this book is set in the same world as McKinley's Damar books; at one point Damar and the character of Harimad-sol are mentioned as historical events, though from a different country. The events of McKinley's Deerskin are also referenced obliquely, as the Queen, Rosie's mother, is said to come from a country best known for the fleethounds bred by its king and queen. Reception F&SF reviewer Charles de Lint praised Spindle's End as "luminescent," characterizing the novel as "one of those rare occasions when the writing is so good, and the novel has so much heart, that the plot almost doesn't matter. That there is a strong storyline only adds to the book's unequivocal success." References External links Robin McKinley's website Study Guide to Spindle's End Essay on Spindle's End: "Real-izing Fantasy: The Double-Sided Mirror of Magical Realism and "the other side of reality" in Robin McKinley's Spindle's End" by Evelyn Perry, from The Looking Glass, vol. 8 no.3, September 2004 Review of Spindle's End from School Library Journal, 2004 2000 American novels American fantasy novels Works based on Sleeping Beauty Novels by Robin McKinley Novels based on fairy tales