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The Spindle of Fate
ISBN: 9781250886194
When Evie Mei discovers that her recently passed mother was the head of a guild of magical weavers, she enters the Chinese netherworld to try and bring her back in this middle-grade debut.
Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang never did like helping in her mom’s tailor shop. She hated helping to mend fraying clothes, how the measuring tape got all twisted up, and how pushy her mother’s clients were. Most of all, she hates that her mother is dead and isn’t here to help anymore.
But when the universe sends a life preserver, Evie knows to grab it. So yes, it’s weird when a talking monkey shows up and tells her that her plainspoken, hardworking tailor mother was actually the head of a Guild of magical weavers who can change the fate of a person with only a spool of thread. Very weird. But he also comes bearing news that her mother is trapped in Diyu, the Chinese underworld, and that only Evie can get her back. No pressure.
The important thing is that Evie’s mom isn’t dead. And if she’s got this one shot to bring her back and save her family, she’s got to take it.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, Aimee Lim’s debut middle grade peers into the dark and gritty underworld, while showcasing the unbreakable bond between a family and the lengths we’ll go to save them.
When Evie Mei discovers that her recently passed mother was the head of a guild of magical weavers, she enters the Chinese netherworld to try and bring her back in this middle-grade debut.
Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang never did like helping in her mom’s tailor shop. She hated helping to mend fraying clothes, how the measuring tape got all twisted up, and how pushy her mother’s clients were. Most of all, she hates that her mother is dead and isn’t here to help anymore.
But when the universe sends a life preserver, Evie knows to grab it. So yes, it’s weird when a talking monkey shows up and tells her that her plainspoken, hardworking tailor mother was actually the head of a Guild of magical weavers who can change the fate of a person with only a spool of thread. Very weird. But he also comes bearing news that her mother is trapped in Diyu, the Chinese underworld, and that only Evie can get her back. No pressure.
The important thing is that Evie’s mom isn’t dead. And if she’s got this one shot to bring her back and save her family, she’s got to take it.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, Aimee Lim’s debut middle grade peers into the dark and gritty underworld, while showcasing the unbreakable bond between a family and the lengths we’ll go to save them.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 13, 2024
I went to college with Aimee and she’s wickedly talented so not surprised this turned out to be a 5 star read!! Not only was it funny and empowering, but the Chinese mythology was fascinating and woven in incredibly well. Yay Aimee!
April 10, 2024
The biggest issue I had with this is that I want more of it. Seriously, that ended way too abruptly. I needed like another fifty pages at least.
Evie was strong-minded and stubborn about rescuing her mother. From the beginning, we know they had a difficult relationship but she still decides to do whatever she can to rescue her. However, there were so many loose ends over what was going on. So hopefully this is a series, because the guilds, the monkey, just all of it could be expanded upon and I have questions!
It was pretty entertaining and didn't drag so maybe that's why I'm left wondering where all the momentum went. We're led to believe one thing and the mysteries of Diyu were interesting and disgusting. I would have enjoyed lingering in those more, but maybe that would be too much for a young reader book. Otherwise, I would just want a better ending so that everything feels more wrapped up.
Evie was strong-minded and stubborn about rescuing her mother. From the beginning, we know they had a difficult relationship but she still decides to do whatever she can to rescue her. However, there were so many loose ends over what was going on. So hopefully this is a series, because the guilds, the monkey, just all of it could be expanded upon and I have questions!
It was pretty entertaining and didn't drag so maybe that's why I'm left wondering where all the momentum went. We're led to believe one thing and the mysteries of Diyu were interesting and disgusting. I would have enjoyed lingering in those more, but maybe that would be too much for a young reader book. Otherwise, I would just want a better ending so that everything feels more wrapped up.
June 6, 2024
Finding out you are descended from a god sounds very Percy Jackson coded, but is actually a common baseline for many mythology retellings. For Evie Mei Huang, she finds out in an… interesting and upsetting way.
While all of her adult family members are mourning the death (sans body) of her mother, Evie travels to the basement of her family home where she finds a talking monkey. Uncle Monk is a Yokai (a demon) and claims to be the being who delivered her mother to Diyu (Limbo) and is looking for a spindle of fate. The one her mother uses, supposedly. All things she has never heard about before. He says all of this immediately after wishing her a happy 12th birthday.
