A Spindle Splintered
Ratings127
Average rating3.7
DNF at like chapter 2, started listening on audiobook and it was fine I guess but switched to reading and just didn't like the writing at all
For a novella with a modern-day sleeping beauty twist/retelling, this is a good book. The characters sometimes verged on flat, which I find to be a problem in quite a lot of novellas, but given my love for any and all retellings, this one was pretty good.
It was ok. I just prefer a story where there are more subtleties. They were trying too hard at comedy, pop culture and the fem power. It was all in your face hard. When it's what you are and who you are, it just flows and nothing has to be over done. The message just comes across naturally. I don't know how else to explain it. I do think the story was unique as I've never read a re-telling like this one.
2.5 stars
Fine read! It was about 3 hours to listen to it. It's like a nice fan-fiction type of read/vibe (compliment). A series of these would be really fun because I like the premise and I might grab the next one if I want something quick.
I like the side by side of sleeping beauty and being “cursed” with illness of our protag. The author did this well I think.
Very, very YA. But for a teenager in the 90's somehow. Quick, quick read, could make a cute series. Probably won't read the sequel.
Rollercoaster ride, insane, pretty sad. I loved how it was mixed with a fairytale it made me happy. Never read a book like this before!
“Well Harold...they're lesbians”
A SPINDLE SPLINTERED is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty by Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future Witches and other books I've yet to read. I really enjoyed this fresh take on Sleeping Beauty and it's critically creative take on fairy tales, heroines, and mortality. I loved the protagonist's voice and Harrow's overall writing style. There were a few parts I wanted more of and certain characters I wanted to play a larger role in the story. But, I'm looking forward to checking out the sequel, A Mirror Mended, soon. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book moves so fast. Zinnia immediately accepts that she is in a magical world. She doesn't question what happened or why she can even fucking interdimensional text her friend. She is totally obsessed with fairly tales but never comments on the fact that Charm is very clearly meant to be Prince Charming. It underestimates the reader's intelligence (or ability to pick up on hints) constantly.
It is also trying to be too many things at once. It is trying to be serious and all sad about her disease, but then the book calls said disease Roseville ‘Malady' with no hint of irony and makes a ‘Harold, they're lesbians' reference, not even as a character but ingrained in the name of an actual character. You cannot be so silly and also be serious, have the character be aware of the references and also not at the same time. You can't explain some interdimensional travel but also have them straight up just text each other. You have to pick a vibe and this was trying to be way too much.
I also disliked the characters, they seemed very flat and one-dimensional with only really one certain issue of characteristic. Solidly not for me.
There was a lot of promise here, but the main character didn't grow and nothing really happened. The twist was early in the book and was easily the most interesting part, but wasn't fleshed out enough.
okay so it's a fairytale retelling with a “harold, they're lesbians” joke so that automatically makes it great
A nice short read that is somewhat of a modern darker fairy-tale. I very much liked that the main character had extensive knowledge of the tales she found herself in. It definitely added to the book to learn some of the fairy-tale backstories and some that are not quite as popular. The book felt complete on its own but is a series and I am excited to read the next one!
dang this book was tailor-made for me
also someone please give Charm my number
4.5 fairy-tale tropes out of 5, rounded up because I had fun with it
So, this is the second retelling of Sleeping Beauty I've read this year. They are very different in many ways, but both gave Sleeping Beauty some much needed agency.
I powered through this novella, but it wasn't easy. I really didn't like the tone of the book. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
this story really did not work for me in the slightest. the tone, pace, and characters all felt weirdly out of left field and i just really did not get the point by the end. also, this was marketed to me as wlw and there's very little of that on the page, which is a bummer.
also also, petition to remove silly illustrations from e-books? i swear i spent so long scrolling past them
Confession time: I do not read blurbs or whatever they put on the back cover. So Spindle Splintered surprised me as I had absolutely no freaking idea that the main character would be transported into the fairytale!
Honestly, this was just a fun short read. It never overstayed its welcome, whatever would annoy me was always quickly resolved, Joanne was semi-called out for her bigotry, and the princess was just the best. The only strange thing was the weird hatred to Pfizer which rubbed me the wrong way given our reliance on their vaccine. That might be because I am not American and the most I've paid for healthcare has been $10 for parking. Still, it was pretty strange.
Ending was great too! Can't wait for Mirror Mended and just MORE Fractured Fables.
This book probably rounds up to 3.5 stars for me. There were parts that I really enjoyed. Especially the setup/ beginning. Sleeping Beauty has always been one of my favorite princesses. As with the author's other books, I enjoy the prose style. Also, the interior art is cute. The ending could have been better but I didn't hate it. The main issue I had was the midpoint. The fantastical just didn't land for me? The phone working in the fantastical land and actually sending &receiving text messages just felt nonsensical to me. I know it was a novella, but the worldbuilding for the fantastical part of the story just felt a little more sloppy/unfinished than I prefer.
Harrow hits another one right out of the park.
What can I say? Alix E. Harrow writes the most gorgeous, feminist, pocket-having, touching stories that stick hard and fast to one's soul. Each time I finish her latest book I get antsy for the next. She deserves all the accolades and more. (This review is freely given. I received no compensation other than a fulfilling read. Again.)
The reader is told a lot, not shown. I guess that's somewhat required for brevity, but I didn't enjoy it
This short story retelling of Sleeping Beauty was so fun. It created a modern day Aurora, while also establishing a whole multiverse, all in such a short book. Our main “Aurora”, Zinnia, has a rare disease that has a short life expectancy, and she isn't expecting to make it to her next birthday. When her best friends throws her a 21st birthday party, complete with a spinning wheel, she is exstatic. However, when she touches it as a joke, she is transported to a different dimension with another Aurora, but this one is like the full Medieval fairy tale story. What follows is her journey to make it back to her dimension, as well as survive without her medication in this other world.
I loved reading this book. It was touching and fun, while being short and to the point. I thought the characters were what really made this story shine. Also, getting to experience this well-known story, reimagined in a modern setting with a woman who would give anything to be in a fairy tale was very interesting. This book showed a sliver of what it's like living with a deadly disease and having a time limit on your life at a young age. I was definitely tearing up throughout.
I recommend this quick read to anyone that loves a good fairy tale.
TW: ableism, alcohol, death, homophobia, misogyny, suicide (mentioned), terminal illness