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A Twisted Fairytale #1
Thread and Spool
Cursed with the ability to weave thread into gold, Brie has learned to trust no one. Her parents keep her around so they can gamble their money away and now her boyfriend's only staying because he's got a collection of game systems to grow.
When Brie grabs the attention of Stilt, the new guy in town, it changes everything. Brie is a Legend—a character in a fairytale—and she belongs in a realm of magic called Fable. But when she crosses over to the new world with Stilt, she soon learns that the cruel ruler of the realm has taken an interest in her ability-and it could cost Brie her life.
Stilt promises that he can help her escape, but in return, he asks for something that she might not be able to give. Can Brie put her trust in Stilt or will she die at the hands of greed?
When Brie grabs the attention of Stilt, the new guy in town, it changes everything. Brie is a Legend—a character in a fairytale—and she belongs in a realm of magic called Fable. But when she crosses over to the new world with Stilt, she soon learns that the cruel ruler of the realm has taken an interest in her ability-and it could cost Brie her life.
Stilt promises that he can help her escape, but in return, he asks for something that she might not be able to give. Can Brie put her trust in Stilt or will she die at the hands of greed?
219 pages, ebook
First published May 15, 2016
102 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Holly Hook
151 books252 followersHolly Hook is the author of the Destroyers Series, which consists of five young adult books about teens who are walking disasters...literally. She is also the author of the Rita Morse series, a young adult fantasy series still in progress, and After These Messages, a short ya comedy. Currently she is writing Twisted, a spin-off of the Destroyers Series due out in December. When not writing, she enjoys reading books for teens, especially ya fantasy and paranormal series with a unique twist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 27, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads. All opinions of the book are my own.
The synopsis really intrigued me. Thread and Spool is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, telling the story from the maiden's point of view rather than Rumpelstiltskin's. I have never read a Rumpelstiltskin retelling or the actual fairytale itself. This book makes me want to read the fairytale and find out if their are more retellings of it.
This book is pretty fast paced and the characters, especially Stilt, are really great. I loved seeing how this world that Holly Hook created was built up around all these different fairytales. I love the twists and turns this book has and it kept me hooked the entire time (this is an ebook so it took me longer to pick up than a physical copy, so my read dates are a little off). Overall, I say Thread and Spool was a quick, fun, and good read and would recommend it to anyone who loves retellings.
The synopsis really intrigued me. Thread and Spool is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, telling the story from the maiden's point of view rather than Rumpelstiltskin's. I have never read a Rumpelstiltskin retelling or the actual fairytale itself. This book makes me want to read the fairytale and find out if their are more retellings of it.
This book is pretty fast paced and the characters, especially Stilt, are really great. I loved seeing how this world that Holly Hook created was built up around all these different fairytales. I love the twists and turns this book has and it kept me hooked the entire time (this is an ebook so it took me longer to pick up than a physical copy, so my read dates are a little off). Overall, I say Thread and Spool was a quick, fun, and good read and would recommend it to anyone who loves retellings.
September 19, 2020
Q: "You are home. Welcome back to Fable." (c)
How does it live when you can spin gold? Not just talk really good or spin lies but actually experience a variant of Midas touch going on macrame? Spoiler: Not too peachy.
Would there be issues if you couldn't just shut up about this teensy special touch of yours and kept blabbing to everyone about it? Well, not everyone but sometimes, to some people? Spoiler: Yep, totally.
What would you do then? This retelling addresses that development going on 'how to run away from the world you're fed up with?' To a place that 'looks like summer' in the middle of an early fall? To the world of Fable.
The Stilt version of this wily elf I like the best of all.
Q: So if I kiss a frog here, I get a prince?”
"Yes. Well, if it's the right frog." (c) You aren't gonna believe it but the same applies everywhere.
Q:
I ruined my life with macramé.
Yes. Macramé.
Someone else might have managed to go skydiving and break their neck. (c)
Q:
And I beheld a new world. …
It was daytime, for starters. (c)
Q:
His ears were both pointed, and his inner glow was bright as ever. (c)
Q:
I was going to fit in here like a Goth at a cheerleader meet. (c)
Q:
We Legends come to the side the resonates best with us whenever we come through portals. (c)
Q:
“This world's called Fable," he told me as if I were a two-year-old. It was super irritating. "This is the home of humankind's fairy tales and stories. Their imaginations feed this place. And we're Legends, the characters in those stories. We've all been here for a long time. We live out our stories, die, and get reborn again, over and over. I have. And you have. We just don't remember it under normal circumstances." …
"Sometimes, there are no happily ever afters. Some of the tales are dark. Most of those have gathered in the dark region. Even the lighter tales have their dark sides." (c)
Q:
"We're...characters in stories?"...
"Most of us are minor characters," (c)
Q:
This whole thing had to be a dream. A nightmare. But this place did seem familiar, like a faint memory tickling at the edge of my mind, one I couldn't quite catch before it flew away again. It was something about the sky. The flowers. Even the way the carriage bench felt under me. It felt right, and that scared me. (c)
Q:
But he wants a Queen."
"He can look somewhere else,... "Someone can tell him how dating sites work. (c)
Q:
"It's your story. It always follows you and catches up," (c)
Q:
I had seen some weird things in the past few days, but food should not talk. Ever. (c)
Q:
We need to get to Tate’s Farm outside of town by midnight. It's the closest portal. (c)
How does it live when you can spin gold? Not just talk really good or spin lies but actually experience a variant of Midas touch going on macrame? Spoiler: Not too peachy.
Would there be issues if you couldn't just shut up about this teensy special touch of yours and kept blabbing to everyone about it? Well, not everyone but sometimes, to some people? Spoiler: Yep, totally.
What would you do then? This retelling addresses that development going on 'how to run away from the world you're fed up with?' To a place that 'looks like summer' in the middle of an early fall? To the world of Fable.
The Stilt version of this wily elf I like the best of all.
Q: So if I kiss a frog here, I get a prince?”
"Yes. Well, if it's the right frog." (c) You aren't gonna believe it but the same applies everywhere.
Q:
I ruined my life with macramé.
Yes. Macramé.
Someone else might have managed to go skydiving and break their neck. (c)
Q:
And I beheld a new world. …
It was daytime, for starters. (c)
Q:
His ears were both pointed, and his inner glow was bright as ever. (c)
Q:
I was going to fit in here like a Goth at a cheerleader meet. (c)
Q:
We Legends come to the side the resonates best with us whenever we come through portals. (c)
Q:
“This world's called Fable," he told me as if I were a two-year-old. It was super irritating. "This is the home of humankind's fairy tales and stories. Their imaginations feed this place. And we're Legends, the characters in those stories. We've all been here for a long time. We live out our stories, die, and get reborn again, over and over. I have. And you have. We just don't remember it under normal circumstances." …
"Sometimes, there are no happily ever afters. Some of the tales are dark. Most of those have gathered in the dark region. Even the lighter tales have their dark sides." (c)
Q:
"We're...characters in stories?"...
"Most of us are minor characters," (c)
Q:
This whole thing had to be a dream. A nightmare. But this place did seem familiar, like a faint memory tickling at the edge of my mind, one I couldn't quite catch before it flew away again. It was something about the sky. The flowers. Even the way the carriage bench felt under me. It felt right, and that scared me. (c)
Q:
But he wants a Queen."
"He can look somewhere else,... "Someone can tell him how dating sites work. (c)
Q:
"It's your story. It always follows you and catches up," (c)
Q:
I had seen some weird things in the past few days, but food should not talk. Ever. (c)
Q:
We need to get to Tate’s Farm outside of town by midnight. It's the closest portal. (c)
August 6, 2018
This book was an interesting take on the Rumpelstiltskin story . Brie has the amazing ability to change thread into gold however everyone who knows about her ability, even her adoptive parents just uses her for more gold until suddenly a mysterious stranger appears in a carriage and offers to help her escape her life. The world of Fable wasn't particularly original ut the light and dark aspect gave it a slightly new spin. I also found it to be a relatively easy read, flowing through the story quite easily and interested to see where it would take me. I did enjoy this tale and will probably take a look at the next book in the series
did-not-finish
March 22, 2025DNF at 12%.
It's totally fine. It's obviously written a decade ago and rooted in that time. It might be a fun read for someone but I just don't care enough.
It's totally fine. It's obviously written a decade ago and rooted in that time. It might be a fun read for someone but I just don't care enough.
June 4, 2017
I have always liked reading retellings, I find myself always amazed by the authors' ability to twist and fracture and alter the fairytales we all have come to love when we were still children. So I was delighted to read Thread and Spool by Holly Hook and read this story to my kids while lulling them to sleep.
I'm an avid fan of Once Upon A Time and Rumpelstiltskin's character had grown on me, whether on the TV series or from the book. Brie happened to be the girl who could really spin gold out of straws but she's in our world. Her foster parents used her gold-yielding power to gain more riches and her boyfriend Hardy was just the same. Then she met Stilt and her world changed when the magical elf took her to Fable - a realm where all fairy tales had come about. A realm where she was originally married to the voracious King Henrik and Rumpelstiltskin was the one who really wove thread into gold. And yes, he was always that elf who got her Queen Brie's first born. But things had changed now that Brie got that magic tingling power instead.
This retelling was fast-paced and thrilling. But there still seemed to be a lot more stories missing, more holes to fill, more questions begging for answers. There's a lot of promise in this book, so I am giving this series a chance. My kids did enjoy Stilt's story and Sylvia's arc, while I would love to know more about Lavine and other characters too. So yes, we can't wait to read the next book!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Thread and Spool from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads. All opinions of the book are my own.
I'm an avid fan of Once Upon A Time and Rumpelstiltskin's character had grown on me, whether on the TV series or from the book. Brie happened to be the girl who could really spin gold out of straws but she's in our world. Her foster parents used her gold-yielding power to gain more riches and her boyfriend Hardy was just the same. Then she met Stilt and her world changed when the magical elf took her to Fable - a realm where all fairy tales had come about. A realm where she was originally married to the voracious King Henrik and Rumpelstiltskin was the one who really wove thread into gold. And yes, he was always that elf who got her Queen Brie's first born. But things had changed now that Brie got that magic tingling power instead.
This retelling was fast-paced and thrilling. But there still seemed to be a lot more stories missing, more holes to fill, more questions begging for answers. There's a lot of promise in this book, so I am giving this series a chance. My kids did enjoy Stilt's story and Sylvia's arc, while I would love to know more about Lavine and other characters too. So yes, we can't wait to read the next book!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Thread and Spool from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads. All opinions of the book are my own.
October 26, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads. All opinions of the book are my own.
I have to say, this book was not my favorite. Maybe I'm getting out of the fairytale re-tellings, but this book just didn't do it for me. While the writing was engaging, I feel like it needed more details on the characters in the beginning.
The story had a lot of promise, that's why I'm giving it three stars. It's a good book if you're looking for a light read.
I have to say, this book was not my favorite. Maybe I'm getting out of the fairytale re-tellings, but this book just didn't do it for me. While the writing was engaging, I feel like it needed more details on the characters in the beginning.
The story had a lot of promise, that's why I'm giving it three stars. It's a good book if you're looking for a light read.
September 23, 2016
I was interested by the idea but the execution needs work.
The more I read, the less I could dismiss the typos and grammatical errors. The dialogue is YA that made me cringe...a lot. The plot, while cool, was so quick paced that holes I wanted filled were not. But this is #1 so maybe more world building is on that way.
