Spinning Silver – Naomi Novik

I loved this book. At its barest bones, it’s “Rumpelstiltskin”, but the author is just using the spinning things into gold conceit and adding in Russian and Jewish folklore to get a fantastic tale of women taking charge of their lives to save the people they love.

Miryem is the daughter of the local moneylender, a man so kind-hearted that his own family goes hungry when he won’t reclaim debts from people he feels need the money more than him. It’s Miryem who takes charge of the debts when her mother becomes sick, and it’s clear that someone needs to bring in money somehow.

She enlists the help of Wanda, the daughter of a local farmer who beats the three children that have survived the hard life of their farm, and the lack of provision that his alcoholism has caused the family.

Their lives end up being entwined with that of Irina, the unloved, ugly daughter of the local Duke, who through magic is suddenly placed in the unlikely position of being able to marry the Tsar.

You wouldn’t think these women should be tied together, and yet they are, and they save everyone from an enemy that is not initially clear. It’s a great story – it just keeps getting better. I was happy how it ended, but sorry it was over.