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Golden (Once Upon A Time)

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 3,809 ratings · 478 reviews

Before Rapunzel's birth, her mother made a dangerous deal with the sorceress Melisande: If she could not love newborn Rapunzel just as she appeared, she would surrender the child to Melisande. When Rapunzel was born completely bald and without hope of ever growing hair, her horrified mother sent her away with the sorceress to an uncertain future.

After sixteen years of rais...more

Paperback, 179 pages

Published February 28th 2006 by Simon Pulse

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The Best Fairytales and Retellings

74th out of 919 books — 5,212 voters

The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey

Once Upon a Time Series

7th out of 19 books — 185 voters

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Community Reviews

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Aug 23, 2009 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fairy tale suckers I mean... lovers of course!

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, fairy-tales

I wanted to hug this book literally when I was done. Perfect . Exactly what a true fairy tale should be. I'm seriously thinking about reading ALL Rapunzel retellings to see if there is one out there that can do it better than Dokey.

Rapunzel is bald. What? Yeah I didn't think I could get on board with this but it worked. The sorceress isn't evil and Rapunzel doesn't end up with a prince per say. So some major changes. Unlike last time (with Sunlight and Shadow)the length didn't hurt the book.

R...more

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Sep 01, 2009 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Valerie by: Cara, Ash

Shelves: retellings, fantasy

I have no real complaints about this book. It is the most satisfying book I've read of the series so far (I've read 3 of them just so you know).

Rapunzel starts off by telling us that the tale we have grown up with about her is inaccurate and she precedes to tell us the real story. The story sure has its differences: Rapunzel is bald, the sorceress is good, a prince is involved but isn't the only one to take credit in saving Rapuzel, and Rapunzel doesn't get stuck in a tower until near the last q...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Anne Osterlund rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rapunzel is, well, perhaps not what you’d expect. As bald as an egg, raised by a sorceress, and actually not the most polite young lady ever to pull all the carrots out of a garden. But she does have the ability to see the truth. And into the hearts of almost everyone.

Except herself.

And maybe that of the tinker’s boy who insists upon calling her Parsley.

Quite a bit of fun and a surprisingly radical tale for one so often stuck up in a tower.

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Aug 19, 2009 Ash rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a very original take on the classic fairy-tale of Rapunzel. Instead of the sorceress being an evil old women who locks Rapunzel up in a tower until she's saved by the prince, it's COMPLETELY different.
Quick Overview: Rapunzel is born completely bald, the one stuck in a tower is the sorceress's daughter Rue, who is not put there by the sorceress, and the prince doesn't technically save anyone from a tower. The sorceress finds Rapunzal's father stealing rapunzel(of course) from her garde...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Janus Vielle (The Blair Book Project) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-paperback

I can point out a lot of good things about this book. For one, it definitely took after the original tale of Rapunzel but giving it a rather surprising twist. When we hear “Rapunzel” we immediately think EXTREMELY LONG BLONDE HAIR. But with Dokey’s Golden, we find our heroine BALD. Yup, you read it right; Rapunzel is B-A-L-D. I absolutely loved the idea. It was so fresh and the story of how she ended up with the sorceress was cunning.

Another thing I was fond of was Rapunzel herself. She’s spunky...more

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Jan 13, 2008 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fairy tale fans

Shelves: young-adult-lit, fantasy, fairytale

Have I ever mentioned how much I love fairy tales?

Golden is a beautifully done retelling of Rapunzel. Melisande the sorceress catches a man stealing an herb, rapunzel (parsely), from her garden because his pregnant wife has a craving. The mother, although beautiful, is selfish and is unable to love her newborn daughter because the girl was born completely bald. Melisande adopts the girl, who remains bald. When Rapunzel is 16, she learns that Melisande has a daughter who is trapped in a tower as...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Lucy Cai added it

Ever heard of the story Rapunzel? Well this one would blow the roof off your heads. Rapunzel, a girl who has been bald as an egg since birth, was taken away by the Melisande, a sorceress with the gift of seeing what is people’s hearts. It was because of her mother’s hunger for rapunzels that grew next door where the sorceress lived. Her father could only obey because he loved her mother and thus he stole from the sorceress. However, eventually the sorceress found out and made a deal that the fir...more Ever heard of the story Rapunzel? Well this one would blow the roof off your heads. Rapunzel, a girl who has been bald as an egg since birth, was taken away by the Melisande, a sorceress with the gift of seeing what is people’s hearts. It was because of her mother’s hunger for rapunzels that grew next door where the sorceress lived. Her father could only obey because he loved her mother and thus he stole from the sorceress. However, eventually the sorceress found out and made a deal that the first born child would be hers. When Rapunzel was born, she did not have a speck of hair and therefore her mother resented her. She could not make room for her daughter in her heart because it seemed that beauty was more important. Therefore, Melisande took her in and raised her until the age of sixteen when the towns people began to despise the fact the Melisande was a sorceress. It was then she found out that Melisande had a daughter her age named Rue, a girl who was cursed by accident and locked up in a tower. She was the key to help free Rue, but would she make that decision that would change her life and her relationship with Melisande forever?
This is a retell of Rapunzel and it is a fantasy. The author characterize the main character as if is she some kind of hero. She fights for herself and she is understanding to others even though they kind of betrayed her. I think the most heroic thing is that she would make room in her heart for another person would she does not really like for the sake of the people she cared about. She has a great burden that she has to carry, but she never gives up and tries her absolute very best for everything.
When I picked out this book in the library, I was shocked and interested at the same time. I mean come one, the most important aspect of Rapunzel is gone what can of story would that be? I was curious about the plot of the book because Rapunzel’s hair is gone, what would the prince climb on now? This book is really unique in a way. I would say it is a book to wake you up from fantasy with the princess and prince things. The story is of a suppose to be princess who walks out of the shadows and do something important for herself, something valuable that has to be done. I was also surprised that the sorceress was so nice because in the original story, the sorceress suppose to be all evil.
This book was really fantastic. I would recommended this book to good friends who want to give a good shake to their friend that loves to mix the real world with fantasy. It would be used to wake them up from fantasy where princesses are weak and elegant waiting for the prince to come. This could should tell them that princesses could do what princes do; save the day!
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Sep 18, 2012 Historyprincess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: once-upon-a-time

This retelling of "Rapunzel" just blew my mind. The way Cameron Dokey retold this story is clever and creative. I could barely put this book down.

Rapunzel lives with Melisande, the sorceress who raised her since she was an infant. When she was born, her mother, realizing that her daughter would never grow hair, sent her away to live with Melisande as part of a deal that they had. Years later, Rapunzel still doesn't have any hair, but she's happy living with the sorceress.

Not long after she makes...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Sandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, fantasy, fairytale, in-english, read-in-2012, read-in-vienna

I was so happily surprised by this book. I don't read fairytale-retellings often, but I think I need to read more of Dokey's because she writes them extremely well. I read another retelling of hers before reading "Golden", and it warms my heart to read these books.. because they are rather different from the original tale, they have an interesting twist (in this case: Rapunzel being bald, which I think is a stroke of genius) but they still feel magical. It's a different and yet the same tale you...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Linda Dexheimer added it · review of another edition

Shelves: traditional-literature

Cameron Dokey did a fantastic job re-telling the traditional fairy tale, Rapunzel. The main character of the story is Rapunzel, a girl named after a type of parsley. The story begins when Rapunzel's father is caught stealing rapunzel (parsley) from the sorceress' garden for his pregnant wife. The sorceress, Melisande, tells them that if the mother doesn't have enough room in her heart for her child, that she will take the child. Rapunzel's mother is a beautiful and vain woman and when Rapunzel i...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Libby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Golden: A Retelling of "Rapunzel"
By Cameron Dokey

Overall star rating: 4.5/5 stars
Rating: PG
Plot originality: 5/5 stars

I loved this book. A lot of retellings of classic fairy tales often succeed in replicating the original story, but don't add a layer of creativity. Honestly, I think the "re" in the title of many of them is the key. It's a "re"telling. It's just another telling of the story, not a different version of it. Well, this book did it. It was fast-paced, though I don't think that the l...more Golden: A Retelling of "Rapunzel"
By Cameron Dokey

Overall star rating: 4.5/5 stars
Rating: PG
Plot originality: 5/5 stars

I loved this book. A lot of retellings of classic fairy tales often succeed in replicating the original story, but don't add a layer of creativity. Honestly, I think the "re" in the title of many of them is the key. It's a "re"telling. It's just another telling of the story, not a different version of it. Well, this book did it. It was fast-paced, though I don't think that the length hurt it. It was clever, and I think that the witty plotting made for a really wonderful read. I don't know if I'll ever think of the Rapunzel story any other way than this one. This and Tangled are by far the best ones I have personally ever gotten my hands on. Amazingness!
The sarcasm was great, and I loved all the characters. The only thing if I had to that I'd change was Harry and Rapunzel/Susan's relationship, because though it was hinted that Harry started coming more and more I wish that Dokey had showed that happening more...but a really really satisfying book. LOVE IT!

