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Son of Gold and Sorrow
A love that is forbidden, a curse that cannot be broken, and four impossible tasks.
James has always been selfish, arrogant, and unserious. Even when he’s tried to do better, he’s feared the folly and mixed motivations that lurk within his heart. So when the princess Aurelia—whom he tormented as a youth—enlists his help traveling a hard road to her homeland, he agrees more out of compulsion than compassion. Little does James know his reluctant decision to give aid to the princess will change his life forever.
When Princess Aurelia stumbles upon Lord James in the enchanted Black Forest of Ravenia, she sees in him the desperate chance she needs to escape a cruel father and a cursed engagement to a wicked man. Placing her hope in James, though, comes with its own entanglements—not the least of which is her traitorous heart. As their road turns dark and dangerous, she must not only hope in him, but also trust him with her deepest secrets.
As James and Aurelia struggle for survival, they grow closer with each challenge and find their assumptions about each other giving way to affection, a terrifying and futile affection. Because there is a curse laid on Aurelia, a curse that could mean James’s death for loving her. Unless he can do the impossible and free her from what cannot be broken.
A reimagining of “The Story of Pretty Goldilocks” by Madame d’Aulnoy
James has always been selfish, arrogant, and unserious. Even when he’s tried to do better, he’s feared the folly and mixed motivations that lurk within his heart. So when the princess Aurelia—whom he tormented as a youth—enlists his help traveling a hard road to her homeland, he agrees more out of compulsion than compassion. Little does James know his reluctant decision to give aid to the princess will change his life forever.
When Princess Aurelia stumbles upon Lord James in the enchanted Black Forest of Ravenia, she sees in him the desperate chance she needs to escape a cruel father and a cursed engagement to a wicked man. Placing her hope in James, though, comes with its own entanglements—not the least of which is her traitorous heart. As their road turns dark and dangerous, she must not only hope in him, but also trust him with her deepest secrets.
As James and Aurelia struggle for survival, they grow closer with each challenge and find their assumptions about each other giving way to affection, a terrifying and futile affection. Because there is a curse laid on Aurelia, a curse that could mean James’s death for loving her. Unless he can do the impossible and free her from what cannot be broken.
A reimagining of “The Story of Pretty Goldilocks” by Madame d’Aulnoy
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultTeen
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
3 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
K.B. Hoyle
16 books260 followersK. B. Hoyle’s love of good stories began when she stepped through a wardrobe at age six, and she never looked back. She is the multiple award-winning Young Adult author of THE GATEWAY CHRONICLES fantasy series, THE BREEDER CYCLE dystopian series, The Fairytale Collection, and more.
In addition to her many novels, K. B. Hoyle is the co-founder and CEO of Owl's Nest Publishers, an independent press specializing in books that capture the imagination of adolescents. She is also a sought-after voice in the areas of storytelling and culture, and she has contributed articles and essays to a variety of publications. Her speaking resume includes keynote addresses, leading writing workshops, and international experience as a featured panelist at the 2013 Sydney Writers' Festival.
K. B. Hoyle stays busy at her home in Wisconsin on a winding creek with her husband, their four sons, and the variety of wildlife that frequent their land.
For more information on K. B. Hoyle, visit her website at kbhoyle.com or find her around social media at @kbhoyle.author on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Email her at author@kbhoyle.com.
In addition to her many novels, K. B. Hoyle is the co-founder and CEO of Owl's Nest Publishers, an independent press specializing in books that capture the imagination of adolescents. She is also a sought-after voice in the areas of storytelling and culture, and she has contributed articles and essays to a variety of publications. Her speaking resume includes keynote addresses, leading writing workshops, and international experience as a featured panelist at the 2013 Sydney Writers' Festival.
K. B. Hoyle stays busy at her home in Wisconsin on a winding creek with her husband, their four sons, and the variety of wildlife that frequent their land.
For more information on K. B. Hoyle, visit her website at kbhoyle.com or find her around social media at @kbhoyle.author on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. Email her at author@kbhoyle.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 12, 2025
Oh man, that book was SO GOOD. It was so good it gave me a book hangover. Full review forthcoming! (Full disclosure: The author is a friend, but this is an honest review.)
ETA: Review of the entire series here (with one or two very mild spoilers): https://dearstrangethings.substack.co...
ETA: Review of the entire series here (with one or two very mild spoilers): https://dearstrangethings.substack.co...
