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therearenobadbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love how this author writes historical fiction. She brings forward elements that important chronicles and historical books leave out, like exploring what could have been the part played or the influence and importance of unsung women's acts, plans, and ideas in famous History.
Spindle and Dagger is one of those. Wales in 1109 is a cruel man's world of war and takers keepers, and Elen uses a Saint's blessing story to survive, pretending to be protected by the same she makes her way through a world of blood, violence, and intrigue but finds a new family and loyal friends.
A great way to look back at the past and instead of reading about the kings and generals' perspectives of their times with their war tables and long drunken discussions, or even having a female character that acts like them to tell the story, the author focuses on the strength of what being a woman at that time might have meant. What they could or not do or use to survive, sacrifice and still protect their family. Women who loved their children, who tried not to be fooled by men's possible love, but still wished for it to be true, storytellers for the sake of survival, and patience and endurance of pain and suffering for a better future.
Although history may not care for their part, we can still have fiction like this that reimagines what could have been with credible characters.
Although history may not care for their part, we can still have fiction like this that reimagines what could have been with credible characters.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
1/5
Was very slow and i am surprised to have even finished it
Was very slow and i am surprised to have even finished it
foraging_pages's review against another edition
4.0
I assumed this was a young adult novel, but it reads on the younger side with ambiguous language choices to save the youngsters from tragedy.
This story went by too quickly. The pacing was very fast and that makes me wonder what other treasures the story could have supplied if the author slowed down by deepening interactions and plot points. It was like she was telling but not showing the whole time. Became of that, the characters were lackluster. I wasn’t able to spend enough time with them to truly know them. Again there was a lot of telling vs showing.
I appreciate the display of Elen’s PTSD. She survived an extremely traumatic event, and the author does well to include how Elen feels and remembers and is stuck between the present and past of that life-altering day. She watched her family be murdered, was sexually assaulted multiple times, and then had to save the life of the man responsible for it all. That is incredible. The author chose to catch the readers up to speed by Elen’s flashbacks but that way we also get to experience her character more deeply.
I believe that this novel would have been much more enjoyable if it had been written for an adult audience. The explicit aspects of life in the 1100s complete with war, court politics, plundering of villages, and life as a maiden on the son of the king’s right arm would have felt more real. The urgency and emotion would have been greater, but it was written for young adults. Still very enjoyable though! I love historical fiction! 1100 England is not a setting I had ever read before except in a textbook on the evolution of the English language.
This story went by too quickly. The pacing was very fast and that makes me wonder what other treasures the story could have supplied if the author slowed down by deepening interactions and plot points. It was like she was telling but not showing the whole time. Became of that, the characters were lackluster. I wasn’t able to spend enough time with them to truly know them. Again there was a lot of telling vs showing.
I appreciate the display of Elen’s PTSD. She survived an extremely traumatic event, and the author does well to include how Elen feels and remembers and is stuck between the present and past of that life-altering day. She watched her family be murdered, was sexually assaulted multiple times, and then had to save the life of the man responsible for it all. That is incredible. The author chose to catch the readers up to speed by Elen’s flashbacks but that way we also get to experience her character more deeply.
I believe that this novel would have been much more enjoyable if it had been written for an adult audience. The explicit aspects of life in the 1100s complete with war, court politics, plundering of villages, and life as a maiden on the son of the king’s right arm would have felt more real. The urgency and emotion would have been greater, but it was written for young adults. Still very enjoyable though! I love historical fiction! 1100 England is not a setting I had ever read before except in a textbook on the evolution of the English language.
sprigplantar's review
4.0
It was a lot better than I thought it was. I genuinely enjoyed the main character, Elen, and each character is written well. The balance of being a strong woman during a time when women certainly lacked power and she wasn't the stereotypical strong woman type that isn't like other women.
The way portrayed the more serious topics: trauma, rape, etc. was refreshing. It wasn't outright and for me personally, it didn't hurt me like many other media portrayals have. I felt like I could resonate with Elen and it felt genuinely nice to have that portrayal.
The way portrayed the more serious topics: trauma, rape, etc. was refreshing. It wasn't outright and for me personally, it didn't hurt me like many other media portrayals have. I felt like I could resonate with Elen and it felt genuinely nice to have that portrayal.
vizira's review against another edition
3.0
i really enjoyed this! it did such a good job of communicating just how vulnerable these women were, and all the things they had to do to survive. my heart broke for Elen but she was such a strong and empathetic protagonist.
thindbooks's review
4.0
*This book was provided by the publisher to give an honest review*
If you love bloody, historical fiction with fierce heroines then this book is for you!
This was an enjoyable and short read. I don't read much historical fiction but the author wrote the story well of a girl named Elen who spun a lie that Owain will get protection from Saint Elen if he keeps her name safe. The writing was different and not in a bad way. You can tell the author made it understandable for readers but also put some 12th-century language in it. The plot was well structured and the world-building was a little weak but not bad. The author put dates on the book instead of saying part 1 or 2 which is unique. The pacing was good and there weren't parts where it was too fast or slow.
