What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sibylline Saga
The Glass Wheel: A Dark Fairy Tale
When a brokenhearted Aurora stumbles into the snowy woods, she comes across a mysterious being that calls itself the Weaver.
Pitying the crying girl, the Weaver gives her a glass spinning wheel, promising to pay her riches in exchange for any thread spun on it at the end of a year and a day.
But as the thread feeds onto the bobbin, Aurora slowly begins to notice what it’s costing her — that a piece of herself is getting caught in the fibers to be sold to the Weaver.
Pitying the crying girl, the Weaver gives her a glass spinning wheel, promising to pay her riches in exchange for any thread spun on it at the end of a year and a day.
But as the thread feeds onto the bobbin, Aurora slowly begins to notice what it’s costing her — that a piece of herself is getting caught in the fibers to be sold to the Weaver.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2023
About the author
Anna Cackler
9 books50 followersAnna Cackler is a lover of story – and a sucker for drama, romance, and dark beauty. Which is odd, considering how generally unserious she is most of the time. She’s married to her best friend, and they have a lovely little family in Arkansas. They have two dogs, a cat, a slew of chickens, and a pond in their front yard that won’t hold water. She’s pretty sure there’s a metaphor in there, somewhere.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 29, 2024
The Glass Wheel is a standalone novella that feels like a fairytale retelling but then set into the Sibylline saga world. It was darker then expected but beautifully written. I love how it has plenty of depth and describes loss and mourning, depression and such feelings after losing a loved one.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings then you'll love this novella! 🖤🖤
If you enjoy fairytale retellings then you'll love this novella! 🖤🖤
September 26, 2024
Great fairy tale with deeply researched details about spinning.
April 28, 2023
I received an ARC copy of the Glass Wheel in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly, there is a 10 out of 10 chance me of recommending this story to all of my reading friends.
I have never been so haunted by a fairytale retelling as I have been by Anna Cackler's Glass Wheel.This is not a bite-sized happily ever story. This was a poignant tale of loss and re-birth, betrayal and trust. This is a genuinely new take on the story of Sleeping Beauty, and the language in which it's written was so beautiful. Truthfully, the author had me sitting on the edge of my seat by the end of the first chapter, and at the story's conclusion, I was crying. I won't give away the ending by telling you if they were tears of joy or sorrow, but I was truly able to connect with the protagonist in a way that left me breathless.
This story is set in a time and place that is foreign to me, but the transformation the protagonist underwent and the struggle to endure through every hardship spoke to my heart. I hope that you, too, find yourself in her.as well. There are lessons to be learned here, and tears to be shared.
If you choose to begin Glass Wheel, be prepared to clear your schedule. Not only will you not be able to put it down without finishing it, you will want to immediately go out and find copies of Cackler's other books.
And honestly, there is a 10 out of 10 chance me of recommending this story to all of my reading friends.
I have never been so haunted by a fairytale retelling as I have been by Anna Cackler's Glass Wheel.This is not a bite-sized happily ever story. This was a poignant tale of loss and re-birth, betrayal and trust. This is a genuinely new take on the story of Sleeping Beauty, and the language in which it's written was so beautiful. Truthfully, the author had me sitting on the edge of my seat by the end of the first chapter, and at the story's conclusion, I was crying. I won't give away the ending by telling you if they were tears of joy or sorrow, but I was truly able to connect with the protagonist in a way that left me breathless.
This story is set in a time and place that is foreign to me, but the transformation the protagonist underwent and the struggle to endure through every hardship spoke to my heart. I hope that you, too, find yourself in her.as well. There are lessons to be learned here, and tears to be shared.
If you choose to begin Glass Wheel, be prepared to clear your schedule. Not only will you not be able to put it down without finishing it, you will want to immediately go out and find copies of Cackler's other books.
June 24, 2025
A twisted fairy tale that's far more original than your average retelling when it comes to a girl tasked with spinning, the writing on this one blew my socks off. For the first page I was gripped by our narrator's voice and wanted to know more.
The time-skipping/flashbacks could be a tiny bit confusing (maybe less so if they'd been formatted differently) as I'd lose where we were in the timeline of the plot, but I loved the originality and otherworldliness of it all. The spinner Aurora's bargain with he Weaver started off like any old fairy tale, but along the way morphs into something far creepier (and maybe even metaphorical ). It was strange how it seemed both set in a Ye Olde Fantasy world of magical beings and rural farmsteads while also with odd modernisms (like canned food), yet still gelled somehow. The mythology and dark magic really drew me in and now I wish there was more in this story setting! Imaginative yet familiar without being overly so; the two things that make a great retelling.
