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blewballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had a good feeling about this book when I first saw the cover, and it proved to be correct. I really enjoyed Fi and Shane's partnership and I loved that their relationship was a platonic friendship, and the romance elements of the story came from other characters. I liked the bookish and brawler combination they had, it reminded me a little of Gideon and Harrow from The Locked Tomb. I quite liked Briar as well, he was so earnest. I thought the prose and plotting were solid, they provided a great backdrop for the characters to shine in. I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy the fantasy fairy tale retelling sub-genre, and if you liked this book I'd recommend The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
📖
I think this was my favorite fairytale re-telling/re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty I've read. I loved the gender swap with Briar Rose being the prince cursed into slumber and Fi being the one destined to save him.
I adored the relationship between Fi and Shane, evolving from reluctant partners/allies into friends. I liked how the relationship between Fi and Briar developed and the way they saw each others.
I liked the writing style, and I liked that the POV switched between Fi and Shane for most of the book with some Briar. The plot was a little predictable with a few twists, and it kept me entertained.
I think this was my favorite fairytale re-telling/re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty I've read. I loved the gender swap with Briar Rose being the prince cursed into slumber and Fi being the one destined to save him.
I adored the relationship between Fi and Shane, evolving from reluctant partners/allies into friends. I liked how the relationship between Fi and Briar developed and the way they saw each others.
I liked the writing style, and I liked that the POV switched between Fi and Shane for most of the book with some Briar. The plot was a little predictable with a few twists, and it kept me entertained.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
frog_appreciator's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Better than I thought! I appreciated the twist on the fairytale(s). I especially love Shane’s love interest. Would keep reading the series.
CW: spiders
CW: spiders
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder is book one of the Bone Spindle Trilogy. This was a fun sleeping beauty retelling that was so different from the original, but had some great call backs and references to it in the imagery used.
We follow Fi, a treasure hunter from a noble house who can never go home; Shane, a runaway heir with a big ax that likes pretty girls; and Briar Rose, the prince of Andar cursed to sleep until a prophesized girl wakes him with a kiss. I really liked Fi, I could see myself in her. She's very self-sufficient and a pragmatist, which I appreciate in fantasy way more than the helpless/clueless trope. I loved her friendship with Shane. Shane is our comic relief and resident lesbian with a heart of gold. Shane is one of those people who shows up in your life and then just never leaves no matter how much you try to get rid of them lol.
When Fi gets pricked by the legendary Bone Spindle that put Briar to sleep, so she is connected to him and is the only one who can wake him. But that means facing deadly obstacles and one pissed off Spindle Witch. Briar is such a sweet and endearing character that I hope we get to learn more about next book. We get little flashbacks every once in a while that give us more insight into Fi and Shane's past. Shane's story is particularly compelling. I love that the magic in this has rules and a cost and isn't just magic for magic's sake.
There is a lot in here about the discrimination of witches, cursed relics, and questions about whether there really a such thing as destiny or fate. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder is book one of the Bone Spindle Trilogy. This was a fun sleeping beauty retelling that was so different from the original, but had some great call backs and references to it in the imagery used.
We follow Fi, a treasure hunter from a noble house who can never go home; Shane, a runaway heir with a big ax that likes pretty girls; and Briar Rose, the prince of Andar cursed to sleep until a prophesized girl wakes him with a kiss. I really liked Fi, I could see myself in her. She's very self-sufficient and a pragmatist, which I appreciate in fantasy way more than the helpless/clueless trope. I loved her friendship with Shane. Shane is our comic relief and resident lesbian with a heart of gold. Shane is one of those people who shows up in your life and then just never leaves no matter how much you try to get rid of them lol.
When Fi gets pricked by the legendary Bone Spindle that put Briar to sleep, so she is connected to him and is the only one who can wake him. But that means facing deadly obstacles and one pissed off Spindle Witch. Briar is such a sweet and endearing character that I hope we get to learn more about next book. We get little flashbacks every once in a while that give us more insight into Fi and Shane's past. Shane's story is particularly compelling. I love that the magic in this has rules and a cost and isn't just magic for magic's sake.
There is a lot in here about the discrimination of witches, cursed relics, and questions about whether there really a such thing as destiny or fate. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
matildag00's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The banter is top tier! The characters are loveable and the world is filled with so much magic and I love it. The story dragged a bit for me, as you can see, it took me forever to read this cause it just kept putting me in a reading slump. I can't fully explain it cause there were times while reading this book I absolutely loved it but sometimes it just felt so boring. But a good read nonetheless and I will (some time in the future) be picking up the second and eventually the third book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
OMG.. how to start leaving review for this amazing fantasy fairytale book? At first, I still feel a bit confused with everything. But, as I went on, I didn't think I will fall in love more and more with this book; especially Filore, Shane... and of course the prince himself; Briar Rose.
Their adventure was no joke. From the start to finish, I gasped several times because how intense the battle was. And Leslie put this book details perfectly even this was the fast-paced book. As much as I love Disney's fairytale and Sleeping Beauty, Aurora and Maleficent... The Bone Spindle is a perfect book for everyone who love magic, Sleeping Beauty genderbent, Indiana Jones and riddles.
I love how Fi always connect everything based on what she had read in a storybook and folktales. Once again, this book is brilliant! Thank you, Leslie! Can't wait to continue my journey with Filore, Shane and Briar Rose in The Severed Thread!
5⭐
Their adventure was no joke. From the start to finish, I gasped several times because how intense the battle was. And Leslie put this book details perfectly even this was the fast-paced book. As much as I love Disney's fairytale and Sleeping Beauty, Aurora and Maleficent... The Bone Spindle is a perfect book for everyone who love magic, Sleeping Beauty genderbent, Indiana Jones and riddles.
I love how Fi always connect everything based on what she had read in a storybook and folktales. Once again, this book is brilliant! Thank you, Leslie! Can't wait to continue my journey with Filore, Shane and Briar Rose in The Severed Thread!
5⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
A really great mix of fairytale retelling and original story. I love the world that's been built, it seems very dynamic. I also like the magic system, while it isn't entirely unique it still feels fresh and dynamic. Just be warned that while the ending isn't a cliffhanger it leaves a lot of questions to be answered in the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
While there is explicitly described violence as the protagonists fight villains trailing them, none of it is gory or seems to be in bad taste. Anyone killed through the violence is not killed in a graphic manner or lingered on. The protagonists also do have to set a small fire to escape some of the villains at one point.lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
islesbiyana's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail