A retelling of Sleeping Beauty, told through the different perspectives of the women surrounding the princess. A great premise with descriptive writing and strong world building, but overall it lacks depth and nuance. The characters are fairly flat, never really developing beyond the tropes they've been cast as, and the ending is rushed, leaving a lot unresolved. Not one for me.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Georgia Leighton for providing me with an ARC of Spellbound in exchange for my honest review.

Spellbound is a fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty, which was what initially drew me to the book. I’ve always enjoyed reimagined classics, and this one had a lot of promise. The story is told through multiple points of view, which has its strengths and drawbacks. On the plus side, it offers insight into different characters' perspectives. However, the frequent shifts made it harder to form a deep connection with any one character and at times disrupted the flow of the narrative, making the story feel somewhat choppy.

The first 20% of the book was excellent—packed with drama and immersive worldbuilding that really pulled me in. Unfortunately, the momentum didn't hold. The pacing slowed significantly, and the story turned into more of a slow burn.

As for the ending, I found it underwhelming. If the story is meant to continue in a sequel, then the open-ended conclusion makes sense. But if it's intended as a standalone, it left too many loose threads for my liking.

The worldbuilding remains a strong point throughout, but I struggled to connect with some of the characters. Briar and Violanna, in particular, felt unlikable to me. Sel, on the other hand, was a standout and brought a lot of life to the story.

Overall, Spellbound was a pleasant read with clear potential. While it didn’t fully meet my expectations, it had enough intriguing elements to keep me engaged.

What worked well about the book is that the author is very descriptive and imaginative with her world building and narrative. I think the multiple POVs worked well as there were different perspectives, but this was also a bit of an Achilles heel to the book as I found myself not caring too much about the characters.

I found the book to be a bit slow paced for me, which I feel affected my overall judgement of the book, which is no way a qualm about the author, but more my personal opinion.

A standard fairytale retelling, an enjoyable read but didn’t have much originality about it which was a shame but I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of fairytale retellings.

Amazing retelling of a beloved fairytale!

During the Blessing a curse is put on the queens first born daughter by a sorceress. So when the queen has another daughter, a twin, she comes up with a plan to save her daughter. But for it to work she has to separate the twins and have them grow up apart.

This book was a delight and i enjoyed it from the very beginning to the very end. Getting to followi five characters gave the story a lot of depth with friendships, secrets, magic and politics. I loved the world building and magic system as well as the slow pace.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings.

2.5🌟

Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House UK for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this was what initially drew me in, it's a sleeping beauty retelling and I've read a few retellings to know what I enjoy and what I don't. The first 20% of this really drew me in and I had high hopes, it just unfortunately fell flat for me.

With most retellings I read, you can tell the original retelling that the stories originally from. but they have their own originality about them. However, this just literally felt like a copy and paste of the original story/ movie, like even the names were the same!!

I also really didn't enjoy the pacing of this book sadly, there were multiple POVs but with some of the chapters being really short, it almost felt choppy and as if we were missing a bit in the middle?

Overall, this was a decent story, however, sadly it fell flat for me just because of how predictable it was due to being identical to the original story, and how choppy the pacing of the book was.

Fairytale retellings are fascinating. They have the core of a story, but not the whole of it. In this story, we have a princess called Briar, a curse set for her seventeenth birthday and a spinning wheel, but just about everything else is new and different. I don't want to give too much away in this review - I can see that the blurb is slightly inaccurate to avoid spoiling the story - but the reimagining is really clever and makes a great story out of a slim fairytale, without leaning too hard on the Disney version.

My version didn't have the map that will be in the final version, and I'm looking forward to seeing it - I think it'll be easier to follow the geopolitics of the story (don't worry, it's not boring!) The different countries were a bit confusing to follow at first, but I grasped it quite quickly.

This is an amazing read and I highly recommend it if you like your fairytales with a touch more bite.


Book Recommendation: I'm torn between two so you get them both! Goose Girl by Shannon Hale is the measure that all other fairytale retellings are held up against, and it's amazing. For another character with similiarities to Briar, try Ella from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (don't watch the movie, or at least don't watch it first.)

Movie Recommendation: For yet another look at Sleeping Beauty, try Malevolent. It looks at the story from an angle you won't expect and adds depth and warmth to it.

