Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Information

Goodreads: Cursed
Series: Gilded #2
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Official Summary

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda’s journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

Review

Marissa Meyer has done it again! The sequel to Gilded brings readers on a breathtaking journey full of romance, mystery, suspense, and danger–one fans will find difficult to put down. The atmospheric worldbuilding and the intertwining of folklore and fantasy will draw readers in. But the empathetic characters and the high stakes they face will capture readers entirely. A must-read for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tale retellings!

Gilded ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, so I was only too eager to see where Meyer would take the story next. I loved that the narrative did not keep the characters safe, but repeatedly put them in untenable situations. The Erlking and his court are meant to be monsters, and it was imperative for the integrity of the story for this to be true. Fairy tales such as this are meant to be dark, meant to show that humans can persevere beyond all reasoning. And, maybe, just maybe, triumph. But that question of whether triumph is even possible anymore is the part that makes this story so gripping.

I also really loved that Serilda is a mother in this story. Motherhood is not often explored in YA books, even though it is a part of life and even something some teens might experience. Granted, I felt at times that Serilda read more like a young twenty-something than a teen, but readers do not need to only read books with protagonists exactly their age. And the motherhood element made this book feel more unique, as well as adding higher stakes to Serilda’s struggle for freedom.

Cursed is that rare thing, a sequel that lives up to its predecessor. More mythology, more intrigue, and more romance all come together to create an unputdownable read that will leave readers wishing for more. Fans of Meyer’s will not want to miss out on this stunning conclusion to the duology!

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Information

Goodreads: Gilded
Series: Gilded #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Gift
Published: 2021

Official Summary

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her . . . for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Review

Gilded is a wonderfully atmosphere fantasy that blends darkness and romance to create a tale that feels so immersive, readers will never want to leave. Based on the fairy tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” the book quickly makes the story its own, adding in elements of the Wild Hunt, as well as an original mythology that includes gods and their curses and their gifts. Anyone who enjoys a highly inventive fairy tale retelling is sure to fall in love with Marissa Meyer’s Gilded.

Gilded immediately draws readers into the story through Serilda’s voice. Blessed by the god of lies (or stories), Serilda is a tricky character to write; readers must be convinced that she really does possess the ability to make a person believe anything, to spin a tale so wondrous that it leaves her listeners enraptured. Meyer writes her beautifully. Serilda is spunky and bold, kind and caring–and one marvel of a storyteller. The tales she weaves, far from interrupting the main story, add to it. They have the feeling and flavor of an old fairy tale, the kind that would draw people around the fire to listen, and then have them checking that the doors are locked, lest the spirits of the dead find a way in.

Meyer moves the story effortlessly from Serilda’s village, immersed in folklore and flavored by the joys and frustrations of life where everyone knows everyone, to the castle of the Erlking, which gives the book a darker note; here, Serilda’s stories are real, and not everyone gets out alive. The worldbuilding is extraordinary, deepened by the world’s history and mythology. Readers will love exploring a world where the magical and the ordinary exist side by side, the veil being pierced on occasions when the Wild Hunt can race across the land of the living, seeking their prey. What is terrifying and what is wonderful are sometimes one and the same–and that is the magic of Serilda’s world.

Readers who enjoy YA fairy retellings will not want to miss out on Gilded, its bold protagonist, and its sweet but sorrowful romance. This is a fantasy sure to ensnare the hearts of readers.

*The sequel to Gilded, Cursed, is currently listed for a November 2022 release.

Gilded by Marissa Meyer (Briana’s Review)

Information

Goodreads: Gilded
Series: Gilded #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Gift
Published: November 2, 2021

Official Summary

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her . . . for a price.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Review

Gilded is an entrancing, original take on “Rumpelstiltskin” that had me glued to the pages, much like Meyer’s previous books – though I think Gilded has the added benefit of being less predictable than some of Meyer’s earlier work. I was easily drawn into the world where dangerous magic creatures walk, yet many humans refuse to believe in them, and where the protagonist finds herself embroiled in their plots with no clear way out.

