What do you think?
Rate this book
Spellbound
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26On a windswept island off the coast of the Kingdom of Bavaugh, a long-awaited royal heir is born. In ancient custom, a blessing ceremony takes place to bestow the princess with magical gifts - along with a terrible curse.
Except this is not the love story you know. There is no prince to save the day, just three women - the Queen, her chief Lady-in Waiting and Sel, a Master's Apprentice - who concoct a desperate plan of misdirect that changes the course of all their lives.
In the chaotic aftermath of the blessing ceremony, Sel flees the castle with the cursed princess, promising to raise her in secrecy. Meanwhile, confined behind castle walls, another child grows up in her place. But plain and bookish Talia is not the princess everyone was expecting and, as Sel roams the depths of the kingdom with beautiful and otherworldly Briar, the end of the curse edges ever closer.
Because dark magic cannot be tricked, and a vengeful sorceress has old scores to settle . . .
Except this is not the love story you know. There is no prince to save the day, just three women - the Queen, her chief Lady-in Waiting and Sel, a Master's Apprentice - who concoct a desperate plan of misdirect that changes the course of all their lives.
In the chaotic aftermath of the blessing ceremony, Sel flees the castle with the cursed princess, promising to raise her in secrecy. Meanwhile, confined behind castle walls, another child grows up in her place. But plain and bookish Talia is not the princess everyone was expecting and, as Sel roams the depths of the kingdom with beautiful and otherworldly Briar, the end of the curse edges ever closer.
Because dark magic cannot be tricked, and a vengeful sorceress has old scores to settle . . .
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2025
157 people are currently reading
11196 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Leighton
5 books52 followersGeorgia Leighton lives in London with her family. Her debut adult novel, SPELLBOUND, is a reimagining of the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
May 13, 2025
This was a gorgeous read that I smashed through in a couple of days. A retelling of the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, set in a world quite unlike our own and a little different to the original that we know and love too, but it was a very well built world that felt like it could be realistic.
I'm not going to lie, I picked this for very superficial reasons: the cover was pretty, and the name - Spellbound is my 6 year old daughter's favourite movie at the moment. It's a different story entirely, they have nothing to do with one another, but it was for that reason that it caught my eye! The blurb had me already entranced though, as did the first few pages. I was hooked immediately.
In a castle on an island that is cut off daily by fast creeping tides, a princess is born. The queen hurries to bestow her with the blessing from her homeland, but as the ceremony takes place, someone wishing the royal family evil places a curse on the baby. The story is told from the perspective of a variety of women: the queen who is forced to give up her baby to try to save her; Sel, an apprentice to a master, there to grant her blessing in the master's place, who flees with the baby; Meredyth, the queen's lady in waiting; and the princess herself, fleeing, though she doesn't know it...or, is that stuck in the castle?
I felt the characters were beautifully fleshed out. You could understand every ounce of their pain and were with them for the entire journey. The story weaves together so well, with a few surprises along the way.
I believe it's been positioned as an adult novel, but I think it would be well placed as a young/new adult novel as an introduction to fantasy worlds through a familiar fairytale: it's dark, but never too dark; there is some romance, but it's only a minor side plot that, while beautiful and wholesome, doesn't take up a big role in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
I'm not going to lie, I picked this for very superficial reasons: the cover was pretty, and the name - Spellbound is my 6 year old daughter's favourite movie at the moment. It's a different story entirely, they have nothing to do with one another, but it was for that reason that it caught my eye! The blurb had me already entranced though, as did the first few pages. I was hooked immediately.
In a castle on an island that is cut off daily by fast creeping tides, a princess is born. The queen hurries to bestow her with the blessing from her homeland, but as the ceremony takes place, someone wishing the royal family evil places a curse on the baby. The story is told from the perspective of a variety of women: the queen who is forced to give up her baby to try to save her; Sel, an apprentice to a master, there to grant her blessing in the master's place, who flees with the baby; Meredyth, the queen's lady in waiting; and the princess herself, fleeing, though she doesn't know it...or, is that stuck in the castle?
I felt the characters were beautifully fleshed out. You could understand every ounce of their pain and were with them for the entire journey. The story weaves together so well, with a few surprises along the way.
I believe it's been positioned as an adult novel, but I think it would be well placed as a young/new adult novel as an introduction to fantasy worlds through a familiar fairytale: it's dark, but never too dark; there is some romance, but it's only a minor side plot that, while beautiful and wholesome, doesn't take up a big role in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
October 11, 2025
3.5 stars
🥀 Fairy tale retelling
🥀 Inspired by Sleeping Beauty
🥀 A curse
🥀 Royalty
🥀 Debut author
I am in awe of this glorious, shiny, special edition proof of Spellbound!
Inspired by Sleeping Beauty, I found Spellbound a predominantly original story that differs greatly from the traditional fairy tale. Now, I can't say too much as I don't want to spoil it, but we follow two main story strands and a strong cast of female characters.
Spellbound was a good debut novel, an easy read, an original fairy tale, and the audiobook was well narrated by Kristin Atherton. However, it felt a little lacklustre in places and could have done with a bit more pace for me.
🥀 Fairy tale retelling
🥀 Inspired by Sleeping Beauty
🥀 A curse
🥀 Royalty
🥀 Debut author
I am in awe of this glorious, shiny, special edition proof of Spellbound!
Inspired by Sleeping Beauty, I found Spellbound a predominantly original story that differs greatly from the traditional fairy tale. Now, I can't say too much as I don't want to spoil it, but we follow two main story strands and a strong cast of female characters.
Spellbound was a good debut novel, an easy read, an original fairy tale, and the audiobook was well narrated by Kristin Atherton. However, it felt a little lacklustre in places and could have done with a bit more pace for me.
September 11, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was drawn in by the concept of a modern day Sleeping Beauty retelling. But the writing was choppy and the pacing was really slow so I had a hard time staying invested in the story. Then the ending just felt underwhelming and there were a lot of unanswered questions. Sorry to say this one just wasn’t for me.
I was drawn in by the concept of a modern day Sleeping Beauty retelling. But the writing was choppy and the pacing was really slow so I had a hard time staying invested in the story. Then the ending just felt underwhelming and there were a lot of unanswered questions. Sorry to say this one just wasn’t for me.
October 22, 2025
I’ll be honest—I had no idea what this book was about when I grabbed it. I 100% judged it by its cover… and for once, I was absolutely right. Georgia Leighton has done the impossible: she’s breathed new life into Cinderella with a retelling that feels both hauntingly familiar and completely original.
Blending the elegance of Perrault’s tale with the grit and shadows of Grimm’s version, Leighton weaves a story of love, loss, and betrayal that left me utterly wrecked. I couldn’t put it down—and when it ended, I wasn’t ready to let it go.
If you don’t fall under its spell… well, maybe that says more about you than the book. 🖤
Spellbound releases October 28. Don’t miss it.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Blending the elegance of Perrault’s tale with the grit and shadows of Grimm’s version, Leighton weaves a story of love, loss, and betrayal that left me utterly wrecked. I couldn’t put it down—and when it ended, I wasn’t ready to let it go.
If you don’t fall under its spell… well, maybe that says more about you than the book. 🖤
Spellbound releases October 28. Don’t miss it.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 12, 2025
I would like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Georgia Leighton for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
What drew me to this book was obviously the promise of magic and the retelling of a classic fairy tale which all of us know very well.
At first it appears to be the same familiar story but with a modern take on events. I really liked the use of artwork at the beginning of each chapter, it was so beautifully done. I felt this added something extra to the story even if the story itself was a bit lacking in magic and excitement.
The author is very descriptive in her world building which I found to be otherworldly and it felt old and right. The characters were rich in their personalities and stories, however I found them to be predictable and at times I didn’t care about them at all. The pace is very slow and although there are multiple character perspectives going on nothing seemed to progress for a really long time which I found disappointing.
Overall an unusual modern take on a classic fairy tale. I didn’t really enjoy this read as I found it padded out and lacking in character depth. Not only that but I felt the ending was a bit anti climactic and some characters weren’t given the respect they deserved.
What drew me to this book was obviously the promise of magic and the retelling of a classic fairy tale which all of us know very well.
At first it appears to be the same familiar story but with a modern take on events. I really liked the use of artwork at the beginning of each chapter, it was so beautifully done. I felt this added something extra to the story even if the story itself was a bit lacking in magic and excitement.
The author is very descriptive in her world building which I found to be otherworldly and it felt old and right. The characters were rich in their personalities and stories, however I found them to be predictable and at times I didn’t care about them at all. The pace is very slow and although there are multiple character perspectives going on nothing seemed to progress for a really long time which I found disappointing.
Overall an unusual modern take on a classic fairy tale. I didn’t really enjoy this read as I found it padded out and lacking in character depth. Not only that but I felt the ending was a bit anti climactic and some characters weren’t given the respect they deserved.
March 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley & Bantam for the ARC. 2.5⭐ rounded down.
I'll preface that I will commend the concept of the women-centric focus of this retelling. This is a multi-POV novel of 5 women: Briar AKA "Sleeping Beauty" herself, her fraternal twin Talia who is not cursed, their mother Queen Violanna, the Queen's lady-in-waiting Meredyth, and Sel a magic-wielder-in-training who is the analogue for the "Fairy Who Raises Sleeping Beauty". That's really all the praise I have for this novel. Ultimately, the prose didn't even grip me and worse, it's a pretty dull affair—largely because I felt the distribution of POVs didn't do the potential of this story justice.
Queen Violanna's POV COULD'VE been a fascinating read. You have a mother grappling her complex feelings of desperation, guilt, and love. She sent away her cursed firstborn child to save her. I would've loved to read about Violanna grieving that child while simultaneously finding joy in at least having her secondborn to love and care for. Instead, she's almost a non-factor for most of the book; wallowing in self-pity and being an absurdly and awfully neglectful mother to Talia. I couldn't stand her most of the time. We didn't get enough of the woman who is essentially the catalyst of all this, given that the sorceress who cursed her child in the first place did it out of revenge to hurt Violanna.
Briar's POV also didn't get enough focus, especially as a teenager when she's internally stifled by "Aunt" Sel's overprotectiveness. I get that the novel wanted to focus more on the other women who affect Sleeping Beauty's story rather than the titular character. But then it makes me wish the author didn't include Briar chapters at all, as now it feels really lacking. Talia at least was a interesting addition; kind of like a What If Sleeping Beauty Wasn't Blessed With Gifts analogue. I'd prefer we got MORE of her feelings over being essentially used as a part-decoy, part-sacrificial lamb to save the sister she never knew. And then at the end, we got the slimmest of pickings when it comes to these sisters interacting. I would rather Meredyth get less chapters to supplement the princesses. Sel on the hand received an apt amount of POV chapters, so no issue there.
The pacing feels slow and draggy, which I wouldn't have necessarily minded had the resolution didn't feel so rushed and abrupt.
So all in all, rife with potential, but a yawn.
I'll preface that I will commend the concept of the women-centric focus of this retelling. This is a multi-POV novel of 5 women: Briar AKA "Sleeping Beauty" herself, her fraternal twin Talia who is not cursed, their mother Queen Violanna, the Queen's lady-in-waiting Meredyth, and Sel a magic-wielder-in-training who is the analogue for the "Fairy Who Raises Sleeping Beauty". That's really all the praise I have for this novel. Ultimately, the prose didn't even grip me and worse, it's a pretty dull affair—largely because I felt the distribution of POVs didn't do the potential of this story justice.
Queen Violanna's POV COULD'VE been a fascinating read. You have a mother grappling her complex feelings of desperation, guilt, and love. She sent away her cursed firstborn child to save her. I would've loved to read about Violanna grieving that child while simultaneously finding joy in at least having her secondborn to love and care for. Instead, she's almost a non-factor for most of the book; wallowing in self-pity and being an absurdly and awfully neglectful mother to Talia. I couldn't stand her most of the time. We didn't get enough of the woman who is essentially the catalyst of all this, given that the sorceress who cursed her child in the first place did it out of revenge to hurt Violanna.
Briar's POV also didn't get enough focus, especially as a teenager when she's internally stifled by "Aunt" Sel's overprotectiveness. I get that the novel wanted to focus more on the other women who affect Sleeping Beauty's story rather than the titular character. But then it makes me wish the author didn't include Briar chapters at all, as now it feels really lacking. Talia at least was a interesting addition; kind of like a What If Sleeping Beauty Wasn't Blessed With Gifts analogue. I'd prefer we got MORE of her feelings over being essentially used as a part-decoy, part-sacrificial lamb to save the sister she never knew. And then at the end, we got the slimmest of pickings when it comes to these sisters interacting. I would rather Meredyth get less chapters to supplement the princesses. Sel on the hand received an apt amount of POV chapters, so no issue there.
