Gilded

Marissa Meyer's "Gilded" reimagines the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale with a dark, romantic twist for young adult readers. Serilda, cursed with a talent for telling captivating but untrue stories, finds herself in the clutches of the Erlking, who demands she spin straw into gold. Her desperate plea summons a mysterious boy, leading to a dangerous bargain and the unraveling of ancient secrets and curses within the castle walls. This book is suitable for ages 12-18, offering themes of bravery, resilience, and the complexities of truth and lies within a richly atmospheric fantasy world. Parents should be aware of the darker elements, including supernatural creatures and perilous situations.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue. Or so everyone believes. When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn’t meant to be part of the bargain. Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.