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A Curse Dark as Gold Elizabeth C Bunce Books

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A Curse Dark as Gold Elizabeth C Bunce Books

This book blew me away! To be fair, I absolutely love fairy tale novelizations (I'm a huge folklore aficionado). Not all are very good though...many leave me very disappointed. I haven't seen a version of Rumpelstiltskin before, and as it's also not one of my favorites I was a bit skeptical. However, the writing was beautiful and the story was weaved perfectly. I would definitely recommend the story in general, not just to people who love fairy tales - it's easily a new favorite.

The best part of the book was the heroine, Charlotte Miller. She was strong-willed, practical, fiercely loving of her family and the mill and all the people who worked for her. She by no means was perfect - she starts off very skeptical of anything superstitious or preternatural (the rest of her village is very superstitious, and odd things always occur in/near the mill), and is so intent on reason that she won't consider anything else. She develops very naturally throughout the book in this regard. All her actions and thoughts felt reasonable. The rest of the characters were also great and fleshed out - the only one I didn't like (the uncle) is one who was supposed to be annoying. The sister and the bank rep are awesome.

The changes made for this version of Rumpelstiltskin really improved the tale. No greedy father or king - the father is dead, and there is no royalty in this novel. However, there is an obnoxious uncle, and while he does not force Charlotte to "spin straw into gold" like the father/king figures, he does ultimately cause issues. The Rumpelstiltskin figure is interesting, and I like how he was integrated in the story - I always felt bad for him in the fairy tale, because while he does make some mean bargains, the girl agrees (you agree to give away your first born child, really???) and the guy is really just lonely. The reasons Charlotte takes him up on his services are good reasons, out of love and to protect the mill and its workers, not out of greed.


Tags : Amazon.com: A Curse Dark as Gold (9780439895767): Elizabeth C. Bunce: Books,Elizabeth C. Bunce,A Curse Dark as Gold,Arthur A. Levine Books,0439895766,JUV037000,Fantasy - General,Blessing and cursing,Blessing and cursing;Juvenile fiction.,Ghost stories,Ghosts,Mills and mill-work,Mills and mill-work;Juvenile fiction.,Orphans,Sisters,Uncles,Uncles;Juvenile fiction.,Young adult fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fairy Tales & Folklore - General,Fiction-Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Fairy Tales & Folklore General,JUVENILE FICTION Fantasy & Magic,JUVENILE FICTION Love & Romance,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,TEEN'S FICTION FANTASY,Traditional stories (Children's Teenage),United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General

A Curse Dark as Gold Elizabeth C Bunce Books Reviews

Overall Review Imagine you live in a world of magic, but you refuse to acknowledge it or believe it until it starts to literally tear you apart--including your family and all you hold dear. The heroine has backbone, even if she feels she can't turn to anyone else (always a fatal flaw, right?) and I felt like I was going crazy right along with her in the midst of the testing and trying of her unbelief. This was the most amazingly interesting, twisted, and clever retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale I've ever read!! I loved it--and my family hated me for the whole Saturday I spent poring over it! ) I loved the magic and the mystery. At first, I was disappointed in the fact that she got married so quickly and early and without all the 'usual' romantic tension--but I ended up loving that fact, as you could watch them struggle as a couple--trying to understand and 'help' each other; trying to learn to live together and trust each other; and not really succeeding...yet. This is one I could read again. It is a story that satisfies. Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review

VIOLENCE Few mild instances

PROFANITY Few mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT NONE

MATURE THEMES Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP 16+

As the story is all about a curse, I would definitely consider it to have a moderately mature theme. There is a lot of talk about curses, voodoo, magic, hexes, etc. Sometimes, the magical aspects become quite dark and disturbing, but not overly so. There is death, murder and `accidents', but none of them are graphically described. There was no sexual content, of which I was happily surprised. Even though the two characters are married, the author doesn't take that as a license to intimately describe their honeymoon or beyond, and their courtship was short and sweet. As far as profanity, there were only about 4-5 words that I came across. "A Curse Dark as Gold" is a clean read for ages 16+

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

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This is a retelling and expansion of the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale. The Millers seem to live under a curse, particularly when it comes to a male heir. Charlotte and her sister are trying to keep the mill running, but bad luck constantly befalls them. After the death of their father, an uncle arrives who initially seems to be a salvation, but instead makes their troubles worse. While Charlotte does not believe in magical forces, her sister feels otherwise, and brings a source of help that may also spell serious trouble. Charlotte goes the more conventional route in securing a bank loan, and in the process, also falls in love. But when the forces against them converge, she must decide if she will let her friends and family help her or take the burdens alone. This was a clever and atmospheric story.
This book blew me away! To be fair, I absolutely love fairy tale novelizations (I'm a huge folklore aficionado). Not all are very good though...many leave me very disappointed. I haven't seen a version of Rumpelstiltskin before, and as it's also not one of my favorites I was a bit skeptical. However, the writing was beautiful and the story was weaved perfectly. I would definitely recommend the story in general, not just to people who love fairy tales - it's easily a new favorite.

The best part of the book was the heroine, Charlotte Miller. She was strong-willed, practical, fiercely loving of her family and the mill and all the people who worked for her. She by no means was perfect - she starts off very skeptical of anything superstitious or preternatural (the rest of her village is very superstitious, and odd things always occur in/near the mill), and is so intent on reason that she won't consider anything else. She develops very naturally throughout the book in this regard. All her actions and thoughts felt reasonable. The rest of the characters were also great and fleshed out - the only one I didn't like (the uncle) is one who was supposed to be annoying. The sister and the bank rep are awesome.

The changes made for this version of Rumpelstiltskin really improved the tale. No greedy father or king - the father is dead, and there is no royalty in this novel. However, there is an obnoxious uncle, and while he does not force Charlotte to "spin straw into gold" like the father/king figures, he does ultimately cause issues. The Rumpelstiltskin figure is interesting, and I like how he was integrated in the story - I always felt bad for him in the fairy tale, because while he does make some mean bargains, the girl agrees (you agree to give away your first born child, really???) and the guy is really just lonely. The reasons Charlotte takes him up on his services are good reasons, out of love and to protect the mill and its workers, not out of greed.