Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was just what I needed after reading some rather heavy stuff lately. It is a smart, creative "re-telling" of Rumpelstiltskin. When I say, re-telling, what I mean is Novik simply uses the basic concepts as a jumping off point for a whole new fantasy. There is an underpinning theme about climate change and capitalism, but what I loved were the clever, strong, and determined women who refused to let circumstances dictate their choices, but to act and then act again, always searching for ways to solve problems or change their predicaments. Sometimes their actions did not result in ideal solutions, but they kept preserving, and by continuing to act they were led to a satisfactory ending. A great female-driven fantasy.

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