Mary McMyne

I am a sucker for retellings, I'll read them all, good or bad. On rare occasion there is a retelling jumps that out at me at something so unique and moving as this book was. I loved every page of it. It reminded me of all the best parts of a Naomi Novik book while still maintaining an original voice. Enchanting, I want more.

Rich retelling of the origin of Gothel from Rapunzel, but the frame story, while immensely fascinating and atmospheric, was not needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. It kept me engaged but didn't totally suck me in. I would have liked more details, and sometimes events felt like they moved really quickly. I think that may have been trying to keep it more in line with a fairytale type read but it made it hard for me to be really invested. Overall I thought it was interesting and enjoyable.

Delightful story of empowerment told with the conventions of fairy tales.