Generally I am not so keen on retelling classic stories, and they have to be done well with sufficient twist to engage me. This one did just that, and although the pace slows in places, there was lots to keep me interested. A well done retelling, enough to make you feel that you know the story and enough difference to make it fresh.

the start of this book really pulled me in , you get thrown straight into it and i really liked it but then towards the middle of the book everything just really slowed down for me and i found myself getting abit bored because just not much was going on at all in this book anymore , it did pick back up but not till like the 80% mark and i really was going back and forth between dnfing this but i did end up finishing it which i am glad about. i did really like the writing it was easy to follow and just lovely writing.

overal it was a nice boom but i just wish there was more conflic and action in this because even when there was some conflict it was solved within the same chapter so it just really fell flat for me in many parts which is so sad because i was so excited when i started this book.

the ending is also abit open so i wonder if there will be another book , feel like there is more to explore here in more depth.

i wanna thank netgalley and georgia leighton for this arc !

Spellbound is a beautifully written book. When I saw that it was a retelling of sleeping beauty I couldn’t wait to read it.
It has a unique spin and although it is a retelling it is done in a unique way with lots of twists and turns.
The world building was done in a way that I felt transported into it and the strong female characters are definitely memorable.

Overall, Spellbound is a rich, emotionally resonant tale that balances fantasy with deeply human themes. Georgia Leighton excels at blending magic, romance, and personal growth, giving readers a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is enchanting. The characters—especially Sel and Briar—are complex and memorable, and their development over the course of the book is incredibly satisfying.

If you enjoy fairytale retellings with strong character arcs, immersive world-building, and a touch of dark mystery, Spellbound is a book that shouldn't be missed. It’s a fresh take on a familiar legend, and it lingers with you long after the final page. Highly recommended.

Spellbound is an enchanting and beautiful re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty. I really liked that this did steer away from the iconic story, molding it into its own engaging and unique tale.

One of my favourite things about this book was the world that Leighton has created. With vivid descriptions, you find yourself transported into this beautiful world, and I found myself so inspired to create my vision board of the Kingdom of Bavaugh (swipe to see).

I loved that we got multiple POVs in this one as it really helped to develop the plot and allow you to get to know these characters on a more in-depth level. I found myself so invested in this story and these characters, especially Sel. I found her storyline to be the most interesting and was rooting for her from the very beginning.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut novel, one that I definitely recommend picking up, especially if you love fairytales! I'm excited to read whatever Leighton writes next!

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

Spellbound by Georgia Leighton sounded really intriguing to me when I read the blurb and I was glad to get accepted for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a re=telling of Sleeping Beauty, and I was so excited when I found this fact out.

Spellbound is a really interesting read, along the lines of other fantasy (ish) read. I enjoyed reading about all the strong female leads and thought that the author did a good job of developing them and allowing the reader to become part of their journey.

I did find some aspects of the novel lacking in something that I can not quite put my finger on. But Spellbound makes for a good read.

Thanks to Georgia Leighton, the publisher and Netgalley.

3.5 stars from me.

Rating: 3.8 stars

This was a beautifully written retelling of *Sleeping Beauty* with a unique spin that set it apart from others in the genre. The premise was strong, and the plot was well thought out, with a diverse cast of characters who each added depth and perspective to the story.

That said, the pacing felt a bit slow for me. While there were definitely moments that pulled me in, I found myself wishing things moved along a bit quicker at times. I didn’t DNF it because I was genuinely curious about how everything would unfold—but I do think the story could have benefited from a tighter pace and a bit more action or momentum in certain sections.

Overall, it’s a solid and imaginative retelling that fans of fairy tale-inspired fantasies will likely enjoy.

‘Spellbound’ by Georgia Leighton is a retelling of the classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, but with more twists and turns than you could imagine.

My favourite thing about ‘Spellbound’ was the exceptional world-building.The writing was stunning and it was easy to imagine the scenes as I was reading.

There are some really interesting characters too. However, I would have liked to have seen more character development, as well as more exploration of the relationships between the characters throughout the book.

I did struggle with the pacing whilst reading ‘Spellbound’. The first 25% of the book had a good, steady pace, then after that the pace felt like it ground to a halt (despite sometimes jarring time jumps). It wasn’t until around the 85% mark that the pace picked up again but, this time it felt too rushed.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK / Bantam for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK / Bantam for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beware of spoilers and buckle up, this is going to be a long one! I finished this over the weekend and found it to be such an easy, enjoyable read. It felt really lovely to revisit a fairytale I adored as a child, and Spellbound brought that sense of nostalgia with a fresh, magical twist.