Instead of bringing this information to her father (who is grieving upstairs), she decides to go to her aunts house to ask her questions about her mother. This is where she finds out the truth. Their family is descended from a god who could weave fate and this power has been passed down generation after generation. Unfortunately, her mother has died before passing it on to her.
Evie still believes her mother is alive and the only way to save her is to travel to limbo and bring her back. That’s the real reason she’s come to see her aunt: to get help getting there.
This was a really quick read. It was fun, action filled and I read it in one sitting. I can see a middle schooler falling in love with the story and wanting to learn more about Chinese mythology. I love these kind of books, because it reignites my passion for retellings.
The audiobook was perfect. I got a copy of it from Hoopla (the library system), so check your local library to see if you can get it too.
While all of her adult family members are mourning the death (sans body) of her mother, Evie travels to the basement of her family home where she finds a talking monkey. Uncle Monk is a Yokai (a demon) and claims to be the being who delivered her mother to Diyu (Limbo) and is looking for a spindle of fate. The one her mother uses, supposedly. All things she has never heard about before. He says all of this immediately after wishing her a happy 12th birthday.
Instead of bringing this information to her father (who is grieving upstairs), she decides to go to her aunts house to ask her questions about her mother. This is where she finds out the truth. Their family is descended from a god who could weave fate and this power has been passed down generation after generation. Unfortunately, her mother has died before passing it on to her.
Evie still believes her mother is alive and the only way to save her is to travel to limbo and bring her back. That’s the real reason she’s come to see her aunt: to get help getting there.
This was a really quick read. It was fun, action filled and I read it in one sitting. I can see a middle schooler falling in love with the story and wanting to learn more about Chinese mythology. I love these kind of books, because it reignites my passion for retellings.
The audiobook was perfect. I got a copy of it from Hoopla (the library system), so check your local library to see if you can get it too.
Shelved as '2024'
May 31, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends
August 1, 2024
I judged this book by the cover and because of that, I was disappointed. I did go in almost blind to what was going to happen so that's on me. I knew this was about threads of fate and the MC having to go into the underworld to save her mom. What I didn't realize was that she wouldn't be using the thread to change her fate or do anything else cool like that. She didn't even know anything about her family's past and magical abilities which would have been fine... But I felt like we were going on a chase the whole way through the story and nothing substantial happened. There was less action and more focus on grief. I also never really cared for the companion she had to bring with her. Her friend would have been good but her sister would have been even better! I was also disappointed with the ending mostly because I think it could have been even more dramatic. Everything wasn't so neatly wrapped up and since this doesn't look like it would be a series it was a bit of a letdown. I still liked learning about the Chinese Underworld and thought Evie's voice was interesting. I just would have liked to see her use her abilities and have a resolved ending.
September 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this. More than I thought I was going to at first.
It started out feeling almost childish in tone and content. The characters felt very young and immature. But then once the story gets going, Evie Mei first gets an infusion of hope and determination, overcomes a series of obstacles, then eventually learns that she can't always get what she wants and has to learn to let go. At that point it feels aimed at a much older reader than it did in the beginning.
There is a lot more gore and heavy themes than I was intially expecting, and a lot more exploring grief and letting go.
I was a little taken aback by the twist at the very end, and I'm not sure how I feel about the ending emotional tone of play nice now, get revenge later. It feels like it undermines a lot of the lessons learned along the way. I assume it's setting up another story but I'm not sure if I will read it or not.
Thanks to Feiwel and Friends for providing an early copy for review.
It started out feeling almost childish in tone and content. The characters felt very young and immature. But then once the story gets going, Evie Mei first gets an infusion of hope and determination, overcomes a series of obstacles, then eventually learns that she can't always get what she wants and has to learn to let go. At that point it feels aimed at a much older reader than it did in the beginning.
There is a lot more gore and heavy themes than I was intially expecting, and a lot more exploring grief and letting go.
I was a little taken aback by the twist at the very end, and I'm not sure how I feel about the ending emotional tone of play nice now, get revenge later. It feels like it undermines a lot of the lessons learned along the way. I assume it's setting up another story but I'm not sure if I will read it or not.
Thanks to Feiwel and Friends for providing an early copy for review.
