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    A Curse Dark As Gold
    A Curse Dark As Gold
    A Curse Dark As Gold
    Audiobook12 hours

    A Curse Dark As Gold

    Written by Elizabeth C. Bunce

    Narrated by Charlotte Parry

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Gold thread promises Charlotte Miller a chance to save her family's beloved woolen mill. It promises a future for her sister, jobs for her townsfolk, security against her grasping uncle — maybe even true love.

    To get the thread, however, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner. But the gleam of gold conjures a shadowy past — secrets ensnaring generations of Millers. And Charlotte's mill, her family, her love — what do those matter to a stranger who can spin straw into gold?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherScholastic
    Release dateNov 1, 2010
    ISBN9780545285384
    A Curse Dark As Gold

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    Reviews for A Curse Dark As Gold

    4/5

    373 ratings39 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I bought a copy of this at a recent library booksale, despite not having entirely positive memories of it. It had been a long time since I read it, and I loved StarCrossed. I liked this one much more than I had remembered, but Digger will always be my favorite. (Liar’s Moon! November!) [Sept. 2011]
    • 4/5
      Elizabeth C. Bunce's A Curse Dark as Gold is enchanting before the first word is even read. On the cover, a girl's hands are clasped in prayer and wrapped in gold thread--an ominous piece of beauty for those familiar with the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. Upon opening the cover, brilliant blue end papers greet the reader, and within the second chapter it is told that blue is a color of protection to ward off the Folk. And so this tale held in readers' hands is wrapped in good magic, and shouldn't fear the words be stolen by demons.Bunce introduces her audience to Charlotte Miller, the eldest daughter of the now deceased Mr. Miller, who must take over the mill her father left behind. The differences between Bunce's telling and older versions of Rumpelstiltskin are striking. A deceased father means no one to boast falsely about his daughter's ability to spin straw into gold, and no king to put her under duress if she does not produce the goods. So the theme of one lie affecting the heroine is put aside, but in its place remain secrets, tragedies, and false identities. Indeed, this is a text rich in personal and worldly history.Curse is set at the dawn of the industrial revolution in a small town where steam power is not yet in favor--a setting that allows Bunce to develop issues of class, child labor, and a rustic way of life that may not be as cozy as readers would like to picture. Historical purists may want to read the Author's Note, in which Bunce admits the historical liberties she takes, before delving into the text.Once in the text, Charlotte's voice is one authors and readers crave. Charlotte is practical with little patience for belief in the curse the town says is on her family. Charlotte's narration is much like readers will come to picture her fabrics--tightly woven, each layer made with great care (and bits of funny town gossip offered in tidy parentheses). She is a heroine who uses her mind to protect her town, her business, her family. Charlotte's unwavering nerve will have readers feeling relief and dismay along with the young woman who must right wrongs of those who came before her without losing everything dear to her in the process. In the course of A Curse Dark as Gold, many stories are told by many voices that have long held their silence through consent or force. Characters the reader thinks vile may turn sympathetic, but Bunce does not use her authorial hand to guide what conclusions the reader should come to. In the end, Bunce's revision of the tale still explores power in its corrupt and liberating forms that leads to an end both chilling and rewarding. Then the blue end papers return, wrapping the words in friendly protection once more until readers return for another go at the spinning of a dark legend.
    • 4/5
      This was a take on the "Rumpelstiltskin" fairy tale. The owner of a cursed water mill has died, leaving two young daughters who take up the trade and continue to run the business. Their dead mother's brother shows up as a guardian, and the girls fight for the right to stay and run the mill. Misfortune and bad luck continue to keep the girls from getting ahead. Details of the water mills and milling work are incorporated into the story line. The characters are wonderfully written and for the most part, very likeable. The ending is a bit different from the original story, but the story was a delightful treat on a Sunday afternoon.
    • 4/5
      Adult/Teen fiction. This one is part fantasy, part fairy tale, and part ghost story. Bunce's retelling of the Rumplestiltskin story places Charlotte Miller at the mercy of the ghost with magical talents. In order to save everything and everyone she holds dear, she must figure out who he is, and how to end the centuries-old curse that he had placed upon her family. A very suspenseful tale with a satisfying ending.
    • 2/5
      "A Curse as Dark as Gold" is good-a worthwhile read, for sure-but it's not mindblowingly spectacular. It deviated from the original story in a way that made it clear that it was still a Rumpelstiltskin story, but still made enough changes to feel fresh.
    • 4/5
      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 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.
    • 3/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      4 stars usually mean this is something i will want to read again and again. not the case here. part of me wishes i had never started reading it to begin with. despite a happily resolved ending filled with hope and a bright future, with the skeletons of the past peacefully buried, the story is riddled with sinister and violent happenings. the creepy tone that seeps forth from the pages was too all-consuming.

      elizabeth bunce did an amazing job with the story telling and i agree with her that this is a much better rendition of rumpelstiltskin. but the stories i read latch themselves firmly on to my being, and it is my nature to prefer novels with more light than darkness, more humor than despair and more hope than fear. to anyone who does not share my easily affected constitution, i would recommend this book.

      i disagree with ms bunce as well as many other reviewers regarding the names. i know that in history a lot of people did get their last names from their professions, and this certainly helped me to remember who they were quicker, but i didnt feel that these direct names gave them strength or made them more solid. quite the contrary, i felt that it made them seem more indistinct, like vapor; most of these names, i will not remember or think of again.

      charlotte, rosie, and randall are all characters worth knowing and growing attached to. and the messages of honesty, family, forgiveness and justice are all themes we could do with more of in our lives.
    • 4/5
      A Curse As Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce is an adaptation of the fairy tale, Rumplestiltskin. The author has taken this folktale and made it her own in this very creative story. As two young woman take over the family business upon their father’s death they find that the business is tottering on the brink of ruin. Rumours of a family curse have been whispered about down through the ages and it appears that this curse is finally going to bring about the ruin of the Miller family. Charlotte and Rosie discover that their father owed the bank a huge amount of money and payment is now being demanded. They conjure up a “Rumplestiltskin” creature and he helps them pay their loans, repair their cloth when they are vandalized and finally make it possible for them to keep the mill. At first he demands simple payments, but finally he demands Charlottes’ first-born child. In order to save her infant son, Charlotte must finally break the curse on Stillwater Mill.Based on the woollen industries of Britain and America during the late 1700’s, the author includes a lot of historical research and detail in her story which gives it depth and authenticity, this mixed with the magical portions have produced a very readable story. The author builds the tension slowly. What at first appears to be country superstition soon develops into a full blown evil curse. Her characters are well defined, from the girls slimy uncle to Charlottes almost too-good-to-be-true husband. I found Charlotte to be a little abrasive and too prone to doing things herself. I would have liked for her sister Rosie to have had a larger role.I enjoyed this book but wonder whether I will remember much about it as time goes by. However, during the reading, A Curse As Dark As Gold struck all the right notes and took one of the darker fairytales and produced a complex story full of light, love and magic.
    • 3/5
      This felt like a slow start, but it could have been me. I really enjoyed it once I got into it a bit. Nice new take on the Rumpelstiltskin story. You may also like "Straw into Gold" for another completely different approach.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars. Overall a decent read with good writing and style, but it dragged a little in the middle and some scenes just felt like so much padding to a story that could have been told in 300 pages instead of 400. I also grew more distant towards the main character instead of growing closer - her decisions were sometimes hard to understand, which wasn't just a matter of different ways of thinking - to me her decisions seemed inconsistent even for *her*, not like logical results of Charlotte's characterization, but means to keep the story on its track, for example when she once more refuses to accept outside help (money) from a certain person, then turns around and pawns off that same person's gift to her without batting an eyelid. This didn't make sense to me at all.

      There was also a bit of handwaving going on as she tended to dwell on smaller matters, then briefly think about the more important clues, and then go "ah, but I didn't think more about it then" because she was tired/done thinking/there was a crash outside etc. As a result, she and everyone else in the book managed to ignore the elephant (or one of the elephants) in the room for much longer than neccessary, so it was a little hard to stay patient - there was a lot of buildup and hint-dropping, and then nothing came of it for pages and pages, and I had the feeling it was because the author needed to set up other elements and let some time pass so that everything was in place for the resolution. It just felt inconsistent that matters were so pressing all the time, but at the same time the characters tended to fall into a complacent lull every now and again. Is it the pacing? Was it off? Maybe, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It certainly was a mixed reading experience.

