The days are hot; this engrossing fantasy novel will cool you off. 

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (2018; 448 pages).

You know the story of Rumpelstiltskin? They got it wrong. It’s really just a story about paying back a debt. So begins Miryem’s story. In Litvas, a land with a constantly encroaching winter, Miryem’s family is starving. Her father is the local moneylender, but he’s so softhearted that he will never collect what he’s owed. So Miryem takes matters into her own hands and finds out that she has a skill for moneylending and making deals. When her ability to take silver and turn it into gold attracts the nearby magic folk the Staryk, rulers of ice and snow, Miryem finds herself captured by the King of the Staryk in a bargain that means much more than she knows.

This is a rich tapestry of a fantasy novel, told from many different perspectives to weave an enthralling tale that will have you shivering in the kingdom of winter even as the heat index climbs. It’s a story of strong women who use their minds to solve problems and to escape the men who are trying to keep them captive. I loved the multiple strong characters and the magic of the story. It’s complicated and not always easy to figure out which side is right and which side is wrong. This would be a great book to sink into as you spend an entire weekend holed up in the air conditioning.

If you like fairy tale retellings and fantasy that completely transports you to another place, pick up Spinning Silver. This book is published for adults, but I think there’s a lot of teen crossover appeal, too.

You might like this book if you liked:

  • The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (2017; 322 pages). This is another rich, transporting fantasy novel that you can really sink your teeth into. It features a strong heroine and magic and a similarly cold and sweeping Russian-ish setting.
  • Uprooted by Naomi Novik (2015; 438 pages). Novik’s previous standalone fantasy novel won a Nebula Award for best novel. Based on Polish fairy tales, this is another story with a strong heroine, a rich forested fantasy setting, and lots of crossover appeal for teens.
  • East by Edith Pattou (2003; 498 pages). This fantasy novel is actually written for teens, but I think there’s a lot of crossover potential for adults. This one is a retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Readers who like sussing out fairy tale retellings and strong girl characters will enjoy this one, too.

— Abby Johnson, Collection Development Leader