September 26, 2024
It was a cute story and covered big themes. I think though there were still a ton of loose ends after reading between characters and plot. It does seem like it may have been set up to potentially have a sequel. I think the problem lies with too much was added then couldn’t be taken care of by the end. I think the title compared to the book should have been different because honestly the spindle of fate wasn’t important til the end and wasn’t really used at the end. I also think the queer rep at the very ending wasn’t tasteful imo just because she technically “outed” the boy in front of a ton of people and the boy didn’t even know… like🫠.
June 4, 2024
TL;DR: This was good but not super memorable. I think the cover is more memorable than the contents of the actual story.
Source: NetGalley, Thank you very much to the publisher!
Plot: Evie has to travel to the Underworld who has to save her mother who may or may not be dead. The final two twists or so were fun but it’s fairly straightforward as far as plot goes.
Characters: Very thin, and I think this was ultimately my issue. Everything except Evie was very, very surface level or a shadow of a character.
Setting: The settings were never super detailed for me or well drawn, but you could definitely get a sense of place from them.
Fantasy: This primarily takes place in the Chinese underworld which would definitely be a fun new thing for a middle grade kid to enjoy if they’ve never read it! I have unfortunately so it wasn’t anything wildly new but I can see a MG reader eating it up.
Thoughts:
The Spindle of Fate is the story of Evie Mei whose mother recently died. While doing an errand for her Father in their tailor shop below the apartment she finds a talking Monkey who informs her that it’s possible her Mother may not be dead and that her Mother was also the leader of a group of magical weavers. From there Evie seeks out the group, which includes her Aunt and then proceeds into the Underworld to find and rescue her Mother.
I’ll go ahead and say the most memorable part of this for me is probably the cover. The plot is fairly familiar, I’ve seen the like in Middle-Grade books before and it’s almost always a winner, but the execution here was not my favorite. The story really relies on you caring about if Evie Mei finds her mother and it moved so quickly and Evie was honestly fairly unlikeable so I couldn’t exactly connect enough to care. In addition all our side characters were SO thin, I wish we had more. Especially of Kevin, he was a gem and I wanted so much more of him and his story.
I finished this one and though ‘Huh. Well that was neat.’ and honestly forgot about it for a few days. I can see this working well for a new middle grade reader so I wouldn’t say it’s a total miss. However, I strongly disliked the sequel setup on this one, and Evie was just not my favorite type of character with no others around her to redeem the story.
3 out of 5 Spindles
Source: NetGalley, Thank you very much to the publisher!
Plot: Evie has to travel to the Underworld who has to save her mother who may or may not be dead. The final two twists or so were fun but it’s fairly straightforward as far as plot goes.
Characters: Very thin, and I think this was ultimately my issue. Everything except Evie was very, very surface level or a shadow of a character.
Setting: The settings were never super detailed for me or well drawn, but you could definitely get a sense of place from them.
Fantasy: This primarily takes place in the Chinese underworld which would definitely be a fun new thing for a middle grade kid to enjoy if they’ve never read it! I have unfortunately so it wasn’t anything wildly new but I can see a MG reader eating it up.
Thoughts:
The Spindle of Fate is the story of Evie Mei whose mother recently died. While doing an errand for her Father in their tailor shop below the apartment she finds a talking Monkey who informs her that it’s possible her Mother may not be dead and that her Mother was also the leader of a group of magical weavers. From there Evie seeks out the group, which includes her Aunt and then proceeds into the Underworld to find and rescue her Mother.
I’ll go ahead and say the most memorable part of this for me is probably the cover. The plot is fairly familiar, I’ve seen the like in Middle-Grade books before and it’s almost always a winner, but the execution here was not my favorite. The story really relies on you caring about if Evie Mei finds her mother and it moved so quickly and Evie was honestly fairly unlikeable so I couldn’t exactly connect enough to care. In addition all our side characters were SO thin, I wish we had more. Especially of Kevin, he was a gem and I wanted so much more of him and his story.
I finished this one and though ‘Huh. Well that was neat.’ and honestly forgot about it for a few days. I can see this working well for a new middle grade reader so I wouldn’t say it’s a total miss. However, I strongly disliked the sequel setup on this one, and Evie was just not my favorite type of character with no others around her to redeem the story.
