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Mirror Chronicles #2
Spinning Briar
Being an International Time Travel Agent requires absolute obedience. Even the smallest change in history could completely destroy the present.
When Charul Shazad loses the trail of the Mirror, a time-traveling vigilante, both history and his career are put on the line. Unwilling to lose everything, Charul takes on the dangerous renegade alone and finds himself marooned in a forgotten forest. But Charul isn’t one to give up. Could the vine covered castle in the distance hold the secret to capturing the Mirror once and for all?
Dorothea Wild is the Mirror's newest right-hand programmer. After spending forty years in a high-security ITTA prison cell, accepting the renegade's job offer was an easy decision. But, saving people in the past isn't all she wants. A big enough mission could undermine the authority of ITTA, allowing her sweet retribution on the company that ruined her life.
Fleur de Doue was never meant to exist, at least that's what the Mirror's assistants tell her. To avoid being erased from history, she helps the Mirror surround her castle in wires and brambles. But, just because the Mirror enabled her birth doesn't mean he has the right to control her fate. Could it be that he made a mistake and Fleur doesn't belong in the past?
When Charul Shazad loses the trail of the Mirror, a time-traveling vigilante, both history and his career are put on the line. Unwilling to lose everything, Charul takes on the dangerous renegade alone and finds himself marooned in a forgotten forest. But Charul isn’t one to give up. Could the vine covered castle in the distance hold the secret to capturing the Mirror once and for all?
Dorothea Wild is the Mirror's newest right-hand programmer. After spending forty years in a high-security ITTA prison cell, accepting the renegade's job offer was an easy decision. But, saving people in the past isn't all she wants. A big enough mission could undermine the authority of ITTA, allowing her sweet retribution on the company that ruined her life.
Fleur de Doue was never meant to exist, at least that's what the Mirror's assistants tell her. To avoid being erased from history, she helps the Mirror surround her castle in wires and brambles. But, just because the Mirror enabled her birth doesn't mean he has the right to control her fate. Could it be that he made a mistake and Fleur doesn't belong in the past?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2021
16 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Huffmire
7 books126 followersHi! I'm Rachel Huffmire, an award winning author who writes futuristic fairytale retellings with twisty plots and happily ever afters. I believe there is courage in compassion, and I tell stories about optimistic heroes who change the world.
I live with my husband, three children, and a library of books that is slowly overtaking our house. It’s not my fault. When I'm not writing, I enjoy baking apple pastries, taking long naps, and wearing warm cardigans.
If you love fairytale retellings too, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter at Rachelhuffmire.com for a community that loves folklore, fiction, and fantasy! You can also chat with me on Instagram @rachelhuffmire.
I live with my husband, three children, and a library of books that is slowly overtaking our house. It’s not my fault. When I'm not writing, I enjoy baking apple pastries, taking long naps, and wearing warm cardigans.
If you love fairytale retellings too, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter at Rachelhuffmire.com for a community that loves folklore, fiction, and fantasy! You can also chat with me on Instagram @rachelhuffmire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 25, 2025
In a Nutshell: Yet another brilliant fairytale-scifi-historical-timetravel mashup by this talented indie author. Sleeping Beauty in a whole new avatar. Slightly confusing to keep track of the timelines and time travel, and a bit more action-dominated than the first book. But on the whole, an amazing experience with clever twists. Much recommended! This is the second book of the Mirror Chronicles series, and NOT to be read as a standalone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
After enjoying ‘Shattered Snow’, the first book of the Mirror Chronicles series, I was keen to get to this one, especially as the first book hinted at the direction this would take. I was also a bit wary of Sequel Syndrome, which seems to hit indie authors more often than not. But I needn’t have worried. This was every bit as clever and complicated as its predecessor.
Bookish Yays:
🌹 The idea! Fairytale, historical fiction, time travel, futuristic science fiction, all blended into a convincing plot. Woohoo!
🌹 The continuity as a sequel. The book begins with a repetition of a few events from the ending of ‘Shattered Snow’, but this time, from Charul’s perspective. It is the perfect way to know what happened from the other side of the story. Once the link is established, it smoothly segues into the new plot with the fresh set of main characters.
🌹 The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ factor. This isn't among my favourite fairytales, so I loved this creative retelling much better than the original. It is not a blind copy, offering a refreshing take on the fairytale while still retaining some essential elements. There aren’t as many surprises in the character development as in the earlier book with its Snow-White spin-off, but it is an enjoyable retelling nonetheless.
🌹 The cast of characters, with a good mix of new characters as well as returning ones. The characters are diverse not just in ethnicity but also in age, ranging from teen to geriatric. The new characters deservedly get a greater focus of the page space, but those continuing from Book One also get meaty roles, ensuring a proper connection to the events in the two books.
🌹 The time travel. This trope always has some loopholes, but the book keeps the logical gaps to the minimum.
🌹 Just as in the first book, every chapter begins with a special add-on such as an interview, an official report, a conversation, a letter and so on. The variety is less than before, but it is still an interesting way to get additional information about the proceedings.
🌹 The revelation of the truth about the IITA, which is not a typical government agency as I had assumed earlier. This aspect brings in a new angle to the events, something more relevant to us modern consumers of screens.
🌹 Though there are so many young characters in the story, romance never gets the prime focus. Whatever little is there is totally clean, making this apt for YA readers.
🌹 The twists! I was proud of myself for guessing one important twist well in advance, but the author kept surprising me with more. It was nigh on impossible to predict where the plot would go.
🌹 The epilogue. I was so stunned at it that I replayed that chapter thrice on my audio. All I can say to the author is, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Bookish Mixed Bags:
✂ Fleur is a good character, but she was not as impressive as Bianka from Book One. While I liked her spunk and her presence of mind (she certainly wasn’t a ‘sleeping beauty’), I could not find her knowledge or conversations believable as she often spoke like a modern girl. (The explanation provided wasn’t too convincing to my ears.)
✂ The storyline is quite complicated, even more than the first book, which itself was so neatly tangled in its arcs! There is a greater need for suspension of disbelief this time as the plot is just too wild. Then again, given the mind-boggling plotting and the crazy mashup, this is not a big compromise. Go with the flow to be entertained.
✂ The plot contains a lot more action, which isn't really my cup of tea. I am sure many readers will have fun with these scenes, but I prefer the more intellectual battles as seen in the earlier novel. (That is not to say that the fights in this book weren’t clever. They were. But they were also too physical for my liking.)
✂ As the characters list is much longer this time, the character depth reduces a little. The plot does justice to most of the cast members, but at times, the whys of their behaviour don’t come across fluidly. Regardless, the plot offers a splendid exploration of the human psyche, with every character having some grey in their thinking.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 6 hrs 35 min, is voiced by Rachel White, who also narrated Book One. She is once again fabulous, with her variety of accents and emotions lending the perfect vibe to the audio version. Few narrators would have been able to do a better job of making the characters sound distinct without going over the top. At the same time, I do regret not having the digital/physical version. The complex time travel and the multiple timelines made keeping track of everything a bit confusing. This is the kind of book where you might need to flip back at regular intervals to see what clues you missed, and that’s such a bother to do on audio! I’d love to read the book again, but I will probably go for the digital version the next time.
