Ahoy there me mateys! I highly enjoy this author’s work and for me this was her best book yet! It is magical, completely engrossing, and wonderfully written. One of the things that I find most interesting about this book is that while ye could catch glimpses of fairy tales that have come before, it is completely its own beautiful fairy tale. I am not clever enough to really explain the awesome that is this book but here is me best shot.
The story begins with the perspective of Miryem, a young Jewish girl whose father is a moneylender. One who is not good at getting his money back. So hungry, cold, and angry, Miryem hardens her heart and decides to take over her father’s task of being repaid. She learns that she has skill in bargaining her silver kopeks into gold. This skill brings the attention of the Winter King from the mystical realm of the Staryk. He gives her impossible tasks to perform with death and destruction the price for failure. But Miryem’s coldness and negotiating skills lead to unexpected consequences for both her and the Staryk king who holds this mortal girl in contempt.
Though Miryem is the only narrator in the beginning, the author begins to add additional viewpoints as the story progresses. One is a girl named Wanda who lives with her brothers and abusive alcoholic father. Her father owes money to the moneylender and Wanda is drawn into helping her pay her father’s debt. In doing so, Wanda begins to witness the type of life and family she never before imagined. With hard work and common sense, she begins to plan for a different future.
The third major perspective is Irena, a duke’s daughter by his first wife. Plain and ignored, she goes about life without any real expectation of happiness. But her Staryk blood draws the attention of a fire demon. And unexpectedly she is also thrust into the political spotlight and her father’s plans for a marriage she doesn’t want. In trying to survive the fire demon, Irena realizes that she may be in a position to save a kingdom if she sacrifices herself.
The true delight of this tale is how the story of the three women eventually intertwine. All three are shown to be strong, intelligent, and resourceful. At the same time, they have unique and varied personalities. The author’s ability to give the reader the supposed fairy tale ending and then show what comes afterwards is nothing short of miraculous. As a reader I had no idea how the story was going to evolve. And yet the author also gives the reader some hints while leaving the characters seemingly working in opposition. The twists in the story were deftly done. The writing and world building was lyrical, beautifully crafted, and stunning. The resolution perfect.
In addition to falling in love with all three women, there are other perspectives and characters that are equally drawn with skill. In particular I loved Wanda’s brother Stepon, Miryem’s mother, and the not-so likable tsar. Like with the bear and the nightingale last year, the words fail me. Please let the author’s own words do the talking and fall in love with this story. Arrrrr!
Check out me crew members reviews of this one:
Melanie @ meltotheany’s review – “Spinning Silver is one of the best books I’ve read all year. I loved this story with every fiber of my being. And Naomi Novik is a master at storytelling and interweaving stories together. You all know that this is a very loose reimaging of Rumpelstiltskin but I’d say it’s more of an empowering tale of three girls, all on three different paths, all promised to three different men, while all being looked over by three different mothers. Three is such a constant theme in this book, too, and it really helps reinforce that this story feels like a tangible piece of magic in your hands while reading. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
Robin @ bridgefour’s review – “The Best Thing about this new/old fairytale is that the women in it seemed real. None of them were overly beautiful or fetching, but each had a special quality either with their smarts, ingenuity or just strength of will that made them special. I loved that as we grow to know the characters they become three dimensional and you fall in love with them as other characters in the story discover their worth.”
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders… but her father isn’t a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife’s dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem steps in. Hardening her heart against her fellow villagers’ pleas, she sets out to collect what is owed–and finds herself more than up to the task. When her grandfather loans her a pouch of silver pennies, she brings it back full of gold.
But having the reputation of being able to change silver to gold can be more trouble than it’s worth–especially when her fate becomes tangled with the cold creatures that haunt the wood, and whose king has learned of her reputation and wants to exploit it for reasons Miryem cannot understand.
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Previous Log Entries for this Author
golden age and other stories (Here Be Dragons On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)
This is one I really want to get hold of – I loved Uprooted, which was such a clever, memorable read:). Thank you for your lovely review.
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Welcome matey! I am pretty sure ye will love this one!
x The Captain
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I loved this one also. One of the best Audiobooks I have listened to this year.
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I read a hard copy. But this story is good enough that I should listen to it on audio book at some point. Thanks for the idea matey!
x The Captain
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Nice. I’ve heard good things about this one and Uprooted- this one sounds a bit more like my thing- and Naomi Novik seems to be getting lots of buzz.
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She is a very talented writer that is for sure. I do think spinning silver is the stronger book in terms of writing style. But both are good. Ye going to be readin’ either?
x The Captain
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I might give Spinning Silver a try! I think I might like it!
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Arrrr!
x The Captain
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I’m conflicted on whether or not I’ll read Spinning Silver. I liked pretty much all of Uprooted… except for the romance subplot which I absolutely hated. And I’ve heard Spinning Silver has a similar romance so that’s dampened a lot of my enthusiasm for the book.
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I have to admit that the romance subplots are way less in spinning silver. I don’t like romance that much (it could be left out and I would be fine). I hope if ye do decide to read it that ye love it. Thanks for the comment.
x The Captain
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That’s encouraging! I’ll try giving it a go then.
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YAY! I mean ARRR!
x The Captain
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Glad you enjoyed it! It didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but admittedly they were pretty sky high after how much I loved Uprooted 😀
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I saw that ye didn’t love it but ye enjoyed it so that is good. Did ye like uprooted better?
x The Captain
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Oh yes, I loved Uprooted! Maybe that was the problem, my expectations were sky high.
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I actually thought her writing quality had improved between the two books. But I have to admit I did read uprooted a long-ish time ago before I had me log so the details be fuzzy!
x The Captain
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I can’t wait to read this! I enjoyed Uprooted a lot, and I’ve heard even more amazing stuff about Spinning Silver, from just about everyone who’s read it. I love that it’s about a group of women being awesome, as that is absolutely my jam.
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That was one of the best parts – a great cast of female characters that all shine in different ways. And yet have flaws that make them feel more real. Hope ye love it! Thank ye kindly for visiting.
x The Captain
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I didn’t ask for these tears! Thank you for this shout out and… for your friendship! Such a damn blessing, Captain! Happy reading! 💖xx
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Thanks for writing awesome reviews. And fer being in me crew. Arrr!
x The Captain
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I’m glad to hear you liked this one! I have Uprooted on my TBR but haven’t gotten to it yet. Now I have a reason to read them both!
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They are lovely. I hope ye find a) time to read them and b) love them like I did. Arrr!
x The Captain
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I loved Uprooted and I’m sure I’d love this as well. Now to find a few more hours in the day so I can read it😁
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Yes this one was so lovely. I hope ye read, love, and review it.
x The Captain
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