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hsecen's review
3.5
This was such an interesting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin! I always love retellings of fairy tales so that whole plot point definitely intrigued me. There was some awesome world building around the general story we know, with warring kingdoms and the incorporation of the fay. Nor is a decent enough main character - she's a bit of a liar but only to help her family survive after a brutal war. And after catching the suspicion of the prince, she's certainly tough enough to put him in his place a time or two. But I also thought she was a little bit naïve, which frustrated me in my reading. While I understand why one character in particular helped her out, her utter trust and insta-infatuation with him just made little sense in the time that they were on page together. On a similar vein, the pacing was off for me, with a lot of things happening within the first 40-50% of the book before things took a much slower turn. Additionally, there were a few minor plot holes that weren't addressed, but as someone who loves attention to detail, it definitely pulled me out of the story for a moment. I did enjoy the relationship between Nor and Casper. I appreciated the growing respect between them and that we were able to see the relationship blossom as the book progressed.
Overall, this was a good first book in a series. There is a bit of a cliff hanger ending and I enjoyed the book enough to want to read the next book and find out what happens to the characters.
Overall, this was a good first book in a series. There is a bit of a cliff hanger ending and I enjoyed the book enough to want to read the next book and find out what happens to the characters.
alyxbeau's review against another edition
4.0
I know I really loved this book years ago when I first read it, and while it is still enjoyable it is no longer a 5 star read for me. Simply a book I liked :) I listened to it in preparation for book 2 which I am finally getting around to.
I think that the characters make some stupid decisions, but I also think that based on their morals, their decisions make sense in the moment. I understand wanting to stay with Caspar in the palace, feeling loved, despite the lies. I understand the draw to a lie free life that Pel offered her but being wary. The boon fixing everything was the stupidest idea Nor had though. Very naieve. A promise is easily broken in the face of so much hurt.
I am excited to see what is going to happen to Caspar, I really like him. I don't necessarily like Nor for him because of the lies, but whether he has forgiveness in his heart for her knowing the truth may change my mind. I dont really want Nor to end up with Pel in place of Caspar anyway, so of the two, I'd prefer Caspar. There is no love from Nor towards Pel, like there is with Caspar, it's only curiosity.
I think that the characters make some stupid decisions, but I also think that based on their morals, their decisions make sense in the moment. I understand wanting to stay with Caspar in the palace, feeling loved, despite the lies. I understand the draw to a lie free life that Pel offered her but being wary.
I am excited to see what is going to happen to Caspar, I really like him. I don't necessarily like Nor for him because of the lies, but whether he has forgiveness in his heart for her knowing the truth may change my mind. I dont really want Nor to end up with Pel in place of Caspar anyway, so of the two, I'd prefer Caspar. There is no love from Nor towards Pel, like there is with Caspar, it's only curiosity.
tr_duchess's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
harleyrae's review
4.0
This was a fun take on Rumplestiltskin. I’m excited to see where the story goes next.
zhelana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was never sure whether or not I liked this book, the main character seemed a little stilted and I wasn't sure where it was going. Unfortunately the author also wasn't sure where she wanted the story to go and she ended the story without an ending. And I f'ing hate when authors do that. I want to know that they got back to their kingdom and she worked hard for forgiveness or at any rate what happened to the characters. Instead we end with Pel being given the command to go chase them down, and look, I see that there's a second book in this series, but the book just isn't good enough to bother reading a whole nother book about it. And besides, if Brandie June doesn't know how to write an ending for this book, what is it that makes me think she'll be capable of writing an ending for a second book? Plus the description of the second book sounds ridiculous. There are plenty of other books I'd rather read right now, so here we are with a "meh" on this one.
joeb94's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
It was a really good for a YA. I am not a big fan of rumpelstiltskin fairytail but I still enjoyed this. For once, the main character is not annoying in fact they make use of the fact she is a fraud and a street kid. In many situations, she uses her skills to her advantage and doesn't make alot of stupid decisions. The stupid decisions she makes are acceptable cause u wld expect them from a young girl.
The Prince is also a good character. While we dnt see him as often he is hot bt not toxic hot. It's nice to see gentle MCs once in a while.