Not happy tale, very dark and lots of death/torture.
The more I read, the less I could dismiss the typos and grammatical errors. The dialogue is YA that made me cringe...a lot. The plot, while cool, was so quick paced that holes I wanted filled were not. But this is #1 so maybe more world building is on that way.
Not happy tale, very dark and lots of death/torture.
July 19, 2016
DNF 20% - would only recommend for young children
I'm pretty addicted to Rumplestories right now, and I happened upon this one after reading some fantastic short stories.
It kind of read like fan-fiction (not that fan-fiction is bad, I just have different expectations for it.) with childish writing and grammatical errors.
So, her gift: she can crochet gold. I imagine that she does it rather quickly, because she made an extravagant gold chain while having a short conversation with her boyfriend. When she said that her parents make her do enough of it at home, I was imagining that she would be locked in a room and forced to it for hours. Turns out, her parents just wanted a few bracelets. That would take what, a couple minutes? I get it that being used by your parents sucks, but come on. Loading the dishwasher takes longer and seems like more of a chore.
I dunno, it probably gets better, but it was too childish for me.
I'm pretty addicted to Rumplestories right now, and I happened upon this one after reading some fantastic short stories.
It kind of read like fan-fiction (not that fan-fiction is bad, I just have different expectations for it.) with childish writing and grammatical errors.
So, her gift: she can crochet gold. I imagine that she does it rather quickly, because she made an extravagant gold chain while having a short conversation with her boyfriend. When she said that her parents make her do enough of it at home, I was imagining that she would be locked in a room and forced to it for hours. Turns out, her parents just wanted a few bracelets. That would take what, a couple minutes? I get it that being used by your parents sucks, but come on. Loading the dishwasher takes longer and seems like more of a chore.
I dunno, it probably gets better, but it was too childish for me.
May 4, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Thread and Spool by Holly Hook from the Rachel E. Carter YA book club on Goodreads!
Rating: 2,5 stars.
Thread and Spool is the first in a series full of fairytales, but altered in a very special way, and is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. This immediately intrigued me because I am a total sucker for fairytale retellings and have never read one about Rumpelstiltskin, so you can imagine my excitement when starting to read. So maybe my expectations had been too high, but Thread and Spool did not impress me.
Okay no, that may be a little too harsh - the concept of this book was amazing and I do love that but the execution was what disappointed me, I suppose.
The writing, I think, was slightly too simplistic. I don't mind a simple writing style, not at all - from time to time I even love them, because then it'll be easy to fly through the book (which I now did as well) but I think in this case, it didn't do justice to the plot. Also, I found the character development and depth in characters lacking. I couldn't get myself to actually care for Brie, or for anyone else in the story and that was disappointing, because I would've loved loving it - if you know what I mean.
So yes, Thread and Spool was alright, and I did enjoy reading it, but I was expecting a twisted fairytale with kickass characters and full of wonders, where I could lose myself in, and all that jazz and it did not meet up with those expectations at all. I suppose many will like the book though, so I do recommend it if you're looking for a quick and unique fairytale!
Rating: 2,5 stars.
Thread and Spool is the first in a series full of fairytales, but altered in a very special way, and is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. This immediately intrigued me because I am a total sucker for fairytale retellings and have never read one about Rumpelstiltskin, so you can imagine my excitement when starting to read. So maybe my expectations had been too high, but Thread and Spool did not impress me.
Okay no, that may be a little too harsh - the concept of this book was amazing and I do love that but the execution was what disappointed me, I suppose.
The writing, I think, was slightly too simplistic. I don't mind a simple writing style, not at all - from time to time I even love them, because then it'll be easy to fly through the book (which I now did as well) but I think in this case, it didn't do justice to the plot. Also, I found the character development and depth in characters lacking. I couldn't get myself to actually care for Brie, or for anyone else in the story and that was disappointing, because I would've loved loving it - if you know what I mean.
So yes, Thread and Spool was alright, and I did enjoy reading it, but I was expecting a twisted fairytale with kickass characters and full of wonders, where I could lose myself in, and all that jazz and it did not meet up with those expectations at all. I suppose many will like the book though, so I do recommend it if you're looking for a quick and unique fairytale!
September 14, 2017
Admittedly, I was reading through the collection of books 1-3 when I started, but at 5 chapters in on book one, I decided I must have the entire collection. That is how good this first book is. Though it’s not without fault. (This might only be applicable to the collection of 1-3, because I didn’t notice it when I switched to the collection of 1-6. Either that or the editing improved toward the later half of book 1). In the first half of the first book, it kept switching tenses. Most of it would be in past tense, but then every other paragraph or so a sentence would suddenly be in present tense. Highly distracting. Though this is a retelling of a famous tale, and the author kept all of the same characters from the original tale, it still managed to be a fresh spin on the classic with plenty of new elements and bits pulled in from other stories, while still having quite a few of the same events from the original (I was actually surprised at how many events from the original it kept in). I would have liked to have seen more of Stilt and was rather saddened that he’s kept off camera for quite a bit of the book, since he is such an interesting character. Brie is a wonderfully headstrong character, with plenty of modern quirks, and I loved how she problem solved things on her own. Though it did feel a bit stale to say the world was created with the fairy tale characters being reborn and yet still shoe-horned into their original fairy tales destined to keep repeating the same events. Still, the story itself was wonderful and I would easily recommend this to others who love fairy tale retellings.
September 17, 2020
A quick and enchanting read.
February 23, 2018
"I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS."
Brie has a special ability. She can weave thread into gold. And, oh, has she learned that she can't trust anyone with this knowledge! Her parents only keep her around so they don't have to work and they can gamble their money away and now her boyfriend is using her to supplement his allowance and grow his video game system collection. When she, somehow, gains the attention of King Henrik, an elf named Stilt comes to her rescue and helps her cross into the magical world of Fable, where everyone is a character in a fairy tale, in an effort to hide her from the king, at least long enough to keep her safe.
