12/01/2022
Gr 7 Up—Nor and King Casper are on the run after the Rose Palace was attacked by the fay. At odds with each other after the lies that were spun in the previous volume, they find themselves across the border in the Faerie realm of Magnomel, and in even more trouble. When faced with difficult choices and the pain from being poisoned, Nor learns the truth about her past and realizes who she has been all along. While fighting to find her place, and attempting to free the imprisoned Casper, challenges in the forms of curses and deceit provide an arduous road to an ideal future. June picks up this story promptly following the end of Gold Spun, delivering a satisfying continuation of the plot but offering very little recap of where the story left off. This installment shares more in-depth backstory for established characters while also deepening relationships. Choosing sides and knowing right from wrong aren't always easy, and the twists and turns throughout leave readers questioning sides. Woven together with the Rumpelstiltskin retelling from the original, the author also incorporates additional fairy tales, such as tropes from The Wild Swans. VERDICT A quick read for those who enjoyed the first novel in this duology and desire more romance, drama, and intrigue from this world.—Aliza Mangefrida
