If you enjoy well written adventure including danger and magic with oodles of sweet romance and wonderful characters then this is the perfect read for you.

This book is one of those rare reads that you feel lucky to have experienced and wish you could do it again.

I am waiting with great anticipation for the next book in the series and cannot wait to see Shane’s story play out more. I will follow Shane and Red to the ends of the earth to get their story. (I am basically the lesbian on the boat who crossed the ocean for her romance, but with their romance.)

Bring on the next one in the series please.

3.5! I appreciated that the main characters don't argue over a boy and are very different from each other. I think the world building's a little convoluted, but I'll keep this one in my back pocket for those kids who really love fairy tales reimagining.

I loved this book so freaking much! It was one of my most anticipated and it checked all my boxes for me and I didn't want to put it down!

Though somewhat intriguing in premise, I found the opening set up of this novel so typical of YA novels that I could not finish reading the story. Likely a good book for those early in their YA reading journey.

The Bone Spindle was just the kind of YA fantasy I needed – fun, adventurous, fast-paced, and gender-bent. You see lately I haven’t been able to devote much of my attention span or brain space to deep fantastical world building. BUT The Bone Spindle made the world clear and easy to understand. There was world building, it was accessible, and a very fast-paced story which helped a lot. Oh and I especially enjoyed that the world isn’t patriarchal and is also very queer normative.

We have two main characters, Fi & Shane. Fi is a book smart artifact hunter, who seeks knowledge and besides being really good at finding secret things, she also finds the hunt fun – but yeah, sometimes searching the ruins can put your life is in danger. But the thrill of finding magical possessions, in a world where magic has dwindled due to a curse that was leveled on the most magical line of witches, has it’s own powerful draw and possibly downsides.

Shane is a natural ax warrior, who puts her services to hire, while running from her past and familial obligations, who has a treasure map and seeks out Fi to partner up to find some magical treasures or troubles! Shane is my favorite character, and it’s not just because she is queer and strong and a total badass, okay, okay maybe it’s all of that, but she just loves so fiercely, and that includes her friends. Her platonic dedication to Fi as the journey progresses is just so admirable.

What neither of them expected to stumble upon the same cursed item (that over 100 years ago laid an entire magical kingdom to sleep) and the only way to break it the curse that Fi is now connected to – is to find and kiss the sleeping prince, Briar Rose. Since Fi pricked herself on the same spindle as the prince, his magical light witch spirit has awoken and he is able to help assist (in kind of a ghostly way) to find his hidden castle and awake him and his entire kingdom. Briar is actually really funny and sweet and works on Fi’s closed off heart the whole way through, because he believes in fairytales, and that she must be his destined beloved if she found the spindle and can truly save him.

Of course there are obstacles in the way, like witch hunters, witches, parents, ex-boyfriends, giant eight-legged magical creatures, and of course more magic, curses, and riddles to solve & defeat! There are also matters of the heart that must be addressed before destiny can be achieved.

This is a multi-POV book, and not everyone gets equal screen time, and that is okay as the story flows well, but I could have loved some more from Shane’s POV. I can’t help it, she was my favorite, and her side story was full of intrigue and the start of a very feisty relationship. Plus her backstory help set the world building a whole lot. I have to say I am really excited there is another book coming as the story has a satisfying ending and doesn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger, but is more the set up for book two!

To sum it up, The Bone Spindle is fun, fast-paced fantasy retelling with strong female characters, a queer subplot, and world of magic to get swept away in!

I love this!! Fi is a great main character and Shane is really loveable. I loved their friendly banter towards the end and how both characters actively work against their flaws/instincts at the end. I can’t wait to learn more about Andar, Briar and Red along with other witches. There is so much to explore. I’m really excited for the continuation of this story. The ending left it wide open and I want more!

3.5/5 Stars

A treasure hunter named Fi, and a huntswoman named Shane team up to discover a long hidden treasure. Along the way they come face-to-face with a cursed prince, who has been waiting 100 years for the kiss that will wake him up.

This has been marketed as a gender flipped Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones, and I can definitely see the comparisons. It took me awhile to get into the story, but I did begin to really enjoy it as the story progressed. The worldbuilding was interesting, and I loved learning about how Briar's curse affected the Kingdom. There are flashbacks from each character, that helps build the world, and helps us understand the characters more, which I thought was great. I liked the alternating POVs of Shane and Fi, and I like how we also got a few chapters from Briar Rose as well. I really loved Shane's character, and I found her storyline to be the more appealing of the two. I was very intrigued by her history and loved learning more! I do think that both romances felt insta-lovey to me, which I am not the biggest fan of, but as they interacted more with one another, I began to like each of them more. I definitely was more interested in the friendship between Fi and Shane though, and wish that was more of the focus rather than the relationships.

The Bone Spindle was a really fun retake on Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood! The way everything spiraled out of control at the end was great, can't wait for the second book.

I think also in terms of having strong female characters, sure Fi and Shane had the typical "I'm a strong treasure hunter" but also they each have vulnerable moments that make for really well rounded characters.

