This was incredibly clever. The descriptions are spectacular. The tension was real. The world building is epic. It went on a bit too long at the end. I would,have loved to see some of this saved for the sequel. Still, Ms. Meyer has only once let me down but never with her fairytale books. Ms. Soler, who seems to be Ms. Meyer’s audio muse, delivers again.

Let me start this review by saying this is not a stand-alone book. I went into this fully expecting closure at the end. While I read I kept thinking, "this really feels like a lot of world-building for one book". At one point I had to look it up and double check and sure enough this is book 1 of a duology. I'm not mad about it, I just prefer to know these things going into a book.
The book itself is a loose re-telling of Rumpelstiltskin but had plenty of unique features unto itself. In this story we meet Serilda. Serilda was supposedly born gifted (or cursed) by a god. She has unique eyes which set her apart and make her an outcast. The town sees her as a bad omen. Serilda fancies herself a storyteller and enjoys regaling the children at school with her creative tales. When one night she finds herself using her storytelling abilities to save some forest creatures she may have gotten herself in over her head. The story she spins is that she can spin straw into gold. The person she spins it to is the Erlking. At the next full moon she finds herself being summoned to display her talent. Has this story finally gotten her in a deeper mess than she can get out of?

This is a YA read that read like a young YA. It is not super fast paced but it is detailed in its descriptions. Given the books length, however, I feel it could have easily been shortened and still had the same affect. I was also a little under-whelmed by the insta-love situation, but again the younger YA audience doesn't need the build-up etc. I am invested enough, however, to want to pick up book 2 when it releases (supposed to be November 2022).

I listened to this on on audio and would recommend that format to any audiobook fans. I do hope they retain the same narrator for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for sharing this one in exchange for an honest review.

Okay I actually really loved this book and am SO sad about having to wait for the sequel!

I was worried that Marissa Meyer wouldn’t be able to top the lunar chronicles or even get within range, and while I can’t say which one I love more, this story was phenomenal. I’m not usually one to enjoy historical fantasy type stories because I always find them so repetitive or cliche but this story carried well and I didn’t find that a problem at all.

It was also really interesting to see the way Marissa Meyer chose to tell the story and the way she tied the different elements of it together. I won’t deny that I could definitely see certain big things coming, but I also wouldn’t say the book was entirely predictable either. I also won’t deny that Serilda is the kind of character who tends to make problems for herself, which while annoying at times, made sense for her character so I can’t really fault her that either. That said, none of those things impeded my ability to enjoy the story, especially because I wouldn’t have been able to solve Serilda’s problem any better than she did, so I was really just along for the ride with her.

I received an audiobook arc from the publishers and netgalley in exchange for an honest review so I will also briefly comment on how the audiobook was by saying it was really good. The narrator really fit the story quite well and I really appreciated not having to parse out how certain words and names are supposed to sound. Without a doubt I will be listening to the sequel as an audiobook as well.

Marissa Meyer is an insta read for me. Gilded started off strong and I really enjoyed it! Sadly for me, it started to slow down about half way in and it took awhile for me to get back into it. Overall I did enjoy the story. It just wasn’t my favorite. The narrator did a great job! I will still read the next one, but it just not be a priority release date read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to Gilded in exchange for a honest review

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Marissa Meyer's newest book, and I was excited to preview it in audiobook form. Gilded is the first in a new fantasy series. This book has the same alluring magic as Meyer's earlier works, but it's a much darker story.

I enjoyed the overall story and appreciated the detail Meyer put into the characters and settings. The plot itself was a bit predictable, and I wish the pacing had been better, but I'm still very much looking forward to the sequel.

🎧 The audiobook narration was exquisite. The voice actor was so talented. There were some odd parts where it sounded like a line had been recorded and spliced in, but I'm not sure if that's what happened, or if it was a glitch in the Netgalley app.

📚 Read this if you liked Heartless or House of Salt & Sorrow.