The pacing feels slow and draggy, which I wouldn't have necessarily minded had the resolution didn't feel so rushed and abrupt.
So all in all, rife with potential, but a yawn.
March 25, 2025
**DNF at 30%—probably more of a me problem than the book.**
I love the idea of a Sleeping Beauty retelling, especially one with a strong female focus and dark magic woven in. That premise had me hooked.
Unfortunately, the writing style just didn’t click with me. And once I struggle with that, it’s nearly impossible for me to connect with the characters or the story as a whole.
If the style works for you, you might love this—but sadly, it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
I love the idea of a Sleeping Beauty retelling, especially one with a strong female focus and dark magic woven in. That premise had me hooked.
Unfortunately, the writing style just didn’t click with me. And once I struggle with that, it’s nearly impossible for me to connect with the characters or the story as a whole.
If the style works for you, you might love this—but sadly, it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!
May 6, 2025
I love a fairytale retelling, taking stories from my childhood and giving them twists is just so much fun! This one was sleeping beauty and was beautifully done. Whilst not as dark or spicy as the ones I normally read it has a lovely flow and some great characters! For me personally, I felt the ending got a little muddied and lost steam but still a really enjoyable read.
Read
November 9, 2025From my endorsement!:
“An exquisitely feminist twist on the age-old tale of Sleeping Beauty, subversive, imaginative, and wholly immersive. I was enchanted from the first lush page and long past the last!”
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, Author of The Witch and the Tsar
“An exquisitely feminist twist on the age-old tale of Sleeping Beauty, subversive, imaginative, and wholly immersive. I was enchanted from the first lush page and long past the last!”
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, Author of The Witch and the Tsar
November 22, 2024
I always love fairytale retellings and Spellbound was such an enchanting read from the very first page. I loved how the writing flowed and kept me engaged and I especially liked the fusion between the original fairytale of Sleeping Beauty and modern take on women fighting to forge their own paths in life.
I really like when there is multiple POVs as I always feel it gives you a clear picture of the whole story and to get a glimpse into the feelings, thoughts and actions of those characters and how it all weaves the story together. Sel and Briar were amazing as was the word building and the magic system this was just such an enchanting read.
The pacing did dip a little bit in the middle but picked up rather quickly afterwards and gave such a satisfying ending. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fairytale retelling with an atmospheric and enchanting spin on a beloved tale.
I really like when there is multiple POVs as I always feel it gives you a clear picture of the whole story and to get a glimpse into the feelings, thoughts and actions of those characters and how it all weaves the story together. Sel and Briar were amazing as was the word building and the magic system this was just such an enchanting read.
The pacing did dip a little bit in the middle but picked up rather quickly afterwards and gave such a satisfying ending. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fairytale retelling with an atmospheric and enchanting spin on a beloved tale.
June 14, 2025
So incredible that I cried at the ending just because there was nothing more to read. I'd take another ten books in this universe if I could. I devoured this one in a single sitting as I'm sure I will devoured anything Georgia Leighton will write in the future.
RTC
RTC
April 13, 2025
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
Spellbound by Georgia Leighton is a retelling of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty. This book tells the story of multiple women, and how their lives changed after a terrible event. The book begins with the birth of a princess, the heir of a kingdom where magic is met with disapproval and suspicion. The Queen is from a kingdom where magic is acceptable, and newborns are traditionally given blessings by the Masters of Magic. It is a tradition that the Queen insists take place after the birth of her daughter, and the King indulges her. What should be a joyous occasion turns into a nightmare as a dark sorceress appears and curses the Princess to die when she’s seventeen.
The Queen, desperate to save her child, ropes in a visiting mage to hide the princess and protect her until the curse ends, one way or another. Sel came to the Blessing in place of her recently deceased Master with the hopes of finding a Master to finish her apprenticeship. She did not expect to leave with a newborn baby in her arms, a part of a secret plan that only the Queen and her Lady-in-Waiting knew about.
To keep the cursed princess hidden Sel wanders the kingdom as she raises her. Meanwhile, another girl is raised in her place. In Spellbound the narrative follows the two girls as they grow up, raised in completely different situations. Their story is told through the narrators of Sel, the Queen and her Lady-in-Waiting, Merydth, while the girls are young and later when they become teens, through their own narratives.
Unlike the original and other retelling I’ve read, the curse laid by the dark sorceress does not include a sleeping curse. I liked the way the blessings given to the princess were interpreted and entwined with the magic system. While the magic system is interesting, other than the curse and a few other situations, there is very little magic on the page. I would have liked to see more active magic on the page since the entire book is based on an act of dark magic.
I enjoyed Spellbound while I was reading, and couldn’t put it down. But looking back at what I had read, I realised that it wasn’t that substantial and what kept me reading was the need to know how everything ends rather than the story itself—finishing this novel satisfied that need, however, the ending itself was less so. At present Spellbound appears to be a standalone novel, and in that context, the way each character’s story arc ended felt incomplete. They make more sense if this is the first book in a series as many felt incomplete as if their stories were set up for another book.
I found Spellbound to be an intriguing retelling, taking the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty in a new direction and ultimately that is what I am looking for in a fairytale retelling. This is an enjoyable easy read for anyone who loves fairytales.
----
Follow me for more book reviews that discuss disabled and neurodivergent representation!
♦ repDISND ♦ Join us every July to discuss disabled & neurodivergent representation!
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
Content warnings:
Spellbound by Georgia Leighton is a retelling of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty. This book tells the story of multiple women, and how their lives changed after a terrible event. The book begins with the birth of a princess, the heir of a kingdom where magic is met with disapproval and suspicion. The Queen is from a kingdom where magic is acceptable, and newborns are traditionally given blessings by the Masters of Magic. It is a tradition that the Queen insists take place after the birth of her daughter, and the King indulges her. What should be a joyous occasion turns into a nightmare as a dark sorceress appears and curses the Princess to die when she’s seventeen.
