A Curse Dark as Gold
48. Elizabeth C. Bunce, A Curse Dark as Gold
When Charlotte Miller’s father dies, she inherits both the crumbling Stirwaters mill and all the troubles that go along with it. She and her feisty sister Rosie struggle to make ends meet as one catastrophe after another befalls the mill. Practical Charlotte thinks that the problems are sheer coincidence and bad luck, but rumors around town whisper of a curse on Stirwaters and the Miller family. After a particularly harsh blow falls, Charlotte is in danger of losing Stirwaters, and she’ll do anything to stop that from happening - even if it means making a bargain with a mysterious stranger who offers to spin straw into gold. But what will happen when the stranger’s price is something Charlotte cannot pay?
This imaginative retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is well written and beautifully plotted: each seemingly random detail unfolds at exactly the right moment to provide the ingenious resolution of the curse. The story can be a bit dark and dreary, but that fits the nature of the tale and creates a compelling atmosphere. I especially liked the revelation of the story behind the curse, which was emotionally concentrated and very intense; it made me pity even the villains. I also liked the romantic aspect of the novel, which was rather unique in that it continued to develop after the marriage. I honestly can’t think of any criticisms; if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, I would definitely recommend this novel.