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Spindle Fire

(Spindle Fire #1)

Lexa Hillyer (Goodreads Author)

3.46 · Rating details · 3,007 ratings · 661 reviews

A kingdom burns. A princess sleeps. This is no fairy tale.

It all started with the burning of the spindles.

No.

It all started with a curse

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the kings headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. ...more

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Kindle Edition, 351 pages

Published April 11th 2017 by HarperCollins

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Rating details

· 3,007 ratings · 661 reviews

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Aug 19, 2017 Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, retellings

2.5 ish?
SO MUCH POTENTIAL
This seems to be a recent trend where I'm super excited to read books because they sound amazing and then I actually read them and I'm like ????? WHY. Unfortunately, this was the case here. UGH.

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Jun 30, 2016 Natalie Monroe rated it it was ok

Shelves: not-as-good-as-i-expected, boooring, typical, arc, cheesy-cheesy-cheesy, dragged-on-too-much, when-sparks-don-t-fly, i-spy-something-pointy, razor-sharp-wheels

2.5 stars

"One night reviled, before break of morn, amid the roses wild, all tangled in thorns, the shadow and the child together were born. The bright sun did spin, the moon swallowed day, when one her dear twin forever did slay."

What happens in Spindle Fire, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, you ask? Here's the short version:

Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora: Omg, we love each other!

Isabelle: I would do anything for you!

Aurora: I would do anything for you!

Evil government agent: Isabelle, we're ...more

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Nov 16, 2016 Adam Silvera rated it it was amazing

I love this gorgeous fantasy novel, the first of two books. I thought it was going to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling with a couple twists but instead it's a strong reimagining that includes badass faeries, a narwhal attack that still gives me chills, a dream world with frights, and a tale of sisterhood. This is Aurora like you've never seen her before, along with a sister Isabelle you've never met. Pumped for the sequel! If you're a fan of Marissa Meyer's HEARTLESS or the faeries in books by ...more

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Jun 27, 2016 Andreea Pop marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-love

May we please take a step back and appreciate the glorious beauty of this cover? 'Kay.

And SJM and Bardugo?!? SAY NO MORE.

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Oct 23, 2017 Debra rated it really liked it

3.5 stars

"If this is what it means to be a true princessmaking difficult decisions that could risk uncountable livesshes gladder than ever that she isnt one."

Fantasy, Fairy tale, curses, magic, warring queens, sisters, etc.

This book is a retelling of sleeping beauty but with the Author's own spin on the tale.

Isabelle and Aurora are half sisters. Isabelle is the illegitimate child of their father's. Her sight was tithed by fairies. Aurora is the legitimate daughter who had her sense of touch and 3.5 stars

"If this is what it means to be a true princess—making difficult decisions that could risk uncountable lives—she’s gladder than ever that she isn’t one."

Fantasy, Fairy tale, curses, magic, warring queens, sisters, etc.

This book is a retelling of sleeping beauty but with the Author's own spin on the tale.

Isabelle and Aurora are half sisters. Isabelle is the illegitimate child of their father's. Her sight was tithed by fairies. Aurora is the legitimate daughter who had her sense of touch and voice tithed by fairies, The sisters are close and have developed their own way of communicating with each other. They spend their days together until news comes that Aurora will marry a neighboring prince. Tragedy happens as it often does in fairy tales and her prince does not arrive. Then it is announced that Isabelle is to be sent away. In one day their entire lives are changed forever. Both sisters go their way.

Soon Auror pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep. Only the kiss from a true love can awaken her. Sounds familiar right? This is where things get interesting. Isabelle attempts to save her sister. I don't want to give too much away but their is romance, adventure, fairies, etc. What is also nice is the atmosphere in the book. It is also very much a character. The Author does a great job at creating atmosphere and describing locations, events, etc. This really helps to set the mood and to help the reader visualize the happenings in this mood.

The bond of the sisters is really the gem here...well that and the beautiful writing. I also liked how the sister never let their disadvantages( i.e. blindness, inability to speak) get in their way. They are both strong in their own right but I have to say that Isabelle stole the show for me. I enjoyed her part of the story so much more than that of her sisters.

There were times when I wanted to hurry this book up a little. Long passages of writing where I thought it would have been nicer to have more actions but overall I enjoyed this book. There is going to be another book in the series so that might explain how this one ended.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com ...more

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Apr 08, 2017 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: r2r-read, netgalley-edelweiss, young-adult, romance, love-triangle, fantasy, retelling, read-2017

(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

This was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, featuring Aurora and her illegitimate half-sister Isabelle.

Aurora and Isabelle were both strong characters, and both managed to do well despite the senses that had been taken from them. I felt quite sorry for both Isabelle and Aurora when it came to light exactly how they had lost their sight/sense of touch respectively, although Isabelle probably got the worse end ...more

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Jun 14, 2017 Suzanne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Had some good moments but to be honest I found my concentration roaming during a lot of this book. If you like fairytale retellings a lot than check this book out for sure.

