brettec's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like it at first, but the end really picked up. For most of the book I thought I wasn't going to read the sequel, but now I need to know what happens next!
geldauran's review against another edition
1.0
I was more than a little baffled that the entire conceit of the book, with aurora as a disabled princess, is reversed in the first quarter of the book. That aside, I found the plot haphazardly paced and not very interesting. Also, third person present tense is my least favorite right behind second person any tense.
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
3.0
Want to see more bookish things from me? check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q
Aurora and Isabelle are half sisters and daughters to the King of Deluce. When they were young, the fairies tithed things from them in payment for the gifts they bestowed on them. Isabelle lost her sight and Aurora lost her sense of touch and her voice. One day, Aurora pricks her finger on a spindle and falls into a deep sleep and awakens in an alternate universe where she meets a hunter named Heath. Now, Isabelle must find Prince William to give Aurora true love's kiss and seal an alliance between their two kingdoms before the Fairy Queen and her army attack.
This book was very average in my opinion. I think the book and story line had so much potential but it fell a bit short for me. The bond between sisters was definitely the best part of the story. You could tell they both truly cared for one another. I enjoyed how different the two sisters were from each other and how they both had their own unique personalities. I definitely enjoyed Isbe's chapters more than Aurora's but I still liked them both! I can't decide if I liked the love interests or not... At times I loved them but at other times I hated them. I will say that the love triangles were a bit unnecessary and definitely took away from the story for me.
Aurora and Isabelle are half sisters and daughters to the King of Deluce. When they were young, the fairies tithed things from them in payment for the gifts they bestowed on them. Isabelle lost her sight and Aurora lost her sense of touch and her voice. One day, Aurora pricks her finger on a spindle and falls into a deep sleep and awakens in an alternate universe where she meets a hunter named Heath. Now, Isabelle must find Prince William to give Aurora true love's kiss and seal an alliance between their two kingdoms before the Fairy Queen and her army attack.
This book was very average in my opinion. I think the book and story line had so much potential but it fell a bit short for me. The bond between sisters was definitely the best part of the story. You could tell they both truly cared for one another. I enjoyed how different the two sisters were from each other and how they both had their own unique personalities. I definitely enjoyed Isbe's chapters more than Aurora's but I still liked them both! I can't decide if I liked the love interests or not... At times I loved them but at other times I hated them. I will say that the love triangles were a bit unnecessary and definitely took away from the story for me.
i_love_read_ing's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this twist on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty!
It is a tale of sisterly love. One sister, Aurora, lives without the senses of touch or voice, the other, Isbe, lives without sight. Torn apart by unforseen circumstances, each sister fights to save the other, even though they may not know exactly how to get back to each other.
I love the book! The sisterly bond was so strong. I have to say, there is a love triangle, so anyone who complains about those, you'll have to deal with that. The story is also somewhat predictable. I pretty much saw every twist coming, even though it's not all that much like the original Sleeping Beauty. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book and breezed through reading it in about a day. AND IT ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER! I cannot wait to read the second book in the series!
Recommended for YA lovers and those who enjoy fairy tale retellings.
It is a tale of sisterly love. One sister, Aurora, lives without the senses of touch or voice, the other, Isbe, lives without sight. Torn apart by unforseen circumstances, each sister fights to save the other, even though they may not know exactly how to get back to each other.
I love the book! The sisterly bond was so strong. I have to say, there is a love triangle, so anyone who complains about those, you'll have to deal with that. The story is also somewhat predictable. I pretty much saw every twist coming, even though it's not all that much like the original Sleeping Beauty. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book and breezed through reading it in about a day. AND IT ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER! I cannot wait to read the second book in the series!
Recommended for YA lovers and those who enjoy fairy tale retellings.
bumblebree1903's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
I read this book not long after it came out, and rereading it now I understand why. A Sleeping Beauty retelling with a focus on sisters and putting agency in the hands of the Princess was a fun change of pace, and I adore using fairy tales to explore different relationships/dynamics.
Isbe and Aurora are the main characters, and each felt distinct from each other in how they viewed the world and interacted with it and others. Watching each of the girls grow and reevaluate their preconceived notions of the world was deeply satisfying, especially when getting to see them world through it alongside the characters in their respective parts of the story. The romances for each sister also felt equally unique and fitting for her, something that gave the reader more insight into their character.
The world building too was fascinating and fun, woven in where it was needed and not rambling on unnecessarily. I can’t say I have a perfect, full understanding of the world and everything in it, but I don’t need to. I know what I need to understand the story and that’s enough.
I also enjoyed the different side characters encountered and how each one added a new level of depth to the world. None felt unnecessary or like a waste of time, and it was easy to fall in with and be invested in them as people.
The audiobook itself was equally amazing. The narrator made it feel like I was being read an actual fairy tale, and all the character voices felt largely distinct and drew parallels where needed.
I’m excited to read book two!