I didn't enjoy the main character, Elen, a lot but not because the author didn't write her well. She annoyed me a little because she was sucked up into Owain a little and didn't really release that she needs to leave to go into the real world. But there was a lot of information on this character because the author put flashbacks of Elen's life. You could tell that the character developed well throughout the book and didn't stagger. My favorite characters were Nest and her kids. I love how they were so brave when they were kidnapped and it brought me happiness when they cared so much for each other. They also let Elen be with them which melted my heart. I hated how Owain treated them because it was just a mom and her 3 children.
This book was really good and I recommend it to ya historical fiction fans.
If you love bloody, historical fiction with fierce heroines then this book is for you!
This was an enjoyable and short read. I don't read much historical fiction but the author wrote the story well of a girl named Elen who spun a lie that Owain will get protection from Saint Elen if he keeps her name safe. The writing was different and not in a bad way. You can tell the author made it understandable for readers but also put some 12th-century language in it. The plot was well structured and the world-building was a little weak but not bad. The author put dates on the book instead of saying part 1 or 2 which is unique. The pacing was good and there weren't parts where it was too fast or slow.
I didn't enjoy the main character, Elen, a lot but not because the author didn't write her well. She annoyed me a little because she was sucked up into Owain a little and didn't really release that she needs to leave to go into the real world. But there was a lot of information on this character because the author put flashbacks of Elen's life. You could tell that the character developed well throughout the book and didn't stagger. My favorite characters were Nest and her kids. I love how they were so brave when they were kidnapped and it brought me happiness when they cared so much for each other. They also let Elen be with them which melted my heart. I hated how Owain treated them because it was just a mom and her 3 children.
This book was really good and I recommend it to ya historical fiction fans.
womanon's review against another edition
2.0
I received an earc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this. It had one specific reason: there were constantly letters missing in the earc. It was extremely hard for me to read this, as words weren't complete, and I often had to guess at their meaning, which was impossible most of the time. The story did have potential, though, if the parts I actually could read were anything to go by.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this. It had one specific reason: there were constantly letters missing in the earc. It was extremely hard for me to read this, as words weren't complete, and I often had to guess at their meaning, which was impossible most of the time. The story did have potential, though, if the parts I actually could read were anything to go by.
missprint_'s review against another edition
3.0
Wales, 1109: When Elen's home was raided by a warband three years ago her younger sister died in the ensuing fires. Her older sister was cut down just short of killing the warband's leader, Owain ap Cadwgan. Despite the violence and her own sexual assault, Elen survived, healing Owain ap Cadwgan's wounds and weaving a tale of protection.
She tells all who will listen that Owain ap Cadwgan cannot be killed--not by blade, blow, or poison--so long as Saint Elen protects him, so long as he keeps her namesake by his side.
None of what she tells them is true.
Balanced on a knife's edge and haunted by echoes of the raid that killed her family, Elen knows one false step, one accident could leave Owain dead and render her own life forfeit.
When Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her children, war soon follows. As her lies begin to unravel, Elen dares to imagine a different life but first she will have to determine where her loyalties lie in Spindle and Dagger (2020) by J. Anderson Coats.
Elen's first person narration is frank and immediately engrossing, drawing readers into the precarious world she has created for herself. With violence and danger everywhere, Elen is forced to be as calculating and as ruthless as the warband that is both her greatest protection and her greatest danger.
High action and battles contrast sharply with the choices Elen is forced to make to ensure her own survival. Coats' evocative prose and themes of agency and feminism add nuance and depth to this otherwise fast-paced story.
Spindle and Dagger is brutal, bloody, and carefully researched historical fiction. Recommended for readers looking for fierce heroines and history with all the gory details.
Possible Pairings: Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez, Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West, The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
She tells all who will listen that Owain ap Cadwgan cannot be killed--not by blade, blow, or poison--so long as Saint Elen protects him, so long as he keeps her namesake by his side.
None of what she tells them is true.
Balanced on a knife's edge and haunted by echoes of the raid that killed her family, Elen knows one false step, one accident could leave Owain dead and render her own life forfeit.
When Owain abducts Nest, the wife of a Norman lord, and her children, war soon follows. As her lies begin to unravel, Elen dares to imagine a different life but first she will have to determine where her loyalties lie in Spindle and Dagger (2020) by J. Anderson Coats.
Elen's first person narration is frank and immediately engrossing, drawing readers into the precarious world she has created for herself. With violence and danger everywhere, Elen is forced to be as calculating and as ruthless as the warband that is both her greatest protection and her greatest danger.
High action and battles contrast sharply with the choices Elen is forced to make to ensure her own survival. Coats' evocative prose and themes of agency and feminism add nuance and depth to this otherwise fast-paced story.
Spindle and Dagger is brutal, bloody, and carefully researched historical fiction. Recommended for readers looking for fierce heroines and history with all the gory details.
Possible Pairings: Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez, Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West, The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
erinsbookshelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5