When a book is pitched as Indiana Jones crossed with a fairytale with main characters who are LGBTQ, it definitely has my attention. The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder was pitched as all of these things! It is about three main characters - Fi, Shane and Briar Rose. Fi is a treasure hunter who isn't into things like true love. Shane is a a girl who is a warrior and who happens to be into girls. And Briar Rose is a prince who happens to be a ghost. One day Fi accidentally pricks her finger on a spindle while she's off treasure hunting and happens to awaken Briar Rose. 

Honestly, I liked The Bone Spindle while I was listening to it. The audiobook is narrated by Lindsey Dorcus and is 11 hours and 43 minutes long. However, after I finished with this book, a lot of what I just read kind of fell out of my head. It wasn't super memorable to me. I suppose not every book needs to make a lasting impression. Also, it really is wonderful that one of the main characters pursues a sapphic romance -- love the representation. I just think I've been so under pressure in other facets of my life lately that no matter what I read, I probably won't retain for too terrible long and that's okay. This was a fun ride, not a forever ride for me. For someone else though, I think this book will really land.

A gender-bent retelling of sleeping beauty? Count me in!!

What an adventure! From the first to last page Vedder will take you on an unforgettable adventure with an unforgettable cast! I finally got a chance to sit down and read this thrilling story! I can't wait to read what's next!!!

I love revamped fairy tales so I thought this book would be right up my alley. And while it was enjoyable; there were a few elements that I didn't love. My biggest issue was with the romances and how the characters were coupled up. Even though the description talks about Fi falling for Briar Rose, I couldn't help thinking that she and Shane had a lot more chemistry. Why couldn't their banter and complementary treasure hunting skills have evolved into romantic feelings? It's nice to see a strong female friendship, of course, but I thought that was a missed opportunity to flip the fairy tale trope on its head rather than just gender-swapping it. Plus, Fi and Briar Rose had some insta-love going on, which I'm never a fan of and especially not when it seems really out of character (like it did for Fi.) <spoiler> Lastly, it was really obvious that Red was a "traitor" and I don't think it added anything to the story. </spoiler>

On the other hand, I loved the treasure hunting, the puzzles, and the ruins filled with traps and secrets! These were featured more heavily at the beginning of the story, but I also enjoyed the action scenes that were sprinkled throughout. Fi's brains and Shane's brawn were the perfect pairing and it was nice to see them get closer as their journey progressed. I also liked how Vedder dealt with the actual ramifications of a kingdom being put to sleep for 100 years, something that the original fairy tale glosses over. Personally, I don't think I'll pick up the sequel, but I understand why this book is a hit with fans of Indiana Jones, retellings, and sapphic representation.

I unfortunately did not get a chance to read this one but I have heard so many good things and I can’t wait to eventually sink into this story!

The Bone Spindle follows two main characters, Fi and Shane. Fi is a treasure hunter who is burdened with a curse, and Shane is a badass axe wielding lesbian warrior. Throughout the course of the book Fi and Shane go from reluctant acquaintances to friends who care deeply about each other and this was definitely my favourite aspect of the book.

Both girls also had a romantic plot line, and sadly one was more fleshed out. Fi and Briar Rose (who is a boy) had a lot of page time together and I really saw their relationship blossom. Shane and Red on the other hand… not so much. They only met each other a handful of times over the course of the novel and I just really didn’t believe in their connection over such a short time. I hope that their relationship sees the same kind of development as Fi and Briar’s in the second book.

The world building was woven in smartly through a prologue and flashbacks from both girls which evaded an info-dump. I really liked the idea of four powerful witches with their own magical domains!

Overall if you’re a fan of retellings with a twist then The Bone Spindle might be for you 😊

If a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling mixed with Indiana Jones sounds intriguing I'd urge you to pick up The Bone Spindle!

The story follows Fi, a treasure hunter, and a warrior named Shane, as they team up to find and wake Briar Rose, the prince who has been sleeping for over a hundred years due to a curse  that affected his whole kingdom. 

The Bone Spindle is full of adventure, interesting characters, and creative puzzles as Fi and Shane make the journey to wake Briar Rose. This story is so intriguing and smart in the way that it builds off  the original Sleeping Beauty story. This is a retelling done right! I loved how original and new The Bone Spindle felt even though it is clearly influenced by Sleeping Beauty.  

Adventure stories are not usually something I seek out, in fact I usually find them cliché or boring, but The Bone Spindle proved that I can thoroughly enjoy some adventure in my reading. The places and situations Fi and Shane find themselves in are so compelling and fun to read. I was impressed by the complexities of the characters, their back stories, and the world that Vedder builds around them. I also really liked that the author did not make the two main characters come together romantically. Instead, we get to see Fi and Shane build a friendship and also fall in love with other fully fleshed out characters. 

The Bone Spindle is one of the most entertaining and well written YA fantasy books I've read in a while and I recommend it highly! 
 
*I received an e-ARC of The Bone Spindle on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

First I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. The insta love kind of ruined it for me but the action and magic system kept me interested.
I felt like I was watching the scenes play out as I was reading. Loved the adventure and fantasy mixed in together.

