Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sleeping Beauty x Indiana Jones is an apt description of this book. Going into it I was excited, because I love both the sleeping beauty fairytale and Indiana Jones is one of my favorite movie series. This is going to be a book that isn’t going to be talked about much and fly under the radar like The Curse of the Specter Queen. . This I think is mostly because it is a very niche book. Nothing wrong with that, but they just have to find the right people to read it. Was I the right person for this book?

Well, maybe.

Personally, I think the audience of this book will be better suited to the younger side of YA, more like 12-15 than the older age group. While there are some scenes depicting romance, the writing style and the overarching events of the book lean younger to me.

It’s a very typical slow build of events that lead to the main plot point in the book, with small side quests along the way. This book was full of adventure and excitement. It was an adventure to read the book and get clues along the way. I think that is what is appealing about the book, the mystery and the adventure. I can’t say that I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book, I really wasn’t. Even the plot itself wasn’t for me in the end. It felt a bit basic and contrived, but I think what made the book work overall were some aspects of the characters.

We have three main POV characters, Shane, Fi and Briar Rose. Shane and Fi are both girls on an adventure, Shane, ax-wielding, and adventure and woman loving. Then Fi, who loves books and adventure. Finally, Briar Rose, the cursed Witch prince. For the most part I liked Briar’s POV the best. I liked his complicated feelings about himself, his future and his past.

I very much enjoyed the banter between Fi and Shane throughout the book and their ragging on each other. As they slowly become friends we see the change in that relationship as well. Shane and her love interest Red are funny as well. Red is a mysterious girl who may or may not be from the long-ago country.

This was a queer adventure (do you like the pun??!) that was a good read. I do feel that there is some instalove (if that isn’t your thing!), and it does read young. The pacing of the book was also just okay.

Overall, I just didn’t love the book, but I think it is going to appeal to A LOT of people. Especially those who are younger because it has magic, adventure and queerness that will be relatable to the younger YA spectrum. It was an easy read for me.

It was solidly a 3 star book, but I am unsure if I will be picking up the sequel, as I didn’t feel as invested in it as I would have liked to been.

First of all, thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of Bone Spindle in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the premise (I mean, who can say no to Indian Jones as a comp) but I actually really struggled with the writing. The style was over the top and kind of cheesy, and it read really young, almost middle grade in it's style. The voice just wasn't what I was expecting, and I just could not get into it.

I hear there's great queer rep, but I unfortunately didn't get far into into the QRC.

I'm one of the lucky people that had a chance to read this book early, and I'm so glad I was able to, because this book was so much fun! I'm especially impressed that Leslie Vedder managed to make this story so engaging because Sleeping Beauty is one of my least favorite fairytales, but I am totally in love with this version of the story.

I'm a sucker for adventure, and this book has that in spades, so if you like treasure hunting and traps, you won't be disappointed. All the characters are amazing and loveable, and Fi and Shane are the best, but Briar Rose is my favorite. I loved this take on the character, and without getting into any spoilers, I'm really excited to see what happens with him in the sequel.

If you like adventure and fairytale retellings, you should pick up this book!

I really enjoyed all the action in this one. The Bone Spindle is a fast paced book full of adventure. Not all good adventure, but still. I really liked it.

There are three points of view in the book, but most of the story is told by Fi and Shane. There are random chapters from Briar Rose. Fi is a treasure hunter and Shane is a marksman. I think that's what she was called. Both agreed to work together after Shane found a map with hidden magic. What they found was a curse though. Fi got stuck by a spindle. But it wasn't just any spindle. It was the Spindle Witch's spindle that cursed the witches. Long ago, Briar Rose was targeted by the witch. The other three great witches sacrificed themselves to save him. They put him and everyone left in the castle to sleep. One day, a girl would wake up Briar Rose with a kiss. This is what happened to Fi. But unknown to everyone, Fi is also cursed. She can't stay any place too long or get to close to anyone. Shane also has a secret. She was to be a future ruler, but she left home so her brother could lead instead. Shane was so likeable. She is definitely a romantic, but is also snarky and funny. She ended up being my favorite.

I won't go into too much detail of the story itself. It's a lot of fun to read and I'm curious to see what will happen in book two. I did see the one twist coming in this one, but I still want to see where that particular part of the story will go.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

An high stakes Indiana Jones x Sleeping Beauty adventure, with a sapphic romance and battle axes. That. That is what I came for. And The Bone Spindle delivered on all accounts. Ah, where to start with it all?

I suppose the beginning is as good of a place as any. The Bone Spindle starts off with a fairytale-esque prologue that is so vibey. Reading like a whimsical bedtime fairytale that gets passed down generation to generation, it was both a clever way to set expectations, build a base foundation for the world, as well as set the tone for the entire Sleeping Beauty segment of the story.