I loved the Lunar Chronicle series by Marissa Meyer but didn't like Heartless so I had mixed emotions coming into reading Gilded. I should not have been worried. The retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story was so much better than Heartless. The character build up was smooth. The action was continuous. There wasn't a time that I wanted to put the book down. I did not know ahead of time that this book was going to have a sequel but the ending definitely requires it. The narrator did a phenomenal job on the audiobook. I would definitely recommend listening to this story.

I really don't know how to feel about Marissa Meyer taking a short and non-romantic Grimm Brothers' tale and blowing it into a two book insta-love bonanza. All I know is I didn't enjoy it much.

Serilda is a gifted liar and storyteller. It's a talent made plain in the colouring of her eyes and has made her an outcast in her small village. It also gets her into trouble when she encounters the Hunt and tells the dangerous Erlking himself that she can spin straw into gold. When he summons her to her castle to prove her skill, Serilda is prepared to die when morning comes and her lie is revealed. However, the castle's poltergeist, a young man named Gild with no memory of who he is, is willing to help her. For a price.

I'll start with what worked before I dig into how little I ended up caring for this book. I enjoyed the first 100 pages or so quite a bit. They were well written and drew me into the world pretty quick. There is a lot of German folklore in here, which I really liked, even if many of the names did sound very out of place on the audiobook. I also quite liked that this went into a bit of a darker territory. The Grimm Brothers' tales are notoriously morbid and frightening, so it was nice to see that translated a little bit here. And as far as a retelling goes, this was an interesting take on Rumpelstiltskin. This was not her best retelling, not at all, but there is still a lot to commend it.

All right, now for what made this go off the rails for me. I had a few complaints about the plot. Once we got to the first spinning of gold scene, it became quite predictable for a while because it was very on the nose in terms of the retelling aspect. I'll spin straw into gold for you if you give me that necklace, that ring, your firstborn child. No surprises or twists there. I also found it to be quite repetitive, with Serilda going back and forth between the same three locations, almost always by herself, and talking to the same people in each place. I didn't really care about what happened overall and found myself quite bored at times, not helped on by the fact that Serilda is not my favourite character in the world.

What really threw me for a loop was Serilda's storytelling. A big part of who she is is a liar and a storyteller. It gets her in trouble but she's a hit with the kids. But her stories were difficult to reconcile with the plot and made it hard to keep track of worldbuilding details. For instance, in the beginning she makes up a story for a group of children. It's made clear that she is just pulling this stuff out of nowhere, so I didn't really pay too close attention. Turns out it had all the information I needed to understand half the story, and this occurrence happened a lot. And when the truth of her storytelling came to light, I genuinely got mad. It could have been cool but actually felt quite lazy on Meyer's part.

The romance was stupid, but cleverly so. If that makes any sense. It is very much instant love, with them meeting once a month. Gild spins and listens to Serilda make up a story. Apparently that's enough for them to have sex on their third meeting. Can I just remind you, Gild is a poltergeist?! He's basically a ghost, and I was not expecting this to go into monster f*cking territory. Gild was sweet, sure, and I want to know more about his history, but I just didn't care for them together. They both come across as desperate for companionship, and that often results in toxic mindsets and relationships.

Also, is everyone just going to ignore the [pregnancy (hide spoiler)] twist, because I hate that very very much. It was made so obvious by comments from other characters, yet I kept hoping and praying that it wasn't true, that Marissa was not going down that road. For this reason alone, I will not be reading the sequel. I have zero interest in following a [pregnant teenager with what might be a very questionable child (hide spoiler)] while she tries to stop the Erlking.

If you would like to read a dark Rumpelstiltskin retelling that isn't so on the nose and doesn't make you cringe, I would suggest Small Favors by Erin A. Craig a hundred times over.

First line: All right. I will tell you the tale, how it happened in truth.

Summary: Years ago a miller wished to marry a beautiful maiden. He asked the old gods to grant him this wish. When it was granted they also bestowed a gift on the couple’s child. She would be able to tell stories so fantastical that fascinated and awed her audiences. But they were also not true.

Years later, Serilda, the child of the miller catches the attention of the feared Erlking and his wild hunt. She tells a story of her ability to spin straw into gold thread. Fascinated by her the king kidnaps her on the full moon and makes her spin or lose her life. Unfortunately, Serilda cannot actually spin straw into gold but as she worries for her life a ghost appears to her in the castle who claims he can do the task but for a price.

As the months progress, Serilda is sure that the king will find out. However, an unexpected twist happens when Serilda starts to fall in love with her mysterious helper but she knows that not everything in the enchanted castle is as it appears.

My Thoughts: I was really excited to see that Marissa Meyer was once again doing a fairy tale retelling. I loved her Cinder series. The premise, the cover and the setting all appealed to me. I knew that this would be a book I would love. I wish I was right. I did like it and most likely will read the next one but the middle was just too long. I loved the beginning. And the end was very dark and twisty. But the middle stretched out for far too long. It seemed rather repetitive.

I enjoyed Serilda’s character. Her stories were interesting. I would read just a bunch of her short stories. But when she starts to fall for Gild I felt that it was a little forced. I did not really feel the chemistry between them until near the end as some of the pieces started falling into place for the lead up to the sequel.

The ending was really dark. Much more so than Meyer’s other books. But this may be a homage to the original authors of the story of Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm. I will be interested to see where Meyer goes in the next book with Serilda’s story.

FYI: Trigger warnings: death of children.

I was not aware that this was part of a series when I requested it through NetGalley. Coming in at over 500 pages, I expected it to be a standalone like Heartless. So, I was quite disappointed to realize that this is not a full story. There is no resolution at the end of this book and you need to read the next book in the series to find out what will happen. In that way, it is more like her Lunar Chronicles series. Fortunately, as of now, the second book, Cursed, is expected to conclude the story and be published in November of 2022.

This is the story of Rumplestiltskin imaginatively told though Meyer's unique storytelling. She takes an age old story and twists it into something completely new. The bones are the same, but the players and the outcome are different. In Meyer's version, there is a love story weaved within the pages and it grows to become an important part of the overall story.

At times the story meanders a bit too much and the book probably could have been shortened, but it was a story that kept me thinking about it when I wasn't reading and looking forward to picking it up again. I feel invested in these characters and look forward to seeing what happens to them all, not just the main characters, but several side characters as well. I just wish I didn't have to wait a year to know the outcome.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Rebecca Soler and she portrayed our main character, Serilda, perfectly. I'm hoping that she narrates the second book as well. It would be nice to have that continuity of character.

This is my first Marissa Meyer’s book and I was not disappointed.I really enjoyed the story. It was a cool retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin. Some parts felt a little long and dragged out especially since another book is coming out but overall it kept my interest. I definitely had many “ooh what happens next!?” moments. I will be reading the next book for sure!


I listened to the audiobook which was excellent. The narrator did a wonderful job keeping my attention to the story.

Gilded is the latest release from the ultimate Queen of Retellings, Marissa Meyer. Pitched as a haunted retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, Gilded was one of my most anticipated 2021-releases. I preordered the heck out of this book and am so pleased that it now graces my shelves.

The narrative follows, Serilda, a miller's daughter, who spends her days spinning tales for the children in her village. Her stories are wildly entertaining and full of untruths, even though to hear her tell them, you would think everything she says is possible. Serilda is a truly gifted storyteller. Cursed years ago by the God of Lies, Serilda's talent was bound to get her in over her head eventually.

When one of her stories draws the attention of the Erlking and his wild hunters, Serilda gets drawn beyond the veil into a world of ghouls, phantoms and other mythical creatures. Based on her story, the Erlking demands that Serilda weave straw into gold for him, locking her in a tower, threatening her life if the task isn't completed by morning.