This was a very interesting reimagining of the Rumplestiltskin story and I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh a few times and I really enjoyed that the "bad" characters didn't necessarily have to stay bad and that some of them were trying to overcome their stories. The entire concept was interesting to me and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Brie has a special ability. She can weave thread into gold. And, oh, has she learned that she can't trust anyone with this knowledge! Her parents only keep her around so they don't have to work and they can gamble their money away and now her boyfriend is using her to supplement his allowance and grow his video game system collection. When she, somehow, gains the attention of King Henrik, an elf named Stilt comes to her rescue and helps her cross into the magical world of Fable, where everyone is a character in a fairy tale, in an effort to hide her from the king, at least long enough to keep her safe.
This was a very interesting reimagining of the Rumplestiltskin story and I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh a few times and I really enjoyed that the "bad" characters didn't necessarily have to stay bad and that some of them were trying to overcome their stories. The entire concept was interesting to me and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
July 2, 2017
Kindle Unlimited
The stories {to do this without spoilers just giving the titles} are 1 Thread and Spool, 2 Wolves and Paths, 3 Frogs and Princes, 4 Towers and Braids, 5 Poison and Mirrors, 6 Swans and Silence, and 7 Glass and Death.
Didn't think about noting down errors, because usually don't expect as many, but this {see below} comes in single and sets, and had a lot of grammar issues, repetitious {as in literally repeated information as if it wasn't proofed right/at all}, and don't feel like going back through this or any of them just to suffer through all the errors and issues again. Could have been better and should have been better.
There is also The Twisted Fairy Tale Box Set, Books 1-3 (A Twisted Fairy Tale Book 0)
The Twisted Fairy Tale Box Set, #2 (Books 4-7) Kindle Edition
Plus of course each book individually.
The stories {to do this without spoilers just giving the titles} are 1 Thread and Spool, 2 Wolves and Paths, 3 Frogs and Princes, 4 Towers and Braids, 5 Poison and Mirrors, 6 Swans and Silence, and 7 Glass and Death.
Didn't think about noting down errors, because usually don't expect as many, but this {see below} comes in single and sets, and had a lot of grammar issues, repetitious {as in literally repeated information as if it wasn't proofed right/at all}, and don't feel like going back through this or any of them just to suffer through all the errors and issues again. Could have been better and should have been better.
There is also The Twisted Fairy Tale Box Set, Books 1-3 (A Twisted Fairy Tale Book 0)
The Twisted Fairy Tale Box Set, #2 (Books 4-7) Kindle Edition
Plus of course each book individually.
May 15, 2017
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS.
This was another one that got me on the synopsis. Sounded awesome and lovely, but execution wasn't quite there. The premise and plot were cool, but the character development never got there and then the storyline just fell flat at one point. I think this could be geared more for younger audiences as there is really less craziness than I thought there would be, and perhaps a younger teen would enjoy this version of a fairytale. I always do like retellings though, so maybe as the series progresses it will become darker? Let's hope!
This was another one that got me on the synopsis. Sounded awesome and lovely, but execution wasn't quite there. The premise and plot were cool, but the character development never got there and then the storyline just fell flat at one point. I think this could be geared more for younger audiences as there is really less craziness than I thought there would be, and perhaps a younger teen would enjoy this version of a fairytale. I always do like retellings though, so maybe as the series progresses it will become darker? Let's hope!
June 4, 2017
This was pretty good story but had quite a few typos that pulled me out of the story as I tried to figure out what the author was trying to say. Mostly episodes of missing or too many words and a couple of hers that should have been hims or vice versa. However, overall the story was a good read with some twists and characters that were pretty well developed.
January 20, 2017
well written, i enjoyed the characterizations and the solid grasp on teen angst. I will say that i preferred Tempest but this is also excellent.
May 29, 2017
This was a good twist, but it needed some editing for sure. Nothing like bad grammar (missing commas) and poor spelling (to instead of too) to pull you out of a story. The mistakes took it down to 3 stars for me.
May 14, 2017
“Thread and Spool” which I received through Rachel E. Carter’s YA Book Club fractures a dark fairy tale of avarice, heartlessness and cruelty bringing triumph as the victims find freedom in their choices. Cursed with the ability to weave thread into gold Brie feels used and abused by her parents and her boyfriend who only see her worth as a bank they can tap when they need money to gamble or to buy gaming systems. Only when she meets Stilt and is swept into the magical realm of Fable to relive her story once again does Brie begin to control her life and challenge the events of the past that had her continually marrying a cruel King, promising her first-born to an elf and being beheaded.
Set in Fable, Holly Hook creates a magical but sinister world made up of Light and Dark where the fairy tales and stories generated by the imagination of mankind are stored. Legends, the characters in the stories populate the land and are reborn long after their story is finished. Based on “Rumpelstiltskin”, a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Brie the miller’s daughter stolen as a baby and replaced with a changeling lives in the modern world where as a 4th grader she discovers the ability to weave thread into golden objects, creating a greedy hunger in the parents that thought of her only as a tax write-off and later a boyfriend whose only love lies in his obsession with adding to his collection of gaming systems. The story heats up and tension mounts when she meets Stilt and in a mad chase across the city to escape being captured by cruel King Henrik’s knights ends up in Fable where she begins to learn about her past and the fairy tale she can’t flee; a fable that has never had a happy- ever-after ending.
