neil gaiman's the sleeper and the spindle

The narrative is wonderfully enhanced by Riddell’s illustrations, intricate black-and-white drawings with the occasional feature picked out in blood red. The language is very expressive, and the narrative is deliciously creepy the sleeping retinue move around like zombies, the thorny bushes grow around the skeletons of unsuccessful rescuers, menace and decay is everywhere.

The narrative touches on themes of gender, power, beauty, ageing and death. This is no Disney-style fantasy for the very young, but instead akin to some of the original, more gruesome tales in the genre, but there is much to engage and thrill the older child. Gaiman encourages you to believe that, just like the Snow White, herself once condemned to a year’s unconsciousness, she would be the ideal person to save the day - but not everything is as it appears. Her upcoming wedding, with some relief, is put on hold. When three dwarves inform her of a cursed kingdom where a princess and her people have lied asleep for decades, the queen decides to take up the challenge to save them, even though many have failed before her. An extremely dark and gothic fairy tale, it features the stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, but given a very modern and feminist twist.Ī queen prepares unenthusiastically for marriage and a future that is mapped out for her. When prize-winning author Neil Gaiman collaborates with the equally award-laden former children’s laureate and illustrator Chris Riddell, you can guarantee the result will be something unique and special, and this book is no exception.

Neil gaiman's the sleeper and the spindle