Rapunzel is named after a type of parsley, she's completely and unequivocally bald and she lives with a sorceress in place for the mother that never loved her and couldn't make room for a beautiful-on-the inside baby girl, instead of one with beauty reflected on the outer shell.
But Rapunzel doesn't mind. Melisande, whether or not never letting Rapunzel call her mother, has always been the loving figure that has shaped Rapunzel's life.

So when the evil, magic sickness hits the town close to their home and threats fly their way, they must escape to the place that Melisande has always intended to return to with Rapunzel: the prison of her daughter, where Rue lives a life with a heart of ice for the curse that befell her.

It's up to Rapunzel to break her free, and everyone's counting on her. Everyone that she loves, to be specific. Harry, Mr. Jones, Melisande, Mr. Jones the cat...

Cute, funny and a great read!(less)

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May 13, 2011 Tricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Such a good story, and not the "Rapunzel" I knew, yet a beautiful story in so many ways.

I won't talk about the actual story, but I will share from the Author's Note, and yes this probably ia a spoiler, so read at your own risk. For me it only adds to the beauty of this retelling of "Rapunzel".

...
"Several members of my family suffer from alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease which can result in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. It can occur in both women and men of al...more

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Aug 03, 2010 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this story to be engaging even though it would not be the type of story i would pick up on my own. I liked that Dokey gave a twist to the "classic" tale of Repunzel. I liked the character of the original Repunzel, she was a spunky girl. Her relationship with Harry reminds me of my relationship with my husband because we are both very sarcastic and very proud people. I liked the interactions between Rue and Repunzel, they bickered as if they were truly sisters. However, I did not like the...more

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Aug 02, 2010 God O'Wax rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked the idea of this book, but I didn't really like the book itself. Mostly, my problem came from the writing style which was overly complicated to no end. It basically felt to me that the author took a story of no more than 50 pages and whipped it up into a longer tale by making the sentences more convoluted and long winded than necessary. AS for the story itself, I liked the original premise, but I felt it wasn't developed correctly...the first half and the second half felt like entirely d...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this retelling of Rapunzel. Last semester I took the course the Art of the Children's Book and wrote a paper comparing three different versions of the classic tale of Rapunzel, therefore, I was very interested in reading this. While the three versions stories and illustrations all varied slightly, overall, they were very similar. Golden, on the other hand, had a great twist. I loved the fact that in this rendering, Rapunzel is completely bald. Dokey takes away the most well know...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Kristyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

Golden is a retelling of the story of Rapunzel but with a few twists and turns along the way. For one thing, Rapunzel is born bald and she is not trapped in a tower but someone else is. Rue, the sorceress' daughter, is trapped in a tower and she is the owner of long roped locks of golden hair. Rue does need Rapunzel's help however to be freed from the tower that imprisons her.
I feel that this story was well told and is an interesting interpretation. Young adult readers will like it because it i...more

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Jul 25, 2010 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: folk-fairy-tale-retelling, rapunzel, young-adult-fiction, gutsy-girls, romantic, sisters, siblings, rivalry, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Golden is a retelling of the Rapunzel story, however, in this version, Rapunzel is completely bald. Her mother craves the rapunzel growing in the neighboring sorceress’ garden all throughout her pregnancy, so her husband steals some for her. He’s caught and although he apologizes most fervently, the sorceress makes him and his wife promise that they will give her their child if they find for some reason they cannot love her. When the baby is born without hair, her mother gives her willingly and...more Golden is a retelling of the Rapunzel story, however, in this version, Rapunzel is completely bald. Her mother craves the rapunzel growing in the neighboring sorceress’ garden all throughout her pregnancy, so her husband steals some for her. He’s caught and although he apologizes most fervently, the sorceress makes him and his wife promise that they will give her their child if they find for some reason they cannot love her. When the baby is born without hair, her mother gives her willingly and eagerly to the sorceress (her own vanity can’t see beyond her child’s baldness), who takes her away to raise her as her own. The sorceress calls her Rapunzel after the leafy greens in the garden. Mostly they are isolated from the world, but eventually the world discovers them and people begin coming to the sorceress for help, and fearing her powers – for she can see directly into their hearts. Eventually, a drought brings just enough tension on the situation and the sorceress and Rapunzel are forced to flee. During their flight, Rapunzel learns that the sorceress has another daughter – of her own blood – and that this daughter – Rue - was cursed and imprisoned in a tower and can only be released through the love of another. The sorceress wants Rapunzel to help free her.

