Review Detail

Gilded is an imaginative retelling of Rumplestiltskin and the German tale of the Erlking. The heroine, Serilda, a miller's daughter was born cursed by the god of stories and lies. One night, after hiding two moss maidens who are being hunted by the evil Erlking and his undead hunting party, she impulsively fabricates a cover story claiming that she can spin straw into gold. Her tall tale intrigues the Erlking, and he captures her on the next full moon to spin the gold. Trapped in his gothic, ghostly castle, she unwittingly summons a mysterious boy who can perform this very feat.
Gilded is well-written with creative and vivid world building. Dark, haunting, and immersive, this book is unpredictable and compelling. The colorful cast of characters and subplots add even more life to the story. The Erlking commits atrocities that are brutal, ruthless, and not for the faint of heart. There is a dramatic cliffhanger, leaving the reader desperate for the sequel.