-I received a free copy of this e-book. This does not influence my review-
The time-skipping/flashbacks could be a tiny bit confusing (maybe less so if they'd been formatted differently) as I'd lose where we were in the timeline of the plot, but I loved the originality and otherworldliness of it all. The spinner Aurora's bargain with he Weaver started off like any old fairy tale, but along the way morphs into something far creepier (and maybe even metaphorical ). It was strange how it seemed both set in a Ye Olde Fantasy world of magical beings and rural farmsteads while also with odd modernisms (like canned food), yet still gelled somehow. The mythology and dark magic really drew me in and now I wish there was more in this story setting! Imaginative yet familiar without being overly so; the two things that make a great retelling.
-I received a free copy of this e-book. This does not influence my review-
July 11, 2023
Review for The Glass Wheel by Anna Cackler
4 out of 5 stars 🌟
Synopsis: A woman engulfed with sorrow wonders into a life changing opportunity. With nothing else to lose, but herself, she focuses all her time and energy into her newfound goal, but every deal comes with a cost, and she will learn what she truly lost in exchange for her riches.
Review: This was a well written stand alone short story. From the beginning of the story you're questioning "okay, where's the catch" but you follow the main character through their journey and see how hard it is to see the truth from within which is why this story is frightening. It is easy to lose oneself in grief alone, add a dangerous being in the mix, and you've got yourself a very believable dark fantasy.
I loved how fluid the novel was throughout the story. Time sped by, but you were as engrossed in the journey as the main character was, so it made sense. It wasn't sped through or "rushed" as some other works may seem when reading. I personally related this to grief and depression itself. I've been there where you've lost yourself and are just going through the motions and that's what made this story frightening for me, the realization that it's not far fetched and if you remove the mysterious being, you're in reality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this dark fairytale and am thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read it.
4 out of 5 stars 🌟
Synopsis: A woman engulfed with sorrow wonders into a life changing opportunity. With nothing else to lose, but herself, she focuses all her time and energy into her newfound goal, but every deal comes with a cost, and she will learn what she truly lost in exchange for her riches.
Review: This was a well written stand alone short story. From the beginning of the story you're questioning "okay, where's the catch" but you follow the main character through their journey and see how hard it is to see the truth from within which is why this story is frightening. It is easy to lose oneself in grief alone, add a dangerous being in the mix, and you've got yourself a very believable dark fantasy.
I loved how fluid the novel was throughout the story. Time sped by, but you were as engrossed in the journey as the main character was, so it made sense. It wasn't sped through or "rushed" as some other works may seem when reading. I personally related this to grief and depression itself. I've been there where you've lost yourself and are just going through the motions and that's what made this story frightening for me, the realization that it's not far fetched and if you remove the mysterious being, you're in reality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this dark fairytale and am thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read it.
July 4, 2023
This novella was adorable, terrifying, pleasant, and scary all at once! While based on an old troupe and fairy tale, it felt refreshingly new and vibrant!
The characters in this story were flushed out so well, which is hard to do in something that is shorter than a novel. The dialogue easily matches the time period, but also gives the characters their own unique voices in such a beautiful way.
The plot line was heartbreaking, familiar, and relatable. I think we’ve all been in place where we want to just give up and have things be “easy” and I found myself relating a lot to Aurora. Her courage and bravery were something to admire, and I think she sets an amazing role model for what everyone should strive to be. She teaches us that we don’t have to be perfect or make every single right choice to learn about ourselves. Absolutely beautiful message!
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy or horror. I think this is also a great and easy read after a huge long book as well. Overall, I highly recommend this novella!
Thank you to Anna Cackler and The BookLounge for Readers and Authors Facebook group for this novella, which was given in exchange for a prompt and honest review.
The characters in this story were flushed out so well, which is hard to do in something that is shorter than a novel. The dialogue easily matches the time period, but also gives the characters their own unique voices in such a beautiful way.
The plot line was heartbreaking, familiar, and relatable. I think we’ve all been in place where we want to just give up and have things be “easy” and I found myself relating a lot to Aurora. Her courage and bravery were something to admire, and I think she sets an amazing role model for what everyone should strive to be. She teaches us that we don’t have to be perfect or make every single right choice to learn about ourselves. Absolutely beautiful message!
Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy or horror. I think this is also a great and easy read after a huge long book as well. Overall, I highly recommend this novella!
Thank you to Anna Cackler and The BookLounge for Readers and Authors Facebook group for this novella, which was given in exchange for a prompt and honest review.
July 16, 2023
“It swelled in my chest like an ember that finally caught the dry tinder and burst into flame.”