The relationships were dome amazingly. Nor took her time to choose between Casper and Pel. She befriended them first then chose and honestly it made her choice very meaningful. Other than that everything else is predictable. It's obvious Nor is the heir to the fay throne and Pel was a traitor. But eventhough it's very enjoyable.
This book really restored my hope in YA
The Prince is also a good character. While we dnt see him as often he is hot bt not toxic hot. It's nice to see gentle MCs once in a while.
The relationships were dome amazingly. Nor took her time to choose between Casper and Pel. She befriended them first then chose and honestly it made her choice very meaningful. Other than that everything else is predictable. It's obvious Nor is the heir to the fay throne and Pel was a traitor. But eventhough it's very enjoyable.
This book really restored my hope in YA
meredithrlyons's review
4.0
I'm not an 'automatic A' on retellings, but I enjoyed this one and I'm glad to have it on my shelf! This is a fun variation on Rumpelstiltskin but in this version, the Miller's Daughter not only gets a name, she gets agency. And for good or bad, she drives much of the story. (Who doesn't enjoy a morally gray heroine occasionally?) That enough would have had me picking it up. Bonus content is that the 'imp' in the Grimm's tale is fae (fay is the spelling used in this 'verse) in this story, with some fun, well-defined magical rules, and oh, a little love triangle? Yes, please and thank you.
**Nothing too spicy, it's definitely appropriate for the YA genre!
**Nothing too spicy, it's definitely appropriate for the YA genre!
alongreader's review
4.0
As you can tell from the summary above, Gold Spun is a retelling of Rumplestiltskin, with Pel taking the fairy's part and Nor as our usually nameless miller's daughter. Here, she is the oldest remaining of a family of war orphans, her father conscripted and killed and her mother dead in a raid during the war. Receiving no help or support, Nor and her brothers have turned to cons and petty theft to keep themselves alive.
Although the war that killed her parents is over, the kingdom is being invaded by fairies, and there's a reward for turning them in. Nor comes across some hunters with a fairy, Pel, and manages to free him. In gratitude, he gives her a golden thread and a way to call him if she needs him. Which she promptly does, as her con with the thread falls apart and she's taken by the king. If she can provide more gold, he'll marry her. If not, she and her brothers will be killed or cast from the kingdom.
With Pel's help, she creates the gold thread and the king promises to marry her. As she gets to know him, she realises she's not as unhappy with this as she expected. But Pel is still lurking on the edges of her world, and the fairy war is following him. Nor will have to start choosing between her boys or bring the kingdom to destruction.
So. This is the start of an epic, really well thought out retelling of Rumplestiltskin...with a love triangle. And not just any love triangle; a love triangle between a peasant girl, a king and a powerful fairy. Love triangles almost always turn me off, and this one was no exception. I liked the relationship between Nor and Caspar; it was sweet and built up slowly, with each of them learning about the other. Whereas Nor and Pel just seemed to want to bone. Every time he was around Nor was drawn to his smoldering darkness and unearthly good looks and so on. Why couldn't we have it without the attraction? Nor's a good person, mostly; she could still have freed him from the hunters and he could still owe her a boon. That could be really interesting, actually; he doesn't like her, but he owes her a boon and his life...
Ahem. That's just my personal bugbear, though, don't mind me.
I really do love the way this is written. Caspar's family seem happy to allow girls to rule and don't have a problem with same sex marriages out of the direct line of descent, which is much more progressive than most countries in the real world today. The world building is great and we're introduced gradually enough to get a good feel for it. (I'd have liked a map, but I always want a map.) There's definitely something strange going on with the fairies; I'll have to wait for part two, but I have my suspicions about the start of the war.
I kind of hope this is a duology. Maybe there's something startling going to happen in the next book, but currently it doesn't feel to me like there's enough story for a trilogy. (Plus, I get to read the ending sooner if it's a duo!) I am very much looking forward to seeing what will happen next, though. This series has really interested me and I hope to read the next part.