      Towards the end things picked up again and everything came to a satisfying conclusion, but there were some elements involved in the ending that smacked a little of deus-exiness and at the same time teetered dangerously close to cheesiness and sometimes even dipped a toe in the well of sap (the whole thing with the dog; the greek chorus of the mill hands, among others), so I wasn't completely content after finishing. And that's why I rounded down! Anyway, it was an ok read, but I won't put the book at the top of my list of recommendations.
    • 4/5
      Rating: 3.5 of 5Until A Curse Dark as Gold my idea of Rumpelstiltskin was based almost entirely on movie/TV versions of the story. So I rather enjoyed reading this spin on old Rumpel.Bunce created an imaginary world at once familiar and believable, and filled that world with interesting characters for whom I immediately wanted the best. Charlotte and Rosie Miller were strong-willed, resilient women, who didn't have to be ruthless or overtly masculine to hold their own. However, I didn't enjoy that Charlotte made really stupid decisions, like not accepting help from people who could help her. Or the fact that she doubted her own instincts when it came to Wheeler and Spinner. I dunno, a little inconsistent in her character, maybe.Overall, most anyone who loves fairy tale retellings, who also don't mind a slow-ish middle (about 150 pages worth), will enjoy this book.
    • 5/5
      Wow. This fairy tale retelling was engaging! Be aware, it is a bit like normal fantasy novels, so it goes a bit too much into details and does get slow in spots, so first-time fantasy readers may not enjoy the slow pace, but don't worry, when it picks up you will not be able to put it down! This is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, but just barely. Most of it is very realistic with apparently a ton of research going into wool milling and weaving. It is also a wonderful tale of a strong, bullheaded girl and her sister trying to rise above a family curse and take care of an entire village.
    • 4/5
      When her father dies, Charlotte Miller knows that his responsibilities have fallen to her - for her younger sister Rosie, for the family mill, for the town of Stirwaters and for its inhabitants whose livelihoods depend on the mill. Charlotte's path won't be an easy one despite the support of the people surrounding her, for there are whispers: whispers of a curse that has haunted both the mill and the Miller family throughout the ages. Set at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and filled with details of the woolen industry, A Curse Dark as Gold may appeal to fans of historical fiction as well as those who love fantasies with detailed, engrossing worlds. While the first two-thirds of the novel is leisurely paced, Bunce sets an eerie, forbidding mood that hangs over the whole and the frantic final third races to the resolution as Charlotte struggles to protect all those she loves. In this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin, Bunce reveals the answer to the terrible question: "How could a mother bargain away her child?"
    • 3/5
      Well there was enough good stuff in here that I will keep an eye out for more by the same author. This author has a gift for description, she often conjured an image of a place or person without bogging down in so much detail that it pulled you out of the action. The characters were interesting and their situations were productive of drama.

      But unfortunately the book as a whole was a little uneven. Sometimes the story would move along quickly and then it would suddenly slow to almost a halt for part of a chapter, then pick back up again. Almost as if two different people were writing - with completely different senses of pacing. Then, characters would be inconsistent. Really slow on the uptake one week and then just a little while later they'd be figuring things out like they were Sherlock Holmes. Or one character would be afraid of another, or angry with another, and then a few pages later they would show no sign of the previous emotion.

