Once upon a time, in a magical land far away, there lived an optimistic fairy named Luna. Luna was loved by all the creatures in the forest for her cheerful and positive outlook on life. She was always there to brighten their days and bring a smile to their faces. One day, while exploring the enchanted garden, Luna came across a beautiful rose. Intrigued by its delicate beauty, she decided to pluck it and take it home with her. Little did she know, this rose carried a curse that would change her life forever.
SPINDLE, which just came out yesterday, is one of the latter — an old story made startlingly new. You can tell from the title that it’s Sleeping Beauty (or Briar Rose; this fairy tale is so ubiquitous that it has more than one name). I admit I was not particularly optimistic going in, not least because this tale already has some excellent re-tellings: Spindle’s End, by Robin McKinley is probably the gold standard, but I’m also fond of Linda Medley’s The Curse of Brambly Hedge. Johnston was entering a crowded playing-field, and I didn’t see how she was going to distinguish herself.
Fairy tale re-tellings are hit-or-miss for me; I m seldom so in love with a fairy tale that I have much patience with hearing it again, and it s rare that the re-telling provides surprises me with a take on the original that I hadn t already considered. For four years, Princess Aurora of Rhone Rose to her friends has searched the world for a way to break the curse placed on her by Magdalina, the wicked ruler of the fairies at war with her kingdom.
Little did she know, this rose carried a curse that would change her life forever. As Luna carried the rose back to her fairy house, a mystical energy emanated from it, intertwining with her optimistic aura. Unbeknownst to Luna, this energy was slowly transforming her positive thoughts into pessimistic ones.
Review: SPINDLE, by E. K. Johnston
Fairy tale re-tellings are hit-or-miss for me; I’m seldom so in love with a fairy tale that I have much patience with hearing it again, and it’s rare that the re-telling provides surprises me with a take on the original that I hadn’t already considered.
SPINDLE, which just came out yesterday, is one of the latter — an old story made startlingly new. You can tell from the title that it’s Sleeping Beauty (or Briar Rose; this fairy tale is so ubiquitous that it has more than one name). I admit I was not particularly optimistic going in, not least because this tale already has some excellent re-tellings: Spindle’s End, by Robin McKinley is probably the gold standard, but I’m also fond of Linda Medley’s The Curse of Brambly Hedge. Johnston was entering a crowded playing-field, and I didn’t see how she was going to distinguish herself.
But she did, and she has, and it’s mythic and moving. Johnston has taken on the problem of female victimhood — a princess cursed to prick her finger and sleep until she is rescued, who has no say in her fate — and turned it on its ear. A victim, after all, is not just a casualty. She can also be a devotion, an offering, the one who chooses and saves the world.
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Over time, Luna started to lose her joyful spirit and began seeing the world through a lens of negativity. The once vibrant and optimistic fairy became isolated and sad. Her cheerful nature was no more, and the creatures in the forest felt the absence of her positive presence. They started to worry about their beloved Luna and wondered what had caused the sudden change in her demeanor. One day, a wise old owl visited Luna in her fairy house. He had noticed her transformation and suspected that the curse from the rose was to blame. The owl explained how the curse had taken hold of Luna's optimistic fairy essence and turned it into negativity. Determined to help Luna, the owl suggested that she return to the enchanted garden and find the rose from which the curse originated. Luna hesitated, fearing that she would never be able to break free from the curse. However, with the encouragement and support of her forest friends, Luna mustered up the courage to embark on her journey back to the garden. As Luna reached the enchanted garden, she searched diligently for the cursed rose. After much searching, she finally found it tucked away in a hidden corner. Luna carefully plucked it from the ground, holding it gently in her hands. With a deep breath, Luna closed her eyes and focused on breaking the curse. She channeled all her remaining positive energy into the rose, hoping that her optimistic nature would overpower the curse's negativity. As she opened her eyes, a surge of light enveloped Luna, and she felt the curse slowly lifting from her. When Luna returned to the forest, her forest friends were ecstatic to see her vibrant spirit and optimistic outlook restored. They celebrated her triumph over the curse and were grateful to have their beloved Luna back. From that day forward, Luna vowed to always treasure the power of optimism and be cautious of the potential curses that lay in the most unsuspecting places. She continued to spread her joy throughout the forest, reminding everyone that even in the face of darkness, there is always a glimmer of hope..
Reviews for "Nature's Secret: The Optimistic Fairy Curse Unleashed by Roses"
- JohnDoe123 - 1 star
I was really excited to read "Optimistic fairy curse from a rose" based on the interesting title and synopsis, but I found the execution to be extremely disappointing. The characters were poorly developed and the plot was confusing and disjointed. The writing style was also very dull and lacking in creativity. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time reading this book and would not recommend it to others.
- JaneSmith456 - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Optimistic fairy curse from a rose" as I am a fan of fantasy novels, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The concept was intriguing, but the pacing was off and it took too long for the story to pick up. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and it was difficult to connect with the characters. While there were some interesting moments, they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster storytelling. I wouldn't actively discourage others from reading it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it either.
- BookLover27 - 2 stars
"Optimistic fairy curse from a rose" started off promising, but quickly lost its charm. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and the narrative seemed disjointed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to invest in their journeys. Additionally, the writing style was repetitive and lacked polish, making it a struggle to stay engaged. While there were a few enjoyable moments, overall, this book left me feeling unsatisfied. I wouldn't rush to recommend it to others.