Spinning Briar

Mirror Chronicles, Book 2

By: Rachel Huffmire

Narrated by: Rachel V. White

Being an International Time Travel Agent requires absolute obedience. The smallest change in history could completely destroy the present.

When Charul Shazad loses the trail of the Mirror, a time-traveling vigilante, both history and his career are put on the line. Unwilling to lose everything, Charul takes on the dangerous renegade alone and finds himself marooned in a forgotten forest. But Charul isn’t one to give up. Could the vine covered castle in the distance hold the secret to capturing the Mirror once and for all?

Dorothea Wild is the Mirror's newest right-hand programmer. After spending 40 years in a high-security ITTA prison cell, accepting the renegade's job offer was an easy decision. But, saving people in the past isn't all she wants. A big enough mission could undermine the authority of ITTA, allowing her sweet retribution on the company that ruined her life.

Fleur de Doue was never meant to exist, at least that's what the Mirror's assistants tell her. To avoid being erased from history, she helps the Mirror surround her castle in wires and brambles. But, just because the Mirror enabled her birth doesn't mean he has the right to control her fate. Could it be that he made a mistake and Fleur doesn't belong in the past?

©2020 Jason King (P)2020 Jason King

Incredible Sequel

Spinning Briar is a fantastic continuation of Shattered Snow. Rachel Huffmire continues to impress with her creative fairytale retelling and intricate plot. The twists keep you wondering what will happen next, and the story is so unique it makes you never want to stop reading. You get to know the characters so much better, and the ending has such an unexpected twist! I can't wait to see what the next book holds!

She really brings it to life!

Spinning Brier, The Mirror Chronicles book 2 Non-spoiler Review:
(Book by Rachelhuffmire )

-This review won’t be my best- I’m terrible when it comes to sequels, because I tend to just to repeat myself from the first review. I apologize for that. But I just have to say, this is a good series! Perfect for all my #Edgyclean fans!

-If you’re looking for good, well rounded characters, I recommend this series! They’re so fun!

-The characters in this series are so well done, they blend so well, and they’re so distinct.

-The plot was so suspenseful, fast, and intense! And just as astonishing as the first! For those with high hopes, it will not disappoint you.

-I’d say the writing is a little better then the first. The author is improving, which is saying a lot because book one was already incredibly well written.

-It’s the perfect sequel 👍

-Again if you’re a fan of Ruby red, The lunar chronicles, once upon a time, or really, any time travel stories with amazing characters and plot. This is the book for you!


Audiobook:

Same as I said in the first review @rachel.v.white is the perfect narrator! She nails all the voices, she really brings them to life

Retelling of Sleeping Beauty with Time Travel

We really enjoyed book two! I listened to this one with my 14 year old daughter and we loved it... this one was much less confusing. These need to be read in order or you will be completely lost but I truly love the intricacies and the complexity that are time travel which the author wove into the stories. Toward the end of book two it does border confusing-- after relistening to a few parts it all came together. I am really looking forward to seeing where the next part of the story goes.

This is 14+ read primarily due to the complexity and writing style but otherwise is a clean read.

The narrator was fun to listen to and did a great job with the different voices, acting and overall narration.

—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Snow White Recreated

I really enjoy the way that Rachel Huffmire takes a fairy tale and recreates the story into her own imaginative world. In this book, she re-imagines the fairy tale of Snow White, but this is not the earlier tale of old. I recommend this series for its cleverness and creativity. Rachel V White's narration is wonderful adding depth and entertainment to the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

This 2nd book was even better than the 1st!

I really like how this Story plays out and all the different variables that came Into play as the author wrote this Book. Narrator does a Great job with the characters and the storyline. I highly recommend this book!

Amazing Fairytale Retelling

Once again, Rachel Hoffmire has crafted an incredible story! I am continually impressed with how she makes “magic” work, time travel makes sense, craft what becomes a fairytale through the use of time travel, all without any plot holes that I can discern. This time travel story was more complicated than the first book, with travelers from the future as well as those traveling into the past. But still so, so good! I would recommend this series to anyone who likes fairytale retellings, science fiction, or wants to branch out and try something new.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Read By Rachel White—Rachel is an absolutely phenomenal narrator. Her accents (in this book there is Scottish, German, French, American) and voices are superb. She helps bring the characters to life and bumps the story from amazing to incredible. I’d listen to anything read by this narrator.

VERY ENJOYABLE

STORYTELLING IS WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO FOLLOW.
ACCEPTABLE FOR MOST AGES.
NARRATOR IS GOOD AND EASY TO FOLLOW.

Baskerville Book Reviews

Spinning Briar alleviated some of the problems that I had with the first book. While it still focuses on a small group of people and their stories, it did a much better job of keeping me entertained. It’s a far more compelling story and I think it opens up even more doors for the series going forward.

Time Travel is a concept I love. Oftentimes, you end up with too many plot holes to count, paradoxes, and confusing as hell stories. These books have done an incredible job of keeping things easy to follow, consistent, and avoiding paradoxes. Book 1 didn’t address vaccines and diseases being transferred, while book 2 brought that up, which I appreciated. The extra attention to detail added to the believability of the story and world.

My first minor complaint is the technology. It’s incredibly short-sighted and not the least bit creative. The characters are using fibreoptic cables and tablets, which makes sense in 2021. I wasn’t paying attention much to the dates, but I believe this is set in 2165 or somewhere around there. To further explain my issue, imagine a time travel story set in 1850 with the characters 150 years in the future using telegraphs to communicate. It dates the novel and will stand out even more as a flaw as technology progresses. Better to invent something new and explain it than to use modern tech, which kneecaps its staying power.

The second minor complaint I have is the journals. I listened to the audiobook, so maybe it’s less jarring in the physical or ebook releases. But I would often time listen to these journals, only for them to abruptly end or confuse the hell out of me. I forgot to bring that up in my review of book 1, I nearly did a second time. They’re just too damn annoying to leave out a second time. The journal log would have been better at the start of the journal, at least in the audiobook version.

I almost never talk about the endings in novels. This one was very well done. It wrapped up the plot nicely while leaving plenty of room for sequels. It gives you just enough to get excited for a sequel without leaving you with a cliffhanger ending.

I’m sick of listening to this narrator mispronounce familiar. There’s only 1 r in familiar. “Farmiliar” isn’t a word. Why people add letters to words when speaking them is beyond me, but I find it insufferably annoying. Overall, the line readings and accents were great. It really helped characters feel distinct.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

Good Story

To be a Time Travel Agent means you follow the rules. When Charul looses track of the mirror he panics thinking of all he had worked for. Charul decides to find the mirror once and for all. However one has to be careful when maneuvering through time. A single change could have devastating effects. Then we have Dorathea and she is the mirrors programmer trying to fix changes. Not a bad read but it was a bit confusing at times.

Loved It!

A fascinating retelling of Sleeping Beauty. So many twists and turns. Love how everything connects in the end. Rachel White did an amazing narration and her accents are incredible. Would definitely recommend this book/audio book!