After a mysterious boy appears in her tower room, Serilda discovers he has the exact magic she needs to save herself. But who is he and what does he want with her? As the two get to know one another, their fates become intertwined in Serilda's epic battle to free herself from the Erlking's clutches.

As mentioned above, I had been really excited to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the audiobook from the publisher, Macmillan Audio. I decided to go with the audio version because of that and I am so glad that I did!

I previously listened to the entire Lunar Chronicles series on audio and had such a blast with it. To my sheer delight, I quickly discovered this audio is performed by the same fantastic narrator, Rebecca Soler!

She just has the perfect voice for Meyer's stories. Whimsical and captivating, she breezes through Meyer's whip-smart dialogue like she had written it herself.

In fact, that is one of my favorite aspects of Meyer's writing; the dialogue. It is always so witty and fun, keeping me smiling even during the most intense scenes. Serilda's perspective provided plenty of opportunity for Meyer to show off that comical style.

As a side note, I actually read this entire story believing it to be a standalone novel. Surprise and elation, it is not! This is actually the first in a duology, with the second book expected to be released next November. I cannot wait to find out the conclusion to Serilda's story. I will definitely be rereading this one prior to that release.

If you have enjoyed previous works from Meyer, or just love a dark fairytale retelling, you absolutely need to pick this one up and give it a shot.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy of this to listen to and review. It's an incredible story with some phenomenal narration to boot! I cannot wait for the continuation of this story. 2022, here we come!!!

Serilda is a poor miller's daughter known for her outlandish tales. When she tells a tale to the Erlking on the night of the Wild Hunt, she is taken to his castle and told to spin straw into gold or face the consequences of her lies. Devastated, Serilda accidently summons a mysterious boy who agrees to aid her with her task, for a price.

Definitely not my favourite Marissa Meyer book, but I still enjoyed my time reading! This is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, that I had no idea was going to be A SERIES?! I was so confused when it ended, as I totally thought it was a stand-alone and it was so open-ended. I am definitely intrigued to see where the story progresses in the next installment. I think I was expecting the same friendship dynamics and witty banter I've gotten with Meyer's other books so I was a bit disappointed that much of this book was Serilda on her own. I also wasn't the BIGGEST fan of the romance in this, it just didn't give me the same vibes as I've felt with her other books. I did love the setting though, and found the descriptions of the places Serilda went to be wonderful and atmospheric. I think my favourite parts of the book were when Serilda began to spin her tales and we were able to hear them as well. I did really like Gild as a character, and I'm interested to see what happens next!

Serilda is god-blessed, people may say god-cursed, but whatever she is, she is a gifted storyteller. While her town and father think of them as lies, Serilda loves the tales. During on snow storm night, she saves two moss maidens who are REAL. But saving the moss maidens lands her in the hands of the Erlking, his wild hunt, and a web of lies. Life as Serilda knows is over. She is now his, but what happens when he challenges her to do all she says she can? And who is the boy who could save her?

This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin captures you completely! I absolutely LOVED it. The story is captivating and perfectly woven. Rebecca Soler narrated Marissa Meyer's book perfectly!

I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Gilded was a beautiful written story with a twist about who we all know as Rumpelstiltskin. The twists and turns of Serildas life and the trials and tribulations she faces keep you on your toes this entire book. The introduction of Gild and how their stories intertwined was so well done and the Dark one generates fear even to the reader as your are immersed in this story. Definitely a nice twist on an old fairytale

I loved this audiobook and thought the narrator did an amazing job of giving the listener the full scope of every character.

Highly recommend!!

I love a good retelling, and I love Marissa Meyer. Gilded was a fun book full of wonderful fairy tales and stories, but I do think it was a bit too long. The beginning was so captivating, but it started to get a little repetitive and (*spoiler*) ends with no resolution. I do look forward to reading the next in the series and getting some answers though!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early!

I like this one, but didn’t love it.

I don’t know the original Rumplestiltskin story well. I probably know the Once Upon a Time version the best.

