The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim (review)

Reviewed by: The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim Aaren Tucker Lim, Aimee The Spindle of Fate. Feiwel, 2024 304p Trade ed. ISBN 9781250886194 17. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250886187 9. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 5-9 While still in the early stages of grieving her mother's disappearance and presumed death, twelve-year-old Evie encounters a talking monkey in her mom's tailor shop. The monkey is really a demon from the Chinese underworld Dìyù, and he claims to have kidnapped Evie's mom for her power to change fate. Evie is unsettled by the discovery that her mother kept both their family's magical legacy and her leadership of the Weavers (one of many magical Guilds) secret. Unsure if she can trust this trickster monkey, Evie asks her aunt for help, but when none of the other Guild leaders will take the risk, it's up to Evie, a magical demon-repelling staff, and clueless Kevin from the Warriors to brave the untold dangers of Dìyù in the hope of rescuing Evie's mom. Lim's debut is a fast-paced, nail-biting page-turner featuring a likable narrator leaving her mundane life to take on a fantastical quest. The mix of gore, humor, and sentiment feels as if Pixar made a horror film, and the story is carried by a charismatic duo and their deepening friendship. While Evie's narration is sometimes colored by too much adult insight, she, like many children who have lost a parent, is forced to grow up quickly, depending on her heart and cleverness to see her through some dark revelations. Lim seems to have only scratched the surface of this fascinating world that is peopled with detailed and interesting side characters, and some unfinished business for Evie hopefully means a sequel is on the horizon. End Page 365 Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois