Gold SpunAuthor: Brandie June
Release Date: June 8, 2021
Publisher: Camcat Publishing, LLC
Language: English
Hardcover: 368 pages
Description:
If Nor can’t spin gold, she can always spin lies.
When seventeen-year-old Nor rescues a captured faerie in the woods, he gifts her with a magical golden thread she can use to summon him for a favor. Instead, Nor uses it for a con—to convince villagers to buy straw that can be transformed into gold. Her trick works a little too well, attracting the suspicion of Prince Casper, who hates nobody more than a liar. Intent on punishing Nor, he demands that she spin a room of straw into gold and as her reward, he will marry her. Should she refuse or fail, the consequences will be dire.
"June shines in this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin...with memorable characters that will appeal to a broad range of fantasy readers." —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“And you dropped this in the woods,” I added quickly, starting to pull off the signet ring. “I am so grateful to be able to return it, Your Highness.”
“No,” he said, his hand shooting out to stop me. “I think you should keep it.” His grip around my hand tightened as his smile broadened. Louder murmurs and gasps came from the crowd.
“Prince Casper, only royalty may wear the Famille De Rose ring.” An older nobleman in yellow and black velvet had stepped towards the prince, putting a warning hand on his shoulder.
Prince Casper removed the man’s hand, but his smile never wavered. If anything, it grew sharper. “Clearly, this young woman is an expert at conjuring gold.”
“Not at all,” I stammered, feeling the trap closing in. There was no getting out of this one. I quickly glanced around, desperately hoping not to see my brothers. It would be far better if they weren’t here. Devon and Jacobie were still by the wagon. Damn.
“You should have seen it. It was a miracle,” the old woman said enthusiastically. I tried not to cringe.
“You would be an asset against the fay,” Prince Casper said, looking smug. “Certainly, you would want to do anything you could to aid your kingdom against the fay. After all, with Reynallis devoting so many of our resources to protect the Sterling border, we wouldn’t want to be caught unaware. There is nothing I hate so much as my subjects being taken advantage of in a devious deception.” Whether anyone in the crowd could tell if he was talking about me or the fay, I could not surmise. But he and I both knew he saw through my deceptions. Chace’s den, my lies are piling up around him.
“Do not fear, girl. If you do this one, simple task for me, one you clearly do so well,” he said gesturing to my gold thread, “then you can keep my ring.”
“If I can spin gold, why would I need you to let me keep a gold ring?” I spat out. I was too terrified to be polite and already as good as dead.
“Clever girl,” the prince said, appraising me. “But as Lord Arnette pointed out, only royalty may wear that ring,” he said with a smile.
“What?” I asked, sure I had misunderstood his implication. The crowd let out gasps of awe and shock.
“Prince Casper, you can’t be serious,” a young noblewoman in a blue and silver gown said, her voice lilting with an accent. She and the rest of the prince’s retinue looked visibly disturbed by the idea.
“A room full of gold would aid our military efforts immensely. A fitting reward for such a dowry would be the realm itself. A woman able to protect our kingdom would deserve to be queen. Do this, ensure the safety of Reynallis, and—” He paused, piercing me with a look. “I shall make you my queen.”
Copyright © 2021 by Brandie June
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