"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."
Spinning Silver is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin anchored in reality. Miryem gains a reputation as a moneylender who turns silver into gold through investments and interest. Unfortunately mysterious creatures called the Staryk covet gold and want her to make some for them. The clever solutions to the challenges are amazing and the universe that the author weaves is so magically atmospheric. The story is told through six different perspectives, but it does not get muddled and confusing like other multiple pov stories. The separate threads flowed with each other so well and kept me excited to see each one instead of waiting to go back to the original.
