Chains of Gold

by Nancy Springer

Every action has a consequence in this fantasy tale that follows a couple fleeing their destiny Cerilla, the sheltered, castle-bound protagonist of this inventive and moving fantasy novel, is determined to escape her bloody marriage to a king who is to be sacrificed after she bears his child. But Cerilla makes the monumental mistake of falling in love with her god-like husband to be—Arlen of the Sacred Isle—and he with her. Arlen’s devoted comrade Lonn takes Arlen’s place so the lovers can flee. But their escape is just the beginning of an odyssey marked by struggle and hardship as they cope with hyperboreal storms, near starvation, and attack by a band of armed horsemen. As they journey across harsh and fantastic lands, finally making a home beyond the Mountains of the Mysteries, Cerilla discovers how much she is willing to give up in the name of love. Featuring a mythical world where horses gallop across water and serpents live beneath the earth, Chains of Gold is about finding your path in life, staying true to who you are, and the ultimate meaning of sacrifice.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, Romance, High Fantasy

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

BIO -- NANCY SPRINGER


Nancy Springer has passed the fifty-book milestone, having written that many novels for adults, young adults and children, in genres including mythic fantasy, contemporary fiction, magical realism, horror, and mystery -- although she did not realize she wrote mystery until she won the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in succession. DARK LIE, recently released from NAL, is her first venture into mass-market psychological suspense.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Nancy Springer moved with her family to Gettysburg, of Civil War fame, when she was thirteen. She spent the next forty-six years in Pennsylvania, raising two children (Jonathan, now 38, and Nora, 34), writing, horseback riding, fishing, and birdwatching. In 2007 she surprised her friends and herself by moving with her second husband to an isolated area of the Florida panhandle, where the birdwatching is spectacular and where, when fishing, she occasionally catches an alligator.

Reviews

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my thing. In fact, reading this book made me realize that this thing is not my thing.

I’m having a little trouble putting into words what the thing is. The book reads like a fairy tale, where there is a lot of distance between the reader and the characters. They don’t seem real. Their behavior is dictated by fate (or by the goddess, or by ghosts). Three to four people fall in love with the main character on sight / shortly after meeting her, but I couldn’t describe her personality to you.

The main character and her love break all the rules of the goddess, like eating certain foods humans aren’t supposed to eat, but it’s fine. They don’t suffer any consequences, because the goddess has (pretty randomly, it is explicitly acknowledged), blessed and exempted them. They still undergo a lot of suffering (as do a lot of others), but that feels random too.

The whole world in this book is controlled by a spiritual system that is cruel and fucked up and also random, but at no point are the characters trying to change that. They are just like, cool, the cruel random fucked up goddess is on our side, good for us.

I think this book would have benefitted from more, more interesting dialogue. Perhaps we could have gotten to know the characters better that way.

[Ruby Hollyberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing mythological fantasy. To tell the plot would be to tell too much, but it is a retelling of the myth of Creithylad (Cordelia), aka the story of the Summer King and the Winter King, a very ancient dramatic enactment of the cycle of the seasons. I will mention one highlight: a very creepy possession-by-a-ghost!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I ever read by Nancy Springer - got me totally hooked on her writing.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerilla is pledged to wed Arlen, who was raised on the Sacred Isle by a cult of priestesses. But it’s a doomed marriage because the royal groom will be brutally put to death the next day. The pair fall for each other and escape the island when Arlen’s friend, Lonn, uses magic to take his place. But Lonn’s ghost follows them and threatens the babe Cerilla has conceived. On her trail is also her dastardly father who would return them to the island of butchery. Cerilla must face her fears and determine what she truly wants in order to discover her fate. While the writing is lyrical and the world building is excellent, I felt the mood of the story too dismal for my tastes.

[Nat thelowkeylibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, it’s a dreamy, unusual kind of fantasy with beautiful writing and a story that reads almost like a fable. The characters felt vivid, the central relationship was moving, and the mix of myth, love, and freedom gave it real depth.

3.5/5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t bad. Rae and Arlen are likable, and the parts of the story involving their escape from death and haunting is entertaining. I did not enjoy the underpinning of gods and goddesses and ritual sacrifice, however, but I rarely do.

[Selena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story needed more context at the beginning. Very confusing storyline and it takes a very strange turn.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like that when you hover over three stars on Goodreads it says "liked it". I didn't like this book, but there was nothing glaringly wrong with it. I just didn't like parts of the narrative.

For some reason, the whole "Cerilla has to marry a man, consummate the marriage, and then watch him be ritually sacrificed" plot appealed to me. That part was fine - as expected, Cerilla and Arlen escape and make their way to a new life...but then things happen that make their new life less-than-happy, including the spirit of Arlen's childhood friend possessing their baby, which I just found creepy. Other things happen, Cerilla must face her evil father who forced her to marry Arlen in the first place, a few other subplots resolve, and the book ends.

I liked that the book was short and I didn't need to invest too much time into it.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I became obsessed with this book. Looking back on it, I don't know why. There seems to have been a lot of needless suffering and misunderstanding...hm, maybe my adolescent self could relate.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish this, but it's not really fair to call it a two star book. During my Arthurian phase, I would have liked it, although I think the possessed baby might have still freaked me out.