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Summary: Spindle's End: Not what you'd expect
Review: Readers and fans alike will no doubt find this book to be totally enjoyable. The themes from previous McKinley books are there: human-animal connections, evil to be overcome for the good of all, and love where you would least expect it, but it's the heroine's self-discovery that draws me in. The quality of the story, unprecidented in our literature that contains weak female roles, comes also from the strong female main character (typical McKinley), where our heroine overcomes the greatest of tragedies with an unexpected strength not entirely unexpected of her. McKinley fans will relive the magical experiences not unlike "Hero" and "Blue Sword" where the human-animal connection is the factor that tips the scale for ridding the world of evil beings. Delightful!
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Summary: Fun but shallow
Review: This book is loads of fun (I read it in one sitting) but it isnoticeably more shallow than RMcK's previous works. Others havedescribed it as "light", which may be a kinder description of the same complaint.In particular, McKinley seemed to labor more to develop (or underdevelop) the human characters - the animals were much more vividly sketched and perhaps she just enjoyed them to a greater degree. Some of the tertiary human characters were quite flat compared to those in other books. Overall, the novel lacks the compact, seamless intensity of Deerskin and Hero/Blue Crown. But it gets 4 stars for many terrific moments and an overall good read.
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Summary: Fairy-tale fantasy at its best
Review: This is a beautifully written retelling, with delightfully original variations, of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. I found it to be every bit as good as "Beauty" and "The Outlaws of Sherwood." The heroine is not your traditional sort of princess. Cursed on her name-day by the wicked fairy Pernicia, she is carried off by the apprentice fairy Katriona and brought up in a remote area of the country as an ordinary village girl called Rosie. She is strong-willed and intelligent, cuts her hair short, wears trousers, and becomes a horse doctor after apprenticing herself to the smith Narl. Rosie has the gift of beast-speech, or the ability to communicate with animals. And Robin McKinley certainly has a gift for the portrayal of animals (my favorite is Flinx the cat); she seems to know exactly what the various birds and beasts would say if they could talk. Rosie has a great many animal friends -- cats, dogs, foxes, bears, robins, horses, cows, otters, badgers, et al. -- who play a very important part in the story. The happy ending involving the kiss is, well, not quite the same as the traditional one. Read "Spindle's End," enjoy an enchanting story, and find out what happens. This is fairy-tale fantasy at its best.
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Summary: Perfect Fantasy
Review: In this book, one can truly feel like you are there in the character's position.
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Summary: Slightly disappointed ...
Review: I am one of those people referred to by Elythia who like McKinley's more "difficult" books as well as her earlier ones, but it isn't the return to the more light-hearted themes that made me feel a little let down after reading "Spindle's End". Truthfully, I didn't find "The Hero and The Crown" or "The Blue Sword" all that frivolous, myself. What has always appealed to me in McKinley's work is how very individual the people, animals, and locations are. I may not be able to remember the name of Aerin's horse today, but I certainly know him as an individual, from his slightly greedy nature to his proud courage and his moving slightly short behind. I know how Damar smells, and I would know Rose Cottage with my eyes shut ... So, why do I feel as if "Spindle's End" is just an outline for a much deeper book? The people, animals, and places seemed more like sketches than finished characters. I liked Rosie, especially that her nature refused to be channeled into "beautiful Princess in hiding", but I really didn't see enough of her to know, for example, why Fast was willing to run himself to death for her, if necessary. Nor was there enough of who Fast is (other than slightly shallow and fast) to see where this slightly brainless horse would pull the courage from that he used in fleeing Pernicia. And Peony never really existed to me except as a foil for Rosie, and surely she had to have been more than that! As usual, McKinley writes beautifully, and there are moments of brilliance, but I never really felt as if I was in this nameless country of magic the way I do with the other books. It all seemed a rather well made Potemkin Village, and the people and animals merely walk-ons ...
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Summary: Lovely
Review: From my observations of the Amazon customer reviews, and conversations with my own acquaintances, I have the distinct impression that readers of Robin McKinley's novels can be divided into two categories: those who love both her older works (Beauty, et. al.) and the newer, and those who hate Deerskin and Rose Daughter. Let me say that I'm part of the former, but I think that Spindle's End will appeal to both groups. Why? Just saying that it's a beautifully written novel isn't enough, I guess. It combines some elements familiar from early McKinley works (the unconventional hero(ine), the surprising spin on well-known stories) with aspects of the later (beautiful, lyrical prose, a surprising (yet satisfying) ending). But all of these elements, familiar as they are, combine to create a novel that is unique. If you've enjoyed anything by Robin McKinley, buy this book. You'll find something to love. Also--and this isn't a part of the plot at all, so it's not really a spoiler--I was very happy to read that Lissar and Ossin are still happily raising fleethounds.
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Summary: A charming book
Review: Robin McKinley established herself as a fairy tale author with her first book, "Beauty," over 20 years ago. Her growth as a writer is evident in her new tome, "Spindle's End." McKinley leaves behind Beauty and the Beast, which she has developed in two novels, to explore the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. The story developments are surprising at times but work well in her original treatment. The famous kiss which appears in the most popular versions of the tale is presented here with a new twist. The characters are charming and quirky. I was sorry when the book reached its conclusion and Rosie's story ended. McKinley has returned to the lighter touch evident in "Beauty" so this book can be recommended to readers of all ages. Books from McKinley are often years in the waiting for her fans. This book was well worth the wait. For a completely different treatment of the same tale, I also recommend Jane Yolen's "Briar Rose."
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Summary: Entertaining
Review: This book is one step away from becoming a masterpiece. While highly entertaining and inventive, there are parts that drag. And the conclusion is so thick with description that it's hard to keep track of just what is going on with the castle. Still, it's a delicious twist on Sleeping Beauty, with a likeable heroine. The characters are well done, though they're outclassed by the animals. And the central theme--of making our own choices despite prophecies, is magnificently done. It's not a book I could read over and over again, but it's still a great book definitely worth reading.
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Summary: Charming story.
Review: This re-telling of Sleeping Beauty adds depth of character and vivid details to flesh out the old fairy tale with fun and charming fantasy about what might have really happened to the princess between the naming-day when she is cursed, and her twenty-first birthday, when the evil witch intends to kill her -- and this lady "does" evil very well! The beginning chapters are bogged down by the author's heavy use of parenthetical interjections to explain background, which perhaps works if you are reading aloud to someone younger, but rapidly becomes annoying otherwise (where was the editor?!). Part Five at the end likewise drags, not from the parentheticals (which fade out about a quarter of the way into the book), but from excessive narrative in what ought to be riveting action. Still, if you finish it, you will be glad you did, because the book leaves you with a smile and a sense of satisfaction about characters you feel you have come to know and like.
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Summary: spindles end rocks!
Review: this was definately the best version of sleeping beauty I have ever read. Alternately told from the princess' young rescuer, reluctant fairy Katrina, and the princess herself, Rosie; this story is fascinating. It begins with the traditional story, the princess' birth, and the curse by the evil fairy now known as Pernicia. It continues over Rosie's first 21 years, covering important childhood events, and the all important revelation of her true identity as princess. McKinley introduces Peony, Rosie's best friend, who will have an important role in the princess' fate. The handsome, fairy tale prince enters the tale, this time as an apprentice to Narl, the village blacksmith whom Rosie is apprenticed to. The prince might not be the one to save the princess, though.......... As the good battles the evil, surprising twists come to the surface. Readers will be caught up in the mystery and magic of this book.
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