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A review by merieshenanigans
The Queen of Gold and Straw by Shari L. Tapscott
3.0
This is my first novel by Shari L. Tapscott and the most unique retelling of Rumpelstiltskin I have ever read.
QUEEN OF GOLD AND STRAW is told in the eyes of three people: Greta, the girl; Conrad, the king; and Rune, the elf. There is a virtual love triangle among these three characters, which immediately had me dismayed from the very start, because I hate love triangles. Well, I did easily predict the outcome of the romance (if you're familiar with the fairytale, you should be able to tell what happened), but I certainly did not expect it to come... in such an amazingly creative way.
Okay, so to tell the truth, I had a hard time getting into the story at first. I don't like present tense writing, but Ms. Tapscott's is smooth and easy to get used to. I guess the real problem was the fact that I didn't really like Greta, the main protagonist and my real issue with this story. I thought Greta was done quite nicely for the girl from Rumpelstiltskin... if a little too nicely. It kept annoying me how, in the POVs of Conrad and Rune (another thing: first-person, present-tense writing revolving around THREE different people? groan), they kept going on about how beautiful she was, how special she was, how much she deserved happiness-- which she did, okay, she did deserve a happily ever after! But halfway through the book, her cluelessness and listlessness became insufferable.
Also, guys, I like Rune better. That ending was HEARTBREAKING. I mean, how. dare. she. (Yes, Ms. Tapscott, I'm talking to you: how dare you make us feel this way about our precious golden elf boy?? How?? Why??) I loved that his love for Greta was real, so real and sincere that he would easily sacrifice his own happiness for her wellbeing. Sure, Conrad would too, I guess, but he just didn't strike my fancy the same way. Conrad was a little too... I don't know, a little too over-the-top I guess. Dark-handsome-human-playing-the-role-of-mad-king, competing against an elf prince? ... Yeah, sorry, man.
Aside from all that character stuff. I suppose the rest of the book was pretty well thought-out and engagingly written, if not a little tedious at times. As for content, I can't think of any language that came up, so it's safe from that. The romance got too intense at some moments and made me feel kind of uncomfortable (looks of longing, touching, a few kisses, etc.) sometimes, but other than that it was okay. However, might I add that I didn't enjoy watching Greta get swept off her feet by Conrad one moment, and then Rune the next. (LOVE TRIANGLES UGH)
All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5 star rating! Don't highly recommend it, had some minor issues, but other than that, I enjoyed it. However I would recommend it as a must-read for Rumpelstiltskin fans, because I've never seen this fairytale redone this way, and it was very unique and original.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
QUEEN OF GOLD AND STRAW is told in the eyes of three people: Greta, the girl; Conrad, the king; and Rune, the elf. There is a virtual love triangle among these three characters, which immediately had me dismayed from the very start, because I hate love triangles. Well, I did easily predict the outcome of the romance (if you're familiar with the fairytale, you should be able to tell what happened), but I certainly did not expect it to come... in such an amazingly creative way.
Okay, so to tell the truth, I had a hard time getting into the story at first. I don't like present tense writing, but Ms. Tapscott's is smooth and easy to get used to. I guess the real problem was the fact that I didn't really like Greta, the main protagonist and my real issue with this story. I thought Greta was done quite nicely for the girl from Rumpelstiltskin... if a little too nicely. It kept annoying me how, in the POVs of Conrad and Rune (another thing: first-person, present-tense writing revolving around THREE different people? groan), they kept going on about how beautiful she was, how special she was, how much she deserved happiness-- which she did, okay, she did deserve a happily ever after! But halfway through the book, her cluelessness and listlessness became insufferable.
Also, guys, I like Rune better. That ending was HEARTBREAKING. I mean, how. dare. she. (Yes, Ms. Tapscott, I'm talking to you: how dare you make us feel this way about our precious golden elf boy?? How?? Why??) I loved that his love for Greta was real, so real and sincere that he would easily sacrifice his own happiness for her wellbeing. Sure, Conrad would too, I guess, but he just didn't strike my fancy the same way. Conrad was a little too... I don't know, a little too over-the-top I guess. Dark-handsome-human-playing-the-role-of-mad-king, competing against an elf prince? ... Yeah, sorry, man.
Aside from all that character stuff. I suppose the rest of the book was pretty well thought-out and engagingly written, if not a little tedious at times. As for content, I can't think of any language that came up, so it's safe from that. The romance got too intense at some moments and made me feel kind of uncomfortable (looks of longing, touching, a few kisses, etc.) sometimes, but other than that it was okay. However, might I add that I didn't enjoy watching Greta get swept off her feet by Conrad one moment, and then Rune the next. (LOVE TRIANGLES UGH)
All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5 star rating! Don't highly recommend it, had some minor issues, but other than that, I enjoyed it. However I would recommend it as a must-read for Rumpelstiltskin fans, because I've never seen this fairytale redone this way, and it was very unique and original.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*