Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

A fairy tale that spins Rumpelstiltskin through the lens of three unforgettable women and Jewish folklore

The Plot

Miryem, the daughter of a Jewish moneylender, takes over her father's business and develops a reputation for turning silver into gold. Her success attracts the attention of the magical Staryk king, who demands her to literally perform this feat—or face dire consequences. Meanwhile, peasant girl Wanda works to pay off her father's debt to Miryem, and noblewoman Irina finds herself married to a demon of fire. As winter grows ever colder and supernatural forces threaten their world, these three women must use their wit, courage, and determination to protect themselves and those they love.

My Breakdown

OK, is this a romance book? Well, there is kissing and happy ending, so I declare it so!

Spinning Silver demonstrates how fantasy can illuminate real-world concerns while creating something entirely new and magical. This book is proof that fairy tale retellings can be both profound and utterly original while setting your heart racing with every perfectly crafted page.

Miryem’s dynamic with the Staryk king is electrifying. He's winter incarnate—beautiful, terrible, and utterly inhuman until Miryem begins to see beneath the frost. Their slow-burn romance is all sharp edges and grudging respect turning to something deeper.

But it was all the same choice, every time. The choice between the one death and all the little ones. The Staryk was glaring at me, unearthly and terrifying. But what was the use of being afraid of him?

Then there's Irina and her demon-fire tsar—another enemies-to-lovers dance. These aren't your typical fairy tale romances; they're complex negotiations of power, trust, and transformation. When these couples clash, it's like watching fire meet ice, and the resulting steam will fog up your reading glasses!

The way Novik weaves together three female perspectives is pure magic. Each woman's story could stand alone, but together they create something extraordinary. And while Wanda's story isn't primarily romantic, her journey to found family and self-determination is equally compelling.

The emotional complexity here sets it apart from typical retellings. Yes, there are gorgeous supernatural men and romantic tension that could freeze (or burn!) you solid, but it's the themes of prejudice, power, and the courage to defy expectations that will keep you thinking long after the last page.

But the world I wanted wasn't the world I lived in, and if I would do nothing until I could repair every terrible thing at once, I would do nothing forever.

That winter setting... my god. Novik's prose will make you feel the bite of supernatural cold and the warmth of hard-won love. The Staryk's realm of eternal winter is both terrifying and seductive, like the best fairy tales should be.

Novik's deals with Jewish identity and anti-Semitism in a particularly noteworthy way, so if you’re an antisemite don’t read this book (or my blog), you won’t enjoy it.

You can purchase the book on Naomi Novik’s website