Book Review of The Cursed Rose (The Bone Spindle #3) by Leslie Vedder

Cover Story: Slayer Vibes
BFF Charms: Platinum x2
Talky Talk: Adventure!
Bonus Factors: Character Growth, Witches
Factor: TEABS
Relationship Status: Forever and Ever, Amen

Red alert! The Cursed Rose is the third book in the Bone Spindle series. If you have not read the other books in the series (The Bone Spindle and The Severed Thread), man your battle stations turn away now, as there might be spoilers in this review. If you’re caught up, however, feel free to continue below.

Cover Story: Slayer Vibes
When I see this cover, all I can see is Buffy, Willow, and Tara. Everyone has different hair colors, but I mean …

The Deal:
Filore’s a prisoner of the Spindle Witch. Shane and Red are stuck in a temporary camp with the folks of Everlynd, tiptoeing around their “relationship.” Briar’s not so slowly turning into a skeleton monster who only listens to the Spindle Witch. All told, things aren’t looking to great for the intrepid adventurers, but if anyone can figure out a way out of their various predicaments, it’s Fi and Shane.

BFF Charm: Platinum x2
Although Fi and Shane already have a Platinum relationship between themselves, if I could wheedle my way into that friendship, I would in a hot second. They’re both such badasses, with brains and brawn. They’re smart, funny, loyal (but unafraid to call each other out), dedicated, and passionate. They’re exactly the kind of people I’d want on my side if I were facing a similar predicament, and they’re exactly the kind of people I’d want to be BFFs with.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7
It’s hard for Fi and Briar to have a relationship when he’s slowly turning into a skeleton monster with red eyes, bony wings, and claws; and Red and Shane are up to their old antics of not entirely believing that the other’s in it for the long run. But this isn’t a story without a happy ending. I’ll leave it at that.

Talky Talk: Adventure!
I’ve talked about this in previous reviews of this series, but I love how well Vedder depicts the Indiana Jones-like adventures of treasure hunters Fi and Shane. Even when they’re at odds, they work together like they’ve been doing it their whole lives, and they both bring specific characteristics to the table that mesh so well together.

“It’s okay,” she rasped. “I think there’s something in here—feels like a lever.”

Well, that was luckier than Fi has any right to be. Shane balled up her coat, tossing it angrily aside.

“I’m thinking of revoking your position as the brains of this operation.” … “Your list of offenses is mounting,” she said, fixing her partner with a hard look.

Bonus Factor: Character Growth
One of the secondary characters grows a lot in this book, and although we don’t see their entire experience, it’s wonderful to see how they come into their power. I’d love to read more about them and their future adventures. (‘Cause I’m sure there are more adventures for everyone to come, even though the series is over.)

Bonus Factor: Witches
There is a large variety of witches in this series, and they run the gamut from Wicked Witch of the West to Glinda. They’re a fascinating group of people, and their history/hierarchy/organization is something I’d also love to read more about. (I just want more from this world, what can I say?)

Factor: TEABS
I never know whether TEABS (The End of an Awesome Book Syndrome) is a net positive or net negative. On the one hand, I got to spend three whole books with Fi and Shane and the rest of the great characters in this series, but on the other—I’ll never again get to experience a new adventure with them. (I assume. I could be wrong!) I will miss this series very much, but I’m better for having read it.

Relationship Status: Forever and Ever, Amen
Thanks for an amazing time, Book. We had such fun, even while running for our lives. I’m not nearly as smart or strong as the characters in your stories, but you made me wish I was so that I, too, could save Andar (and the world). This isn’t goodbye!

This story was fun and action filled. It was magical and heart racing. There was love, friendship, wickedness, humor and everything that makes a story readable. I adored this book and its ability to make me laugh. It’s definitely YA however so it wasn’t as impacting as I’d hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, all thoughts are my own!

The Cursed Rose begins with Fi and Shane separated. Fi is desperate to free Briar (and herself) and defeat the Spindle Witch. Shane is desperate to kiss Red, I mean, free Fi and defeat the Spindle Witch.

Going into the book, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Fi and Shane being separated, because a lot of what I loved about the earlier books was their banter with each other. So I was definitely glad when both of their plotlines directed them toward a team up to explore the Tomb of Queen Aurora. Even if I was screaming at them to talk to each other the entire time. But if they did, they wouldn't be the boneheads I spent the past two books falling in love with.

What I loved most about this conclusion is that it wasn't dropping massive worldbuilding elements in this installment, but rather expanded and twisted things we'd already been introduced to as the prepared for the final showdown with the Spindle Witch.

Overall this was an excellent conclusion to an amazing series! 4.75/5

The Cursed Rose in the final enchanting installment of The Bone Spindle trilogy. I absolutely adore this series and cannot recommend it enough. These books have become a comfort read for me and I will definitely read them again and again.