After the prologue we follow Fi and Shane as they embark on a quest. Originally for riches (or in Fi’s case books, which honestly respect for that), it eventually develops (in true ya fantasy fashion) into a quest to save the realm! The narrative is split into three third person pov so you get multi-angle questing and never a dull moment.

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Fi (a bookish adventurer who doesn’t believe in love) and Shane (axe-weilding huntswoman with a complicated past) are both strong main characters. With complex backstories and unique characterization, you can’t help but root for both of them. They both came alive throughout the journey and it was so rewarding to learn more about both Fi and Shane as they got to know more about each other.

A lot of the secrets unraveling between Fi and Shane revolved around past events. Cue the flashbacks.

Now I don’t want to say the flashbacks were all bad, but there were moments that felt a bit chunky. I’ll even give The Bone Spindle the benefit of the doubt and say the eARC formatting was partially to blame. Even still, more transition into the flashbacks would have been much appreciated. Just some merger so it was clear right away that ohhh this isn’t live and rolling, this is a flash to the past.

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Briar (magical prince who has been asleep for 100 years) is also an important character, which a couple povs scattered about. There was really great characterization and internal monologues in those bits, but I think they could have been harnessed more consistently throughout. There were moments (especially towards the end) where hearing from Briar’s perspective would have added more depth and perspective to what was going on.

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Imagine my absolute shock when I found out the girls on the cover are not in fact the main couple. It’s ok though, because we actually get two romances which is always better one. And! Bonus points for the fact that one is a f/f romance!

Fi and Briar had a lot more page time than Shane and Red did. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the dynamic Fi and Briar had going on, but the ending would have been better if we got equal development on all romantic fronts. Shane and Red had the romantic tension and the banter, but I needed a bit more.

I also could have used more stakes throughout. When it comes to books that are straight-up adventure, it can be hard to keep the stakes and energy going the whole time. The Bone Spindle was most certainly fast paced, but I would have liked to feel more oh...oh no NO! Noooo while bad things were happening throughout.

4/5 STARS

The moral of the story: I WANT MOREEEEEEEEE!!!! I really had fun while reading this one and couldn’t put it down, like a spider trapped into a web of intrigue and adventure. If you are a fan of retellings, adventure, and partners that would literally die for each other, then The Bone Spindle should be added to your tbr asap.

I feel like I went on an adventure with the characters! That was so good - a super fast-paced, gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty with witches, treasure-hunters and amazing banter.

And I don’t know who I loved more - Shane with her battle-axe or Fi with her curse. Can’t wait to see them again in book 2!!

The Bone Spindle was a delightful read! I was rooting for Fi right away, I loved her style and her awkwardness and how completely devoted she was to history and treasure hunting. It took me a little longer to warm up to Shane, but she won me over before too long.
It was a fun and refreshing take to see a fantasy world full of ruins that were being explored by an archeologist/historian. That Indian Jones feeling was really what hooked me with this book. But the genderbent sleeping beauty aspect was also a big draw. I appreciated the way the fairytale was handled, not only making the girls the ones to save the prince, but making both Fi and Briar active participants in the breaking of the curse. Their relationship was deftly handled and avoided all the ick-factor that goes with the original fairytale.
I can't wait for this book to release so I can share it with people!

Thank you so much for providing me with the widget for this book! The premise is awesome (Indiana Jones and queer girls kicking ass?? Yes please!) and I love how gay it is, but unfortunately this book is not my jam and I would not be the best advocate for promoting it.

The Bone Spindle is a charming, gender-swapped take on Sleeping Beauty with the added delight of treasure hunting thrown into the mix. Jaded, history-obsessed Fi is forced to embark on a dangerous quest to break the curse of the sleeping prince Briar Rose after accidentally pricking her finger on an enchanted bone spindle. She’s joined along the way by the rakish Shane, who abandoned her duty as the family heir to live the life of a mercenary and hunter, as and the spirit of the idealistic Brian, who has waited a century to be awoken by the love of his life. The story is spiced up with witches and the cruel people who hunt them, as well as dark magic, curses, and fairytale-inspired world building. Despite these fun additions to the Sleeping Beauty mythos, it is rather predictable and never quite dives deep enough into the complexities of its characters. It’s sure to please fans of traditional fairytales, but falls a bit flat if you’re looking for a more unique or modern take.

this is described as indiana jones x genderbent sleeping beauty, and it’s just as fun as it sounds!!

this book felt like a breath of fresh air! a lot of what happened were things i hadn’t seen in other ya fantasies, so it was really refreshing. it was such an addicting adventure.

i loved the characters and their dynamics!! the two main characters were treasure hunting partners, and they each had their own romance (one of which was sapphic!!!). their personalities felt so unique and realistic. it was so cute to see the characters go from reluctant partners to best friends by the end.

the world felt like one from a gritty fairytale. there was ruins, castles, and dangerous forests. there’s also witches, and i found their roles very interesting! also, i loved the casual queerness in their world.

i loved this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique, adventurous read! 4.5 stars!!

The Bone Spindle is a mash up of all my favorite book traits: sapphic romance, subversive fairy tale takes, treasure hunting, and unlikely friendship. This multiple POV story will thrill you. The treasure hunting element is *chefs kiss* perfection - the excitement of unraveling history and the intrigue of dangerous puzzles. It was an element that immediately made me fall in love. Combine that with witches and a gender bent fairy tale and I am sold.

The Bone Spindle is atmospheric and magical. I can't figure out if I loved the dangerous relic quests more than the friendship between Shane and Fi. Both of these combined into a perfect mixture of action packed scenes with soft moments of heart melting scenes. I immediately loved how stubborn and reckless Shane was - not to mention that we've just scratched the surface of who she is. And don't get me started on how much of a girl boss crush I had on Fi's clever mind and secrets that beckon you.

I really liked the premise, the setting, and the characters of this book! All of them were fascinating, but I just don't think it was for me. I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style, but I think that's just personal preference!

Thank you Penguin Teen & Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5

This was so much fun!! The whole time reading this I had a giant smile on my face. I love these characters and this world! I want more queer retellings.

The Bone Spindle is a genderbent retelling of Sleeping Beauty in a queer normative world. This book follows cursed bookish treasure hunter, Fi, and Shane, a lesbian with an axe (also a fierce warrior)! The two of them team up when Shane finds a strange map that could lead to treasure and/or magic. Along the way, Fi pricks her finger on a bone spindle and wakes Prince Briar Rose. With Briar's spirit in tow, Fi and Shane will have to travel through the magical forest to his kingdom in order to break his curse.

I loved the characters of this book so much. Between Fi and Shane, I knew I was going to be a goner. Fi is the perfect book lover trope and she's so adorable about it! I loved how tough Shane was, but she also had a fierce loyalty and a soft heart for those she loves. Her backstory really got me, I hope we continue to learn more about her and possibly see her brother and ex-fiance in the sequel!

I will say if you've ever experienced an emotional abusive relationship proceed with caution. Fi deals with a lot of past trauma from her past ex who not only was emotional abusive, manipulative and gaslit her, but he also cursed her before parting ways. While all these things happened in the past, Fi is still dealing with the trauma and the aftermath of it. This ex also appears in the book and tries to manipulate and coerce Fi again. So yeah, he's a scum bag.

The magic and worldbuilding was so cool! I really loved learning more about the world and Briar Rose's Kingdom, especially how he ended up being cursed. All in all, I really loved this retelling and I can't wait for its sequel!!

Rep: female MC with PTSD, Lesbian female MC, sapphic female side character, bisexual female side character, vegetarian male side character, queer-normative world.

CWs: Blood, confinement, emotional abuse, fire, gaslighting, injury/injury detail, mental illness (PTSD), misogyny, sexism, toxic relationship (past one), violence.

An incredibly fun and unique spin on a classic fairytale (well, really a blend of so many favorite stories) that revitalized my love for YA Fantasy. The characters were loveable — I would die for Shane — and pushed the story forward. I appreciated the multiple POVs that allowed me to truly fall in love with all of the characters. There seemed to be magic on every page, even in ways I didn't expect from knowing the original stories. I can't wait for the next one!

Briar Rose, prince of the Kingdom of Andar, is born on the verge of death. His mother reaches out to a powerful witch, the Spindle Witch, to use her magic to save her son in exchange for sharing knowledge of terrible and forbidden magic. The Spindle Witch saves the prince, but the queen walks back on her promise. Seeking revenge, the Spindle Witch curses Briar and the entire Kingdom to ruin; she raises a terrible army but the three Great Witches of Andar sacrifice themselves to save as many as they can. The castle, including Briar, is cast into an eternal slumber and a great forest of roses rises in defense. The curse of the Spindle Witch can only be broken by the kiss of girl. Generations later, two treasure hunters, Fi and Shane, find themselves wrapped up in the curse themselves, seeking to break the curse and gain some treasure along the way.

Fi and Shane bring very different skill sets to treasure hunting. Fi comes from high society, born of two historians. She is a trained historian herself who relies on her intelligence, quick wit, and problem solving skills to solve traps and find her version treasure: old texts, ancient artifacts, and pieces of history. Shane is the first born of War King, heir to the throne. She is all brawn and muscle, and she fights, barrels, and forces her way through every obstacle to win her version of treasure: gold and money and jewels. Vedder writes these characters to be very skilled in what they bring to treasure hunting but is also careful to balance those characters so that they aren't Mary Sues. Fi, though intelligent and clever, is haunted by a former relationship that keeps her guarded and prevents her from forming real relationships. Shane, though an excellent fighter and stronger than most, is stubborn and bull-headed.

