Spindle's End [Mass Market Paperback]

You feel that these characters could just walk right out of the book and into real life and not be out of place. McKinley has a great sense of human nature. She also has a great grasp on language. She has both interesting wording and a feel for telling a story that captivates your attention and keeps you wanting for more. McKinley's characters and stories will stay with you long after you have finished reading. Personally, I wish that she had written more about Damar and Rosie's country. It really is no wonder that Robin McKinley won a Newberry Medal for "The Hero and the Crown". Which leads me to the next point.

McKinley's books are listed in a children and young adult catagory. This confounds me utterly. I am in my 20's and a college student and I still glean knowledge, hope and encouragement from these books! I believe that any of Robin McKinley's books, particularly "The Blue Sword" "The Hero and the Crown" and "Spindle's End" should be mandatory reading for people ages 10-110.

Now for the story, it seems a little boring at first. Almost as though it were a fairy tale for children. But stick with the story! Once Katrina gets to the Naming of the Princess, things start to pick up. I can't tell you any more because then that would reveal too much of the plot of what happens at the Naming. But what you need to know is that this is NOT the traditional Sleeping Beauty story. Only a few elements are taken from it (spinning wheel, evil fairy, etc.) But the rest of the plot, characters, animals and actions are straight from McKinley's imagination.

She is an author for all time, a true storyteller with the gift of imagination and originality. Once the plot gets going, it never dulls. There is not always a ton of action and hopeless quest and the story is all the better for it! There are humerous scenes, touching, brave, adventurous and joyful. The characters are heartening, close-knit and full of believability.

So, buy this book! You'll get much more than your money's worth and will be inspired to get even MORE McKinley books!

This book is charming, and even more so the characters in it. The characters have volume, and in spite of its enchanted setting, readers could identify with Rosie's frustrations; the fairies' fears; the blacksmith's unimposing nature; even the innocence of the animals. While one could say that digressions in the storytelling often occur (and in great lengths too), they are forgivable and maybe even endearing. I dare say that much of the length of this book has to do with digressions, but I suppose I consider that to be part of the charm. Fortunately, all these side-tales are important to the overall outcome of the book. It just takes some time to realize that, is all. The entire tale is fresh and different and exquisite that this will be my favorite retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" for quite some time.

However, I do think that the last part--when the battle between the witch and our protagonists happens--is a little dragging (to put it mildly. Boring, to tell you the brutal truth). Robin McKinley's weakest point has always been battle scenes, which is why her short, precise and almost evasive treatment of it in her adventure books ("The Blue Sword" and "The Hero and the Crown") worked so much better.

I always found Robin McKinley's books extremely well-written. I didn't feel particularly impressed by her version of "Robin Hood" or even her take on "Beauty and the Beast" but there's something that just draws me to her work.

I would recommend "Spindle's End" if you don't mind being bombarded by seemingly unrelated side-tales. I would recommend "Spindle's End" if you want to be surprised by its "Fairy Tale, yet not quite" ending. I would recommend "Spindle's End" if you're tired of the usual fairy tale princesses.