August 9, 2024
I had the privilege of being the first reader ever of this book in April 2024, and then the editor later in the year. I love watching the story go from good to great during the back and forth process of working with the author. This is my favorite book in The Fairytale Collection to date!
Let me start at the beginning. I first read Son of the Deep on the sneaky-sneak when I interned with Owl's Nest Publishers in 2022. I expected the story to be lackluster and not well-written because it was a small press and an author I'd never heard of. Plus the storyline of The Little Mermaid has never resonated with me; I went in very critical.
And I was wrong.
So, so wrong.
I ended up caring for the actual story of The Little Mermaid for the first time in my life. Even knowing how the story goes, I found myself impressed with the actual unfolding. I loved the characters, I was surprised by the action and plot twists, and ultimately, I saw this old fairytale through new eyes.
Fast forward to Son of Bitter Glass and my position as Marketing Director of Owl's Nest Publishers. I was an early reader for this retelling of The Snow Queen and loved how this companion novel both stood alone as its own story but also wove itself through the original characters in Son of the Deep. I felt the depth and the peril of this story and read it a second time soon after the book released because I truly loved it and wanted to read it again.
Fast forward once more to reading an early draft of this book. I inhaled it and my 13-year-old son quickly read it after me. We had so much fun talking about it together, providing feedback, and he quickly read the first two books as well. My position shifted at Owl's Nest and I took on the editor role for this book and got to dig down into the bones of the story, to truly understand the heart behind it. On the surface, it's a story for adolescents about adolescents. But deeper, at the core of this book and this series, is true love beyond fairytales, true sacrifice beyond lip service, true heroism beyond the flashy and showy.
These books will meet you where you are. As a teen, you'll engage and love a story of adventure and curses and hope triumphant. As an adult, you'll see more; perhaps you'll feel grief for the teen years where you were mistreated, perhaps joy for a happy ending, perhaps your love of reading will be reignited, a spark of all that is good and true and beautiful in a fairytale.
So here's my invitation to readers: come and read! Pick up one of these fairytale books and read like a child, read like a teen, read like an adult. Start wherever you like. It's ok if you're skeptical. I was there too, and I've never been so delighted to be wrong.
Let me start at the beginning. I first read Son of the Deep on the sneaky-sneak when I interned with Owl's Nest Publishers in 2022. I expected the story to be lackluster and not well-written because it was a small press and an author I'd never heard of. Plus the storyline of The Little Mermaid has never resonated with me; I went in very critical.
And I was wrong.
So, so wrong.
I ended up caring for the actual story of The Little Mermaid for the first time in my life. Even knowing how the story goes, I found myself impressed with the actual unfolding. I loved the characters, I was surprised by the action and plot twists, and ultimately, I saw this old fairytale through new eyes.
Fast forward to Son of Bitter Glass and my position as Marketing Director of Owl's Nest Publishers. I was an early reader for this retelling of The Snow Queen and loved how this companion novel both stood alone as its own story but also wove itself through the original characters in Son of the Deep. I felt the depth and the peril of this story and read it a second time soon after the book released because I truly loved it and wanted to read it again.
Fast forward once more to reading an early draft of this book. I inhaled it and my 13-year-old son quickly read it after me. We had so much fun talking about it together, providing feedback, and he quickly read the first two books as well. My position shifted at Owl's Nest and I took on the editor role for this book and got to dig down into the bones of the story, to truly understand the heart behind it. On the surface, it's a story for adolescents about adolescents. But deeper, at the core of this book and this series, is true love beyond fairytales, true sacrifice beyond lip service, true heroism beyond the flashy and showy.
These books will meet you where you are. As a teen, you'll engage and love a story of adventure and curses and hope triumphant. As an adult, you'll see more; perhaps you'll feel grief for the teen years where you were mistreated, perhaps joy for a happy ending, perhaps your love of reading will be reignited, a spark of all that is good and true and beautiful in a fairytale.
So here's my invitation to readers: come and read! Pick up one of these fairytale books and read like a child, read like a teen, read like an adult. Start wherever you like. It's ok if you're skeptical. I was there too, and I've never been so delighted to be wrong.
September 17, 2024
Rtc 😍🤭❤️🥹
December 23, 2025
Ahhh!!! I have absolutely loved each book in KB Hoyle’s fairytale collection, but Son of Gold and Sorrow is my favorite SO FAR (as I understand more stories will be added to this series in the future.)👏
Fairytales have such a unique and powerful way of displaying virtue and goodness. This is a reimagining of Madame d’Aulnoy’s classic The Story of Pretty Goldilocks which I actually haven’t read yet, but given Hoyle’s other two fairytale reimaginings I can guarantee that this one adds even more depth and beauty to the original tale.
I absolutely loved the characters of Aurelia and James and their love story, along with the fabulous side characters (both human and animals!). I loved the way in which Hoyle captured both of Aurelia and James’s traumatic histories and developed both of them into characters who are overcomers who choose to do what is right and good and true and courageous and selfless. What an inspiring, enthralling and beautiful story!
As far as Hoyle’s writing goes, I continue to just marvel at her skills. What a fabulous idea to plan out a series of fairytale reimaginings which contain characters that reappear in each story. In James’s case, this has allowed Hoyle to grow and develop him through these three stories into a wonderfully virtuous and redeemed young man. What a remarkable display of writing skill!
I can’t recommend these stories enough for all adolescents, family read alouds and for book clubs. These are especially perfect for a young reader who is a romantic at heart and would do well to read fabulous love stories that point to what is good and true and beautiful.
Fairytales have such a unique and powerful way of displaying virtue and goodness. This is a reimagining of Madame d’Aulnoy’s classic The Story of Pretty Goldilocks which I actually haven’t read yet, but given Hoyle’s other two fairytale reimaginings I can guarantee that this one adds even more depth and beauty to the original tale.
I absolutely loved the characters of Aurelia and James and their love story, along with the fabulous side characters (both human and animals!). I loved the way in which Hoyle captured both of Aurelia and James’s traumatic histories and developed both of them into characters who are overcomers who choose to do what is right and good and true and courageous and selfless. What an inspiring, enthralling and beautiful story!
As far as Hoyle’s writing goes, I continue to just marvel at her skills. What a fabulous idea to plan out a series of fairytale reimaginings which contain characters that reappear in each story. In James’s case, this has allowed Hoyle to grow and develop him through these three stories into a wonderfully virtuous and redeemed young man. What a remarkable display of writing skill!
I can’t recommend these stories enough for all adolescents, family read alouds and for book clubs. These are especially perfect for a young reader who is a romantic at heart and would do well to read fabulous love stories that point to what is good and true and beautiful.
March 15, 2025
I loved this. I enjoyed the trilogy. But this was my favorite. At the beginning, I didn't realize all three would tie together. But they do, and I found that so fun! This book is very romantic. But I love the emphasis on what love really looks like.
December 6, 2024
I am incredibly honored to have received an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own 😁.
I really wasn't sure what to expect from Son of Gold and Sorrow. I'm not usually into any kind of romance, and I'd never read anything by K.B. Hoyle before. So, what I was hoping for: an exciting book with clean romance.
What I got: An exciting book, deep characters, and clean romance! YA hardly EVER surprises me (well, I've been surprised by how bad it is..) but this one did. Let's start with the romance, because that's where it usually goes wrong. The absolute most intimate anyone got on page was a kiss. There was definitely mentions of "being with girls" in one of the character's past, but only in a way that added to the story, and character, instead of deterring me. Speaking of pasts...
The characters!!! (Stay with me please, this is where I get excited)
1, Aurelia. On the surface she's a silly princess, running away from home because she doesn't want to marry her betrothed. But the more you get to know her the more you realize how real her predicament is. I loved how K.B. Hoyle only gives us information as James finds out about it. We know what we need to know, and we trust the reasoning of the characters. Her bravery is also incredible. Her love, hate, and sense of justice is STRONG. I would love to meet her in real life 😊.
2, James. As another of the main characters James plays his part perfectly. Moody, self doubting, hopelessly in love, and with a sordid past. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe strong, loyal, brave, and just. Yeah, that's James.
The character development, his especially, was also superb.
3, Side characters. Pyros, ick. The king and queen, ick + shudder. Galifron, ick + shudder + sob. Galifron's girls, sob + that is some girl power! Aedan... ❤️❤️❤️. For a character brought into the story more than halfway through his development was complete and beautiful.
4, the ANIMALS! Sweet, sweet, sweetness!! I loved Frisk. What a loyal, smart, companion! 💞. Of course I also loved Fowler, who comes to the rescue in more ways than one! There's also a fish and a mouse that's very... Special 😁 (if you like animal characters you won't be disappointed!)
