I adored this. It was so original, and the characters were distinctly wonderful. It’s a slow build, but well worth the time. I’ll always miss Temeraire and Laurence, but Novik’s stand-alone novels (this one and Uprooted) have been fantastic.

“Bring me the winter king, and I will make you a summer queen.”

Spinning Silver is one of the best books I’ve read all year. I loved this story with every fiber of my being. And Naomi Novik is a master at storytelling and interweaving stories together. You all know that this is a very loose reimaging of Rumpelstiltskin but I’d stay it’s more of an empowering tale of three girls, all on three different paths, all promised to three different men, while all being looked over by three different mothers. Three is such a constant theme in this book, too, and it really helps reinforce that this story feels like a tangible piece of magic in your hands while reading. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.

“The real story isn’t half as pretty as the one you’ve heard.”

The Three Girls:
➽ Wanda - a girl who has had to be strong, because it’s the only life she has ever known. Wanda has spent her short life taking care of her brothers and trying to please a father who is impossible to please. But that all changes once she is the only way to pay back his debts.
➽ Irinushka - a girl who has been born into royalty but has never known love from her blood family. Irina is still determined to save her people, by any means necessary.
➽ Miryem - a girl who will do whatever it takes to save her family. Miryem is strong, and relentless, and one of the very best characters I’ve ever read in my entire life. And she becomes one of the most feared moneylenders in her village, and she discovers that she awfully good at turning silver to gold. But she is not the only one that notices.

“That part of the old story turned out to be true: you have to be cruel to be a good moneylender. But I was ready to be as merciless.”

The Three Mothers:
➽ A Passed Away Mother who continues to look after her children.
➽ An Adoptive Mother who has unconditionally loved her child from the start.
➽ A Birth Mother who wants nothing more than her child safe and happy.

“A robber who steals a knife and cuts himself cannot cry out against the woman who kept it sharp.”

The Three Marriages:
➽ Filled with Hate because even in 2018 some men want to believe that they know what’s best for a woman, no matter the cost.
➽ Filled with Fire because some people are born into a world without a chance, regardless of money, power, and privilege.
➽ Filled with Cold because protecting the thing you love is sometimes something you’re willing to do anything for.

“...someone had climbed down and looked through our window: someone wearing strange boots with a long pointed toe.”

And these three girls, with their mothers, forced into their three marriages, all come together and create something so beautiful that I don’t even have words to express it. I will say that Miryem is for sure the main character. I will also say that we get to see a lot more points of view than these three girls and their betrothals. And the story is something that is so whimsical, so feminist, and nothing short of an honor to read.

Trigger and content warnings for hard scenes to read about loss of a parent, siblings, and death of children, for extreme parental physical abuse, brief mention of animal deaths, mention of past rape, sexual assault, alcoholism, torture, violence, murder, and use of the word Jew (not negatively, but it still didn’t feel good to read at times).

But one thing I did want to touch upon is how much Judaism plays such an integral role in this story. Miryem and her entire family are Jewish, and from the first to last page this plays a pivotal role in the story. I am not Jewish, but I still loved this inclusion so very much. Also, I’m adding “go to a Jewish wedding” onto my bucket list immediately. To my Jewish friends: please, invite me to your weddings.

Spinning Silver is such a love letter to found families everywhere, too. You guys know I love reading about found families, but all three girls in this book are the epitome of found families. Unconditional love is truly the strongest force in this universe, and not only does this book showcase that, it also celebrates that.

Overall, this just felt like a story that was single-handedly created for me. From the Staryks, to the Winter King, to the traveling between places, to the so very strong female cast, to the magic, to every single word on every single page. I swear, opening this book felt like magic and I never wanted to shut it. And I know I am being rather vague with my synopsis, but I truly believe that this book is probably best to go in not knowing much, and to just experience this otherworldly story firsthand. Without a doubt, this will make my “best of 2018” list and will forever have a place on my favorites of all-time shelf. Thank you so much, Naomi Novik, for a story I will cherish forever. And that last line will take my breath away every reread. Perfection.

“Because that’s what the story’s really about: getting out of paying your debts.”

I wanted to like this more than I did. It didn’t take long to get into the story. Winter was lasting longer and longer every year. Crops were failing. The Staryk came with their magic when the snow came and stole all of the gold they could. Exactly what the Staryk were is never defined although they are similar to fae with their deals, bargains, and loopholes.

Miryem was tired of suffering. She found a way to help her family although it made her somewhat selfish and cold. Her money making skills quickly drew the attention of the Staryk. Miryem was my favorite of the three main characters. Her bargaining skills often made her seem heartless but she always remained fair. I immensely enjoyed the changes in her character throughout. Her storyline was my favorite because it was the most unpredictable. The Staryk were a wildcard since their motives were unknown.

Wanda had the most boring storyline. It was important in the end, but I’m not sure why so much page time was devoted to her and her family. They were good people but not very interesting. There wasn’t any character development in any of them. Their story fizzled out about halfway through and really slowed the pace of the story by focusing on their mundane issues.

Irina was fun to read about. She didn’t grow as a character, but as the layers of her were revealed, she was not the person I thought she was. At first I really liked her. All I will say is that she was a true politician to the core. Her dealings with the demon and her unique heritage made her part of the story interesting. It was spelled out how she wanted things to go, so her fate wasn’t shocking. It was how she got there that was unexpected.

The end was amazing! I loved it. It made suffering through the boring middle of the story worth it. The book was told from the POV of several people. It didn’t specify before each section who it was about, which was confusing at times. It was unnecessary when it started adding in some of the side characters’ POV. The biggest failure was the lack of depth in the demon and the Staryk King. The demon was straight up bad. I was hoping the Staryk King would be more of a gray character. Instead he was just a jerk for most of the book. Another thing I didn’t like was that Miryem and Irina were making decisions that affected many people but neither of them gave considerable thought to the consequences of their actions. Although the book had some issues, I’m glad I read it.

While the official introduction talks of one young woman Spinning Silver really follows three young women and their families as they forge their own paths. Each of these womans have difficulties to overcome and succeed. As these three woman’s paths cross the story of Rumpelstiltskin comes to life in a new way.
This was a fun and interesting read. Naomi Novak created a world where hardship is real and the characters are flawed. I do recommend picking up this book. At first I did not know if I wanted to read this because I was not a fan of Uprooted but I am glad I did. The only real complaint is the there are a lot of point of views. It gets hard to keep track and there is indication. I still recommend reading this book.

'Uprooted' has been on my to-read list for quite awhile, and (shamefully) I have not yet gotten to it. I picked up this book thinking it would spark my reading of the first one too, and it has certainly made me more eager to go for it. This book is so well-written, and the world-building feels so real. I'm happy to recommend it to any fantasy reader at my library.

Like Uprooted, Spinning Silver is built with transporting, unforgettable world building and slowly unfolding mysteries laid out before a pair of clever, magic-touched young women. I loved this and wholeheartedly recommend it for any readers who've ever had their imagination caught by a fairy tale.

This one did take me a while to read because the chapters were longer (I could only do one a night) but I wanted to devour this and kept thinking about it when I put it down. OH MY GOSH. The story and characters are so good that I wanted to return to them desperately.

I also appreciate the integration of Jewish traditions into this: I think that is what really makes it shine by addressing the stereotypes placed upon Jewish people and exploring that in relation to the money lending. One of the many "heck yes" moments was Miryem is basically away from her home (I won't say why because..spoilers) and wants celebrate the Shabbat and she is very firm in her beliefs. It's great.

My first ever netgalley. Thank you so much to the publisher!
I liked this book, but I did struggle a bit getting through it at times. There were some narrators I felt we’re a little dragging out the plot and I would have liked to hear more about Irina at the end, but I did like how the story ended for my fave Miryem.
(Also I hated the Staryk so much I have issues with blind evil so...)

while not nearly as good as the author's previous book set sort of in this world, uprooted, this was really well written and had great fairy tale mythology woven in. definitely recommended if you liked uprooted or maybe catherynne valente's deathless or katherine arden's winternight trilogy (both have some similar russian themed fairy tale elements and awesome female protagonists)

I absolutely loved Naomi Novik's Uprooted and I was so incredibly excited to read Spinning Silver. I thought this book had a fantastic take on the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Novik's writing is something almost too good to be true. It's magical, and incredibly intricate. I thought Miryem was a great anit-hero. She was neither good nor bad in my opinion, she was a survivor and to me that made all the difference.I'm currently writing my full review for this beautiful book and will be sharing it on goodreads as well as retailer sites. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

