(I know this is old, but I'm finally working my way through my backlog of books - sorry!) Alix E. Harrow is a master of the modern fairy tale. I love everything they write, and they will always be an auto-buy for me. I don't usually read novellas, only because I like spending more time in the world, and I often feel like the story is left unfinished, like it should have been a full-length novel. This one was so well written, however, that it feels complete, and yet I didn't want the story to end. Definitely recommend!

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

A Spindle Splintered is one of my favorite reads in the genre. Full of adventure through fairy tale realms, this novella is a must read of you love re-tellings, the Disney Princesses, the Brothers Grimm, or any Sleeping Beauty iteration.

Description: It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no one has lived past twenty-one. Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.

This story grabbed me from the first page and did not let me go. I had to know how Zinnia got herself out of this mess and if this adventure changed her realities future. You will not regret picking up this book.

A short retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a twist. I enjoyed that it was short, I'm not sure if I'm interested enough to see where the rest of the series goes.

Zinnia has lived her entire life waiting for her looming premature death. Born with a degenerative disease caused by environmental toxins, she's known that her time is limited. On her 21st birthday, a Sleeping Beauty-themed party goes a bit askew, vaulting Zinnia into another world, with another young woman with a curse hanging over her head. Now she has to help this princess escape her fate while trying to get home.

This is described in the book and elsewhere as "Sleeping Beauty gets Spider-versed" and that's completely accurate. What that doesn't cover, however, is how fun and funny this girl-powered story is. I absolutely loved it and I'm definitely going to be recommending the heck out of this.

This fractured fairy tale retelling features a chronically ill dying girl obsessed with the story of Sleeping Beauty finds herself transported into a world of fairy tales-- but it's not quite what she expects. This was a fun twist on the Sleeping Beauty story from someone who clearly knows their stuff.

3.5 stars. A Spindle Splintered has a clever concept and is executed in a readable, interesting way that I devoured in basically the equivalent of one sitting. As someone who has always loved fairytales, I’m always interested in seeing new spins or alternate takes and this was definitely a solid one.

Zinnia Gray's story is unforgettable. Alix E. Harrow crafted a unique spin on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. She forged a story that originally came from princesses needing to be saved by handsome princes into a story of princesses with steel, princesses who can save themselves, and princesses who can help save each other. It's a beautiful tale that showcases characters that are delightfully complex. I especially loved the friendship between Zinnia and Charm and truly felt like it was such an accurate portrayal of what it feels like to have a best friend who would do anything for you.

And honestly, I love the idea of the Sleeping Beauty multiverse and need more of these stories. I will happily read them forever.

The multiverse and fairy-tales collide in this thrilling and feminist novella by Alix E. Harrow. In Alix E. Harrow’s capable hands, I know that this book, though short, will be an instant favorite.

I liked the femenist take on the witch idea in fairy tales. It was masterfully done. But some of the relationships and plot felt predictable.

3.5 out of 5 stars

I hadn't realized it at the time, but I seem to have been drawn to classics of one kind or another this month. A Spindle Splintered by Alex E. Harrow is sort of a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a touch definitely multiverse vibe and some interesting twist to the tale. It's cleverly done while pulling the reader into the story.

Beyond being invested in the story being told, most readers will think they know where things are going and how they will turn out. They will be wrong. Most of us have read at least one version of the story of Sleeping Beauty or seen the films (and there is a nod to her fairy godmothers fighting over the color of her gown) but there's also the darker version of Grimms and so many others.

In A Spindle Splinted, Zinnia "Zin" Gray is turning twenty-one and she knows she'll die soon—in days or weeks, not months or years. She contracted a rare auto-immune disease from contact with contaminated material from a corporation that wasn't as careful of their waste products as it should have been.

Zin tries to live on hope and, as a child, her favorite tale was Sleeping Beauty, with the prince who would come to save the sleeping princess from her curse. It was still her favorite tale and she has sought out as many versions of the story, light and dark, as she could find to read and study.