The characters were all quite likeable—Selha especially stood out to me. I found her really endearing and was genuinely invested in her story. Let's be honest, this was HER story! Presumably quite young when the situation first unfolded and she still stepped up. I really felt for her in the end when the Queen told her she wasn't a mother so she wouldn't understand. Oh, my! Miss Sel is most definitely a mother in my books!

Talia was a sweet girl who didn't quite understand why she was being treated the way that she was, and I feel like by the end of the book she has gone through some major changes in the way that she carries herself, I think she would dislike me for saying this, but she started to resemble her mother in some way. Already very much set on never getting married, and I can't blame her - she had no father figure in her life, all she ever saw from men was how they neglected her and her mother. That said, I was left scratching my head over Iver… who is he, exactly? He’s mentioned again after the incident like he’s meant to be important, but then nothing comes of it, which felt a bit odd. Definitely a "who is Waldo?" moment for me.

Briar, on the other hand, didn’t quite land for me. I liked her in the beginning, but in the end she still felt like a moody teenager, and there wasn’t much in the way of character growth, although I could sense her insecurity towards the end of the book when she started changing, becoming more "normal" after the curse had ended. Also, I would have loved to see some more of her traits explored, such as the fact that you cannot give her commands because she has no choice but to follow it. I know, there was the kiss, but this is something people could really take advantage of which could've been a fun storyline to visit.

I would’ve also loved to see how her relationship with her sister impacted both of them on a deeper, emotional level. There was tension between her and Talia, sure, but it wasn’t explored enough. I really liked Jacken's character, I actually don't mind that their romantic relationship wasn't very explored, it would have taken away from the focus of the story. I love that he knew something was up with Briar but he still stuck around, and the same with Gad, the main male characters in this story were people we should all want to be around (let's not talk about the king and that bloke from the pub... I would have expected a trigger warning for that scene for sure!).

The mother was an interesting one, I liked her inner monologues, but she felt a little flat at times, though I understand why she was the way that she was (Side note, I adore her name Violanna, that's one for my list of potential baby names for sure). Yes, she made mistakes—but her coldness felt unnecessary at times, and I kept wondering why she was so emotionally distant (I get it, but still!). It made it hard to sympathise with her. There was so much potential for depth that just wasn’t explored in this triangle of relationships between Violanna, Talia and Briar. Also, I’m absolutely craving more from the sorceress—such an intriguing presence but barely explored, though I was glad to see the chapter from the Queen's point of view. I’d happily read more just about her, the story from her perspective would be quite an interesting one to read.

The pacing at the start was excellent—quick jumps from one year to another that kept things moving while still making sense. I loved that. But then we hit the ending and… what on earth happened? Everything else was so detailed and well-paced throughout the book, and then suddenly it felt like we ran out of pages. It was rushed, abrupt, and offered no real resolution, I can't imagine all of these fierce and strong, independent characters just being okay with the cards they were dealt. Maybe a sequel is in the works (I hope so), but even so, the ending felt like it just cut off mid-thought, otherwise this would have been a 5 star read.

One thing I felt really could’ve used more depth was the magic. Yes, there was magic woven throughout the story, but I wanted more of it—more explanation, more insight into how it actually works in this world. Especially with Briar and the spinning—how was she able to summon magic that way? There was no real explanation for it, which was a shame because it could’ve been a powerful moment if fleshed out.

All in all, a magical and engaging read with great pacing and likeable characters, even if the ending and some character arcs left me wanting more. I adored this book regardless and I am super tempted to get the gorgeous Goldsboro edition just because!

Spellbound is a Sleeping Beauty retelling (though inspired by would perhaps be more accurate), an easy read with strong female characters throughout.

There’s much to like about this book, and straight away I want to say I really enjoyed the multiple point of views the story was unraveled in, all female, all of which I felt were strong and distinct personalities. I think that is one of the biggest highlights of this fairy tale novel.

Secondly, the world building throughout is lovely and cozy. Though the story can sometimes be dark, the world we were in stayed fairy tale-esque and it was done really nicely!

I also enjoyed the ending, a bittersweet, not totally happy ever after ending for all our characters - something else I really appreciate in this kind of story.

