Review: Five Magic Spindles: A Collection of Sleeping Beauty Stories By Rachel Kovaciny, Kathryn McConaughy, Grace Mullins, Michelle Pennington, and Ashley Stangl

1.  Title, Author, and Cover

Five Magic Spindles: A Collection of Sleeping Beauty Stories

By Rachel Kovaciny, Kathryn McConaughy, Grace Mullins, Michelle Pennington, and Ashley Stangl

2.  Genre and Reading Level

Fairy Tale Retellings – Western, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi

Teenage and up

3.  My Summary

Five Magic Spindles is a collection of Sleeping Beauty retellings.  These are the five short stories:

“The Man on the Buckskin Horse” by Rachel Kovaciny

When a paid killer rides into Emma’s town, she is not about to let him threaten her friend or his daughter.  As the local midwife, Emma has a fair share of medical knowledge, but even she has a daunting task ahead of her when a dramatic life-and-death situation comes upon her friend’s house.

“The Guardian of our Beauty” by Kathryn McConaughy

Even before her birth, Palli has been entrenched in the middle of an epic showdown between a power-hungry high priest of numerous gods and a true deity who actually answers those who call on him.  The sorcerer priest curses Palli at her naming ceremony, but a prophet of the God Who Answers comes with a different message.  Still, Palli is left with questions as she faces the inevitable fulfillment of the curse.

“The Ghost of Briardale” by Grace Mullins

When poor Franz Happernickle is sent to Briardale Asylum for the Mentally Infirm, he is astounded by the unfairness of it all.  After all, it is not his fault the green ghost Rosalee is haunting him, but she needs to find a hero, and she is convinced he fits the bill, despite his complete disbelief in the existence of heroes or ghosts either, for that matter.

“Spindle Cursed” by Michelle Pennington

After more than one hundred years trapped in her own sleeping body, Arabella still is determined to live and save her war-torn nation, and Prince Edmond may be her last hope for freedom from her slumber.  However, swamps, sinking sands, thorns, a dragon, and scheming royals battle against them at every turn.

“Out of the Tomb”, by Ashley Stangl

While robbing a long-forgotten tomb, Tanza encounters a living, breathing historical figure who transforms her life and plunges her into a battle for the good of her planet.

4.  My Opinion (With a rating)

Overall: 6 Stars

“The Man on the Buckskin Horse” by Rachel Kovaciny: 6 stars

As a feisty and headstrong midwife, Emma makes an involved and sage narrator, but my favorite characters were Rosalind and the gunslinger Luke Palmer.  These two characters undergo their own significant transformations which lends the story a lovely bit of sparkle.  While Scripture is not explicitly mentioned, there are still strong morals and the triumph of good over evil, and the steel element is also strong with the battle of wills between Rosalind’s father and the woman who hired Luke Palmer and other gunmen to take him down.  I just would have liked to have read a bit more about Luke Palmer and Rosalind rather than so much of Emma.

“The Guardian of our Beauty” by Kathryn McConaughy: 7 stars

I absolutely adored this story with its outstanding setting reminiscent of the myths of the ancient Middle East.  The poetry of the curses and blessings in this retelling reminded me of ancient Hebrew poetry found in the Bible, and the “God Who Answers” in this story clearly points to the true God who reveals himself in Scripture.  Princess Palli feels like a typical girl despite the curses and blessings spoken at her naming ceremony, but she is extraordinary in her kindness, generosity, and determination to defend her nation and her family.  Both she and Prince Neriya shoulder their person burdens and hardships without complaint.

“The Ghost of Briardale” by Grace Mullins: 7 stars

Humor and adventure run hand and hand in this retelling set in a Victorian-like land which has forgotten its magical past.  Franz, Rosalee, and their band of heroes and fairies are memorable, and their encounters sparkle with humor and sweetness.  Again, the battle between good and evil is fierce, but the heroes are stronger than they suspect.

“Spindle Cursed” by Michelle Pennington: 6 stars

Arabella and Edmond have not led simple lives.  Although Arabella has slumbered for more than a hundred years, she has remained fully aware of everything that happens to her body, and she is stuck watching over her war-torn nation from her small tower room, completely powerless but refusing to give up hope.  Edmond was trained from his youth to enter Arabella’s dangerous land to wake her and bring her to become his brother’s bride, even if he loves her himself.  The struggle between good and evil colors the entire story, and both protagonists realize their future will not be easy, but they are still willing to fight for what is good and right.

“Out of the Tomb”, by Ashley Stangl: 6 stars

Tanza and Prince Auren’s adventure on a futuristic planet may seem far from earth, but it touches on many relevant ideas including colonialism, political unrest, terrorism, and the skewing of the national concept of virtue.  References to myths, history, and fairy tales all lend sparkle to this tale, and the other-worldly setting and terrorist enemies provide almost too much steel.  Still, the story is extremely enjoyable, particularly with Prince Auren and his idealistic nature.

5.  Who would love this book?

I think anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings will love this book, especially with its diverse settings.