Reread: 3.5
First read: 4.0

Fi is a treasure hunter known for her knowledge of witch history and languages. Shane is a hotheaded ax-wielding huntsman for hire with an insatiable desire for a big payout. What might be described as fate brings them together when Shane gains possession of a map leading to a witch ruin that requires Fi’s brains to help her reach the riches undoubtedly hidden within. The two agree to become partners for this one job. Little do either of these adventurers know that Fi will prick her finger on a bone spindle, awakening a hundred-year-old curse that she must break with Shane at her side. In this absolutely captivating heroes’ adventure, an unsuspecting friendship grows as they encounter dark magic, an ex’s curse, fanatical witch hunters, and problematic romances.

As someone who hasn’t read a YA or fantasy book in quite some time, I was admittedly nervous going into Leslie Vedder’s debut novel, The Bone Spindle. With that said, I pre-ordered this title after finding it on a list for 2022’s most anticipated releases because I wanted to move outside my reading comfort zone this year! YA, fantasy, romance…that’s the big three I tend not to read, so this book would certainly be a new experience.

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about because I had the best time following Fi and Shane’s journey to the fallen kingdom of Andar. While these two treasure hunters are different in more ways than they are similar, their dynamic was brilliant! Each character matched the other with snark and sarcasm, but also with growing trust and emotional support. One of the narrative’s big themes is loneliness, and I found their friendship and interdependence lovely and realistic. Along with the friendship, the characters each find themselves entangled in two different romances. While Fi is connected to the ghostly-yet-not-dead figure of Briar Rose after pricking her finger on the bone spindle, Shane is drawn to a lone traveler named Red whose mysterious identity screams danger. I enjoy both romances, particularly because they are very different from each other. I especially loved Shane’s romance not only because I loved how she is a complete bad ass in general but because Shane’s attraction to women is fully accepted by all of society. In my experience, fantasy books based in Kingdom-of-Old settings too often depict LGBT+ characters as taboo or exclude them from the narrative altogether. In Shane’s case, however, she is not only named the rightful heir to the throne as the first born child to a War King – even as a woman – but her arranged marriage automatically anticipates her to have a future queen at her side. I am sure that Vedder as a queer ace writer made a conscious effort in this aspect of the story, and I think everyone will agree it is exactly the inclusive environment that Shane deserves.

Vedder weaves many familiar elements into this Fairy Tale retelling while definitely including her own spin on things. She also modernizes some of the characters’ language; i.e., one’s “ex.” And I think that makes this book all the more fun! I also appreciated the many flashbacks to past memories, allowing us to see much of Fi and Shane’s conflicts and baggage that they collected individually before going on this adventure together.

This book ends on a cliffhanger of sorts, as the Spindle Witch is still a mysterious figure yet to be defeated, and there are many other loose ends to be dealt with by Fi and Shane. That only means that I have my own destiny to fulfill…that destiny being to read the sequel as soon as it comes out!!