Spinning Silver is another phenomenal novel by Naomi Novik, author of Uprooted and the Temeraire series. Uprooted won the 2016 Nebula Award for best novel. Temeraire is a hugely popular series that created an alternative history for the Napoleonic Wars fought by aviators manning dragons - unbelievably good for those who adore dragon fantasy or appreciate great historical fiction fantasy. Novik does not disappoint with her latest stand alone, and I believe Spinning Silver may be my favorite story out of all of her works, and I have read them all thus far. Novik is able to include details in all of her novels that show an adept knowledge of history that adds multifaceted richness to the stories. Novik creates detailed fantasy worlds with beautifully created characters. Her novels are full of adventure, action, danger, darkness and suspense. They read as true classic fairy tales with good overcoming the deepest evil. Spinning Silver features strong female protagonists who are able to outwit those who seek to destroy them. It is more than just a retelling of Rumpelistilskin - it is a gorgeous reimagining of this tale. If you love fantasy, fractured fairy tales, please read Spinning Silver. It is pure magic.

If you haven't yet encountered the writing of Naomi Novik, then you are in for a treat. Rich world building, complex characters, and a story that grows and deepens as it goes to always keep you eager to find out how it all ties together. Novik draws on her Polish heritage and adds in fantasy elements that delight and terrorize in all the right places.

Miryem is the daughter of a Jewish moneylender. When she takes over the collections and does a much better job of it than her father ever did, she attracts the attention of a Staryk lord. The Staryk raid the land of men and steal gold, so when their lord hears Miryem boasting that she can turn silver to gold, he takes her.

Irina is the daughter of a duke, relegated to a cold bedroom at the top of the house with her old nurse. But her father manages to marry her off to the tsar, and puts her life in jeopardy by doing so. Irina knows that the tsar is the son of a witch and suspects him of sorcery. Even being the tsarina will not be enough to save her if he decides he is tired of her.

How do the lives of a kidnapped Jewess with a talent for making money and a young noblewoman who was never out of her father's keeping become intertwined? What do the Staryk, the tsar, and the state of the kingdom have in common? And after all the plots and counter-plots, who will be left alive at the end? You will have to read to find out.

Highly recommended for YA readers who enjoy reimagined fairy tales. This is a combination of Rumpelstiltskin and other elements that fantasy readers will want to hoard like dragon's gold.

This book is a wonderful retelling of the Rumplestiltskin myth with strong female characters. I loved the way the author wove the three storylines together. There are plenty of twists and turns and a thoroughly satisfying ending. Naomi Novik is a master fantasy storyteller!

SPINNING SILVER is golden. By far the best book I have read in a while. Naomi Novik is a master story teller. Her writing flows from the pages into my eyes, through my brain and touches my heart in alternating hot and cold flashes.

I see this book becoming a classic. So much of life is captured in this tale that I found myself writing life quotes from the words floating magically in my mind. Thank You Ms. Novik and please continue to pour into your words the essence of living in the tension of life. This is a must read this summer.

Not exactly what I was expecting, but I appreciate Net Galley and the publisher for sharing the galley of this title.

Spinning Silver was good, but not as engaging as Uprooted. Novik has the same consistent style in this book, the plot just wasn't quite as engaging for me. Spinning Silver is a twist on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin set in a Russian fairy tale sort of background. The Staryk come in the winter and pillage the town at the center of the story. Miryam, the town moneylender, has caught their attention and the king of the Staryk wants her to turn silver into gold. Every time the Staryk and their kingdom came up, I pictured the white walkers from Game of Thrones. Maybe not accurate, but there wasn't enough description for me to put together a better picture of what they look like. Spinning Silver is more of a character driven plot, though it does pick up at the end. I think the major consequence is that I really struggled with the middle of the book. It has a satisfying ending, just beware of the slow parts. If you're a fan of Katherine Arden's Bear and the Nightingale, this book is definitely for you. They have a very similar feel and style.