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May 13, 2016 Jess marked it as to-read

Update: 28/06/2016

COVER!

I'm praying for zero romance and hella sister dynamics.

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Aug 17, 2017 Red_Queen_Lover rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, re-tellings, would-die-for, can-always-reread

** There are Spoilers in here****
This book was so creative and detailed I didn't want it to end.
I enjoyed the imagination and creativity in this book. I mean, Fae who TITHE the powers from the princesses instead of giving?? I would have never thought of a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty to be like this.
In this re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, we have Aurora and her bastard half-sister, Isabelle or Isbe.
Aurora's mother hates Isbe because it reminds her of the kings first love, causing her jealousy to ** There are Spoilers in here****
This book was so creative and detailed I didn't want it to end.
I enjoyed the imagination and creativity in this book. I mean, Fae who TITHE the powers from the princesses instead of giving?? I would have never thought of a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty to be like this.
In this re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, we have Aurora and her bastard half-sister, Isabelle or Isbe.
Aurora's mother hates Isbe because it reminds her of the kings first love, causing her jealousy to become hate towards Isbe. At Aurora's christening, the Fae Claudine had given her Beauty in exchange for her voice. Almandine took her sense of touch for beauty (her parents agreed because not feeling pain would be the best for their daughter, even though not all touch is painful). Malfleour (who's basically the Maleficent in this re-telling), comes to the christening to tithe Auroras youth. Her parents refuse for her to even get near Aurora, causing Malfleour to curse her with the original curse of Sleeping Beauty. Violette, who tithes eyesight, changed the curse so that wat Aurora could be awoken by true loves kiss, but wanted her eyesight in return. The parents trick Violette and give her Isbe for her to tithe her eyesight instead of Aurora. Later on, over the years, Aurora and Isbe create a language controlled by how many times they tap into each other's hands
Years later, Isbe and Aurora are caught eavesdropping on the court and learn that Prince Philip and his younger brother have been murdered. The court is furious and reveals their plans to have Isbe taken away, which would have originally happened the day after the wedding, but since the Princes have died and Isbe has gotten into trouble again, they carry out their plans then and there.
Gilbert is Isbe's lifelong friend and is in love with her despite her obliviousness. They've only kissed once, which had been a delightful accident according to Isbe. Gil is ecstatic that Isbe is getting sent away because he too had to leave. He convinces Isbe to run off with him and she agrees. Before she leaves, Aurora and she have an argument which causes Isbe to leave a few short hours later.
The night of Auroras birthday, she heads out into the woods hoping to find tracks of where Isbe has gone. She gets lost and settles into a cottage. She notices strange objects in the cottage such as a Spindle wheel which belonged to Malfleours twin sister, Belcour who she had slain.
Aurora accidentally touches the spindle wheel and FEELS it. She's thrown into a world where she can speak and touch and feel, which causes her to be overwhelmed in the best way possible. She meets Heath who saves her countless times throughout the book. The rest of her kingdom sleeps while she does.
Meanwhile, Isbe finds about the sleeping sickness, where whoever touches or becomes near the princess falls into a deep sleep close to death, and sets out to find the youngest prince who will awaken her sister with true loves kiss. Binks, the Fae who tithes luck, cheats Gil in a game of cards causing Gil's luck to be taken away. When shipwrecked, Isbe cannot find Gil and has to set out on her own. Eventually, she does find the prince and they set out to help her sister. Sooner or later, Pince William falls for Isbe and proposes. She declines, insisting that her sister will awake and marry him. The story ends with William kissing Aurora and nothing happening, causing Isbe to accept his proposal. ...more

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Aug 07, 2017 Mike and Becca (Books and Looks) rated it it was ok

Shelves: becca-s-books

I am a huge Sleeping Beauty fan and this book did not hit the mark for me. I wanted so much to love this story but the plot is strung out and the characters are not likable. The story revolves around two sets of sisters-Aurora and Isbe (whose adventures we follow) and Malfour and Belcour (the fairies responsible) so you think this will be a tale of sisterly love and family. Let me tell you-it is not. There is no family present and everyone has resentment and hates each other the whole book.

Its ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 rachel ☾ rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-star, paranormal-fantasy, retelling, rep-dis-nd-ci-mi

Spindle Fire was a really different read and I am still not quite sure exactly what I think of it. There were certain elements and characters that I loved reading about and others that just did not work for me. I know that the majority of the readers DNFed this one but the more I read, the more I found myself getting into the story, and by the end, I was completely engaged and into the story so as a whole, I guess it was kind of midline? I dont know!

I think the reason a lot of readers didnt Spindle Fire was a really different read and I am still not quite sure exactly what I think of it. There were certain elements and characters that I loved reading about and others that just did not work for me. I know that the majority of the readers DNFed this one but the more I read, the more I found myself getting into the story, and by the end, I was completely engaged and into the story… so as a whole, I guess it was kind of midline? I don’t know!

