Reviews

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

mrsbliss's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

readingwmiles's review against another edition

so sweet i loved this

corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book is a simple delight. The main character has a delightfully dark sense of humor, and the plot is deranged in an enjoyable way. The lesbian romance on the side was precious, and the core themes of women’s experiences and empowerment gave a depth to the story that I loved. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical content, Rape, and Death

oliviawright1014's review against another edition

inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.5

username999's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I wanted to like this so much! There is so much creativity here; however, the tone and the narrative structure of this did not work at all. I wish I could reread this, but maybe by a different author cause wtf was this???

queerly_reading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-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

5.0

princessoftheriver's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Overall fun twist on traditional fairytale narratives. Very women's empowerment driven with some good conflicts and resolutions.

themdash's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

dianareadsfiction's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0

rosemaryandrue's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Zinnia Gray's favorite fairytale is Sleeping Beauty, mostly because she relates to the heroine - Zinnia's laboring under her own 'curse,' an incurable malady that means she will die young. But when she falls into a retelling of the story, she must use all of her modern courage and wits to save its princess from the usual fate.

There's a lot of story packed into this short novella, which simultaneously explores and deconstructs Sleeping Beauty and its many retellings. I loved the strong friendships between Zinnia and Charm, as well as Zinnia and Primrose, and enjoyed how the continual twists and turns kept me off balance and guessing at what would come next. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator definitely elevated the experience with an excellent performance.

However, while I did enjoy the irreverent humor, it did get to be a little much in some places. By the time we got to "Harold, they're lesbians," I wasn't sure whether to laugh or groan.