Although the war that killed her parents is over, the kingdom is being invaded by fairies, and there's a reward for turning them in. Nor comes across some hunters with a fairy, Pel, and manages to free him. In gratitude, he gives her a golden thread and a way to call him if she needs him. Which she promptly does, as her con with the thread falls apart and she's taken by the king. If she can provide more gold, he'll marry her. If not, she and her brothers will be killed or cast from the kingdom.
With Pel's help, she creates the gold thread and the king promises to marry her. As she gets to know him, she realises she's not as unhappy with this as she expected. But Pel is still lurking on the edges of her world, and the fairy war is following him. Nor will have to start choosing between her boys or bring the kingdom to destruction.
So. This is the start of an epic, really well thought out retelling of Rumplestiltskin...with a love triangle. And not just any love triangle; a love triangle between a peasant girl, a king and a powerful fairy. Love triangles almost always turn me off, and this one was no exception. I liked the relationship between Nor and Caspar; it was sweet and built up slowly, with each of them learning about the other. Whereas Nor and Pel just seemed to want to bone. Every time he was around Nor was drawn to his smoldering darkness and unearthly good looks and so on. Why couldn't we have it without the attraction? Nor's a good person, mostly; she could still have freed him from the hunters and he could still owe her a boon. That could be really interesting, actually; he doesn't like her, but he owes her a boon and his life...
Ahem. That's just my personal bugbear, though, don't mind me.
I really do love the way this is written. Caspar's family seem happy to allow girls to rule and don't have a problem with same sex marriages out of the direct line of descent, which is much more progressive than most countries in the real world today. The world building is great and we're introduced gradually enough to get a good feel for it. (I'd have liked a map, but I always want a map.) There's definitely something strange going on with the fairies; I'll have to wait for part two, but I have my suspicions about the start of the war.
I kind of hope this is a duology. Maybe there's something startling going to happen in the next book, but currently it doesn't feel to me like there's enough story for a trilogy. (Plus, I get to read the ending sooner if it's a duo!) I am very much looking forward to seeing what will happen next, though. This series has really interested me and I hope to read the next part.
whatjennahreads's review
5.0
I was so excited to read a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. I've never even seen one before but I was so excited to read it.
This book did NOT disappoint. There was romance and betrayal. Funny parts and sad parts. It made me feel all of the feels.
Nor made some really bad decisions but I could understand her reasoning. Pel was definitely more likable than Casper but are how quickly things can change. The guys were so different and yet similar in many ways - like the ways they used and treated Nor.
I really enjoyed the love triangle dynamic of Nor, Pel and Casper. Although I hate that this book didn't have a HEA and was left on a cliffhanger.
Would definitely recommend this book to others and cannot wait for it to come out physically.
Thank you Edelweiss and publisher for the opportunity to read this booked and review it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book did NOT disappoint. There was romance and betrayal. Funny parts and sad parts. It made me feel all of the feels.
Nor made some really bad decisions but I could understand her reasoning. Pel was definitely more likable than Casper but are how quickly things can change. The guys were so different and yet similar in many ways - like the ways they used and treated Nor.
I really enjoyed the love triangle dynamic of Nor, Pel and Casper. Although I hate that this book didn't have a HEA and was left on a cliffhanger.
Would definitely recommend this book to others and cannot wait for it to come out physically.
Thank you Edelweiss and publisher for the opportunity to read this booked and review it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
heyitstaytay's review against another edition
3.0
I'd give this book 3.5 stars. Gold Spun is a fun, yet predictable, retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. The pace was relatively fast and it was one of those books that kept you wanting to read (or in my case listen) more, however, I found myself getting a little bored in the middle. Nor was such a well written character, she was more developed and relatable than any of the other characters as she struggled morally with her decisions to deceive people in order to do what is best for her and her family. The love triangle aspect of the description intrigued me, however, I was a bit disappointed in the execution. Why was Nor into these guys? There didn't seem to be any complexity behind her feelings and it just felt a little lackluster to me which did nothing in convincing me of anybody's love. I also struggled a bit with the motivations of the queen and why the war even existed. It felt like these two groups were fighting for the sake of fighting. The book ended on a cliffhanger and I would like to pick it up just to find out what happens!