Chilling in its intensity Brie, Stilt and his scarred coachman Sylvia flee across the land staying away from the darkness that can warp a mind, struggling to avoid the king’s clutches. Suspense builds as they encounter a blackmailing shepherd boy, bandits, talking animals and even a magical fish. Fast-paced, the action never stops especially when they’re captured and incarcerated, their lives at stake as they struggle against the evil of the King’s Knights, his wolves and ravens. Skilfully structured and engaging the plot twists and turns as Brie and her new friends struggle to find a way out of their dilemma which promises a fatal end if their plan fails.
Like all memorable fairy tales Holly Hook has created strong, complex and dynamic characters like Brie an orphan who feels unwanted and used. Resilient and determined she faces each new challenge with an indomitable will that refuses to submit and be exploited again. Guilt-ridden and scarred Stilt is a defiant elf whose life has changed since living in the Light. He’s kind, caring and refuses to be broken by the king he despises. King Henrik with his cold ruthlessness and power-hungry greed as well as the sorcerer Alric’s menacing cruelty add their own brand of terror to the tale and are among the host of characters who infuse the story with tension, excitement and power as events roll quickly and smoothly to an ending that leaves their future open and readers looking for another book.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Thread and Spool” with Holly Hook’s fluid writing style and an imaginative plot that ropes you in and doesn’t let go until the end.
Set in Fable, Holly Hook creates a magical but sinister world made up of Light and Dark where the fairy tales and stories generated by the imagination of mankind are stored. Legends, the characters in the stories populate the land and are reborn long after their story is finished. Based on “Rumpelstiltskin”, a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Brie the miller’s daughter stolen as a baby and replaced with a changeling lives in the modern world where as a 4th grader she discovers the ability to weave thread into golden objects, creating a greedy hunger in the parents that thought of her only as a tax write-off and later a boyfriend whose only love lies in his obsession with adding to his collection of gaming systems. The story heats up and tension mounts when she meets Stilt and in a mad chase across the city to escape being captured by cruel King Henrik’s knights ends up in Fable where she begins to learn about her past and the fairy tale she can’t flee; a fable that has never had a happy- ever-after ending.
Chilling in its intensity Brie, Stilt and his scarred coachman Sylvia flee across the land staying away from the darkness that can warp a mind, struggling to avoid the king’s clutches. Suspense builds as they encounter a blackmailing shepherd boy, bandits, talking animals and even a magical fish. Fast-paced, the action never stops especially when they’re captured and incarcerated, their lives at stake as they struggle against the evil of the King’s Knights, his wolves and ravens. Skilfully structured and engaging the plot twists and turns as Brie and her new friends struggle to find a way out of their dilemma which promises a fatal end if their plan fails.
Like all memorable fairy tales Holly Hook has created strong, complex and dynamic characters like Brie an orphan who feels unwanted and used. Resilient and determined she faces each new challenge with an indomitable will that refuses to submit and be exploited again. Guilt-ridden and scarred Stilt is a defiant elf whose life has changed since living in the Light. He’s kind, caring and refuses to be broken by the king he despises. King Henrik with his cold ruthlessness and power-hungry greed as well as the sorcerer Alric’s menacing cruelty add their own brand of terror to the tale and are among the host of characters who infuse the story with tension, excitement and power as events roll quickly and smoothly to an ending that leaves their future open and readers looking for another book.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Thread and Spool” with Holly Hook’s fluid writing style and an imaginative plot that ropes you in and doesn’t let go until the end.
May 14, 2017
“Thread and Spool” which I received through Rachel E. Carter’s YA Book Club fractures a dark fairy tale of avarice, heartlessness and cruelty bringing triumph as the victims find freedom in their choices. Cursed with the ability to weave thread into gold Brie feels used and abused by her parents and her boyfriend who only see her worth as a bank they can tap when they need money to gamble or to buy gaming systems. Only when she meets Stilt and is swept into the magical realm of Fable to relive her story once again does Brie begin to control her life and challenge the events of the past that had her continually marrying a cruel King, promising her first-born to an elf and being beheaded.
Set in Fable, Holly Hook creates a magical but sinister world made up of Light and Dark where the fairy tales and stories generated by the imagination of mankind are stored. Legends, the characters in the stories populate the land and are reborn long after their story is finished. Based on “Rumpelstiltskin”, a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Brie the miller’s daughter stolen as a baby and replaced with a changeling lives in the modern world where as a 4th grader she discovers the ability to weave thread into golden objects, creating a greedy hunger in the parents that thought of her only as a tax write-off and later a boyfriend whose only love lies in his obsession with adding to his collection of gaming systems. The story heats up and tension mounts when she meets Stilt and in a mad chase across the city to escape being captured by cruel King Henrik’s knights ends up in Fable where she begins to learn about her past and the fairy tale she can’t flee; a fable that has never had a happy- ever-after ending.
Chilling in its intensity Brie, Stilt and his scarred coachman Sylvia flee across the land staying away from the darkness that can warp a mind, struggling to avoid the king’s clutches. Suspense builds as they encounter a blackmailing shepherd boy, bandits, talking animals and even a magical fish. Fast-paced, the action never stops especially when they’re captured and incarcerated, their lives at stake as they struggle against the evil of the King’s Knights, his wolves and ravens. Skilfully structured and engaging the plot twists and turns as Brie and her new friends struggle to find a way out of their dilemma which promises a fatal end if their plan fails.
Like all memorable fairy tales Holly Hook has created strong, complex and dynamic characters like Brie an orphan who feels unwanted and used. Resilient and determined she faces each new challenge with an indomitable will that refuses to submit and be exploited again. Guilt-ridden and scarred Stilt is a defiant elf whose life has changed since living in the Light. He’s kind, caring and refuses to be broken by the king he despises. King Henrik with his cold ruthlessness and power-hungry greed as well as the sorcerer Alric’s menacing cruelty add their own brand of terror to the tale and are among the host of characters who infuse the story with tension, excitement and power as events roll quickly and smoothly to an ending that leaves their future open and readers looking for another book.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Thread and Spool” with Holly Hook’s fluid writing style and an imaginative plot that ropes you in and doesn’t let go until the end.