Goes without saying that the audio version is only for attuned audiobook listeners. Newbies, stick to actual reading.
All in all, I am pleasantly surprised that the author pulled off this ambitious storyline so well. Despite a few things that could have gone better for me, I had a lot of fun with this stimulating read. That confounded epilogue better lead to a continuation!
Much recommended. This indie work would work excellently for retelling and sci-fi fans who would love to challenge their brain cells. As this is a sequel in every sense of the word, it is better to read this in series order.
4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author via StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audio version.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
France, 11th century. Charul Shazad: The IITA agent whose antics in Book One have left him stranded in historical time.
USA, 22nd century. Dorothea Wild: The Mirror’s new programmer who has her own secret agenda for working with the renegade.
France, 11th century. Fleur: A young girl who was never meant to exist, at least as per the IITA rules. But now that she does, should she allow the Mirror and his assistants to dictate her life?
The story explores the interconnection across these three characters. Keltson and his brother, Bianka, Ammond and Banu reprise their roles from the earlier book.
The book comes to us in the third-person POV of various characters from across places and timelines.
After enjoying ‘Shattered Snow’, the first book of the Mirror Chronicles series, I was keen to get to this one, especially as the first book hinted at the direction this would take. I was also a bit wary of Sequel Syndrome, which seems to hit indie authors more often than not. But I needn’t have worried. This was every bit as clever and complicated as its predecessor.
Bookish Yays:
🌹 The idea! Fairytale, historical fiction, time travel, futuristic science fiction, all blended into a convincing plot. Woohoo!
🌹 The continuity as a sequel. The book begins with a repetition of a few events from the ending of ‘Shattered Snow’, but this time, from Charul’s perspective. It is the perfect way to know what happened from the other side of the story. Once the link is established, it smoothly segues into the new plot with the fresh set of main characters.
🌹 The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ factor. This isn't among my favourite fairytales, so I loved this creative retelling much better than the original. It is not a blind copy, offering a refreshing take on the fairytale while still retaining some essential elements. There aren’t as many surprises in the character development as in the earlier book with its Snow-White spin-off, but it is an enjoyable retelling nonetheless.
🌹 The cast of characters, with a good mix of new characters as well as returning ones. The characters are diverse not just in ethnicity but also in age, ranging from teen to geriatric. The new characters deservedly get a greater focus of the page space, but those continuing from Book One also get meaty roles, ensuring a proper connection to the events in the two books.
🌹 The time travel. This trope always has some loopholes, but the book keeps the logical gaps to the minimum.
🌹 Just as in the first book, every chapter begins with a special add-on such as an interview, an official report, a conversation, a letter and so on. The variety is less than before, but it is still an interesting way to get additional information about the proceedings.
🌹 The revelation of the truth about the IITA, which is not a typical government agency as I had assumed earlier. This aspect brings in a new angle to the events, something more relevant to us modern consumers of screens.
🌹 Though there are so many young characters in the story, romance never gets the prime focus. Whatever little is there is totally clean, making this apt for YA readers.
🌹 The twists! I was proud of myself for guessing one important twist well in advance, but the author kept surprising me with more. It was nigh on impossible to predict where the plot would go.
🌹 The epilogue. I was so stunned at it that I replayed that chapter thrice on my audio. All I can say to the author is, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Bookish Mixed Bags:
✂ Fleur is a good character, but she was not as impressive as Bianka from Book One. While I liked her spunk and her presence of mind (she certainly wasn’t a ‘sleeping beauty’), I could not find her knowledge or conversations believable as she often spoke like a modern girl. (The explanation provided wasn’t too convincing to my ears.)
✂ The storyline is quite complicated, even more than the first book, which itself was so neatly tangled in its arcs! There is a greater need for suspension of disbelief this time as the plot is just too wild. Then again, given the mind-boggling plotting and the crazy mashup, this is not a big compromise. Go with the flow to be entertained.
✂ The plot contains a lot more action, which isn't really my cup of tea. I am sure many readers will have fun with these scenes, but I prefer the more intellectual battles as seen in the earlier novel. (That is not to say that the fights in this book weren’t clever. They were. But they were also too physical for my liking.)
✂ As the characters list is much longer this time, the character depth reduces a little. The plot does justice to most of the cast members, but at times, the whys of their behaviour don’t come across fluidly. Regardless, the plot offers a splendid exploration of the human psyche, with every character having some grey in their thinking.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 6 hrs 35 min, is voiced by Rachel White, who also narrated Book One. She is once again fabulous, with her variety of accents and emotions lending the perfect vibe to the audio version. Few narrators would have been able to do a better job of making the characters sound distinct without going over the top. At the same time, I do regret not having the digital/physical version. The complex time travel and the multiple timelines made keeping track of everything a bit confusing. This is the kind of book where you might need to flip back at regular intervals to see what clues you missed, and that’s such a bother to do on audio! I’d love to read the book again, but I will probably go for the digital version the next time.
Goes without saying that the audio version is only for attuned audiobook listeners. Newbies, stick to actual reading.
All in all, I am pleasantly surprised that the author pulled off this ambitious storyline so well. Despite a few things that could have gone better for me, I had a lot of fun with this stimulating read. That confounded epilogue better lead to a continuation!
Much recommended. This indie work would work excellently for retelling and sci-fi fans who would love to challenge their brain cells. As this is a sequel in every sense of the word, it is better to read this in series order.
4 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author via StoryOrigin. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audio version.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
Read
October 15, 2020This book was so hard to write because the characters had a mind of their own! Maybe it was because I was working with teenagers this time, but nobody would listen to me or stick to the outline! They took the book in a direction that I ultimately loved and hope you enjoy too.
July 9, 2025
"Kissing Thea felt like time-traveling. The familiar carbonated rush beneath his skin spread beneath his arms, but jumping through time had never provided such a dizzying happiness."
Spinning Briar by Rachel Huffmire
Wow! Another plot so twisty, a slow burn romance, and where sci-fi and history collide in such a fantastic way. I was again blown away by the brilliance of this world and how the time travel works in the world that Rachel has created.
Her writing is so fresh, unique, and I loved the descriptions she used, without being over the top. I was a little confused by the romance at the end, not expecting what happened to happen (kissing only), but all in all, I loved this fun and original take on Briar Rose aka Sleeping Beauty.
Again, this one is heavy on the time travel, however, Rachel does such a great job of weaving together all of the pieces, and explaining how time travel works in the world she has created.
Be sure to read book 1 before you read this one. It is a series that is very connected.
