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lc_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I picked this book up for the cover art if I'm being honest. It's so beautiful and once I read the story to completion I appreciated the cover even more, the artist really does capture the feeling and theme perfectly.
The story is set in a Germanic fairytale world and follows a Rumpelstiltskin/Beauty and the Beast retelling. We follow the main character; Serilda, a miller's daughter who is blessed with a god's gift of storytelling (or according to the villagers, lying). She is an outcast and the only true friends she has are the children she tutors and tells stories to. Her life is changed during a full moon when she encounters the fabled Erlking during the famous hunt. To protect the creatures he was hunting, Serilda lies and tells the Erlking that she can spin straw into gold - which she can't - and in the next full moon he takes her.
All three stars go to the mesmerizing worldbuilding which was so atmospheric and was a very believable fairytale land straight out of Grimm's. I have a soft spot for ghosts in a story and I thought the castle filled with ghosts was pretty great. It would have been better if they had been further developed because, for me, the most interesting character in the entire book was the coachman ghost with an iron chisel in his eye! Because Dutch is a second language and I'm familiar with German - I hundred percent enjoyed the word play with the German language and it added something extra special to the read for me and more depth to the world.
So, this was almost a five star read for me. It had so much potential especially in the first half, even though the main character; Serilda, didn't do it for me. I was so frustrated with her actions and behaviors that, at times, it made whole scenes unenjoyable for me.
Unfortunately, I really disliked the last third of the book. I nearly DNF'd it.
It got dark real fast. Like grimdark dark. I found the death of all the adorable children (which I thought were better characters than Serilda) was a step too far. I wasn't prepared for it and it was very much a slap in the face. I don't need a shock like that to appreciated high stakes. I read a lot of horror and difficult scenes, gore and death. And so I realize that horrific consequences can work well depending on the theme of a story. Then I thought how can this get worse. Well, Serilda is now pregnant at the end of the book and has promised her unborn child both to the Erlking and also her ghost lover, Gild (who is basically Rumpelstiltskin). There was a very awkward abortion/anti-abortion themed scene which, after the slaughter of children, I just couldn't stomach. The worst thing that happens to Serilda, after her stupid decisions cause the death of her friends, is that she becomes Queen??!! Nope. Just nope. I can't with this ending, it ruined my enjoyment of the whole thing. Which is a real shame.
Would I recommend this book? Probably. I mean, it had it's ups and downs but I know some readers will love it. Though, I recommend the Lunar Chronicles by the same author as it is far better. Even though Gilded was childish at times, I question if this should be for kids?
Will I continue with this Gilded series? No. Regardless of the ending, I don't love the main characters enough to care what happens next.
Such a shame. I'm sad I can't rate it any higher.
The story is set in a Germanic fairytale world and follows a Rumpelstiltskin/Beauty and the Beast retelling. We follow the main character; Serilda, a miller's daughter who is blessed with a god's gift of storytelling (or according to the villagers, lying). She is an outcast and the only true friends she has are the children she tutors and tells stories to. Her life is changed during a full moon when she encounters the fabled Erlking during the famous hunt. To protect the creatures he was hunting, Serilda lies and tells the Erlking that she can spin straw into gold - which she can't - and in the next full moon he takes her.
All three stars go to the mesmerizing worldbuilding which was so atmospheric and was a very believable fairytale land straight out of Grimm's. I have a soft spot for ghosts in a story and I thought the castle filled with ghosts was pretty great. It would have been better if they had been further developed because, for me, the most interesting character in the entire book was the coachman ghost with an iron chisel in his eye! Because Dutch is a second language and I'm familiar with German - I hundred percent enjoyed the word play with the German language and it added something extra special to the read for me and more depth to the world.
So, this was almost a five star read for me. It had so much potential especially in the first half, even though the main character; Serilda, didn't do it for me. I was so frustrated with her actions and behaviors that, at times, it made whole scenes unenjoyable for me.
Unfortunately, I really disliked the last third of the book. I nearly DNF'd it.
Would I recommend this book? Probably. I mean, it had it's ups and downs but I know some readers will love it. Though, I recommend the Lunar Chronicles by the same author as it is far better. Even though Gilded was childish at times, I question if this should be for kids?
Will I continue with this Gilded series? No. Regardless of the ending, I don't love the main characters enough to care what happens next.
Such a shame. I'm sad I can't rate it any higher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Minor: Abortion
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Child death, Animal death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Gore
Moderate: Slavery, Animal cruelty, Suicide, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, War, and Sexual content
purplehulk713's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beware the nachtkrapp. Marissa Meyer’s newest retelling is eerie and beautiful, like a full moon on Halloween night. Magic abounds, in some of the best world-building I’ve read in recent years—Pusch-Grohla and her moss maidens, the Erlking and his dark ones, and of course, Gild, the mischievous poltergeist. The dark German folklore and sentiments characteristic of the Brothers Grimm haunt the pages like the ghosts of Adalheid Castle. And of course, the unique pantheon of seven gods like Wyrdith (god of stories and lies) and Velos (god of death) are fascinating not only in power and mystique, but also Meyer’s characterization of them as gender-fluid. Serilda is one of my new favorite protagonists—clever, unique, loyal, courageous, and magical, she faces ghouls and demons even though she has fear. Her arc is mostly based on her initial view of herself as cursed rather than blessed by her godparent Wyrdith, as the people in her village see her. The setting is well-spun (pun intended) with the significance of the full moons, equinoxes, and solstices tearing back the veil for the wild hunt. Subplots in the form of Serilda’s stories also provide unique parallels. And of course, the fairytale that it spins anew, “Rumpelstiltskin”, provides marvelous shades of allusion which keen-eyed readers can spot to add to the novel’s cleverness and complexity. This novel truly is gilded in 24-karat-quality. Remember, all magic comes with a price. Do you dare enter the Aschen Wood?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Child death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture
lewnie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Blessed by the god of fate, fortune, and stories, Serilda has always had a talent for telling outlandish tales. When one of her stories captures the interest of the savage Erlking and his ghastly Wild Hunt, Serilda must make her stories a reality or face death. Tasked with spinning straw into gold, Serilda makes a desperate bargain with a strange young man. But all magic has a price, and Serilda may not be ready to pay.
The good: I was so delighted by the prospect of a Rumpelstiltskin retelling and I did not expect this story to be as dark as it was, having read Meyer’s other YA. The world-building is superb and incredibly immersive. I had no problems with Serilda’s characterization. She has flaws, but she loves her family and her friends. She is also a bit of a firecracker, which is amusing and it is clear how she gets herself into trouble. Between her devotion to her loved ones and her spirited personality, I had no problems believing in her heroism. The Erlking is a terrifying villain and I really enjoyed what Meyer did with the Wild Hunt. There is horror and gore, but it isn’t incredibly off-putting.
The bad: There isn’t a lot of representation in this book. Everyone seems to be generally “tanned skinned” but not presented as people of color. The world itself is also clearly Western-based. There is one character presented as potentially bisexual, but that is not on-page nor is it confirmed by the character. The idea of bisexual or gay relationships seem to be accepted as somewhat normal, however there are no on-page same-sex relationships. That is really the biggest detractor for me in this novel.
Overall: I absolutely adore a long fantasy full of world-building and character development and at 500 pages, this is definitely a time commitment. However, I think the payoff is absolutely worthwhile. The twist on the classic Rumpelstiltskin fairytale is interesting and doesn’t feel overwrought. While I did see the twists coming, I don’t think that ruined anything about the story for me. I was invested in the characters and their stories throughout the entire novel and I will absolutely be reading the sequel. I wish there was a little more representation built into the world, though. With the darker themes and brief sexual content, I would suggest this for a little older teen audience than Meyer’s previous YA novels. I think this is a great transition for fantasy readers who are looking for something a little more ‘adult’ or adult readers looking for a less complicated fantasy read.
For fans of: Elizabeth Lim, Hafsah Faizal, Melissa Bashardoust
Rep.: off-page bisexual minor character.
CW: abandonment; abortion (mention); animal cruelty; animal death; blood; body horror; brief sexual content; cannibalism; child death; confinement; death; death of a parent; grief; gore; murder; pregnancy; torture; violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Violence, Confinement, Animal death, Death, Child death, Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Pregnancy
gracecrandall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cannibalism, Murder, Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Grief, Gore, Child death, Abandonment, Abortion, Pregnancy, Body horror, Blood, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Slavery, Cannibalism, and Abortion
trippalli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brutal but beautifully written classic horror fairytale with undead, monsters, witches and faery folk, tricks and tales of love and lost worlds .. Adventures and passing through the veil with the wild hunt under the full moons... Trigger warnings: children and innocents violently killed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Animal death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infertility, Abandonment, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, and Suicidal thoughts
meliroo's review against another edition
dark
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
elderflower's review against another edition
3.0
hmm well that was different from what I expected. it wasn’t bad but definitely my least favorite Marissa meyer book.
Likes:
Likes:
- The cover
- It’s Marissa fricking Meyer
- Bi character!
Dislikes:
- Pro-life messaging. It’s terrible to force someone to get an abortion, but i definitely was getting pro life vibes
- Cliché
- Hard to get into
- Violence
- Badly done instalove
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Animal cruelty, Violence, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Abortion and Cannibalism
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