Serilda is an intriguing protagonist in that the reader might argue her decisions don’t always seem like the best, but one can see where she’s coming from and why she made those decisions at the time. It’s the perfect blend of showing that humans don’t always have all the information and they aren’t always right, but they’re doing what they can. It adds to the sense that while she tries hard to be clever and to keep herself and her family safe, she also feels as if the supernatural beings she is sparring with are always ahead of her, trapping her into a situation she needs to get out of. I liked her spunk and her innovation and her love for her village, even when her village doesn’t have a lot of love for her.

The world building feels original, even when it clearly draws on inspiration from things like the Wild Hunt, and I enjoyed the mix of the book feeling a bit like high fantasy, a bit like folklore, and a bit like mythology. There’s also a nice variety of settings, from the little village to a homey inn to a spooky castle.

I was somewhat puzzled by the fact that this book should have felt very dark – there’s violence, ghosts, a lot of deaths, etc. – and yet it never really did. It didn’t drag me down into its moodiness and darkness like other YA books I’ve recently read, like Into the Bloodred Woods. This isn’t necessarily a “bad” thing or a “good” thing about the book (it may depend on your mood and what you’re looking for), but I have been pondering this for a while trying to parse out why it didn’t feel dark when objectively it is dark.

I also (incorrectly) thought this book was a standalone, when it very much is not. I’m intrigued because I am really not sure where the story is going from here – a lot is wrapped up, while other things are not, and some wild twists were introduced at the end. This is clearly one of those “retellings” where the first book starts out as a retelling, and the rest of the series is just original fantasy. It’s fine. I’m just unable to predict where the story arc is going and how it’s all going to fill a whole second book, but that’s exciting since my one critique of Meyer has always been that her plots are predictable.

Definitely check this one out if you like YA fantasy and loose fairy tale retellings.

West of the Moon by Margi Preus

Information

Goodreads: West of the Moon
Series: None
Source: Library
Published: 2014

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Astri and her younger sister Greta live with their aunt in Norway, now that their father has gone to America to seek his fortune.  The girls still believe he will send for them–until the day their aunt sells Astri to be a servant to the goatman.  Alone and abused, Astri determines to escape.  She will rescue her sister and the two of them will find their way east of the sun, west of the moon until they finally find a place they can call home.

Review

West of the Moon is an enchanting tale that merges fantasy and folklore with the everyday, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that will have readers convinced that magic must happen at any second.  Only halfway through the tale did I realize this is a historical fiction, one that will require the heroines to succeed on their own and only after pain and sacrifice.  If there is any magic here, it is not in the dark forest or in a book of spells, but in the words that Astri weaves to make her life bearable.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of West of the Moon is not in the commonplace that stories set us free (though Margi Preus certainly illustrates that theme in a remarkably original and captivating way), but in the more subtle suggestion that words also have the power to destroy.  Astri tells stories because it comforts her to find parallels between her hard life and with the lives of folklore heroines–the heroines of these stories, she knows, always achieve a happy ending.  However, these stories do not affect only her.  They do not merely provide her comfort on dark, cold nights.  Instead, Astri allows these stories to take on lives of their own, guiding her actions and justifying them–even when those actions would normally be considered immoral.

Astri’s conviction that she does live in a fairy story enables her to adopt fairy tale logic, meaning that for her it is justifiable to hurt the evil, to steal for a good cause, and to tell a lie to achieve one’s goals.  Such actions are not wrong in her world, but even laudable.  After all, should not the heroine prove herself clever by outwitting a greedy fool?  Is it really stealing if one is taking what someone else stole first?  Why should she stop to help others if that would slow her on her noble quest?  Suddenly, the story takes a very dark turn and Astri is plunging herself into an ever deeper hole of deception and even crime.  She tells herself to stop and sometimes feels guilt when she looks at her innocent younger sister, but her need to find a way to America overshadows everything else in her mind, until at last she seems to silence her conscience completely.

Unfortunately, Astri’s decisions to lie, cheat, trick, and stab her way to America are never fully addressed–not in any way that definitely passes moral judgment on them. Her machinations are generally successful, leading to no bad ends and never even inconveniencing her in any meaningful sense.  Astri simply has no reason to do well by others in a world that seems to reward bad behavior and punish good.  A vague resolve toward toward the end of the book to use her talents for good and a sadness that she accidentally hurt someone she should have loved hardly redeem either Astri or the plot.

The confused message of the story, which seems to justify an attitude of “the ends justify the means” even while it has its protagonist reflect on the harm she has caused while following that mantra ironically seems to stem from a hesitance to face darkness head on.  This is in a book that has a young girl sold to an older man who abuses her and attempts to force himself on her, depicts the severing of body parts, tells of parents abandoning their unwanted infants in the woods, and refers repeatedly to evil forces and spells.  But though these things are depicted, referenced, or implied, the story never allows readers really to see them.  It is as though, if the plot stopped too long, the full horror would become overwhelming and this would no longer be a historical fairy tale of sorts but a realistic fiction.  To do that would be to acknowledge that what is happening is not bad, but really, horribly,  truly bad–and might be happening now, in our world.  So the story keeps glancing aside, saying, yes, that was awful but if we look at it we will never get on.  And we must get on because that’s all there is.  A tragic propulsion forward to something we can only hope is better than this.

West of the Moon is a beautiful story, one that is sure to captivate readers with its own spell of words and one sure to resonate with its audience as it depicts the power of narrative.  And yet, even as I admit that it cast a spell on me, I cannot help but wish it had taken time to linger, to look its ugly parts head-on, not just describing the blood but addressing the moral dimension.  It is a story that begs to be about forgiveness, yet never gives the protagonist the ability to forgive herself.

Spinners by Donna Jo Napoli and Richard Tchen

Information

Goodreads: Spinners
Seris: None
Source: Purchased
Published: August 1, 1999

Official Summary

This is the story of two spinners. The first honed his craft at a stolen wheel, crippling his leg, turning a room full of straw into a glittering dress for his beloved — and losing her. The second steals moments to teach herself. Saskia is her name, and she grows up to be a master spinner. Nothing is beyond her — until she, too, must spin straw into gold. And it is then that they meet . . .

Review

Although Spinners is a relatively short book, Napoli and Tchen offer readers a unique and well-developed interpretation of “Rumpelstiltskin.”  The story is based around an imaginative interpretation of the relationship between Rumpelstiltskin and the female spinster; she is his daughter, although she does not know it.   Readers might expect this relationship to soften Rumpelstiltskin’s deals with the young spinster, but Napoli and Tchen imbue him with a realistic bitterness that compels him to continue carrying out the tragedy of this tale, and helps the book retain some of the darkness of the source story.  There is enough suspense to keep readers hoping, however, that he will rediscover his heart and relent.

The story, then, is as much about character as it is about putting twists on the well-worn plot.  Napoli and Tchen walk a fine line, making the book a bit general and ambiguous (such as never giving some characters names), while placing a priority on developing personalities and exploring the contradictions within them.  Rumpelstiltskin both loves his daughter and resents her.  His daughter both loathes the king but wants to live.  Characters make hard choices in Spinners, and the authors never sugarcoat that.

Mixed into the drama, however, is a plethora of knowledge about spinning, weaving, fabrics, and yarns.  The authors have clearly done their research, and thus are able to portray Rumpelstiltskin and his daughter believably as expert spinners.  They also use small details to demonstrate differences in their yarn creations, and thus in their personalities.  As a bonus, readers come out fairly well-informed about spinning.  (Random knowledge gained from books is always a perk, in my opinion.)