My only criticism would be the pacing, however, I found the book easy to read, it flowed nicely and I thought it achieved what it set out to do. 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Big thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book!

Sleeping Beauty is my favourite fairytale so I was excited but also a bit nervous for this book. I will say that it is best to go into it considering it a story inspired by Sleeping Beauty rather than a retelling. Many aspects are similar to the original tale but it is a story all its own that deserves to be read and enjoyed as such.

I absolutely loved the world that this book creates. It has an interesting magic system and I loved the way we find out about the country as Sel and Briar travel around it.

I also think the characters were really strong. I'm always a bit worried when a story is being told from so many points of view but it really worked and each character had a voice that was all their own. Seeing how the characters changed with the years, especially Sel, was fantastic and incredibly honest.

I will say that if you're looking for a "and they lived happily ever after moment" this is not the book for you. The end has happiness but it is also bittersweet, which I think makes it more realistic and far more human. The one character I wanted to have a really happy ending gets it and that was perfect, but for the other characters, the story isn't over.

An interesting & absorbing take on the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, told from five different women’s POVs - three based on pre-existing characters in the story (the princess, her mother & the ‘fairy’ who hides the princess away for her own protection), and the other two as new additions (the princess’ ‘decoy’ twin sister, and the queen’s closest friend/maidservant).

Some of these characters were better developed than others, but all of them felt very real & grounded to me, even (perhaps especially?) when they were making terrible or selfish decisions, or at moments when I didn’t like them on a personal level. I really felt for all of them at points - though Talia most of all - as they were all just trying to get by with the unfair hand of cards that life had dealt them.

I think the messages the story imparts - be it about the corrosive nature of secrets (even those kept to protect someone), or the toxicity of revenge & resentment, or even just how hard it is to raise well-adjusted children if you don’t have a handle on your own emotions! - came across well throughout, giving food for thought in every chapter.

I felt that the villain was handled well in conveying her as powerful & fear-striking, and she served her role as plot-instigator and underlying threat well. But - speaking in vague non-spoiler terms - I wanted more in terms of developing her motivation, and perhaps exploring the ways in which her relationship to some characters was mirrored in other characters’ relationships. There just wasn’t *quite* enough to get your teeth into to transform her into a three-dimensional villain, with her potential for a more layered role in the story remaining underdeveloped.

The pacing was fairly changeable, with the middle third feeling much slower than the rest - but that section is where Sel really shines & grows, where Talia earned her place as my favourite character, and where we find out more about the off-page political upheaval taking place (and I would’ve liked to find out more!). So it’s still very much worth reading even as it slows down! Either way, though, the pacing suddenly picks up again in the final third and charges relentlessly to a fantastic conclusion. And I did love the ending, much as it made me cry & left some loose threads to the reader’s own imagination - I wouldn’t turn down the chance to read a sequel to tie those up!

I’m very grateful to NetGalley and to Random House UK, Transworld for sending me an ARC of this book (in exchange for an honest review). I really enjoyed it, and recommend it to any fans of fairytale retellings that embrace the hardship of real & everyday human existence - the mundane tragedies, not just the fantastical ones.

As with many fairytales, this tale contains a few darker themes, but perhaps more than you might expect. I am therefore including a list of them as Content Warnings below, so fair warning to STOP READING HERE TO AVOID MINOR SPOILERS!

—————————-
Content Warnings:
- alcohol use
- bereavement, including death of a child (both as a baby & adult), parent, sibling, spouse/partner, friend & mentor - also grief over losing a child who is still alive
- child abuse (physical violence & implied sexual abuse) and neglect - multiple instances
- chronic health conditions - chronic pain, Alzheimer’s/dementia & terminal illness
- homelessness & starvation (described in very limited detail)
- pregnancy, miscarriage, still-birth, difficulty conceiving & forced sterilisation, and maternal death during childbirth (all briefly mentioned, not described in detail); childbirth (multiple described in detail)
- relationship infidelity (briefly implied) and domestic violence (briefly mentioned)
- sexual assault (described in limited detail) and rape (briefly alluded to, not depicted)
- sexual content (very mild, not described in detail)
- war & rebellion (mentioned, not depicted); violence, blood & murder

Oh dear, I didn't get on with this at all. I had high hopes, I think all the classic fairy tales are ripe for re-invention but this was a bit of a slog. The subterfuge within was good, but I felt the plot wasn't really well thought out other than that.