Reviewed by lizarodz on
Even though the characters don't have names - they are referred to as "the queen", the tallest dwarf", "the princes" - it is really easy to tell who the characters are since they come from really well known fairy tales. However, there are not a lot of similarities between their stories. A lot of it feels more realistic and also darker than the pink-colored fairy tales of old. The book is short and it feels like it and besides the ending is a bit abrupt and there is definitely room for more of the story in a future installment (although there's none planned that I can tell). I'm not sure I can tell you a lot more about the story, it would be very easy to give it away.
One of the elements that I liked the most in The Sleeper and the Spindle is that the queen takes matters into her own hands. She's not a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued, quite the opposite. She's the one that rescues, fights, figures out the riddles and conquers evil. I loved it! It sends the right message to young girls. The queen is accompanied in this quest by three dwarfs, who act as escort and counselors.
The illustrations are breathtaking. They are made in black, white and grays, with the addition of gold for emphasis. They add a great dimension to the story and complement everything perfectly. This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 7 December, 2015: Finished reading
- 7 December, 2015: Reviewed