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xoxlululuxox 's review for:
Gilded
by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gilded is a dark retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, with more magic and myths than the original.
We follow Serilda, the strange girl who lives in the village with cursed eyes and a tongue for lies. Serilda was cursed/given a gift prior to her birth, and has no control over herself and her story telling skills. Everything has potential for embellishment in her eyes. One night, during a full moon, she gets caught by the Erlking in one of her lies. The next full moon she is swept away to spin straw into gold for him. It is when she is trapped in the Erlking's castle that she meets a boy who is able to help her in her quest, saving her life.
There were several aspects of this story that felt a little predictablelike the stories being truths . But the magic and mystery behind everything was intriguing enough that these predictable elements didn't detract from the overall story.
I found Serilda to be a very headstrong character. She knew what others thought and expected of her, and took it in her stride. Which, for the time period this seems to be set, is an amazing feat. I loved her interactions with each of the children, and how it only differed slightly for adults. She knew that the children trusted her more than the adults did and didn't hold it - too heavily - against them.
I am excited to see where this story goes with the second book being released later this year!
We follow Serilda, the strange girl who lives in the village with cursed eyes and a tongue for lies. Serilda was cursed/given a gift prior to her birth, and has no control over herself and her story telling skills. Everything has potential for embellishment in her eyes. One night, during a full moon, she gets caught by the Erlking in one of her lies. The next full moon she is swept away to spin straw into gold for him. It is when she is trapped in the Erlking's castle that she meets a boy who is able to help her in her quest, saving her life.
There were several aspects of this story that felt a little predictable
I found Serilda to be a very headstrong character. She knew what others thought and expected of her, and took it in her stride. Which, for the time period this seems to be set, is an amazing feat. I loved her interactions with each of the children, and how it only differed slightly for adults. She knew that the children trusted her more than the adults did and didn't hold it - too heavily - against them.
I am excited to see where this story goes with the second book being released later this year!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy