Take a photo of a barcode or cover
riellareads 's review for:
Spindled Slumber: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
by Kayla Eshbaugh
The next in The Cursed Kingdom Chronicles, Spindled Slumber is a sweeping retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Briar has a death curse, but she would rather focus on tending her rose vines, whiting the desert gardens of her kingdom, snooping around the castle and spending as much time as possible with her ill mother than worry about it. When her father announces they are traveling to meet the two cold Haleston princes, she is certain that she wants nothing to do with the traitor prince look-alike. But the golden-haired prince and his reclusive ways make her more curious than ever, she simply can’t leave him alone. As she searches for a way to help her mother, she is drawn in more and more by Prince Gideon of Haleston and wants to see him smile, even if only once. Prince Gideon seems to have been cursed twice. Not only does he look the spitting image of the traitor King Falcon himself, may he rot in the mountain, but his true curse will kill whomever he falls in love with. Keeping away is the only way to protect the maidens who visit, he spends his days reading in the library. But when a princess with opinions, confidence, and unwavering curiosity catches his attention, Gideon knows he must keep his distance from the captivating yet irritating princess of Thorn, even if it goes against his own desires. No matter how hard he tries though, he cannot stop his feelings from growing, but he knows he will kill her if he cannot control his heart. Can he break his curse? Will one prick from the spindle of a spinning wheel save them both? Or will it keep them apart forever?
I was excited to read this book! We have already had the opportunity to meet Gideon in previous books and I was so ready to read his story. Every book in the series has just made me fall in love with the characters and the world more, and this one was no exception. Briar was a lot of fun. She was curious, confident, and feisty. I loved her connection with her family and her vibrancy. She was full of life and it came out in the pages. I did want to shake my head at her curiosity sometimes, but I loved how she cared for people. I will be honest, for me Gideon was more of a draw for this story! I was so excited to see his story and it did not disappoint. I felt for him as he struggled with his curse and what it meant for his future. It was so much fun to see him and Briar interact. They were opposites in so many ways and it was adorable to read. I loved watching him open up to her and how he provided support for her to flourish.
The magic and elements of Sleeping Beauty were so imaginative. I loved the way Ms. Eshbaugh did and I do not want to give spoilers, but it is so cool how it plays into earlier books too! It was such a fun treat! I loved getting to see the kingdoms through ‘Briar and Gideon’s eyes. We also get to see some old friends from past books, which is always a joy. Overall, this is an amazing fairytale-inspired romance that can be read as a standalone, but is so much more fun to read in the series. It is full of magic, adventure, and romance, but only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
I was excited to read this book! We have already had the opportunity to meet Gideon in previous books and I was so ready to read his story. Every book in the series has just made me fall in love with the characters and the world more, and this one was no exception. Briar was a lot of fun. She was curious, confident, and feisty. I loved her connection with her family and her vibrancy. She was full of life and it came out in the pages. I did want to shake my head at her curiosity sometimes, but I loved how she cared for people. I will be honest, for me Gideon was more of a draw for this story! I was so excited to see his story and it did not disappoint. I felt for him as he struggled with his curse and what it meant for his future. It was so much fun to see him and Briar interact. They were opposites in so many ways and it was adorable to read. I loved watching him open up to her and how he provided support for her to flourish.
The magic and elements of Sleeping Beauty were so imaginative. I loved the way Ms. Eshbaugh did and I do not want to give spoilers, but it is so cool how it plays into earlier books too! It was such a fun treat! I loved getting to see the kingdoms through ‘Briar and Gideon’s eyes. We also get to see some old friends from past books, which is always a joy. Overall, this is an amazing fairytale-inspired romance that can be read as a standalone, but is so much more fun to read in the series. It is full of magic, adventure, and romance, but only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.