Alix E Harrow did it again. She added her classic magical fare to the story of Sleepy Beauty. I fell in love with her book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January because she effortlessly creates new worlds that co-exist and this book brings some of that same magic.

Zinnia is diagnosed with a terminal illness so she has always related to Sleepy Beauty someone trapped in their fate. However, on her 21st birthday, she pricks her finger on a needle and is transported to an alternate universe and stops a sleeping beauty retelling from pricking her finger. The two team up to find a way to break both their curses and help Zinnia find a way home.

The characters are charming and loveable. This is a novella but it has all the impact of a full-sized novel. I am SO excited that this will become a series. I can’t wait to see what happens next. This book gives me very Lunar Chronicle vibes so if you enjoyed those or Alix’s other books, check this one out

I've been meaning to read Alix E. Harrow's books for a while now, but this is the first one I've actually read and I absolutely loved it! I thought Zinnia was a fantastic character and I can't wait to read the sequel.

A fun & modern take on the Sleeping Beauty tale adds LGBT characters and gives the women a little more agency over their bodies.

Another novella that packs so much oomph into its short size — this is going on my list for favorites of the year. Harrow takes the Sleeping Beauty premise, flips it around and expands upon it. Zinnia is terminally ill and doesn’t have much longer to live when she’s thrown into another world and takes up the mantle of hero. Her friendship with Charm is a huge highlight, but Zinnia herself is exactly the kind of character I absolutely love, and I’m so glad this is a series so I can hang out with her more in the future. The representation is fabulous, and I’m really looking forward to getting into Harrow’s backlist now. I am SO glad I had the audiobook -- I started the book in the morning and then was able to listen to it all day while I ran errands and sped through the entire thing because I couldn't put it down!!! The narration was fabulous and perfect match to Zinnia's voice.

A Spindle Splintered 🩸

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

No spoiler review 👇🏻

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

Narration: was so good! Probably my favourite audiobook narrator I’ve listened to! So good at the voices between characters, it really added to the story!

This is a novella! It’s the first in a series of fairytale retelling novellas by this author.

Sleeping Beauty was my favourite princess as a kid. I have a soft spot for Aurora, so I was excited to see a retelling of her story.

First off this book is an adult retelling, there are a lot of swearing and mature themes (which I loved). Also this book is hilarious! I giggled/smiled so much while listening to this novella.

It’s a feminist multiverse retelling of the sleeping beauty story. Our main character is a version of sleeping beauty in modern times trying to escape a curse and somehow travels through the multiverse to a classic castle version and meets that sleeping beauty....hilarity ensues. Both girls are cursed and attempt to stop it. It makes for a funny, sweet, badass and heartwarming retelling.

We also see more versions of sleeping beauty through this book as well. As someone who loves a good multiverse story this was amazing. My only complaint is I wish some stuff was developed more, but then again it was well done for the novella length.

Overall,It was a short and fun adult fantasy novella with a fun twist, and LGBTQ rep! I can’t wait to read the next in this series!

I love a retelling of a well-known fairy tale. There is something comforting in the familiar. What really makes it special and sets it apart is the 'twist' to the retelling. And boy! Is this retelling exciting. Exactly who is the Sleeping Beauty? And what 'curse' is she under?

Zinnia Gray is celebrating her 21st birthday, which, according to the rare condition she has, is going to be her last. Best friend Charm throws her a special birthday party, complete with a spinning wheel and roses as Sleeping Beauty is Zinnia's favorite story and has been for years. And then Zinnia pricks her finger.

And maybe all those fairy tales have a grounding in reality. But exactly where is that reality? And maybe that wicked witch laid a blessing and not a curse.

Better yet, the ending has me wanting more. A lot more!

This was so good I loved the characters kicked butt with a bittersweet ending great disability rep was fantastic this book would be perfect for someone who likes fairy tale retellings.

A Spindle Splintered immediately had my attention. Cognizant of the historical versions, the sexist implications, and more, A Spindle Splintered examines representation as well as interrogating the classics. Learning the history in order to invert and subvert. It feels meta from the beginning. And that's before A Spindle Splintered splinters into the multiverse. I'm sorry I had to make that pun. Once Harrow brought in this concept, I think I gasped aloud.

At the same time, I found myself caught up in Zinnia's narrative style. In the way she sees her own life, her own story. It's a story for all the girls and women who are sleeping. Who cannot cry out. I ended up listening to this audio book in a matter of days because I needed to find out what was going to happen. Amy Landon was able to perfectly capture the emotional tension, the current of action and momentum. I ended up forgetting what I was doing and just listening.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook of A SPINDLE SPLINTERED. by Alix E. Harrow. I enjoyed A THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY so I was excited to read this. I actually didn't realize it was a novella until I started listening to it, but that made it a fun, quick read. The MC Zinnia was hilarious and quirky and I loved her Encyclopedic knowledge of fairy tale history—I actually already knew a lot about the old Sleeping Beauty stories but I loved how Harrow inserted them into this book. It also had something of a zany multiverse plot line that felt a little Bill and Ted-like, but it went perfectly with the tone set by Zinnia right away and it was fun and empowering and I laughed out loud several times and enjoyed myself. I definitely recommend it!

For Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, her best friend Charm throws her a sleeping beauty birthday party experience. Since Zinnia has a rare medical condition which has given her just one more year to live, and Zinnia has always been fascinated with the story of sleeping beauty, this is the best way Charm knows to help her celebrate her final birthday. When Zinnia pricks her finger on the spinning wheel she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.
I loved this feminist reimagining of the classic sleeping beauty story. The story crossed multiple dimensions and women from from different dimensions in time joined together to change each of their fates. If you are a fan of fractured fairytales, then you need to check this one out.

In A Spindle Splintered, the sleeping beauties take charge of their own fates. The story is told by Zin, a woman from present-day Ohio. The wicked witch who cursed Princess Primrose makes an appearance and important contribution to the story.

This is a short, feminist reboot of the Sleeping Beauty tale. This is a novella, so don't expect fully fleshed characters or multiverses. Just enjoy it for what it is. To me, it was a fun romp with a little food for thought. I'll read it again when the print book is published (expected October 5) in order to view the illustrations.

There are some themes that may be difficult for sensitive readers. If you are one or are choosing for one, you may want to dig a little deeper (or ask your librarian) to determine if it's a good fit for you.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tor, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A Spindle Splintered (Fractured Fables #1)
Alix E. Harrow
It’s a special birthday for Zinnia Gray. She is turning twenty-one. Her best friend, Charm is determined this will be a birthday Zinnia will never forget. This will be the last birthday Zinnia will ever celebrate; she has an incurable illness caused by some sort of an industrial accident. No one with the illness has ever lived passed twenty-one. Zinnia loves Fairy Tales especially Sleeping Beauty; naturally the theme of her birthday party was Sleeping Beauty, complete with a spinning wheel in a tower. After pricking her finger on the spinning wheel Zinnia is thrust into another world where she meets another Sleeping Beauty, Primrose. The two young women unite the sleeping beauties from other realms to take control of their own future.
Author Alix E. Harrow takes a favorite fairy tale and puts a whole new spin on it. Threads of feminism are woven throughout this tale. Zinnia learns a valuable lesson, instead of focusing on herself she should reach out to others. I have always loved Fairy Tales; author Alix E. Harrow has me looking at Sleeping Beauty in a whole new way. This is a short book with a lot of personality. With Zinnia’s illness you would expect this book to be sad, but it isn’t. This book is filled with sarcastic humor, hope and a take control of your life attitude. The intended audience for this tale is Young Adult.

A Spindle Splintered was a great concept that, while I still enjoyed it, underwhelmed me a little. I think for me the shortness of the narrative meant that characters came off as a little more one dimensional than I wanted them to. Zinnia was so defined by her terminal illness that it overwhelmed the rest of her a bit for me. Primrose too, became a little more flat, though part of that for me was the voice that the narrator chose for her in the audiobook. The voice played on stereotypes and didn’t really resonate with me with who Primrose was supposed to be.

The character that I really loved was Charm. She was spunky and interesting, and I wished there was even more of her. She was a wonderful link between the fairytale and real worlds that felt a little out of sync otherwise.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think it was an interesting take on a classic story and I would read others based on other fairytales like this. I was just not completely in love with this one.

A Spindle Splintered: 4/5
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Premise:
Sleeping Beauty gets a whimsical and trippy reimagining as two girls who are destined to die, paths cross, possibly alerting their doomed fates. Zinnia Gray, a terminally ill 21-year-old girl, has always had a strange love for sleeping beauty. When her best friend throws her a sleeping beauty-themed birthday party, Zinnia pricks her finger on the spindle, thrusting her in a parallel universe and into the path of another girl desperate enough to escape her fate.
Writing & Plot:
In just over 100 pages, Alix E. Harrow creates a fully-fledged, multi-dimensional story with wonderful characters and a fantastic plot. This book is perfect if you're in a slump because it's so short. The book itself has incredible illustrations and will keep a reader engaged from cover to cover.

My only criticism is that I wanted more. It's so short there was no time for world-building, which left the entire story feeling a bit detached for me. Of course, the reader can suspend their disbelief, but it isn't easy when the main mechanics are never explained. That being said, this book is so short it's not a dealbreaker.

Characters:
There's a vast girl-power theme in this book, and it has incredible friendships. The friendship between Zin and Briar Rose was so cute, and I wanted more. There's so much to discover between all the characters, and their shared stories yet significantly different experiences were remarkable to read about.

Conclusion:
This book is such a blast. It's easy, fun, and witty. Perfect for those who want to get into the spooky spirit but are in a slump. This will for sure jumpstart your love for reading again!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Spindle Splintered is not your average "twisted tale". This take on all things Sleeping Beauty finds ways to loop back many stories we think we know back to cursed princesses and decided fates. As this is a short tale, giving you too much of a plot summary would rob you of the wonderment in this fable. So instead we'll hop right into my review.

