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thecatconstellation's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Funny, emotional, and hopeful. Modern world collided with fairytales in a story about learning to save yourself - with help. I don’t always love references to pop culture/memes in books, but I think it worked well here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence
aqulia's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
Minor: Suicide
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book; I think it was a very interesting take on the sleeping beauty story and I liked how the disability rep was sprinkled into the story. This may have been pretty short but I love the amount of detail added, it was very well developed for how short it is, and yes your base knowledge of fairy tales is slightly required but it is still explained just the right amount to refresh your memory. This retelling talks about other retellings which I really liked [very multiverse and it was fun], and I specifically liked how the differences between versions and how they were talked about; they were used to put other things in context and different lessons were pulled from the stories to add to the 'current' plot line. I really liked the disability rep in this book because yes she is independent or whatever but she knows her body limits her and I liked how the limits were touched on (to an extent). There is a magical cure in the end of this book BUT I personally don't think it was completely horrible, I think it was handled respectfully for the most part but it is something to be wary of going into it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Abortion, Rape, Sexual assault, and Self harm
Minor: Violence
panthalassa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Self harm, Chronic illness, Blood, Confinement, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Abortion
emilypete17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Medical trauma
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Violence, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Cursing
Brief allusions to sexual assaults(off page). Chronically/terminally ill main character.iamnita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a sleeping beauty retelling that was WONDERFUL. The way the plot was modernized and the kick-ass nature of our main character was fantastic. It helped that there were pictures ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Violence
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Violence, Blood, Rape, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Sexism, and Self harm
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When I heard of A Spindle Spintered by Alix E. Harrow I knew I had to read it. Spider-versing fairy tales?! Sign me up! And it was so, so good!
'I wonder what happens when you tell the same story again and again in a thousand overlapping realities, like a pen retracing the same words over and over on the page.' (p77)
Zinnia's problematic fave fairy tale is Sleeping Beauty. Or rather, it's not, she just finds she relates to the Princess who is cursed die/sleep on her 16th birthday, as she has a condition that will kill her while she's still young. No-one else with the condition has survived beyond 21, and today is Zinnia's 21st Birthday. Her love of Sleeping Beauty has lasted her whole life, and led to her studying fairy tales and folklore for her degree.
'"You are accustomed to thinking of fairy tales as make-believe." Dr. Bastille looked straight at me as she said it, her face somehow both searing and compassionate. "But they have only ever been mirrors."' (p55)
So it's no real surprise that her best friend has planned a Sleeping Beauty themed party. But when she pricks her finger ont he spindle of the spinning wheel, something weird happens. She disappears, finds herself falling while seeing multiple Sleeping Beauties about to prick their own fingers, until she shouts at one to stop, which she does, and Zinnia ends up in her story.
What's brilliant is Zinnia is very much a woman of our world, who finds herself within an archaic fairy tale. Every one speaks how you expect them to speak, yet Zinnia is still a 21st Century girl. The things she says, and the way she says them, clash so much against everything to do with where she finds herself, and it's so damn funny! But she knows fairy tales, which is to her advantage, and while she tries to find a way back home, she might as well try and save a fellow damsel in distress at the same time, right?
But Princess Primrose isn't exactly who Zinnia expects. She's cursed, as we know, but when Zinnia suggests they try to fight the curse together, she is more than up for it. The option to try and do something, even if it fails, spurs Primrose on. She's not quite resigned to her fate, and she's not completely helpless either. She's not the Sleeping Beauty any of us expect, accepting of her fate and prepared to wait for the handsome Prince to wake her with true love's kiss. Honestly, if she can avoid the Prince altogether, that would be better for her.
'At some point I suppose I should probably stop being surprised when the princess is more than a doe-eyed maiden, ready to faint prettily at the first sign of danger.' (p43)
A Spindle Splintered turns the fairy tales we know - and Zinnia knows - their head. Ultimately, it's a story of two women fiercely fighting against the cards they've been dealt, who want to take hold of Fate it bend it to their own will, rather than be bent to Fate's. Who says their stories have already been written? Who says a curse - of eternal sleep metaphorically and literally - can't be broken? Who says the damsels can't save themselves and each other?