Rapunzel must quickly come to terms with the knowledge that there is a sister, and she must wrangle with her own uncertainty about the love she has for and from the only mother she has ever known. And then she has to do the right thing. It’s particularly difficult because the two girls don’t get along well at first. They have to share the love of the sorceress, the love of a kitten, and, Rapunzel fears, the love of a young man that she wants for herself. Fortunately for both of them, a prince shows up, falls in love with Rapunzel’s voice and then Rue’s fantastic looks. Rue, you see, has acres of golden tresses. When they finally do get free of the tower and the curse, Rapunzel asks Rue to take her name so that instead of remembering her as “that strange bald girl” the world will remember her as lovely, but cursed. And, things end happily ever after, of course.

This is a sweet tale, and a lovely retelling (with a twist) that your moony romantic fairytale-loving crowd should eat up. The rivalry between the two girls is a little annoying and Rapunzel’s struggle coming to terms with her sister’s existence feels a bit overdone and contrived (because she’s so sensible otherwise), but on the whole this was quite satisfying.(less)

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Oct 22, 2009 NSAndrew Liebergen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: traditional

[close:] In older versions of the classic tale Rapunzel, it always seemed improbable that a grown man could scale a tower using only his beloved's hair. Not so in Paul O. Zelinsky's Caldecott Medal-winning version of Rapunzel. Here, Rapunzel's reddish-blonde mane is thick with waves and braids, and cascades like a waterfall down the walls of her isolation tower. In Zelinsky's able hands it's easy to believe that a prince would harbor no hesitations about scrambling up our fair heroine's hair.
Of...more

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May 04, 2009 Kathryn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I would really give this 2 1/2 stars if I could. I was really enjoying the first half. I liked the depth that the Rapunzel story had been given and loved the character of Rapunzel. However, once it got the second half with the enchanted tower and the witch's daughter, Rue, it started to fall apart for me.
****SPOILER ALERT******
Rue was supposedly locked in the tower until someone, besides her mother, came along that truly loved her. The witch has always thought Rapunzel would be the one to break...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy, fairy tale lovers and those who like their retellings, and Rapunzel fans!

Recommended to Nicole by: Library

Shelves: absolutely-buying, fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy

From the moment you begin reading this book, you can tell it's different from your typical fantasy novel. There's a quality to the storytelling that is easy to fall for in its first person, conversational manner, and it similarly is a story that has a certain mysterious trait-- a hint, maybe, like the old, truly magical and special tales have to them-- a curious quality that you can't quite place your finger on and put to words, but that you know makes this book special out of all the others you...more
From the moment you begin reading this book, you can tell it's different from your typical fantasy novel. There's a quality to the storytelling that is easy to fall for in its first person, conversational manner, and it similarly is a story that has a certain mysterious trait-- a hint, maybe, like the old, truly magical and special tales have to them-- a curious quality that you can't quite place your finger on and put to words, but that you know makes this book special out of all the others you've read.

It didn't take me very long to realize that if I had read this book when I was a kid, or a young teen, this book would be one of the books to forever influence me and change my life. Even now, reading it when I'm a little bit older and a smidgeon perhaps wiser in the world, it left such a tangible taste of a good story in my mouth that I'd be forever doing you a disservice if I didn't say that you should go out and pick up this book, even if you have to buy it, to read it. It's a book that not only entertains and is enjoyable, but it teaches you, too. It opens your eyes. And that's why I say, If I was younger and I'd read this book, it would have changed my life.

As it is, it still hit me profoundly, and I fell in love with the characters swiftly. They had their faults, but this is a fairy tale, my friends, and the most amazing part is that in this day and age I had the chance to stumble upon a fairy tale that was uniquely retold to make it profound and engaging. It's a book that's captured my favor to the point where I can't imagine living my life without sharing the story with everyone I know. I will make them read it, because it's this fantastic!

It's humble. It's of love in the purest and most understandable, relatable sense. It's of beauty being more than appearance. It's of selflessness even when you could lose the few things that mean the world to you. It's of patience. And the best? It's completely plausible as an addition or "what really happened" telling of the fairy tale that it was inspired by.

It's one of those old, classic fantasies. It feels utterly simple when put into words, but carries well when you're reading it, experiencing it for yourself, and means more than what a review can contain. Perhaps, it will mean different things to different people. What spoke to me out of this story may not be what speaks to you, but it has that potential to tell more than just one tale, and send more than just one message. That's what makes this one so special.

