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Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley

July 31st, 2009 · 6 Comments

Synopsis:
A retelling of Sleeping Beauty, filled with magic and adventure.

Review:
I tried to read Spindle’s End when it first came out, and I gave up after about 50 pages. This time, I made it to the end, but it still left me cold. Robin McKinley’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, and I applaud the plot she devised for her retelling, but I never really connected with the story. I would definitely read another of her books, though, because I did enjoy Beauty. Any recommendations?

Related posts:

  1. Beauty by Robin McKinley
  2. Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb
  3. Renegade’s Magic by Robin Hobb

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6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Brad K. // Jul 31, 2009 at 10:35 am

    I found her Deerskin riveting but disturbing, quite mystical and tragic. Very much an exploration of survivors and being exploited – and finding peace, confronting evil.

    Sunshine, now was fun. Who can’t delight in a lovestruck, reluctant vampire?

    I adored Beauty. One of the first McKinley books I read was The Hero and The Crown. And that one still draws me back to enjoy again, from time to time. The Blue Sword was good, but I haven’t reread that one nearly as often and Beauty or The Hero and The Crown.

    Not a retelling of a traditional story, Mercedes Lackey’s trilogy that starts with Arrows of the Queen (with Arrow’s Flight and Arrow’s Fall) is a very good coming of age story; I also like her By the Sword.

    Thanks!

  • 2 Jenny // Jul 31, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    I had the same reaction as you did to Spindle’s End. Like Brad says, Deerskin is wonderful but disturbing. I think Sunshine is her best since Beauty, though there are a lot of things left unanswered at the end. She also has a book of short stories, A Door in the Hedge (I think?) that I liked a lot.

  • 3 Jeane // Jul 31, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    I didn’t care much for Spindle’s End, either. I love Beauty, and Sunshine, and The Hero and the Crown.

  • 4 Superfast Reader // Jul 31, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Thanks for the recs!

  • 5 Mc Teacher // Aug 12, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    I read Rose Daughter this summer looking for great fantasy books for my students. You might want to try it. The chapters are well developed, but the ending is a bit too tidily wrapped up for the depth she began the story with.

  • 6 Superfast Reader // Aug 12, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    I’ve heard that one is good.

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