But the story isn't light, fluffy, girl power either. There are the dark origins of the sanitised versions we know. And in the multiverse of Sleeping Beauty, every retelling, each incarnation of the Princess cursed to sleep, actually exist, actually happened. Just think about that; those various Sleeping Beauties, and the terrible things they experience. In A Spindle Splintered, we have a Princess who sleeps with a dagger under her bed, and an Evil Fairy who has her own story. This story is only 128 pages, but it has depth, and it has layers - much like an onion.
The thing about Alix E. Harrow is her love of stories, and how you can trust her to know them. Every book she's had published so far is about stories. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is about a world where stories aren't just stories, but real worlds there are doors to all over Earth; The Once and Future Witches has, over generations, people passing down spells to children through witch (read: fairy) tales and nursery rhymes in a world where witchcraft is illegal, with a very particular fairy tale being extremely important. And now her Fractured Fables, novellas where all versions of fairy tales exist, somewhere. What she does with stories and fairy tales in her own books is always so imaginative and clever and mind-blowing, and I'm always in awe with how deftly she weaves her own stories with those of others. I just think she's brilliant.
I did think there would be more that happened in A Spindle Splintered than actually does - though don't get me wrong, things happen; there was a lot more internal monologue than I was expecting. But that doesn't take away from the sheer brilliance of this story and what Harrow has done with it. It's just so awesome, and I loved it. And it's queer, so there's also that!
I completely adored A Spindle Splintered, and I'm so very looking forward to A Mirror Mended, the second story in the Fractured Fables series. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who just loves stories, but especially to those who adore fairy tales and their retellings. It's beautiful.
But the story isn't light, fluffy, girl power either. There are the dark origins of the sanitised versions we know. And in the multiverse of Sleeping Beauty, every retelling, each incarnation of the Princess cursed to sleep, actually exist, actually happened. Just think about that; those various Sleeping Beauties, and the terrible things they experience. In A Spindle Splintered, we have a Princess who sleeps with a dagger under her bed, and an Evil Fairy who has her own story. This story is only 128 pages, but it has depth, and it has layers - much like an onion.
The thing about Alix E. Harrow is her love of stories, and how you can trust her to know them. Every book she's had published so far is about stories. The Ten Thousand Doors of January is about a world where stories aren't just stories, but real worlds there are doors to all over Earth; The Once and Future Witches has, over generations, people passing down spells to children through witch (read: fairy) tales and nursery rhymes in a world where witchcraft is illegal, with a very particular fairy tale being extremely important. And now her Fractured Fables, novellas where all versions of fairy tales exist, somewhere. What she does with stories and fairy tales in her own books is always so imaginative and clever and mind-blowing, and I'm always in awe with how deftly she weaves her own stories with those of others. I just think she's brilliant.
I did think there would be more that happened in A Spindle Splintered than actually does - though don't get me wrong, things happen; there was a lot more internal monologue than I was expecting. But that doesn't take away from the sheer brilliance of this story and what Harrow has done with it. It's just so awesome, and I loved it. And it's queer, so there's also that!
I completely adored A Spindle Splintered, and I'm so very looking forward to A Mirror Mended, the second story in the Fractured Fables series. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who just loves stories, but especially to those who adore fairy tales and their retellings. It's beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood and Violence
bandysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I always find novellas difficult to rate. This one was enjoyable. The plot was a very unique take on sleeping beauty, but I found myself wishing it was longer. I think the plot could’ve been expanded significantly and the characters explored more in depth. That said, it was one of the more enjoyable novellas that I’ve read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Sexual assault, and Abortion
The trigger warnings are in regard to allusion. It’s never directly mentioned, but heavily implied.beforeviolets's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
4.25
4.25
TW: medical content, terminal illness, discussions of death and mortality, grief of self, prescription drug use, self harm (for magic), blood (brief), warped sense of reality, SA (offscreen, past, recounted), pregnancy from SA (mention), abortion (mention), imprisonment, violence (minor)
I'd also like to add an additional TW mention. This book contains gruesome illustrations in a cartoony-silhouette style including imagery of people and animals missing body parts, people hung on trees, getting torn apart, having switched body parts, etc. They aren't realistic or heavily detailed.