If you're a fantasy lover, if you love fairy tales and their retellings, if you're a fan of the Rapunzel character or story-- read this book. If you love romance, if you love tales of knights in shining armor, if you love books about messages concerning the physical appearance and deeper beauty-- read this book. If you love old medieval magical stories, or strong main characters, in particular strong female characters, too-- read this story.

It is so worth it. It's timeless and just as wonderful.(less)

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Feb 02, 2010 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children, classics, fairy-tale, coming-of-age, teen

This was better than the other "Once Upon a Time" books I've read thus far. It still gave the heroine a lot of guts and gumption that seemed out of place int he landscape wherein the story is set, but the author did a suitable job of explaining why that would be, through the character's tale.

I especially liked two new twists to this popular fairy tale. (1) Rapunzel is bald. The author explains the reasoning behind this at the very end - so read those last few pages! I liked that about her. It m...more

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Mar 25, 2008 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 11+

I picked this up as a quick read at the library thinking that it'd be one of those books you read and toss and ended up actually REALLY liking it! The plot line moves along at a great steady pace. The characters are refreshingly original and I love the twist on the story! I almost wish there was a sequel to it so we could see what happens to everyone after the end of the story! Unfortunately my library doesn't have any other books by this author or I'd have picked up another!

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Jun 02, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tales

(originally published at http://storybound.blogspot.com/2012/0...)

"A beginning and an ending, though satisfying in their own individual ways, are simply that. A start and a conclusion, nothing more. It's what comes in between that does the work, that builds the life and tells the story."

We all know the story of Rapunzel...or do we? We know how it starts and we know how it ends, but what about the middle? I enjoyed this twist on the story. Yes, Rapunzel is the girl who is handed over to a sorcere...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Jackie DeStefano rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 11, 2011 Lisa Rathbun added it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this YA story. The "witch" was here a kind sorceress, reminding me of George Macdonald's wise woman. I wondered how the author was going to turn a bald girl into Rapunzel, but then came the revelation that there were two girls!

I felt like a paragraph or two were missing where Rapunzel realizes she must go inside the tower to help free Rue. She went from being surprised to realizing that she had to find the key to knowing she had to go inside alone very quickly; I thought parts seemed...more

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May 20, 2009 Fashiongirlgoldberg rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well, I would probably rate this two and a half stars. I was a little disappointed with the ending, especially since I found the beginning fairly enthralling. I was annoyed through out the whole book by the fact that Rapunzel was, get this, completely and totally bald this completely miffed me. And it also bothered me how Rapunzel was just a stepping stone for the whole story. It's all "oh Rapunzel even though your the main character you have a completely pointless part in the whole entire book,...more

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Jul 14, 2010 Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: retelling, own

Golden is about a girl named Rapunzel who's mother was obsessed with Rapunzel (the herb) while she was pregnant with her. They lived next door to a sorceress who grew the herb and as selfish as her mother was, she demanded that her father bring her more and more Rapunzel. So he did what he thought was all he could do, he stole from the sorceress. Which is obviously, a horrible idea. He eventually was caught and Rapunzel's mother made a deal with the sorceress, which led Rapunzel to be raised by...more

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May 20, 2012 Charlie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya-fantasy, ya-retellings, young-adult, ya-female-pov

In this retelling of the ‘Rapunzel’ story, Dokey deviates from the traditional tale in quite an astonishing way. Who would have thought that the tale could be told just as effectively when the title character is completely bald?? Dokey, that’s who. But, as always with these more adventurous retellings, not everything is quite as it seems. The sorceress is not evil, but a loving adoptive mother. The magical tower and the plea for the trapped damsel to let down her hair are both included, but the...more

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May 15, 2012 Webiny rated it 4 of 5 stars

First, I should say that this isn't the kind of book I would have picked up and read on my own. Typically I either read hyped/"brand name" books or quaint stuff that no one ever hears about. Yeah, I'm extremist like that. ;) At any rate I only read this on a friend's recommendation, and I found it to be a pleasant quick read.

I admit it freely: I was very skeptical about a modern retelling of a fairy tale. Though I have a soft spot for most retellings/parodies, I was cringing internally at someth...more First, I should say that this isn't the kind of book I would have picked up and read on my own. Typically I either read hyped/"brand name" books or quaint stuff that no one ever hears about. Yeah, I'm extremist like that. ;) At any rate I only read this on a friend's recommendation, and I found it to be a pleasant quick read.

