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| Spinning Silver Cover (c) Naomi Novik, Del Rey Publishing |
I just finished Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. I have to say, it was worth the wait! A tale based on Rumpelstiltskin, Spinning Silver has many voices that share their perspective of the events that unfold. We have Miryem, daughter of a moneylender, who is a strong and determined young woman. When her father cannot bring himself to collect on the funds he lends out, Miryem takes it upon herself to do the job. You could say she turns silver into gold! There is also Wanda, daughter of an abusive man who does not take care of his children, and her brothers Sergey and Stepon. Although minor characters at first, they end up helping Miryem and her family in unexpected ways. Another strong female lead is Irina, daughter of a duke, who is to be bargained with as a tool, by marriage, for a stronger connection with the tsar. You will also meet the leading men of the story, one of whom is an ice king, a winter being called a Stayrk, who thrives in cold weather and looks to bring an eternal winter, as well as a fire demon, who uses dark power and bargains to feed upon those around him.
I had read Uprooted before, also by Naomi Novik, and highly enjoyed the twists and turns on fairy tales. Spinning Silver is done in a similar vein. You will see a little bit of familiar tales woven into the main story line, one based on Rumpelstiltskin. The women in this story made me laugh, made me worried, made me want to go out and do something, because even though they were not dealt the best hands, they made the best of it and overcame what came their respective ways. A long book, but a book worth the journey. Perfect for those cooler days where you can bundle up with a book and a hot cup of coffee or tea and read away!
Are you guys excited for any book being released this fall? Let me know in the comments!