The Queen, desperate to save her child, ropes in a visiting mage to hide the princess and protect her until the curse ends, one way or another. Sel came to the Blessing in place of her recently deceased Master with the hopes of finding a Master to finish her apprenticeship. She did not expect to leave with a newborn baby in her arms, a part of a secret plan that only the Queen and her Lady-in-Waiting knew about.
To keep the cursed princess hidden Sel wanders the kingdom as she raises her. Meanwhile, another girl is raised in her place. In Spellbound the narrative follows the two girls as they grow up, raised in completely different situations. Their story is told through the narrators of Sel, the Queen and her Lady-in-Waiting, Merydth, while the girls are young and later when they become teens, through their own narratives.
Unlike the original and other retelling I’ve read, the curse laid by the dark sorceress does not include a sleeping curse. I liked the way the blessings given to the princess were interpreted and entwined with the magic system. While the magic system is interesting, other than the curse and a few other situations, there is very little magic on the page. I would have liked to see more active magic on the page since the entire book is based on an act of dark magic.
I enjoyed Spellbound while I was reading, and couldn’t put it down. But looking back at what I had read, I realised that it wasn’t that substantial and what kept me reading was the need to know how everything ends rather than the story itself—finishing this novel satisfied that need, however, the ending itself was less so. At present Spellbound appears to be a standalone novel, and in that context, the way each character’s story arc ended felt incomplete. They make more sense if this is the first book in a series as many felt incomplete as if their stories were set up for another book.
I found Spellbound to be an intriguing retelling, taking the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty in a new direction and ultimately that is what I am looking for in a fairytale retelling. This is an enjoyable easy read for anyone who loves fairytales.
----
Follow me for more book reviews that discuss disabled and neurodivergent representation!
♦ repDISND ♦ Join us every July to discuss disabled & neurodivergent representation!
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
April 15, 2025
Spellbound is a modern retelling of the well known Sleeping Beauty tale. I say 'modern' because our beautiful princess needs no man to save her; she has her female heroes to change the story.
In a remote castle, a long-awaited royal heir is born. In accordance with ancient custom on her mother's side, a blessing ceremony takes place to bestow the princess with magical gifts. But one of the guests delivers a terrible curse. Three strong women vow to protect the princess and together make a plan to trick the curse. But dark magic cannot be tricked...
This is a brilliant debut; the writing is engaging and flows really well, the pacing is mostly spot on, and the story itself so imaginative. This is the story every woman wants to read. Because we don’t need no Prince Charming coming to save us. We have our mothers, aunties, sisters, female friends around us to save us, guide us and lift us up. The female characters in this book were incredible - sometimes strong, sometimes vulnerable, always painfully real. Each with flaws, but also so much strength. I couldn't even pick a favourite!
Although not quite a 5-star read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and see myself going back to it one day. Because the best tales are those we go back to again and again.
Spellbound will be published on 24th April
Congratulations to Georgia Leighton for an excellent debut! And thank you Random House UK for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a remote castle, a long-awaited royal heir is born. In accordance with ancient custom on her mother's side, a blessing ceremony takes place to bestow the princess with magical gifts. But one of the guests delivers a terrible curse. Three strong women vow to protect the princess and together make a plan to trick the curse. But dark magic cannot be tricked...
This is a brilliant debut; the writing is engaging and flows really well, the pacing is mostly spot on, and the story itself so imaginative. This is the story every woman wants to read. Because we don’t need no Prince Charming coming to save us. We have our mothers, aunties, sisters, female friends around us to save us, guide us and lift us up. The female characters in this book were incredible - sometimes strong, sometimes vulnerable, always painfully real. Each with flaws, but also so much strength. I couldn't even pick a favourite!
Although not quite a 5-star read for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and see myself going back to it one day. Because the best tales are those we go back to again and again.
Spellbound will be published on 24th April
Congratulations to Georgia Leighton for an excellent debut! And thank you Random House UK for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2025
I went into Spellbound without any expectation, but wow was I blown away.
What immediately set this sleeping beauty reimagining apart is its unique structure: the narrative unfolds entirely through the eyes of five female characters. This approach offers a rich, multifaceted glimpse into their inner lives, making the world feel personal and intimate right from the start.
From the opening pages, I was swept into a fairytale-esque atmosphere crafted with lyrical prose and vivid world-building where the magic is literally palpable in the air. Although the pace is deliberately gentle, I found that this measured rhythm allowed me to truly get to know each character, savouring the details and emotional beats that develop over time. It’s the quiet moments of reflection and connection that make every scene resonate.
I was particularly drawn to Sel and Briar, whose intertwined journeys quickly became some of my favorites. Their resilient spirits and tender moments felt real and relatable. Equally compelling is Violanna: her precarious starting point and the heartbreaking decisions she makes for her child struck a deep chord with me, highlighting how far a mother will go when her offspring is on the line.
While some readers might experience the slow pacing as a negative aspect, I believe that every moment of pause and skip in time is a doorway into a deeper understanding of these women’s lives and how they grow and evolve through their experiences. The unhurried narrative invites us to appreciate the subtle interplay between the characters’ hopes, fears, and sacrifices, which is a refreshing change from the constant rush of action.
For anyone who loves atmospheric fantasy with a personal, character-driven touch, Spellbound will surely be worth the read. This isn’t just a fairy tale retold; it’s a journey into the heart of what it means to love, sacrifice, and ultimately, to be human.
What immediately set this sleeping beauty reimagining apart is its unique structure: the narrative unfolds entirely through the eyes of five female characters. This approach offers a rich, multifaceted glimpse into their inner lives, making the world feel personal and intimate right from the start.
From the opening pages, I was swept into a fairytale-esque atmosphere crafted with lyrical prose and vivid world-building where the magic is literally palpable in the air. Although the pace is deliberately gentle, I found that this measured rhythm allowed me to truly get to know each character, savouring the details and emotional beats that develop over time. It’s the quiet moments of reflection and connection that make every scene resonate.
I was particularly drawn to Sel and Briar, whose intertwined journeys quickly became some of my favorites. Their resilient spirits and tender moments felt real and relatable. Equally compelling is Violanna: her precarious starting point and the heartbreaking decisions she makes for her child struck a deep chord with me, highlighting how far a mother will go when her offspring is on the line.
While some readers might experience the slow pacing as a negative aspect, I believe that every moment of pause and skip in time is a doorway into a deeper understanding of these women’s lives and how they grow and evolve through their experiences. The unhurried narrative invites us to appreciate the subtle interplay between the characters’ hopes, fears, and sacrifices, which is a refreshing change from the constant rush of action.
