“The real story isn’t half as pretty as the one you’ve heard.”
An inventive and enthralling retelling of the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin, this story follows three young women: Miryem, Wanda, and Irina. Though each woman hails from a different walk of life, their lives become intertwined as a seemingly endless Winter takes hold of their country.
Novik’s ability to spin a tale is truly magical. Her writing paints vivid pictures of dark creatures, frosted woods, and stark villages. Each step is carefully planned, both mysteriously vague and elegantly detailed. The story twists and turns in unexpected ways leading each of our three ladies to face devious bargains, threatening challenges, and trying journeys. I cannot say enough about how beautifully this story is written. I highly recommend you pick it up!