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Kissing only
Violence/gore: Mild-Fantasy violence with some bloody wounds
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: Mild-Character has thoughts about how in the past he was discriminated against
Religious Content: none
Other: Loss of loved one (on page), magic-time travel
Book Info:
Series: Mirror Chronicles #2 (must be read in order)
Genre: YA/Teen Sci-Fi Fairy-Tale Retelling
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: Available now
Publisher: Indie; Inscription Publishing
POV: multiple
Thank you to the Author and publisher for the review copy, which I received through StoryOrigins. All thoughts are my own.
Spinning Briar by Rachel Huffmire
Wow! Another plot so twisty, a slow burn romance, and where sci-fi and history collide in such a fantastic way. I was again blown away by the brilliance of this world and how the time travel works in the world that Rachel has created.
Her writing is so fresh, unique, and I loved the descriptions she used, without being over the top. I was a little confused by the romance at the end, not expecting what happened to happen (kissing only), but all in all, I loved this fun and original take on Briar Rose aka Sleeping Beauty.
Again, this one is heavy on the time travel, however, Rachel does such a great job of weaving together all of the pieces, and explaining how time travel works in the world she has created.
Be sure to read book 1 before you read this one. It is a series that is very connected.
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Kissing only
Violence/gore: Mild-Fantasy violence with some bloody wounds
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: Mild-Character has thoughts about how in the past he was discriminated against
Religious Content: none
Other: Loss of loved one (on page), magic-time travel
Book Info:
Series: Mirror Chronicles #2 (must be read in order)
Genre: YA/Teen Sci-Fi Fairy-Tale Retelling
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: Available now
Publisher: Indie; Inscription Publishing
POV: multiple
Thank you to the Author and publisher for the review copy, which I received through StoryOrigins. All thoughts are my own.
April 25, 2020
I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel for over a year! I was excited to dive in and it did not disappoint!
This book brought back the character development and innovative time travel/fairy tale retelling mashup that I loved from the first book, and then added even more goodness! New perspectives, plot twists, and a little more romance! I loved it from start to finish.
Some details about what stood out to me…I really liked that in this installment we were able to get inside ITTA and learn so much more about that organization and what makes it tick. The first chapter really drew me in! I loved how ITTA headquarters was described and getting to see a few key scenes from the last book from ITTA's viewpoint. The idea of Charul and other time travelers having their own channels and fans was a dynamic detail that I enjoyed. I loved the intriguing insights given to Charul’s character. When we read about him in Shattered Snow, he was the enemy, but here we start this book with an entirely different perspective on him—I loved that.
I really liked that in the last book we got some serious backstory for a villain that never made sense to me in the traditional fairy tale. That happened again in this installment--which I loved! I never understood why the villain in Sleeping Beauty was so upset that she wasn’t invited to a baby’s christening that she would put a curse of death on the infant. I loved the explanation and backstory put forth in this book—it makes so much more sense! Speaking of villains…I also love when villains are multi-dimensional and their backstory makes them understandable. Later in the book we get this—for another character—and I really liked that. Hoping we get to see more in that arc in the next book!
My favorite part of this book was the phenomenal plot twist thrown in. I DID NOT see it coming—at all. My jaw literally dropped and I had to put the book aside for a moment to try and piece together how this could be possible. With time travel it can be too easy for there to be holes or things that don’t quite make sense—but I was impressed that everything added up and did indeed make sense. I can’t say enough how much I loved being knocked off my socks like that. Especially in young adult literature, I feel like the plot twists are entirely all too predictable. And even more especially—in fairy tale retellings the supposed plot twists are too easy to see coming, because we know what happens in the original tale. But this one was GOOD and so well done! Bravo!
In the first book many of the illustrations have a caption indicating that they are from the sketchbook of one person—but a person that we are never introduced to in that book! I am so glad that character is one we get to know in this book—I have been so curious about that for awhile!
Finally, the epilogue…Oh man! I can’t wait for the next book! So many things were revealed that I am dying to know more about! I am also really invested in some of these characters and am anxious to hear more about what happens to them!
Bottom line: This book holds its own as a fantastic and well-written time travel book, as well as holds its own as a terrific and unique fairy tale retelling. Neither of those are small feats—and to have both rolled into one book? Pretty awesome. I recommend this one, for sure!
This book brought back the character development and innovative time travel/fairy tale retelling mashup that I loved from the first book, and then added even more goodness! New perspectives, plot twists, and a little more romance! I loved it from start to finish.
Some details about what stood out to me…I really liked that in this installment we were able to get inside ITTA and learn so much more about that organization and what makes it tick. The first chapter really drew me in! I loved how ITTA headquarters was described and getting to see a few key scenes from the last book from ITTA's viewpoint. The idea of Charul and other time travelers having their own channels and fans was a dynamic detail that I enjoyed. I loved the intriguing insights given to Charul’s character. When we read about him in Shattered Snow, he was the enemy, but here we start this book with an entirely different perspective on him—I loved that.
I really liked that in the last book we got some serious backstory for a villain that never made sense to me in the traditional fairy tale. That happened again in this installment--which I loved! I never understood why the villain in Sleeping Beauty was so upset that she wasn’t invited to a baby’s christening that she would put a curse of death on the infant. I loved the explanation and backstory put forth in this book—it makes so much more sense! Speaking of villains…I also love when villains are multi-dimensional and their backstory makes them understandable. Later in the book we get this—for another character—and I really liked that. Hoping we get to see more in that arc in the next book!
My favorite part of this book was the phenomenal plot twist thrown in. I DID NOT see it coming—at all. My jaw literally dropped and I had to put the book aside for a moment to try and piece together how this could be possible. With time travel it can be too easy for there to be holes or things that don’t quite make sense—but I was impressed that everything added up and did indeed make sense. I can’t say enough how much I loved being knocked off my socks like that. Especially in young adult literature, I feel like the plot twists are entirely all too predictable. And even more especially—in fairy tale retellings the supposed plot twists are too easy to see coming, because we know what happens in the original tale. But this one was GOOD and so well done! Bravo!
In the first book many of the illustrations have a caption indicating that they are from the sketchbook of one person—but a person that we are never introduced to in that book! I am so glad that character is one we get to know in this book—I have been so curious about that for awhile!
Finally, the epilogue…Oh man! I can’t wait for the next book! So many things were revealed that I am dying to know more about! I am also really invested in some of these characters and am anxious to hear more about what happens to them!
Bottom line: This book holds its own as a fantastic and well-written time travel book, as well as holds its own as a terrific and unique fairy tale retelling. Neither of those are small feats—and to have both rolled into one book? Pretty awesome. I recommend this one, for sure!
January 12, 2022
Meet your players:
- Keltson Grammar. Scotland 21st century
- Dorothea Wild. USA 22nd century
- Margaretha von Waldeck, 16th century German countess
- Ammond MacBarran. USA 21st century
- ITTA, the International Time Travel Agency
- Charul. USA 21st century
- Fleur de Doue. Château de Benoît, Rigny, Usse, France 1028
Written in 3rd person, past tense. Multiple pov
This is a sci-fi historical time travel retelling of Sleeping Beauty, sequel to Shattered Snow.
