Categories: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, YOUNG ADULT FANTASY
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author: NAOMI NOVIK
Genres: Fantasy,Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: DEL RAY
Publishing Date: 7/10/2018
Format: Kindle
Page Count: 465
GOODREADS SUMMARY
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.
When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk–grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh–Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.
But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.
Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.
MY THOUGHTS:
I was scrolling through BookTube when I came across Spinning Silver, a gem of a book. From what I could tell, it was an adult fantasy and a Rumpelstiltskin fairytale retelling. I knew nothing about the author or the list of accomplishments, such as being a finalist for the Nebula and Hugo awards.
In the Grimm fairytale, you may recall a miller’s daughter being locked in a tower by a sadistic king who orders her to do the impossible task of spinning straw into gold. Relying on Rumpelstiltskin’s help, she completes the task not once, but three times. In exchange, Rumpelstiltskin asks for her firstborn. However, she outsmarts Rumpelstiltskin later on and gets to keep her baby.
Cut to the first page of this book. First Sentence:
“The real story isn’t half as pretty as the one you’ve heard. ”
Okay, color me intrigued.
Naomi Novik crafts a delectable magical tale, rich with complex characters, captivating world-building, and a plot pulls the reader in. From her palette of Russian and Jewish folklore she paints a picture of three very different young women who are undervalued, yet determined to take fate into their own hands.
Miryem turns her heart cold, cold enough to face the villagers who tried to cheat her father. She makes them pay every bit of what they owe. Her transformation is not only believable but, it’s oh so satisfying as the villagers receive their comeuppance.
SHE HAS AN AXE TO GRIND….
When one debtor can’t pay, Miryem demand’s his daughter, Wanda, work off his debt. Little does she know that Wanda is more than happy to work off the debt. Her father is a cruel, abusive man, treating his daughter as if she were no more than cattle to trade at will. Wanda learns valuable skills from Miryem. These skills will help improve her lot in life and that of her brother’s.
Miryem’s attitude gains her no friends in the village, but it does gain her gold. Her warm-hearted parents are put off by Miryem’s newfound ruthlessness. This angers Miryem to no end…
“It was a bitter cold for spring, but I had my own fur cloak, and three petticoats underneath my dress, and there were three blankets tucked around us, snug and comfortable. But my mother’s face was full of misery. We didn’t speak.”
Miryem boasts to her mother that she can turn silver into gold. When the Staryk fey king catches wind of this, his interest is peeked. There is nothing the Staryk love more than gold.
THE STARYK KING MAKES HIS DEMANDS…
“Thrice you shall turn silver to gold for me, or be changed to ice yourself… And then, if you manage it, I will make you my queen.”
Seemingly, he asks her to complete an impossible task. Instead of crying her eyes out, wishing on a star, or singing to little woodland creatures, this fairytale tries out a novel idea — have the woman use her noggin to solve her own problems.
With cleverness and business acumen she indeed figures out how to turn Staryk silver into gold. For instance, she has the silver turned into a crown fit for a queen. This links her to our third main character, Irina, a plain-looking lord’s daughter who is forced to marry the tsar.
After the marriage, Irina discovers her husband is linked to a fire demon. Girl, we’ve all been there. But, Irina’s crown and unique heritage gives her the ability to escape danger.
Together, these three women are a force to be reckoned with and despite great odds, they carve a path for themselves. They refuse to accept no less than what they are worth. When the king asks for Miryem’s hand, she makes that fact abundantly clear.
“I wouldn’t hold myself that cheap, to marry a man who’d love me less than everything he had, even if what he had was a winter kingdom.”
Despite a few minor issues concerning slow pacing and multiple POV’s, Spinning Silver is gold. Gold, I tell you!
The problem with fairytales is they usually have the man solving the damsel’s problems for her. That’s not reality and it’s certainly not the how this story played out. The women were the damsel’s in distress, yet managed to also be the heroes, the princess charmings, in their own lives. A great message for young female readers who are facing their own seemingly insurmountable odds.
Spinning Silver is wicked good and has renewed my love of fantasy retellings. If you’ve read this title and want to share your thoughts, please leave a comment below.
Also, if you want a bit more young adult fiction in your life check out my post on the Top Ten Dystopian YA Novels.
Thanks for reading!