I was looking forward to reading Spellbound as the premise sounded so intriguing - a retelling of The Sleeping Beauty. But unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations.

We follow Queen Violanna who must exile her first born daughter after a magical blessing ceremony ends with the baby being cursed instead. The baby, Briar, is placed in the care of Sel, an apprentice of magic.

The book starts off strong and the plot really gets moving. But then it quickly starts falling off to a glacial pace, despite the short chapters I still found myself skimming it.

The multi pov really makes it difficult to care for any character at all deeper level. And I’ve read tons of multi pov books but for some reason this just didn’t work.

And the world building was pretty non existent, I was constantly seeking answers to questions in my head instead of focusing on the plot.

Maybe I’m not the target audience for this one, as I was expecting something either much more whimsical or much darker.

Thanks to Bantam Books, Random House UK and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

As both a Disney fan and a book lover this was the most perfect, cosy yet intriguing gift any of the faeries could ever bestow!

It's a retelling of sleeping beauty, but with a fresh, modern update, with women supporting each other and fighting for their own future. Parts of the story fused between the traditional tale and this retelling.
Thank you to NetGalley Random House Uk, Transworld publishers for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for approving me for a review copy of Spellbound. Unfortunately, having read 50% of the story I find myself struggling to connect with the characters. This could be a mood thing so to be fair to the author and the book I've now set it to one side and will hopefully return to it in the future - when I will of course let you have my feedback.

So sorry not to be posting a review at this time.

Regards
Lynn

I'm sorry to say this book didn't work for me. It didn't hold my interest and was a struggle to get through.

This was an interesting book, but it took me a while to get into it. I did enjoy it overall. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

An interesting take on a classic fairytale but if you’re looking for a light-hearted and fluffy take on Sleeping Beauty then stop now, if anything Spellbound owes itself more to the Brothers Grimm than the Walt Disney version and there’s no prince to rescue to princess. Overall, I enjoyed this book but wouldn’t say I loved it. Reading the story, it felt quite busy being told from multiple points of view and I struggled at points to keep the characters straight. It was definitely different from what I usually read but I’m honestly not sure if this is an author I would read again.

This feminist twist on Sleeping Beauty brought together some really interesting characters and complex familial relationships, that take different forms. Though all of these women brought something different to the story, each with their own distinct characters, my favourite part of the plot was Sel and Briar's story - and Sel's character in particular. I felt she experienced the most change across her story, trapped into a nomadic lifestyle away from her homeland and the dream she'd spent years pursuing. Whereas Violanna is very much fixed in place, we see different people and different places through Sel's narrative, and she was easy to like and to empathise with. Though the women are undoubtedly the stars of this book, I have a soft spot for both Jacken and Gad too. I enjoyed seeing them both woven into the story, each bringing an extra something to it.

Whilst the story does have some parallels with the well known fairytale it certainly diverges from the path, too. Georgia Leighton made some striking choices with this story, and overall it works really well though it's almost its own fairytale in place of a retelling. I personally would have wanted something different for certain characters and their relationships at the end, but that's only me, and I was otherwise charmed by these complex characters and their magical world.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Spellbound by Georgia Leighton is a unique and darker take on the Sleeping Beauty story that I overall really enjoyed. It serves as a great debut for the author.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book; I went in expecting a lighter-hearted read, but some events truly shocked me and could be extremely triggering for some readers.

I found the story quite gripping, even though there wasn't much action during the main body of the narrative. I appreciated how the plot unfolded and felt satisfied with the ending. Additionally, the multi-POV element was executed well, with all perspectives playing a vital role in the story.

However, there are a couple of points I would like to address. First, some of the POVs had very similar "voices." This was particularly true for the older characters, who were not very distinct from one another. If the character's name hadn't been included in each chapter's title, it might have taken me a few pages to realize which character I was following. Furthermore, key information was withheld from the reader by one of the POVs, which may frustrate some readers. As a result, this book may not appeal to those who prefer more character-driven narratives.

I also found the prose somewhat simplistic and straightforward. I typically prefer fairy tale-style stories to be more flowery and descriptive. While this book was well-written, it lacked the level of descriptiveness I craved.

Despite these two points, I had a fun time with this book, and I look forward to reading any of the author's future works.

A great retelling of a favourite story that we know. I love different takes on this story, and the characters here were great.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

As a child, I absolutely loved the animated Sleeping Beauty movie so naturally the premise of this book - a feminist reimagining of the fairytale - hooked me immediately. And I wasn't disappointed.

Spellbound is told with multiple narratives from our leading ladies, and I found each one just as interesting to read as the others. It can be tricky when writing a multi-pov story to have each character interesting enough that people don't just want to get back to their favourite, but Leighton has done a fantastic job crafting them all. They are all strong in their own, very different ways and I loved seeing the different perspectives on their situations.

For me the pacing wasn't the most consistent, but it never dipped enough for me to lose interest and came to a satisfying conclusion - although it did leave me wanting to know more about what the future holds for everyone.

Overall, a very enjoyable read and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fairytales and especially reimaginings.

A wonderful fairy tale for adults. Lose yourself in this strange world that is entirely normal - except that a strong vein of magic runs through and beneath, and not all of it is benevolent. A curse, uttered in hate has years to nature before a slighted sister, an exiled sorceress, returns to fulfil her promise. The intervening years give time for study and learning and possibly, just enough knowledge to reflect the worst damage.

I read this book as an ARC through NetGalley, and am giving a brief but honest review with no spoilers.

I enjoyed reading this re-telling of a classic tale in general, just felt a little disappointed by how it ended.

I felt that the book had promise, but it didn’t quite hit the mark as the ending felt rushed and some of the character developments didn’t feel quite right.

I did like how the author explored using multiple POVs the give us a fuller view of the situation.

Spellbound by @georgialeightonauthor is a captivating blend of The Parent Trap and Sleeping Beauty. The story unfolds as two vastly different kingdoms are united when a princess is born only to then be cursed by a mysterious stranger. The narrative explores themes of exile, secrecy, and the relentless pursuit of safety.
The pacing struggled in areas, with some parts feeling rushed (the final encounter and after), it would've been nice to see what each character ultimately ended up doing. The characters are well thought out and diverse and have a good amount of development.
With an accessible writing style, Spellbound ensures a quick reading experience as you’ll always be eager to discover what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc. I liked that you’re thrown right into the action, although at times the pacing felt a bit off and I thought it wrapped up quite quickly. I found the novel is very plot driven, but the characters were also interesting. The ending has left me wanting to know more about the characters and what the future held for them!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

This book was interesting enough to hold my attention while I was reading but I didn’t immediately want to keep picking it up!

Overall it was a good read

I loved Georgia's take on this sleeping beauty retelling! A darkly magnetic and feminine twist on a classic. I was pulled in right from the get-go, and found it to be a quick and engaging read!

3.5 ⭐

Spellbound sets the scene straight away and I got straight into it, I loved the character Sel I thought she was amazing first half of the book I really loved, second half I felt could’ve been a bit better I didn’t love how the characters Briar and Talia turned out I just couldn’t get on with them. I love the magic surrounding this story and the ending of how the curse gets broken! Thank you for letting me read this ARC!

'Spellbound' is the best twist on a classic fairytale retelling I've ever read! I truly had no idea how it was going to go!

This novel was so exciting and tense! There was so much intrigue, politics, and high stakes. And the plot of misdirection was fantastic! I was brought along on such a magical and whimsical tale. It was beautiful and enchanting, while being cloaked in the darkness and mysteriousness of the cursed daughter's impending doom. This played like a movie in my head, and I was so addicted I could hardly put it down. It felt like a brand new fairytale, and I was so excited to see where it would lead!

This novel had strong themes of feminism, motherhood, and childhood. I loved the way Briar and Talia's innocence and curiosity played against our grown female characters' strengths, fears, and protective natures. I enjoyed every single POV, which each interwined so perfectly!

My favourite character has to be Sel. I loved her scenes with Briar as she raised her. She was resilient and loyal and so brave. My heart ached for her and wished at every moment that she could find peace. I also enjoyed Violanna's POV's too. I think the author portrayed trauma really well. Nobody is a perfect victim, and although there are many things I disagree with her for doing, you can see the hollowness within her and can't help but empathise; especially as our first introduction to this novel is the horrific experience Violanna had on the day the curse was bestowed. I was rooting for each unique character. My heart broke for them, and I desperately hoped a happy ending was in sight for them all.

The progression of this novel was so well done! I loved seeing our characters age and how their lives changed. The pacing of it all was perfect!

I also found the magic system so unique and wonderfully described! It was so interesting, and immersed me into this novel even more so than I already was!

Every aspect of this novel was just so fascinating!

I'm not sure whether or not it was the author's intention to have this kind of representation, but as somebody with autism, I really saw myself in Briar's struggles, and the way her emotions and behaviours were described. An interesting take maybe, as Briar is of course the 'cursed' one. But I didn't find this a negative aspect. It made me feel relieved to read about somebody with similar difficulties to me, regardless of how she came about them. Her experiences, as well as Talia's, paralleled some of my own experiences in life - besides Briar's affinity for being blessed at being good at everything - so it was nice to see myself so clearly in the characters.

The ending was not the happily ever after I expected. It was very bittersweet, but it felt realistic. I do wish we could have seen more of how the characters adjusted to their new lives however.

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this!

*I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

To summarise my thoughts: Spellbound is a glorious retelling that brings a much loved fairytale to new heights!
Now, I've loved fairytales since my childhood but I often found myself annoyed with the princess of the story, why were they always in need of rescuing?
To paraphrase a popular Disney character, "I'm a damsel, I'm in distress. I can rescue myself". And so, with the promise of strong, feisty female protagonists, Spellbound reminded of my old wish for a princess who could save herself and I was eager to jump right into the storyline.
The story moves at a rapid pace, partially because the author is fitting 16 years of narrative into one book and at times, it was becoming a little difficult to keep track. Of the two princesses, Talia was the more interesting and dynamic. But I was curious how the curse would impact as Briar grew older.
A fun, fast-paced and original retelling