In Spinning Briar, we pick where we left off with the Mirror's crew still fighting for history's victims and against ITTA, and Charul in Saint-Benoit-la-Foret, France, up to make more mistakes like before (remember how he still hadn't realised he was going to make a wrong arrest, and put an innocent girl in danger?).
New book, new cause. We meet some new characters, including Fleur, the Sleeping Beauty. Let me tell you something about Fleur. You know that audio trending "In response to not getting the attention I deserve, I've decided I will cause problems on purpose"? That's Fleur. She's also very clever.
So one thing I hadn't realised on the previous book: ITTA agents are basically reality TV providers, not disgusting at all *sarcasm*
They call themselves agents, but mostly they are History Youtubers who, hear this out, care more about getting views on their channel, than the people they are recording, just because they are from the past. Like their tragedies don't ever matter or are empathy worthwhile! Revolting!
Once again, Rachel Huffmire is very creative about giving the original fairytale characters a new life, new motives, and explaining their presence/actions in a non fantastical way. The faeris, the villain, the prince, the curse all make sense, but not like we are used to.
I saw some reveals coming right from the beginning, but the execution of everything was unpredictable and that ending kind of destroyed me for many reasons. You'll just have to see for yourself.
I enjoyed this even more than the first.
- Keltson Grammar. Scotland 21st century
- Dorothea Wild. USA 22nd century
- Margaretha von Waldeck, 16th century German countess
- Ammond MacBarran. USA 21st century
- ITTA, the International Time Travel Agency
- Charul. USA 21st century
- Fleur de Doue. Château de Benoît, Rigny, Usse, France 1028
Written in 3rd person, past tense. Multiple pov
This is a sci-fi historical time travel retelling of Sleeping Beauty, sequel to Shattered Snow.
In Spinning Briar, we pick where we left off with the Mirror's crew still fighting for history's victims and against ITTA, and Charul in Saint-Benoit-la-Foret, France, up to make more mistakes like before (remember how he still hadn't realised he was going to make a wrong arrest, and put an innocent girl in danger?).
New book, new cause. We meet some new characters, including Fleur, the Sleeping Beauty. Let me tell you something about Fleur. You know that audio trending "In response to not getting the attention I deserve, I've decided I will cause problems on purpose"? That's Fleur. She's also very clever.
So one thing I hadn't realised on the previous book: ITTA agents are basically reality TV providers, not disgusting at all *sarcasm*
They call themselves agents, but mostly they are History Youtubers who, hear this out, care more about getting views on their channel, than the people they are recording, just because they are from the past. Like their tragedies don't ever matter or are empathy worthwhile! Revolting!
Once again, Rachel Huffmire is very creative about giving the original fairytale characters a new life, new motives, and explaining their presence/actions in a non fantastical way. The faeris, the villain, the prince, the curse all make sense, but not like we are used to.
I saw some reveals coming right from the beginning, but the execution of everything was unpredictable and that ending kind of destroyed me for many reasons. You'll just have to see for yourself.
I enjoyed this even more than the first.
September 2, 2021
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars.
Despite my best efforts, I still am not a fan of time-travel stories, but like to read outside my usual tastes once in a while, especially when fairy tale retellings are involved. But, in this case, the tale retold is one that, like time-travel, has never been one I cared much about.
With these big hits against, you'd think I wouldn't enjoy Rachel Huffmire's Spinning Briar. Surprisingly, I did, and all thanks to the original plot premise and handling of it. In the Mirror Chronicles series, of which this is the second installment (of hopefully many to follow), the overarching story arc is that, in the near future, time-travel is possible and would be as common and effortless as booking a flight to the Caribbean and hopping onto a plane that lands you there in a bit, if it weren't highly surveilled and under the iron grip of the International Time Travel Agency (ITTA), an agency in charge of exploiting the perks of time travel for entertainment & money value as well as acting as a police force to hunt down rogue travellers going through history on unauthorised trips for reasons of their own that don't necessarily match ITTA's goals. The most elusive and dangerous of these rogues is The Mirror, introduced in Shattered Snow as the villain.
Or is he? Charul Shazad, the son of ITTA's director, newly disgraced for his actions in the previous book, is going to find out all he thought was true is far more complicated than he expected. Desperate to restore his reputation and be allowed to time-travel again, he illegally takes a trip to the past to catch The Mirror and bring him to justice, only to end up stranded in a creepy forest in 12th century France, in the middle of which he'll find Château de Benoit, the castle of Sleeping Beauty, and is forced to play Prince Charming to throw a wrench in The Mirror's plans for the duke's daughter living in a time-altered dimension.
I loved the ways Huffmire found to match the original fairy tale's elements with reinterpreted versions of them, like the faeris as equivalents of the fairy godmothers, a renegade programmer as the grumpy fairy who utters the curse, a time-altering device as the spinning wheel, kudzu as the forest of thorns protecting the castle, and more that I can't describe without serious spoilers. And I also liked that The Mirror's plans aren't the villainous schemes everyone at ITTA thinks but are instead complex and have ethical questions behind; they're not entirely right, but have nuances that makes you think, specifically the question: do you leave people from the past to die horrible deaths just because the law says you mustn't alter the timeline? If you have the means to save them by altering their fate through time-travel and time-manipulation, do you use those means or turn your back on them knowing they'll die? Not easy questions to answer, as Charul has to grapple with in order to find his way out of the mess.
The fairy tale nerd in me also appreciated the explanations they came up with in-world for how fairy tales came to exist in this world, linking them to time-travel, and the inclusion of famous tellers like Jacob Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Dorothea Wild (Wilhelm Grimm's wife) in different yet not quite that much different roles.
As an aspect to note for improvement, I'd mention that the use of French here isn't always correct; there's mishaps with the gender of pronouns. And a bit of more thorough editing, too, because some things seem to have escaped the editor. Otherwise, the writing is well-paced and the storytelling is tight. I'm now looking forward to future installments, and crossing my fingers that next tale Huffmire retells will be Beauty and the Beast, my favourite.
4.5 stars.
Despite my best efforts, I still am not a fan of time-travel stories, but like to read outside my usual tastes once in a while, especially when fairy tale retellings are involved. But, in this case, the tale retold is one that, like time-travel, has never been one I cared much about.
With these big hits against, you'd think I wouldn't enjoy Rachel Huffmire's Spinning Briar. Surprisingly, I did, and all thanks to the original plot premise and handling of it. In the Mirror Chronicles series, of which this is the second installment (of hopefully many to follow), the overarching story arc is that, in the near future, time-travel is possible and would be as common and effortless as booking a flight to the Caribbean and hopping onto a plane that lands you there in a bit, if it weren't highly surveilled and under the iron grip of the International Time Travel Agency (ITTA), an agency in charge of exploiting the perks of time travel for entertainment & money value as well as acting as a police force to hunt down rogue travellers going through history on unauthorised trips for reasons of their own that don't necessarily match ITTA's goals. The most elusive and dangerous of these rogues is The Mirror, introduced in Shattered Snow as the villain.
Or is he? Charul Shazad, the son of ITTA's director, newly disgraced for his actions in the previous book, is going to find out all he thought was true is far more complicated than he expected. Desperate to restore his reputation and be allowed to time-travel again, he illegally takes a trip to the past to catch The Mirror and bring him to justice, only to end up stranded in a creepy forest in 12th century France, in the middle of which he'll find Château de Benoit, the castle of Sleeping Beauty, and is forced to play Prince Charming to throw a wrench in The Mirror's plans for the duke's daughter living in a time-altered dimension.
I loved the ways Huffmire found to match the original fairy tale's elements with reinterpreted versions of them, like the faeris as equivalents of the fairy godmothers, a renegade programmer as the grumpy fairy who utters the curse, a time-altering device as the spinning wheel, kudzu as the forest of thorns protecting the castle, and more that I can't describe without serious spoilers. And I also liked that The Mirror's plans aren't the villainous schemes everyone at ITTA thinks but are instead complex and have ethical questions behind; they're not entirely right, but have nuances that makes you think, specifically the question: do you leave people from the past to die horrible deaths just because the law says you mustn't alter the timeline? If you have the means to save them by altering their fate through time-travel and time-manipulation, do you use those means or turn your back on them knowing they'll die? Not easy questions to answer, as Charul has to grapple with in order to find his way out of the mess.
The fairy tale nerd in me also appreciated the explanations they came up with in-world for how fairy tales came to exist in this world, linking them to time-travel, and the inclusion of famous tellers like Jacob Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Dorothea Wild (Wilhelm Grimm's wife) in different yet not quite that much different roles.
As an aspect to note for improvement, I'd mention that the use of French here isn't always correct; there's mishaps with the gender of pronouns. And a bit of more thorough editing, too, because some things seem to have escaped the editor. Otherwise, the writing is well-paced and the storytelling is tight. I'm now looking forward to future installments, and crossing my fingers that next tale Huffmire retells will be Beauty and the Beast, my favourite.
February 27, 2020
Fantastic! I loved this book! One of my favorite things is when a book takes me by surprise, there were a couple times I said, "What, no way!", out loud while I was reading. My daughter is witness! So good! I can't wait for the next one!
March 18, 2020
I was so excited to see how the author continued her story from Shattered Snow, and I found myself in love with this book more than the first! Spinning Briar is even more clever and I was giddy with excitement as each new twist came to light! I fell in love with characters who I didn’t expect. The way the author developed each character, even the ones behind the scenes, brought her story together in so many ways. There was also a bonus of more romance introduced into this book then what the first one had! :)
I was kindly gifted an arc of Spinning Briar, and I can’t wait to purchase a hard copy when it is released! These are the kind of books I appreciate and can’t wait to someday read to my daughter.
Again, I find myself excited to see what comes next in this world of time travel and folklore.
I was kindly gifted an arc of Spinning Briar, and I can’t wait to purchase a hard copy when it is released! These are the kind of books I appreciate and can’t wait to someday read to my daughter.
Again, I find myself excited to see what comes next in this world of time travel and folklore.
March 14, 2020
Rachel Huffmire has done it again. She has managed to send my heart on an emotional roller coaster through time with the twist of yet another classic fairy tale. In the second book of The Mirror books we follow old characters and new characters. Revisiting the old characters from the first book made my heart melt. All of the twist and turns of this book had me biting my nails until the end. I must have gasped out loud at least four times. THE ENDING WAS PHENOMENAL! I can not wait to read the next book.
March 17, 2020
This second installment in the series was even better than the first one!
We got see some of the same characters plus some fun new ones. There's lots of action and excitement.
The ending was interesting. It wrapped up things, but also left things open for yet another book. I can wait!!!
We got see some of the same characters plus some fun new ones. There's lots of action and excitement.
The ending was interesting. It wrapped up things, but also left things open for yet another book. I can wait!!!
October 10, 2021
Once again, Rachel Hoffmire has crafted an incredible story! I am continually impressed with how she makes “magic” work, time travel makes sense, craft what becomes a fairytale through the use of time travel, all without any plot holes that I can discern (which tends to be difficult to accomplish with time travel novels). This time travel story was more complicated than the first book, with travelers from the future as well as those traveling into the past. But still so, so good! I would recommend this series to anyone who likes fairytale retellings, science fiction, or wants to branch out and try something new.
I really love how Rachel uses modern technology (or even beyond modern, since the “modern” time is 2069) to create “magic,” because those living in the 1100s wouldn’t understand it as anything else. She also crafted really believable backstories for Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty, and the villain. The faeries were clever. I liked that this book, while focusing more on Jarul and Dorothea, still gave me some of Kelton, Bianca, and Bay. But speaking of Jarul, his character arc is goooooood. And the plot twist is almost mind blowing! Totally did not see that coming!
I have been really enjoying this series and look forward to more (which I’m assuming will come because of that final chapter)!
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Read By Rachel White—Rachel is an absolutely phenomenal narrator. Her accents (in this book there is Scottish, German, French, American) and voices are superb. She helps bring the characters to life and bumps the story from amazing to incredible. I’d listen to anything read by this narrator.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really love how Rachel uses modern technology (or even beyond modern, since the “modern” time is 2069) to create “magic,” because those living in the 1100s wouldn’t understand it as anything else. She also crafted really believable backstories for Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty, and the villain. The faeries were clever. I liked that this book, while focusing more on Jarul and Dorothea, still gave me some of Kelton, Bianca, and Bay. But speaking of Jarul, his character arc is goooooood. And the plot twist is almost mind blowing! Totally did not see that coming!
I have been really enjoying this series and look forward to more (which I’m assuming will come because of that final chapter)!
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Read By Rachel White—Rachel is an absolutely phenomenal narrator. Her accents (in this book there is Scottish, German, French, American) and voices are superb. She helps bring the characters to life and bumps the story from amazing to incredible. I’d listen to anything read by this narrator.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 28, 2023
A sci-fi, time travel twist on Sleeping Beauty.
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This was great fun! I do wish I hadn't waited so long between book 1 and this one, as I'd forgotten a lot of the time travel details from book 1.
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Looking forward to reading book 3!
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This was great fun! I do wish I hadn't waited so long between book 1 and this one, as I'd forgotten a lot of the time travel details from book 1.
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Looking forward to reading book 3!
May 28, 2021
I really like how this Story plays out and all the different variables that came Into play as the author wrote this Book. Narrator does a Great job with the characters and the storyline. I highly recommend this book!
April 11, 2020
Spinning Briar is a apt sequel to the mind-bending time travel adventure of Shattered Snow and doesn't disappoint. Once again, Rachel Huffmire transforms a well-known fairy tale into a unique adventure that has a life of its own. I've always been a huge fan of time travel stories and like to think of myself as an expert in all of the possible plots, tropes, and plot holes of the genre but somehow this series continues to blow me away and present new ideas that my brain gets to chew on.
As the story began I worried that it would end up being a repeat of the first book in the series but I after a few chapters it went a completely different direction which was a pleasant surprise. The adventure was its own and had twists and turns that I never would have imagined. As with the first in the series, even though I thought I knew the source material, Spinning Briar managed to sneak critical story points in without me even realizing they were significant until I reached the "ah ha" moments here and there.
The story revolves around a young 12th-century French heiress named Fleur who stands between a group of time travel vigilantes who have taken control of her castle and a boy who seems intent on stopping them. Each of the characters felt human and driven by plausible motives. Fleur's plight feels justified and as a reader I didn't know whose side I would have taken if I'd been in her shoes. The history woven into these stories is impressive as well. The language, cultural references, contextual settings, and events have weight that helps the fanciful story feel set in the real world without feeling like a history book.
Rachel Huffmire has a knack for subtly weaving a plot that all comes together at the end. As soon as I finished the book I was compelled to flip through it again to find all the breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the story. As only a time travel series could, Spinning Brian gives us a tantalizing glimpse into the future and I'm excited to see where the series takes us next!
*I received a free advance copy from the publisher*
As the story began I worried that it would end up being a repeat of the first book in the series but I after a few chapters it went a completely different direction which was a pleasant surprise. The adventure was its own and had twists and turns that I never would have imagined. As with the first in the series, even though I thought I knew the source material, Spinning Briar managed to sneak critical story points in without me even realizing they were significant until I reached the "ah ha" moments here and there.
The story revolves around a young 12th-century French heiress named Fleur who stands between a group of time travel vigilantes who have taken control of her castle and a boy who seems intent on stopping them. Each of the characters felt human and driven by plausible motives. Fleur's plight feels justified and as a reader I didn't know whose side I would have taken if I'd been in her shoes. The history woven into these stories is impressive as well. The language, cultural references, contextual settings, and events have weight that helps the fanciful story feel set in the real world without feeling like a history book.
Rachel Huffmire has a knack for subtly weaving a plot that all comes together at the end. As soon as I finished the book I was compelled to flip through it again to find all the breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the story. As only a time travel series could, Spinning Brian gives us a tantalizing glimpse into the future and I'm excited to see where the series takes us next!
*I received a free advance copy from the publisher*
October 28, 2021
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have read a lot of time travel novels, and I have to admit that it is not my favorite genre. The truth is that time travel is confusing, and there are plenty of authors who just can’t manage all of the intersecting timelines. However, Huffmire is not one of these authors.
Spinning Briar is full of time travel, with all of the paradoxes that come with it, but they are all handled so carefully. There were so many risky plot points that would’ve been so easy to tangle into a huge mess, but they all fit nicely into the flow of the story. Huffmire also does a great job of balancing the power and abilities of time travel with clear limits and drawbacks, so it never feels like the time travel functions as some sort of deus ex machina.
I have to admit that I did have a hard time getting into the book, mostly because I only remembered a few plot points from Shattered Snow (the first book). I remembered enough to know that I had already been introduced to the characters, but that’s about it. I don’t know if that is entirely the fault of Shattered Snow itself, since sometimes I find myself reading faster than I can actually absorb the book. However, once I got my hands on a copy of Shattered Snow and reread it it was so much easier to get into the story, since I actually knew what was going on.
The characters in Spinning Briar are certainly three dimensional, and very likable. However, some of them do lack some depth of character that I think takes a book from 4 stars to 5. Almost all of the characters have some clear goal in mind and the good guys are clearly good, and the bad guys are clearly bad.
The plot was great. I was definitely interested the whole time, and the couple of plot twists were awesome enough to make me set the book down and take a minute. I love love the way Huffmire turns the familiar fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty into something sci-fi and action-filled
Overall, this is a solid sequel, and a solid book in its own right. I’d say that it meets and exceeds expectations, especially for an author’s second book, published by a tiny publishing company. I’m excited to see where the story goes, and I’m even more excited to see where Rachel Huffmire’s writing takes her in the future!
I have read a lot of time travel novels, and I have to admit that it is not my favorite genre. The truth is that time travel is confusing, and there are plenty of authors who just can’t manage all of the intersecting timelines. However, Huffmire is not one of these authors.
Spinning Briar is full of time travel, with all of the paradoxes that come with it, but they are all handled so carefully. There were so many risky plot points that would’ve been so easy to tangle into a huge mess, but they all fit nicely into the flow of the story. Huffmire also does a great job of balancing the power and abilities of time travel with clear limits and drawbacks, so it never feels like the time travel functions as some sort of deus ex machina.
I have to admit that I did have a hard time getting into the book, mostly because I only remembered a few plot points from Shattered Snow (the first book). I remembered enough to know that I had already been introduced to the characters, but that’s about it. I don’t know if that is entirely the fault of Shattered Snow itself, since sometimes I find myself reading faster than I can actually absorb the book. However, once I got my hands on a copy of Shattered Snow and reread it it was so much easier to get into the story, since I actually knew what was going on.
The characters in Spinning Briar are certainly three dimensional, and very likable. However, some of them do lack some depth of character that I think takes a book from 4 stars to 5. Almost all of the characters have some clear goal in mind and the good guys are clearly good, and the bad guys are clearly bad.
The plot was great. I was definitely interested the whole time, and the couple of plot twists were awesome enough to make me set the book down and take a minute. I love love the way Huffmire turns the familiar fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty into something sci-fi and action-filled
Overall, this is a solid sequel, and a solid book in its own right. I’d say that it meets and exceeds expectations, especially for an author’s second book, published by a tiny publishing company. I’m excited to see where the story goes, and I’m even more excited to see where Rachel Huffmire’s writing takes her in the future!
December 13, 2021
Spinning Briar alleviated some of the problems that I had with the first book. While it still focuses on a small group of people and their stories, it did a much better job of keeping me entertained. It’s a far more compelling story and I think it opens up even more doors for the series going forward.
Time Travel is a concept I love. Oftentimes, you end up with too many plot holes to count, paradoxes, and confusing as hell stories. These books have done an incredible job of keeping things easy to follow, consistent, and avoiding paradoxes. Book 1 didn’t address vaccines and diseases being transferred, while book 2 brought that up, which I appreciated. The extra attention to detail added to the believability of the story and world.
My first minor complaint is the technology. It’s incredibly short-sighted and not the least bit creative. The characters are using fibreoptic cables and tablets, which makes sense in 2021. I wasn’t paying attention much to the dates, but I believe this is set in 2165 or somewhere around there. To further explain my issue, imagine a time travel story set in 1850 with the characters 150 years in the future using telegraphs to communicate. It dates the novel and will stand out even more as a flaw as technology progresses. Better to invent something new and explain it than to use modern tech, which kneecaps its staying power.
The second minor complaint I have is the journals. I listened to the audiobook, so maybe it’s less jarring in the physical or ebook releases. But I would often time listen to these journals, only for them to abruptly end or confuse the hell out of me. I forgot to bring that up in my review of book 1, I nearly did a second time. They’re just too damn annoying to leave out a second time. The journal log would have been better at the start of the journal, at least in the audiobook version.
I almost never talk about the endings in novels. This one was very well done. It wrapped up the plot nicely while leaving plenty of room for sequels. It gives you just enough to get excited for a sequel without leaving you with a cliffhanger ending.
I’m sick of listening to this narrator mispronounce familiar. There’s only 1 r in familiar. “Farmiliar” isn’t a word. Why people add letters to words when speaking them is beyond me, but I find it insufferably annoying. Overall, the line readings and accents were great. It really helped characters feel distinct.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
Time Travel is a concept I love. Oftentimes, you end up with too many plot holes to count, paradoxes, and confusing as hell stories. These books have done an incredible job of keeping things easy to follow, consistent, and avoiding paradoxes. Book 1 didn’t address vaccines and diseases being transferred, while book 2 brought that up, which I appreciated. The extra attention to detail added to the believability of the story and world.
My first minor complaint is the technology. It’s incredibly short-sighted and not the least bit creative. The characters are using fibreoptic cables and tablets, which makes sense in 2021. I wasn’t paying attention much to the dates, but I believe this is set in 2165 or somewhere around there. To further explain my issue, imagine a time travel story set in 1850 with the characters 150 years in the future using telegraphs to communicate. It dates the novel and will stand out even more as a flaw as technology progresses. Better to invent something new and explain it than to use modern tech, which kneecaps its staying power.
The second minor complaint I have is the journals. I listened to the audiobook, so maybe it’s less jarring in the physical or ebook releases. But I would often time listen to these journals, only for them to abruptly end or confuse the hell out of me. I forgot to bring that up in my review of book 1, I nearly did a second time. They’re just too damn annoying to leave out a second time. The journal log would have been better at the start of the journal, at least in the audiobook version.
I almost never talk about the endings in novels. This one was very well done. It wrapped up the plot nicely while leaving plenty of room for sequels. It gives you just enough to get excited for a sequel without leaving you with a cliffhanger ending.
I’m sick of listening to this narrator mispronounce familiar. There’s only 1 r in familiar. “Farmiliar” isn’t a word. Why people add letters to words when speaking them is beyond me, but I find it insufferably annoying. Overall, the line readings and accents were great. It really helped characters feel distinct.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
April 7, 2020
A clever time-travel retelling of sleeping beauty
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After finishing this book I felt dizzy in a good way. The sort of dizzy excitement you feel in a thrilling episode of Dr. Who when all the different pieces click into place and suddenly you catch all the threads you missed before.
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Though it’s technically science fiction this book still holds the magic of a fairy tale. Also, it’s fun to see how Huffmire weaves all the traditional elements of the original fairy tale in this sci-fi retelling. .
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Spinning Briar is the second book in a series. The first book, Shattered Snow, is an inventive retelling of Snow White with many of the same characters as Spinning Briar; but you can definitely enjoy Spinning Briar without reading the first book. (Though you’ll probably want to.) Also, judging from the epilogue the third book is going to be even more exciting. I can’t wait. 💚
June 29, 2021
This book was a great continuation to Shattered Snow, but it introduced many new characters and storylines, which made it a great read in its own right. Like the first book, this one did an incredible job incorporating elements from the story of Sleeping Beauty; trying to figure out what each element represented made this really fun to read. The beginning was a little slow, but once the plot kicked in, I couldn’t put the book down. There were no real villains, only people doing what they thought was the right thing, and that made for some really deep themes about ethics. I also loved every single plot twist in this book. The author used the idea of time travel to its full extent, weaving a tale with many shocking revelations. However, like with Book 1, I wish the characters had been a little more fleshed out; I think that would have created a really fun found family dynamic. Even still, this was a very compelling read, and I would highly recommend it to any fans of time travel stories.
March 20, 2020
Rachel Huffmire's fairy tale retellings contain the best from the original stories, refreshing new and characters, and incredible twists! I always start expecting to know how it will go, and I end up totally amazed and in love with the world and the characters she creates. Romance is usually front and center in fairy tales, but Shattered Snow and Spinning Briar seamlessly meld the romance in with the action so you totally ship the characters without being annoyed by overdone tropes. Another excellent installment in this series, I can't wait for the next book!
March 21, 2020
Just as good as the first! Sequels are always hard because of preset expectations, but Rachel Huffmire navigated the dreaded "second book" expertly in her most recent installment of the Mirror Series. The story is engaging, the characters relatable, and the plot twists - well, let's just say that I didn't see it coming. Spinning Briar, like Shattered Snow (book one), is a fantastic fairytale retelling with a sci-fi twist!
August 30, 2020
This Sleeping Beauty time-traveling retelling was awesome. I think I liked it even more than the first. It is more focused on time travel than romance, but the time travel is super cool. It’s so well done, and I have so many other thoughts but the rest are...
Spoilers*
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I thought the character of Fleur was so interesting! I love that a person was created with the time travel and that if that if time was corrected she would be erased completely, because that had me like, “Ah! It can’t be erased!”
And now I want to look up underground bunkers from The Cold War. I didn’t know those existed.
I also did not see it coming at all that Dorothea and Tia were the same person.
I loved the idea of taking all those people to the future so it wouldn’t change the past and they could all live.
Spoilers*
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I thought the character of Fleur was so interesting! I love that a person was created with the time travel and that if that if time was corrected she would be erased completely, because that had me like, “Ah! It can’t be erased!”
And now I want to look up underground bunkers from The Cold War. I didn’t know those existed.
I also did not see it coming at all that Dorothea and Tia were the same person.
I loved the idea of taking all those people to the future so it wouldn’t change the past and they could all live.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
This book was so well written! I really enjoyed it. I have been looking forward to reading Spinning Briar for awhile, and I'm glad I was finally able to read it.
I really liked the characters in this story. It was fun to see some of the characters from the previous book make appearances in this book, as well as the new characters that were introduced. I also thought that Rachel did a really good job of taking the Sleeping Beauty fairytale and making it her own. There were definitely some twists to it that I was not expecting. Given the epilogue at the end of this story, I am really hoping there is another book coming in this series. I just need to find out what happens next!
I really liked the characters in this story. It was fun to see some of the characters from the previous book make appearances in this book, as well as the new characters that were introduced. I also thought that Rachel did a really good job of taking the Sleeping Beauty fairytale and making it her own. There were definitely some twists to it that I was not expecting. Given the epilogue at the end of this story, I am really hoping there is another book coming in this series. I just need to find out what happens next!
November 5, 2021
To be a Time Travel Agent means you follow the rules. When Charul looses track of the mirror he panics thinking of all he had worked for. Charul decides to find the mirror once and for all. However one has to be careful when maneuvering through time. A single change could have devastating effects. Then we have Dorathea and she is the mirrors programmer trying to fix changes. Not a bad read but it was a bit confusing at times.
April 9, 2020
This book was even better then the first and I loved that one. Rachel has a was with words to keep you interested and not want to put the book down. I can’t wait for the next one!!
March 24, 2020
"Being an International Time Travel Agent requires absolute obedience. The smallest change in history could completely destroy the present."
-Spinning Briar
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Mirrior Chronicles series
Shattered Snow (book 1)
Spinning Briar (book 2)
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Timetravling + Fairytale = marvelous story!
She takes well known stories & shakes them up! I have read many fairytale reimaginings but nothing like these. You become so invested in the charcters that you forget that your reading a fairytale retelling.
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She truly makes it her own and the timetravling element is a big part of what makes them so unique. Really enjoy her method of storytelling, The plot intertwines with classic fairytale and becomes this gorgeous timetravling adventure!
If your looking for something to read with the whole family especially right now I highly recommend these!
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Timetravling ✔
Fairytale retelling ✔
Family Friendly ✔
Beautiful illustrations✔
There are also beautiful illustrations done by @kaelintwedeart that really add to the stories.
Both are available in paperback, e-book, Kindle unlimited. Shattered Snow is also available in audiobook form narrated by the very talented @rachel.v.white !
I received an ARC of Spinning Briar by the Author and all opinions & thoughts are my own.
-Spinning Briar
.
.
Mirrior Chronicles series
Shattered Snow (book 1)
Spinning Briar (book 2)
.
Timetravling + Fairytale = marvelous story!
She takes well known stories & shakes them up! I have read many fairytale reimaginings but nothing like these. You become so invested in the charcters that you forget that your reading a fairytale retelling.
.
She truly makes it her own and the timetravling element is a big part of what makes them so unique. Really enjoy her method of storytelling, The plot intertwines with classic fairytale and becomes this gorgeous timetravling adventure!
If your looking for something to read with the whole family especially right now I highly recommend these!
.
Timetravling ✔
Fairytale retelling ✔
Family Friendly ✔
Beautiful illustrations✔
There are also beautiful illustrations done by @kaelintwedeart that really add to the stories.
Both are available in paperback, e-book, Kindle unlimited. Shattered Snow is also available in audiobook form narrated by the very talented @rachel.v.white !
I received an ARC of Spinning Briar by the Author and all opinions & thoughts are my own.
March 22, 2020
I wasn't sure if the sequel could top the original when I received this ARC, but this book 100% did! There were some seriously shocking twists and all along the way the action and stakes pulled me in. This book takes all our beloved characters from book 1 and gives them what seems to be an impossible new challenge, but their adventures in facing it are inspiring. Like the first book, the laws of time travel are consistent and fair. I found the new characters in this book compelling, and the old characters got fleshed out in ways that were sooooo satisfying and at times really unexpected! If you liked the first book at all, you NEED to read this sequel. And if you haven't read the first one...what are you waiting for?
March 25, 2020
A well written book filled with twists and turns. I loved Huffmire's Shattered Snow, and this follow up is just as good! It's full of time-travel, adventure, and romance. The characters are well-constructed, making them believable and likable. And that ending!!
August 29, 2021
[I received a free audio copy from the author]
Spinning Briar is book 2 in the Mirror Chronicles series. Timetravel, electronical modern-day versions of the spinning wheel, a handsome 'prince' with a twist and plot-twist after plot-twist make up this fast paced fresh fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Audio version narrated by: Rachel V. White, which was, once again, absolutely perfect. It's hard not to fall in love with the cute scottish, french and german accents that she does oh so well.
Favourites:
- Accents: like I mentioned above, the narration is amazing. Each character very clearly has their own voice and the accents are done very realistically. I loved it!
- Sideplot Romance: a tiny bit of sweet romance is sprinkled in here and there throughout the story, and it was just the perfect amount for me.
- Character arcs: I thought the character arcs in this one were even clearer than the last and it totally worked. Each character has their own story, and they happen to come together beautifully at the end, which brings me to:
- Plot: In book 1 I sometimes got lost within the fast paced story and the very busy plot thanks to all the time travel. Not so this time. There is still just as much time travel, but I found it easier to follow along and that made it just that tad bit more enjoyable. I'm very impressed with the way Huffmire has managed to juggle such a big cast as well as this complicated time travel plot.
- Plot-twists: Oh.My.Heck! Well, to avoid spoilers I won't mention anything, but boy...I didn't see those coming! And looking back they were foreshadowed SO WELL. Very satisfying.
What I missed:
- Actually...absolutely nothing! This is a new favourite of mine.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence, no gore
This book is a clean read in every sense of the word and I would feel completely comfortable recommending it to younger YA readers as well.
Conclusion
If you like fast-paced, character driven, action packed fairytale retellings with modern day twists, time travel, and lots of epic plot-twists, I can highly recommend you start the Mirror Chronicles. And especially the audibooks!
Spinning Briar is book 2 in the Mirror Chronicles series. Timetravel, electronical modern-day versions of the spinning wheel, a handsome 'prince' with a twist and plot-twist after plot-twist make up this fast paced fresh fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Audio version narrated by: Rachel V. White, which was, once again, absolutely perfect. It's hard not to fall in love with the cute scottish, french and german accents that she does oh so well.
Favourites:
- Accents: like I mentioned above, the narration is amazing. Each character very clearly has their own voice and the accents are done very realistically. I loved it!
- Sideplot Romance: a tiny bit of sweet romance is sprinkled in here and there throughout the story, and it was just the perfect amount for me.
- Character arcs: I thought the character arcs in this one were even clearer than the last and it totally worked. Each character has their own story, and they happen to come together beautifully at the end, which brings me to:
- Plot: In book 1 I sometimes got lost within the fast paced story and the very busy plot thanks to all the time travel. Not so this time. There is still just as much time travel, but I found it easier to follow along and that made it just that tad bit more enjoyable. I'm very impressed with the way Huffmire has managed to juggle such a big cast as well as this complicated time travel plot.
- Plot-twists: Oh.My.Heck! Well, to avoid spoilers I won't mention anything, but boy...I didn't see those coming! And looking back they were foreshadowed SO WELL. Very satisfying.
What I missed:
- Actually...absolutely nothing! This is a new favourite of mine.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence, no gore
This book is a clean read in every sense of the word and I would feel completely comfortable recommending it to younger YA readers as well.
Conclusion
If you like fast-paced, character driven, action packed fairytale retellings with modern day twists, time travel, and lots of epic plot-twists, I can highly recommend you start the Mirror Chronicles. And especially the audibooks!
March 24, 2021
Really great sequel! Love the fresh spin on fairy tales.
March 20, 2021
A totally unique and creative scientific retelling of Sleeping Beauty! A great blend of sci-fi and fantasy.
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