(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

This whole series has felt like Indian Jones mixed with fairytales and it creates a brilliant world and atmosphere. It’s full of action scenes that are really good and you are able to visualise what is happening really easily and the writing is great too.

The plot of the third book was okay but did feel a bit repetitive and similar to the other books. I do appreciate how the plot is fast-paced but sometimes it felt a little too convenient. like they would need to go to another location and it would take them no time to get there at all or they would have to find one specific item and within a few chapters, they had it. It isn’t too big of a deal but it just felt a little too convenient and easy (bearing in mind these characters are meant to be some of the best treasure hunters).

I also think the main villain wasn’t really ‘villain-y’ enough. She’s meant to be this big powerful witch but doesn’t really live up to that when we see her (which isn’t really that often throughout the whole series). there were some other antagonists during the series (like the witch hunters) who felt like a better villain than her.

The final instalment in The Bone Spindle trilogy delivered on all the elements I've come to love in this series. A brilliant cast of characters, cleverly woven-in twists on classic fairytales (elements of Rapunzel make a prominent appearance), as well as a healthy dose of curse breaking, puzzle solving and tomb raiding.

Whereas the four main characters worked together as a team in the second book, their alliance has been torn apart by the events at the end of The Severed Thread. We are reading from the POV of Fi, Shane and Red, with Briar largely remaining a silent presence due to his mostruous form. The protagonists race to stop the Spindle Witch from taking over Andar and face a range of challenges and opponents.

This is a fantastic series - and it's ready to binge now if you haven't yet started it! I'm looking forward to seeing what Leslie Vedder writes next!

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for this eARC

I absolutely love this series, I love the story, the writing and the characters. I really felt like I fell into this world as soon as I started reading. Leslie Vedder knows how to tell a tale and grab her audience and keep them gripped.
I love the developments in this novel and how each character tackled what they faced. I loved reading this and highly recommend it to others.

The Bone Spindle is the third book in the Cursed Rose series. I seriously enjoyed the first two books in this Indiana Jones/fairy tale series and was really looking forward to this one.
The book was good and had a great conclusion, but something was missing throughout the majority of the book and I certainly didn't enjoy it as much as the others. I can't really put my finger on what was off with this one.
I'm glad I read it, but it felt a bit anti climactic after enjoying the first two so much.

THE CURSED ROSE feels closest to THE BONE SPINDLE of the sequels, with more riffs on fairy tales and returning to original locations and characters.

There is a Rapunzel theme to this book with the origin story of the Spindle Witch and also the towers Fi finds herself imprisoned in. I liked getting that fairy tale vibe again, all smashed up and twisted into new imaginings.

There's also one big tomb heist sequence in the middle of the book, which was a lot of fun and my favourite part of the book. I've loved that treasure hunt aspect to this series and that sequence was just a delight, but with a new competitive edge between the girls.

There are also plenty of action sequences as Fi, Shane, and the rest take on the Spindle Witch. There is a suitably epic final battle back at the castle from the first book, but also other squirmishes along the way. Armand also returns from the first book, and is as awful as ever.

Briar, understandably, doesn't narrate in this book. I did miss his perspective but I understood why it didn't make sense for the possessed witch not to speak when he doesn't have any control over himself. The other three, Shane, Fi, and Red, all narrate in about equal share, which was nice.

The ending was at first heartbreaking but then really nice and sweet. It was a great way to round it off, and the play with the heartstrings first.

“No knowledge is ever wasted, Filore. Maybe the next thing you’re looking for will be right here.”

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

Not all curses should be broken. Not all fairytales end happily ever after. Fi is a prisoner. Briar, a monster. Shane's a warrior. And Red is a traitor. What was once a formidable group of four fighting to reawaken the kingdom is now ruptured, torn apart by the wicked Spindle Witch. Confined to a tower with the monstrous Briar Rose, Fi is caught in the Spindle Witch’s ever-tightening web. With the Spindle Witch on the verge of finding the Siphoning Spells and crushing Andar—with Fi’s help, no less—Fi’s only hope lies in decoding the ancient riddle of the Rose Witches before she loses Briar forever. Shane is desperate to save Andar—and her partner. She’s on the hunt for a weapon left by the mysterious Lord of the Butterflies, which holds the key to the Spindle Witch’s demise. Her love for Red has only fortified. But Red’s betrayal puts her in danger from a new enemy—the Spindle Witch’s executioner, the Wraith, a witch as powerful as he is cruel. The future of Andar lies in the secrets of its past. Fi and Shane must take on the greatest lost ruin of them all—the Tomb of Queen Aurora.

Filore really has to fight for what she wants in this book. In the Spindle Witch’s clutches and desperate to save the one she loves, she can do nothing but bow to evil and hope there is a way out. She’s always been tenacious but it reaches a whole new level here. She battles herself and the darkness hanging over her, controlling her, at every turn and does her very best to come out victorious. I really liked seeing such determination from Fi and the fact she wouldn’t allow the constant setbacks to impact her. She never let her positivity waver - even when things seemed incredibly hopeless. She had a very strong arc over the course of this trilogy and I really like where her character ended up come the conclusion.
We see so very little of Briar Rose in this story - other than the presence of the monster he has become. I wish there could have been more of Briar since so much of the previous plot has revolved around him and his fate - and that of his kingdom. It was slightly disappointing to not have an inner Briar like his consciousness inside the monster across the book - even if only flashes. I feel like this could have added higher stakes to the overall story and would have acted as further encouragement for Fi.
Shane seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut and most certainly feeling the loss of her partner. We even see her losing a bit of that carefree, blasé attitude that is so quintessentially Shane. But I found it rather refreshing to see a different side to her in the third book. We all expect Shane to be the comedic relief, and she still is, but it was nice to see her fret more and feel uncertain about how to move forward. And there is such strength in her too. Strength that remained unwavering throughout and led her right where she needed to be.
Enjoying her newfound freedom, Red seems to simultaneously flounder and flourish. She doesn’t know what to do with her life beyond the Spindle Witch’s shadow and being the centre of Shane’s attentions seems to be jarring. But she starts to learn more about herself and what she’s capable of, she begins to open up - both to her abilities and the possibility of a brighter future. I think Red’s overall arc was really good. She had a lot riding on her shoulders and it was great to see just how everything came together and influenced both her life and the lives of the other characters. I think she ended up in the perfect place in the end.

This was quite the conclusion to this delightful gender bent, LGBTQ+ Sleeping Beauty retelling! The plot was generally fast moving and there was a lot going on - but I rather liked this. It never felt like too much was happening and it felt right considering the path that the other books in the trilogy had taken. I’m always up for adventure and this book delivers on that. We mostly stuck with our familiar characters though we got to know a few others better which I liked. It certainly helped keep the story interesting and engaging. There was quite a bit of romance in this book but not for the characters you’d expect. Instead the focus was on Red and Shane’s blooming relationship. I really enjoyed getting to read their dynamic shifting and developing. There was plenty of angst and frustration but that made it all the more sweeter because it was fought for. For Fi, there was so much yearning which led to disappointment that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. I certainly felt disappointed there wasn’t more of her and Briar after the last two books. The ending felt rather bittersweet but felt right after all our characters had gone through. Well done Vedder on such a great story.

Overall, The Cursed Rose is a lovely conclusion to this fabulous tale!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder Children’s Books for an advanced copy of this book. Review is live on my Goodreads and will be live on my blog on 29th March.

I absolutely loved the world this author created, it felt like a sleeping beauty retelling with a lot more depth.

This book is complex, wholesome and a real adventure. I’m so glad for the happy endings, I had no doubts the author would give all main characters a full conclusion. I wouldnt mind some novellas at some point to get more adventures with Fi, Briar, shane and red!

I loved the previous books, so I was thrilled when I was approved for this arc.

The story picks up where the previous book ended - our heroes separated and the Spindle Witch getting what she wanted.
The story is full of action, adventure and mystery (I really liked the Aurora part).
I'm really happy we got to know of the Spindle Witch's past, it was really interesting (little morbid) and if I'm being honest I would love to read story about her life.
The romances were great, and the friendships too, I'm glad there's and equal emphasis on romance and platonic realitionships (although I wish we got more moments with Fi and Briar).
It's really quick read with great writing and amazing characters.

Overall great ending to the trilogy and I can't wait to read more from the author.

I can't recommend this trilogy enough, you wont't regret reading it.

I love this trilogy, which combines a gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty retelling with elements of Red Riding Hood, and Tomb Raider/ Indiana Jones style adventurers.
THE CURSED ROSE throws us back into the heart of the action and the fallout from the last book. To be honest, if you're starting the series from scratch, I'd highly recommend reading them pretty close together to get the most out of the experience-there's quite a lot going on with a decently large cast of heroes, villains, and backstory.
That said, THE CURSED ROSE a fantastic finale. Even though the last book tore them apart, the ride-or-die friendship/ partnership between Shane and Fi is given enough time and weight that it's never overshadowed by the (wonderful) double romances. I genuinely love that about this series, that this platonic relationship really gets to shine.
Vedder's writing is gorgeous, and she paints beautiful landscapes for the characters to explore, while also immersing us in the various POV characters and their inner conflicts. Fi, Shane and (especially in this particular book) Red each had a strong storyline and (both internal and external) challenges to overcome. This instalment gives us more about our heroines, while also giving reader's the opportunity to meet and re-meet some fun secondary antagonists and allies.
It's a fast-paced read--with edge of your seat adventuring and mystery, as well as some really heart-wrenching moments--which built to a fantastic, well-earned conclusion.

Well 2024 has deco started and it started with this gem!

I have read all of those books as E-Arc and then pre-ordered them!

This is the final book in the series and so now I am going to go cry in a corner over this fact!
From start to finish I have been impressed with these books, the role reversal sleeping beauty tale was perfectly done without the female character strength and abilities. Fi was clever and witty, yes annoying at times as she didn't stick to the plan but her growth over the series was natural and flows.

Shane! Be still my heart. A short, axe throwing female huntsman who was head strong. Yes I have a type and yes this is it. Again the character development was natural without losing who she was, the relationship between her and Red *chefs kiss*

The story from book 1 to book 3 was well thought out and not once didn't I feel like it dragged (did read each book in like a day). I would read these again and again