      It wasn't awful, just little problems, but they were impediments that held the book back from being as good as it could have been. There were times I felt like it was turning into something really great, but then it just wouldn't quite get there. Maybe the next one will.
    • 2/5
      When her father dies, it is up to Charlotte Miller to carry the dying Miller tradition of running the Stirwaters Mill, which many believe is cursed. Things repaired one day fall apart again the next, and mysterious accidents befall workers. Practically minded Charlotte refuses to court such superstitious notions, but with the arrival of a pushy uncle and the incidents that thwart her attempts to ward off those who pressure her for money owed, she is forced to become involved in things beyond her understanding. As Charlotte delves deeper in order to unravel the mystery of the curse on Stirwaters, little does she realize how much is at stake.I always look forward to fairy tale retellings, and with this one winning the Morris Award for Best Debut YA, I eagerly picked up A CURSE DARK AS GOLD after two years of having this in my TBR pile. Unfortunately, it was pretty much an all-around disappointment, and in rather unexpected ways: for some reason, the way the story was written, and the way it unfolded, really frustrated and repelled me.A CURSE DARK AS GOLD theoretically had all the elements I like in a story: a unique spin on a fairy tale, a strong female protagonist, and a compelling plot with only the subtly appreciated undertones of romance. However, I wasn’t far into the book before the way the story was playing out began to irk me. Charlotte’s vehement insistence that there was no such thing as a curse soon characterized her as blindly stubborn to me: I like my fair share of headstrong and independent females, but not when they are stubborn in a maddeningly close-minded way. Hints about the malignance of the curse were dropped in the book from here to kingdom come, but it was not until the last fifth of the book that things began to be explained, and I can’t help but think that all stories that are carried forward by the “mysterious and pervasive influence” of a “shocking secret” are kind of gimmicky. The absolute lack of forward progression in the plot regarding the understanding of Stirwaters, the Miller history, and the curse made me so frustrated that I was tempted to put the book down forever and not bother to find out how it ended.As Charlotte insisted on pulling away from her loved ones in a misguided effort to protect everyone and shoulder the burden herself, I just couldn’t bring myself to empathize with her decisions. There’s a difference between being admirably independent and dumbly mule-headed, and I’m afraid that Charlotte fell on the wrong side of that line.All in all, A CURSE DARK AS GOLD was actually too light on the Rumpelstiltskin retellings, rendering itself more just a supposedly spooky and tense story of desperation and redemption that turned out not to be my thing, mainly because of my dislike of the main character for her mule-headedness and the way the plot unfolded. These criticisms I have, of course, are far more subjective than my usual ones, and so if you think that these two points won’t bother you as much as they did me, then I encourage you to give this award-winning book a try. Many important people obviously thought it was a great work, so there is the likelihood that I am in the minority on this one.
    • 4/5
      Rumpelstiltskin was always one of the creepier fairy tales. Growing up, who didn’t cower when they heard his requests? With A Curse Dark as Gold, I love the fact that Elizabeth C. Bunce chose to retell the tale in her own unique way. Even better, the book takes place during the Industrial Revolution. Fans of fairy tales with historical twists such as Shannon Hale’s Book of a Thousand Days will eat this novel up. I also love that Bunce’s rendering has a life of its own; "Rumpelstiltskin" himself does not exist in the same form. As Bunce says in her Author’s Note, she was inspired by “Name of the Helper” tales, not just the famous German version we all grew up with. Even more interesting, “naming” doesn’t really play a role in this novel.The book centers around Charlotte Miller after her father dies, leaving her and her younger sister, Rosie, to run the mill. The old place is falling apart and never allows itself to be properly fixed, leaving the workers to whisper about curses and otherworldly creatures. Charlotte believes their mutterings to be nothing more than superstition, convinced that everything has been one long string of bad luck that has kept the mill from running fluidly. The girls are soon joined by Uncle Wheeler, who seems benevolent on the surface, but is hiding his own secrets. At first, the girls are happy to have his help—until it becomes apparent that he’d rather sell the mill and marry them off. It’s up to Charlotte to take matters into her own hands and keep the mill running. Along the way, she’s met with more bad luck, but also happy coincidences. We watch her marry and have a baby. All isn’t as happy as it seems, however. Someone is trying to ruin the mill, and each time the sabotage is discovered, Charlotte must turn to the mysterious Jack Spinner for help. Eventually, Jack asks for something so priceless in exchange that Charlotte will do whatever it takes