A review by thenovelmaura
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of this Sleeping Beauty-retelling! I love revamped fairy tales so I thought this book would be right up my alley. And while it was enjoyable; there were a few elements that I didn't love. My biggest issue was with the romances and how the characters were coupled up. Even though the description talks about Fi falling for Briar Rose, I couldn't help thinking that she and Shane had a lot more chemistry. Why couldn't their banter and complementary treasure hunting skills have evolved into romantic feelings? It's nice to see a strong female friendship, of course, but I thought that was a missed opportunity to flip the fairy tale trope on its head rather than just gender-swapping it. Plus, Fi and Briar Rose had some insta-love going on, which I'm never a fan of and especially not when it seems really out of character (like it did for Fi.)
Lastly, it was really obvious that Red was a "traitor" and I don't think it added anything to the story.


On the other hand, I loved the treasure hunting, the puzzles, and the ruins filled with traps and secrets! These were featured more heavily at the beginning of the story, but I also enjoyed the action scenes that were sprinkled throughout. Fi's brains and Shane's brawn were the perfect pairing and it was nice to see them get closer as their journey progressed. I also liked how Vedder dealt with the actual ramifications of a kingdom being put to sleep for 100 years, something that the original fairy tale glosses over. Personally, I don't think I'll pick up the sequel, but I understand why this book is a hit with fans of Indiana Jones, retellings, and sapphic representation.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings