I throughly enjoyed being back with these characters and seeing them carry on with their adventure. I really love these characters and I loved watching them develop and grow even more.

I really enjoyed this one and I'm really invested in this series! I cannot wait to read the next book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Severed Thread is the second book in the Bone Spindle trilogy, and I really enjoyed returning to this world and catching up with Fi, Briar, Shane and Red (who gets her own POV chapters in this second book).

We learn more about Red's backstory and how she came to work for the Spindle Witch. I was invested in both the romantic pairings. There was plenty of tension between Shane and Red, and lots of pining between Fi and Briar.
The book finished on an intense cliffhanger and has the final installment placed firmly among my most anticipated books for 2024, as I can't wait to find out how it all ends.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and the continuation was also great.

The treasure hunting aspect is still one of my favourite parts, and seeing how Fi, Shane, and their companions dealt with the variety of obstacles they encountered was interesting and engaging.

I did think this was a duology for some reason, so I was surprised when the ending was open, but I will continue the series to see how it ends!

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder last year I couldn’t wait to read its follow up The Severed Thread. Having now read The Severed Thread I’m left desperate to know when we’ll get book 3! Vedder certainly knows how to leave us on a cliffhanger desperate for more!

The Severed Thread brings us right back into the action, following on directly from the events of The Bone Spindle. Having now woken the sleeping prince, Briar Rose, Fi and Shane still have a curse to break, and a terrifying foe to face: the Spindle Witch. If they can defeat her, the land of Andar will be free again. The three journey to the secret city of Everlynd, and all the while Fi is fighting her feelings for Briar, while he is fighting the ever-growing pull of the Spindle Witch. 

On the way, they are ambushed by Red, the girl who Shane can't stop flirting and arguing with. Red is, however, in the service of the Spindle Witch. After an accident, the two are forced to work together. But then they're captured by a pack of Witch Hunters. Will Red finally pick the right side?

It’s always hard to say too much about a second book for fear of not spoiling the first for those who’ve not read it. So, with that in mind here are the things I loved about book 2 that should be spoiler free:
🌹 the amazing female friendship and partnership between Fi and Shane
🪄 that we get to see so much more of Red and understand what has shaped her
🌹 the way that Shane protects Red and encourages her to want more for herself than she’s ever allowed herself
🪄 the pining between Fi and Briar
🌹 the evolution of Shane and Red’s relationship
🪄 the addition of Perrin - he’s a great new character
🌹 Vedder’s world building remains very impressive
🪄 that Fi is no longer left carrying the burden of her curse alone (and Shane’s reaction ❤️)

This was such a fun read, as was the first book. I’ll admit though after that ending I’m worried about one of our main characters, I only hope everything will be ok by the end of the next book 🤞🏻🤞🏻

If you enjoy YA fantasy which gender flipped roles, magic, breathtaking scenery, kick-ass female leads then don’t hesitate to pick up this series.

The Bone Spindle: The Severed Thread is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. This sequel is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough of this series. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out The Bone Spindle: The Severed Thread today.

Thank you for my earc of this book! I absolutely adored The Bone Spindle - it was my first 5 star read of 2022! Though I loved being back with these characters, there were times it felt a little slow and it did feel like a middle book but I enjoyed it overall!

The sequel I was highly anticipating!!! I loved this book so so much! I loved being back in the world and being back with my favourite characters. Like The Bone Spindle, I devoured this book and I absolutely can not wait until the final instalment in this trilogy - The Cursed Rose - is released next Feb!

Shane......be still my heart, most of my friends will tell you, if there is a women with an axe who knows how to use it in a book, I will read it.

I loved book 1 of this series as it was a gender swap with great characters who were strong and capable of doing thing themselves. This book gives great character growth and makes you love the characters even more. Great book with strong female characters, yes there is wlw and wlm but it's not the main story line which I like.

Only bad thing was as I had this as a E-Arc there was formatting errors which mess with my dyslexic mind (doesn't take alot) but other then that it was a great book

The Severed Thread is the second book in the Bone Spindle series and it definitely lived up to the first which was filled with magic, adventure , treasure hunting and the teasing of romance. I absolutely loved the dynamic of Fi and Shane’s relationship in the first book and it did not disappoint going into the next book. Going into book two Fi has awakened Prince Briar Rose and the battle for the Princes Kingdom of Andar is just beginning for them. We’ve got Witch Hunters after them, the hunt for a magically hidden city of Witches and more adventures and challenges along the way.