I admit it freely: I was very skeptical about a modern retelling of a fairy tale. Though I have a soft spot for most retellings/parodies, I was cringing internally at something as, ah... mushy as a fairy tale being retold in the notoriously sappy YA genre? Bleah. Happily, my dire predictions were largely unfounded.

The author did a really good job of fleshing the familiar tale out into a unique story. Rapunzel was... not what I, and most other readers I presume, would expect. I have to say, for such a short story the author also gets a hats off for making the main character likeable. Also, it was nice to see the "witch" cast in a more humane, only-evilish-under-the-circumstances light.

My only issues were with the big picture plot and the "romance". I guess maybe the author didn't have a lot of time to work on these areas, but I didn't feel romance at all. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the relationship between Rapunzel and Harry and their dialogue was good, it just wasn't lovey dovey.
As for the plot... it wasn't gripping. There was no bad guy to speak of, the main issue was pretty vague, and there was like zero sense of urgency even though the author introduced a potentially distressing "two nights, one day and the blink of an eye" time limit.

Now as to the alleged love between the tower captive and the prince, I found it totally shallow and unbelivable. To be in love with someone you've know only like, ten minutes, if that? Despite being okay with the rest of the book, that had me scoffing. However, the author did redeem herself in my eyes with a surprisingly deep explanation of this love being more of a potential thing; a mutal "let's get together and make this thing for real", if you will.

So in the end, I was really satified with how the story turned out and may even try another book in this series sometime soon.

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please forgive any spelling and or gramatical errors; i typed this on a mobile device and thumb typing isn't all that precise
thx
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May 14, 2012 Daquane Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great book, one of the best books I have ever read. The book "Golden: A retelling of Rapunzel" was a great book to read maybe one of the most excitement I have gotten from reading a book. The "Golden: A retelling of Rapunzel" is about a girl named Rapunzel, we all know Rapunzel and beautiful girl with very long blonde hair at the top of a tower, but Rapunzel in this book is born balded, yeah I know you can't believe it but she is bald! Rapunzel was raised by Melisande, a sorceress, who her mot...more A great book, one of the best books I have ever read. The book "Golden: A retelling of Rapunzel" was a great book to read maybe one of the most excitement I have gotten from reading a book. The "Golden: A retelling of Rapunzel" is about a girl named Rapunzel, we all know Rapunzel and beautiful girl with very long blonde hair at the top of a tower, but Rapunzel in this book is born balded, yeah I know you can't believe it but she is bald! Rapunzel was raised by Melisande, a sorceress, who her mother leaves her with at birth. Although many books with princesses may have annoying siblings or someone in their family who is terribly mean to them, but in Rapunzel's case she grows up in a great life the people that raise her were actually nice and did not cause any trouble. Back to Rapunzel's mother, her mother was terribly obsessed with a herb, Rapunzel, she then told her husband to keep getting the herb for her, and he was actually stealing from the sorceress, which is a terrible idea. He then got caught and her mother was forced to give up her daughter, Rapunzel to be raised by the sorceress, Melisande from a deal that was made. But her life was great with the sorceress because Melisande treated Rapunzel as a daughter and Melisande really loved her and there was a lot of trust in the new family. But after the sixteen years of Rapunzel being raised by the sorceress, Melisande needed Rapunzels' help to get back her daughter who had been under a curse and if they failed to do this her daughter would be cursed forever. But before this Rapunzel had seen a boy trying to run away by stealing a horse, this boy had caught Rapunzel's eye and the two became good friends with one another and it was strange that the boy called Rapunzel, Parsley, to me I did not get the point of why he called her that but overall the book was a great book to read and I hope to get the rest of the series to the Retelling of Rapunzel. I do recommend this book to others if you do like "Happily Ever afters..." because unlike other fairy tales this book really touches the reader with how Rapunzel's life was during the sixteen years with Melisande as her new mother and the quest to helping her finding Rue, Melisande's daughter, there was a lot of trust and love in the new family.(less)

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Fantasy

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Fairy Tales > Fairy Tale Retellings

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About Cameron Dokey

Cameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature.

Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is th...more

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Books by Cameron Dokey

Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella"

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty"

Belle: A Retelling of "Beauty and the Beast"

The Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan"

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Quotes from Golden

“That is what love is I thought. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice you keep making over and over. Day after day. Year after year. Time after time.” — 55 people liked it

“Maybe all young men who love us become knights in shining armor when we love them back.” — 42 people liked it

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Golden (Once Upon A Time)

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