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lilly_reads98's review against another edition
You’re being told the story and it’s literally just worldbuilding for the first 10 pages with no dialogue at all, and I started skipping pages to see when that ends and it takes a while. I also just don’t really understand the writing style, it’s hard to process.
clowdywings's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of my most recent rereads of this book. I thought the story was very enjoyable.
This was a rewriting of the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Summary:
The story plays out, in the first few chapters, to be very close to the folk tale, taking some similar elements from Disney's. The fairy, Katriona was so sweet but frazzled. She takes care of the infant princess while running back home. Because Briar-Rose (called Rosie) was nursed on fox's milk (it was strange but I suppose it worked) she could talk to and understand animals. That came in to play in the book when Rosie grew up.
The story, up until Part 3, was in Katriona's perspective. (Because Rosie was a baby until then). It tells of Rosie's childhood and Katriona's and Barder's - the village's carpenter- engagement. Six year old Rosie, on one pursuit to the village, ends up at the Smithy and talking at Narl, the Blacksmith. Narl ends up to be the babysitter of Rosie but he doesn't mind.
Katriona and Barder get married in part 3 and both take a step back from the spotlight. Posey is then introduced and becomes Rosie's best and closest friend. They finish growing up together. Posey and Narl's apprentice Rowland fall in love one day at the Smithy, which Narl and Rosie both witness. Rosie realizes that she's in love with Narl. (Rowland is the prince of the neighboring kingdom and is engaged to the cursed princess)
That part makes me very concerned because Narl is quite a bit older than Rosie, enough so he was an adult when she was a baby. It never said his exact age, just that he was a seer and therefore ages slower, I guess? Narl and Rosie do end up together in the end.
Soon after (skipping a lot of fluff in the book), Posey is realized that she is the princess. She and Rosie (since she had to take her best friend) go to the castle where the curse plays out after a few months.
From this point onward, there is a lot of action in order to get rid of the evil fairy who cursed Rosie. Rosie's curse spread to Posey because they were such close friends and confused the curse. Rosie and Narl defeat the evil fairy and everything is set right... Except for Rosie and Narl's relationship. It ends up that Narl loves Rosie back.
After this, I think Rowland and Posey marry each other.
There isn't really anything to be concerned about except the age difference between Narl and Rosie.
This was a rewriting of the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Summary:
The story plays out, in the first few chapters, to be very close to the folk tale, taking some similar elements from Disney's. The fairy, Katriona was so sweet but frazzled. She takes care of the infant princess while running back home. Because Briar-Rose (called Rosie) was nursed on fox's milk (it was strange but I suppose it worked) she could talk to and understand animals. That came in to play in the book when Rosie grew up.
The story, up until Part 3, was in Katriona's perspective. (Because Rosie was a baby until then). It tells of Rosie's childhood and Katriona's and Barder's - the village's carpenter- engagement. Six year old Rosie, on one pursuit to the village, ends up at the Smithy and talking at Narl, the Blacksmith. Narl ends up to be the babysitter of Rosie but he doesn't mind.
Katriona and Barder get married in part 3 and both take a step back from the spotlight. Posey is then introduced and becomes Rosie's best and closest friend. They finish growing up together. Posey and Narl's apprentice Rowland fall in love one day at the Smithy, which Narl and Rosie both witness. Rosie realizes that she's in love with Narl. (Rowland is the prince of the neighboring kingdom and is engaged to the cursed princess)
That part makes me very concerned because Narl is quite a bit older than Rosie, enough so he was an adult when she was a baby. It never said his exact age, just that he was a seer and therefore ages slower, I guess? Narl and Rosie do end up together in the end.
Soon after (skipping a lot of fluff in the book), Posey is realized that she is the princess. She and Rosie (since she had to take her best friend) go to the castle where the curse plays out after a few months.
From this point onward, there is a lot of action in order to get rid of the evil fairy who cursed Rosie. Rosie's curse spread to Posey because they were such close friends and confused the curse. Rosie and Narl defeat the evil fairy and everything is set right... Except for Rosie and Narl's relationship. It ends up that Narl loves Rosie back.
After this, I think Rowland and Posey marry each other.
There isn't really anything to be concerned about except the age difference between Narl and Rosie.
sassyq's review against another edition
slow-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? No
4.0
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
4.75
pilardo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Robin McKinley NEVER MISSES. I love her worldbuilding, how the magic and animals are so natural for the world, so close and yet so different from our regular everyday experience. She writes the everyday experience of living with magic so well.
My favourite part of any Robin McKinley book is the final battle or resolution, and Spindle’s End is no different. I got sucked into the whirlwind of magic and emotions during the final confrontation and was ripping through the pages to get to the next bit. I love the scale and feel of the magic involved.
I also really do think that the romance in her books is the type of romance we need more of - steady, solid, uncomplaining, and just unavoidably there.
My favourite part of any Robin McKinley book is the final battle or resolution, and Spindle’s End is no different. I got sucked into the whirlwind of magic and emotions during the final confrontation and was ripping through the pages to get to the next bit. I love the scale and feel of the magic involved.
I also really do think that the romance in her books is the type of romance we need more of - steady, solid, uncomplaining, and just unavoidably there.
natasha_saidikowski's review against another edition
5.0
I remember loving this book when I was younger, but I fell in love with it all over again this read through. I’m a huge fan of Robin McKinley’s writing (her work definitely is not for everyone). I enjoy her leisurely pacing. I love her tendency to make animals and places characters in her novels. In this novel in particular, I was impressed with the many threads she started throughout the book, themes she’d return to, and how she tied them up so beautifully in the end. I kept referring back to moments that came before when she’d reference them pages or chapters later.
This kind of felt like two novels in one - we start by following Katriona, but when her story wraps up, we shift to Rosie’s perspective. In some ways, Kat’s part in the story is a prologue to Rosie’s adventure; we need the information we get, but it wouldn’t make sense for us to get it from Rosie.
Overall, the novel is definitely a slow-burn. It’s not for everyone, but it remains one of my favorites.
This kind of felt like two novels in one - we start by following Katriona, but when her story wraps up, we shift to Rosie’s perspective. In some ways, Kat’s part in the story is a prologue to Rosie’s adventure; we need the information we get, but it wouldn’t make sense for us to get it from Rosie.
Overall, the novel is definitely a slow-burn. It’s not for everyone, but it remains one of my favorites.
accovino's review against another edition
3.5
This got lost in the shuffle of the series I was reading, but it was really good. The kind of book where you're not exactly sure where it's going, in a good way. The only sore point was Rosie's romance with Narl, who had known her as a *baby* when he was already an *adult*. It's gross. I don't like it and it's gross!
jillyfae's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amy_macbeth_aotearoa's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25