3 out of 5 Spindles
May 26, 2024
This was a wonderful middle grade fantasy novel based on Chinese mythology. When Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang finds out that her mother has been trapped in the underworld in spite of being alive, Evie realizes she must rescue her. What follows are exciting adventures in the Chinese land of the dead, with an ending that doesn’t pull any punches! Fantastic and funny adventures in the land where the dead expiate their sins before they are reincarnated into another life. Fans of Percy Jackson will enjoy this book. From an advance copy on NetGalley.
February 14, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Evie Mei Huang's mother ran a tailor shop, but recently disappeared and has been declared dead. Her grandmother has been helping out, but needs to return to her regular job at a beauty salon, so her father is trying his best to hold both the household and the business together. Evie is watching out for her younger sister Mona, and her best friend Thida is being quietly supportive. When cleaning the shop, Evie is approaching by a talking money, who is really a demon and a supernatural private detective. Or so he says. He says that Evie's mother is still alive, but being held in Dìyù, the Chinese underworld. There is even a note from her mother which uses the same phrase that her mother always uses on her lunch noes. This is not the news that Evie needs on her twelfth birthday, and she goes to talk to her Aunt Kathy only to find her in the middle of a meeting of the Secret Society of Weavers, having a memorial service for Evie's mother. Aunt Kathy is pregnant, so she can't go to the underworld to find her sister. The society members all have their own reasons for not going, so Evie is the only choice. She does have backup from Kevin, who volunteers in exchange for finding out who his soulmate will be. The two travel into the underworld by a portal painting and start their quest. The Spindle of Fate can't be used to change the user's own destiny, but Evie has some magical help; her mother made her a talisman when she was born, and she hopes to use a Spool to find her mother. There are plenty of adventures, like swimming across a pool of blood, and while Evie finds out some dire secrets about her family, the outlook is grim for retrieving her mother. How will Evie and her family move on?
Strengths: Evie is a self assured character who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of her family, even on her birthday. She isn't happy about it, but willing to do anything to get her mother back. She works well with Kevin, and listens to all of the elders, even when she doesn't like what they suggest. The quests have some new challenges; swimming across a pool of blood was a new one to me, since I don't know that I've read any other books with depictions of Dìyù. Uncle Monk was an intriguing demon, and I wish we had seen more of him. While the ending isn't necessarily happy, everything is wrapped up in a way that makes sense.
Weaknesses: This gets really dark near the end, with a murder and a few rather heart wrenching details, so I don't know that I would hand this to younger elementary students. Also, I am never a fan of using stereotypes, and at one point Evie opines that they should "pull a Karen".
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like portal fantasies and magical quests like Villanueva's Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors, Cacao's The Secret of the Ravens, or Hendrix's Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans.
Evie Mei Huang's mother ran a tailor shop, but recently disappeared and has been declared dead. Her grandmother has been helping out, but needs to return to her regular job at a beauty salon, so her father is trying his best to hold both the household and the business together. Evie is watching out for her younger sister Mona, and her best friend Thida is being quietly supportive. When cleaning the shop, Evie is approaching by a talking money, who is really a demon and a supernatural private detective. Or so he says. He says that Evie's mother is still alive, but being held in Dìyù, the Chinese underworld. There is even a note from her mother which uses the same phrase that her mother always uses on her lunch noes. This is not the news that Evie needs on her twelfth birthday, and she goes to talk to her Aunt Kathy only to find her in the middle of a meeting of the Secret Society of Weavers, having a memorial service for Evie's mother. Aunt Kathy is pregnant, so she can't go to the underworld to find her sister. The society members all have their own reasons for not going, so Evie is the only choice. She does have backup from Kevin, who volunteers in exchange for finding out who his soulmate will be. The two travel into the underworld by a portal painting and start their quest. The Spindle of Fate can't be used to change the user's own destiny, but Evie has some magical help; her mother made her a talisman when she was born, and she hopes to use a Spool to find her mother. There are plenty of adventures, like swimming across a pool of blood, and while Evie finds out some dire secrets about her family, the outlook is grim for retrieving her mother. How will Evie and her family move on?
Strengths: Evie is a self assured character who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of her family, even on her birthday. She isn't happy about it, but willing to do anything to get her mother back. She works well with Kevin, and listens to all of the elders, even when she doesn't like what they suggest. The quests have some new challenges; swimming across a pool of blood was a new one to me, since I don't know that I've read any other books with depictions of Dìyù. Uncle Monk was an intriguing demon, and I wish we had seen more of him. While the ending isn't necessarily happy, everything is wrapped up in a way that makes sense.
