Spindle's End 
asked by casurf on November 18, 2006 3:23 PM
Renowned fantasy writer Robin McKinley, author of the lush "Beauty and the Beast" retellings Beauty and Rose Daughter, has produced another re-mastered fairy tale, this time about the dreamy Sleeping Beauty. Much like in the original story, the infant princess, here named Rosie, is cursed by an evil fairy to die on her 21st birthday by pricking her finger on a spindle. That same day, Rosie is whisked away into hiding by a peasant fairy who raises her and conceals her royal identity. From that point on, McKinley's plot and characterization become wildly inventive. She imagines Rosie growing up into a strapping young woman who despises her golden hair, prefers leather breeches to ball gowns, and can communicate with animals. And on that fateful birthday, with no help from a prince, Rosie saves herself and her entire sleeping village from destruction, although she pays a realistic price. In a final master stroke, McKinley cleverly takes creative license when the spell-breaking kiss (made famous in "Sleeping Beauty") comes from a surprising source and is bestowed upon the character least expected.
Although the entire novel is well written, McKinley's characterization of Rosie's animal friends is exceptionally fine. Observations such as "...foxes generally wanted to talk about butterflies and grasses and weather for a long time while they sized you up," will spark reader's imaginations. It won't be hard to persuade readers of any age to become lost in this marvelous tale; the difficult part will be convincing them to come back from McKinley's country, where "the magic... was so thick and tenacious that it settled over the land like chalk dust...." Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert
Reviews
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I was simultaneously frustrated and enthralled by Spindle's End...overwhelmed by details, yet compelled to keep on reading! I positively loved the character development...come on, in the original most of us heard, Briar Rose has no character, she's literally a sleeping beauty and nothing more. In McKinley's retelling, we get a richly developed and individual character...and this development extends to all the main and secondary characters, including a large cast of animal characters. The fairy-tale locations are all superbly drawn and in reading this, one can slip easily into the story as if it were an old friend...but what is wonderful about this story is also what is frustrating about it. There is such a cacophony of details that at some points in the story it hurts to read, but for me, this is easy to forgive simply because I loved the way McKinley drew the characters giving them life beyond what we'd normally expect based on the bones of the original tale.
Briar Rose is swept away from her name-day celebration when Pernicia (the wicked fairy) places the curse upon the child by Katronia and swept away to the far end of the kingdom where she manages to live in relative safety until close to her 21st birthday...the time when Pernicia's curse is set to take her life. Along with way Katronia is helped by a menagerie of animals who nurse the young princess...from cows and goats to bear and otters...an interesting twist that seems to have a lingering effect on the young princess. As she grows up, she is more of a tomboy that she is a princess, talking to animals and becoming friends with the grizzled smith and ultimately leaning to be a healer of animals, even apprenticed to Narl the smith. In all of this we root for Katronia, Aunt, Narl and Rosie while sympathizing with the King and Queen (who have no idea where their princess is, but maintain the ruse that they have her in hiding), and sharing the same curiosity as to the location of Pernicia and her reasons for cursing the princess...for this is one character that is black and white, she's evil and beyond a sparse few details, we see very little of her and know almost nothing of her, her life/history, or motivations...this was disappointing, because she has the potential to be such a delicious, juicy and evil character and she is not.
The ending was interesting and confusing in some places...and, I think, I little more drawn out than necessary, but I LOVED the twist on the kiss at the end. I thought that was a well done touch that was also a bit of a surprise! Overall, I give it an A-, it's a bit long in the tooth with the details and the ending could have been polished a bit more, but what carries this story is that it's faithful to the original fairy tale feel whiling brining both the land and the characters to life in a way that is unique and fulfilling! McKinley is a master of brining us inside a character (or cast of characters) that were previously only flat and stereotypical, definitely going on the shelf as a keeper!