Yet Napoli and Tchen would have benefited from paying equal attention to detail in some other aspects of the story.  For instance, the setting is entirely unclear.  One operates under the assumption it occurs in some unnamed fictional world, until the final chapters, when characters suddenly make offhand references to real places.  Similarly, the magic is not well-integrated.  Something magical must be happening for a man to spin straw into gold, but just about every other “magical” occurrence is explained away, and the characters themselves seem reluctant to believe in anything supernatural.  Finally, after carefully developing the entire retelling, Napoli and Tchen leave readers with an abrupt, and completely inexplicable ending, that is rather unsatisfying.  Even an awkwardly tacked-on epilogue would have given readers some closure.

Ultimately, however, Spinners is an interesting retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin” that succeeds in the most important places.  It gets at the heart of the original story, and at the emotions and other forces that must have driven the characters to play out such a bitter tale.  Alternately dark and light, but always thoughtful, it will appeal to readers who like their fairy tale retellings to be complicated, instead of having a straightforward happily ever after.  Great for fans of Lili St. Crow and Adam Gidwitz.

Content Note: Sex

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Information

Goodreads: Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
Source: Library
Published: 2013

Summary

In Rump’s world, your name is your destiny.  But Rump does not know his full name; his mother died before she could reveal it.  Of course, his village suspects that anyone named after the rear end of an animal must have no good end in store.  But Rump has hope—especially when he discovers he possesses the ability to spin straw into gold!  Magic, however, comes with a price, and it seems Rump’s gift is more like a curse.  Only by discovering his full name will he be able to escape his past and find his destiny.

Review

Rump takes readers on a magical journey behind the well-known tale of Rumpelstiltskin.  As Liesl Shurtliff tells it, Rumpelstiltskin was not a wicked old man at all, but only a kindhearted boy with the best intentions.  She clears up a few other things as well–after all, didn’t you always wonder a lot about that old story?  For instance, where did Rumpelstiltskin come from?  Why did the miller’s daughter have to guess his name?  And, of course, why would the miller’s daughter bargain her firstborn child at all?  Rump fills in those gaps while, surprisingly, making the titular character not merely understandable, but maybe even likable.

Of course, explaining away the oddities in fairy tales is a staple of the retellings that currently fill the market; it requires more than that to make a retelling truly original.  Shurtliff’s attempt succeeds because she focuses not on the miller’s daughter, but on Rumpelstiltskin himself, giving him an origin story that shows him as a child.  As a result, Rumpelstilskin appears eager, naive, and vulnerable.  His gift is as new to him as it is to the readers and, though he does not know how to control it, he does know that the ability to make gold is a very big deal.  Unfortunately, in this version, his gift is more like a curse and it binds him more tightly ever time he uses it.

Though the originality of the premise will likely draw readers in, the execution sometimes seems a little uneven.  Some may recognize the standard events that creep in–the missing guardians, the old family curse–and that ultimately tie the story together, making the more novel events within the story seem a little random.  Others may dislike the moral lessons that repeatedly crop up.  Some may simply have difficulty accepting that Rumpelstiltskin had this adventure when he was only twelve.

Still, the plot is strong and the characters likable.  Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother make a special guest appearance sure to delight fans of fairy tales.  Those who enjoy retold fairy tales and those who enjoy middle grade fantasy should find enough here to keep them reading.

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde

Information

Goodreads: The Rumpelstiltskin Problem
Source: Purchased
Published: 2000

Review

If you ask Vivian Vande Velde her feelings about “Rumpelstiltskin,” she would tell you the story does not make a lot of sense.  If you read her preface to The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, you would probably begin to agree.   Vande Velde summarizes the original tale step by step, outlining along the way where characters either do something without any explanation or do something that is explained, but illogically so.  Why, indeed, would Rumpelstiltskin accept gold jewelry as payment for turning straw into gold?  Apparently he can acquire all the precious metal he could ever want.

Vande Velde attempts to explain the characters’ actions in six original retellings of “Rumpelstiltskin.”