Weaknesses: This gets really dark near the end, with a murder and a few rather heart wrenching details, so I don't know that I would hand this to younger elementary students. Also, I am never a fan of using stereotypes, and at one point Evie opines that they should "pull a Karen".
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like portal fantasies and magical quests like Villanueva's Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors, Cacao's The Secret of the Ravens, or Hendrix's Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans.
July 5, 2024
Evie doesn't get along with her mother, who is stubborn and exacting and devoted to their family's tailor shop, and to working hard and urging Evie to work hard. Evie has no interest in being a tailor, for one thing. She kind of wishes her mom's sister, a Vegas showgirl on maternity leave, were her mother. But when her mother dies, Evie's world falls apart. Then it falls into a completely different shape when she learns her mother was head of a mystical clan of weavers, responsible for the Spindle of Fate that shapes lives; one of a myriad of mystical clans Evie has never heard of. She also learns, from an unscrupulous talking monkey-demon, that her mother is not actually dead, but stuck in Diyu, the Chinese underworld. Someone will have to brave the ten perilous courts of Diyu to try to rescue Evie's mother, and Evie knows it must be her. Having only realized how much she loved her mother after losing her, Evie knows this is her one chance to put things right. Accompanied by an optimistic and surprisingly resourceful boy from the Warrior clan, plus a mystical staff to ward off demons, Evie heads to Diyu.
I love fantasy, but of all the Rick Riordan books I've read, my least favorite were the ones in which they traverse the underworld and/or Tartarus, because hell is Not Fun. Same goes here; nothing is easy for Evie and Kevin (I think that's his name), and often it's horrendous. It's a great evocation of Chinese mythology, though, and I know a lot of kids will appreciate seeing all those elements of their heritage in play here. I also appreciated the exploration of Evie's relationship with her mother, and how far you'll go to rescue family. There's a lot of nuance there. The ending was surprising, and clearly this is intended to be book one of a series. I think I can easily booktalk this one. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
I love fantasy, but of all the Rick Riordan books I've read, my least favorite were the ones in which they traverse the underworld and/or Tartarus, because hell is Not Fun. Same goes here; nothing is easy for Evie and Kevin (I think that's his name), and often it's horrendous. It's a great evocation of Chinese mythology, though, and I know a lot of kids will appreciate seeing all those elements of their heritage in play here. I also appreciated the exploration of Evie's relationship with her mother, and how far you'll go to rescue family. There's a lot of nuance there. The ending was surprising, and clearly this is intended to be book one of a series. I think I can easily booktalk this one. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
May 14, 2024
The Spindle of Fate is a fantasy novel based on Chinese mythology - specifically, how Chinese mythology relates to the afterlife. Evie Mei Huang is the daughter of a well-known tailor and clothing designer who goes mysteriously missing and is presumed dead - that is, until a mysterious talking monkey-like spirit appears, and tells Evie that her mother was taken mistakenly, and is the Courts of the afterlife. The monkey-spirit wants Evie to go on a quest through the Courts, to bring her mother's spirit back to rejoin her body before it's too late. The spirit tells Evie about the various Guilds populated by people with special abilities, something she never knew about, although the spirit assumed that she did - after all, her mother is the head of the Weavers' Guild.
This is a fun fantasy adventure, with a 12 year-old, female main character, and a teenage boy, Kevin, as her assistant - a member of the Warrior Guild, another Guild Evie had never heard of, and the only person who would volunteer to go with her. That this knowledge comes after Evie's mother's apparent death adds to her surprise, as do the things she learns about her mother, and herself, as the story progresses. This fast-paced novel is recommended for readers middle school through adult, especially those who enjoy fantasy, mythology, or both.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a fun fantasy adventure, with a 12 year-old, female main character, and a teenage boy, Kevin, as her assistant - a member of the Warrior Guild, another Guild Evie had never heard of, and the only person who would volunteer to go with her. That this knowledge comes after Evie's mother's apparent death adds to her surprise, as do the things she learns about her mother, and herself, as the story progresses. This fast-paced novel is recommended for readers middle school through adult, especially those who enjoy fantasy, mythology, or both.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 19, 2024
Let's just get this straight - I definitely enjoyed this book by Aimee Lee! It's a coincidence that I had recently read Elizabeth Lim's Reflection, the retelling of Disney's animated movie, Mulan. So there were some similarities to these stories. Both are fantasies that include Chinese mythology of what happens after death in the underworld, and include a strong FMC that is on a journey throughout the underworld to save someone that they love.
The Spindle of Fate on it's own speaks about a young FMC who learns after her supposed Mother's untimely death, that her family has been involved in a network of supernatural societies with her own Mother as one of the society's leader. If you couldn't tell by the title of this book, the family's talent is related to weaving, and they could change someone's fate through this magical talent. The FMC with a sidekick venture through the underworld that has changed with the modern times. They face challenges at each level of the underworld to find her Mother. There is a lovely little twist in the end which I am not even sure I could have guessed.
Aimee Lim's debut is a wonderful story that even as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a middle grade fantasy, and does not contain romance or overtly in your face violence. I am very appreciative of Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this advanced copy for a review.
The Spindle of Fate on it's own speaks about a young FMC who learns after her supposed Mother's untimely death, that her family has been involved in a network of supernatural societies with her own Mother as one of the society's leader. If you couldn't tell by the title of this book, the family's talent is related to weaving, and they could change someone's fate through this magical talent. The FMC with a sidekick venture through the underworld that has changed with the modern times. They face challenges at each level of the underworld to find her Mother. There is a lovely little twist in the end which I am not even sure I could have guessed.
Aimee Lim's debut is a wonderful story that even as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a middle grade fantasy, and does not contain romance or overtly in your face violence. I am very appreciative of Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this advanced copy for a review.
May 30, 2024
Before I dive into my review and thoughts, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to have an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, so let's get into it.
This book was kind of an emotional gut punch. It was far heavier in theming than I expected but it was incredibly well done. It was dark and gritty and showed a lot of the angst and anger the 12 year-olds are going through, not only as they start to reach puberty but also when it comes to loss and grief.
I will say, I am not certain the summary really prepared me for the story I read. I often read middle grade and YA when I want something fun and whimsical. This was a bit more Dante's Inferno meets red string of fate; but not in a bad way. I think it's a good way to approach the subject of family loss and finding one's place. It also shows a character who has to grow up a lot and bear the a weight they were unprepared for. I think this book shows pre-teens and young adults it's okay to be angry and we all grieve in our own ways and sometimes we have to go through our own trials in order to find our way to the other side.
This book was really well done and hope others receive it well. It's got some heart wrenching moments, but its worth the read.
This book was kind of an emotional gut punch. It was far heavier in theming than I expected but it was incredibly well done. It was dark and gritty and showed a lot of the angst and anger the 12 year-olds are going through, not only as they start to reach puberty but also when it comes to loss and grief.
I will say, I am not certain the summary really prepared me for the story I read. I often read middle grade and YA when I want something fun and whimsical. This was a bit more Dante's Inferno meets red string of fate; but not in a bad way. I think it's a good way to approach the subject of family loss and finding one's place. It also shows a character who has to grow up a lot and bear the a weight they were unprepared for. I think this book shows pre-teens and young adults it's okay to be angry and we all grieve in our own ways and sometimes we have to go through our own trials in order to find our way to the other side.
This book was really well done and hope others receive it well. It's got some heart wrenching moments, but its worth the read.
July 10, 2024
The Spindle of Fate is a middle grade fantasy adventure steeped in Chinese mythology. Evie has just lost her mom, her little sister is despondent, her dad is struggling to hold it together, and no one has even remembered her birthday. It feels like a stupid thing to care about, but grief is strange. But then a monkey appears in Evie’s mom’s sewing workshop with a gift that’s from her mom. And suddenly Evie has the option to try to save her using a magic red thread of fate.
This novel is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson. It’s got humor mixed with serious emotion, a rich fantasy world right under the nose of the “real world,” and a cast of interesting characters who fill out the world. The characters have a depth of motivation beyond the basics. They are the driving force for the story, along with the classic big bad battles, sneaking into forbidden places, and outsmarting tricksters. Anyone interested in Chinese mythology and fun adventures will enjoy this read.
This novel is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson. It’s got humor mixed with serious emotion, a rich fantasy world right under the nose of the “real world,” and a cast of interesting characters who fill out the world. The characters have a depth of motivation beyond the basics. They are the driving force for the story, along with the classic big bad battles, sneaking into forbidden places, and outsmarting tricksters. Anyone interested in Chinese mythology and fun adventures will enjoy this read.
June 6, 2024
I really wanted to love this book. I will say that I think our oldest daughter will love this book. But it just fell a little flat for me.
I love the premise and world building. I love how the friendships are done. I love the adventure to find mom aspect. I think the main character is a very fun middle grade heroine. It has a very Alice in Wonderland vibe, which I liked as well.
I think maybe it just needed to be polished off more for me? I'm not sure. I think I just wanted... more from this book. The ending was a little abrupt too, but laid the groundwork for the sequel.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
I love the premise and world building. I love how the friendships are done. I love the adventure to find mom aspect. I think the main character is a very fun middle grade heroine. It has a very Alice in Wonderland vibe, which I liked as well.
I think maybe it just needed to be polished off more for me? I'm not sure. I think I just wanted... more from this book. The ending was a little abrupt too, but laid the groundwork for the sequel.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
June 23, 2024
Evie is devastated when her mom dies in a drowning accident. But she is stunned when a mysterious scroll claims her mother is still alive but stuck in Diyu (a Chinese version of hell.) The only person willing to go with her through Diyu to rescue her mother is another kid, Kevin. Together they enter Diyu and begin their search.
I really enjoyed this book. Evie is a determined and likeable character, and Kevin turns out to have unexpected strengths. The story is well written. Their quest is suspenseful and fast paced. The family dynamics are also done in a pleasing way.
I received this book in exchange for a review from Netgalley and Macmillan's Children's. I received no compensation for my review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. Evie is a determined and likeable character, and Kevin turns out to have unexpected strengths. The story is well written. Their quest is suspenseful and fast paced. The family dynamics are also done in a pleasing way.
I received this book in exchange for a review from Netgalley and Macmillan's Children's. I received no compensation for my review. All opinions are my own.
September 1, 2024
this was an extremely fun read, which you might not expect when dealing with the topic of parental death and traveling to hell. Evie is an engaging, precocious, smart kid who is determined to save her recently deceased mother from Dìyù. I love that even through all of her anger and frustration and disagreements with her mother, it's extremely obvious how much she truly, deeply cares about her mom, and just how many of her complaints about her mom are traits she herself embodies.
it's a brilliant fantasy story with a lot of heart. I've felt all these feelings personally as someone who has lost their mother, so Evie's struggles felt so familiar. Lim really effortlessly weaves (pun intended) humor and grief into something anyone can connect with.
it's a brilliant fantasy story with a lot of heart. I've felt all these feelings personally as someone who has lost their mother, so Evie's struggles felt so familiar. Lim really effortlessly weaves (pun intended) humor and grief into something anyone can connect with.
May 1, 2024
5/5 Stars
This was such a fantastic and fast paced read! This is based on Chinese mythology, and also explores death of a loved one, grief, family bonds, and more. Every character is unique and strong willed.
This is also the only novel I can think of that I've read that explores Chinese mythology. And I loved how real it felt. I could easily picture the Courts as Evie searches for her mom. Not to mention that the mysterious Guilds felt like they actually exist in today's world.
I would love a short story continuation after how it concluded, but I also think this is a solid novel without it. What an overall fantastic and magical read!
This was such a fantastic and fast paced read! This is based on Chinese mythology, and also explores death of a loved one, grief, family bonds, and more. Every character is unique and strong willed.
This is also the only novel I can think of that I've read that explores Chinese mythology. And I loved how real it felt. I could easily picture the Courts as Evie searches for her mom. Not to mention that the mysterious Guilds felt like they actually exist in today's world.
I would love a short story continuation after how it concluded, but I also think this is a solid novel without it. What an overall fantastic and magical read!
June 8, 2024
This is a middle grade fantasy book about a girl going to the Chinese underworld to save her mother. It was overall enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable. The ending came on kind of fast and definitely leaves room for more. The characters actually go to Hell, and the book doesn't really shy away from what that can be like, so some parts may not be suitable for younger readers. If there is another book, I'll check it out.
CW: mentions of covid, car crash, drowning, death, death of a parent, murder, a whole lot of blood, the kids literally go to Hell
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
CW: mentions of covid, car crash, drowning, death, death of a parent, murder, a whole lot of blood, the kids literally go to Hell
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
July 1, 2024
This seems like it would appeal to fans of Percy Jackson insofar as having middle-grade protagonists who explore the Chinese-mythology version of hell. I like that the author incorporates snags in parent-child relationships with the message that, even if we complain about each other, we love each other and are doing our best to communicate across the gap. The book also includes a depiction of grief and dealing with grief that is age appropriate. I think the book skillfully manages ideas about life, death, and "fate," in a way that is realistic yet still hopeful, especially in a children's book.
August 30, 2024
4 stars.
A beautiful middle grade fantasy adventure exploring family, love, loss, and mythology.
I really enjoyed this book, even if parts did get me a bit emotional. The mythology connections were well done, and I loved the way the underworld was portrayed! Most of this book hit a great balance of adventure, creepiness, and humor.
I do have mixed feelings about the ending and a few related things about the main character, but I like the way it sets things up for a sequel, and I look forward to seeing how things progress!
Thank you to Libro.fm's librarian program for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook!
A beautiful middle grade fantasy adventure exploring family, love, loss, and mythology.
I really enjoyed this book, even if parts did get me a bit emotional. The mythology connections were well done, and I loved the way the underworld was portrayed! Most of this book hit a great balance of adventure, creepiness, and humor.
I do have mixed feelings about the ending and a few related things about the main character, but I like the way it sets things up for a sequel, and I look forward to seeing how things progress!
Thank you to Libro.fm's librarian program for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook!
April 22, 2024
I loved this charmingly written middle grade inspired by Chinese mythology. Exploring themes of grief, growing up, and family, this novel grabbed me right from the first page and didn't let go. Full of action-packed sequences and quiet, emotional moments alike, this book was a wonderful read, and I know kids are going to love it, especially fans of Percy Jackson, Aru Shah, and Amari and the Night Brothers.
June 2, 2024
This story is very sad, it's about a girl who just lost her mom. An evil monkey comes and tells her that her mother is still alive; she goes over to her aunt's house and finds out her mom was a part of a secret organization. She and a young boy end up going on an adventure to find her mom. The adventure does not end the way that the girl wanted but she did get some closer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2024
Such a great book. The Chinese mythology is deeply immersed in this. The author wrote about loss and the guilt that losing a mother can bring up and the unfairness of it all. There were some great twists that sets this apart from other “gotta go save a loved one from death” novels. I sobbed when I read this and laughed as well. Great read. And she left perhaps room for a sequel?
June 13, 2024
Dante's Inferno but fun and full of heart. Aimee Lim's book explores grief in such a hilarious and adventurous way. The book will most definitely be compared to Percy Jackson in that she has masterfully threaded (hehe) Chinese folklore into a modern novel. Sure this book is technically for younger readers, but I enjoyed it so much. If you like the Good Place... Definitely give this a try.
June 15, 2024
This brand new middle grade novel based on Chinese mythology sees 12-year-old Evie head to the Netherworld to try to rescue her mom. Adventure, just the right amount of horror, and lovely lessons on grief make this a must-read for the 5th-grade and up set. Also love how the author made sure these contemporary tweens speak like today's tweens. Will definitely carry this in my store.
June 18, 2024
This was so much fun! I think I connected with the book much more than other middle grades because there were so many nods to a childhood I’m familiar with. So many references that I remember and the kids feel natural.
The story was entertaining because of the main character but overall was very sad. Funny but with serious undertones.
I can’t wait to try more from this author!
The story was entertaining because of the main character but overall was very sad. Funny but with serious undertones.
I can’t wait to try more from this author!
August 24, 2024
Read with my 4th grader. I didn’t love the story but he was more into it. It follows a girl whose mother dies and it turns out that she was the leader of a guild of magical weavers and she has to follow her to the Chinese underworld to bring her back. Some good twists and appropriate for middle school and up. I’ve read this is a good book for Percy Jackson lovers.
September 22, 2024
Honestly quite decent! Characters were well developed/had whole personalities, author didn’t shy away from big feelings/heavy topics. Compelling pacing and a good twist! Pretty dark for middle grade but also a lot of kids gravitate toward that— would def recommend for older or not super sensitive tweens!
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