This was a great take on a classic tale. A feminist sleeping beauty with magical realism, Alix’s writing is so poetic as always and this makes her an auto buy author for me. The audio was very well done

Would loved to have finished this audiobook but there seems to be an error after a big key start up moment and the sound completely glitched out. Good build up. Nice take on a classic fairy tale with a "non-traditional" romantic pairing being developed right off the bat. I also must add a much needed "THANK YOU!" for making the protagonist old enough to actually be doing the things she's doing. Too many books and show put teenagers in adult situations which encourages real teenagers to think they're capable of making adult choices without help from adults that care about them. Yes, the main character in this one is only 21 but she's not 17 trying to do the things 21 year olds do. There is a major developmental difference in those 4 years and it needs to be realized. So, again, Thank you!

I love a good fairytale retelling and this delivered! Sleeping Beauty with a modern twist, and she made it gay which was even better in my opinion. It was paced well and the narration was very well done. This was my first experience with Harrow and I would definitely read more from this author!

I didn’t expect what I got out of this in the best way possible.

Such an interesting way of looking at this story archetype.

Was interesting and different and a really quick read I read it doing some basic house work.
thank you bet galley for review copy

An absolute delight. It kept me, not glued to the pages since it was an audiobook, but it made me pay close attention to it without ever be distracted, like it often happens with audiobooks.
I really loved this twist on the fairytales retellings; this was focused on Sleeping Beauty but the MC wasn't the sleeping beauty of the situation but she found herself in an alternate universe helping Primerose save herself from a forced marriage breaking her curse.
The fact that the MC was herself somewhat cursed made the reading even better; I wanted her to be okay, I wanted her to have a second chance, for some miracle or fairytale situation to save her from her "curse".
I really liked it and it was so short! I wanted it to go on forever!
I can't wait for the next books!

Excellent, modern story with a feminist and LGBTQ focused narrative. Well done audiobook to enhance the story.

A Spindled Splinter was adorable. I love remakes of fairy tales, and this did not disappoint. Zinnia is celebrating her 21st birthday, Briar Rose themed, and is dreading it as she is getting close to the age nobody has survived with her rare medical condition. After Zinnia pricks her finger on the spindle, the story follows her, Briar Rose and her best friend Charm as they work to reverse their futures. At first, I thought this seemed like a very short book, but once I finished I think it’s the perfect size. I loved the spin on this book, and look forward to reading more by Alix Harrow!

I have this book in so many formats, which is good, because I will probably be revisiting them ALL. Zinnia Gray just turned twenty-one, and she suffers from a rare disease as a result of an industrial accident. No one’s ever lived past twenty-one. Zinnia is obsessed with any and all lore surrounding Sleeping Beauty, and her best friend, Charm has pulled out all the stops for this birthday, even brings in a spinning wheel as a prop. When Zinnia pricks her finger, though, something strange happens. She finds herself IN the story and must help the Sleeping Beauty in her new reality save her future.

This one’s super short, and I flew right through it. I love retellings, and this one combines elements of all types of the story and the characters are all bad ass ladies determined to save themselves. Zinnia may be destined for death, but she’s gonna go out helping someone else avoid it.

It’s out in all forms now, and you can’t go wrong with the print or the audio, so check it out.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. I personally had no clue what to expect out of this, but it was a fun quick read.
The main character, Zinnia Gray, is chronically ill and it is said that she will pass away in her twenties. She is a very raw character that tells things as it is. Her days are being counted towards her end, but then she gets whisked away into this other world, where there is a princess in a fairyland. The princess is just a very helpless character for the most part of the book, and I didn't really like the interactions with her all too much.
There was a romance involved with one of the side characters, and honestly, that was very insta-lovey, that I didn't enjoy it all too much,

Very grateful I received the ARC for A Spindle Splintered. Per the description, this book has Sleeping Beauty elements, but with a modern twist. I loved the strong female protagonist and the immense humor that this book has. I feel like the overarching theme of this book is "discovering yourself" and, while it was a short tale that I wished was a bit longer, it was a great read and I was very invested. The narrator was wonderful as well. I recommend listening to this or reading this book if you want a great, short story!

The audio version of this story is absolutely amazing. The narrator really does the story justice and brought the characters to life for me. The pacing was just right and I could hear every emotion and struggle the character was going through in her voice. I'm partial to reading physical copies but this audiobook could convert me.

The story, of course, is perfection. It's funny, relatable, exciting, and really keeps your attention from start to finish. While I wouldn't say it's the most unique retelling, the main character's back story and motivation are certainly original and woven well into the story. I would highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers.

I listened to an audiobook arc version of this book and I loved the narrator! They did an excellent job with this story and these characters and I would recommend going with this format if you’re looking to read this!

The story had my attention from the beginning, I love any sort of retelling so I knew I needed to give this one a try. Especially since I already knew how gorgeous Alix E. Harrow’s writing is. This one delivered on the whimsy and that beautiful prose but the plot did sort of fall a bit flat for me.

I liked that there were all these feminist aspects to it— that these women were taking back their stories and finding solace and a helping hand in each other and I definitely want to check out more stories set in these realms and universes. I just didn’t really like the main character or where certain plot points went. This ended with one of my least favourite tropes so that sucked a lot of the enjoyment out of it for me.

But, I still want to read more from this series and if reimagined retellings full of queer rep and badass women interests you— give this one a try!

3/5⭐️

THERE'S the Alix E. Harrow I loved in Ten Thousand Doors!! I struggled mightily with The Once and Future Witches, but Ten athousand Doors was so incredible that I knew I had to come back to her - and A Spindle Splintered reinforced why.

This is a phenomenal story. It is a brilliant reimagining of a classic concept that is utterly and wholly original at the same time. The characterizations are spectacular and full of heart and sass and the perfect blend of strength and vulnerability. The plot and action are consistently engaging and the emotions stirred up, chewed over, and worked through are resonant and true. I am delighted that this is the first in a series!

The audiobook narration was also brilliant, with distinguishable voices that never devolved into caricatures or overly dramatic performances. The narration suited the story to a T, and provided the perfect counterpoint to the writing.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!

I listened to A Spindle Splintered as an audiobook and truth be told the only reason I finished it was due to its short length. The story was short and sweet, but not terribly compelling. Harrow offers up a rather simplistic exploration of what it means to live with a death sentence hanging over you, whether it be a fairytale curse or a terminal illness. The main character is torn between spending her remaining days easing the pain of the loved ones she’ll leave behind or following her heart, living in the moment, and finding purpose in the short time she expects to be alive. Thrust into a fairytale world, she buys herself more time and discovers her calling--helping other would-be heroines trapped by circumstance and social norms.

Even though A Spindle Splintered didn’t quite do it for me, I enjoyed how queer it was. I also liked the allusion to places like Flint and other sites of negligent corporate environmental degradation where children’s health has been harmed and is being harmed irreparably and irreversibly. It was definitely an interesting parallel to Sleeping Beauty’s spindle curse and also affirmed environmental issues as feminist issues.

A couple more nitpicky points of contention--in the audiobook, the fairytale princess character’s voice is very annoying. It also felt to me like there was a lot of telling and not showing about how that character defies the norms of chaste, helpless femininity one might expect from her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me advance access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This was such a great book! It was a really neat retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, and I highly recommend it. Plus, it’s a novella, so it’s a nice quick read.

This book has held high rank on the top of my 2021 TBR list since the moment I heard of its existence.

I'm a sucker for a good fairytale but leave the whole "poor, defeated damsel in distress awaiting a man to come and claim her" routine at the door. I love a strong willed princess who has struggles AND a support system. One who seems to have a predetermined destiny BUT isn't afraid to test the bounds of fate.

A Spindle Splintered was a female anthem of fairytale retelling giving Sleeping Beauty back her power and urging us all to have faith in saving ourselves.

I flew through the audiobook, lusting over it's well crafted characters and modern plot. The writing was enchanting and it's message ever powerful. It easily fits the bill for an autumnal novel that fits the vibe of October without horror and gore.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy.

A SPINDLE SPLINTERED is a marvelous read, delighting my fairytale-loving heart and tantalizing my sci-fi/fantasy-loving mind. The narrator, Amy Landon, does an amazing job reading, making me stay in the story at all times. This story was on my mind, from when I started it, to when I had to pause it to work, and then when I finished it in my car during my morning commute. If you enjoy fairytales, queer stories, and stories without a definite end, you will love A SPINDLE SPLINTERED.

I needed this book. It's a beautiful blend of a familiar story updated with queer characters. You want the protagonist and her friends to win. It made me so curious that looked up the origin story and history of sleeping beauty. I even enjoyed the sprinkles of humor and moments that struck my emotions.

I wondered if the author experienced personally or just researched what it is like battling an illness in your 20s.

The reading of the story was well done. It was entertaining and keet me invested in the story. I questioned some elements mostly because I'm not a big fantasy reader so I didn't believe things like her cellphone lasting more than 24 hours without a new charge.

I'm glad it didn't end in a typical "fairytale" way.

A very fun and enjoyable experience! Loved the main character and her friends! I really can’t wait to read the next one! With this being a novella, it was very fast, short, and really used the space it had effectively. The humor was probably my favorite part, though. My only complaint was that the solutions to the problems came a bit too easily, but I understand that the story needed to keep moving. Overall, great book!

Big thank you to Netgalley, Alix E. Harrow and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for a review.

Zinnia Gray turned 21 and for her birthday, her best friend throws a party with a sleeping beauty theme. Why sleeping beauty? Well, because Zinnia is dying. At 21 she has months, maybe only weeks before her body gives out on her. As a young child spending time in the hospital she fell in love with fairy tales. All versions, even the dark, less than Disney versions.

At the party, Zinnia pricks her finger on the spinning wheel prop and she finds herself with a real, live princess. Once who's fate to prick her own finger is written as a curse from the 13th fairy who cursed her at her birth. Together, Zinnia and Primrose travel together to reverse their curses but find out that there are worse things than sleeping for a hundred years.

The characters in the story would probably fall within the 'New Adult' category due to their ages, but the writing style and story line fall well within the YA category. There was some dark innuendos, and pointing out the horrible origins and original story of sleeping beauty, but nothing that a 13 year old couldn't handle.
I really liked that consent (or better yet, the absolute LACK of consent) was highlighted in the original stories of Sleeping beauty. The world has become accustomed to the happy ending, singing with the birds, princess stories. When in reality, the original stories of the well known fairy tales are dark and disturbing and do not have happy endings.
I'm sure I've read other books narrated by the same narrator. She did a decent job and sounds very familiar.

I'm giving this one 4 stars. I enjoyed the character diversity and the MC not being a perfect well rounded beauty. Her body is riddled with disease... and well.... aren't we all?