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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
onceandfuturereaders's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
A gender bent Sleeping Beauty retelling where Briar Rose is a prince waiting to be rescued by Fi, a nerdy treasure hunter trying to find the key to her own curse. Tagging along on this adventure is Shane, the axe-wielding, sarcastic, sidekick who is as funny as she is impatient. Briar Rose’s a 16 year old who has been stuck in a castle his entire life (and trapped under a sleeping curse for 100 years) who believes in destiny and happily ever after with his one true love Fi, who has sworn off love forever after a shitty ex ruined her life (like actually ruined her life - not just a teenage version). Shane is along for the journey as long as she gets to flirt with Red, a mysterious girl she and Fi meet along the way, and bash anything and everything with her axe.
Oh yeah and there’s a big bad looming but never seen (the Spindle Witch). It really set the stage for the rest of the series but in typical world building, had a slow start and I had a million questions along the way.
It’s Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones and once it got going, I had trouble turning off the audiobook. I will be adding the rest of the series to my TBR because now I need to know how it all ends.
Oh yeah and there’s a big bad looming but never seen (the Spindle Witch). It really set the stage for the rest of the series but in typical world building, had a slow start and I had a million questions along the way.
It’s Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones and once it got going, I had trouble turning off the audiobook. I will be adding the rest of the series to my TBR because now I need to know how it all ends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
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
thing1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
arlaubscher's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: 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
deerlybeloved's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I quite enjoyed The Bone Spindle! Yet another retelling of the sleeping beauty, I knew that it'd be a bit different given that they'd switched the narrative, and now Briar Rose was an awkward teenage boy. Still, I didn't realize how loveable I'd find that change- Having Briar as a character was delightful, and he, Fi, and Shane compliment each other wonderfully.
The first half of the book, I'll admit, while I enjoyed the story, it wasn't hooking and reeling me in. I took breaks that lasted a few days, and came back easy-peasy, because while the character development was delightful, I felt like it did just add a lot to go through in a few places. The last half, though, oh, I was reeled in for sure, listening all day two days straight to finish it.
I must say, as well, I enjoyed Shane's character a lot! The lack of in-world homophobia and misogyny made the experience of reading this book a very safe one.
The first half of the book, I'll admit, while I enjoyed the story, it wasn't hooking and reeling me in. I took breaks that lasted a few days, and came back easy-peasy, because while the character development was delightful, I felt like it did just add a lot to go through in a few places. The last half, though, oh, I was reeled in for sure, listening all day two days straight to finish it.
I must say, as well, I enjoyed Shane's character a lot! The lack of in-world homophobia and misogyny made the experience of reading this book a very safe one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Part of Fi's character development does involve themes of what I would consider an abusive relationship. I recognized it very quickly as such, and had to take a few breaks because of it. Spoilers ahead.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
lexnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gore and Blood