Curse Dark as Gold

This one was recommended to me by the beauteous Misty at The Book Rat, during her Fairytale Fortnight last year. And as usual, her recommendation was spot-on.

This retelling of the Rumplestiltskin fairytale is set in the early days of the Industrial Revolution (late 1700s) and takes place entirely around the wool textile industry of rural England. Which, to be frank, I know nothing about. But the author does such a wonderful job of providing enough vivid details to support the story (without breaking pace or distracting from the plot) that I didn't feel lost at all.

As stories go, despite knowing the source material, this one surprised me a few times. There's a very sweet love story, a very relatable coming-of-age tale, some messages about family, loyalty, and place (place being its own character here), and a fantastical story of curse breaking and folklore.

I think the point the book is trying to make is that it's not so much the "curse" that plagues the protagonist's life as much as her own decisions that end up alienating people who love her and contrarily, her being too kind to people who mean her ill. While a laudable lesson no doubt, it makes for a somewhat frustrating read. But still, not a bad heroine - gutsy, competent and compassionate. I think I liked her sister Rose better, though.

This is the winner of the ALA's William C. Morris YA Debut Award. This is a take on the classic Rumpelstiltskin where in order to get out of some trouble straw must be spun out of gold.
Charlotte Miller, our main character, has always scoffed at talk of a curse on her family's woolen mill, which holds her little town together. But after her father's death, the bad luck piles up: workers leave, debts pile up, and there is an overbearing uncle. Then a stranger named Jack Spinner offers a tempting proposition: He can turn straw into gold thread, for the small price of her mother's ring. As Charlotte is drawn deeper into her bargains with Spinner-and a romance with the local banker-she must unravel the truth of the curse on the mill and save the community she calls home.

I picked up this book because of the fact that it was a retelling of the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin. I happen to love stories like this and was super excited to find this one! The beginning was a bit slow and I found it hard to get into. Once I did, I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this story took. Over all, I believe that this was a good book. However, I would most likely not read it again because of the fact that the book was a bit hard to understand and grab onto in the beginning but a very good read for those who love books that retell classic tales!

loved this book it was a little long and the characters made me mad at some points but it was still good read

Another of those books based in folklore, this novelistic retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story is a rich blend of historical fiction and fantasy. It is in the teen section of the library, but many adults would enjoy it too.

this book was kind-of slow and boring at some bits. It did pick up a little at the end. It was ok all in all.. but i wouldn't read it again.

This is a really grest book. The beginning is a bit slow, but it definantly picks up. It has a bit of a fantasy element, but is also very historical. There is a bit of sensuality, as the main character gets married and has a child, but it doesn't really say or do anything. Very good read.

This book was a bit boring at the beginning, but once I got far enough into it it was good. Overall a good book!!

it was good but kind of boring,