muse2323's review against another edition
3.75
A well-researched, considered & elaborate retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (Though I really do not find the cover appealing at all.)
koalathebear's review
2.0
I've always been a little ambivalent about how I feel about the Rumpelstiltsken. Stupid miller inexplicably brags to the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold, poor daughter's locked up with straw and is 'rescued' by a mysterious man who agrees to spin the straw into gold in exchange for payment - at first a ring, then a necklace. Finally, her first born child. As she doesn't even have a child at that point, she agrees. The king's ecstatic so marries the daughter although why she'd want to marry a man who locked her up in a room full of straw is beyond me. When she eventually has a child, the man returns to collect his payment and the daughter (understandably) tries to renege. There's a happy ending for the miller's daughter and a less happy ending for Rumpelstiltsken. Rumpelstiltsken is rather evil and exploitative in his bargaining but even as a wee koala, I guess I always felt a bit uncomfortable that miller's daughter broke her promise :p
Anyway, set in England at the start of the Industrial Revolution, "A Curse As Dark As Gold" is very loosely based on the originally Grimm fairy tale and I read it because there had been quite a number of fairly positive reviews about it. I thought it was an interesting read but didn't love it.
Bunce is a talented writer in the sense that she writes engaging dialogue, her descriptions of day to day life and the workings of the mill were very vivid and interesting.
She falls down a little though in terms of characterisation. One problem I had was that Charlotte is not a particularly likeable character. I think we're supposed to think that she's redoubtable but unfortunately she comes across as a little too stupid to live sometimes - there is no reason why she did not confide to Randall. Her sister Rosie is worse but I really can't imagine why they kept summoning the Rumpelstiltsken character. At least in the original story, he just materialises.
I think the explanation for the existence of the Rumpelstiltsken character and his motivations were interesting and inventive although they do deviate from the traditional tale. The mood of the novel is very sombre and bleak although I suppose that fits in well with the era in which the novel is set. Also, let's fact it - Rumpelstiltsken is not the cheeriest of tales! I always found it a little scary. When we were little, we had a cassette tape with the audiobook version of the story and the sound effects for the spinning wheel were kind of sinister :D
I think I would like to see Robin McKinley try her hand at a retelling of this tale.
Anyway, set in England at the start of the Industrial Revolution, "A Curse As Dark As Gold" is very loosely based on the originally Grimm fairy tale and I read it because there had been quite a number of fairly positive reviews about it. I thought it was an interesting read but didn't love it.
Bunce is a talented writer in the sense that she writes engaging dialogue, her descriptions of day to day life and the workings of the mill were very vivid and interesting.
She falls down a little though in terms of characterisation. One problem I had was that Charlotte is not a particularly likeable character. I think we're supposed to think that she's redoubtable but unfortunately she comes across as a little too stupid to live sometimes - there is no reason why she did not confide to Randall. Her sister Rosie is worse but I really can't imagine why they kept summoning the Rumpelstiltsken character. At least in the original story, he just materialises.
I think the explanation for the existence of the Rumpelstiltsken character and his motivations were interesting and inventive although they do deviate from the traditional tale. The mood of the novel is very sombre and bleak although I suppose that fits in well with the era in which the novel is set. Also, let's fact it - Rumpelstiltsken is not the cheeriest of tales! I always found it a little scary. When we were little, we had a cassette tape with the audiobook version of the story and the sound effects for the spinning wheel were kind of sinister :D
I think I would like to see Robin McKinley try her hand at a retelling of this tale.
nedge's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bak8382's review
5.0
I loved this book! I picked it up because I enjoy fairy tale retellings in general, and I had never read one about Rumpelstiltskin before. The author did a fantastic job of expanding the story and making the actions of the characters believable. All the characters were well developed and interesting. I especially liked all the strong female characters, and the time period of the late 1700s as the backdrop.
sugarbloom's review
5.0
This book was just the medicine I needed to recover from the disappointing YA I just finished. It has a gripping plot, characters I loved and cheered for, a subtle but immersive setting, and villains who are despicable but ultimately sympathetic.
