Brandie June has given us a retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin” for fans of Sarah J. Maas in her book, “Gold Spun.” Nor and her three brothers are orphans, doing their best to get by in a kingdom ravaged by war. After meeting a faerie in the woods, she cooks up a scheme to sell magic straw. The prince of the kingdom catches her, and hoping to expose her as a fraud, promises to marry her if she can spin all the straw into gold in one night. Through the aid of the faerie, she accomplishes this feat and becomes the fiancee of the king-to-be. All is not happily ever after, however; as Nor falls for her prince, other forces are at work to bring down the kingdom.
Although there is obvious influence from the fairy tale, this retelling is original enough that you are still left wondering how it will all come together in the end. I enjoyed the inclusive cast and the growth many of them showed. Brandie June has done a good job ensuring her supporting characters move along with the protagonist.
The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, did a great job giving voice to Nor’s first-person narrative. I found her earnest and believable.
I would definitely recommend June’s “Gold Spun” to fans of fantasy and fairy-tale retellings. It’s appropriate for upper elementary advanced readers right up through adult. I love the strong heroine who, even though she is not averse to running the odd scam, is fiercely loyal to her family and will do what it takes to keep them safe. I look forward to the next installment in this series. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
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