The thrilling finale picks up after the events of The Severed Thread. Fi has been taken prisoner by the Spindle Witch and forced to help her gain access to some ancient spells that could make her even more powerful. With the threat of the Spindle Witch hurting Briar if she doesn’t comply with her orders, Fi uses her wits to stay just a few steps ahead of the witch.

Meanwhile , Shane and Red are back in the Everlynd camp trying to come up with a plan to rescue Fi and stop the Spindle Witch. Red has been labeled a traitor, so the people of Everlynd are not kind to her. When Shane sets out to find a powerful heirloom of Queen Aurora’s that could be a key to defeating the Spindle Witch once and for all, Red tags along against Shane’s wishes.

Soon Shane and Fi are reunited, but when Fi tries to protect Shane it ends with disastrous results. Fi knows if she tells Shane what her plan is to defeat the witch, that Shane will not like it and try to stop her. Their very partnership is at stake. With the fate of the entire kingdom at stake, the girls have to determine what is most important to them.

This book was fantastic. I love the world building in this series. The character development was wonderful too, and I really came to love all of these characters. If you love fairy tale retellings with a diverse cast of characters, then this series should be on your TBR!

Fantastic conclusion to a fun series! It's an entertaining romp that feels like Indiana Jones meets magical fairytale, with friendship, romance, curses, evil witches, and twists. I thought this was a satisfying conclusion that wraps up the main story arc but leaves our characters to go off on more adventures. I would love to see more people pick this up and it's a series that you could easily hand to teenagers from 13 to 18. Really enjoyed this! Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me a copy, all opinions are my own.

Female Indiana Jones x Male Sleeping Beauty with a bit of a Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood mixed in!

For a final book in the trilogy, this book covered a lot of ground. There was a lot of lore/history, a lot of character development, and a lot of loose ends being tied up. (And I mean that in more than one way!)

I appreciate the action in this book. There was still a treasure hunt, still a puzzle or two to be solved, and still a great battle scene. I loved every plot point that was uncovered, including the softer moments.

What kept this from being a five-star was the banter between characters. Something felt different in this book. Maybe it had to do with Briar being unlike himself? But even Perrin and Shane were really weighed down with their serious situations... It made it more challenging to read the dialogue as a result. (Fun banter makes it easier to read for me. Unlike serious conversations. Nothing wrong with them! Just slows down the process.)

I do wish I knew more of what came of Shadow. It seemed a bit open ended, though I suspect I know what happened. In general, do note that Cinzel and Shadow do get hurt in this book. (They're Red's wolves.)

All in all, it was a wonderful ending to the trilogy. I'm so glad I gave Bone Spindle a try! If you are at all interested in a gender-reversed Indiana Jones and Sleeping Beauty, then pick this series up!

I loved this first two and this one was a brilliant blend of returning to an old friend while digging deeper. This world is fascinating, the curse and layers within it are brilliantly built, and the characters still put a smile on my face from start to finish with their whit and determination.

If you loved Indiana Jones as a kid and find yourself devouring fairytale retellings, this is a brilliant series for you. Of all the fairytale retellings I have read this series is by far my favorite.

It has action, romance, magic, and humor to bind them together. From start to end I found it to be the perfect conclusion for this amazing series that keeps you guessing until the last page.

I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

* Thank you NetGalley & Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

The Cursed Rose is the final book in the Bone Spindle trilogy, and we find our characters just a few days/weeks where we last saw them in The Severed Thread: Briar Rose has been turned into a monster, Fi is trapped in the Spindle Witch's tower in order to save him, Red is battling her personal demons, and Shane is trying to save her friends and their kingdom at the same time.

The Cursed Rose is a great book - but I have to be honest, there's a reason it took me a whole week to read this book. It was not nearly as engaging as the first two books. Book 2 left off on an epic cliffhanger, but book 3 started and I just felt... more meh about it than I had anticipated. I didn't know at first what it was that bothered me, and I don't want to spoil it too much, but if you've read book 2 you know Fi and Shane are currently separated at the end of book 2, and I realized: I liked the friendship aspect of book 1 and 2. The partnership, the adventures, it was so FUN seeing Shane and Fi race against the clock together. To have them not actively together was a little disappointing.

It's a good book, though, and a great ending to a really fun series.

The fate of a cursed kingdom rests on ancient secrets, broken promises, and fierce friendships in this gasp-worthy final book of the bestselling twisted fairytale Bone Spindle series.

An excellent ending to a wonderful trilogy! Loved the characters and the world-building and the overall atmosphere and plot.

I absolutely adored the ending of this trilogy!

