By Naomi Novik
Del Rey, 2018. 466 pages. Fantasy
Abstract: A fresh and imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale from the bestselling author of Uprooted. It was called "a very enjoyable fantasy with the air of a modern classic" by The New York Times Book Review.
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father is not a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem intercedes. Hardening her heart, she sets out to retrieve what is owed, and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. But when an ill-advised boast brings her to the attention of the cold creatures who haunt the wood, nothing will be the same again. For words have power and the fate of a kingdom will be forever altered by the challenge she is issued. Channeling the heart of the classic fairy tale, Novik deftly interweaves six distinct narrative voices—each learning valuable lessons about sacrifice, power and love—into a rich, multilayered fantasy that readers will want to return to again and again.
Spinning Silver begins with tales of the realities of life in a seemingly unmagical world. The author slowly introduces you to the many characters’ thoughts, backgrounds, sufferings, and desires from multiple perspectives. The author does not shy away from revealing the sorrowful life of our protagonists. There were times in this book where I almost cried. Despite its more somber tone and lack of romance, I enjoyed reading this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. If you like books by Robin McKinley and Katherine Arden, I recommend you read this one as well.
JJC
By Katherine Arden
Del Rey, 2017. 322 pages. Fantasy
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift—a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay.
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Del Rey, 2019. 338 pages. Fantasy
The Mayan God of Death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.
By Mary McmYne
Redhook, 2022. 374 pages. Fantasy
Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda—a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of—a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that people will kill to uncover…
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