Technically, this book was very clean, with language that is beautiful but not intrusive. My mother can attest that, during several plot points, I groaned or hissed or let out a whoop. I don't usually respond to books this way, but this one grabbed my heart.
This story was brimming with originality. Rumplestiltskin was due for a retelling. We've seen so many renditions of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White - why don't we start on some of the odder ones? The ones that may need a little inventive tweaking to make sense of them? The ones we can really branch out with? In regards to the characters, I loved the fact that Charlotte wasn't the I-kill-anything-and-do-it-in-high-heels strong heroine. She was independent but not disrespectful, strong-willed but not blindly stubborn. And her romance was, for once, an element I got behind whole-heartedly.
One thing that slightly disturbed me was the fact that the magic (and the setting) were based on our own world. While I don't usually mind that, the nudges toward voodoo dolls, hexes, and witches did make me uneasy. I won't say they were bad, or that I didn't like their inclusion in the story, just that I don't believe things like that should ever, ever be trifled with by people in our world.
Some have claimed that this book was too slow and could have used a trimming, but I didn't find it so - between the fascinating details of the wool-mill trade, the misfortunes and solutions around every corner, and the heartwarming character relationships, this book had me from page one.
Technically, this book was very clean, with language that is beautiful but not intrusive. My mother can attest that, during several plot points, I groaned or hissed or let out a whoop. I don't usually respond to books this way, but this one grabbed my heart.
This story was brimming with originality. Rumplestiltskin was due for a retelling. We've seen so many renditions of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White - why don't we start on some of the odder ones? The ones that may need a little inventive tweaking to make sense of them? The ones we can really branch out with? In regards to the characters, I loved the fact that Charlotte wasn't the I-kill-anything-and-do-it-in-high-heels strong heroine. She was independent but not disrespectful, strong-willed but not blindly stubborn. And her romance was, for once, an element I got behind whole-heartedly.
One thing that slightly disturbed me was the fact that the magic (and the setting) were based on our own world. While I don't usually mind that, the nudges toward voodoo dolls, hexes, and witches did make me uneasy. I won't say they were bad, or that I didn't like their inclusion in the story, just that I don't believe things like that should ever, ever be trifled with by people in our world.
Some have claimed that this book was too slow and could have used a trimming, but I didn't find it so - between the fascinating details of the wool-mill trade, the misfortunes and solutions around every corner, and the heartwarming character relationships, this book had me from page one.
kayu99's review
5.0
Very spooky, with Halloween vibes. The writing style is excellent, the heroine is compelling, and the story is interesting while remaining faithful to the fairy tale.
carstensena's review
4.0
A lovely read, like comfort food. I am very glad to have read this and looking forward to handing it to some students.
poachedeggs's review against another edition
3.0
Bunce is a talented writer, and this historical fantasy about a girl's management of her family's mill after the death of her father provides a fascinating wealth of details about weaving, wool, tailoring and businessmen.
At nearly 400 pages though, this YA novel moves too slowly. I also became quite annoyed with Charlotte in the later half, when she starts keeping everything to herself (with the exception of her sister Rosie, who has to be in on the secret). That kind of behaviour is inexplicable and alienating - not just to those who love and trust her, but to the reader as well! Her obsession with the mill is somewhat explained in the ending, but I found that irksome as well. Keeping things 'in the family' is taken to the extreme here.
I like how Bunce retells the Rumpelstiltskin story from the female's perspective, and how she even makes Rumpelstiltskin more sympathetic a character. If her book were more tightly edited, I think it would appeal to its target audience (teenagers!) more.
At nearly 400 pages though, this YA novel moves too slowly. I also became quite annoyed with Charlotte in the later half, when she starts keeping everything to herself (with the exception of her sister Rosie, who has to be in on the secret). That kind of behaviour is inexplicable and alienating - not just to those who love and trust her, but to the reader as well! Her obsession with the mill is somewhat explained in the ending, but I found that irksome as well. Keeping things 'in the family' is taken to the extreme here.
I like how Bunce retells the Rumpelstiltskin story from the female's perspective, and how she even makes Rumpelstiltskin more sympathetic a character. If her book were more tightly edited, I think it would appeal to its target audience (teenagers!) more.
jthoms's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0