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Spindle's End

by Robin McKinley

A hidden princess and a familiar fairy-tale curse

Critically Recognized
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Booklist starred review

    Booklist gave the novel a starred review and described it as a “spellbinding novel.”

AlbakiReads Editorial

A hidden princess and a familiar fairy-tale curse

Robin McKinley retells “Sleeping Beauty” through the story of Briar-Rose, known as Rosie, whose identity is concealed while she grows up in a village. Katriona, a young fairy, helps raise and protect her, but Rosie’s future is shadowed by a curse involving a spinning wheel and a search led by Pernicia, the powerful fairy who cast it. The village setting, fairy guardians, and animals of the realm broaden the tale beyond the princess’s fate, while keeping protection and the threat of discovery at its center. The familiar fairy-tale elements are reworked around the question of how Rosie can be kept safe from a danger she does not know about.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in retellings of classic fairy tales, especially “Sleeping Beauty.”
  • Teens and young adults seeking fantasy with fairies, magic, and a concealed royal identity.
  • Readers who enjoy stories involving protective bonds and a looming curse.

Themes

Fairy-tale retellingHidden identityProtection and guardianshipCurses and magic

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Uncover a hidden tale of magic and enchantment in this "brilliant" (The New York Times Book Review) retelling of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.

"Full of humor and romance as well as magic and adventure . . . A spellbinding novel."--Booklist, starred review

A princess in hiding

All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess Briar-Rose, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Some unknown time in the future, Rosie would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep from which no one could rouse her.

Katriona is the princess's kidnapper--and savior. A young fairy, she is apprenticed to and lives with her aunt in the small village of Foggy Bottom. The two of them raise the princess as if she were their own in order to protect her. No other human, not even Rosie herself, knows her true identity.

But Pernicia is looking for her, and Pernicia is formidably powerful and tirelessly intent on revenge for a defeat four hundred years old. Two village fairies and all the animals in the realm may not be able to save Rosie. . . .
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.