This was a really smart modern reimagining of the Sleeping Beauty tale. Living with a terminal illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, Zinnia Gray knows life is precious. When her friend throws her a Sleeping Beauty themed 21st birthday party, complete with an actual spinning wheel she pricks her finger and gets magically transported to this other world with another version of Princess Aurora. While there she finds purpose trying to save this Aurora from her fate. I enjoyed this short novella a lot and look forward to the next book in Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!

I loved this 128 page novella from The Fractured Fables series. The author also wrote The Ten Thousand Doors of January & The Once & Future Witches.

An industrial accident at an early age means Zinnia won’t live to see her 22nd birthday. Her BFF Charm plans a Sleeping Beauty themed party for her 21st birthday including a tower with a SPINDLE!

Well a prick occurs, multiple universes open up & Zinnia becomes the catalyst for many beauties named after flowers to unify and take control of their futures. LGBTQ+

A powerful story with shades of Into the Spiderverse …. and look at that cover! 😍

What a fun fairytale retelling!

Thank you NetGalley & MacMillan Audio, I loved this 5 star book!!

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I received this book as an eARC audiobook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own!

As a girl set to die on her 21st birthday, Zinnia has always been obsessed with Sleeping Beauty. But when she pricks her finger as a joke, she's suddenly thrust into a fairytale world that might not be exactly how she always imagined.

I think I'm in love with this book! From the very first sentence, I was absolutely hooked. I listened to it all in one sitting and was very unwilling to so much as pause it, Zinnia is such a relatable main character, and her story is one that really resonated with me. The chronic illness representation in this book was to die for, and as someone with a chronic illness, I loved the way that illness and dying was represented.

Between the illness representation and the feminism and LGBTQ+ representation, this book was absolutely amazing. It took everything we know about Sleeping Beauty and modernized it, making it such a wonderful tale of perseverance and truly learning to live. I adored everything about this story and simply wish that there was more of it!

If you like fairytale retellings, chronic illness representation, or just simply amazing stories, this is the book for you!

I normally don’t like retellings but from the first “page” (since it was an audio book) this one felt different. It wasn’t just a retelling but more of an interactive retelling. I really liked the different dynamics of the story and how the main character’s real struggle commingled with the fantasy aspect. I really didn’t know how it was going to end! The voice of the main character is super relatable and someone I’d totally be friends with in real life.

Alix E. Harrow proves to me in 100 pages she has a masterclass in the art of doing a great deal with very little. A Spindle Splintered is an entertaining and frequently tense portal fantasy adventure, one full of oddball characters and offbeat diversions that made each trek through the world of Sleeping Beauty feel unique and totally worthwhile. Harrow has done a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of this childhood nostalgic story while giving us a massive toolbox of modern elements. A main character with an incurable illness, gay princesses, and cleft chin princes who don't do any of the saving.
Side note: aduiobook narrator does a fantastic job. There is so much emotion in their voice and they played out each scene wonderfully.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by Amy Landon
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy

A Spindle Splintered is the first book in the Fractured Fables series by Alix E. Harrow. This was the first book I've read by the author and I was hooked from the start!

This book appears to be a reimaging of Sleeping Beauty, but is so much more! I loved how the author took me into a rabbit hole with her that opened my eyes to so much! I had never really given the origin of Sleeping Beauty a lot of thought before, but now I can't stop thinking about it.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were amazing, the story was captivating and filled with adventure, and we got a glimpse into the multiverse! I don't want to spoil this brilliant book because I was blown away. I didn't want it to end!

The narration by Amy Landon was incredible! She added so much depth to the story!

I highly recommend reading this book! I will be (im)patiently waiting for the next book, A Mirror Mended, to be released in 2022!

I'm so grateful to Alix E. Harrow, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Very well written and great fun.


Review copy provided by publisher.


(short reviews are my thing)

I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

Alix E Harrow has crafted a delightful tale out of Sleeping Beauty that is equality woke and compelling. She modernized a classic tale by adding in lesbians and the multiverse. Despite its short length the story felt complete and full of surprises.

I listened to the novella in audio format. The reader shows an impressive range of emotions and clearly differentiates between characters. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, A Spindle Splintered is a must read. The story simultaneously critiques the sexism inherent in the familiar tale and infuses it with an irresistible irreverence.

This is a wonderful novella--a "fractured" re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty story with a modern day twist. I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed this book, because I'm definitely not much into this genre, but Harrow gives the perfect feminist, lesbian-affirming twist to the tale.