Ok, I need to stop or I'll run out of room for...
The PLOT!!
By the time I was halfway through I was like, 'what more could happen?' introducing PLOT TWIST (I mean, I should have seen it coming, but still) the second half of the book was where I saw the most development from James. I also really enjoyed getting to learn more about the land! Everything flowed smoothly, and the ending was perfect! I also really like how she tied in characters from her other stories. (I haven't read them yet, but I did read the synopses so know that Eira and Isbrand, and Rose and Hugo, are from the other books). The view point switched between Aurelia and James continuously. Usually I would find that confusing, but somehow it just worked.
Final word/summary of my review.
Son of Gold and Sorrow is beautiful. The characters, the story, and (they're characters, but they deserve their own mention) the animals 😊.
I with no hesitation give it 5 stars, and will enjoy rereading this one, and reading her other books!
I really wasn't sure what to expect from Son of Gold and Sorrow. I'm not usually into any kind of romance, and I'd never read anything by K.B. Hoyle before. So, what I was hoping for: an exciting book with clean romance.
What I got: An exciting book, deep characters, and clean romance! YA hardly EVER surprises me (well, I've been surprised by how bad it is..) but this one did. Let's start with the romance, because that's where it usually goes wrong. The absolute most intimate anyone got on page was a kiss. There was definitely mentions of "being with girls" in one of the character's past, but only in a way that added to the story, and character, instead of deterring me. Speaking of pasts...
The characters!!! (Stay with me please, this is where I get excited)
1, Aurelia. On the surface she's a silly princess, running away from home because she doesn't want to marry her betrothed. But the more you get to know her the more you realize how real her predicament is. I loved how K.B. Hoyle only gives us information as James finds out about it. We know what we need to know, and we trust the reasoning of the characters. Her bravery is also incredible. Her love, hate, and sense of justice is STRONG. I would love to meet her in real life 😊.
2, James. As another of the main characters James plays his part perfectly. Moody, self doubting, hopelessly in love, and with a sordid past. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe strong, loyal, brave, and just. Yeah, that's James.
The character development, his especially, was also superb.
3, Side characters. Pyros, ick. The king and queen, ick + shudder. Galifron, ick + shudder + sob. Galifron's girls, sob + that is some girl power! Aedan... ❤️❤️❤️. For a character brought into the story more than halfway through his development was complete and beautiful.
4, the ANIMALS! Sweet, sweet, sweetness!! I loved Frisk. What a loyal, smart, companion! 💞. Of course I also loved Fowler, who comes to the rescue in more ways than one! There's also a fish and a mouse that's very... Special 😁 (if you like animal characters you won't be disappointed!)
Ok, I need to stop or I'll run out of room for...
The PLOT!!
By the time I was halfway through I was like, 'what more could happen?' introducing PLOT TWIST (I mean, I should have seen it coming, but still) the second half of the book was where I saw the most development from James. I also really enjoyed getting to learn more about the land! Everything flowed smoothly, and the ending was perfect! I also really like how she tied in characters from her other stories. (I haven't read them yet, but I did read the synopses so know that Eira and Isbrand, and Rose and Hugo, are from the other books). The view point switched between Aurelia and James continuously. Usually I would find that confusing, but somehow it just worked.
Final word/summary of my review.
Son of Gold and Sorrow is beautiful. The characters, the story, and (they're characters, but they deserve their own mention) the animals 😊.
I with no hesitation give it 5 stars, and will enjoy rereading this one, and reading her other books!
August 10, 2024
I had the privilege of being the first reader ever of this book in April 2024, and then the editor later in the year. I love watching the story go from good to great during the back and forth process of working with the author. This is my favorite book in The Fairytale Collection to date!
Let me start at the beginning. I first read Son of the Deep on the sneaky-sneak when I interned with Owl's Nest Publishers in 2022. I expected the story to be lackluster and not well-written because it was a small press and an author I'd never heard of. Plus the storyline of The Little Mermaid has never resonated with me; I went in very critical.
And I was wrong.
So, so wrong.
I ended up caring for the actual story of The Little Mermaid for the first time in my life. Even knowing how the story goes, I found myself impressed with the actual unfolding. I loved the characters, I was surprised by the action and plot twists, and ultimately, I saw this old fairytale through new eyes.
