Stalks of Gold by Celeste Bazendell
Magic isn’t a solution; it’s a trap.
All her life, Aurelia has been taught that if she comes across magic, she’s supposed to run in the other direction. Life is no longer so simple. If the tower door opens, and she doesn’t have any gold, her life will be forfeit.
The only person who can help her is the mysterious stranger who appeared on her doorstep and in her tower room. If she takes his deal, she might live, but what will she sacrifice in order to do it?
For years, Sandor has done everything he could to keep Aurelia far away from the king and the truth about his identity, but the second Aurelia stepped into the castle, it was all for nothing. Is the king truly so desperate to get out of debt, he’s willing to believe such nonsense as a girl who can spin straw into gold?
Aurelia is Sandor’s closest friend; if she was a witch, he would be the first to know… unless he’s not the only one keeping secrets.
Time is running out. The trap is springing shut. Sandor is the only one who can save Aurelia from the king… or so he thinks. Is the king the real threat, or is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows?
Stalks of Gold, a reimagining that combines Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel, is the first in the Bewitching Fairy Tales Series, a series of interconnected fairy tale retellings that are best enjoyed together but can be read separately. If you enjoy epic fairy tale retellings filled with clean romance, high-stakes adventure, and complex, compelling characters, download Stalks of Gold today!
I’ve been admiring this cover for ages and was thrilled when Celeste offered me an ARC copy. The story hidden within the pages was every bit as beautiful as the cover. Aurelia is a simple miller’s daughter. But when the king hears a rumor that she can spin straw into gold, he arrests her and holds her captive until she can come up with enough gold to pay the nation’s debt. Of course, that isn’t even the real story, simply the first in a long string of plots and events centered around the miller’s daughter. She must find a way to escape several towers and guess the name of the man behind all of the schemes or she could stay trapped forever. It’s a brilliant mashup, really. But while the core of each fairy tale is there, plenty of the details are different and there are enough twists to keep you guessing all the way to the end. I loved it. And I think anyone who loves a good fairy tale (or in this case, two) will love it as well. I received a free ARC copy of the book from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
This review was written by Sara Lawson.