Set in Fable, Holly Hook creates a magical but sinister world made up of Light and Dark where the fairy tales and stories generated by the imagination of mankind are stored. Legends, the characters in the stories populate the land and are reborn long after their story is finished. Based on “Rumpelstiltskin”, a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Brie the miller’s daughter stolen as a baby and replaced with a changeling lives in the modern world where as a 4th grader she discovers the ability to weave thread into golden objects, creating a greedy hunger in the parents that thought of her only as a tax write-off and later a boyfriend whose only love lies in his obsession with adding to his collection of gaming systems. The story heats up and tension mounts when she meets Stilt and in a mad chase across the city to escape being captured by cruel King Henrik’s knights ends up in Fable where she begins to learn about her past and the fairy tale she can’t flee; a fable that has never had a happy- ever-after ending.
Chilling in its intensity Brie, Stilt and his scarred coachman Sylvia flee across the land staying away from the darkness that can warp a mind, struggling to avoid the king’s clutches. Suspense builds as they encounter a blackmailing shepherd boy, bandits, talking animals and even a magical fish. Fast-paced, the action never stops especially when they’re captured and incarcerated, their lives at stake as they struggle against the evil of the King’s Knights, his wolves and ravens. Skilfully structured and engaging the plot twists and turns as Brie and her new friends struggle to find a way out of their dilemma which promises a fatal end if their plan fails.
Like all memorable fairy tales Holly Hook has created strong, complex and dynamic characters like Brie an orphan who feels unwanted and used. Resilient and determined she faces each new challenge with an indomitable will that refuses to submit and be exploited again. Guilt-ridden and scarred Stilt is a defiant elf whose life has changed since living in the Light. He’s kind, caring and refuses to be broken by the king he despises. King Henrik with his cold ruthlessness and power-hungry greed as well as the sorcerer Alric’s menacing cruelty add their own brand of terror to the tale and are among the host of characters who infuse the story with tension, excitement and power as events roll quickly and smoothly to an ending that leaves their future open and readers looking for another book.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Thread and Spool” with Holly Hook’s fluid writing style and an imaginative plot that ropes you in and doesn’t let go until the end.
February 7, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None that I recall.
Violence: higher mild. Blood depicted from torture (torture not seen, just after-effects), heads on pikes are seen but not graphically described. girl with no eyes depicted (eyes pecked out by birds previous to meeting her). There is a lot of threatened violence, but it's never graphically described, it's just enough to make you cringe a bit at the thought of it. (Like the Grimm fairy tales).
Sexual: higher mild. There are a few things like a character saying she wishes she and her boyfriend 'went farther' and then another character teasing saying they 'could probably be intimate' because she has magic so he wouldn't overwhelm her. Another scene where a character thinks two others are going to be intimate so she leaves. As for what actually happens, it's just chaste kissing. There is mention of a character having to marry and give a King a child and she's not happy about the thought (it's a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, so yeah).
Trigger: There's a pervasive theme of being 'used' and not seen as a person, just someone to be taken advantage of (in a monetary way, as a character spins gold) by parents, boyfriend, and even strangers. There is torture, but never 'on screen' but you do see lash marks and some bloody clothing and scars.
This one was...odd. I wasn't expecting to have a retelling that world-hopped. It starts out in our world, and the character quickly realizes she actually is from Fable, the world where the imagination of our people produces story book characters who are fated to live and re-live their particular tales over and over, life after life.
Not my favorite genre. I've never been satisfied with any author who has tried to do the real world/fairy tale world mash up. It's too much of a clash and I don't enjoy it as much as a straight retelling. It got a lot better after they'd been in Fable for a while and Brie stopped referencing our world as much. The juxtaposition was too much for my brain and it's just not my thing. I had to force myself to keep reading.
Also, the formatting for the version I got (the complete collection of the Twisted Fairy Tales) was dead awful. I had such a hard time deciphering who was speaking because the dialogue often (but not always) would get interrupted by a paragraph break when the same person was still speaking. Then another person would start speaking in the same paragraph that should've been broken up to denote a new person was talking. It was maddening.
There were interesting parts to this retelling, and seeing all the easter eggs for other fairy tales was fun for me to try spotting. But it just felt off to have the our world/their world thing going on. It wasn't necessary. I would've liked it better if they'd realized they were fairy tale characters, but never world hopped.
This was okay, but I'm going to skip the rest of the books in the series. With my dislike for this trope/genre I'm not going to waste my time and move on to something I know I'll personally enjoy more.
Profanity: None that I recall.
Violence: higher mild. Blood depicted from torture (torture not seen, just after-effects), heads on pikes are seen but not graphically described. girl with no eyes depicted (eyes pecked out by birds previous to meeting her). There is a lot of threatened violence, but it's never graphically described, it's just enough to make you cringe a bit at the thought of it. (Like the Grimm fairy tales).
Sexual: higher mild. There are a few things like a character saying she wishes she and her boyfriend 'went farther' and then another character teasing saying they 'could probably be intimate' because she has magic so he wouldn't overwhelm her. Another scene where a character thinks two others are going to be intimate so she leaves. As for what actually happens, it's just chaste kissing. There is mention of a character having to marry and give a King a child and she's not happy about the thought (it's a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, so yeah).
Trigger: There's a pervasive theme of being 'used' and not seen as a person, just someone to be taken advantage of (in a monetary way, as a character spins gold) by parents, boyfriend, and even strangers. There is torture, but never 'on screen' but you do see lash marks and some bloody clothing and scars.
This one was...odd. I wasn't expecting to have a retelling that world-hopped. It starts out in our world, and the character quickly realizes she actually is from Fable, the world where the imagination of our people produces story book characters who are fated to live and re-live their particular tales over and over, life after life.