When this story got it's start, I was more than a little concerned. Disney has been pumping out twisted tales left and right, and fairy tale retellings are a dime a dozen these days. A Spindle Splintered is one you won't want to miss. There are so many layers and side stories that are explored and looped in that you feel even more satisfied with a short story than you will with a good majority of full sized books. Every sentence counts and amounts to an overall story that was a joy to be along for. The writing is exquisite, giving imagery and personality that makes you feel transported right along with our characters. Plot twists that you think you know throw you off their trail and unfold into bigger and better than imagined lands. Five glowing bright stars from this reviewer.

I recommend this short story for all ages and lovers of all books. It has something for everyone to enjoy, and while there are some hard topics hinted at, it is nothing that younger readers would need to fear or skip. Thank you again, Macmillan Audio, I truly enjoyed this treasure of a tale.

This was a blast. <i> A Spindle Splintered </i> was the first book I've read by Alix E. Harrow, although The Ten Thousand Doors of January has been on my TBR for quite a long time. I went into <i> A Spindle Splintered </i> mostly knowing very little about it, other than the fact that it was a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I have a mixed relationship with fairy tale retellings, but this one managed to craft a clever, engaging, and unique story in just over 100 pages.

<i> A Spindle Splintered </i> is essentially the Sleeping Beauty Multiverse. Our main character, Zinnia Gray, has a deep connection with the story of Sleeping Beauty, partially due to a rare genetic disorder which makes her unlikely to live past her twenty second birthday. In true fairy tale fashion, Zinnia pricks her finger on a spinning wheel and finds herself in an alternate dimension with another "version" of herself/Sleeping Beauty. Harrow ultimately brings in a whole cast of Sleeping Beautys from various worlds as Zinnia fights to save them from their miserable destinies.

<i> A Spindle Splintered </i> is a really fun feminist retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story and I loved reading through Zinnia's voice. The book is fairly action heavy with some really lovely character moments and manages to pack a lot into its short run time. I also found it really funny at parts and laughed out loud at a few of the things Zinnia and her friend Charm said. Overall, I highl recommend it and look forward to more Fractured Fables in the future!

I didn't love it; I didn't hate it. It was okay. I liked the twist in the retelling of a fairy tale, but it wasn't as enjoyable as Harrow's previous books. I know this isn't a full book, but the characters weren't very deep and the world-building wasn't as much as I would have liked.

My favorite of Alix's books so far. I think she's definitely found her niche. It's definitely not as fluffy or prose heavy like Once and Future Witches, but I think this worked! I'm not an own voices reviewer for chronic illness, but I think that it was handled well. Looking forward to the next installment!

I will describe this as multiverse meets sleeping beauty. It's about a girl called Zinna Gray eho was born with a disease that will kill her before she reaches 22 so naturally she's obsessed with the sleeping beauty story and on her 21st birthday she ends up in a sleeping beauty-esque world. This was a really fun face paced read and i loved its take on the Sleeping Beauty classic story. I feel like the feminist or women empowerment themes were a little bit shallow and were stuff i've heard about and i have seen done in various media. I listened to this on audiobook for the first time and i loved the narrator and i believed it helped me get by this book so quickly. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings and people who want to get into them. It was a fun time.

Sleeping Beauty multiverse-style is not something on my bucket list of things to read but I'm very glad I found it all the same.

Zinnia is going to die any day now. Literally. Her 21st birthday has hit and after being "cursed" with a illness that likely won't let her live much longer, she's a little melancholy. So when she somehow accidentally falls into a different dimension after pricking her finger, she takes to her new adventure quite willingly. Even better, she's landed in a version of Sleeping Beauty's story, and she's going to do her best to help give Princess Primrose the happy ending she deserves while living the rest of her life on her terms for once.

This was such an interesting take on Sleeping Beauty. Everyone knows the Disney version inside and out, how romantic and magical it is, but objectively it's a really crappy fairy tale. Aurora literally sleeps through the climax of her own story, and the original versions of the story are very dark with ... sexual assault as a common denominator. In all of them the princess has no choice in the matter or in how her life will play out. The curse is set out and there is no avoiding it or the "happy ever after" she will have thrust on her once it's broken by a man without consent.

I really like how this took a crack a gender roles in fairy tales. There are a lot of themes of having your own choice and living your life how you want in here, thanks to Zinnia's unfortunate illness and Primrose's curse. Both have their futures stolen from them, but Zinnia is determined to help the princess have the happy ending she wants. They take matters into their own hands rather than letting some pompous prince do it for them. It was cleverly done and in a way quite empowering. Who doesn't love a good feminist reclaiming of an old story?

When I discovered this was a novella, I was disappointed, but after reading it I stand corrected. This was the perfect length for this story. The pace is just right, the story not too in-depth. It was also very relatable and quite humorous at times. I was lucky enough to receive an early audio copy of the book and really enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into it though, because I recently listened to The Queen's Gambit with the same narrator and it was difficult to separate the two stories.

This was a super quick and neat twist on a well-known fairytale, and I'd love to read the next one in the series.