A Curse Dark as Gold -- Elizabeth C. Bunce

I've been blabbering about this to everyone I see for the last two days.  For instance, patrons:

Patron:  Hello, dear*.  I'm bringing this book back, I just loved it.  It was about--
Me:  Oh, that's great.  I'm so glad you enjoyed it.  Want to see what I'M reading?
Patron:  Well, I--
Me (waving the book around, a bit crazed):  It's a retelling of Rumplestiltzken, and it's super fantastic.  Look at the cover!  It's so pretty!  Look!  Look! 
Patron (backing away slowly):  Well, it looks... wonderful.  You enjoy it, dear.  I'm going to look for another James Patterson book.

I should probably polish my reader's advisory skills a bit.

A Curse Dark as Gold is a retelling of Rumplestiltzken, though I found it much more attractive than I ever found the fairy tale.  It's about Charlotte Miller, the oldest daughter of the recently deceased owner of Stirwaters Woolen Mill.  If she and her sister are unable to keep the mill running, to turn a profit, than the mill -- which has been in the family for five generations -- will die.  If the mill dies, so will the town.

Enter their lilac-scented, powdered and bewigged long-lost uncle.  At first, the girls are hopeful that he will help -- but he quickly makes it clear that he believes the only thing to do is sell the mill and marry the girls off.

Enter the young banker, who informs the girls that the bank he represents wants the mortgage -- NOW.

Enter Jack Spinner, who can spin straw into gold, who can save the mill.  But at what price?

Charlotte is a stubborn and likable heroine (though I predict that some people will be frustrated with her refusal to ask others for help).  Curse has loads of atmosphere and the story feels familiar but, at the same time, new and different and surprising.  Elizabeth C. Bunce's spin on protective circles was simple and just (I can't believe I'm about to say this, but here goes) lovely, and her Author's Note provides not only suggestions for further exploration but also her issues with the original story.

It's FANTASTIC.  Highly, highly recommended to fans of Shannon Hale, especially to those who loved Book of a Thousand Days for its historical-fiction-with-a-dash-of-fantasy feel.  I was reminded a bit of The Perilous Gard for the same reason.  Also, obviously, give it to any and every fan of fairytale retellings.

LOVED IT.

*A lot of them call me dear.  It's odd.  The only possible explanation is that I must have an excellent game face at work.

Comments

[Brian F.]

If you had your choice, what would you have the patrons call you? Pookie? Lumpkins? Bubeleh?

Now be honest with me: how much of this book is thinly disguised romance novel? I only ask because of what I perceive to be the vaguely historical bodice-ripper cover (sadly sans shirtless hunk). Because you've made this sound very interesting (I've always been fascinated by the Rumpy story and its variations) and I don't want to pick it up and find heaving breasts or, Buddha help me, ferrets.

[Kelly Fineman]

I got a copy of the ARC in the mail on Monday. And I'm starting it today.

And the real book is even cooler, although the library patrons won't know it, because of the nifty gold letters on the book itself under what I think is a very pretty historical novel (not bodice-ripper) cover.

[Sarah Miller]

I loved it, too; it's already one of my favorites for the year. I think we should start an elite fan club -- the privileged few who read it first and got to feel smug until March. Muah-ha-ha-ha!

Brian F: Fear not -- CURSE is definitely no bodice-ripper.

[Leila]

I actually don't mind being called dear, as long as the patron isn't being, er, patronizing.

Never fear, Brian, it's totally not a romance novel. I swear. Really, you think it looks romance-novelly? I've got to join the nuh-uh side on that one.

Definitely read it -- I REALLY want to hear what you think!

[Elizabeth Bunce]

Thank you! I'm delighted you enjoyed it!

But... PERILOUS GARD? *Gasp!* I think that might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me.

~e

[Mairi]

I've always been rather attached to the Rumplestiltzken story, ever since I read that book of Vivian Vande Velde's- The Rumplestiltzken Problem. It was hilarious, but I wished the retellings had been more developed.

[Shayera]

You are a terrible tease. Now I have to go add something else to my already overflowing shopping list at Amazon.
And the patrons call me "dear" or "honey". Both of which make me kind of nuts.

[Erin]

This is one of my favorite fairy tale retellings. :)

[Aljay]

I loved the Perilous Gard. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this.

[tzveyah]

Leila- as a DAL, and GDAL (daughter/grandaughter of a librarian) I've spent most of my free time in libraries- often asked by kindly octagenerians and others what their next read should be. Recently a lady asked me and I replied she should try Wicked and she just gave me this look like, why are you telling me to a read a book on a zombie cult (something like that...) and wouldn't listen when I tried explaining it was a rework of Oz... too funny...

[Em]

I'm going to read this one for the 2k8 challenge that teenbookreview.wordpress.com is hosting. I love the cover! :)

[Sheila Ruth]

Oh, goody! I recently got a copy of this in the mail and found the cover very compelling. I'm glad to know that the book lives up to the cover. This sounds like one that I'm really going to like.