For anyone who loves atmospheric fantasy with a personal, character-driven touch, Spellbound will surely be worth the read. This isn’t just a fairy tale retold; it’s a journey into the heart of what it means to love, sacrifice, and ultimately, to be human.
May 7, 2025
ARC review
3.75 stars
Spellbound is character-driven fantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty, set in the Kingdom of Bavaugh. After a long battle with infertility, the queen finally gives birth to an heir, a princess. The princess is presented to the Masters, all of who bestow a magical gift upon her; except one, who comes bearing a curse. When the queen unexpectedly gives birth to a second twin shortly after, she sets off the first in a series of deceits in a desperate attempt to save her daughter's life. Briar, who has been blessed with every gift the Master's could grant, is swept away in dead of night to be raised by Master's apprentice Sel in secret, while her sister Talia is raised in the castle with minimal freedom, due to the queen's fears and the risk of her ordinariness being discovered.
Spellbound takes place over the span of 17 years and is told from multiple perspectives. This book is marketed as a feminist retelling, purely because there is no prince to save the day and all the protagonists are women, but I feel like that is a bit of a bold claim. Unfortunately I'm noticing a trend in books marketed as feminist retellings/historical fiction, where the 'feminism' is simply a lack of male main characters OR a lot of female characters being victimised, and that's basically it. There was so much room in this book for meaningful commentary about women in power, and how women specifically suffer under class systems, but it's all very surface-level. I probably wouldn't have been so nitpicky about this if it wasn't literally marketed as feminist fiction. I also struggled with the lack of intersectionality in the conversation, which AGAIN, is probably only because I was specifically looking for it.
All that aside! I definitely enjoyed the plot and overall pacing. I think the author chose really clever spots to check in with each character/storyline. The magic system is simple but effective - I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for heavy fantasy because that it is not, but the fantasy elements are used sparingly in the right context. My favourite characters were Briar and Sel, who objectively drew the short straw and spend their years together parading as a family and moving unannounced at the drop of a hat. Sel, who originally agreed to take Briar from the queen due to the promise of a hefty reward, becomes enamoured with the girls and struggles to draw the line between guardian and mother as the years pass by. I also think the author did a great job of writing consistent and era-appropriate dialogue throughout the book.
This is the first Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read and I came away pretty satisfied. I rated it 3.75 stars, but honestly could've been 4.5 stars or higher if the feminist themes had been better ingrained. I think historical fantasy fans, specifically fans of the regent era, will really enjoy this if you they go in without expectations.
3.75 stars
Spellbound is character-driven fantasy retelling of Sleeping Beauty, set in the Kingdom of Bavaugh. After a long battle with infertility, the queen finally gives birth to an heir, a princess. The princess is presented to the Masters, all of who bestow a magical gift upon her; except one, who comes bearing a curse. When the queen unexpectedly gives birth to a second twin shortly after, she sets off the first in a series of deceits in a desperate attempt to save her daughter's life. Briar, who has been blessed with every gift the Master's could grant, is swept away in dead of night to be raised by Master's apprentice Sel in secret, while her sister Talia is raised in the castle with minimal freedom, due to the queen's fears and the risk of her ordinariness being discovered.
Spellbound takes place over the span of 17 years and is told from multiple perspectives. This book is marketed as a feminist retelling, purely because there is no prince to save the day and all the protagonists are women, but I feel like that is a bit of a bold claim. Unfortunately I'm noticing a trend in books marketed as feminist retellings/historical fiction, where the 'feminism' is simply a lack of male main characters OR a lot of female characters being victimised, and that's basically it. There was so much room in this book for meaningful commentary about women in power, and how women specifically suffer under class systems, but it's all very surface-level. I probably wouldn't have been so nitpicky about this if it wasn't literally marketed as feminist fiction. I also struggled with the lack of intersectionality in the conversation, which AGAIN, is probably only because I was specifically looking for it.
All that aside! I definitely enjoyed the plot and overall pacing. I think the author chose really clever spots to check in with each character/storyline. The magic system is simple but effective - I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for heavy fantasy because that it is not, but the fantasy elements are used sparingly in the right context. My favourite characters were Briar and Sel, who objectively drew the short straw and spend their years together parading as a family and moving unannounced at the drop of a hat. Sel, who originally agreed to take Briar from the queen due to the promise of a hefty reward, becomes enamoured with the girls and struggles to draw the line between guardian and mother as the years pass by. I also think the author did a great job of writing consistent and era-appropriate dialogue throughout the book.
This is the first Sleeping Beauty retelling I've read and I came away pretty satisfied. I rated it 3.75 stars, but honestly could've been 4.5 stars or higher if the feminist themes had been better ingrained. I think historical fantasy fans, specifically fans of the regent era, will really enjoy this if you they go in without expectations.
March 25, 2025
— 3/5 ★ // arc review (slight spoilers)
(I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)
Spellbound is an enchanting reimagining of the iconic fairy-tale sleeping beauty.
I personally found it to be a lovely, charming, fast-read that I really loved at times. It wasn’t convoluted or confusing, but there were definitely a few things missing that kept it from becoming a 4 or 5 ★ read for me.
Despite being derived/reimagined from the sleeping beauty fairy-tale, it was very innovative and original, not being afraid to step away from the source material, but also not being afraid to use parts of it and mold it into its own unique creation for this universe.
Firstly, I’d like to say a few things that I appreciated about Spellbound. The fact that the female protagonists weren’t dependent on the featuring men was very refreshing. The men definitely felt more like side/supporting characters, aiding the ladies a few times, but never taking over the story or altering them for the worst in some way. This allowed for the women’s strength and perseverance to really come through, especially with Sel and Violanna.
Speaking of Selhah, she was definitely my standout character. She done everything she was told to do and sacrificed so much along the way, always putting Briar’s needs first, and her own second. She was tentative and intelligent, but also spirited and tenacious, which made her very engaging to me. Her evolution from unwilling caretaker to mother/mother-figure was also a very lovely little journey to read.
Now, there are a few things that I disliked/disagreed with, namely the ending, but I also had a few issues with the way some of the characters evolved, specifically the younger characters. For instance, Briar never really felt like she left the “angsty teenage girl phase” and I never felt much character growth from her, despite everything that happened. It left me feeling quite unbothered and indifferent to her, which was a shame because I think there was plenty of potential for her character arc that just never fully developed. I do partly blame this for the ending though.
