An exceptional retelling of The Sleeping Beauty which takes the reader into a magical world filled with modern characters, encountering adventure, love and loss. Rosie is very, very ordinary. No-one, not even an extremely powerful and evil fairy who is out for the princess's blood, would give Rosie a second glance. But then, even Rosie doesn't know the secret of her own birth...and she cannot be hidden forever as her twenty-first birthday approaches. The curse placed on her at her christening will hunt her down through the years, gathering strength, and at some point a princess must become a queen, even if she would rather just stay ordinary-
Spindle's End
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Electrifying storytelling, a must read for fans of quality fantasy of any age -- The Financial Times, 23rd March 2002
What starts off as the story of Sleeping Beauty twists and turns, becoming ever more magical. Prepare to be enchanted. -- The Bookseller, 19th July 2002
Written with rich inventiveness, good characters and real stylistic skill and flair - a fat treat in which to lose yourself. -- The Sunday Times, 31st March 2002 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
What starts off as the story of Sleeping Beauty twists and turns, becoming ever more magical. Prepare to be enchanted. -- The Bookseller, 19th July 2002
Written with rich inventiveness, good characters and real stylistic skill and flair - a fat treat in which to lose yourself. -- The Sunday Times, 31st March 2002 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
A magical retelling of the fairy tale, The Sleeping Beauty, for older readers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:School & Library Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase
Even though I may be a little older than the target audience, I have always enjoyed RM's storycraft. This book is an honourable addition to a fine collection of stories. The characters are drawn with considerable insight and observation into the way in which real people might react in the unreal situations portrayed, with a good deal of humour in the process. I also liked the descriptions of the cat, Flinx - surely RM is a cat owner?
The story is essentially that of Sleeping Beauty but with many a twist to make it both interesting and relevant to today. The princess, her young foster-mother, and her aunt-by-adoption are all girls and women for whom it is possible to feel real liking. The male characters are also sympathetically drawn and one can see why particular partners get together rather than feeling that they have been joined just for the sake of a particular development in the plot. The magical bits are perhaps a little similar in concept to The Hero and the Crown, but not to the extent that one feels it's just a repeat.
All in all, a very enjoyable and oddly comforting read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is my third exploration of Robin Mckinley's work (my first two being Beauty and Rose Daughter) and i was, as usual, impressed by her ability to create truly vivid scenes. Obviously it is a re-telling and therefore one might question her originality, but the plot is so developed that the recycled material doesn't really affect your reading of it.
The heroines are likeable, and all romantic plotlines tie up rather nicely. One of the latter does seem a tad contrived, but at least it ties in with the original idea of the fairy tale. Mckinley's prose, as always, has moments in which it truly shines.
The last quarter of the book is truly packed with action and information, and I am torn between judging it as compellingly written (you really feel that you are in the centre of the action; it's almost as though everything is rushing past you) and condemning it as being too confusing; the magical details do tend to be slightly overpowering.
Overall, if you're looking for a light fantasy read then this is the place to go; i give it 4/5 stars due to its ability to keep me reading until 3:30am (few books are ineresting enough to do so). If you have enjoyed McKinley's work in the past then i heartily recommend, and it should appeal to any adult or child who loves fairytales. However, if you prefer clear-cut, unfussy prose with little description, or if you feel that originality is a key componant to enjoying a book, then this may be one to avoid.
The heroines are likeable, and all romantic plotlines tie up rather nicely. One of the latter does seem a tad contrived, but at least it ties in with the original idea of the fairy tale. Mckinley's prose, as always, has moments in which it truly shines.
The last quarter of the book is truly packed with action and information, and I am torn between judging it as compellingly written (you really feel that you are in the centre of the action; it's almost as though everything is rushing past you) and condemning it as being too confusing; the magical details do tend to be slightly overpowering.
Overall, if you're looking for a light fantasy read then this is the place to go; i give it 4/5 stars due to its ability to keep me reading until 3:30am (few books are ineresting enough to do so). If you have enjoyed McKinley's work in the past then i heartily recommend, and it should appeal to any adult or child who loves fairytales. However, if you prefer clear-cut, unfussy prose with little description, or if you feel that originality is a key componant to enjoying a book, then this may be one to avoid.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Having waited excitedly (and for too long) for the next book from Robin McKinley, I read Spindle's End the day it arrived. Having given myself a severe headache in doing so (due to the involved nature of the plot) I am torn between recommendation and reservation. As I expected, it is very difficult to put down, but it is also difficult to read. The characters do not draw you in the way Aerin, Harimad and Beauty (the first one!) do with their doubts, flaws and normality. Rosie is flawed, but a little two-dimensional. The curse hanging over her is never fully explained (although in fairness the original fairy tale was illogical also) and despite showing McKinley's usual flashes of brilliance, I did not feel this was sustained throughout the story. No real tension is created by the evil fairy - Maur was a much more awe-inspiring and well-drawn foe, and yet Rosie's surroundings are so beautifully evoked, and the people who love her so nicely characterised that I still recommend you read it. I cried my eyes out at the end when all the threads are finally spun together (in a quite unexpected fashion), which proves what a consummate storyteller Robin McKinley is - even when you have your doubts about her tale, she can still tug at your heart! If a litle more thought had been given to the detail, and and she had been less obsessed with brackets (an annoying but addictive habit!)to explain all the details that had been missed out I would have given this book five stars. But four by McKinley's standard is about 13 by anyone else's, so read it, enjoy it, and keep campaigning for another tale about Aerin!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful introspection on the nature of Fate
This book is beautifully crafted. From the refreshing take on a fairy godmother to the sparkling descriptions of an Oz-esque world, Robin McKinley shines as a writer of modern... Read more
Published 2 months ago by picaropicara
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prickling with magic
The cursed princess is hidden by good fairies in plain sight, so ordinariness can disguise her. She grows up in a remote vilkage, a normal life. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Debora Helena Shrimpton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spindle's end
A good take on the sleeping beauty fairy tale, the story felt fresh, I would recommend this book for a light read. Read more
Published 21 months ago by P. BOOTH
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good story, to long.
I thought that the story line was quite good but it was to long about 5 chapters to long and the ending was a bit rushed. I don't think this is one of her best books.
Published on 2 Mar 2006
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spindle's end
I think this book is very well written, i got into it straight away and couldn't put it down!This is a definet read there is always something going on in it and i think that all... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2005 by Robyn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Re-telling of Sleeping Beauty
I must admit, I was curious about a modern re-telling of the story of Sleeping Beauty so I picked this book up. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2004 by girl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
Good book ending was VERY confusing! though and quite unbelievable and confusing but dont get me wrong its a brilliant book and a must own for ANY fairy tail lover but a word of... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2004 by Loopy_Lou
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic complex fairy tale
A complex story of Cinderella.
Brilliant. Im looking forward to reading some more work by Robin Mckinley. Read more
Brilliant. Im looking forward to reading some more work by Robin Mckinley. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2003 by Kelly Blandford
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enchanting if slightly dragging book.
I picked this book up on my second day of work experience and still had it at the end, I thought it was a brilliant read and the heroin was unusual, not the beautiful demure girl... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2003 by "dorothy913"
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enchanting if slightly dragging book.
I picked this book up on my second day of work experience and still had it at the end, I thought it was a brilliant read and the heroin was unusual, not the beautiful demure girl... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2003 by "dorothy913"
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