Parts of this book were really good, Others were slow and felt like unnecessary filler.

The romance didn’t hook me and that’s a big part of the story.

I might read the next one, but I won’t go out of my way to find it.

3.5⭐

This is a surprisingly dark twist on Rumpelstiltskin full of folklore, magic, and captivating writing. But while I loved aspects of this book (seriously the writing is beautiful) I found some parts to be repetitive and predictable. Overall I had a good time with this story, and I don't plan to pick up the sequel, it just isn't going down as a favorite of all time.

Let's start with my favorite parts of this book!

The retelling and folklore aspects of this were fantastic. They were true to the original while still feeling fresh and modern. I loved the fantastical elements (god magic) mixed with the darker paranormal aspects (some of these ghosts were terrifying!). And I thought it was such a fun blend of genres making it feel really unique.

This genre blend also gave it a much darker edge than I was expecting. This book reads older on the YA scale and tackles some dark stuff. And it definitely doesn't shy away from gruesome descriptions! I really liked that Marissa Meyer wasn't afraid to go dark with this retelling, especially considering how dark the original tales get.

And just like the Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer is a stunning writer. Her descriptions and worlds are so lush and magical. And the scenes leap off the page. I could vividly see every single scene throughout this book.

But I think were this book fell a little short for me was in its length and characters.

This book did not need to be 500 pages long... Did we really need 3 detailed spinning scenes. I was frustrated by the fact that we were rehashing information over and over again (how many times did Serilda need to be told that magic required payment?!).

But on top of that, we spent a lot of time hinting at the past and over and over to the point where it became extremely obvious where the story was heading. And as a reader I felt like I was just waiting for the characters to catch up.

I think if some of that time and detail had been eased off on the history and spent developing the relationships, this book could have 100% won me over. But I didn't buy into the romance as much as I wanted to because their minimal interactions were so focused on external discussions rather than getting to know each other.

Overall this book was a little hit and miss. Some parts blew me away and were absolutely magical. While other aspects fell flat. But I am curious to see where this story goes from here enough that I plan to pick up book 2.

If you're on the fence about this book or if you're an avid audiobook listener, I HIGHLY recommend the audio for this. It is narrated by Rebecca Soler who also did the Lunar Chronicle books, and she absolutely blew me away with her narration. She brings the entire story to life with her voices and acting (she even sings certain portions). It was absolutely fantastically done and definitely a narrator I will be watching for from now on!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Macmillan. All opinions are my own!

Serilda has always been gifted by the god of lies. But when one of her stories attracts the attention of the Erlking, she finds herself stuck, trying desperately to spin straw to gold. When her plight summons a mysterious boy, she finds herself thrown into a world of magic and mystery. What lengths will Serilda have to go to to save the people she loves?

The first thing that jumped out to me about this book was the way that the story really immersed you! I felt like I was right there with Serilda and the children, and I really loved the way that the world was built around you and made you feel like part of it. And the way that classic fairytale elements were woven into the story made it even more enjoyable (and that's coming from someone who took a fairytales class in college!) because of how artfully it was done.

I will say that there were times when the story seemed to drag on and I wasn't sure where it was actually going to go or what the point might be. But in the end, I really loved the way the plot twists just kept coming and the way that I became so attached to Serilda and Gild. I can't wait to see where their story takes them.

If you like fairytale retellings, this book is one you definitely should not miss!

I love how Marissa Meyer takes a fairytale and gives her spin on it. I also enjoy very much the romance she splashes within all the conflict. She has done it again, wonderful book. The narrator was especially good. She read in a way that was easy to follow along and entertaining as well.

This book... WOW!!!

The narrator Rebecca Soler was amazing as always, but it was the story that kept me so captivated I didn't want to do anything but listen to this book. It had an amazing world building, interesting characters and so many stories within the story the foreshadowing was perfection!

I went in thinking this was a standalone and I'm devastated to know I have to wait for the second book but so happy I don't have to say goodbye to these characters just yet!