I think the reason a lot of readers didn’t enjoy this one was because the plot was all over the place and the pacing was quite iffy. I think that was mainly because of the weak beginning. It really affected my enthusiasm to get into the story, especially because the author’s writing style at this point was very clunky and full of information-heavy sections. We had to wade through some very dense and tedious passages to get to the meat of the story and it was hard to devote the energy to do that when we barely knew all the details we needed to understand the story’s context. We were very much thrown in the deep end and the little information we knew about Deluce, the sisters’ home country (which they are meant to be the princesses of), made it hard to feel grounded in story. The protagonists’ ‘escape’, which was meant to get the story going, felt rushed and random. I was honestly not very engaged in the story until Isabelle and William’s stories intertwined.

My favourite aspect of Spindle Fire was undoubtedly Isabelle. I enjoyed her plotline much, much more than Aurora’s storyline. I’ve always been a sucker for journey adventures between an unlikely pair, especially when they dislike each other despite the obvious sexual tension between them. This trope is such a guilty pleasure of mine and William and Isabelle made such a great duo. I was engaged and invested in Isabelle’s unyielding desire to save her sister, no matter what the consequences may be, and found her easy to root for. I was also surprised to find myself attached to William almost immediately. I adored his sense of humour and his sense of duty to his kingdom. I wanted to read more about how he planned to defend his home country (which I am hoping will be a major focal point in the sequel) so I was able to fly through Isabelle’s chapters very easily.

While Aurora’s plotline was not nearly as captivating, I did like that her arc brought out the retelling aspects of the story. I loved that Hillyer was able to draw in so many elements of both Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland while making sure her world remained unique. My biggest problem with Aurora’s storyline was the fact that the entire Borderlands situation - or whatever that place was called - was not particularly well described or developed. I struggled to tie the Malfleur backstory with what was happening to Aurora and the significance of the ‘clues’ was lost on me. I didn’t really understand what made the Night Faerie (whose name is completely slipping my mind) so powerful or what the point of the Impressions was or how they connected to everything else. This was probably only problematic because of how undeveloped the fae lore was in general. The author mentioned tithes numerous times and implied that this was the ‘type’ of magic that faeries held but the details of it were confusing. Did tithing mean they had the ability to ‘steal’ a particular something from humans, like their luck or sense of smell? How does this work? If they are born fae, why is magic dwindling? I really struggled to wrap my mind around these details and I would have appreciated more information about it in the story, especially to clear up the Malfeur/Nigth Faerie subplot.

I was also not as invested in Aurora’s relationship with Heath as I wanted to be. Heath did not have much personality and I found it hard to connect with him, let alone ship him with Aurora. I did like that he was unwilling to accept his imprisonment and actively tried to find a way out but there was not enough substance to him for me to truly care about him. The situation with Wren - and the implied love triangle - was entirely unnecessary. It just added drama where there did not need any to be.

Overall?

Once I got into this story, I did enjoy it. I had a lot of problems with Aurora’s storyline and the development of the fae lore but this was mostly balanced out by my love of Isabelle and William. I liked seeing a different kind of retelling play out and I have high hopes for the sequel since this story reached an exciting point by the end. I am eager to see what Hillyer will take our characters next. I definitely want more Isabelle and William!

Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 nat. added it · review of another edition

One night reviled, Before break of morn, Amid the roses wild, All tangled in thorns, The shadow and the child Together were born.

everyone gets a broken heart here, including me. yay! ...more

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Sep 30, 2016 Beth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, fantasy, fairies-fae, fairies, ya, fae, teen, fairy, fairy-tale, arc

Two sisters, close even against the odds, until Aurora blood causes her to be swept away to an alternate world where she meets Heathwhile Aurora appears to sleep in this world.

Isabelle wants to save her sister. She finds everyone in the palace has a sleeping sickness and she must go in search for a prince that can wake Aurora and hopefully save the day from the evil fae Malfleur.

Malfleur is a faerie, building an army to take LaMorte, Aurora and Isabelle's kingdom, after she killed her twin, the ...more

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Feb 18, 2017 Jessica (The Psychotic Nerd) marked it as dnf

Shelves: pov-multiple, books-by-authors-i-ve-read-before, harper, fantasy, read-in-2017, released-in-2017

Gave up on Page 155

So, this was a case of "it's not you, it's me". I started this book during a stressful time. It was the week before finals, I had lots of big projects due, and I was leaving for a trip that weekend. I did not finish it before the trip and since I checked this book out from the library, I left it at home (I did not want to take a library book across state lines). By the time I got back, I just couldn't get back into the book. I had so many other books that I wanted to read ...more

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Apr 07, 2017 Jesse Nicholas rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-books, fantasy

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer
Published by HarperCollins on April 11th 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 351
Format: ARC
LINKS: Good Reads | Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository

Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer is a uniquely told retelling of the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. I can honestly say I went in with low expectations and walked away with a great story that was both visually and mentally appealing to read.