Fast forward to Son of Bitter Glass and my position as Marketing Director of Owl's Nest Publishers. I was an early reader for this retelling of The Snow Queen and loved how this companion novel both stood alone as its own story but also wove itself through the original characters in Son of the Deep. I felt the depth and the peril of this story and read it a second time soon after the book released because I truly loved it and wanted to read it again.
Fast forward once more to reading an early draft of this book. I inhaled it and my 13-year-old son quickly read it after me. We had so much fun talking about it together, providing feedback, and he quickly read the first two books as well. My position shifted at Owl's Nest and I took on the editor role for this book and got to dig down into the bones of the story, to truly understand the heart behind it. On the surface, it's a story for adolescents about adolescents. But deeper, at the core of this book and this series, is true love beyond fairytales, true sacrifice beyond lip service, true heroism beyond the flashy and showy.
These books will meet you where you are. As a teen, you'll engage and love a story of adventure and curses and hope triumphant. As an adult, you'll see more; perhaps you'll feel grief for the teen years where you were mistreated, perhaps joy for a happy ending, perhaps your love of reading will be reignited, a spark of all that is good and true and beautiful in a fairytale.
So here's my invitation to readers: come and read! Pick up one of these fairytale books and read like a child, read like a teen, read like an adult. Start wherever you like. It's ok if you're skeptical. I was there too, and I've never been so delighted to be wrong.
Let me start at the beginning. I first read Son of the Deep on the sneaky-sneak when I interned with Owl's Nest Publishers in 2022. I expected the story to be lackluster and not well-written because it was a small press and an author I'd never heard of. Plus the storyline of The Little Mermaid has never resonated with me; I went in very critical.
And I was wrong.
So, so wrong.
I ended up caring for the actual story of The Little Mermaid for the first time in my life. Even knowing how the story goes, I found myself impressed with the actual unfolding. I loved the characters, I was surprised by the action and plot twists, and ultimately, I saw this old fairytale through new eyes.
Fast forward to Son of Bitter Glass and my position as Marketing Director of Owl's Nest Publishers. I was an early reader for this retelling of The Snow Queen and loved how this companion novel both stood alone as its own story but also wove itself through the original characters in Son of the Deep. I felt the depth and the peril of this story and read it a second time soon after the book released because I truly loved it and wanted to read it again.
Fast forward once more to reading an early draft of this book. I inhaled it and my 13-year-old son quickly read it after me. We had so much fun talking about it together, providing feedback, and he quickly read the first two books as well. My position shifted at Owl's Nest and I took on the editor role for this book and got to dig down into the bones of the story, to truly understand the heart behind it. On the surface, it's a story for adolescents about adolescents. But deeper, at the core of this book and this series, is true love beyond fairytales, true sacrifice beyond lip service, true heroism beyond the flashy and showy.
These books will meet you where you are. As a teen, you'll engage and love a story of adventure and curses and hope triumphant. As an adult, you'll see more; perhaps you'll feel grief for the teen years where you were mistreated, perhaps joy for a happy ending, perhaps your love of reading will be reignited, a spark of all that is good and true and beautiful in a fairytale.
So here's my invitation to readers: come and read! Pick up one of these fairytale books and read like a child, read like a teen, read like an adult. Start wherever you like. It's ok if you're skeptical. I was there too, and I've never been so delighted to be wrong.
September 1, 2024
Assuming this is a completed trilogy, Ms. Hoyle absolutely saved the best for last in “Son of Gold and Sorrow.” I felt great indifference* story to this story and would unequivocally recommend it to teenagers everywhere. The plot is straightforward and the solution uncomplicated; but it’s about teenagers in love who suffer greatly and sacrifice much in the quest for freedom and happily ever after, and I am here for a story with sweet pining, some sassy moments, and a bit with the foxy sidekick (his name is Frisk and he’s adorable). Add this to your TBR posthaste!
I received an ARC from Owl’s Nest Publishers and am delighted to share my unadulterated opinion! “Son of Gold and Sorrow” comes out this October!
*You’ll understand this once you read the book!
I received an ARC from Owl’s Nest Publishers and am delighted to share my unadulterated opinion! “Son of Gold and Sorrow” comes out this October!
*You’ll understand this once you read the book!
September 16, 2024
I would give this 10 stars if I could! I LOVED IT! Full review coming soon 🥰
October 27, 2024
Summary: Princess Aurelia is forced to ask James for help. A curse complicates everything.
Son of Gold and Sorrow is the third in KB Hoyle’s series of fairy tale retellings. Each book can be read independently, but for this third book in the series, it helps to have read them in order. In the first book Son of the Deep (a gender swap retelling of the Little Mermaid), James was a side character. In the second book, Son of Bitter Glass (a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen), James joins the book midway through as a partner on the quest. But in this third book, Son of Gold and Sorrow, James, along with Aurelia, is the protagonist. You do not need to have read the previous books to read this book, they can be read in any order, but you will have more understanding about James as a character if you have read the others.
Son of Gold and Glass is a retelling of The Pretty Goldilocks (not Goldilocks and the Three Bears). Like the Snow Queen, I was familiar with elements of the story because it has been retold in other formats, but I had not read the original fairy tale. Again, like the last book, about half way through the book I started searching to figure out what the original fairly tale was and read a few summaries so I could see the elements and get and idea of what had been changed in this retelling. None of that is required to read the book.
Hoyle wrote an article a few years ago about the value of modern authors retelling fairy tales and I have come to appreciate the value of the classic fairy tale more over time. There are different ways to retell a story just like there are different ways to remake a movie. Some people want a movie remake to be shot for shot, but that is far less satisfying method for a book. I am almost finished with an adult fiction series that used the broad premise of the beauty and the beast as a basis for the book, but did not keep any of the main elements of the story. KB Hoyle’s Fairy Tale Collection has told the stories in a modern way with more female agency and some modern sensibilities of justice, but maintaining the idea of stories that are formative to character and virtue.
Many fairy tales are almost parable-like in their message and can be heavy handed in their message and far more brutal in result than what modern readers are interested in. (The original Little Mermaid didn’t live happily ever after with the prince in Hans Christian Anderson’s story, she became sea foam.) I think Hoyle strikes the right balance of updating the feel of the story and not feeling beholden to the “shot by shot” elements of the older stories, but still keeping many of the themes and discussion of character, without feeling heavy handed in the message.
I am going to try to avoid too many spoilers, but if you do not want to know anything about the book, go ahead and hear that I strongly recommend the book and hope that it is widely read. There will be a few spoilers below.
One of the problems of modern romance is figuring out how to tell a story so that the couple gets to know one another naturally without just falling into bed. This is a book written for teen and it is chaste, but there is a challenge in that story element being natural. Here, Aurelia, has been cursed. Her father pledged her in marriage to a much older man. Both her father and the other man are cruel and controlling. Her father, being a wizard as well as a king, used magic to tie Aurelia to her betrothed. And so Aurelia used magic to slightly alter the curse so that her betrothed would have to complete three impossible tasks before she would marry him. But the implication of her father’s curse was that any man who attempted to touch her in love would die. This includes attempting to using force to make her kiss them. This means that Aurelia is safe from rape or other sexual assault, but it also means that she avoids all touch with men because of her history at seeing the result of that curse.
The full extent of her curse and the cruelty of her father and betrothed comes out slowly, but as a plot point to give a natural reason for James and Aurelia to get to know one another and become friends through their quest, it is a perfect solution.
Having now read every book and novella that KB Hoyle has written, what I look forward to most is the subtle references and depth of the books. The only problem is that because so much is intentional, I think I might occasionally see more than what was intended. But here are a couple of subtle discussions or references that I think I saw.
Part of what I think is important and I have seen frequently in modern fiction is female autonomy and choice being emphasized. I think it is important, especially in YA fiction, to show that women should not be obligated to to accept help, or if they have accepted help, to feel obligated to to respond in a particular way “out of gratitude.” About a third of the way into the book, James and Aurelia have helped one another multiple times but they are on a quest for Aurelia and there is a line from James. “So, if you need me, then I will stay. And if you need me to go, then I will go. Wherever you send, I will go. My…indifference for you demands nothing less.” I think the top level reading is James assuring her that she has the primary choice.
But underneath that, I think that there is a subtle nod to the biblical book of Ruth and the line where Ruth pledges to stay with her mother in law, “For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Even though that is a frequent biblical text in marriage ceremonies, it was not between romantic partners. In this case, we know that both James and Aurelia are in love with one another, but they can’t express that love because of the curse. So they start using the word “indifferent” to mean love. I get the hint of the Princess Bride “as you wish” to mean love, but again I may be reading into the book my own references and connections.
A third level connection that I do not think any young adult reader will make is that Ignatius, the 16th century founder of the Jesuit order, writes about the role of indifference to following the will of God in discernment. I have been doing long term reading project on discernment and throughout the book there is a discussion of what it means to have made a choice voluntarily. James and Aurelia both love one another. Their love seeks what is best for each other, even if that endangers themselves. In Ignatius’ sense, he writes about indifference as essential to discerning the path before us not in the sense of not caring what happens, but in the sense of being open to the result of any of the choices. James and Aurelia can only really express their love to one another in the sense that they become indifferent to the benefit that love has for themselves and only care about what that love can mean to the other.
Later toward the end of the book, James talks about finally being free. She does not see him as free because he has been constrained by the choice to stay with her. But he tells her that he is finally free in a way that he never could have been when he was wandering the world, because now he has purpose. The purpose constrain his choices, but there is greater freedom in the constraint than there was in purposelessness that he was running away from. In a sense, this is the idea of vocation. Someone who identifies their vocation and then finds meaning in that vocation has purpose in their work that is different from someone who just does what happens to be in front of them.
There are two additional lines that I want to call out. About half way through the book, James and Aurelia have to make a choice. She again tries to talk him into leaving even though she thinks that him accompanying her is her only choice of breaking her curse. He again pledges to her in a line that seems to be a wedding vow. It is a wedding vow not in the sense of being in front of friends and family and pledging together, but in the sense of pledging himself to her good. “From death into life. I am yours—forever. I am your man. As long as it is in my power, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”
The final line I am going to reference I think was intended to be a referential joke. “Where is the priest so I can free myself of this betrothal curse?” I think is referencing the line attributed to Henry the VIII, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” It is unclear historically if Henry was actually calling for someone to kill Thomas Beckett or if he was expressing frustration that several of his knights decided to fix on their own without forcing the king or order Beckett’s death. But it works as a joke her because Aurelia knows that the only way that she can be free of the curse if if is married (which she views as a type of death) or if she or her betrothed die. It is a dark joke, but one that I laughed at.
I have already given away too much of the plot, but only in rough outlines. The rough outlines are from a story that is over 200 years old and that was based on a fairy tale that is even older. As I read through the book I was reminded of how important fiction is to presenting the “why” to character and virtue formation. I frequently read non-fiction books about character, virtue, and spiritual formation. Those can be important to thinking about character, but traditionally the “why” of character and virtue has been presented through parables and fairy tales because fiction does a better job of framing character than straight non-fiction description.
Throughout the book both Aurelia and James come to see their weaknesses rightly as they are forced to confront themselves in the struggle of the events of the book. Their character is truly revealed as they make choices. Both James and Aurelia can see the character development in the other, but they have a hard time seeing their own character development. At the end of the book there is a section where this is made more explicit in a magical way. Character is both about choices and about developing slowly over time so that those choices become natural to use. We understand this in sports or music. Musicians and athletes practice small steps over and over again so that when those small steps are combined together it is a natural progression not specific individual conscious choices. I am not saying that character is only revealed as pre-conscious choices, because sometimes character is revealed when we consciously are making choices. But I do think that part of development of character is the movement of at least part of our actions to pre-conscious responses.
This was originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/son-of-gold-and-sor...
Son of Gold and Sorrow is the third in KB Hoyle’s series of fairy tale retellings. Each book can be read independently, but for this third book in the series, it helps to have read them in order. In the first book Son of the Deep (a gender swap retelling of the Little Mermaid), James was a side character. In the second book, Son of Bitter Glass (a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen), James joins the book midway through as a partner on the quest. But in this third book, Son of Gold and Sorrow, James, along with Aurelia, is the protagonist. You do not need to have read the previous books to read this book, they can be read in any order, but you will have more understanding about James as a character if you have read the others.
Son of Gold and Glass is a retelling of The Pretty Goldilocks (not Goldilocks and the Three Bears). Like the Snow Queen, I was familiar with elements of the story because it has been retold in other formats, but I had not read the original fairy tale. Again, like the last book, about half way through the book I started searching to figure out what the original fairly tale was and read a few summaries so I could see the elements and get and idea of what had been changed in this retelling. None of that is required to read the book.
