Rating: 
Summary: Robin McKinley Does it again
Review: Having read every Robin McKinley book written, I would have rank her latest offering in the top three, the others being Beauty,(my personal favorite) and Rose Daughter. I could not put this book down. Most of us are familiar with the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, this book takes it so much further, with a not so idealic fairytale setting. Each character is portrayed in a compelling manner, with their thoughts and motivations displayed, not perfectly flawless as in the Disney version, but far more real life. I loved the fact that in this book, as well as the other McKinley books, the heroines are far more beautiful on the inside, and far more real because of it. A great take on a timeless classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite a must-read
Review: There were some things that I really liked about this book; I loved the world that McKinley created, and the idea that magic has a mind of its own. But although I thought it was a great idea, the description of this magical land dragged on much longer than it should have. Descriptions took up a major part of this book, and while that can be good sometimes, it seemed a bit overdone in this case. Also, the adventure at the end got confusing, but I liked the twists that were put in there. Even though the book was taken after Sleeping Beauty, I didn't feel like McKinley was limited by the fairy tale; it provides a basis for the plot, but it really isn't the same story. The ending was not at all what I had expected, and it fit perfectly. The characters in the novel were probably the best thing about it. All of them were realistic and had depth. Overall, I would recommend the book, but not if your mind easily wanders. It can take some effort to keep your attention focused on the book sometimes.
Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: I was captivated from the very begining. McKinley's writing is magical, detailed, weaving a world of magic and romance that kept me interested throughout the entire book. She gave her characters depth and feeling, and lent an originality and unique twist to the much loved fairy tale, making it an entirely engrossing and exciting read. Having read only a couple of her books, I was a bit uncertain whether I would like Spindle's End, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book is definitely one of my favorites!!
Rating:
Summary: This book is awesome!
Review: This book is one of my favorites!! It's a beautiful retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it's changed in a way that makes it even better!! I love it!! If you like fairy tales you'll love this book!! It's a dream come true!!
Rating:
Summary: Better the second time around
Review: I just re-read "Spindle," a year after it first came out, and I found it much more enchanting the second time around. (The same thing happened to me with McKinley's "Rose Daughter.") I think maybe her books are so rich, so multi-layered, so different from our 2001 modern world, that the first time you read each of them your head is literally spinning and you feel a bit dizzy and overwhelmed. The second time around, the characters and the setting are familiar (not so dazzlingly strange), and you can relax a little and enjoy it more. If, like me, you found this a tiny bit disappointing on your first read, try it again!
Rating:
Summary: not the best
Review: Spindle's End wasn't Robin Mckinley's best book but then again i never have really liked her fairy tales. The story was kind of confusing at times because there were so many characters. It was also too long and could have been shortened without so many descriptions of animals and her life. The ending was unrealistic but quite satisfiying. Overall the book was ok.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps to much poetic prose
Review: Although I did like the book, it lacked the straightforwardness that Beauty has always had. As McKinley has written more and more books, her descriptive talents have grown. I saw it starting to happen in Rose Daughter, but it culminated in Spindle's End- her descriptive elements overrode the book. I found myself thinking, "Get on with it!" as I read and fighting the urge to skip ahead for the first time. Even though I genuinely adored Rosie, I also agree with other reviewers- I saw too much of McKinley's other heroines in Rosie's character.
Rating:
Summary: As rich and elegant as any fairy tale princess.
Review: McKinley, in the way only she can, takes readers to new heights, as illustrated by Spindle's End's predecessors, Rose Daughter and Beauty. With Spindle's End, the secondary characters are not only the forest animals but also the land itself. But unlike Rose Daughter and Beauty, magic is also a most intricate part of the story, which can trip up younger readers or less imaginative ones. It is not an easy read, and McKinley's verbosity makes it difficult to read simply for the pleasure of reading -- readers instead must engross themselves fully to the story (no television or phone calls during a chapter -- you'll become completely lost). Spindle's End is thoughtful, thoroughly engaging and delightful in every way.
Rating: 
Summary: McKinley-Lite
Review: Continuing her tradition of respinning familiar fairy tales, McKinley's latest novel, "Spindle's End" is an original and delightful take on the Sleeping Beauty myth. However, in typical McKinley fashion, the focus of her concern is less the royal preparations and worries surrounding Briar-Rose (here, Rosie's) singular curse, but around Katriona, the fairy who becomes Rosie's foster mother, and Rosie's provincial tom-boyish life. This behind-the-scenes look at the popular tale is at once sweet and exciting, as Rosie gains the ability to talk to animals (less campy than it originally sounds), both she and Katriona fall in love with the men of their town (if not their dreams), and we are introduced to such memorable characters as Aunt, Narl, and Peony.The only difficulty with the novel rests in its final forty pages, which - in a dreamlike style that seems to be inevitable in these retold fairy tales - attempts to explain the defeat of the evil fairy Pernicia in actions which are mostly incomprehensible. Parents might also find some difficulty in the second "wake-up kiss" (the first being rather more interesting), which is between Rosie and Peony. The moment is brief, and non-homoerotic, however may cause some consternation on the part of young American readers, especially. The conclusion is apparent from about midway through the book, if one is in the least familiar with McKinley's idea of what "happily ever after" means. But niggling quibbles aside, Spindle's End is a truly charming tale, told in those sweet, swift strokes of which McKinley is a master. Those who preferred her recent "darker" books may find this a slight disappointment. But those who enjoyed "Beauty," and McKinley's earlier books will most certainly enjoy "Spindle's End."
Rating:
Summary: Not McKinley's best
Review: Ok, I'll be honest--McKinley is my all-time, favorite author. Her tales have a way of drawing me in every single time I read them, and I have lost count how many times I have done so for "Hero and the Crown" and "Deerskin." However, as much as I truly enjoyed this book, it only took me about five hours total to finish it. It was in the tradition of "Beauty," and "Rose Daughter," yet it somehow didn't capture my attention like the two of them did. Rosie, the heroine, seemed almost like a two-dimensional copy of Aerin or Honor (Beauty in "Rose Daughter") but without the depth and emotion. I just couldn't believe her character as fully as some of McKinley's others, and it was obvious very early on how the romance was going to develop. I instantly knew how wrong Rosie was in her original impression of Narl. However, for anyone who has not read McKinley's former works, this would still be an incredible book. It is only in comparison with McKinley's other tales that this one pales. And for die-hard McKinley fans such as myself, please still read it. It is a fun tale, and if it seems a little far-fetched and yet too familiar at the same time, ignore it and enjoy a new tale by an incredible author.
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