A CURSE DARK AS GOLD

A Curse Dark as Gold * Elizabeth C. Bunce

2008 * p. 392 * YA Fantasy

A Curse Dark as Gold is a retelling and expanding of the classic Rumpelstilstkin fairy tale. The author, Bunce, says she wrote this book to clarify some of the confusing points of the fairy tale and give the miller's daughter more of an admirable and strong character. And Bunce does just that.

The miller's daughter, Charlotte Miller, is left to run the family mill when her father dies. The Millers are proud and stubborn. Charlotte and her younger sister, Rosie, are no different. Despite being women, they plan to run the mill alone.

Their efforts are not without extraordinarily bad luck and the constant rumors of the curse that has been on the mill and the Millers for generations.

"The Stirwaters Curse. I had grown up hearing those words every time something went the least bit awry. True, we Millers did tend to more than our share of bad luck--from the very first Miller of Shearing, old Harlan, who had built Stirwaters and this house. But down through the years of market collapses and roof collapses--which could happen to anybody--one dark thread bound the Millers apart from ordinary ill luck: No Miller had ever raised a son who lived to inherit Stirwaters. The mill had been handed down along a crazy zigzag path from brother to cousin to nephew...to daughter. Stirwaters could only be inherited by Millers, and Rosie and I were the only ones left" (23).

As unexplainable debts, deaths, vandalisms, etc occur and Charlotte fears she'll lose the mill, Rosie turns to faerie aid. Thus enters the character of "Rumpelstiltkin." Though he is never called by that name. Though this mysterious man may seem to be the answer to their prayers at the moment, the sisters soon find that making a bargain with a faerie brings nothing but trouble. So Charlotte Miller seeks to find the origins of the curse and how to break it before she loses the mill and her family.

I enjoyed this book, but I wouldnt necessarily categorize it as a fantasy. It seemed more like a historical supernatural mystery, if that makes sense. The details of mill life, fabrics and the coming of the industrial revolution are very complex, but easily understood. The writing was excellent. I was a little disappointed though that it was not more of a fantasy. But nevertheless, I highly recommend it.

-Reading level: ages 18 & up
-Morally appropriate for all ages
-High diction more suitable for seniors and above
-Themes of pride, judgement, communication and tradition
-Won the William C. Morris Debut Award by the ALA