to find out the truth behind the mill’s run of bad luck.A Curse Dark as Gold is beautiful and lyrical, full of descriptions you want to highlight and hold close to your heart. The book is also grounded in reality; Charlotte doesn’t believe the superstitious stories everyone tells, and when she explains why each new scenario is bad luck, it’s easy to believe her logic. Bunce is such a deft reader, that readers are left wondering whether occurrences are supernatural or real just like all of the characters. The novel also consists of strong character development. Jack Spinner is properly creepy, and you’re always on your toes around Uncle Wheeler. You cheer for Charlotte when she finds happiness, but want to throttle her when she holds her secrets close to her chest, refusing to confide in anyone. Even more minor characters have roles to play, and the way Bunce resorts to using last names based on a person’s position the way it used to be helps keep everyone straight. The book starts off slow, but picks up in speed, especially at the end. Along the way, it’s a beautiful story full of historical context with just the right mix of fairy tale thrown in.
    • 4/5
      This novel set in the 1700's is based on the old Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale. “A Curse Dark As Gold” by Elizabeth C. Bunce was selected as one of the "2009 Kansas Notable Books" and one I very much enjoyed reading. Two teen-age sisters left alone after the death of their father and living on a shoestring must decide if they will try to keep the family woolen mill running despite its taxing work and overwhelming mortgage or sell it and cut their losses. Charlotte, the elder sister determined to keep the mill in the family, must deal not only with running the mill but worries about all the jobs that would be lost if the mill closed. Along with this she has to deal with the townsfolk and employees superstitious beliefs that the mill is cursed. Shortly after their father's death arrives their mother's uncle decked out in silk and lace come to the rescue and ready to take charge of the girl's situation. He moves into the home and quickly sets himself up as head of the house. However, Charlotte questions his motives and authority from the beginning. With money tight and the mortgage due a mysterious little man appears that claims to be able to spin straw into gold offering his services. The young ladies must decide if his talent is worth the asking price. Once I started this book it was really hard to put it down until the final word...then I wished the story had not ended.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book. The characters came to life. Definitely recommended. A novel twist on the folklore of Rumpelstiltskin.
    • 3/5
      Charlotte and Rosie Miller's father passed away and they are heir to the mill at Stirwaters. It is unheard of in the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. Try as they might to make a go of it, the Miller curse seems to be rearing its head. Things break. Unknown loans come due for payment. People set fire to the mill and its wares. The final straw is the appearance of the Miller's Uncle Wheeler, who apparently was asked by their father to take care of the girls if something should happen to him. Unfortunately, he is there to take advantage, not help the situation.It is a time of superstition and hexes, curses and fairies. Rosie, in a fit of desperation, tries a bit of magic and Rumplestiltskin, in the form of Jack Spinner appears and, overnight, turns straw into gold thread that Charlotte and sell and stave off the first of several foreclosure threats. But, of course, Jack Spinner wants something in return for his services and payment can be very steep.While I thought A Curse Dark as Gold started off well, it dragged on much too long for me. There wasn't enough action or magic to hold my interest and I put it down after reading 300 out of 400 pages, the last 100 or so included some skimming. While I thought Bunce's idea was interesting, because I like retelling fairytales, this dragged on a bit too long. Editing out 100 pages would have/could have made this book quite a bit better.On the plus side, the characters were good. I liked who I was supposed to like: the townspeople, Charlotte and Rosie, Biddy Tom (the town's nurse, spell caster, etc.), Randall (Charlotte's husband and the banker who called the first loan). I disliked who I was supposed to dislike, namely Uncle Wheeler. However, it wasn't enough to sustain the book.
    • 3/5
      This was a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I loved that the main characters, Charlotte and Rosie, were strong girls. They took over the mill after their father's death. There were some strong parts to this book that I loved, but there were other parts that were a little slow moving for my taste. Of course, you kind of knew what was going to come in the end, but I felt that the ending was really well done.Overall, I think this one would be perfect for anyone who loves reading retold fairytales, like I do. I am not sure if this one would have the appeal to mainstream young adults, but it was a great story.
    • 5/5