Zinnia Gray is turning 21, and knows she's living on borrowed time. Afflicted with a disease that causes protein deposits to build up in her organs, she knows her life is short. Her lifelong obsession with all Sleeping Beauty-related stories spurs her best friend Charmaine to organize an epic Sleeping Beauty themed 21st birthday party in "the highest tower in the land" (the guard tower of a defunct penitentiary), complete with a spinning wheel on which Zin pricks her finger. Zin is transported to another dimension, a fairy-tale world with a perfect princess, Primrose, whom Zin knows she needs to save because she knows what's ahead for Primrose. But the events that follow aren't like any fairy tale Zin has ever read, and who knows what might happen to provide a happily ever after?

This tale is fast-paced and creatively told. I was rooting for the best outcome for all involved, and Harrow delivered that for me. There's a great deal of sarcastic humor throughout and I'm all for that! There are surprises around every corner, and I just loved the directions and twists the author took in her writing of this tale. The characters are unique and fun, and the dual timelines? dimensions? are also totally unexpected and fun.

I listened to this as an audiobook and Amy Landon's narration is fantastic. She provides the perfect voice for Zin and I believe helped me to be even more invested in the story than if I had read it on the page.

This is the first book in the Fractured Fables series, and I can't wait to see what happens to Zin and the crew in the next installment.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an Advanced Listener's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zinnia is a dying girl with a rare disease. Dying Girl Rules dictate that she must move fast, be fully consumed with things she likes, and she lives up to these things. She is obsessed with Sleeping Beauty (and always has been). On her 21st birthday, which is supposed to be her last according to the disease that she has (nobody has lived to 22 with the disease), she jokingly pricks her finger on a spindle and finds herself in an alternate universe where the Sleeping Beauty fairytale becomes her reality. She meets Princess Primrose, who is cursed to prick her finger on her 21st birthday (the same day as Zinnia's, coincidentally), and fall into a century-long sleep. Zinnia is cynical, but hopeful and desperate (perhaps because she is, in fact, a dying girl) to help this princess who she believes is just like her.

A Spindle Splintered is a short, novella-length read that is funny, cynical, and just a delightful dark fairytale twist for adults. I loved listening to this on audio, and the narrator has an easy to listen to voice that conveys the story perfectly. I loved the comparisons drawn between the princess and Zinnia, along with the cynicism and underlying hope that encompasses Zinnia. There's a lot to love here: Zinnia's queer best friend, her charming and very relatable personality, and the multiverse re-telling of a story that many of us grew up with. The story, the narrator, everything here is absolutely perfect and wonderful for spooky season!

A subversive retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Zinnia Gray has turned 21 & it’s pretty much the last birthday she’ll ever have. An industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition that is slowly killing her. Not too much is known about the condition other than no one seems to make it past their 21st birthday. Zinnia’s best friend, Charm, is determined to make it special for her. Zinnia’s favorite (obessiively so) fairytale is Sleeping Beauty. Charm sets up a Sleeping Beauty themed party, complete w/ a spindle. When Zinnia pricks her finger, she falls into another world meeting another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.
Actually very excited as this is the first in a series of fractured fairy tales that Alix E. harrow is writing!

*Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for providing this e-version of this novel.*

Having read the physical galley of this, I wanted to see if the narration would be able to bring forth that whimsical, lyrical writing to life, and oh MY MY it did. The narrator was able to perfectly portray this wacky tale perfectly, and I cannot wait to listen time and time again. I'm diving in for another listen right now while I look at the physical copy to see the illustrations!

Two girls destined to die have their fates crossed, perhaps altering their once doomed outcomes, in this whimsical modern-day reimagining of Sleeping Beauty.

Due to an industrial accident, Zinnia Gray, was left with a rare and fatal condition. The prognosis of which means she won't live to see her 22nd-birthday. As bleak as that is, Zin has had a great life, surrounded by people who love her so much. Including her best friend, Charm, who decides to throw Zin a Sleeping Beauty-themed party for her 21st-birthday, complete with tower and spinning wheel.

Zin, not really in the mood to party, goes along with it nevertheless. Charm put in so much effort. As the festivities come to a close, Zin pricks her finger on the spinning wheel at midnight, and is thusly transported into another world. It happens to be where the real Briar Rose lives. It is there that the two women's lives become intertwined, as they work together to try to save themselves from their fates.

It's no secret that I wasn't the biggest fan of The Ten Thousand Doors of January, but I never give up on an author off after only one try. This story is the perfect example of why. Oh, my goodness! Wow, holy smokes. I am floored by how different my opinion of Harrow's writing is now; after only 128-pages. Alix E. Harrow redeemed!!!

As mentioned above, this is a fairly short novella, but no less impactful because of it. It is a rollicking good time, with adventure, friendship, danger and just the right amount of hat tipping to the original story. I loved the feminist undertones woven throughout, as well as the relationship formed between Zin and Briar Rose. The dynamic between them was just so fun. Because they were from completely different worlds, they had a lot to discover about one another, but Harrow kept it so witty and fun!

I'm really interested to see if Harrow tackles other fairy tales in this format; it sort of looks like this is part of a series, but I haven't really heard any buzz about it. If so, I would definitely be willing to pick them up.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy to read and review. I listened to it all in one night and had an absolute blast doing so!!

When I first heard of Alix E. Harrow wanting to Spiderverse a fairy tale, I knew we were in for something great. A Spindle Splintered was everything I hoped it would be and more, with gorgeous prose, a fantastic sense of humor, sharp commentary on women's autonomy, and many discussions of how fairy tales reflect the history of the world in which they're written. I usually tend to favor some characters over others, especially in works this short, but I genuinely adored Zinnia, Primrose, and Charm with equal fervor, and I'm thrilled there's a sequel on the way so we can follow Zinnia into yet another story with a character who wants a different ending for herself. Here's to hoping there's many more of these to come. And, lastly, a shout-out to Amy Landon for her excellent narration on the audiobook of this. If you have the opportunity to listen to this story, I'd highly recommend it.

I adored Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January so I was excited to try this Fractured Fables seres. This one didn't disappoint!

This was a fantastic feminist twist on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. I loved the LGBTQ rep and the strong female lead. The narration was great as well. I loved the subtle humor and pop culture references sprinkled throughout.

I will disagree with one point made - the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is NOT the superior version. I totally disagree with that statement. Colin Firth is the only acceptable Mr. Darcy. Fight me.

Great audio! A huge thank you to MacMillion Audio for this copy.

What happens when you mix fairytales with the multiverse? This extremely captivating, fun and light story!
I have to admit that when I saw the size I thought I had been approved for a sampler and not the full book, but it is that short. I read it in one afternoon but the size didn't take away from the content. I had the chance to connect to the characters, to see their growth and to understand a quite complex story, of which my only complaint is that I had to take at face value a few things, but isn't that the case with most fantasy?

This book is feminist, full of badass women trying to save themselves and others, it has LGBTQIAP+ representation, disability representation and all the fairytale feels you could need.

This was a very short but still engaging tale of Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty is a very strong heroine, and I recommend this for those that like a feminist twist to classic fairy tales!

Very interesting take on Sleeping Beauty! Narrator is hilarious at times and I loved the mix of old and new. I don’t want to give anything away so that’s all I’ll say on that topic. If you are a fan of remixed fairy tales then this is for you. I loved the breaking of stereotypes and strong women roles in this story. It’s very different than the typical fairy tale and just what we need right now in our world. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to this advanced copy!

Okay, I loved this! I was heartbroken to be denied access to an eARC as I love Alix Harrow and her writing and I am a sucker for feminist fairytale retellings. Imagine my delight when I am approved for the audiobook! It was a quick listen as this was a novella, but it was jam packed with brilliance. I loved watching Zinnia, a young woman currently dying of a rare illness, make her way as she is dropped into the legend of Sleeping Beauty. I really liked the parallels between Zinnia and Primrose in reference to their illness/curse and the bond formed between. I loved the idea of the multiverse of Sleeping Beauties and the infinite possibilites therein. I loved loved loved the feminist commentary on the original tale that turns it on its head that deals with issues of content, patriarchy, and controlling one's own destiny. Truly, this is the type of book I can't get enough of. I loved seeing women fighting for each other. I thought the narrator for the audio was great and did a good job keeping me immersed in the story. I loved the hopeful ending of this one, a HEA of a different sort. Once again, Harrow has written a feminist story that completely enchanted me, and I am here for more of it!

I was already a huge fan of Amy Landon and the author. To be honest that is why I requested the book as I am sick of fairytale retells.

This was AMAZING. It was snarky, unexpected, out of left field and just flat out brilliant.