Thank you to PenguinTeen for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb for Leslie Vedder’s The Bone Spindle promised a story where a gender-bent sleeping beauty tale meets Indiana Jones, and I’m happy to say that the author delivered all that and more. If you love fairytale retellings (especially gender-bent queer ones), then I think you should give this story a chance. The book does start out a little slow, but it’s well worth it once the real action begins.

As soon as I saw the interaction between Fi and Shane, I thought to myself, “Ooh, this is going to be exciting”. The addition of Red and Briar brought that to another level. Fi to me was a cross between Princess Belle and Lara Croft. A total book worm, but also someone who has a knack for solving riddles and clues that end up leading to rare discoveries. I loved how Ms. Vedder handled the emotional trauma that Fi is dealing with because of her previous relationship. Said ex is a total jerk and I wish he was the one under a curse (without any fail-safes embedded to break it). On the outside, Shane is a badass who definitely knows how to wield her ax. Privately, she’s fiercely loyal to those she cares about and can show her vulnerable side. Between Fi and Shane, this book checks the box for a “found family” story if you are a fan of that particular trope. Briar was the most interesting character to me. While he is certainly not a damsel in distress, he does have an almost whimsical nature and is an eternal optimist similar to the original Princess Aurora. I’m eager to see where the author takes his character in future books.

The magic and worldbuilding of The Bone Spindle were so much fun! The author definitely pays tribute to the original story of Sleeping Beauty. I think I actually prefer Ms. Vedder’s version of the tale (compared to the Disney one) where the magical beings are witches instead of fairies. I feel it gave them more depth and importance. In the Disney version, the fairies came across as ditzy airheads to me. I loved learning more about Briar’s history with the Great Witches. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the moments where Briar sees the results of their sacrifice for him were particularly emotional (especially that of the Rose Witch). Read the book and find out why!

The other major plus for me with the book was how the different sexual orientations were treated as normal. The sky is blue. The Spindle Witch cursed a kingdom. Girls can love girls, and boys can love boys. All of these are run-of-the-mill, accepted facts. While this is becoming more common in the contemporary genre, I haven’t seen it as much in fantasy books. I hope more authors will take similar approaches in the future.

Overall, The Bone Spindle is a strong selection for fans of the young adult fantasy genre. It’s engaging, action-packed, and full of sarcasm and snark. Amazing characters mixed with fantastic worldbuilding and a compelling storyline – what more could you ask for? I’m curious to see what’s next in the series, as the author laid a lot of the groundwork in this book for subsequent installments.

Trigger Warnings: Blood, Confinement, Emotional Abuse, Fire, Gaslighting, Mental Illness (PTSD), Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic Relationship (Past/Historical)

This was okay. It’s your standard YA fantasy, with the use of generic tropes and forgettable characters. I didn’t think it was terrible, but it also didn’t make a lasting impression. I wish there had been more world-building and more character development; it would have given the story some much-needed depth.
Full review on YouTube.

The Bone Spindle reads like a classic action movie. Think Indiana Jones but with teenage girls, a gender swapped sleeping beauty retelling and an axe wielding lesbian. A fast paced, adventurous story full of magic, curses and a wonderful friendship.

Right from the first few chapters I was enthralled by the characters, the adventure and the action. It was fast paced and entertaining, a nice departure from what I had been reading recently. Even as our characters took on long journeys across kingdoms which I can often find boring in books, I found myself wanting to know where the journey would end. I loved this spin on the classic fairy tale and thought that it really brought something new to the table while remaining true to the essence of the Sleeping Beauty story. I really enjoyed that this world was so entrenched in history and magic. I found the worldbuilding really interesting and was always eager to learn more about the witches and lost kingdom of Andar.

Overall, The Bone Spindle was a fun adventure focused fantasy novel. The world and its histories were beautifully developed and the plot kept me on my toes. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

So much fun; we've already put this book on our shelves and we can't keep it there. Good action, wonderful send-up, and great for the action-adventure fans.

3.5 Stars. This book is a really fast paced book that almost never lets up until the end of it. Its a sort of gender bent fairy tale retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" with Briar Rose being a beautiful prince who is saved by a princess and her grumpy friend. This does kind of mix in a little bit of the action romance and does have a sort of bitter sweet ending for all our protagonists, which is kind of annoying, but over all this is a fun jaunt that doesn't have much to add.

It feels like to me, it starts off as a bit of a buddy cop heist story with Fi, an adventurer hiring Shane to help chase down a 'treasure' was fun. It's also great that Fi and Shane become very close and their relationship becomes the emotional lynchpin of the story. I hope the sequel will be able to keep that up.

Because of that, the other relationships that develop are a little disappointing and do feel like there's a little something missing to them. I think each one has their downsides, but that both of them end up in a bit of a bittersweet (in one case, very bitter) place is disappointing. I do believe that this is mostly to do with it being a debut, and the author has some debut lumps, but I think for folks who enjoy fairytale retellings and some genre smashing, this will work.

*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opi