Publishers Weekly
12/06/2021
Debut author Vedder’s action-packed, gender-flipped “Sleeping Beauty” reenvisioning, a series opener, pits two female outlaws against a witch’s ominous curse. A century before this title’s start, the King of Andar banished the ancient Spindle Witch for saving sickly prince Briar Rose at the cost of his mother’s life—and her revenge cursed Briar into deathless sleep, destroying Andar. When 17-year-old treasure hunter Lady Filore Nenroa pricks her finger on the bone spindle that cursed him, she’s bonded via dreams to his rare, precious light magic. Fi and queer, axe-wielding, boot-wearing huntswoman Shane must traverse the Forest of Thorns to wake Briar with true love’s kiss despite the bigoted Witch Hunters dogging them, the curse Fi’s controlling ex-lover inflicted on her, and Shane’s crush on mysterious Red. But the Spindle Witch has dark plans for Briar—and true love might not thwart them. Video game-style fantasy tropes and energetic plotting provide an alternative to Forgotten Realms and David Eddings for new readers of epic fantasy. Ages 12–up. Agent: Carrie Hannigan and Ellen Goff, HG Literary. (Jan.)
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* "Vedder weaves compelling character back stories into a complex plot, rich with detail and magic, and balances heart-pounding action with romance, travel, and thorough worldbuilding. This gender-flipped retelling effortlessly melds romance, adventure, and fantasy. Highly recommended.”— SLJ, (starred review)
“A fast-paced and adventurous retelling of Sleeping Beauty.” –Tor.com
“Packed with fully fleshed-out characters and lots of adventure, this book is a fun read that will easily draw fairy tale lovers. Vedder’s first novel nicely balances its exciting plot with touching matters of the heart.” –Booklist
“An enchanting read for fans of fairy-tale romance and girls with battle axes.” –Kirkus Reviews
“[An] action-packed, gender-flipped “Sleeping Beauty” reenvisioning….Video game-style fantasy tropes and energetic plotting provide an alternative to Forgotten Realms and David Eddings for new readers of epic fantasy.” –Publishers Weekly
School Library Journal
★ 01/01/2022
Gr 7 Up—A hundred years ago, the maleficent Spindle Witch caused the fall of Andar, leaving bespelled Prince Briar Rose asleep in a thorn-wrapped castle. Near the border, two exiles—female "huntsman for hire" Shane, escaping an unwelcome inheritance, and treasure hunter Fi, concealing a curse—partner for a treasure hunt. Then Fi touches a bone spindle, connecting her to Briar and allowing his dream-self to visit her in the real world. How annoying that he is golden-haired, kind, powerful, and awkward, and that she, apparently, must wake him with a kiss! First, avoiding witch hunters and getting into Andar is problematic; second, the Spindle Witch is still out there; and third, with her curse, Fi cannot afford love. Shane, meanwhile, is smitten with an enigmatic female witch-thief, Red, who keeps turning up everywhere. And so their adventures begin. Vedder weaves compelling character back tories into a complex plot, rich with detail and magic, and balances heart-pounding action with romance, travel, and thorough worldbuilding. Readers will appreciate that Briar's dream-self visits fix the fairy tale improbability of falling in love with someone asleep, and that Shane's attractions are unremarkable in this world. Neither romance goes beyond passionate kisses. While the ending is not quite a cliffhanger, the adventures are clearly not over—the Spindle Witch still awaits. Fi and Red are described as "tan" with dark brown hair, while Shane has "fair" skin and "ash-brown" hair. VERDICT This gender-flipped retelling effortlessly melds romance, adventure, and fantasy. Highly recommended.—Rebecca Moore
Kirkus Reviews
2021-10-26
Two treasure hunters aim to save a sleeping prince in this gender-swapped “Sleeping Beauty.”
Historian Filore Nenroa and lady “huntsman” Shane Ragnall are teen treasure hunters, each doomed by curse or circumstance to wander far from their homes. While exploring magical ruins, Fi pricks her finger on a spindle and discovers that she is destined to wake Briar Rose, the beautiful sleeping prince who seems to have stepped straight out of shōjo manga. Meanwhile, Shane meets Red, a mysterious and enthralling young woman who keeps popping up at just the right moments. Looming over their journey is the Spindle Witch, who cursed Briar Rose and his fallen kingdom. Vedder comes across as very self-aware of the clichés she is subverting. The unsatisfying ending is clearly a setup for sequels; nevertheless, the overall impression is charming, with lively adventure, likable characters, and a creative take on magic and witches. The romances between Fi and Briar and Shane and Red are passionate and fluttery but stay realistic by—pointedly—rejecting destiny. Fi and Shane face exciting, video game–like fights and puzzles during their quests, always doing their best to avoid killing people. In this fairy-tale world, being gay is satisfyingly unremarkable. Two of the protagonists read as White; the other two ambiguously have tan skin and dark hair, and background characters have a range of skin tones.
An enchanting read for fans of fairy-tale romance and girls with battle axes. (Fantasy. 12-18)