The Good

Unique Retelling

I've read many fairy tale retellings in my time ...more

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Jun 29, 2016 Lilly (Lair Of Books) rated it liked it

Shelves: egalley, fantasy-re-telling, 2017-reads, ya-fantasy

My full review can also be found on my blog LairOfBooks
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/

HUGE thanks to HarperCollins, Edelweiss, and Lexa Hillyer for the ARC copy of Spindle Fire.

PLOT

A dark tale is spun in Spindle Firewhen baby Aurora is born, the last of the powerful faeries that used to rule the land pay the kingdom a visit. They bestow certain gifts of beauty & grace in exchange for tithing her voice and sense of touch. The King & Queen accept these tithes but it is when the My full review can also be found on my blog LairOfBooks
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/

HUGE thanks to HarperCollins, Edelweiss, and Lexa Hillyer for the ARC copy of Spindle Fire.

PLOT

A dark tale is spun in Spindle Fire…when baby Aurora is born, the last of the powerful faeries that used to rule the land pay the kingdom a visit. They bestow certain gifts of beauty & grace in exchange for tithing her voice and sense of touch. The King & Queen accept these tithes but it is when the Faerie Queen interrupts & asks for the child’s youth that they draw the line. The Queen then places the curse of death on Aurora by her 16th birthday. It is her half sister’s involuntary sacrifice that offers up some hope, Isabelle’s sight is tithed by another fairy who claimed she could reverse the curse & instead of dying…Aurora would one day be put into a deep sleep…

As preparations are made for Aurora’s wedding, plans are also being made to send Isabelle away since she is viewed as troublesome. Isabelle who is very much a free spirit makes a run for it with her best friend & love interest Gil who worked in the castle. Aurora hears of Isabelle running away & decides to go and look for her. She stumbles upon a cottage with a Spindle & whelp we all know how the story goes lol. I appreciated the turn this story took in originality. After Aurora pricks her finger she finds herself in an another world created by the Faerie Queen’s sister. So, it’s not like she just asleep the duration of the story, she’s busy in her sleep trying to get some answers. It is within Aurora’s dream world that we get to know the story of Malfleur (Faerie Queen) and her twin sister Belcoeur…

CHARACTERS

Aurora & Isabelle are our MC’s, they are half sister’s with a language all of their own making. Since Isabelle is blind she communicates and Aurora is mute, the communicate via a series of taps on each other’s hands. They’ve had years to perfect their way of communication and can easily finish each others thoughts. Although they are half sister’s, Aurora is the daughter to the Queen and therefore is treated as a royal. Isabelle on the other hand receives less than royal treatment & is viewed by the court as trouble for her rebellious nature. Since this story is told in alternating first person POV chapters, we get to know these girls and their individual traits. Aurora loves romance novels that end with the prince swooping in & Isabelle can’t fathom the idea of being tied down by anyone. The sister’s are complete opposites, Aurora knows she was born to marry into royalty and is OK with that. Isabelle on the other hand would rather be chasing the next adventure far away from the castle. I was much more a fan of Isabelle, her chapters were def more exciting and even her approach to love seemed more realistic. We get introduced early on to Isabelle’s best friend Gil who is also her “love interest” and theirs is a complicated relationship. It seems like Isabelle has love for Gil more so than actually being in love with Gil. Later on in the story she meets the one that makes her question her actual feelings. I appreciated that her feelings were made known from the start of the story & it made for a more interesting progression. Now I can’t say the same about Aurora’s love interest which felt like a bad case of insta-love. I say this because typically insta-love doesn’t really bother me but I guess when contrasted against Isabelle’s, it stood out more in a bad way. I actually really enjoyed the Faeries that were introduced and their dark history. Perhaps more than Aurora & Isabelle’s story line, I looked forward to learning more of Malfleur & Belcouer. The faeries may have played the role of supporting characters yet it felt at times that they held the real meat of the story. I hope that the sequel sees more from these dark magical beings that once ruled the land.

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m a sucker for all things Sleeping Beauty, probably because she’s the princess who I feel got the bad end of the stick. She doesn’t have little birds cleaning & sewing her clothes while she sings. She doesn’t get talking tea cups & kettles to keep her company or a vast library to sulk in. No, she legit gets put to sleep & laid to rest in a glass case while the 7 dwarfs try to get her true loves kiss *major eye roll* LOL! so it’s safe to assume that Spindle Fire caught my immediate interest. I loved the darker tones in this re-telling & the fact that Hillyer changed something that I for one could’ve done without in the original lol. However, Spindle Fire was told from Aurora & Isabelle’s POV’s and if i’m being honest, I found myself enjoying Isaeblle’s chapters way more than Aurora’s. It wasn’t until the last chapters that Aurora won me over & by then I kind of felt short changed. This may just be my preference however, I will say that even with this holding me back, the pacing was on point with non-stop action. The world building was A+ particularly the faeries and their fall from positions of power as well as their need to tithe. This re-telling is unique, creative, and the story itself was enjoyable but it may be just be a case of writing style that made this a 3 star read for me. Spindle Fire is told in present tense/third person POV which makes for an awkward reading experience. I see tons of ways this story can go & have some wishes for it myself. I’d love to see more of Aurora reclaiming this re-telling & more of the faeries in this world in the sequel to come. The ending sets up the groundwork for book 2 nicely which means that yes, I will be reading the sequel ;)

...more

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Jun 28, 2016 Susana marked it as to-read

Hope this will be more along the lines of Anna Sheehan's Spinning Thorns than Sarah J. Maas writing style...