My heart was the tinder, Cackler’s words were the flame. A gorgeous 5-star read, The Glass Wheel is a fairy tale that enchants the mind and ensnares the heart.
Synopsis: Aurora is a spinner’s daughter. Her true love is spinning flax into thread and dreaming of the sea with her father. When her father dies unexpectedly, her entire world is turned upside down. She ends up making a deal with an enigmatic creature called The Weaver. But as she spins all her fortunes and eventually herself into the glowing thread, will she be able to break free from the spells of the treadle, treadle draft, swish, shhh?
Thoughts: This story is a beautiful fairy tale! It captured my imagination right away. The details of spinning were given in a way that only a true spinner could offer. Descriptions overall were lovely and helped immerse me into the world. The message was not lost on me. Any vice used to avoid pain and grief will eventually take possession of its victim. Feel fearlessly!
I cannot say enough good things about this story. Anna Cackler has shot to the top of my must-read list.
Five glass stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My heart was the tinder, Cackler’s words were the flame. A gorgeous 5-star read, The Glass Wheel is a fairy tale that enchants the mind and ensnares the heart.
Synopsis: Aurora is a spinner’s daughter. Her true love is spinning flax into thread and dreaming of the sea with her father. When her father dies unexpectedly, her entire world is turned upside down. She ends up making a deal with an enigmatic creature called The Weaver. But as she spins all her fortunes and eventually herself into the glowing thread, will she be able to break free from the spells of the treadle, treadle draft, swish, shhh?
Thoughts: This story is a beautiful fairy tale! It captured my imagination right away. The details of spinning were given in a way that only a true spinner could offer. Descriptions overall were lovely and helped immerse me into the world. The message was not lost on me. Any vice used to avoid pain and grief will eventually take possession of its victim. Feel fearlessly!
I cannot say enough good things about this story. Anna Cackler has shot to the top of my must-read list.
Five glass stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 29, 2023
This dark fairytale is the second book in a series of stand alone novellas. This hauntingly beautiful tale follows Aurora, a girl who has just lost her father, who stumbles upon the weaver. A being that promises to help her. This novella is beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. This story also shows how easy it is for humans to get lost in an unhealthy obsession. For such a short book, the world building was clear and I was left with little questions at the end. Everything wrapped up perfectly. I'm excited to check out the next novella in this series!
------
About the book:
When a brokenhearted Aurora stumbles into the snowy woods, she comes across a mysterious being that calls itself the Weaver.
Pitying the crying girl, the Weaver gives her a glass spinning wheel, promising to pay her riches in exchange for any thread spun on it at the end of a year and a day.
But as the thread feeds onto the bobbin, Aurora slowly begins to notice what it’s costing her — that a piece of herself is getting caught in the fibers to be sold to the Weaver.
------
------
About the book:
When a brokenhearted Aurora stumbles into the snowy woods, she comes across a mysterious being that calls itself the Weaver.
Pitying the crying girl, the Weaver gives her a glass spinning wheel, promising to pay her riches in exchange for any thread spun on it at the end of a year and a day.
But as the thread feeds onto the bobbin, Aurora slowly begins to notice what it’s costing her — that a piece of herself is getting caught in the fibers to be sold to the Weaver.
------
August 24, 2023
I have to admit that though this book is short I had to put it down a few times. When I signed up to do these reviews I had just lost my Father and the author was kind enough to warn me that this book might not be appropriate. I chose it anyway knowing that before my loss I would have picked it up and after.. well, I still would.
It hurt. A lot. From a personal point I completely get this story. After a loss it is so easy to just drift, to lose sense of time and the urgency of daily life and just exist; to lose yourself in something, anything, just to not have to feel it anymore. Sometimes you need something else to make you realize what you're losing and sometimes that comes in the form of a little book that really should have many many more reviews.
This book will break your heart, but you'll be glad you read it and find yourself looking for other works by this author. One of the rare occasions I find myself following one.
It hurt. A lot. From a personal point I completely get this story. After a loss it is so easy to just drift, to lose sense of time and the urgency of daily life and just exist; to lose yourself in something, anything, just to not have to feel it anymore. Sometimes you need something else to make you realize what you're losing and sometimes that comes in the form of a little book that really should have many many more reviews.
This book will break your heart, but you'll be glad you read it and find yourself looking for other works by this author. One of the rare occasions I find myself following one.
March 23, 2023
The Glass Wheel was a fun, emotional read. In eight chapters, Anna weaves a tale of grief and obsession with masterful precision. The detailed descriptions of how the spinning of the flax works adds a lovely sense of realness to the individual moments in the story that kept me engaged the whole time.
