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A review by flowerpaladin
The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a great book! It was fast-paced with likeable characters, and I finished it faster than I normally finish books (I'm a slow reader). I really enjoyed the friendship between Fi and Shane and would love to see more books that center friendship while just sort of pushing the romances to the side. Shane was by far my favorite character. I loved her backstory, and I actually teared up when I learned of her heartbreak.
One thing that was kind of unusual to me was how the girls were both about 17 yet seemed to have rich and vibrant pasts. Both have been adventurers, it seems like, for many years. Both have exes. Makes me wonder when they started dating/adventuring, like... when they were twelve?! LOL Oh, I like Fi's backstory as well; I wouldn't mind learning more about her relationship with her family, especially since that's kind of a big plot point specifically for her (as we learn about midway through the book).
The evil-ex trope was fun, though I wouldn't have minded lingering in that scene for a few more chapters. I kind of wanted to see more of a bigger showdown with the evil-ex, you know, just to give him some comeuppance and let our heroines look all the awesomer. But maybe we'll get that in the next book.
The ONLY thing that was a LITTLE flat for me (and that's why I can't go 5 stars) were the romances. I really liked Briar at first, but I don't know, something about his interactions with Fi just didn't endear me to him. Maybe it's that he came on a bit strong. I was hoping he'd be shier and sweeter, too (judging from the description on the book flap). As for Shane and Red, they just didn't seem to really get to know each other in a way I usually prefer for romances. For both romances, they seemed to start with physical attraction, linger on that for a bit, then jump immediately to "I love you!" Which is fine. Just a personal thing with me; I prefer friends-to-lovers, where the physical attraction comes later and isn't really a focus.
Curious to see where the sequel takes us! I'd like to meet Sage, Briar's older brother. And I hope we see more of my favorite character, The Paper Witch!! I was SO disappointed that he was barely in it. He seems like a fun mentor type. Like a pretty Gandalf, if you will.
One thing that was kind of unusual to me was how the girls were both about 17 yet seemed to have rich and vibrant pasts. Both have been adventurers, it seems like, for many years. Both have exes. Makes me wonder when they started dating/adventuring, like... when they were twelve?! LOL Oh, I like Fi's backstory as well; I wouldn't mind learning more about her relationship with her family, especially since that's kind of a big plot point specifically for her (as we learn about midway through the book).
The evil-ex trope was fun, though I wouldn't have minded lingering in that scene for a few more chapters. I kind of wanted to see more of a bigger showdown with the evil-ex, you know, just to give him some comeuppance and let our heroines look all the awesomer. But maybe we'll get that in the next book.
The ONLY thing that was a LITTLE flat for me (and that's why I can't go 5 stars) were the romances. I really liked Briar at first, but I don't know, something about his interactions with Fi just didn't endear me to him. Maybe it's that he came on a bit strong. I was hoping he'd be shier and sweeter, too (judging from the description on the book flap). As for Shane and Red, they just didn't seem to really get to know each other in a way I usually prefer for romances. For both romances, they seemed to start with physical attraction, linger on that for a bit, then jump immediately to "I love you!" Which is fine. Just a personal thing with me; I prefer friends-to-lovers, where the physical attraction comes later and isn't really a focus.
Curious to see where the sequel takes us! I'd like to meet Sage, Briar's older brother. And I hope we see more of my favorite character, The Paper Witch!! I was SO disappointed that he was barely in it. He seems like a fun mentor type. Like a pretty Gandalf, if you will.