      Themes: fairy tale retelling, love, fate, luck, curses, magic, obligationSetting: little English townCharlotte is a Miller. She and her family have been at Stirwaters mill for generations. Now that her father is dead, it's up to her and her sister to take over the mill and keep it open, thus providing jobs for all the people of the village. But a mortgage for the mill turns up, and Charlotte has just months to make enough money to save the mill and her home.Then there's the curse. It's affected the mill since it was built. Equipment breaks down, the mill is falling apart, and one of the men is injured. Just when Charlotte is desperate, a strange man turns up. He claims his name is Jack Spinner. And he promises to spin straw into gold.Yes, this is Rumplestiltskin, but it's not. There's no king, exactly, and Charlotte is never thrown into the dungeon with a room full of straw. What there is instead is a story that actually makes sense, characters you can care about, and a compelling love story. If you like fairy tale retellings, then you should hurry and get your hands on this one. Even if you don't especially like fairy tales, this is a great book for anyone who likes a little magic in their stories. I loved it. 4.5 stars.
    • 4/5
      Charlotte and Rosie’s father has died, leaving them the ownership of their family mill in early Industrial Revolution England. The tale is a Rumplestiltskin tale, told in a historical fantasy style. The details are very real, and the characters are very well-drawn. Throughout the course of the novel Charlotte meets a man and falls in love and has a baby, and this book looks at their relationships in a more adult manner, so it definitely is transitional and will appeal to older teens. The book is told in a beautiful manner, and the final snare of Rumpelstiltskin is unexpected but works well within the context of the book. Very well done.
    • 5/5
      A compelling version of Rumpelstiltskin, with a strong heroine at its center. Spookier than I thought it'd be--had me leery of shadows. One of those books I stayed up half the night finishing because I couldn't bear the suspense. A solid addition to the fairytale-retelling canon.
    • 4/5
      This is not a simple re-telling. Rumplestiltskin serves as the barest bones for the tale Elizabeth C. Bunce builds in A Curse Dark As Gold. She picks at the nagging questions and inconsistencies that are at the heart of the fairytale - what could possess any person to give up their own child? why does Rumplestiltskin want the baby? what is so important about a name? - and finds answers. She fills in the gaps, and with what she finds in between those gaps she crafts a fully realized story.On the death of Charlotte Miller’s father, she suddenly becomes responsible for the Stirwaters Mill. And since the Mill is the livelihood of almost every person who lives in the town of Stirwaters, being responsible for the Mill means being responsible for a lot of people. Charlotte is a very young woman, but she is resourceful, persistent, and above all, stubborn. When her sister asks whether the Mill will be closed, Charlotte’s reply is only “‘Is it Sunday?’ I asked, and when she shook her head, I gave my answer: ‘Then we do not close’” (page 6). She is single-mindedly determined to save the Mill, and the town. Charlotte is also decidedly lacking in superstition, unlike most of the townspeople in Stirwaters, who whisper about a curse on the Mill. No male heir has ever lived to inherit Stirwaters, and the Mill seems to have its own mood and desires. Charlotte’s resistance to acknowledging the Miller curse slowly crumbles in the face of insurmountable evidence as she realizes that she must confront the curse before it destroys her family and her home.The magic in this story creeps in gradually. It is tied closely to local tradition and superstition - the corn dollies that are found in every house, the herb bundles delivered by the midwife - but the curse itself is built on the tragic history of the Mill. I wish I could talk about the curse’s history without giving away the story, but suffice to say that this is a world where actions have true consequences, both in everyday life and in the story’s magic. Bunce tells the story behind even the most reprehensible characters and their actions.I did have one major complaint about the book: if the most unbelievable thing in a fantasy novel is the love interest, you may have a problem. Don’t get me wrong - I loved Randall. He’s sweet! He’s rich! He’s supportive of nontraditional gender roles (you know - for the 1700s)! He wanders into Charlotte’s life at the perfect time! He’s completely incapable of doing anything wrong! Yup - didn’t believe him for a second. I did, however, appreciate that their marriage is far from perfect as it strains under the weight of the many secrets Charlotte keeps from Randall. It is shown as something you have to work at - even when married to someone as ridiculously accommodating as Randall.The book’s greatest strength is its setting. Bunce has clearly done her homework - the details of life and work at the mill are precise, and they provide a wonderful sense of time and place. I came away from the story with a more clear pictures of Stirwaters than of most of the characters. And that is fitting - the Mill is as important as any character in the book, and it has its own personality and presence. Sometimes that presence is protecting, and sometimes it is malignant, but it always hangs heavily over Charlotte and her actions. Even after finishing the book, it is difficult not to feel concern for Stirwaters and its residents. Early on, Bunce gives a glimpse of the developing industrial revolution when Charlotte visits a steam-powered mill, and it is grim. This is what lingers over the people of Stirwaters, curse or no curse. It is a tribute to Bunce’s storytelling that I genuinely care whether the town can survive and thrive in the new world that is being created.