The ending was very strange to me? It felt very rushed and empty, almost disconnected from the rest of the story. I knew from about halfway through this book, that the deciding factor for my rating would depend on the execution of the ending, and honestly? It fell very flat with me. The ambiguity didn’t work, and instead of thinking of all of the wonderous ways the story may continue (in an off-camera sense), I was instead left feeling dissatisfied and confused, which was a shame because, again, it had a lot of potential.
The world also felt a little off to me. I loved the politics, society, and culture, but I wished there had been more of it, instead of tid-bits of information every now and then. A lot of things felt “too-mysterious” and incomplete within the universe, causing me to not bond with it half as much as I could have.
However, I do completely appreciate that this is Leighton’s debut book, and that every author has plenty of room to grow and develop. This story wasn’t bad at all! Just lacking a few things that for me, personally, prevented it from better.
(I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)
Spellbound is an enchanting reimagining of the iconic fairy-tale sleeping beauty.
I personally found it to be a lovely, charming, fast-read that I really loved at times. It wasn’t convoluted or confusing, but there were definitely a few things missing that kept it from becoming a 4 or 5 ★ read for me.
Despite being derived/reimagined from the sleeping beauty fairy-tale, it was very innovative and original, not being afraid to step away from the source material, but also not being afraid to use parts of it and mold it into its own unique creation for this universe.
Firstly, I’d like to say a few things that I appreciated about Spellbound. The fact that the female protagonists weren’t dependent on the featuring men was very refreshing. The men definitely felt more like side/supporting characters, aiding the ladies a few times, but never taking over the story or altering them for the worst in some way. This allowed for the women’s strength and perseverance to really come through, especially with Sel and Violanna.
Speaking of Selhah, she was definitely my standout character. She done everything she was told to do and sacrificed so much along the way, always putting Briar’s needs first, and her own second. She was tentative and intelligent, but also spirited and tenacious, which made her very engaging to me. Her evolution from unwilling caretaker to mother/mother-figure was also a very lovely little journey to read.
Now, there are a few things that I disliked/disagreed with, namely the ending, but I also had a few issues with the way some of the characters evolved, specifically the younger characters. For instance, Briar never really felt like she left the “angsty teenage girl phase” and I never felt much character growth from her, despite everything that happened. It left me feeling quite unbothered and indifferent to her, which was a shame because I think there was plenty of potential for her character arc that just never fully developed. I do partly blame this for the ending though.
The ending was very strange to me? It felt very rushed and empty, almost disconnected from the rest of the story. I knew from about halfway through this book, that the deciding factor for my rating would depend on the execution of the ending, and honestly? It fell very flat with me. The ambiguity didn’t work, and instead of thinking of all of the wonderous ways the story may continue (in an off-camera sense), I was instead left feeling dissatisfied and confused, which was a shame because, again, it had a lot of potential.
The world also felt a little off to me. I loved the politics, society, and culture, but I wished there had been more of it, instead of tid-bits of information every now and then. A lot of things felt “too-mysterious” and incomplete within the universe, causing me to not bond with it half as much as I could have.
However, I do completely appreciate that this is Leighton’s debut book, and that every author has plenty of room to grow and develop. This story wasn’t bad at all! Just lacking a few things that for me, personally, prevented it from better.
February 9, 2025
Thank you to Bantam Books for the free proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
Spellbound is a moving and compelling reimagining of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, wherein three women hatch a desperate plan to avoid the deadly curse laid by an evil sorceress on a baby princess. As a girl I loved this fairytale, but as I got older there were elements of the original that left an unsavoury taste in my mouth. I was thrilled when I first heard the premise of this book and I the delivery lived up to my hopes.
There is a classic simplicity to the writing style reminiscent of fairytales, which was refreshing and made this comforting and easy to read. Although some of the beats of the plot will be familiar to most, I really enjoyed where Leighton expanded upon or adapted elements of the story to fit this narrative. To me, this read like a fantasy crossed with a fairy tale crossed with historical fiction; a Tudor wouldn't have been out of place in some parts of the story, and the author blended these elements well with the modern feminist themes. Leighton gives the characters of this tale depth and agency, and while they are not always likeable they are all the more interesting for that. Although the pacing is slow at the start, I found it ramped up from the halfway point along with my investment in the characters. As the pages went on I was increasingly dreading the completion of the ever looming curse.
I found the character arc of Sel particularly compelling and moving, and the themes of found family and motherhood were most prevalent in her POV to me. I think she will be the favourite for a lot of readers of this book.
My favourite part of this story was the conclusion; it was satisfying and yet also bittersweet.
I will definitely be recommending this to those who enjoy fairytale reimaginings and I am excited to see what this author does next.
Spellbound is a moving and compelling reimagining of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, wherein three women hatch a desperate plan to avoid the deadly curse laid by an evil sorceress on a baby princess. As a girl I loved this fairytale, but as I got older there were elements of the original that left an unsavoury taste in my mouth. I was thrilled when I first heard the premise of this book and I the delivery lived up to my hopes.
There is a classic simplicity to the writing style reminiscent of fairytales, which was refreshing and made this comforting and easy to read. Although some of the beats of the plot will be familiar to most, I really enjoyed where Leighton expanded upon or adapted elements of the story to fit this narrative. To me, this read like a fantasy crossed with a fairy tale crossed with historical fiction; a Tudor wouldn't have been out of place in some parts of the story, and the author blended these elements well with the modern feminist themes. Leighton gives the characters of this tale depth and agency, and while they are not always likeable they are all the more interesting for that. Although the pacing is slow at the start, I found it ramped up from the halfway point along with my investment in the characters. As the pages went on I was increasingly dreading the completion of the ever looming curse.
I found the character arc of Sel particularly compelling and moving, and the themes of found family and motherhood were most prevalent in her POV to me. I think she will be the favourite for a lot of readers of this book.
My favourite part of this story was the conclusion; it was satisfying and yet also bittersweet.
I will definitely be recommending this to those who enjoy fairytale reimaginings and I am excited to see what this author does next.
January 10, 2025
thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this arc in return for my honest review! :)
i love a fairytale retelling, and this sleeping beauty retelling hit the mark. we have multiple POV’s spanning over 15 years that poses the question of “what if sleeping beauty didn’t go to sleep?”.
there are some beautiful themes of found family, but the overarching theme is the art of the female power, and that a mother will stop at nothing to protect her own flesh and blood. we have a sprinkling of magic, a small (and i mean SMALL) romance and lots of strong female characters.
i enjoyed the characters, specifically Sel. i think she is the stronger character with the most depth but i just loved her happily ever after, as she was the only one who deserved it, alongside talia. i loved the subtle nods to the original fairytale, specifically with the use of the loom and being able to talk to animals!
i do think the ending was the only thing that let this book down, the book went from slow pace to suddenly 50mph and the ending wasn’t as satisfying as i had hoped for. and sadly i just couldn’t connect with briars character, but i have a feeling that maybe that was intentional from the author!
overall this was a 4 ⭐️ read for me and i would recommend to everyone who loves fairytales and women basically haha.
i love a fairytale retelling, and this sleeping beauty retelling hit the mark. we have multiple POV’s spanning over 15 years that poses the question of “what if sleeping beauty didn’t go to sleep?”.
there are some beautiful themes of found family, but the overarching theme is the art of the female power, and that a mother will stop at nothing to protect her own flesh and blood. we have a sprinkling of magic, a small (and i mean SMALL) romance and lots of strong female characters.
i enjoyed the characters, specifically Sel. i think she is the stronger character with the most depth but i just loved her happily ever after, as she was the only one who deserved it, alongside talia. i loved the subtle nods to the original fairytale, specifically with the use of the loom and being able to talk to animals!
i do think the ending was the only thing that let this book down, the book went from slow pace to suddenly 50mph and the ending wasn’t as satisfying as i had hoped for. and sadly i just couldn’t connect with briars character, but i have a feeling that maybe that was intentional from the author!
overall this was a 4 ⭐️ read for me and i would recommend to everyone who loves fairytales and women basically haha.
March 23, 2025
Spellbound is an enchanting reimagining that’s written beautifully. I most enjoyed the settings, these were so vivid from the windy island to the atmospheric forests.
The story is told between different perspectives, these are all strong women and I enjoyed their viewpoints. Some views I did prefer, such as our main female protagonist at the centre of the curse.
This is a modern take but the world is still of olden times and the court politics are as you would expect. I thought it was going to be overall more modern in nature, this didn’t affect my reading at all. It felt very much a fairytale with magic, female power and found family.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
The story is told between different perspectives, these are all strong women and I enjoyed their viewpoints. Some views I did prefer, such as our main female protagonist at the centre of the curse.
This is a modern take but the world is still of olden times and the court politics are as you would expect. I thought it was going to be overall more modern in nature, this didn’t affect my reading at all. It felt very much a fairytale with magic, female power and found family.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
December 10, 2025
Spellbound is a fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty from a feminist perspective. It follows the hook of ‘what if beauty never went to sleep’. It is a cosy fantasy that follows a cursed princess and focuses on a group of strong female characters. This was refreshing, however I felt the characters lacked depth. I also struggled with the slow pace of the book and felt let down by the underwhelming and anticlimactic ending.
December 22, 2025
Spellbound was a really fun, loosely based retelling. I loved that it didn’t fall into the usual “waiting for a prince to save the day” trope 😌, it was refreshing to have this feminist spin on the story. I ate it up.
The writing was smooth and easy to follow, making it a great pick when you just want to settle in and enjoy the story. Overall, I had a great time reading this and would definitely love to check out more books by this author!
The writing was smooth and easy to follow, making it a great pick when you just want to settle in and enjoy the story. Overall, I had a great time reading this and would definitely love to check out more books by this author!
April 8, 2025
You’ll know this story - it’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but with many differences. There’s no prince to free Beauty from her sleep for one.
I don’t want to list the story outline, as it’d be more enjoyable seeing it unravel as you read. Suffice to say, I loved the strong female characters, the connection to magic and nature and seeing the early years of the princess unfold in a fresh, new way.
The ending felt a little rushed, I’d have liked more time to be spent on evil Noatina’s return to finish the curse. One of the three narrators seemed a bit surplus to requirements.
Overall a really solid and enjoyable read; I’d love to delve back into this kingdom in other books.
I don’t want to list the story outline, as it’d be more enjoyable seeing it unravel as you read. Suffice to say, I loved the strong female characters, the connection to magic and nature and seeing the early years of the princess unfold in a fresh, new way.
The ending felt a little rushed, I’d have liked more time to be spent on evil Noatina’s return to finish the curse. One of the three narrators seemed a bit surplus to requirements.
Overall a really solid and enjoyable read; I’d love to delve back into this kingdom in other books.
October 17, 2025
4.5 rounded up! A gorgeously written feminist take on Sleeping Beauty told from five different POV, (not an easy feat!). The atmospheric prose was chef's kiss and I was totally immersed in this dream-like world. A stunning debut novel.
January 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was so immersive and well written. The world building was spectacular and the characters were so complex that I’m still not sure who I liked and who I didn’t. I might forever be searching for the antagonist when I think back or re-read this story. Highly recommend to others.
December 24, 2025
3 ⭐️ As a Sleeping Beauty retelling, this book did nothing wrong. It also did nothing groundbreaking or noteworthy.
December 14, 2024
Based on sleeping beauty, this book made for a very enchanting and quick read with great character development too.i would say that this is a 3.5⭐️ but i have rounded up to 4⭐️
The book started really strong, and with the multiple POVs it was very easy to navigate the story too. I really enjoyed having the multiple POVs, especially as the story follows two groups of people in two different places. It definitely made for easy reading.
I did struggle with a pace drop come the middle of the book as it just felt very slow and almost biographical, and the ending happened just as quickly as it had started too.
Sel was probably my stand out character of the book. She was super down to earth and carried on throughout all the bad cards she had been dealt. I was really glad for her near the end, although, I do wish there was a little bit more of a focus on her romantic plot line.
Thankyou so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
The book started really strong, and with the multiple POVs it was very easy to navigate the story too. I really enjoyed having the multiple POVs, especially as the story follows two groups of people in two different places. It definitely made for easy reading.
I did struggle with a pace drop come the middle of the book as it just felt very slow and almost biographical, and the ending happened just as quickly as it had started too.
