All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princes Briar-Rose, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast:Some unknown time in the future, Rose would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep from which no one could rouse her.
Katriona is the princess's kidnapper-- and savior. A young fairy, she is apprenticed to and lives with her aunt in the small village of Foggy Bottom. The two of them raise the princess as if she were their own in order to protect her. No other human, not even Rosie herself, knows her true identity.
But Pernicia is looking for her, and Pernicia is formidably powerful and tirelessly intent on revenge for a defeat four hundred years old. Two village fairies and all the animals in the realm may not be able to save Rosie...
Katriona is the princess's kidnapper-- and savior. A young fairy, she is apprenticed to and lives with her aunt in the small village of Foggy Bottom. The two of them raise the princess as if she were their own in order to protect her. No other human, not even Rosie herself, knows her true identity.
But Pernicia is looking for her, and Pernicia is formidably powerful and tirelessly intent on revenge for a defeat four hundred years old. Two village fairies and all the animals in the realm may not be able to save Rosie...
(from the back cover)
The noel seemed very slow moving. I remembered reading Beauty and loving it and expecting the same sort of thing in Speindle's End. But is wasn't at all the same. The storyline was interesting- as most fairytales are- but I remember thinking variations to the same effect of 'oh, just get on with it!' through most of the book.
I think McKinly has a great story, and I think that most of the twists she added were good, but overall I think there was just too much narration and setting-up for the last hundred/hundred fifty pages. There was also a part towards the end of the book that lasted about fifty pages that confused me while I was reading it, and I'm still not so sure I understand what happened-- though this could have been planned because Rosie is having the same problems.
I think that it would be a much easier and enjoyable read if much of the narration was summed up or taken out (kind of like what Goldman claims to do with The Princess Bride), but it can be a pleasant read in its actual state if you aren't expecting a thriller, and you don't have a much-anticipated-book sitting on your shelf waiting to be read.
The noel seemed very slow moving. I remembered reading Beauty and loving it and expecting the same sort of thing in Speindle's End. But is wasn't at all the same. The storyline was interesting- as most fairytales are- but I remember thinking variations to the same effect of 'oh, just get on with it!' through most of the book.
I think McKinly has a great story, and I think that most of the twists she added were good, but overall I think there was just too much narration and setting-up for the last hundred/hundred fifty pages. There was also a part towards the end of the book that lasted about fifty pages that confused me while I was reading it, and I'm still not so sure I understand what happened-- though this could have been planned because Rosie is having the same problems.
I think that it would be a much easier and enjoyable read if much of the narration was summed up or taken out (kind of like what Goldman claims to do with The Princess Bride), but it can be a pleasant read in its actual state if you aren't expecting a thriller, and you don't have a much-anticipated-book sitting on your shelf waiting to be read.
2 comments:
I agree, Robin McKinley has interesting ideas, but her books are too slow and confusing. Try Patricia Wrede for a really great read.
Readdddddddd myyyyyyyy blogggggggg. Nobody's commenting on it anymore :(
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