From the very first paragraphs I was sucked in to this story, and I did not want to let it go. It has fairy tale retellings, fantasy logic, crossing the multiverse, and coming of age stories. ( )

when fairy tales, folklore scholarship, and a contemporary perspective collide, something has to give, and it's not gonna be the princesses, Sleeping Beauties though they may be. the Arthur Rackham internal illustrations adopt the negative-silhouette style, which fits right into the novella's narrative as a nicely witty touch, too. ( )

Meta-tale about Sleeping Beauty. A dying girl has the chance to enter the fairy-tale multiverse and save a princess. ( )

So much emotional goodness in such a tiny little package.

I swooned at every aspect of this story. From the sick-kid start, to the happily ever after fairy tale-esk tone of it. Accepting family rep, ride or die friendship rep—all of it was perfection. I loved the way this retelling took the source material and wove it throughout to make a new tale. It paid homage while pointing out the flaws in the best way possible. Toss in a little science and you've got a adventure fit for any Sleeping Beauty enthusiast. (No, you don't need to be familiar with any of the source material to enjoy this story.) Not to mention the lesbian rep. ugh. This novella is soo good.

With a terminally ill child in our household it definitely cut deeper. Alix E. Harrow is one of my favorite authors, and this book is another must read with it's poetic word choices, and life themes woven into it. I am so excited to see where the next installment will take us.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves retellings, and enjoys stories where the heroine takes control of their own destiny. ( )

The writing is taut and emotionally controlled for a dying girl has a fairy tale adventure story. Zinnia is able to both handle herself and see beyond herself as she confronts the gross unfairness which classic fiction displays and deplores. ( )