The plot itself is very, very similar to the fairy tales that you already know. Witch's curse. A kingdom's heir cursed to sleep. Adventure through dangerous lands. Booby traps. Ruins. All of the staples that you would expect in a story like this are there. And, you know what? I'm fine with it because the main characters Fi and Shane are just so much fun. Their characterization is fully formed, and their dialogue with each other is a delight. They quickly settle in to talking to each other like sisters who love and care for each other but still give each other a hard time.

The Bone Spindle is told through alternating third person narration primarily focused on Shane and Fi. For the most part, this narration style works. We never get bogged down with one character's opinions or inner monologue. This narration style also allows Vedder to dip into Fi's and Shane's past and the experiences that inform who they are today. These moments are well balance with the current action of the plot, so I never felt like I was losing the thread of the novel. There are also a few chapters that focus on Briar which I felt detracted from the over all story. I didn't feel that we learned anything from those chapters that we could not have learned from interactions between Briar, Fi, and Shane in one of their chapters.

I definitely am looking forward to future installments in this series.

The Bone Spindle promises an exciting adventure that's half fairy tale, half treasure hunt, with multiple points of view and romance thrown in for all. The book is ambitious in its premise and its writing, and while I don't think it always reached the heights it was aiming for, the overall product was an enjoyable read.

The opening of the book did not catch my attention. I wasn't invested in either Shane or Fi as characters, and I often felt as if I were being told things about their characters rather than seeing them. Shane is a great warrior with a reputation, a "huntsman for hire," though I never figured out what was supposed to make her a "huntsman," exactly. Fi is a historian/treasure hunter with a mysterious past that's haunting her. However, being told Shane is force to be reckoned with or told that Fi is brilliant is different from believing it, and it took me a while to warm up to them as characters. There is a lot of information and world building that needs to be shared. I admit I felt mildly bored by the whole thing, and I was wondering what I had gotten myself into.

For me, the book really picks up with the introduction of Briar Rose. Although he's under a sleeping spell, he's often the most alive. I loved seeing the world through his eyes, his excitement about the quest and finally waking up and freeing his people, his pure belief that Fi and he are meant to be. He's so in love with living that one can't help be drawn in and think everything is beautiful and amazing, too, even when the characters are down on their luck or in danger. His adoration of Fi even convinced me she's at least somewhat interesting as a character. I would read a whole book from his POV alone and enjoy it.

The plot also picks up once this "main quest" of breaking the curse picks up. I do think there are times the book reads the way I am plotting my own WIP, which is that whenever I get bored of writing the story I make something crazy and exciting happen, and the characters seem to get into quite a lot of sudden scrapes. But erring on the side of wild things happen every 50 pages is perhaps better than making nothing happen at all, and some of the scenes are quite entertaining. I do wish, however, that more of these obstacles and pitfalls were related to the main villain. The characters are constantly building up the villain who is going to stop them, who is going to put their entire quest in question, who is going to kill them before they get to end the curse . . . and I spent most of the book waiting for this person to bother making an appearance. It's quite a let down.

So, I found the story had a lot of highs and lows. Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much as I was hoping, especially as I love YA fantasy and fairy tale retellings and lots of the elements that went into this book. However, there were times I gasped or laughed or wondered what would happen next, and the overall experience was positive. I do think I'm interested in reading the sequel, which is always a good sign.

I loved this book! Two girl treasure hunters in a world brimming with fairytales accidentally stumble on a bone spindle, and end up on a quest to break an ancient sleeping curse, with plenty of danger, romance, and fable references thrown in for fun.

The banter between Fi and Shane had me laughing out loud. They're very different characters - Fi's the book-smart treasure hunter, Shane's the hotheaded fighter - who don't even like each other very much at first, and I loved watching them go from grudging partners to I-would-die-for-you friends. (There may have been a few tears.)

As much as I love the two girl treasure hunters (and I do!), I also fell head over heels for the Fi and Briar Rose love story. A smart, skeptical girl and a charming, romantic boy debating whether destiny is a thing and falling in love in spite of themselves? Sign me up! Sweet and fluttery from page one, this is the romance I've been longing to read in YA for a long time. No spoilers, but I can't wait to see what happens to them in the sequel!

Extra kudos for an amazing f/f love story, too. Shane is the lesbian lead of my dreams - tough, loyal, and totally herself, she bursts to life and had me laughing right from the start.

The perfect book for readers who want a lighthearted, fast-paced fantasy overflowing with friendship and fun (and some kissing).