A review by starryeyedenigma
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

adventurous tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

 I’m a big fan of fairy tale retelling, especially the ones with a feminist twist. So of course when @btp.bookclub chose this book as their Feb BOTM, I was elated! Not to forget that the book is super short, almost a novella, and written by one of my favourite authors - Alix E Harrow ☺️🌸

This is a multiverse retelling of Sleeping Beauty and there was a part where I learned about one extremely dark and traumatic version of the Sleeping Beauty story that left me very shaken up. I guess I would’ve liked it had the author continued on Zellandine’s storyline and maybe some sort of revenge plot for her, but it doesn’t go that way. Maybe that’s a good thing for many readers, because the theme of the story is around female friendships, fighting for your own story and helping others. So it has a very positive and happy ending 🙂

I enjoyed the characters in the book too, but I guess I didn’t love it as much as I did 10,00 doors of January or Once and Future Witches.

Recommended if you like feminist fairy tale retellings, short novels and happy endings☺️