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Feb 22, 2017 Jessie (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, owned-copy, tales-of-fae-and-faery-tales, coverlove, arc, edelweiss-arc, retellings-and-reinterpretations, 2017-reviews, 2017-reads

Wavering between 3.5 - 4 so this may change. But I enjoyed a lot about this :)

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May 28, 2017 Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own

REREAD:
Yeah I'm sorry. I still really like this book. It's cheesy and sweet and dark.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I am super shocked at how low this book is rated (3.35 stars as of me writing this) and how few ratings (412) there are for a YA fairytale retelling with a gorgeous cover and that was in a subscription book box.

Anyways...

Holy crap! I loved this book way more than I was anticipating. The love triangle was so well done and the sister's relationship that kinda mimicked the villain and her twin was ...more

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Dec 15, 2018 Jay G rated it liked it

Want to see more bookish things from me? check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

Aurora and Isabelle are half sisters and daughters to the King of Deluce. When they were young, the fairies tithed things from them in payment for the gifts they bestowed on them. Isabelle lost her sight and Aurora lost her sense of touch and her voice. One day, Aurora pricks her finger on a spindle and falls into a deep sleep and awakens in an alternate universe where she meets a ...more

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Nov 13, 2016 Angelina rated it did not like it

Shelves: angelina-s-finished-2016, 2017

Originally on Fable's Library

I received this arc from the publisher at New York Comic Con (Im not sure if Im supposed to acknowledge that or not(?) so Im putting it here anyways!) This doesnt make my views any different. Thank you!!!

What I Liked
Nothing *cries*

What I Didnt Like
-I wasnt a big fan of the writing in Spindle Fire. I usually love elegant, flowery writing but I felt like this was more telling you than showing you. That and the tense is what really bothered me most. Spindle Fire takes Originally on Fable's Library

I received this arc from the publisher at New York Comic Con (I’m not sure if I’m supposed to acknowledge that or not(?) so I’m putting it here anyways!) This doesn’t make my views any different. Thank you!!!

What I Liked
Nothing… *cries*

What I Didn’t Like
-I wasn’t a big fan of the writing in Spindle Fire. I usually love elegant, flowery writing but I felt like this was more telling you than showing you. That and the tense is what really bothered me most. Spindle Fire takes place in 1313 (I think), and it’s written in present tense. The author can do what she wants with the tense, that’s cool, but it kept taking me away from what was happening. I kept questioning why it was written like it was happening right now if it took place in the past. I think that might be the biggest reason why I didn’t like this book at all.
-I’m not sure what I was really expecting from Spindle Fire and I’m really not sure why I finished it either. From the very first page it was slow and boring. I hoped that eventually the story would pick up pace, I was hoping there’d be a battle, something ANYTHING to pick up the pace. But nothing came and the pages dragged on. I’m honestly surprised I stuck this book out until the end. And, actually, I’m kind of upset I did. I thought Spindle Fire was a standalone book and that everything would be solved by the end. But nope. There’s a second book and I don’t think anything was resolved at all. Ever. That made me hate the ending.

-I felt like a lot of the things in Spindle Fire were predictable, but I tend to see things coming before they happen all the time. I don’t think anything really surprised me.
-Another thing I didn’t like about Spindle Fire was the characters. I felt nothing for them, they didn’t impact me and I felt like they weren’t very developed? I don’t know, I just didn’t like them and I couldn’t bring myself to care for them.

Overall
-I’m sorry but I really don’t have anything positive to say about this one. Maybe I’m just not a big fan of retelling, who knows? I just thought it was slow, boring and had an awkward tense that I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy. ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 belle ✨ rated it it was ok

2/5 STARS

I truly thought I would adore this book. My love of retellings is no secret, and this one just looked and sounded so good. Everything about it seemed creative and unique and the first couple pages were interesting enough to keep reading.

And then everything just deteriorated.

description

I think most of what I disliked came down to the writing and execution of story. Because the story in theory was great. Sisters, a quest, magic, a dream world - perfect, right? But it was the execution of all this ...more

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Sep 02, 2017 Karina rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, royalties, magic, fantasy

If youve known me for quite a time then you probably know how excited I was for this book. Thats why when I was given a chance to have an early copy, I really couldnt hide my happiness. I was so so excited for this one but when I started I was immediately mildly disappointed for some reasons. And sad to say, this one goes to my most anticipated reads who let me down list.

