Gold, She Spins

Never After Tales

by Avery Maitland

In a time where science and religion have begun to chase the wild things of this world into the shadows of the forest, there may yet be room for a little magic…

Once upon a Never After, an alchemist with a silver tongue ventured into a kingdom with an empty treasury, a prince with a greedy heart, and an impossible request. Bretan MacCrain is determined to fulfill the prince’s request, but when time runs short and his life hangs in the balance, what will he trade for an impossible wish?

Rhona is a child of the woods, an orphan with a hundred brothers and sisters. Happily ever after’s don’t exist in the greenwood. There is only survival. Stolen away by a fairy curse when she was only a babe, Rhona has grown up wild and strong alongside her foundling family.

“I’m in the business of granting wishes… but all magic comes at a price.”

In Brightsoll Forest at the edge of Ely Citadel, the world of men creeps ever closer and as Rhona’s twenty-first birthday approaches, she yearns to know more about these strange creatures who live without magic, and whom she is forbidden to speak to. Her interest in life at the citadel started as a game—but when an alchemist on the edge of desperation begs for her help, can Rhona take the risk that she might be discovered, or leave him to his fate?


Gold, She Spins is an adult-oriented fairy tale retelling featuring a heck of a lot of straw, consenting adults doing sensual things in various positions, a healthy helping of dirty language, bargains that should not be made lightly, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Part of the Never After Tales - a collection of over 40 authors giving your favorite fairy-tales a new twist.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2019

About the author

Avery Maitland writes in several different genres, but she keeps coming back to history.

She firmly believes that there is a heartthrob to be found in every history book, and she's determined to find the perfect one—no matter how many books it takes.

Reviews

[Jessica Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is a definitely a good twist to a good old fashion fairy tale. Loved it. Adventure, action, magic plus romance thrown in for good measure. Was not disappointed reading this author's book.

Bretan has been looking for a job. When he hears the king is looking for an alchemist for a task. All he can really think is will he be able to do the deed or will he perish trying to help a greedy king?
Rhona is the adopted daughter of a strange magical man. Growing up with him and her different siblings from all types of species. Isn't all that it's cracked up to be. No privacy, being the big one. Her father wants her to learn the trade. And ignore the outside world. But what is forbidden can look so shiny to one. Can she keep her secret and her heart hidden?

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

i dont really do historical i will admit however i do enjoy the fairytale retellings and this was an enjoyable story.. it was fast paced and interesting.. it kept me curious to see what was next and even though i know the gist of the story this still kept me guessing. i enjoyed it a lot.

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I wasn't sure I would like this book but thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved this re-telling of an old fairy tale. I liked that the characters were switched up too. It was interesting and the author added so much to the story. I am sure to read more of her books in the future. I am glad I gave it a chance. It was a fun read too because it took me back to my childhood and reminded me of reading with my mom. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy fairy tales re-imagined and with an adult twist.

[Gypsy Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is a fun fantasy retelling with enough elements that there is no question which story it draws from, I think it may have been hobbled with trying to conform to the original tale. As in, the first two times she turns stuff into gold (the second time even being some straw), she doesn’t use a spinning wheel. So then why does she suddenly need it for the next couple of times she creates the gold? (The only reason I can see is that she needed it was to conform to the original tale). Her magic really needed more rules to it. As in, she said she could only work magic when it was wished, but then she was doing all sorts of small magic without wishing (like the Jedi mind-tricks on the guards to get rid of them, and unlocking chains, lighting fires, etc). I really didn’t understand why Bretan didn’t escape earlier. I mean, the king had threatened his life, but then after creating the gold, there was a scene of them strolling around the castle grounds. Could have easily escaped then. Rhona could have used her jedi mind tricks on the guards and helped him escape at any time, but no, they had to conform to the pattern of the original story and spin the gold (that I didn’t get either in the context of the story. Sure, the first two or three times, just to get out of their predicament, but they knew how greedy the king was, that he would just continue to ask for more gold for the rest of his life, and Rhona knew she was confined to 3 times). The other problem I had with the story was that I never really warmed to Rhona and I didn’t feel the romance between her and Bretan (instantly fulfilled lust, yes. Romance and love, not so much). The problem was that the first meet between the two characters, Rhona came off like a crochety old-maid always complaining. And quite a few of the times after that she was complaining about him, too. And I never got why she gave a different name at the beginning, except to confuse the reader. There was never any real reason for it. There was also a sex scene that felt like it had been added in just for the sex. I was reading it, asking why aren’t they escaping? She can unlock the chain, the guards are gone, they could just go. But they were hobbled with having to have an unneeded time-consuming sex scene and then turn the room into gold to conform to the original tale (which I really didn’t see the point of when they just needed to escape). I did like Bretan. He had a good background to him, and he came off fully-rounded and young, and I loved that he was an alchemist. I loved the switching of the sexes for this retelling. I loved her father, though we didn’t get too see much of him (seriously, how was he spending his days when he wasn’t at home?) I loved all of Rhona’s brothers and sisters and her life in the forest and I even loved the castle with all of its inhabitants.

[Melanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery Maitland spins quite the yarn...

This fantastic re-telling of the old Rumplestiltskin fairy tale is a gem. Far more complex, far more suspenseful, and totally more romantic (and steamy - age 18+ only), this tale of magic, greed, and retribution enlivens and embroiders the original with details and emotions. The imported historical background of the Middle Ages anchors the fairytale in a more believable reality, and makes for edge-of-your-chair reading enjoyment. Magical! Marvelous! 5 stars This ARC review is voluntary.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unusual book and my first for this author. I have to say that I am quite impressed. This was so out there and so original that it worked perfectly. I have never read anything like this before and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gold She Spins, by Avery Maitland, is a remixed Rumpelstiltskin adventure. I loved the world here, a slightly twisted fairy-tale setting. Magic runs wild in the forest of Brightsoll, but in nearby Ely Citadel, a strict religion, a growing understanding of alchemy, and a capriciously cruel king have driven all magic out.

Rhona is a human girl, a firstborn child promised and given to a selfish wizard, in exchange for magical favors. She can also do magic, although she needs to follow a code of demanding payment for wishes granted. The magical rules were a bit vague, which kept the story moving along. Rhona can also do clever social magic, using a different name and a serving-girl's dress to become a different kind of invisible. Bretan is a trainee alchemist, but ends up being taken on at the king's alchemist and tasked with creating gold. 

I really enjoyed this novel's world of alchemy and magic, but I didn't quite buy the romance as much. Rhona is a fully developed character, she was skilled, capable, connected and brave. And Bretan, her love interest, was there too. I didn't quite see what she saw in him, which didn't help me follow their romance. Without revealing too much of the plot, Rhona does a lot for him, because he pretty much always needs her help. 

This is a clever, steamy revision of the classic fairy tale. 

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a far more steamy and entertaining version of Rumplestiltskin than the original. I loved all the characters, though not of them were loveable, of course, but it would have been nice to have gotten some back-story on her siblings as well as gotten to see what happened to them in the end. Also, the alchemist seemed to have sort of a cantankerous nature when working, which didn't fit the overall impression of him, but all in all it was a great story, and I would be thrilled to read more by this author in the future.

I received a free copy of For Gold, She Spins, but that did not affect my review.

[Levia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, fascinating new look on old fairytale

So I will admit that the first two chapters or so had me bored to tears and I contemplated not continuing. I wanted to give the story a chance though and those two chapters were just character introduction. This was a sweet coming of age story that blended this world's magic and science (even if the science didn't really work). I do wish that the magical family had been more fleshed out in the story, but it made sense to focus on just the two main characters. I loved the ending. This book was given to me at no charge and all opinions are my own.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different take on the Rumplestiltskin tale.An alchemist, a greedy prince, Rhona a child of the woods bring a mix of characters into the story. The separation and the mix between the original is different yet there is an attempt to bring in some of the original. Looking forward to reading more in this collection.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fervent read. There situation is dire and there were times when I wanted to tell them to focus. Turns out that Rhona may be young but she is very smart. I was shocked at how this came together what a surprising twist, love the ending. Nothing mundane about this one, very engaging, interesting and steamy fantasy. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author.

[Merrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a new twist on Rumpelstiltskin and I very much enjoyed it. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the world they inhabit is richly detailed. The many twists and turns keep you fully immersed in the story, right through the last sentence. I can definitely recommend it to you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairytale retellings and this book did not disappoint. The story and characters are very well written. The story grabbed my interest and kept it throughout. A really great book that I recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this authors take on a classic tale it's well written and has good characters, I look forward to more amazing books will check out more of Avery's other works!