Getting to read the final battle and everything that has led up to the moments that happen in this journey has been so satisfying. I love these characters. You see Red, Shane, Fi, Briar, Perrin and the Paper Witch all go through some form of transformation and it is so interesting to read about. I loved reading about the romance, friendship and family dynamics within the story and how these characters have built strong relationships.

I laughed, I cried and I can’t believe this is the last book.

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the e-arc.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, and I was so excited to get the final installment!

The fight against the Spindle Witch comes to a conclusion as both Fi and Shane concoct desperate plans to save the realm from the witch’s draining magic.

I think the absolute strongest points of these books are the relationships. I adored the friendship between Shane and Fi and would honestly read a whole series of the two of them Indiana Jonesing their way through the realm of Andar. Their bickering and teasing, paired with their understanding of each other and trust was an absolute delight. And while both romantic relationships formed too fast for me initially, we really get some time to settle in to them.

And I loved the further exploration of the world Andar. More of the magic, more of the people, it was such fun. And the deeper knowledge of the Spindle Witch was absolutely fascinating.

I do think that, with the cliffhanger ending of book two, paired with a lot of flashbacks that felt mostly unnecessary, all three books could have been trimmed down a bit and made a really solid duology. But on the whole, this one was definitely my favorite of the whole trilogy and I am really excited to see what comes next from Vedder!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to review this arc!

What a fantastic ending to a great series. I really enjoyed this culmination of everything that was building over the last two books.

It was so nice reading these characters reach their final arcs. Watching Red come into her own and accept herself, watching Shane grow into a good leader, and Fi finally letting people in. I especially loved Fi's section, watching her come to terms with maybe she is the chosen one, maybe she isn't, but even if she isn't, she's still important and she still plays a huge role in saving the world.

The magic system in this world is amazing. I think all the different kinds of magic written into this book, how it all interacts, is one of the coolest things about the story. The Spindle Witch, Red, Wraith, etc, all having unique abilities tied to their family lines or their talents, and of course that reveal with the Spindle Witch was wild. I was not prepared.

I enjoyed it greatly, and with the fact the ending, though satisfying for the series, was a bit open, I certainly wouldn't mind a return to this world in the future.

I fell in love with this world from the moment that I read book 1! I'm so glad that this series grew beyond just one book. It truly deserved it. I loved every moment of this story and never wanted it to end. Leslie Vedder is such a such a sweet person, and I'm glad her writing is getting the attention it is. It's so well deserved. I wasn't able to get the arc for book two, but I'm glad I was able to for book three. It's such an honor to have been with this series from a little bit before book one came to be published.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book.

This is one of the books I’ve been most anticipating for this year. The first book in the series was my favorite in 2022, so I’ve been a fan since page one.

The story began as a gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty reimagining, but it’s so much more than that. Not only are there other fairy tales woven in (Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel), but the whole magic system and story world is deeply interesting and original.

The magic system– some characters are witches, born with an innate affinity for a certain kind of magic. A witch might be able to speak to animals or walk in dreams. They’re limited to the specific kind of magic they have, and the witches with the most powerful magic can become Great Witches, which gives them some leadership responsibilities and means they give up their names and are known only by their titles, such as the Dream Witch or the Paper Witch. I thought that whole setup was really cool.

Additionally… I love the characters. This book mostly follows the point of view of three female characters: Fi, Shane, and Red. Fi and Shane have been treasure-hunting partners since the first book, and Shane and Red have a complicated history. They began as enemies but are now on the same team. Before they can face their feelings for one another, Red needs to process her guilt over the things she did as an agent of the Spindle Witch.

Because Briar has become a monstrous version of himself, there aren’t a lot of scenes that show what he thinks and feels. He’s slowly turning into this terrifying bone creature, and Fi isn’t sure she can save him, but she won’t give up trying.

I loved this book and the whole series. It's definitely going to live on as one of my favorites, and I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

“Hurt has a way of consuming from the inside out when left to fester in dark places.”

“The Cursed Rose” by Leslie Vedder is a Multi POV fairy tale retelling. The Spindle Witch is causing havoc on the world and Fi, Briar, Shane, and Red join together to fight her evil and save everyone from the curses. Fi is a prisoner, and she needs to decode an ancient riddle of the Rose Witches to save Briar. Briar is cursed to be a monster and he needs to put trust in his friends to break his curse. Shane needs to find a weapon from the Lord of the Butterflies to save her girlfriend and her other friends. Red has betrayed her friends and needs to find a way to redeem herself by helping defeat the Spindle Witch. The entire worlds safety is one the shoulders of this found family, but the Spindle Witch is a powerful foe.