Sel was probably my stand out character of the book. She was super down to earth and carried on throughout all the bad cards she had been dealt. I was really glad for her near the end, although, I do wish there was a little bit more of a focus on her romantic plot line.
Thankyou so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
April 18, 2025
Spellbound is a new retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I enjoyed the new twists and turns of this story, and the writing was easy enough to read through quickly to find out what happened to the characters. The multiple POVs of the main female characters kept it interesting, although I didn’t have much empathy for some of them, it would’ve been good to delve deeper into their personalities and feelings. The pace dips in the middle and is slightly repetitive but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book and wanting to know how it turned out. I was slightly disappointed with the ending but it seemed to be leading into another story which I’d definitely pick up to find out how these characters’ lives unfold. The magic system was also really intriguing but sadly we didn’t get much explanation of it.
Overall I’d recommend this as an easy read for lovers of fairy tale retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Overall I’d recommend this as an easy read for lovers of fairy tale retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
May 15, 2025
the start of this book really pulled me in , you get thrown straight into it and i really liked it but then towards the middle of the book everything just really slowed down for me and i found myself getting abit bored because just not much was going on at all in this book anymore , it did pick back up but not till like the 80% mark and i really was going back and forth between dnfing this but i did end up finishing it which i am glad about. i did really like the writing it was easy to follow and just lovely writing.
overal it was a nice book but i just wish there was more conflic and action in this because even when there was some conflict it was solved within the same chapter so it just really fell flat for me in many parts which is so sad because i was so excited when i started this book.
the ending is also abit open so i wonder if there will be another book , feel like there is more to explore here in more depth.
i wanna thank netgalley and georgia leighton for this arc !
overal it was a nice book but i just wish there was more conflic and action in this because even when there was some conflict it was solved within the same chapter so it just really fell flat for me in many parts which is so sad because i was so excited when i started this book.
the ending is also abit open so i wonder if there will be another book , feel like there is more to explore here in more depth.
i wanna thank netgalley and georgia leighton for this arc !
March 25, 2025
Sleeping Beauty is probably one of my, if not, my favourite fairytale so this retelling intrigued me.
Overall, I liked the idea behind the plot. No prince to save the day, the whole misdirection with the secret cursed princess being taken away and someone else taking her place. It had so much potential. However, the execution wasn’t great.
For the majority of the book, nothing happened. There was no plot, no trying to figure out how to end the curse, no nothing. We just got different POVs of the key players (Briar, Talia, Sel, the Queen and the lady in waiting) throughout the 17 years leading up to the end of the curse. In those 17 years, there was nothing apart from seeing Sel and Briar moving around place to place trying to be inconspicuous but even that was boring.
I felt the POVs and just the main characters in general were so underutilised. For example: The Queen - her chapters could have been so great. There was such an opportunity there for the author to explore warring emotions of losing Briar vs. having Talia around and the impending threat. This also could have been better used to learn about her past, the sorceress etc. But instead all we see is her moping.
Also the ending was just so anticlimactic. The villain was so easily defeated and really just disappointing. The aftermath also felt rushed and unresolved. I wish we spent more time exploring how Briar’s reappearance would affect her but all those involved.
Overall, very disappointed. I think I just had too high expectations for this. The way the plot is described made me think we were going to see some elaborate, smart cunning plan created by the Queen, Sel and the lady in waiting and it was going to be how they eventually defeat the sorceress. But unfortunately, we just got 400 pages of the Queen moping and Briar being an angsty teen.
2 stars instead of 1 but only because the first 50 or so pages was exciting and gripping but sadly went downhill from there.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I liked the idea behind the plot. No prince to save the day, the whole misdirection with the secret cursed princess being taken away and someone else taking her place. It had so much potential. However, the execution wasn’t great.
For the majority of the book, nothing happened. There was no plot, no trying to figure out how to end the curse, no nothing. We just got different POVs of the key players (Briar, Talia, Sel, the Queen and the lady in waiting) throughout the 17 years leading up to the end of the curse. In those 17 years, there was nothing apart from seeing Sel and Briar moving around place to place trying to be inconspicuous but even that was boring.
I felt the POVs and just the main characters in general were so underutilised. For example: The Queen - her chapters could have been so great. There was such an opportunity there for the author to explore warring emotions of losing Briar vs. having Talia around and the impending threat. This also could have been better used to learn about her past, the sorceress etc. But instead all we see is her moping.
Also the ending was just so anticlimactic. The villain was so easily defeated and really just disappointing. The aftermath also felt rushed and unresolved. I wish we spent more time exploring how Briar’s reappearance would affect her but all those involved.
Overall, very disappointed. I think I just had too high expectations for this. The way the plot is described made me think we were going to see some elaborate, smart cunning plan created by the Queen, Sel and the lady in waiting and it was going to be how they eventually defeat the sorceress. But unfortunately, we just got 400 pages of the Queen moping and Briar being an angsty teen.
2 stars instead of 1 but only because the first 50 or so pages was exciting and gripping but sadly went downhill from there.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2025
I absolutely adored this book! If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, modern fairytales, or Twin Crowns, this one is for you. This YA fantasy hints at a traditional retelling but with a multitude of changes that make it feel fresh and unique. The story engrossed me from the very start; it is well-written and easy to follow, with no intense infodumps that can sometimes bog down a narrative.
The characters are richly developed, each with their own distinct personalities and arcs that keep you invested in their journeys. The world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of the setting without overwhelming the reader with too much detail at once. The plot is well-paced, balancing action, intrigue, and emotional moments perfectly.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how it manages to blend familiar fairytale elements with new twists and turns, keeping you guessing and engaged throughout. The author’s writing style is both lyrical and accessible, making it a pleasure to read.
I can’t wait to read more by this author and see what other magical worlds and stories they have in store. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good fairytale with a modern twist.
Thank you for the arc via netgalley. All views are my own.
The characters are richly developed, each with their own distinct personalities and arcs that keep you invested in their journeys. The world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of the setting without overwhelming the reader with too much detail at once. The plot is well-paced, balancing action, intrigue, and emotional moments perfectly.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how it manages to blend familiar fairytale elements with new twists and turns, keeping you guessing and engaged throughout. The author’s writing style is both lyrical and accessible, making it a pleasure to read.
I can’t wait to read more by this author and see what other magical worlds and stories they have in store. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good fairytale with a modern twist.
Thank you for the arc via netgalley. All views are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews