Cursed: Guilded # 2 by Marissa Meyer

[Crystal]

Cursed is the second and final book in the Gilded duology by Marissa Meyer.  An engaging and magical reimagining of Rumplestilskin, Meyer doesn’t waste any time jumping back into the story.  Serilda, a local miller’s daughter, has tricked the dreaded Alder King into believing that she can spin straw into gold.  However, it is actually the handiwork of Gild, the local poltergeist, trapped forever in the haunted Adelheid Castle, with no knowledge of his life before.  Gild’s magic will only work with bargains and exchanges, and much like the fairytale it is based on, Serilda’s final exchange with Gild is for her first born child.  At the end of Gilded, we find that Serilda has now bound herself to the king, and promised to marry him in order to save the lives of others; effectively trapping herself (and her unborn child) behind the magical veil.  As the plot unfolds, many mysteries set up in the first book begin to unfold.  There are a number of “ah ha” moments that are deftly built into the plot, with each reveal making perfect narrative sense.  As far as fairytale reimaginings go, this one is top notch.  The romantic aspect plays out convincingly and is not the main focus of the book, and the fantastical elements all fit neatly into the world of this fictionalized historical Germany.  There is a darkness and magical realism that lives up to the Grimm tale, and Serilda is a strong, likable female protagonist.  Though there are a handful of moments that feel overwrought, overall it is an excellent fantasy duology that sticks the landing.  More than anything this is a book about the power of stories; both the ones we cherish, and those that have yet to come to pass. A great winter read if you are looking for the perfect blend of magic, adventure, romance, and an epic “once upon a time!”