After falling head-over-heels for Uprooted, I was already onboard for this semi-Rumplestiltskin-esque retelling and it did not disappoint. This was a bit of a slow burn story, with most of the juicy action coming in the latter half of the book. Replete with strong female heroes, and a fairy tale retelling that I now believe only Naomi Novik is capable of, the tale is spun from 3 main character's voices, with clever icons indicating when those voices switch. Several subplots help weave the stories together. I know that my library will place this book in the Teen collection and it does skew slightly towards that, any adult who is a fan of the fantasy genre will love this. I thoroughly enjoyed the sprinkling of Slavik and Jewish culture that lent such vivid pictures and brought life to the characters. The ending was awesome, surprising, and emotional for me! That's all I'm going to say about that. I'm looking forward to reading anything and everything that comes out by Ms. Novak!

Like Daniel Abraham's "The Dagger and the Coin" series this book has a strong plot line that touches on money lending and banking in medieval society, a subject matter that I find interesting and under explored in fantasy literature which makes the first third of the book fly by. As the story continues though I found the point of view changes were not as smooth as could have been expected luckily the narrative is so strong and compelling it pulls the reader through to truly enjoy this story with several very strong young female characters from differing lots in life. I'd recommend this book for most teens that are fans of fantasy novels and also adults that will appreciate the well depicted money lending and court intrigue story lines.

Masterfully done! I enjoyed Uprooted, but Spinning Silver blew me away. The pacing at the beginning of the book felt a little slow, but the wait was worth it. The character development was exceptional. The story was told from various characters point of view. Each one had a unique voice and less than a quarter of the way through the book I didn't need the symbols at the start of the chapter to know which character was furthering the story. The description of people and places made me feel as if I were right there in the story and could almost feel the cold that had taken over the land. Absolutely wonderful and would highly recommend.

This is a beautiful reinterpretation on the theme of the Rumpelstiltskin story,set in a land where winter seems to rule. The Staryk are mystical creatures seemingly made of ice who raid for gold and they are feared by all. there are three young women from vastly different circumstances who by their strength of character and perseverance manage to improve their lives.
I enjoyed the story itself immensely.; but the author's writing style of character stream of consciousness - where you are reading about one character and at the paragraph change you are reading about another character is a bit unsettling. The style draws the story out so that you feel the story unfold through every character. It is a fascinating idea of the interplay of silver and gold, spring and winter, poverty and wealth to bring together a reanimated fairy tale.

In Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik has woven together a handful of fairy tales to tell the stories of three women in a fantastical medieval Lithuania. Miryem is the daughter of a Jewish moneylender who is terrible at actually collecting money. Wanda is the daughter of a drunken, abusive father. Irina is the overlooked daughter of a duke. These women believe in their value and, as their stories take off and they mix with magic and danger, the three will finally have a chance to demand the respect they are owed.

We first meet Miryem before she takes over her father’s business. Her father is such a soft touch that its easy for the villagers to take advantage of him. But Miryem discovers a talent for making money when her mother falls ill and she has no choice but to go out and get money for food. She can turn silver into gold with her entrepreneurial skills—which unfortunately gets misinterpreted by the terrifying kind of the Staryk, who wants her to literally transform silver into gold and takes her away from her home to his snowy kingdom. Meanwhile, Wanda pays off her father’s debt by working for Miryem. In one of the less weird touches of magic, Wanda and her brothers is watched over by their mother’s spirit from where their mother lives in a snow tree.

It’s only later that we meet Irina, who attracts the attention of the tsar. This might have been the start of a dream come true except for the fact that the tsar is possessed by a fiery demon. For several chapters, the three women continue on their more-or-less magical paths, until they start to scheme their way out of their predicaments. Unlike other books with multiple narrators, I found all of the stories equally enthralling—maybe because I was busy trying to spot the fairy tales Novik was playing around with.

The themes of value and cost come up over and over in this book. Miryem has to bargain with the Staryk king for answers to her questions. Irina has to bargain with the demon to stay alive. Unlike Irina and Miryem, Wanda has to learn that she has value beyond what she can earn with her labor, but she has the spirit to say no when she’s pushed into deals she doesn’t want to accept. Spinning Silver is satisfyingly feminist as these women refuse to just go along with what the men (and supernatural beings) in their lives want. This book had me cheering for the protagonists as they battled whatever high stakes, seemingly impossible challenges came their way.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration. It will be released 10 July 2018.