    • 2/5
      After the death of her father, Charlotte Miller and her sister are the last in a long line of Millers who have run Stirwaters Mill – a mill rumored to be cursed. Though unusual for a young woman to operate a mill in pre-Industrial Revolution England, hardworking Charlotte feels inexplicably linked to the mill and it’s workers who depend upon Stirwaters for their livelihood.After a string of almost devastatingly bad luck (which Charlotte will never believe is part of an generations-old curse), she finds herself at the mercy of a strange man named Jack Spinner who only asks for trinkets as payment. But Jack’s requests grow steeper and more calculated each time Charlotte must turn to him in desperation. Feeling the weight of responsibility for the families in Shearing, Charlotte will do anything to save the mill that has become almost a part of herself and those she loves.Bunce’s prose is beautiful – a sense of sinister foreboding is felt with each groan and turn of the mill wheel, intensifying with each mysterious revelation. Charlotte is inspiring as she tackles each new setback with a stubbornness and love of the mill which continually draw others to her as she slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Stirwaters. Most importantly, Bunce convincingly fills in the gaps inherent in the original story of Rumpelstiltskin – what does make a name so powerful and in what circumstances would the Miller’s daughter ever give up her only son?
    • 5/5
      Description: After the death of their father, Charlotte and Rosie Miller do their best to keep his wool mill running. Yet it seems that the mill itself is doing its best to prevent them from succeeding. Bizarre accidents, mysterious disappearances, and strange twists of fate thwart them at every turn. Just when everything seems lost, a stranger named Jack Spinner appears at the mill and offers to rescue them. But is he their saviour, or just one more force pitted against them?My thoughts: If I were going to choose a fairy tale to retell, Rumplestiltskin would probably not be the one I picked. The story doesn't have any likeable characters! You have a baby-stealing elf, a mercenary king, and a grasping miller. You might feel sorry for the miller's daughter, but she doesn't even get a name. I suppose this lack of vision is why I am not a published author. Elizabeth Bunce has taken this familiar story and brilliantly reshaped it, giving new life and personality to its characters and setting. Instead of a nameless "miller's daughter," we have Charlotte, doing her best to save a mill that doesn't seem to want to be saved. Even though she suspects the mysterious "Jack Spinner" isn't exactly what he says he is, she takes him up on his offer out of desperation. When she realizes her mistake, she does everything in her power to foil his plans. And the story's love interest (though the romance is pretty minor) is far more likeable than the king who only marries a miller's daughter for her supposed ability to spin straw into gold. Jack Spinner (Rumplestiltskin) himself gets a backstory and a motivation other than just being a baby-stealing fairy. Add that to a diverse and believable cast of supporting characters, and this is turning into a story I can like!Bunce has chosen to set her story in a land that looks a lot like British or American countryside on the brink of the Industrial Revolution. The conflict between old ways and new feeds the conflict in the story, and gives it a sense of realism that can be tough to achieve with a fairy-tale (wonder why? lol). Her writing brings the characters and setting to full and beautiful life; you won't want to put this one down.If I had to say this book had a flaw, I can only say it was perhaps ever so slightly slow-moving. But I was so wrapped up in the story, with its pleasantly creepy feel, that I didn't mind at all. Also, I'm not really a fan of the cover photo- I think it looks a little cheesy. But don't let that stop you, this book is highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      In this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, two sisters are desperately trying to save the family’s woolen mill after the death of their father. The local folks all believe that there’s a curse on the mill. Charlotte, the older sister and the one who takes charge, does not believe in curses, or ghosts, or fairies. But she knows she and the mill are in trouble. When she accepts the help of a mysterious and magical man, she gets more than she bargained for.The story is dark and compelling. A good read.
    • 4/5
      As always I love books with strong, smart female characters who have to overcome terrible odds to be successful. Charlotte's deal with Jack Spinner (a Rumpelstiltskin character) adds to the drama of the story.
    • 4/5
      a riveting and complex retelling of the Rumplestiltskin tale. Loved the spooky parts and the way the characters developed and became more intricately interwoven, and the clever use of names.