Spindle's End

:My random thoughts:

I read Robin McKinley's Chalice and simply fell head over heels in love with it. And as soon as I saw the library had a whole collection of her books (I thank God for whoever donated them all!!).  And decided to start out with Spindle's End.  I knew it was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and that it had an adorable cover (A Hedgehog is on it...that makes it adorable in 3 dimensions).  I liked it, but not as much as I loved Chalice. 

:Publisher's Description:

All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep-a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her. 

:info to know:

Author:  Robin McKinley

My recommended age:  11+

Their recommended age:  18+ (what in the world? 18? Really? sheesh)

Publisher: Ace Trade

 

Number of Pages: 368

• Characters:  I really don't know what to say.  I felt a deep attachment to The Master and Chalice in her first book I read.  I didn't feel the same here.  Not that I didn't like them, that isn't at all true.  I just didn't experience the soul binding I did with Chalice. If you are familiar with Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty, Spindle's End will throw you for a loop.  Briar Rose/Rosie isn't at all the same.  I think that was the biggest hurdle for me, was to get over the vast differences of the same Character.
  Now that I think on it, the only person I really bonded with was Narl, the Blacksmith.  I was very happy how the ending came out. Very happy.

 Plot:
It is a retelling, but told in a new way. 

Writing Style:
The way Ms. McKinley wrote Spindle's End was interesting.  The first part of the book (before we were introduced to Katrina) was written through no body in particular's eyes. A bit from the Queen here, a bit from a fairy there, a large bit by the narrated, but it wasn't confusing.  Then, after we met Katrina, it was written from her POV.  Not in first person, but Third. Once Rosie grew up, it changed to her POV.  The transition was made so that you were a while into reading before thinking, "Oh, I'm not reading solely about Katrina anymore".   However, one big thing, was the lack of dialog.  Most of the 368 pages were just narrated. It made reading a little tiresome into I really got into the plot, and got used to the style.

Cover:
Hedgehog. Can't go wrong with a Hedgehog.  At first, I didn't really know why the cover had animals on it, but after reading, I know now.  But I wont tell you why.

Ending:

It was a little....confusing. But I think I get the general idea. And there is happiness in store for Narl.

World Building:
Robin McKinley didn't create a world, but she embellished, and added on.  I must say, the way she created a country practically brimming with magic (good, bad and annoying) was very creative. But a lot like Chalice's world.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

None

Romance and sexual content:

Innocent love. Katrina is in love with a wheelwright, and they marry, and Rosie is in love with a certian blacksmith....*whistles* but there isn't anything I wouldn't read to a five year old.

Violence:

                           Pernicia and Rosie fight in the end.  And the whole 'pricking of the finger'. 

Ratings:

The book was a sweet, but sometimes vague novel.
I feel Ms. McKinely certianly wasn't at her best in this one.
And could work on the dialog some.
but, otherwise, I liked it.
Not love, but liked.

It was a good read once I got past all the diffuculties.