Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting twist on a familiar story. I loved the integration of the animal world, and also how magic worked and its presence in the world. Not 100% sold on the romance as I couldn't quite get over the age difference, but I liked the friendships and those were vastly more important and central to the story anyway. Also appreciated the little Damar mention!
This was a lovely book. It was a little slow going. I was almost sad, at one point, that I had picked it as my second book for the year it was taking so long to get through... but... before the middle of the book I began to really enjoy it. And, I am sure I will read other books so fast that it will make up for the time I spent on this book. It was sweet. It had adventure. Family. Magic... but not the typical magi you find in books like Harry Potter. Twisting, interesting magic that is part of the world that Robin built.
I fell in love with the characters and, in spite of the flaws that others have noted, I was swept along in the book and had to find out what happened. I loved the interaction between the human/fairy characters and the animals. There was a HUGE twist ending. Not at all what I was expecting. This is not your regular remake of a classic fairy tale. I may try other books by this author, now that I found her.
My recommendation of being read by Tweens - Adults is only because of the length of the book. If your child can handle the length then they can surely read it earlier.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
Prompt names completed go here…
#12 - A book that passes the Bechdel test
#14 - A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
#21 - A book published the month of your birthday
I fell in love with the characters and, in spite of the flaws that others have noted, I was swept along in the book and had to find out what happened. I loved the interaction between the human/fairy characters and the animals. There was a HUGE twist ending. Not at all what I was expecting. This is not your regular remake of a classic fairy tale. I may try other books by this author, now that I found her.
My recommendation of being read by Tweens - Adults is only because of the length of the book. If your child can handle the length then they can surely read it earlier.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
Prompt names completed go here…
#12 - A book that passes the Bechdel test
#14 - A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
#21 - A book published the month of your birthday
Another beautiful retelling of a class fairy tale courtesy of Robin McKinley. I was even more impressed by this one than by Beauty, since Sleeping Beauty is such a flat and boring character in her own story. That doesn't stop McKinley, though, from turning her into a heroine worthy of having her tale sung.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Reading this back to back with a Discworld novel (Thief of Time, if you were wondering) certainly was an experience, one that perhaps didn't do Spindle's End any favors. The serious, beating hearts of the two are very similar in that both McKinley and Pratchett are very preoccupied with the messy humanity of, well, people in all their many forms (even when those forms are, for example, horses or a manifestation of death itself). Spindle's End was at its best when it was reflecting on what it means to grow up or to love or to make choices that make you realize that you hardly recognize yourself at all. (Gorse's speech about how we are what we are cut particularly deep for me.) Plus, the climax of the story was so fast paced and griping that it made the book nearly impossible to put down.
But while the story ended with a bang, the lead up was slow and meandering in ways that often didn't feel particularly effective to me. Illustratively, while Pratchett's asides in the Discworld novels are some of my favorite stylistic flourishes just in literature generally, McKinley's parentheticals often felt long winded and hard to follow. Likewise, Pratchett's books tend to be tightly paced, compact bundles of literary energy, while Spindle's End sometimes just dragged.
At the end of the day, of course, they're very different novels, and if it weren't for the coincidence of my having read them together, I'd never think to compare them. But the simple truth is that while I've kept Discworld novels for re-reading, I'm unlikely to return to Spindle's End. But I'm also quite likely to go looking for another McKinley novel at some point in the near future because when this book was good, it was very very good.
But while the story ended with a bang, the lead up was slow and meandering in ways that often didn't feel particularly effective to me. Illustratively, while Pratchett's asides in the Discworld novels are some of my favorite stylistic flourishes just in literature generally, McKinley's parentheticals often felt long winded and hard to follow. Likewise, Pratchett's books tend to be tightly paced, compact bundles of literary energy, while Spindle's End sometimes just dragged.
At the end of the day, of course, they're very different novels, and if it weren't for the coincidence of my having read them together, I'd never think to compare them. But the simple truth is that while I've kept Discworld novels for re-reading, I'm unlikely to return to Spindle's End. But I'm also quite likely to go looking for another McKinley novel at some point in the near future because when this book was good, it was very very good.
I FINISHED THIS BOOK AT WORK AND BAWLED AT THE ENDING.
This book has a lovely, magical atmosphere, but the writing plods along... I seriously couldn't believe how long it took me to get through a page of writing. It wasn't that it wasn't engaging, nor is the writing dense or difficult to understand. It just has a lot of MASS to it, if that makes sense.
I wasn't a huge fan of the pacing of the story which sort of drags along until the final 140 pages suddenly fill up with vague, Lovecraftian descriptions of action. I think I remember now why this book was definitely not on my frequently-read shelf as a child.
Also, seriously concerned about the unquestionable age gap between Rosie and Narl? If he's already an established blacksmith when she starts befriending him at... 4? that must give them at least a 14 year age gap, not to mention that he literally watched her grow up from a toddler. Miss me with that!
I wasn't a huge fan of the pacing of the story which sort of drags along until the final 140 pages suddenly fill up with vague, Lovecraftian descriptions of action. I think I remember now why this book was definitely not on my frequently-read shelf as a child.
Also, seriously concerned about
A very imaginative and cute retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Innovative plot and amazing world building, interesting kinds of magic and just a very unique spin on the classics fairy tale.
If you love retold fairy tales, this book will delight you and keep you guessing.