Half sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.Review:
And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood, a Faerie Queen who is preparing for war, a strange and enchanting dream realm—and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, Spindle Fire is a tour-de-force fantasy set in the dwindling, deliciously corrupt world of the fae and featuring two truly unforgettable heroines.
Fun fact: I love fairy tale retellings.
Therefore, when I was offered the chance to read
and review Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire - pitched to me as perfect for
fans of Malinda Lo's Ash (another AMAZING YA book - please check it out
if you haven't already!), I instantly said yes.
The result? Intoxicating and spellbinding,
Lexa Hillyer's Spindle Fire is an intricate take on Sleeping Beauty.
Spindle Fire introduces us to Isabelle
and Aurora, two sisters that couldn't be any more different. The child from
the king's illegitimate affair, Isabelle has always been the unwanted child,
only deemed useful by the king and queen when her sight was snatched and used
to make her sister Aurora more appealing. Isabelle hasn't let it get her down, however;
her bond with her sister is stronger than most, and she's always been known as
the strong-willed, fearless, and albeit slightly reckless daughter of the king.
Aurora is quiet and reserved - two characteristics that aren't helped by her
inability to speak and feel. However, there's more to her than just that - she
has an incredible way of seeing things, and more importantly, describing
them to her sister.
While I enjoyed getting to know both sisters, my favorite was Isabelle. I loved how adventurous
and strong she was, how she would go to the end of the world to save her
sister, no matter how bad things became. I also enjoyed the transformation
Isabelle experienced. Prior to leaving the castle walls she’s never been
completely alone, and while at first, she’s shaky about it, it turns out she
has everything in her power to succeed. Aurora also experiences a
transformation over the course of the book. Similar to her sister, Aurora’s
never been truly alone – she’s grown used to have Isabelle communicate for her.
Suddenly, given a voice as well as the ability of touch, she finds out that
maybe everything she’s believed all her life – especially regarding her
parent’s choices – weren’t necessarily the best.
The plot in Spindle
Fire was another part I enjoyed. It was filled with adventure, sisterly
bonds, and even a touch of romance. I especially enjoyed the wide range of
settings and the challenges each presented. From the sea to the castle to the world Aurora is placed in, there wasn’t a time where I wasn’t fully
immersed in the respective worlds, dying to know what would happen next. I also
found it refreshing that while there was a sleight touch of romance for both
Aurora and Isabelle it wasn’t a big focus of the book. I do hope, however, that
we’ll see more of certain boys in the future – especially the uncertain fate of
one.
Lastly, while Spindle
Fire has adventure and romance, its heart consists of the bonds between
sisters – how they can make or break you, and more importantly, that at the end
of the day your life is up to you. I
loved seeing two very different sister relationship over the course of Spindle Fire – the strong one between
Aurora and Isabelle and the dark, twisted one between the Fae.
The only aspect that brought Spindle Fire down a little in my eyes is the same problem I saw
with Heather Fawcett’s Even the Darkest
Stars – the first book problem. A large portion of Spindle Fire revolved around setting up the world and the
characters, and while I appreciated the time Lexa placed into this, there was a
certain lack of spark that arose- a lack that never let me go from “really
enjoying” to “outright loving.”
Regardless, Spindle
Fire is perfect for fans of dark fairy tale retellings. I can’t wait for
book #2. I have so many questions!
Grade: B+
Spindle Fire is now out!
Source: eBook provided by publicist
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Beautiful review! This has been on my TBR for ages and I am SO desperate to read it. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE dark fairy tale retellings, and I also love sisterly dynamics. A pity that it took too long to set up the world, etc, but it seems like the positive elements definitely outweigh the bad.
ReplyDeleteHope you get to read Winter Glass soon!
Amy @ A Magical World Of Words