My reactions for Spindle Fire went from Ooh what a poetic writing to This is so unbelievable and impossible to This is so ...more

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Mar 26, 2018 Shelley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-edelweiss, young-adult-fantasy, 2017-release, fairy-tales-folklore

*Source* Edelweiss
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Spindle Fire is the first installment in author Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire duology. Fairy-tale retellings are extremely hot in the YA market, and this is the tale of Sleeping Beauty like youve never seen it before. It has elements of Alice in Wonderland thrown in. Lexa has taken these familiar stories and twisted them into something completely new and different. This is a story about two very different sisters; ...more

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Mar 24, 2017 Meigan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fae-fairies-elves-pixies, magic-or-witchcraft-or-summoning, historical, retellings-and-reimaginings, young-or-new-adult, giveaways-or-promotional-copies, received-for-review, fantasy, kissing-books

Think you know the story of Sleeping Beauty? Think again. Spindle Fire is the story of Aurora, the princess who sleeps, and yes - she does prick her finger on the spinning wheel, and yes - a sleeping curse is set in motion. But that's where the old story ends, and Hillyer's new and fresh version begins. Complete with feuding fairie queens, dueling kingdoms, curses and magical realms, Spindle Fire is truly a unique story that takes the bare, familiar essentials from the classic story we know, and Think you know the story of Sleeping Beauty? Think again. Spindle Fire is the story of Aurora, the princess who sleeps, and yes - she does prick her finger on the spinning wheel, and yes - a sleeping curse is set in motion. But that's where the old story ends, and Hillyer's new and fresh version begins. Complete with feuding fairie queens, dueling kingdoms, curses and magical realms, Spindle Fire is truly a unique story that takes the bare, familiar essentials from the classic story we know, and weaves a fresh reimagining of Aurora and her brave and unfailingly loyal half-sister, Isbe.

I'm a huge fan of retellings, simply because I'm a huge fan of the original fairy tales that I've grown up with. There's always a risk involved with retellings - stay too close to the original, and it's feels old and tired. Stray too far from the original, and it seems like "retelling" is thrown in as a simple label for the sake of simply needing to add a label. Hillyer struck a fine balance with Spindle Fire, managing to incorporate many elements of the original, while managing to add not just a breath, but what felt like a tornado of freshness. By far, my most favorite part of this tale, and actually where Hillyer's uniqueness was most visible, was the character of Isbe, Aurora's half-sister. Brilliant, strong, independant, unfailingly loyal was Isbe. And speaking of strength, Aurora had every chance to be the often-standard, wishy-washy fair maiden princess, but again - Hillyer's penchant for exceptional characterization made sure she wasn't. Both sisters were incredibly resilient, possessing incredible strength both as a team and as individuals.

Aside from the characters, Hillyer's world(s) surrounding them was equally as inventive. Fairies, and their magic, run this world. These fairies aren't the Tinkerbell and glitter type, not at all. The ruling queen is exceptionally beautiful, and exceptionally dangerous, willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she wins the impending battle. There are other important fairies in play in the war, but Malfleur is the one who inspires the most fear. There is only one other fairie who has the potential to match Malfleur's magic, but that's where things get a little ... murky. There's a whole lot of magic at play in this mortal world, and there's also another world to contend with - a dream dimension, which is threatening the human inhabitants who are stuck there. Both worlds are in grave danger, and will remain so as long as the princess and her kingdom are cursed.

Bottom line - Spindle Fire was a phenomenal entry into the world of YA retellings. Fast-paced and full of surprises, I didn't want it to end. And end it did, on a rather tense and abrupt note. Highly recommended, and I certainly can't wait to see what Hillyer does with the sequel.

*Many thanks to the author for sending me a copy through a newsletter contest (I think?). ...more

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Jun 27, 2016 Brittany (The Book Addict's Guide/Novelly Yours) marked it as to-read

Shelves: ya, fantasy, 2017

I didn't like this author's previous book but I am very intrigued by this. It's on my list right now to read and I'll see how reviews start to come in before I pick it up.

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Oct 16, 2017 Lauren rated it really liked it

*3.5 stars rounded up to 4*

Fun fact: I love fairy tale retellings.

Therefore, when I was offered the chance to read and review Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire - pitched to me as perfect for fans of Malinda Lo's Ash (another AMAZING YA book - please check it out if you haven't already!), I instantly said yes.

The result? Intoxicating and spellbinding, Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire is an intricate take on Sleeping Beauty.

Spindle Fire introduces us to Isabelle and Aurora, two sisters that couldn't be *3.5 stars rounded up to 4*

Fun fact: I love fairy tale retellings.

Therefore, when I was offered the chance to read and review Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire - pitched to me as perfect for fans of Malinda Lo's Ash (another AMAZING YA book - please check it out if you haven't already!), I instantly said yes.