Not my favorite genre. I've never been satisfied with any author who has tried to do the real world/fairy tale world mash up. It's too much of a clash and I don't enjoy it as much as a straight retelling. It got a lot better after they'd been in Fable for a while and Brie stopped referencing our world as much. The juxtaposition was too much for my brain and it's just not my thing. I had to force myself to keep reading.
Also, the formatting for the version I got (the complete collection of the Twisted Fairy Tales) was dead awful. I had such a hard time deciphering who was speaking because the dialogue often (but not always) would get interrupted by a paragraph break when the same person was still speaking. Then another person would start speaking in the same paragraph that should've been broken up to denote a new person was talking. It was maddening.
There were interesting parts to this retelling, and seeing all the easter eggs for other fairy tales was fun for me to try spotting. But it just felt off to have the our world/their world thing going on. It wasn't necessary. I would've liked it better if they'd realized they were fairy tale characters, but never world hopped.
This was okay, but I'm going to skip the rest of the books in the series. With my dislike for this trope/genre I'm not going to waste my time and move on to something I know I'll personally enjoy more.
May 15, 2017
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB" ON GOODREADS.
I had high hopes for this book since I love fairy tale retellings and I was not disappointed. This quick and delightful read had me hooked right away and it never slowed down. I loved finding out more about Brie's story and life right along with her. I just loved the twists and I kept pondering how the story was going to end.
The only negatives I had is that sometimes I got a little confused. I'm not sure if it was the writing or because I was not that familiar with the Rumpelstiltskin story before reading it. Brie in the story was familiar with it and would mention some parts, but didn't really enlighten us with more of the details until more toward the end. I think maybe the author assumed everyone is familiar with the tale, but it had me scratching my head. Also the ending was more abrupt than I would have liked, which is not a bad thing but it left me with some unanswered questions without a sequel to the story to answer them.
On a side note that is probably unimportant, there are several grammatical errors that took me out of the story, which always makes it difficult for me to concentrate again. I know these don't bother most people. Unfortunately to me they are like nails on chalkboard. I try not to even mention it if there are only a few, but there were quite a bit in this book. This was such a delightful read though that it's worth trying to push through them to finish the story.
I had high hopes for this book since I love fairy tale retellings and I was not disappointed. This quick and delightful read had me hooked right away and it never slowed down. I loved finding out more about Brie's story and life right along with her. I just loved the twists and I kept pondering how the story was going to end.
The only negatives I had is that sometimes I got a little confused. I'm not sure if it was the writing or because I was not that familiar with the Rumpelstiltskin story before reading it. Brie in the story was familiar with it and would mention some parts, but didn't really enlighten us with more of the details until more toward the end. I think maybe the author assumed everyone is familiar with the tale, but it had me scratching my head. Also the ending was more abrupt than I would have liked, which is not a bad thing but it left me with some unanswered questions without a sequel to the story to answer them.
On a side note that is probably unimportant, there are several grammatical errors that took me out of the story, which always makes it difficult for me to concentrate again. I know these don't bother most people. Unfortunately to me they are like nails on chalkboard. I try not to even mention it if there are only a few, but there were quite a bit in this book. This was such a delightful read though that it's worth trying to push through them to finish the story.
June 6, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads. All opinions of the book are my own.
This book is a fairytale retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, told from Brie´s - the golden maiden´s- point of view, with a unique twist. Full of darkness, violence, and evil magic, it reminds me more of the original Grimm tales than more present fairytales.
While the premise got me totally intrigued into reading the book, the execution somehow lagged. I appreciate the world building, it certainly has its charm, the twist was also a very good idea and the pace was solid. However, despite the simple language which should have sped the pace up, I sometimes struggled to continue. There were way too many descriptive parts and way too little dialogues, and even those included were sometimes.... well, simple. If I omit the amount of typos and grammar errors, which started to really disturb me, I also spotted some jumps in the story; it simply did not move forward as smoothly as I would like to. And while I pretty much liked the twist in the characters, too, I would love to see more depth to them, because at the current state, I could not connect to them and in such cases, my reading experience always suffers.
Nevertheless, this is the first book in a series, so I am optimistic about the future and believe it would work better. I like both classic fairytales and their retellings, and this one has a spark to it, only lacking the development into a true fire.
2,5 stars for me.
This book is a fairytale retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, told from Brie´s - the golden maiden´s- point of view, with a unique twist. Full of darkness, violence, and evil magic, it reminds me more of the original Grimm tales than more present fairytales.
While the premise got me totally intrigued into reading the book, the execution somehow lagged. I appreciate the world building, it certainly has its charm, the twist was also a very good idea and the pace was solid. However, despite the simple language which should have sped the pace up, I sometimes struggled to continue. There were way too many descriptive parts and way too little dialogues, and even those included were sometimes.... well, simple. If I omit the amount of typos and grammar errors, which started to really disturb me, I also spotted some jumps in the story; it simply did not move forward as smoothly as I would like to. And while I pretty much liked the twist in the characters, too, I would love to see more depth to them, because at the current state, I could not connect to them and in such cases, my reading experience always suffers.
Nevertheless, this is the first book in a series, so I am optimistic about the future and believe it would work better. I like both classic fairytales and their retellings, and this one has a spark to it, only lacking the development into a true fire.
2,5 stars for me.
December 27, 2024
Forced to relive your past. Unable to escape your story. It’s been said before by people, but for Brie it takes on a whole new meaning. Her ability to spin gold ends in the same storyline for her whether in the modern world or her fairytale home. She is used up with her only good seeming to be that of being taken advantage of for someone else’s wealth to its final ghastly end. It’s not just Brie though. Stilt has his own story that he longs to leave behind, and he has the scars as constant reminders of his inability to do so. And not to be forgotten is the mysterious carriage driver, Sylvia. And the list goes on of those caught up in a story that they are desperate to change in the land of Fable.