I really liked this book. I loved the strong friendships that are built then broken then built back again. The book stayed consistent in action, plot, and characters the entire book. The riddles and how many things happening all at once was perfectly executed by Leslie Vedder. I loved how it was a gender bender retelling of Sleeping Beauty with Briar. All the characters were solid, and I was invested in what was happening to them. It’s a book for those who want a happy ending. I gave the book a 4 out of 5 stars.

-Multi POV
-F/F and F/M
-Found Family
-Wolves
-Magic
-Fairy Tale Retelling
-Animal Friends
-Witch and Witch Hunter

First off, a huge thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Razorbill for an E-Arc of this book!!

Thai was a thrilling conclusion that left me feeling happy and so very sad.

I’m so happy these characters got their happily ever after but super sad to see this trilogy come to an end and say by to these characters who I grew to love.

The character development throughout this entire trilogy has been magnificent. Each character goes through both external and internal challenges and Veddar does an impeccable job at bringing those to life and making you feel like you are right next to the character.

This had everything you could want in a final book of a trilogy. A thrilling adventure of the build up anticipation. Incredible story telling and a beautiful conclusion that leaves you feeling excited for the characters.

I absolutely adored this book and will be continuing to purchase books by Veddar and also recommend them. This trilogy has truly been one of the best YA fantasy trilogies I have read and am super excited to see what she does next!!♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS

Genre: YA fairytale retelling

This is the final book in a Sleeping Beauty retelling series. It is completely action packed with adventure and a quest to defeat the Spindle Witch.
Briar Rose is cursed, Fi is trapped in the tower with the Spindle Witch, & Shane is trying to find something to break the curse.
Without spoiling anything the series wraps up nicely without any loose ends. I loved the characters and the whole series reminded me of Chris Colfer’s The Land of Stories series. The gender reversed reimagining was really well done!
If you are a fan of fast paced adventures based on fairytales, read this series!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy! 👑

Finally it was time for the 3rd in the series and I was so excited to read this from NetGalley because I really enjoyed the first 2 in the series. This series is such a good example of a fairy tale retelling that truly delivers something unique. I liked how The Cursed Rose kept up a good amount of tension throughout and the action adventure stayed high with plenty of opportunities where the plans might fail or people could die which definitely kept me reading. I particularly enjoyed how Perrin becomes the new Dream Witch and how well he fit in the group here despite being a new addition in book #2. I also appreciated learning that Red had an important ancestor that we actually learned about in book #1. I was hoping that we would see more of Red's ability with animals but it was nice how she was questioning how her abilities worked. I'll admit I found it annoying how the main pair were kept separated the whole book and then after she saved him, he forgot his memories and then they finally got together but it was in the epilogue. It would have been nice to have more time to be happy together instead of being kept apart literally the entire time. I would definitely read another book with these characters because I want to know more and it was nice that there was a small set up for future adventures.

I received advance reader copies for all three books in this trilogy and this final book did not disappoint in the slightest! I was eagerly awaiting it and had so much fun!

This book really delivered on all fronts. The friendships and the risks they were willing to take for each other were so special. The romances as well were so heart-wrenching. This whole trilogy takes the reader on such a wild and fun ride full of laughter, tears, nerves, and more! This final instalment had all of those things in abundance!

There's usually at least one character I don't particularly care about in a story but I genuinely adored every single character in these. The strength of their friendships was inspiring and made me want to root for each one of them even more. I love seeing all the different dynamics even when they weren't physically with each other. They all had so much hope that things would work out and were so determined.

I'm sad to see this story come to a close but it was a fantastic time while it lasted! I think it ended in a perfect way and left me imagining what each of them would be doing after the pages stopped. I would highly highly recommend this trilogy!

This was a fantastic end to the trilogy and one of my favorite books of 2024 so far. I was surprised at how quickly everything from the previous books came back to me once I started reading, even though I was sure I didn't remember much. There are no obvious "this is what already happened" sections either. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days.

I love how Leslie Vedder took what is on the surface a Sleeping Beauty retelling and completely transformed it, giving it a hefty dose of Indiana Jones and so much more depth than the original tale. The characters are also fantastic, complex and compelling and difficult. I was absolutely hooked from the first moments of the first book to the final moments of the last. I love how, even when things seemed to be wrapping up, there were so many surprises and unexpected moments. I never knew what to expect.

The writing is fabulous and sucked me in immediately. The magic is both beautiful and ominous. The setting is incredibly vivid as well, and there are so many scenes that would make amazing paintings.

I am sad to come to the end of Fi and Shane and Briar and Red's tale. I would love to see a spinoff series of their adventures after the events in Andar. Especially if Perrin and the Paper Witch were to make cameo appearances. I will be keeping an eye out for Leslie Vedder's next book - she's jumped onto my shortlist of autobuy authors at this point.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Razorbill for providing an early copy for review.