I loved the world building in this book and enjoyed all the descriptions of the magic , relics and the places visited. I enjoyed the steady pace of the plot and found it such a fun read. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and found it had such good flow. I love love love the characters in this series and feel they are well developed and have a good backstory of their own which helps with the story.

I think my favourite character is definitely Fi, I love how her friendship with Shane has developed and how they come to actually care for each other and the other person’s safety. I love how selfless she is with her curse and how she’s willing to help others. I love how she is slowly falling in love with Briar and the hints that she does feel the same way he does.

I absolutely can’t wait for the final book in the series to find out what happens next!

(Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder Children’s Book for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I love retellings and I think this book (and the whole series so far) is done so well! It's still reminiscent of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale but with its own unique spin. The main part where this book excels is in world-building. It's so rich and there is so much depth in the magic and lore that it makes for such a good read.

The plot was a little slow compared to the first one, but this normally happens in the second book of a trilogy. I was a little bored in places and certain scenes did seem to drag on but I will say that this book still had all the mystery and treasure hunt vibes that the first book had which I loved.

I really like all the characters and their little found family bond but i loved how we got to know more about Red and her backstory. She was a really interesting and mysterious character in the first book so I really liked how she was explored a bit more.

There's no sophomore slump for this series. THE SEVERED THREAD is just as action-packed as the first book with greater character development and forward momentum of relationships. Beware, it ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you dying for book three!

I had thought I posted a review for THE BONE SPINDLE but, looking back, I can’t seem to find it… The point is, I really enjoyed the first book in this series, which sort of combines a gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty retelling with elements of Red Riding Hood with characters who fit it perfectly on an adventure with Indiana Jones or Lara Croft.
THE SEVERED THREAD throws you straight back into the action. In my opinion, this is a sequel best enjoyed back-to-back with (or with a reread of) the previous book. It took me a chapter or so to find myself ‘settled’ back into the story, world, and characters.
It was worth that minor bit of perseverance though.
This is one of those ‘found family’ casts where I loved all the characters.
Book-smart Fi.
Lesbian himbo, axe-wielding Shane.
Cinnamon roll prince Briar Rose.
And, can-you-trust-her witch Red.
Even with four main characters, each one felt distinct and enjoyable, and I never felt like I was skimming to get back to a specific POV. I love the two romances, but I also love that the partnership and friendship between Fi and Shane is given just as much, if not more, weight. These really are friends who’d do anything for each other.
The pacing is quick and the plot full of adventure, action and treasure-hunting. From the kick off to the ending, everything was constantly moving and throwing at least one of the leads into a fresh challenge. Vedder has managed to balance out the ‘problem solving’ of our artefact hunters, with action-packed fight scenes, magical battles, and two separate swoony romance arcs.
The stakes are higher than THE BONE SPINDLE, with everything feeling a bit bigger, more dangerous and more ‘epic’. The finale throws everything into disarray and sets up perfectly for what I’m sure is going to be a no holds barred ending to the trilogy.

I was so looking forward to the second book in the The Bone Spindle series and this sequel did not disappoint. All those aspects that made book 1 so exciting and original are back and bigger in the second instalment.

Fi and Shane are back. The Prince has been woken by a kiss but the danger isn't over yet. They still need to rid the land of the evil Spindle Witch's curse and free Briar's family, but with Red, the right hand of the Spindle Witch and the witch hunters overrunning the land, it won't be an easy task.

This book is still an exhilarating, adrenaline pumping adventure. I love the mix of fairy tales with a splash of Indianna Jones. We get POV's from the 4 main characters and get to delve in deeper into the world of the witches and mystery.

If you enjoyed the first book you'll adore the second. I can't wait to read the final part of this trilogy now.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review.

The Severed Thread by Leslie Vedde
Book 2 in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have throughly enjoyed reading this book it's a well written children's fantasy.I found it difficult to put this book down. The flow was excellent, with just the right amount of peaks and troughs to keep the story moving. Nothing felt repetitive or droll; I was completely engaged and eager for more, more, more! In my opinion, the romance was fantastic. A great deal of yearning and doe eyes, turmoil and frustration that added drama and mirth to the story. I'm a sucker for a good slow burn, and Vedder nails it in my opinion. I'm hooked because we have different characters fighting against their emotions. There was plenty of action and fighting, but I was hoping for a little more.


Overall, The Severed Thread is a fantastic sequel that grips you throughout.

I loved the first book in yhis duology so when I saw the second I had to press that request button I was so excited when I got approved. THANK YOU NETGALLEY!


This is an amazing book, it carried on well from the first book and you learn so much more. It answered questions I was left with from book 1 and I fell in love with the characters more and more from the onset of the book.

“Dreams were nothing but fantasies, and this one was over.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fi has awakened the sleeping prince, but the battle for Andar is far from over. The Spindle Witch, the Witch Hunters, and Fi’s own Butterfly Curse all stand between them and happily ever after. Shane has her partner’s back. But she’s in for the fight of her life against Red, the right hand of the Spindle Witch who she’s also, foolishly, hellbent on saving. Briar Rose would do anything to restore his kingdom. But there’s a darkness creeping inside him—a sinister bond to the Spindle Witch he can’t escape. All hopes of restoring Andar rest on deciphering a mysterious book code, finding the hidden city of the last Witches, and uncovering a secret lost for centuries—one that just might hold the key to the Spindle Witch’s defeat. If they can all survive that long…

Fi is still as stubborn as before, perhaps with a side of extra daring and extra feeling. She still clings to the joy that treasure hunting brings - perhaps to stay close to her parents in a way she is physically unable to - but she seems to approach it differently after the events of the first book. She has to grapple with her emotions after wishing to part from Briar, for his own good and the good of the kingdom, and then being forced to remain by his side. I really liked her tenacity and insistence that the group of them could come out on top and save Briar Rose’s kingdom. After all, they’ve achieved the impossible already. What’s a bit more? I also liked seeing her be a bit more emotional. She has this longing for more inside of her but is forced to constantly step back and run away thanks to the butterfly curse. At times throughout the book, we get to see Fi follow her heart and it’s great. I couldn’t help but feel incredibly sorry for her every time she had to move away from those she cared about and force herself to do the right thing. Even more so after particular events... I just want to give her a hug!
Briar Rose’s character changes quite a bit. In the first book, he was very much a teddy bear, desperate to be woken and save his kingdom. Now he’s left to face the reality that all his plans have been derailed and he must do his best to fix his broken kingdom and save everyone in it. There’s an extra element of maturity to him now which is very interesting to see because he comes across differently - in a good way! He still thinks with his heart which I love about him, but he’s also forcing his head to make some decisions about the problems he encounters along the way. There are a few versions of him that greet us across the book: lovesick, heartbroken, angry, desperate, terrified. All feel very different from each other but they’re all Briar. He’s a character that is more complex than he’s given credit for. Just the kind of character I like!
Shane remains to be the levity in this book, even in the harsh moments. She’s a great character in general but having her quick, dry wit and sass pop up at the most opportune times was brilliant. I was really rooting for her throughout because she seems to have found the one who makes her happy and she just cannot catch a break! But Shane handles it like a champ. I’m excited to see what she has to bring to the next book!
Getting to look into Red’s head was a nice surprise. She becomes a bigger character in this book and what a character she is. There are so many layers to Red that I’m sure we’re yet to unveil more of her and what makes her tick. I liked the more vulnerable moments where she’s battling with her thoughts and emotions, warring with one part of herself against another. She’s an interesting characters because, rather like she does with Shane, she draws you in and you find yourself eager to know what has led her to be who she is, and how she will cope with the thoughts that she can be someone else - with someone else. I’d love to get to know her even more in the next book, particularly after the revelations at the end!

Now this is how you do a sequel! I felt like I could barely put this book down. The flow was brilliant, the right amount of peaks and troughs to keep a story going. Nothing felt repetitive or droll, the entire time I was engaged and eager to have more, more, more! The romance was wonderful in my eyes. A fabulous amount of yearning looks and doe eyes, angst and frustration that added both drama and levity to the story. I’m a lover of slow burn if it’s done right, and boy, Vedder does it right in my eyes. We get multiple characters fighting against their feelings and I am hooked on it. There was a good amount of action and fighting but part of me wanted to see a bit more. Big things were happening and at times, I felt it could possibly go further. But, I would say that’s my only gripe about this book. Vedder has done a wonderful job continuing this story, bringing a great twist to the Sleeping Beauty story. And that ending? Oh lordy, makes me oh so desperate for the next book!

Overall, The Severed Thread is a fantastic sequel that grips you throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, was one of my top fantasy reads of 2022 so I was so excited to get back to Fi, Briar, Shane and Red.

I really enjoyed following the next stage of the gangs journey, Urgh and that cliff hanger ending, what a tease when book three is so far away!!!!