But Brie is determined to fight against the storyline that’s she has been told is laid out before her. Instead, she’s persistent in her efforts to rewrite her story to embrace a future of hope. And while doing that, she encourages others to see beyond their own limited storylines, despite how scary that can be. For others, she glimpses the best image of them and begs them to hold fast to that part of themselves rather than plunging back into the darkness. For all of them, including herself, it involves forgiving the ugliness of past journeys and stepping out in trust for the current journey. Because while each journey is shaped by the past journeys, they are not determined by them. Each one is new and takes courage to embark on, to take the first step. Brie demonstrates she has that courage and the ability to awaken that in others.
But Brie is determined to fight against the storyline that’s she has been told is laid out before her. Instead, she’s persistent in her efforts to rewrite her story to embrace a future of hope. And while doing that, she encourages others to see beyond their own limited storylines, despite how scary that can be. For others, she glimpses the best image of them and begs them to hold fast to that part of themselves rather than plunging back into the darkness. For all of them, including herself, it involves forgiving the ugliness of past journeys and stepping out in trust for the current journey. Because while each journey is shaped by the past journeys, they are not determined by them. Each one is new and takes courage to embark on, to take the first step. Brie demonstrates she has that courage and the ability to awaken that in others.
May 16, 2017
This book had an amazing summary, and I was honestly just dying to read it. The idea of a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, an often overlooked fairy tale, excited me. But for a book with such dark undertones, the dialogue did seem childish at times. And our heroine, Brie, was unlikeable and a bit...let's say...dense. I mean, you know the general plot of Rumpelstiltskin, you know you play a crucial part in the tale, you meet an obviously otherworldly man named Stilt, and you can't put two and two together until more than halfway through the book? Gee, I wonder how this guy who literally has a shortened version of the namesake of my fairy tale (which she knows, as she referenced it before) could POSSIBLY fit into my story. WoW BrIe, I dOn't KnOw!!
All in all, it's not like this was a terrible, horrific read. I felt that added length could've improved the depth and overall interest, but I enjoyed the author's shorter, concise style. With a few alterations, this would've been a pretty decent story.
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS.
All in all, it's not like this was a terrible, horrific read. I felt that added length could've improved the depth and overall interest, but I enjoyed the author's shorter, concise style. With a few alterations, this would've been a pretty decent story.
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a copy from the "Rachel E. Carter YA Book Club" on Goodreads.
My opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a fast pace (not to be reflected by the time I took to read it, I did not have much reading time in that week), and it was a fun and surprising twist on the classic fairy tale, told not by Rump but by the maiden instead.
I enjoyed the fact that the first third of the book took place in our contemporary world before jumping into the land of fairy tales. I enjoyed the character development and struggle that Brie had of wanting to be rid of her curse and yet needing it to save her friends.
All in all a good read.
My opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It had a fast pace (not to be reflected by the time I took to read it, I did not have much reading time in that week), and it was a fun and surprising twist on the classic fairy tale, told not by Rump but by the maiden instead.
I enjoyed the fact that the first third of the book took place in our contemporary world before jumping into the land of fairy tales. I enjoyed the character development and struggle that Brie had of wanting to be rid of her curse and yet needing it to save her friends.
All in all a good read.
September 1, 2024
This is a retelling of Rumplestiltskin. Brie learns at a young age that she can weave things into gold, and her adoptive family and later her boyfriend use that power for themselves. One day, she finds herself being chased by LARPers, and ending up with Stilt and Sylvie in the land of Fable.
While this had some interesting twists with the light side and dark side of Fable (and yes, we all know that fairy tales can be dark and twisted) and those seeking to use Brie’s power, it also had some bonds of friendship that I don’t think Brie had experienced in a long time. It was a fast paced read but part of that was because the writing and characters felt young (Brie is 16 in this).
While this had some interesting twists with the light side and dark side of Fable (and yes, we all know that fairy tales can be dark and twisted) and those seeking to use Brie’s power, it also had some bonds of friendship that I don’t think Brie had experienced in a long time. It was a fast paced read but part of that was because the writing and characters felt young (Brie is 16 in this).
September 14, 2018
My opinion of this book was a bit unclear to myself. I normally don't like re-tellings that much but this one changed my view on them. I look forward to reading book #2 because the world of this series is a fine blend of unique versions of some classic fairytales all intertwined in one alternative world or dimension of sorts.
I think it's well put together, but I can't compare with other retellings.
I think it's well put together, but I can't compare with other retellings.
January 18, 2022
The writing in this book was incredibly juvenile, especially in the beginning. The short stuttery sentences, basic vocabulary, and the main character's inner monologue reminds me of the stories I used to write in elementary school. The two love interests have literally no development or chemistry. Their whole deal is that they are in love because of their past lives? I think? Either way their "love" pops up out of nowhere and is the most boring part of this whole story. The best line in this whole book is on page 5, "You could have heard a bug fart in that silence." and that was literally the only enjoyable part.
May 28, 2017
"I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS."
I really, really loved the idea of this story. I've always been a fan of fractured fairy tales. Especially when they're hilarious. I just wish more attention was given to execution. I spotted quite a few typos and errors.
A solid effort from Holly Hook. I hope the 2nd book will be better.
I really, really loved the idea of this story. I've always been a fan of fractured fairy tales. Especially when they're hilarious. I just wish more attention was given to execution. I spotted quite a few typos and errors.
A solid effort from Holly Hook. I hope the 2nd book will be better.
June 7, 2017
"I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE "RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS."
An interesting take on the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin in which the typical roles of pure good and pure evil assigned to fairy tale characters are altered, giving a fresh perspective to a traditional fable.
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