Title: The Sevenfold Spell
Author: Tia Nevitt
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: September 27, 2010
*Received for free from Netgalley*
Number of pages: 73
Publisher: Carina Press
I have to admit, growing up I was never one to question what happened to the other people in fairy tales. However, ever since I read A Happily Ever After of Her Own by Nadia Lee and seeing the musical Wicked, my curiosity in this area has grown. So when I was on Netgalley the other day looking for the Winter Passage by Julie Kawaga and saw this novella, I knew I had to give it a try.
The Sevenfold Spell is spin off of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. Ever since Princess Aurora had a curse put on her by fairies, spinning wheels have be outlawed in the realm. That is very bad news for Talia and her mother, because they make their living from their spinning wheel. With no one to rescue to her, Talia takes matters into her own hands. She realizes that her prospects are dim now that she and her mother have no income. The one boy who she thought might marry her, is a third son and is being forced to become a monk by his family. So Talia does the unthinkable and ruins herself. While others don't understand her motives, she knows that this was her only chance for happiness and takes it. Problems still persist with her and her mom because of their lack of income. Talia isn't one to admit defeat. The government might not allow spinning wheels, but what's to stop her from making her own? How would they find out about one little spinning wheel?
Talia and her mom make their spinning wheel, and are finally able to make a living from it...but this goes right along with the curse that said that the princess would prick her finger on a spinning wheel. Will Talia be able to stop the curse from coming true? Or will it all happen as planned? Will she be able to have a fairy tale ending of her own? Or will her life continue as it has been?
What I liked best about this book was that Talia was no woe is me type of heroine. She was strong, tough and independent. Others might have tried to put her down, but she would not have it. She knew that she worth something, and wouldn't let anyone tell her otherwise. I also liked it because she didn't fall apart every step of the way, and stayed true to her own morals-even if they weren't everyone elses morals. If you are expecting a light hearted romance-think again. This is one story that tells it like it is, and it somehow works. There are also some sex scenes thrown in, and while I thought they weren't really necessary, it brought home the reality of the day. If you are looking for something a bit different, then this book is for you. I look forward to reading more by this author!I should stress, that isn't really a traditional romance-there is romance in there, but it's not a light and fun romance kind of book.
