Author: Naomi Novik
Pages: 466
Publisher: Del Rey
Genre: Fantasy / Folk Tale
Source: Book of the Month
Format: Hardcover
Summary (back of the book)
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father's inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty - until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.
When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk - grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh - Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.
But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.
Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.
Review
I thought this was excellent. A few years ago I listened to Novik's Uprooted on audio and fell in love with it - one of my favorite books of that year. Spinning Silver did not disappoint - despite my very high expectations.
All the characters here were very richly drawn. The story is told from the point of view of multiple characters and Novik does an excellent job getting inside all the various headspaces. I'm a sucker for stories told in this format. I like being able to get the same scene from multiple perspectives, and when it's done well it's a huge win for me.
As with Uprooted, Naomi Novik gives the reader an immerse experience when it comes to setting and place. I know I will remember the storyline to Spinning Silver, but when details begin to fade, the setting will not. From the village where Wanda and Miryem live, to the Staryk kingdom, the surroundings were written about vividly. This was one of my favorite things about the book. I'm a person who, while reading, really sees the story in my head like a movie. I'll be able to mentally enter Spinning Silver for quite some time.
I'm not typically a reader of fantasy. That's not to say I don't enjoy it, just that I don't consume it regularly. This book definitely had more of a folk lore feel as opposed to a fantastical feel. So even if fantasy isn't typically your jam I think it's 100% worth checking out.
If I had to make a complaint, I'd say that I was wishing for some kind of romantic spark along the way. If you've read Uprooted, I'm sure you remember that one scene, and I was hoping for something similar here. It didn't ruin the story by any means, but I would have liked it.
This book took me awhile to read, only because life has been incredibly busy. I think under normal circumstances I could have torn straight through it. If you want to get a copy for yourself, please consider using this link to get your hands on the book while also supporting Kate's Library!
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