The result? Intoxicating and spellbinding, Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire is an intricate take on Sleeping Beauty.

Spindle Fire introduces us to Isabelle and Aurora, two sisters that couldn't be any more different. The child from the king's illegitimate affair, Isabelle has always been the unwanted child, only deemed useful by the king and queen when her sight was snatched and used to make her sister Aurora more appealing. Isabelle hasn't let it get her down, however; her bond with her sister is stronger than most, and she's always been known as the strong-willed, fearless, and albeit slightly reckless daughter of the king. Aurora is quiet and reserved - two characteristics that aren't helped by her inability to speak and feel. However, there's more to her than just that - she has an incredible way of seeing things, and more importantly, describing them to her sister.

While I enjoyed getting to know both sisters, my favorite was Isabelle. I loved how adventurous and strong she was, how she would go to the end of the world to save her sister, no matter how bad things became. I also enjoyed the transformation Isabelle experienced. Prior to leaving the castle walls she’s never been completely alone, and while at first, she’s shaky about it, it turns out she has everything in her power to succeed. Aurora also experiences a transformation over the course of the book. Similar to her sister, Aurora’s never been truly alone – she’s grown used to have Isabelle communicate for her. Suddenly, given a voice as well as the ability of touch, she finds out that maybe everything she’s believed all her life – especially regarding her parent’s choices – weren’t necessarily the best.

The plot in Spindle Fire was another part I enjoyed. It was filled with adventure, sisterly bonds, and even a touch of romance. I especially enjoyed the wide range of settings and the challenges each presented. From the sea to the castle to the world Aurora is placed in, there wasn’t a time where I wasn’t fully immersed in the respective worlds, dying to know what would happen next. I also found it refreshing that while there was a sleight touch of romance for both Aurora and Isabelle it wasn’t a big focus of the book. I do hope, however, that we’ll see more of certain boys in the future – especially the uncertain fate of one.

Lastly, while Spindle Fire has adventure and romance, its heart consists of the bonds between sisters – how they can make or break you, and more importantly, that at the end of the day your life is up to you. I loved seeing two very different sister relationship over the course of Spindle Fire – the strong one between Aurora and Isabelle and the dark, twisted one between the Fae.

The only aspect that brought Spindle Fire down a little in my eyes is the same problem I saw with Heather Fawcett’s Even the Darkest Stars – the first book problem. A large portion of Spindle Fire revolved around setting up the world and the characters, and while I appreciated the time Lexa placed into this, there was a certain lack of spark that arose- a lack that never let me go from “really enjoying” to “outright loving.”

Regardless, Spindle Fire is perfect for fans of dark fairy tale retellings. I can’t wait for book #2. I have so many questions!

Grade: B+ ...more

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Apr 11, 2017 Anna (Enchanted by YA) rated it it was ok

Shelves: almost-dnf, coverly-love, beautiful-writing, review-copy, meh, arc

Its been a few days since I finished this book and while it didnt necessarily leave a lasting impression, the time spent reading it wasnt wasted. The story held immense potential which was let down by weaker plot points (view spoiler) and a lot of world-building info dumps. I appreciated being able to visualise and understand the different settings, but while ...more

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Mar 26, 2017 Tracy (Cornerfolds) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fantasy, retellings, ya, read-2017

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

If you know me at all, then you know I love retellings. Sleeping Beauty is one fairy tale that, sadly, doesn't seem to get much attention. (Maybe because Aurora is usually asleep through the whole thing?) So when I saw Spindle Fire several months back and the premise sounded original, I knew I had to have it!

Spindle Fire is a totally unique take on the Sleeping Beauty tale. Yes, Aurora does fall into a deep sleep, but that isn't the end for her. Instead Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

If you know me at all, then you know I love retellings. Sleeping Beauty is one fairy tale that, sadly, doesn't seem to get much attention. (Maybe because Aurora is usually asleep through the whole thing?) So when I saw Spindle Fire several months back and the premise sounded original, I knew I had to have it!

Spindle Fire is a totally unique take on the Sleeping Beauty tale. Yes, Aurora does fall into a deep sleep, but that isn't the end for her. Instead of the story being taken over by Prince Charming, Aurora wakes up in a dream world where her adventure continues. Aurora is also not the perfect, musical princess you know. In this retelling she has no voice and no sense of touch - both things given as tithes to the faeries. Aurora also has a sister, Isbe (Isabelle), who is blind for the same reason. Spindle Fire is told in alternating views between these two characters.

Both Aurora and Isbe were fantastic, strong characters! Although I've always been a little annoyed by the character Aurora (in the Disney movie and in the couple retellings I've found over the years), I loved her here. Despite finding herself in an unfamiliar and dangerous world, she manages to overcome, sometimes throwing herself straight into danger for the good of herself and others. Isbe is the first example of a blind character I've read who seemed realistic! Often, blind characters are written to have magical abilities to make up for their blindness, but Isbe was stronger because of it. And yes, I loved Prince William! The romance wasn't the main focus of Spindle Fire, but it was utterly swoon-worthy.

I also really enjoyed the world building in Spindle Fire. Like the characters and the plot, the world was (you guessed it) unique. There is no Maleficent. Instead, there's Malfleur, the faerie queen who cursed Aurora and is building an army. Her sister Belcoeur, who is assumed dead, has created a dream world and resides there. Both the real and dream worlds are beautifully described and obviously well thought out. The atmosphere is equal parts magical and unsettling.

The one complaint I have seen over and over about Spindle Fire is the writing style, and I have to admit it took me awhile to get into it. This book is written in third person present tense and it was definitely jarring at first. Once I got used to the style, though, I was able to enjoy it. My only other problem with Spindle Fire was that the story did seem to just mosey along quite a bit. There wasn't much urgency to a lot of the story.

Spindle Fire was not a perfect book, but it was an incredibly unique take on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale and it does a lot of things right. Anytime a story I think I know inside and out is able to surprise me, I call it a success! It wasn't an especially fast book, but Spindle Fire did keep me guessing and even threw a twist out of nowhere near the end that totally shook me! If you enjoy retellings, I definitely recommend picking this up and giving the strange writing style a chance. The unique story and characters are totally worth it!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars ...more

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Mar 18, 2017 Sage Knightly rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-and-edelweiss, arc

3.8

Spindle Fire is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, full of royalty and magic, curses and riddles. In it we follow two sisters, Aurora and Isabelle, daughters of the King and best friends. Half siblings or not, their love is real and pure, and they try their best to protect each other. This is their journey of being split apart, of trying to find their way back to each other. Sometimes they lose sight of their goals, their loved ones, but in the end, both would do whatever they can to protect 3.8

Spindle Fire is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, full of royalty and magic, curses and riddles. In it we follow two sisters, Aurora and Isabelle, daughters of the King and best friends. Half siblings or not, their love is real and pure, and they try their best to protect each other. This is their journey of being split apart, of trying to find their way back to each other. Sometimes they lose sight of their goals, their loved ones, but in the end, both would do whatever they can to protect those they love.

Comprised of multiple POVs (approximately nine) but mainly following that of the sisters, readers get a deeper sense of what is really going on. This is a captivating, engrossing, and quick read full of magic and twists you don't see coming (Gilbert). Sleeping beauty saves herself in this one as she struggles with greedy fae, compassion, lust, and luck. Richly written, this is a word you will find yourself lost in.

I love the characters. Their differences (blind, mute, unable to feel physically anything) do nothing to hinder their strong voices and personalities. They each make the best of their situations and I love them for being so strong. They all have their own role and even when we aren't sure what that role is, we can enjoy the perspective and personality that we are given.

"Aurora herself is still waiting to be released, in a way. Not from stone, of course, but from the long, silent hours of wondering, trapped in a world where she cannot speak and cannot feel." (18/263)

Romance, of course (I actually don't mind it, but one of the romances is a bit instant and it's more so telling not showing). I found it predictable, and perhaps not quite as rich as it could have been, but it was nonetheless enjoyable to read about and gave the story a twist for lovers of romance. There were good and bad moments, sacrifices and gifts. This is one you will find yourself invested in.

"He didn't want those thing from her, the things boys want from beautiful girls." (33/263)

"She always wondered what it would be like to light up from the inside, like some beautiful cry of warning." (80/263)

The writing is beautiful. It is full of quotable sentences and the world is painted so vividly through mere words. Everything jumps out at you, feeling alive and real.

"The evils here are no worse than the evils anywhere, I imagine. Why should I want to learn of another world, a vaster world, if it means regretting my whole life until now? Who wants to be made to loathe what they have? Small as it is, my life is mine." (88/263) Wren

"It is winter outside, and it is winter too, always, within her. Nothing can fill the void. Nothing satisfies the hunger. Nothing can take root, no matter how much sweetness she consumes." (101/263)

Overall, Spindle Fire is an engrossing, rich read full of brilliant characters and world building. ...more

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RWL Teen Book Club: This winter's read?	1	2	Dec 10, 2019 04:43PM
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Retellings

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Romance

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About Lexa Hillyer

Lexa Hillyer

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Hello! I'm the author of the YA fantasy duology Spindle Fire & Winter Glass, YA speculative contemporary Proof of Forever, and the upcoming YA contemporary Frozen Beauty. I also wrote the poetry collection Acquainted with the Cold, which won the 2012 Foreword Book of the Year Award. I'm one of the founders, and President of Publishing, at creative development company Glasstown Entertainment. I ...more

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“One night reviled, Before break of morn, Amid the roses wild, All tangled in thorns, The shadow and the child Together were born. The” — 3 likes

“You know, I used to love looking at the stars at night. I used to think they were put there to guide us. Now I know they are just watching and winking, mute observers, bemused by our failures and our loss.” — 1 likes

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