Zin's best friend, Charm, has stood by her forever it seems at times. Charm is determined to make this Zin's birthday special and knowing Zin's favorite tale, she'll make this, her probable last birthday, the best ever. It will be at an abandoned tower at the edge of town and Charm has buckets of roses and pretty lights to make it special, and a spindle. However, suddenly, near midnight, Zin feels ill, the world swirls, and she sees women like herself all different, yet nearly all the same in one way or another. One of the women seems to see her and the next thing Zin knows she's face down on the floor at the feet of the most beautiful person she's ever seen. She's also, to actually put a fine point on things, not in Kansas anymore and there isn't even a dog.

Cell phones seem to work in a magical quantum flux sort of way, though batteries still run down, and Charm, Zin, and the Princess need to come up with a plan to save the Princess, get Zin home before she dies (that didn't stop), and Charm needs to help from afar while she panics, and lies to everyone, and supports Zin via text messages.

There were laughs, humor, drama, some wonderfully strong independent women, misogynist men, magic, curses, blessings, misdirection, help from some surprising allies, some tears (from the characters and from me), and, of course, love.

Alix E Harrow weaves a marvelous tale and you can't go wrong with diving into a fairy tale that isn't the one you always thought it was to find this one is the one you really wanted to read, after all.

I was really excited to read a feminist retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and while there were elements of this book that I liked (such as the relationships between female characters and the twist of the evil fairy), it fell short of expectations. I absolutely loved the images that appeared on almost all the pages, and enjoyed finding the hidden details. I did not love all the pop culture references and the modernization of it was almost too in your face.

It is a cute novella style story that examines the complexity of women in fairytale. It plays with the variants of sleeping beauty while the main character struggles with her own identification with the tale. Its a wonderful, quick read.

Absolutely fantastic sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty. What does a life become when you have a terminal diagnosis? What does it mean to be a heroine when it feels as though you have no control? Using the story of Sleeping Beauty as a springboard, Alix Harrow brilliantly explores these themes leading us all to hope that we can write out own stories.

I tried to like this book, but the story moved too fast, jumped around, and left me confused as to what I just read.

I am downright obsessed with the Fractured Fables duology (and I am more than a little sad that the series is finished because I absolutely LOVE the worldbuilding and character work in them)! These books have an incredible sense of humor and such a strong narrative voice. After finding a way out of her tragic ending in A Spindle Splintered, I didn’t know where Zinnia would be going in A Mirror Mended, and I absolutely couldn't wait to find out. While A Spindle Splintered provided an exciting open ending for Zinnia, I needed another book ASAP! The ending was exciting and unexpected, and I am so ready to see where the characters go next. After reading these books, I will never read the line “They lived happily ever after” the same again!

My Recommendation-
If you love twisted fairytale retellings, powerful queer characters, or the concept of a multiverse of storytelling, you need to grab copies of the Fractured Fabels series right away! I would especially recommend this book to readers who enjoy examinations of storytelling as a legacy.

A very short retelling of Sleeping Beauty that reminds us to save ourselves and each other because fairy tales are actually really terrible a lot of the time.

QUICK TAKE: A fun fairytale retelling with a fresh take on classic tropes, A SPINDLE SPLINTERED is the perfect pallet cleanser between heavy or dense reads. While SLEEPING BEAUTY might not be the obvious choice for modern audiences, Harrow’s spin on the typically sidelined Princess Aurora (in this case, Zinnia) is one that returns agency to this no-longer-slumbering heroine. The author was also thoughtful with her inclusion of chronic illness in a way that feels honest and uplifting without veering into patronizing. This novella is a bingeable bite-sized length that still leaves the reader satisfied. It’s the first in a series that is sure to only grow in scope and impact as more of the books are published, and I can’t wait to see what Harrow comes out with next!

**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Confession: I love Sleeping Beauty, though admittedly my first frame of reference for the tale was through Disney's version. But, I was till captivated by it. Harrow's feminist take on the tale was enthralling and exciting. I loved every moment of the journey and am so glad that another book is coming out in this series. The illustrations added amazingly to the tale. I'm so glad I read this...all the stars!

This was a quick but wonderful read. I can't wait to read the second one Harrow has put on Netgalley! I love twists on fairy tales and the subversion of all form of the Sleeping Beauty tale was a breath of fresh air.