I’m not sure exactly how intentional it was, but to me it really felt like the whole story was an allegory for depression and related mental-health. As the main character, Aurora, falls into grief over losing her father, she ends up falling into a magically-induced sense of detachment that acutely parallels deep depression. This meant that beyond finding the story enjoyable to read, it also resonated with me.
If you want a short read that packs a punch, definitely check this story out!
~I received a free ebook version and was asked to leave an honest review~
I’m not sure exactly how intentional it was, but to me it really felt like the whole story was an allegory for depression and related mental-health. As the main character, Aurora, falls into grief over losing her father, she ends up falling into a magically-induced sense of detachment that acutely parallels deep depression. This meant that beyond finding the story enjoyable to read, it also resonated with me.
If you want a short read that packs a punch, definitely check this story out!
~I received a free ebook version and was asked to leave an honest review~
November 7, 2023
At what price, sanity?
Mind what you do for a mere piece of gold...‘blissful emptiness’ may not be worth the cost.
‘I had no idea what was really going on here. I thought you were simply depressed.’
Depression is never simple and it doesn’t go away with time. If you know somebody suffering from this mental illness, please make arrangements with him or her for you to check in.
Some sage advice from the author:
‘Believe everything you hear about the Old Kind.’
Fave line:
‘Time flies like the wheel.’
I’m reviewing the original version, but I also read the chronological and twisted versions in preparation for ‘Starsong’.
Mind what you do for a mere piece of gold...‘blissful emptiness’ may not be worth the cost.
‘I had no idea what was really going on here. I thought you were simply depressed.’
Depression is never simple and it doesn’t go away with time. If you know somebody suffering from this mental illness, please make arrangements with him or her for you to check in.
Some sage advice from the author:
‘Believe everything you hear about the Old Kind.’
Fave line:
‘Time flies like the wheel.’
I’m reviewing the original version, but I also read the chronological and twisted versions in preparation for ‘Starsong’.
March 15, 2023
Anna Cackler's "The Glass Wheel" is a fairy tale that rips the threads of nostalgia and tangles them in darkness. Reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers, the retelling of Aurora's story dwells in her descent to madness once she makes a deal with one of the Old Kind, a being called the Weaver.
Creepy but quick, Aurora's actions are repetitive and twirl like the fibers in her spinning wheel. The author claims that this is a love letter to her hobby of spinning; I think it's a love letter to fairy tales.
Creepy but quick, Aurora's actions are repetitive and twirl like the fibers in her spinning wheel. The author claims that this is a love letter to her hobby of spinning; I think it's a love letter to fairy tales.
July 5, 2023
This dark fairy tale has elements from Sleeping Beauty but is not a Sleeping Beauty retelling.
After losing her father, Aurora meets the Weaver and so begins her slow decline.
The writing in this novella is sublime, the world building despite being such a short story is great, you can really feel the time frame the story is taking place in. Aurora’s grief and decline into madness is so well written.
This is the second novella from this author I’ve read, and I’m sure it will not be the last.
After losing her father, Aurora meets the Weaver and so begins her slow decline.
The writing in this novella is sublime, the world building despite being such a short story is great, you can really feel the time frame the story is taking place in. Aurora’s grief and decline into madness is so well written.
This is the second novella from this author I’ve read, and I’m sure it will not be the last.
January 4, 2024
This was quite enjoyable to read. There wasn’t a lot of world building but it is a short story and the setting was only one place which made it so easy to follow along. The plot was good but predictable but the predictability didn’t ruin the story at all. Her grief made this sad but not to make me cry (though i don’t cry often with books). I did like this and would recommend. I also want to read more of this authors books.
July 12, 2023
This is an enchanting tale that kept me engrossed throughout this quick read. Filled with fantasy, grief, romance and turmoil! I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The author captures both the light and dark aspects of the story brilliantly. Can’t wait to read more books from this author!
September 15, 2024
This book is reminiscent of the classic Sleeping Beauty story but also a completely different somewhat darker retelling. It is a quick read but completely captured my attention. It very quickly drew me in and did a great job of showing how depression can take control of your life in a not so heavy way. Will definitely recommend this book to others.
September 17, 2023
good vs evil
What would you do to become rich? Forget food, sleep, friends? Evil can try to overtake us and only the strongest can break free.
What would you do to become rich? Forget food, sleep, friends? Evil can try to overtake us and only the strongest can break free.
February 12, 2026
Love this mix of lore. Great fairytale retelling. Great flow. Beautifully dark and mystical. One of my favs so far this year.
November 28, 2023
Have you ever been so immersed in a story that you long to crawl into the pages of the book and talk to the characters? That is what Anna Cackler has achieved with this novella. The main character is so real, I want to wrap my arms around her and just hold her.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews