A Curse Dark as Gold

This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin immediately reeled me in. The details of the mill operation brought the story to life, even though I didn’t know all the milling terms used. Looking back on it now, I think a diagram or two of the milling machines could have helped me keep the terms straight as I read. Hopefully in future editions, they will devote a page or two at the front to something like that.

A lot of fairy tale retellings can be unimaginative, but this retelling is fresh and original. That’s saying a lot for a story whose bones have been around for ages.

I also loved the strong female character who doesn’t go running to the men in her life to solve all her problems. And she’s a small businesswoman, to boot!

This is an show more excellent first novel from Bunce, and more than deserving of this year’s Morris YA Debut Award. show less

One has the impression that Bunce is more interested in the Industrial Revolution than her fairy-tale inspiration - which suits me just fine; that's a pet subject of mine as well - but when neither the main character (the indomitable Charlotte) nor the author seems to quite get what's going on, those 400 pages can drag a bit.

Hmm, but I really liked this book. The plot is tangly and intricate, most of the characters are rational (if a bit overly-helpful), and the moral lessons, which could easily be heavy-handed, are both integral to the story & to the characters' development.

Still, it is not a Young Adult novel. Ignore the cover image; ignore the idiotic fairy-tales-are-for-children meme. Charlotte is 'young' at the onset, but she's show more old enough to marry and bear children - she is not a child. Quite apart from her apparent age, though, are her ways of thinking. She doesn't think like a Young Adult (meaning teenager); Charlotte has the mental habits of an adult.
& it makes for a better book. Who wants another thoughtless, irrational heroine who doesn't have the sense to come in out of the rain? show less

When Charlotte Miller’s father dies, she inherits both the crumbling Stirwaters mill and all the troubles that go along with it. She and her feisty sister Rosie struggle to make ends meet as one catastrophe after another befalls the mill. Practical Charlotte thinks that the problems are sheer coincidence and bad luck, but rumors around town whisper of a curse on Stirwaters and the Miller family. After a particularly harsh blow falls, Charlotte is in danger of losing Stirwaters, and she’ll do anything to stop that from happening – even if it means making a bargain with a mysterious stranger who offers to spin straw into gold. But what will happen when the stranger’s price is something Charlotte cannot pay?

This imaginative show more retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is well written and beautifully plotted: each seemingly random detail unfolds at exactly the right moment to provide the ingenious resolution of the curse. The story can be a bit dark and dreary, but that fits the nature of the tale and creates a compelling atmosphere. I especially liked the revelation of the story behind the curse, which was emotionally concentrated and very intense; it made me pity even the villains. I also liked the romantic aspect of the novel, which was rather unique in that it continued to develop after the marriage. I honestly can’t think of any criticisms; if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, I would definitely recommend this novel. show less

I have had this to read for awhile. I always love fairy tale retellings and this was a very well done retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. The story moves a bit slow at points, but it is beautifully written and full of excellent imagery. I ended up enjoying it. The story pulls you forward with a tense foreboding as things end up poised on the brink of disaster.

This story follows two sisters who end up taking over a cloth mill after their father’s death. The mill seems to be cursed, as one tragedy after another befalls it. The older sister Charlotte finds herself struggling to keep the mill open so that the town built around it can continue to thrive. Just as she is at her wit’s end, a strange man appears and offers what seems to be too show more easy of a way out of her problems.

I loved learning about cloth milling and enjoyed the small town that Charlotte lives in. This is one of those stories where the heroine has the best intentions but ends up getting herself in worse and worse situations as she struggles to do right for those around her.

I enjoyed how this story was blended in with the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin. It is well done and subtle.

The writing style is beautiful and flows wonderfully. There is a lot of description in here and the scenes really come alive. At times this makes the story move slowly. However this slower pace fits well with the pace of small town life and with the gradually build to disaster that overhangs this story.

Overall this is a very well done retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and I would recommend to those who enjoy fairy tale retellings. Although the story is a bit slow at times, it is beautifully written. I also enjoyed learning some about how cloth milling used to be done. show less

A Rumpelstiltskin retelling with a strong, independent female protagonist, small-town superstitions, an eccentric uncle, and maybe even a ghost!

When Charlotte’s father dies, he leaves no sons to take over the wool mill at the heart of their town, but Charlotte and her sister are determined to keep it running on their own. The town is depending on them. But bad fortune plagues them at every turn, so that even level-headed Charlotte starts to think there might be some truth in the rumours about the Miller family curse. When a strange man calling himself Jack Spinner appears and offers to help them get out of debt in exchange for only her mother’s inexpensive ring, she thinks it might be too good to be true — but she’s out of show more options.

Soon enough the truth will come to light and Charlotte will have to find a way to right the wrongs of the past … and there is far more than the Mill at stake.

Rumpelstiltskin stories have so much potential for creativity, and this one certainly delivered! It’s rather slow-paced, but once it gets to the interesting parts it’s very interesting and everything pays off really well! show less

Well, it is dark, more so than I expected. And the heroine is an authentic teenager (illogical, idealistic, impulsive, innocent, and arrogant) so I (mother of a teen) found most of her behaviors and choices aggravating. The expansion of the idea of the fairy story works well, is plausible. The story & characters & setting are interesting. But somehow I, personally, just didn't feel fully engaged & charmed, and cannot bring myself to give it 4 stars. So, 3.5.

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Charlotte Miller's father has died, leaving her and her sister, Rose, the sole heirs of their family business, the Stirwaters Woolen Mill. Charlotte keeps herself busy taking care of her sister and the Mill - for the whole town relies on the Mill. She manages to keep things in order - for a while. But when something terrible happens, Charlotte must either sell the mill or...sell the mill. But that's when the stranger shows up. Jack Spinner, he calls himself, and he has an incredible talent, one that will put Charlotte, Rose, and the rest of Stirwaters back into business. Jack Spinner spins gold from straw in one night, takes an item precious to Charlotte, and then disappears. But as time progresses, show more Charlotte's life changes - and she falls in love. And nwe misfortunes fall on the Mill. Jack Spinner keeps coming back to help, but its only a matter of time before he takes something truly important to Charlotte. Something irreplacable. And Charlotte may be the only person with guts enough to figure out why.

My thoughts -
For the majority of the book, all I could think was "Five star! Five star! Five star!" It was seriously such an epicly strange and original tale...I was so hooked. I loved everything about the story, the characters, their hurts and struggles and joys, the conflicts that arose, the beauty of the world Elizabeth Bunce had created.

You may be thinking, "Did it turn bad in the end? Boring? Stupid?" I'm happy to report, "No, it didn't." I did love every moment of the book. However, I was a little disappointed (and more creeped out than I was expecting) with the end. Because the whole book has a leisurely pace, like hot summertime, the end seemed rushed. There are a couple of different ways that it could have been slowed down to match pace with the rest of the book.

This is my only issue. I loved everything else. And, I must say, even the last five or so chapters, with their quick tying up of loose ends, was enjoyable. I just wish she would have kept the pace.

A note on the writing: WHOOHOO!!! Elizabeth C. Bunce - you had me under a spell with your lyrical style and beautiful word choices. The way the author conjures pictures to the readers mind should be a world-wide example to all writers. Within the first 15 pages I knew everything I needed to know about all of the introduced characters, their pasts, the world they lived in, and the direction the story was going. The first paragraph is one of my favorite paragraphs...ever. It is one incredible example of what kind of information should be in a paragraph, plus how you can grip your readers from sentence #1.

Character notes -
The characters were so amazing, down to those who I absolutely hated. Charlotte was immediately defined, as was Rose, and Randall (who has been added to my "favorite male leads" list), Uncle Wheeler, Jack Spinner, all the townspeople, all the contracters. This is a story of friendship, caring for one another, and love. But it is also a story about cheating thieves, backstabbers, and selfish men. Those two groups put together makes for a ridiculously good story with characters I will never forget.

I think what really stood out to me about this book was the tension between characters. It was riveting. Completely engrossing. When Charlotte and Randall began fighting, especially, I was on my seat with anticipation, wondering how it would turn out. A lot of the time I was like, "Ugh, Charlotte, another mistake?" But isn't that how we learn? We make mistakes. Charlotte makes mistakes, Randall makes mistakes. They all had their faults to deal with, things to apologize for, and they all learned something valuable in the end. The healing of broken relationships and hearts is really a wonderful way to end a story. These things, these invaluable, human things, made me love the characters even more.

Story notes -
Like I said above, the story was absolutely amazing until the end. Then it was just good. I didn't love the quickness of it, because the book set me in a nostalgic mood, and then quickly jerked me awake when it totally could have kept going slowly. I'm not complaining though - despite the fastness of the climax, I loved the turnout. The layers tacked on to this story, one at a time, in perfect order, make it hard not to fall in love with.

The story holds superstition, possible ghosts, a creepy guy who spins straw into gold (and then takes what you love most: a gold watch your father gave you, a pair of pearl earrings from your grandmother...your child), lots of accidents (were they really accidents?), and a full cast of characters that will keep you rooting for them until the end.

One word/phrase to sum it up (final thoughts) -
Strange and deliciously beautiful. 'Nuff said.

Do you want to read it yet? I think you should. Will I read it a second time? Yes, most likely. And I'll probably end up buying it, just because 90% of it's one of the loveliest reads I have ever laid my hands on. Recommended to everyone who likes a great, strange, dark, and slightly creepy fairy tale retelling that holds a whole lot of goodness.

For the parents -
There's absolutely nothing to complain about. Charlotte and Randall are married, and they share a bed, but no details are written. She mentions that while they are on their honeymoon, they missed breakfast their first morning together. I can't remember the exact terms she used but it was along those lines...and you know anyway what's going on because they just got married. There are also lots of spooky happenings in this story, especially toward the end. I'd recommend to ages 14 and up. show less