Briar Rose is swept away from her name-day celebration when Pernicia (the wicked fairy) places the curse upon the child by Katronia and swept away to the far end of the kingdom where she manages to live in relative safety until close to her 21st birthday...the time when Pernicia's curse is set to take her life. Along with way Katronia is helped by a menagerie of animals who nurse the young princess...from cows and goats to bear and otters...an interesting twist that seems to have a lingering effect on the young princess. As she grows up, she is more of a tomboy that she is a princess, talking to animals and becoming friends with the grizzled smith and ultimately leaning to be a healer of animals, even apprenticed to Narl the smith. In all of this we root for Katronia, Aunt, Narl and Rosie while sympathizing with the King and Queen (who have no idea where their princess is, but maintain the ruse that they have her in hiding), and sharing the same curiosity as to the location of Pernicia and her reasons for cursing the princess...for this is one character that is black and white, she's evil and beyond a sparse few details, we see very little of her and know almost nothing of her, her life/history, or motivations...this was disappointing, because she has the potential to be such a delicious, juicy and evil character and she is not.
The ending was interesting and confusing in some places...and, I think, I little more drawn out than necessary, but I LOVED the twist on the kiss at the end. I thought that was a well done touch that was also a bit of a surprise! Overall, I give it an A-, it's a bit long in the tooth with the details and the ending could have been polished a bit more, but what carries this story is that it's faithful to the original fairy tale feel whiling brining both the land and the characters to life in a way that is unique and fulfilling! McKinley is a master of brining us inside a character (or cast of characters) that were previously only flat and stereotypical, definitely going on the shelf as a keeper!
reviewed by teacher on November 29, 2006 4:40 AM
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This book might be great for some people... I just wasn't one of them. I like Robin Mckinley, I loved "Beauty" by her, and I really really wanted to love this book... but I didn't. I would advise anyone interested in buying it to make sure they read the first few pages of the books first. If the style didn't bother you, and your mind didn't start to go numb then this might be the book for you. And more power to you! But don't just buy the book because it's written by Robin Mckinley... in my humble opinion it's definately not her best work. For me it drug on and on and on, I couldn't even finish it, I got halfway through and decided I couldn't handle the migraines the book was inducing. But that's just me, like I said read a couple of pages and decide for yourself. If you dont like the first couple of pages though... don't except it to get any better... it doesn't.
reviewed by success06 on November 29, 2006 3:07 PM
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I couldn't wait for this story to end. I love a good fairy tale retelling, but there were just so many words for so little going on. The end was just a jumble of incomprehensible magic, and I didn't like the way it wrapped up, any ways. It would have been better shorter. just too much filler. McKinley's Deerskin is a much better option.
reviewed by osx on November 29, 2006 5:39 PM
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Having read and loved other books by McKinley (The Blue Sword being one of my absolute favorite books of all time, The Hero and the Crown and Beauty are also very, very good) I was excited to read this book.
It was very clever, the characterizations were excellent--especially how the animals stay animal, and aren't turned into furry humans for the purpose of the book.
Also, McKinleys gift for bringing fantasy worlds alive is demonstrated elegantly in this novel. The magic unique from that in other novels--its quirky and has a mind of its own.
This book got four stars instead of five for the following reasons:
If you are looking for action-packed adventure more like The Blue Sword, you may be somewhat dissapointed. There is a fair bit of excitement and drama, but the action is of a different sort, less swords and more magic. There is also alot more slow less-exciting bits inbetween, most of it does become important later, but I'll say again, its not an action-packed adventure story.
Also, the ending was very confusing. After re-reading I sort of understood what was going on, but I didn't quite understand the why and how of all of it. Still, it has my highest reccomendations, especially to see McKinley use what I think to be her greatest talent as a writer: the complete realization of a new world.
It was very clever, the characterizations were excellent--especially how the animals stay animal, and aren't turned into furry humans for the purpose of the book.
Also, McKinleys gift for bringing fantasy worlds alive is demonstrated elegantly in this novel. The magic unique from that in other novels--its quirky and has a mind of its own.
This book got four stars instead of five for the following reasons:
If you are looking for action-packed adventure more like The Blue Sword, you may be somewhat dissapointed. There is a fair bit of excitement and drama, but the action is of a different sort, less swords and more magic. There is also alot more slow less-exciting bits inbetween, most of it does become important later, but I'll say again, its not an action-packed adventure story.
Also, the ending was very confusing. After re-reading I sort of understood what was going on, but I didn't quite understand the why and how of all of it. Still, it has my highest reccomendations, especially to see McKinley use what I think to be her greatest talent as a writer: the complete realization of a new world.
reviewed by stix on November 29, 2006 7:27 PM