Each of the stories in this collection is fun, a little wild and weird.  Vande Velde definitely reveals a quirky streak in this book, and her lighthearted tone is common to all six stories, even as the plots and characters change.   All open with a line about how far in the past the story occurred, usually before something random like before sliced bread was sold in supermarkets.  Some of the tales are bit more dismal than others, but they never get so depressing that Vande Velde cannot poke a little fun at herself or the characters.

Interestingly enough, although Vande Velde’s retellings are supposed to make more sense than the original story, her characters do often merit a bit of mockery.  Vande Velde’s stories are all internally consistent, and her characters always offer explanations for their actions—but their decisions are sometimes still a little crazy.  For instance, in one version the miller is poor and is convinced he can tell the king his daughter can turn straw into gold if he gives her three gold coins, and then he and his daughter will simply take the money and run before she is given any straw.  Vande Velde gives the miller a reason for telling the king a preposterous lie, but his plan is still ridiculous.

Vande Velde also gives each character a chance to be the villain: the king, the miller, the miller’s daughter, and Rumpelstiltskin.  While this does allow for variety in the retellings, it also means it is easy to catch on to the pattern, for readers to guess who will be the villain next.   Of course no one expects fairy tale retellings to be overly surprising (especially ones that are only short stories, not novels), but it is a bit disappointing to be able to predict a large part of what will be “new” about a retelling you have not even started to read.

The main problem with this book: After about two tales, the reader probably wants to be done with “Rumpelstiltskin.”  The stories may be different, but in the end they all have the same basic plot.  This will be a challenge for readers who like to read straight through a book and be finished, rather than patiently read a section or two and replace it on the shelf for another day.

Nonetheless, The Rumpelstiltskin Problem is an imaginative and slightly quirky book, perfect for readers who want to see “Rumpelstiltskin” in a new light.

The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn

Goodreads: The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin 
Series: Once Upon a Time
Source: Purchased

Summary: In 1880, Bridget and her family move from Ireland to New York in search of a better life.  They are unprepared for the squalid conditions of their new home and the widespread prejudice they face, but Bridget’s father always makes the most of every situation.  His optimism and imagination look as though they might lead his family into trouble, however, when he promises his wealthy employer, head of a giant textile company, that Bridget can create the world’s most beautiful dresses.  Bridget will have to deliver, or she and her father will both be fired.  Fortunately, a mysterious man from her neighborhood seems willing to help her—but for a price.

Review:  Weyn creates a unique fairytale retelling in The Crimson Thread by utilizing the genre of historical fiction.  Readers get the benefit of the interesting, slightly foreign setting of 1880s New York while seeing how “magic” might happen in real life.  In fact, the only times true magic enters the book—the opening and closing statements by a mysterious fairy historian—are its weakest moments.  It is much more interesting to see Weyn translate fairytale moments like “spinning straw into gold” into a real world setting.

The historical accuracy might not be all that it can be; some of the details seem off.  Yet Weyn does hit many of the  major issues of the era, including xenophobia, crowded tenements, sweatshops, child labor laws, and more.  Readers experience the big picture of the time period, which is probably what will stick with them, rather than details about the prices of food.  Also, the point in a book like this is most often the characters and the plot.  The setting is important, but often as the backdrop to the actions or as the machinery that influences their lives.  Bridget’s concerns about working conditions matter because they lead her to make certain life decisions.  And these are the types of facts that Weyn gets right.

The story itself will lead readers through a maze of emotions as they sympathize with Bridget and her family upon their arrival in New York, hope for their success, and cheer for what triumphs they earn.  The characters Bridget encounters during her journey are similarly diverse, hailing from all nations and walks of life.  Even more interestingly, there are two love interests—but this is not the average love triangle.  Both men seem like attractive and viable options, and readers will stress over Bridget’s decisions before finding satisfaction in her fairytale ending.

The Crimson Thread is a creative addition to the Once Upon a Time series.  Weyn introduces her readers to the magic of the ordinary and to the good in every bad situation.  Her book is about hard work and hope, and readers will love learning along with her spunky heroine Bridget.

Published: 2008

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