This was such a fascinating perspective on Sleeping Beauty and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Usually, I'm not a fan of snarky MCs that use a lot of "relatable" references but Zinnia is written in such a complex way that her snark and her commentary actually makes her a reliable and grounded touchstone throughout the story. Her cynical nature seems to have developed organically as a coping mechanism and actually develops our understanding of her approach to dealing with her own mortality instead of being used as a cheap tool to make her seem quirky. Her references also feel earned. They're not overly done, but are rather sprinkled through in the natural way that young adults actually insert references into conversation. (Even the Harry Potter reference was immediately shamed, offering a sense of self-awareness that I found really helped.) And most of her references feel lived in and realistic. Zinnia is clearly a critical consumer of media and has spent a long time researching fairytales and storytelling tactics and tropes and history and it absolutely shows. She brings things up in such a way that feel not only informed by her experiences but that feel informative to us as an audience. It helps our understanding of the stories that are being played out, rather than just emphasizing her interests. Like sure, she's snarky, but she's interesting and full of relevant information. It makes her SUCH a valuable window into the world.
I also love how this story discusses love and support. Our main character goes on a huge journey from keeping people at arms length to not only being able to express her love, but being able to ask for help and share her hopes and her fears. I read a book recently that had a character with fibromyalgia and in a moment of need, she essentially ignores her pain and illness for the sake of dramatics and heroics and I love that this book did the exact opposite. Zinnia is ABSOLUTELY limited by her illness and no amount of willpower or wishful thinking can change that. This book does contain the "miracle cure" trope to some extent, but I think approaches it (in my opinion) in a better way.
Overall, just so tastefully done.
TW: medical content, terminal illness, discussions of death and mortality, grief of self, prescription drug use, self harm (for magic), blood (brief), warped sense of reality, SA (offscreen, past, recounted), pregnancy from SA (mention), abortion (mention), imprisonment, violence (minor)
I'd also like to add an additional TW mention. This book contains gruesome illustrations in a cartoony-silhouette style including imagery of people and animals missing body parts, people hung on trees, getting torn apart, having switched body parts, etc. They aren't realistic or heavily detailed.
This was such a fascinating perspective on Sleeping Beauty and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Usually, I'm not a fan of snarky MCs that use a lot of "relatable" references but Zinnia is written in such a complex way that her snark and her commentary actually makes her a reliable and grounded touchstone throughout the story. Her cynical nature seems to have developed organically as a coping mechanism and actually develops our understanding of her approach to dealing with her own mortality instead of being used as a cheap tool to make her seem quirky. Her references also feel earned. They're not overly done, but are rather sprinkled through in the natural way that young adults actually insert references into conversation. (Even the Harry Potter reference was immediately shamed, offering a sense of self-awareness that I found really helped.) And most of her references feel lived in and realistic. Zinnia is clearly a critical consumer of media and has spent a long time researching fairytales and storytelling tactics and tropes and history and it absolutely shows. She brings things up in such a way that feel not only informed by her experiences but that feel informative to us as an audience. It helps our understanding of the stories that are being played out, rather than just emphasizing her interests. Like sure, she's snarky, but she's interesting and full of relevant information. It makes her SUCH a valuable window into the world.
I also love how this story discusses love and support. Our main character goes on a huge journey from keeping people at arms length to not only being able to express her love, but being able to ask for help and share her hopes and her fears. I read a book recently that had a character with fibromyalgia and in a moment of need, she essentially ignores her pain and illness for the sake of dramatics and heroics and I love that this book did the exact opposite. Zinnia is ABSOLUTELY limited by her illness and no amount of willpower or wishful thinking can change that. This book does contain the "miracle cure" trope to some extent, but I think approaches it (in my opinion) in a better way.
Overall, just so tastefully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Medical content, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Self harm, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence