I admit this up front, the cover to this novella is gorgeous. I'll also admit that the raciness of the novella had me fighting a blush while I read it. I wouldn't say this is an explicit story, but Talia definitely is an experienced woman by the end of it.

I think the important part is that Nevitt didn't exploit or judge Talia's actions. Her first time is with the only guy who has ever shown an interest in her, who enjoys her company and if not because of an awful father, would have been her husband. There is obvious affection between the two, but like any other young girl Talia doesn't recognize the difference between real love and fairy tale love.

She continues because a) it helps save her and her mother from starving to death, b) she carefully chooses men who can help 'better' her (teach her usable skills) and c) she gives a certain amount of confidence and companionship to men who would otherwise be overlooked. Oh and she enjoys it too of course.

I thought the way it weaved into the plot of Sleeping Beauty was gracefully done. The resolution was also tastefully done and had a certain ring of Talia thumbing her nose at those people who had treated her so cruelly. Talia was a strong character, resourceful and pragmatic. What use was her virginity if the only man she wanted to marry was to become a monk? Why be the mistress to wealthy men who leave you cold and dry, instead of men who can teach you skills to survive?

By the end I was rooting for Talia to have her happy ending. She had a lot of disappointments in her life, made a lot of sacrifices, but any regrets she had were mostly centered around not marrying Willard and not having children. Its what she wanted most and had been denied it for a stupid reason of a petty man.

This is the first in Nevitt's planned 'Accidental Enchantments' series of retold fairy tales. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment! ( )

Going into The Sevenfold Spell I had certain expectations, since it was a retelling of a fairy tale. As a reader who has fallen in love with these types of stories, I am always excited to see how the author takes the characters and puts them in new situations. My high expectations for this story may have been why I was a little taken aback when I first began reading. Part of me knew that this book was more about other characters, and less about the main characters, but I was still a little disappointed.

What I liked about Tia Nevitt's retelling was that it dealt with those characters that usually get ignored. Rarely ever in fairy tales do you learn about what happens to the "little people" as the story progresses. Of course the townspeople would have their livelihood affected by a ban on spinning wheels! It was interesting to see how they coped and worked together to make it by. I was also intrigued by how the original characters were slowly brought into the story, one a time, and sometimes in a way I completely wasn't expecting.

On the flip side, what I disliked about this story were the flat characters. Talia was a sweet girl, and I didn't even fault her for the decisions that she had to make to stay alive. Instead I was a bit upset that we never got to see farther into what she was thinking, or how her mother was affected. If you check the page count, this book is very short. It's a mere 97 pages where other books are much longer. I think that if the author had spent a few more pages on character development, I would have loved the book that much more.

Overall I can say that I did enjoy reading The Sevenfold Spell! It was a quick and interesting read for me. Give it a try if you're into fairy tales and their retellings! ( )

This was a cute retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The writing style was good and I liked how everything turned out. I look forward to reading another book by this author. ( )

Since she has always known that she is not typically beautiful, Talia has instead relied upon her abilities as a spinster to earn her dowry. However, she and her mother soon find themselves in dire straits. Apparently by royal proclamation, the local constabulary and those so-called "good fairies" have gained the right to confiscate their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess...or so they say.

Having essentially destroyed their livelihood, the constables and the fairies expect the hardworking townspeople to pick up the pieces of their various lives - and to learn an entirely new trade - however they can. Without the promise of a continued income from her spinning, Talia's marriage prospects soon disappear. When the father of her most ardent suitor sends his son to a monastery, rather than allowing him to marry Talia, she and her mother face utter destitution. They become desperate.

Since she understands that not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue, Talia realizes that she must rely on her own ingenuity to survive. So she determines to build a new spinning wheel - the only one in the nation. Although she knows that such a rebellious act could inevitably lead to her death, Talia is past the point of caring about breaking some arbitrary and cruel law. After all, she could not possibly be prosecuted for something done in secret - could she?

However, Talia has no idea just how much her final decision will play right into the evil fairy's diabolical plan. She will ultimately discover that finding a truly happy ending requires sacrifice. But is that sacrifice going to be one that Talia is willing to make?

I downloaded this story in August and didn't get a chance to read it until now. I wish I had read it earlier because it was a wonderful story. I love fairy tales and give it an A+! ( )

The Sevenfold Spell is an original but very adult take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. It may seem a bit confusing at first but everything is explained and revealed as you go. Although this is a "re-telling" it still fits within the constraints of what makes a "fairy tale". This is not a novel or a full length story so please don't judge it as one.

I will warn that this book contains a lot of sex but it doesn't diminish the story. It's part of the tragedy that is Talia's life. I couldn't help but think of her as the Ugly Duckling even though this wasn't based on that story. I constantly felt sympathy for her situation and her loneliness. I'm pleased to say that this book was as good as it's beautiful cover. I loved the twists on the original story and the way the tale ends with the usual but much deserved happily ever after. ( )