Rating: 
Summary: it reads like she was happy when she wrote it
Review: ...
Spindles End is, admittedly, not like Ms.McKinley's other books. to me, when i was reading it i felt like she was in a good mood throughout the writing of it, like she didn't have to spend any time on her rowing machine. it was light, less dark and less comlex than any of her other books. i thought the world she created was more detailed than any of her others, and the characters seemed almost everyday(aside from the fairy part!). it was a pleasant book with her trademark twisty ending.
the only reason i have not given 5 stars is because i felt that the ending felt rushed to me. but lets face it fans, all of her books have that sort of ending, with the exception of, perhaps, The Outlaws of Sherwood. Ms.McKinley tends to spend 3/4 of her books wandering through castles and/or woods and delving deep into her characters thoughts, then rushes to the ten page face off in the end(ie..Deerskin vs. her father, Aerin vs. Agesded, Harry bringing the mountain down on the northeners). This book was much the same. the only difference being that she was relitively light on the character development, thus she was able to play with her world more.
i cringe to think of Ms.McKinley ever reading this. She is one of the most creative and detailed writers in the world; to review her work seems almost presumptious to me. I have found each of her novels to be unique and touching and thrilling, and ultimately, very, very satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantabulous!
Review: This book was a bit hard to get into, but it made for great reading. I've been down with a cold for the past few days, and this book was the only thing I touched. It sure kept me occupied! I didn't quite comprehend a few of the parts -- I'm sure it'll fit together better the second time around =) I loved all the characters, though. Narl fascinated me, believe it or not, along with Katriona and Rosie.
Rating: 
Summary: Not of the same fabric
Review: The story is familiar--the beautiful baby cursed on her name-day by the wicked fairy, and then spends her entire life as a peasant woman, trying to evade that evil fairy until the facts are revealed and the following showdown allows good to win out over evil at last. Yet as befitting a retelling, this Sleeping Beauty story does not quite follow the common tale. Briar Rose is not the paragon of maidenly charms; her hair, for instance, does not fall in the golden ringlets it was destined for because this Briar Rose cannot abide long hair. Her singing voice, while beautiful, is totally without tune, and her dancing ability is never noticed because she hates wearing dresses. This Briar Rose is indeed unusal, a nice chance for us to wander away from the usual princess and come to one a bit more, well, unusual. It is a good change, one that allows the princess to become human without ever losing the pivotal role in the plot. We are also introduced to old characters with new twists, such as Aunt and Katerina, the two fairies charged with protecting the baby Briar Rose until her twenty-first birthday, who not only fail to be frumpy or eccentric like those of Disney but most definitely succeed in drawing us into the story through the distinctive narratives McKinley gives them. McKinley adds to the mix a freshly imagined land, with new magical rules and, as ever, richly detailed scenery that virtually paints the backdrop as the action unfolds. There is even the (somewhat) surprising ending that gives the story a delightful twist. Well, with all this praise, perhaps you wonder why I gave this book only three stars. Perhaps if I had never read any of McKinley's other offerings, this book would have been rated higher, and I would have felt more satisfied when I finished. The fact is, however, that I've read her retellings of Beauty and the Beast (both of them) and I cannot tell you how much more I like those two stories. Compared to the breadth and depth of those retellings, this story seems to fall quite short. In many cases her descriptions of the magical world show similiarities to her previous novels, which puts me off. Yes, it's a nice story, but not one I would read again--I think this author can do much better.
Rating:
Summary: an okay read, but an excellent retelling
Review: This is a magical retelling that will certainly keep the attention of any adult, but is appropriate for a child of any age. One thing I particularly love is the tomboyish characterization of the main character. I think that young girls could learn a lot from Rosie, about love, independence, and friendship. It does take place in a fairytale land, so even readers of Fantasy will have suspend their disbelief. By which I mean, it is fully part of the fairy tale world - there is plentiful magic, enchantments, and animals can speak. At the same time, Rosie and the other characters don't act wooden and stereotypical. Another item of note was that it kept my interest from the first page. Robin McKinley has a great writing style which really sweeps the reader away.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, cozy reading
Review: Spindle's End was a sweet, endearing book that I would recommend to children and adults alike. One theme of the book that I really loved was the part where Rosie had just found out that she was the princess and more or less dumbfounded at the revelation that had been hidden from her for so long. One of her many animal friends said to her "We are who we are." I just think that is so true and so beautiful! We live in a world where we always have to put on masks for other people and pretend to be someone we're not. But in the end, we are who we are. I only gave this book four stars because the book can become slightly too drawn out with descriptions of the town (Foggy Bottom) and the magic of the fairies etc.. which was a little annoying after awhile. Also, I understand why Rosie made the choice she did at the end but I always sort of hoped throughtout the book that she would grow up beautiful and kind and eventually become the princess that everyone longed for. Also Narl wasn't a very good "prince". He said barely 100 words in the whole book, but i did like the ending with them kissing in the forge and presumbly living happily ever after. Overall, a very sweet and interesting book!! Thanks Robin Mckinley!!
Rating:
Summary: Not Expected
Review: When I read this book I was a sophomore in high school. I found this book while searching for a different Robin McKinley book. It was a wonderful story and the illustrations painted in my mind by the words kept me captivated. All the while reading this book you are positive of the way it shall end, however, you are also kind of weary of McKinley's writing as you have never before read a book of hers that ended the way you expected. I was glad to find that McKinley had rewritten my favorite fairie tale and done it in a way that the main character was still no [sissy] girl. Rosie was a strong heroine and someone that I would let my nieces look up to. When the book ended, I was rewarded with a feeling of finishing, which some books don't always give you. I was happy with the ending and found no need for a sequel or to sit and wonder what happened. I would read this book again and most definately will, several times. The only other book that I have enjoyed more is Beauty, by Robin McKinley.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent story for serious McKinley fans..
Review: I'm not one to repeat everyone else's comments, but suffice it to say that this is indeed another excellent novel from one of my absolute favorite authors. McKinley has (again) taken a classic fairy tale and added her own twists to it, all the while immersing the reader within a brand-new world that comes alive through her skill in detail. I will agree with the reviewers who have said that this is not a book for someone who is easily distracted or impatient - McKinley's sense of detail in rendering her worlds is at full force in Spindle's End, but I for one didn't find these passages distracting; I felt they enhanced the story by making it that much more believable and real. The plot does seem to be a bit elusive at times, and by the time the princess' 21st birthday rolled around, I had the impression that the story that had been so detailed was now rushing to catch up to the plot. Still, I highly recommend this book for more mature readers, especially those who have already fallen in love with McKinley's style.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is so far the best book I have read by Robin McKinley- aside from Hero and the Crown and Blue Sword. Her reinvention of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty is innovative and her ending is totally satisfying. The book is at times a little slow, with long descriptions that drag on, but overall the book is a worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: spindle's end
Review: I have loved reading Robin McKinley since I was 12, and I enjoyed Spindle's End, but was a bit disappointed by it. McKinley is an excellent writer, but she got a bit carried away with the setting here. The descriptions of it get in the way of the plot and characterization. I'd recommend a more ruthless editor...someone with the courage to axe at least 50 pages (maybe 100) to make the story tighter and the book fly. However, McKinley is such a good writer that even reading the unnecessary setting details is entertaining (especially thanks to her wry sense of humor). A good book and an enjoyable read, but not a great one (and Mckinley is certainly capable of greatness).
Rating:
Summary: Kinda confusing...
Review: Well, I was rather dissappointed with this book. I am a big fan of McKinley's earlier work (mainly the Damar series :) and I liked Beauty, so I was expecting this book to follow along that pattern. I am glad Ms. McKinley has delved into other fairy tales apart from Beauty and The Beast, and Robin Hood, and hope she continues to do so. This book was amazing with all the new creatures and folklore surrounding the whole new land McKinley created. I liked the characters but found I got confused a lot during the story, especially after everyone was put under Pernicia's sleeping spell. I thought the plot followed Rosie's youth for a great portion, then just zipped through the whole exciting battle parts way too fast. I did not always understand the logic Rosie and Narl used when fighting Pernicia, so that took away from the story. Overall, this book was an interesting read with great writing, but lacked in plot. Better luck with the next novel from McKinley.
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