peony, Aunt, and Katriona devise a clever plan to turn the tables on Pernicia.
A lovely retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but then McKinley is a pro at fairy tales so everything she writes is lovely. A wonderfully detail-rich story full of heart; perfect for a rainy day and with a cup of tea.
In Spindle's End McKinley retells the story of Sleeping Beauty. In this version, the princess is whisked away by the young fairy, Katriona, to the little village of Foggy Bottom after a curse is laid on her by the evil Pernicia. Rosie grows up with the gift of Beast Speech, communicating with the animals around her and developing a penchant for horses. She becomes a typical tom-boy and a horse leech. When she turns twenty however, an enigmatic fairy arrives to reveal the truth of her birthright and prophesied death. It is then that Rosie, her girly friend Peony, Aunt, and Katriona devise a clever plan to turn the tables on Pernicia.
A lovely retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but then McKinley is a pro at fairy tales so everything she writes is lovely. A wonderfully detail-rich story full of heart; perfect for a rainy day and with a cup of tea.
Robin McKinley has the amazing ability to create such detailed worlds and captivating stories. This retelling of Sleeping Beauty was great! It'll leave you feeling "Happily ever after" for weeks afterward
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley is a delightful retelling of Sleeping Beauty. McKinley weaves her own tale building a detailed universe giving life to these familiar characters. Rosie, the cursed princess, doesn't sit back as the damsel in distress, rather she depends on her own skills, friendships, and chosen family to overcome all odds and make her own happy ending. I really enjoyed this version.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
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 generally love Robin McKinley. There was much that I loved about the development of this book. There was one element that made me weep every time in came up in the story. Ultimately, however, this did not end up being one of my favorite books, so it gets a mere 4 stars. It DID make me want to read two other books that are tangential to this one and ARE on my 5 star books list. :)