Isbe and Aurora are the main characters, and each felt distinct from each other in how they viewed the world and interacted with it and others. Watching each of the girls grow and reevaluate their preconceived notions of the world was deeply satisfying, especially when getting to see them world through it alongside the characters in their respective parts of the story. The romances for each sister also felt equally unique and fitting for her, something that gave the reader more insight into their character.
The world building too was fascinating and fun, woven in where it was needed and not rambling on unnecessarily. I can’t say I have a perfect, full understanding of the world and everything in it, but I don’t need to. I know what I need to understand the story and that’s enough.
I also enjoyed the different side characters encountered and how each one added a new level of depth to the world. None felt unnecessary or like a waste of time, and it was easy to fall in with and be invested in them as people.
The audiobook itself was equally amazing. The narrator made it feel like I was being read an actual fairy tale, and all the character voices felt largely distinct and drew parallels where needed.
I’m excited to read book two!
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
I received an e-ARC copy of Spindle Fire from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I liked this book but I didn't love it. The premise was awesome. Two sisters trying to save their kingdom based on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. I was so excited. Both sisters are handicapped, Isabelle is blind and Aurora cannot feel or speak.
I felt like the ideas were there, they just weren't expounded. I also felt like there was way more tell than show. The world building was a bit messy. There are bits of everything all over the place and nothing really came together for me.
I actually was kinda bored with Isabelle and was more curious about Sommeil. But I wanted more. I want to understand the fairies more and I spend quite a bit of time trying to figure out if Sommeil just a dream world or if it exists on the map as well.
But I did enjoy the book and I want to read the conclusion.
I received an e-ARC copy of Spindle Fire from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I liked this book but I didn't love it. The premise was awesome. Two sisters trying to save their kingdom based on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. I was so excited. Both sisters are handicapped, Isabelle is blind and Aurora cannot feel or speak.
I felt like the ideas were there, they just weren't expounded. I also felt like there was way more tell than show. The world building was a bit messy. There are bits of everything all over the place and nothing really came together for me.
I actually was kinda bored with Isabelle and was more curious about Sommeil. But I wanted more. I want to understand the fairies more and I spend quite a bit of time trying to figure out if Sommeil just a dream world or if it exists on the map as well.
But I did enjoy the book and I want to read the conclusion.
quiet_chaos's review against another edition
2.0
This was not my cuppa. I was not sold on this one. The premise was good, and just look at that lovely cover. It's incredible, but I couldn't really like the story itself.
Pros: It started out really well. I really have a thing for alternating points of view so I naturally enjoyed that.
I enjoyed the characters presented for the first part of the book.
I'll mention again how great the story ideas were. The spell, the sisters, etc. Great ideas.
I really enjoyed the beginning and that we were given a year for the story. It gave it a historical feel, which I was hoping for.
Cons: About 75% in, I realized there were going to be some pacing issues. It turns out there is a second book (which I hate finding out after I'm already reading the first), but there's no conclusion. At all. Not even kind of. Not enough happened in the beginning and not enough space for the end.
I guess that Isabelle (I did not like the nickname) and Aurora grow some but Aurora made me crazy because she never really seemed to grasp her privilege. She read as a brat from beginning to end for me.
Gil.
The writing felt forced. A lot of metaphors and similes and lovely language that was just too much sometimes.
Overall, maybe if I could have read both of the books (if it's only 2) back to back, maybe I could overlook my issues, but I would not recommend it anytime before the 2nd one is out.
**Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my review at all.**
Pros: It started out really well. I really have a thing for alternating points of view so I naturally enjoyed that.
I enjoyed the characters presented for the first part of the book.
I'll mention again how great the story ideas were. The spell, the sisters, etc. Great ideas.
I really enjoyed the beginning and that we were given a year for the story. It gave it a historical feel, which I was hoping for.
Cons: About 75% in, I realized there were going to be some pacing issues. It turns out there is a second book (which I hate finding out after I'm already reading the first), but there's no conclusion. At all. Not even kind of. Not enough happened in the beginning and not enough space for the end.
I guess that Isabelle (I did not like the nickname) and Aurora grow some but Aurora made me crazy because she never really seemed to grasp her privilege. She read as a brat from beginning to end for me.
Gil.
Spoiler
He just fell out of the book and it made me really angry. Isabelle just flirts with a prince no big deal style and then gets mad when he proposes?? Well, he has no idea Gil exists, you don't know if you care about him or not. Ugh. That made me the most crazy.The writing felt forced. A lot of metaphors and similes and lovely language that was just too much sometimes.
Overall, maybe if I could have read both of the books (if it's only 2) back to back, maybe I could overlook my issues, but I would not recommend it anytime before the 2nd one is out.
**Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my review at all.**
littleminky93's review against another edition
3.0
Polarthon 2020 - Retelling
Lol, if you start an audiobook when you wakeup and just let it play all day... its very easy to finish a book that way :P
I enjoyed this! Will definitely be reading the next one!
Lol, if you start an audiobook when you wakeup and just let it play all day... its very easy to finish a book that way :P
I enjoyed this! Will definitely be reading the next one!
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
I was not able to connect to this authors writing style. I felt like a story was being told at me not to me.