- It’s another fairy-tale re-telling!
I also recommend:
- A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith
Summary from GoodReads:
All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep-a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her.
My Review:
It wasn’t until I was about 1/3rd of the way into Spindle’s End that I realized what this book was doing – it’s filled with narrative, like.. overly so. That’s not really a bad thing, per se, but still.. there just wasn’t a whole lot of talking.
In Spindle’s End, McKinley tells the story of Briar-Rose (Sleeping Beauty for those of you not in the “know”). As a baby, Briar-Rose is cursed by an evil fairy to prick her finger before her 21st birthday and die.. but fate steps in and, in the arms of a fairy-apprentice, Briar-Rose is spirited away.
I really did enjoy this story. It wasn’t fall down amazing, or filled with fantastic prose or anything.. but it was a story that told a sweet tale of sacrifice, of love and was a clear good vs. evil type of battle. I loved that women weren’t treated as objects to be bandied about and that Rosie has to stand up for herself and fight.
If you enjoy fairy tale re-tellings, like I do, then this is one to put on the list. Like McKinley’s Beauty, it doesn’t stray too far from the main fairy tale, but it does stray enough to give Rosie some backbone, which was sorely needed.
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I liked Beauty so I’ll have to check this one out. Great review.
I feel like the majority of Robin McKinley’s books are filled with narrative. Not that I mind, because I love her style.
Glad you still enjoyed Spindle’s End even though it wasn’t the best book ever for you!