Hoyle wrote an article a few years ago about the value of modern authors retelling fairy tales and I have come to appreciate the value of the classic fairy tale more over time. There are different ways to retell a story just like there are different ways to remake a movie. Some people want a movie remake to be shot for shot, but that is far less satisfying method for a book. I am almost finished with an adult fiction series that used the broad premise of the beauty and the beast as a basis for the book, but did not keep any of the main elements of the story. KB Hoyle’s Fairy Tale Collection has told the stories in a modern way with more female agency and some modern sensibilities of justice, but maintaining the idea of stories that are formative to character and virtue.
Many fairy tales are almost parable-like in their message and can be heavy handed in their message and far more brutal in result than what modern readers are interested in. (The original Little Mermaid didn’t live happily ever after with the prince in Hans Christian Anderson’s story, she became sea foam.) I think Hoyle strikes the right balance of updating the feel of the story and not feeling beholden to the “shot by shot” elements of the older stories, but still keeping many of the themes and discussion of character, without feeling heavy handed in the message.
I am going to try to avoid too many spoilers, but if you do not want to know anything about the book, go ahead and hear that I strongly recommend the book and hope that it is widely read. There will be a few spoilers below.
One of the problems of modern romance is figuring out how to tell a story so that the couple gets to know one another naturally without just falling into bed. This is a book written for teen and it is chaste, but there is a challenge in that story element being natural. Here, Aurelia, has been cursed. Her father pledged her in marriage to a much older man. Both her father and the other man are cruel and controlling. Her father, being a wizard as well as a king, used magic to tie Aurelia to her betrothed. And so Aurelia used magic to slightly alter the curse so that her betrothed would have to complete three impossible tasks before she would marry him. But the implication of her father’s curse was that any man who attempted to touch her in love would die. This includes attempting to using force to make her kiss them. This means that Aurelia is safe from rape or other sexual assault, but it also means that she avoids all touch with men because of her history at seeing the result of that curse.
The full extent of her curse and the cruelty of her father and betrothed comes out slowly, but as a plot point to give a natural reason for James and Aurelia to get to know one another and become friends through their quest, it is a perfect solution.
Having now read every book and novella that KB Hoyle has written, what I look forward to most is the subtle references and depth of the books. The only problem is that because so much is intentional, I think I might occasionally see more than what was intended. But here are a couple of subtle discussions or references that I think I saw.
Part of what I think is important and I have seen frequently in modern fiction is female autonomy and choice being emphasized. I think it is important, especially in YA fiction, to show that women should not be obligated to to accept help, or if they have accepted help, to feel obligated to to respond in a particular way “out of gratitude.” About a third of the way into the book, James and Aurelia have helped one another multiple times but they are on a quest for Aurelia and there is a line from James. “So, if you need me, then I will stay. And if you need me to go, then I will go. Wherever you send, I will go. My…indifference for you demands nothing less.” I think the top level reading is James assuring her that she has the primary choice.
But underneath that, I think that there is a subtle nod to the biblical book of Ruth and the line where Ruth pledges to stay with her mother in law, “For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Even though that is a frequent biblical text in marriage ceremonies, it was not between romantic partners. In this case, we know that both James and Aurelia are in love with one another, but they can’t express that love because of the curse. So they start using the word “indifferent” to mean love. I get the hint of the Princess Bride “as you wish” to mean love, but again I may be reading into the book my own references and connections.
A third level connection that I do not think any young adult reader will make is that Ignatius, the 16th century founder of the Jesuit order, writes about the role of indifference to following the will of God in discernment. I have been doing long term reading project on discernment and throughout the book there is a discussion of what it means to have made a choice voluntarily. James and Aurelia both love one another. Their love seeks what is best for each other, even if that endangers themselves. In Ignatius’ sense, he writes about indifference as essential to discerning the path before us not in the sense of not caring what happens, but in the sense of being open to the result of any of the choices. James and Aurelia can only really express their love to one another in the sense that they become indifferent to the benefit that love has for themselves and only care about what that love can mean to the other.
Later toward the end of the book, James talks about finally being free. She does not see him as free because he has been constrained by the choice to stay with her. But he tells her that he is finally free in a way that he never could have been when he was wandering the world, because now he has purpose. The purpose constrain his choices, but there is greater freedom in the constraint than there was in purposelessness that he was running away from. In a sense, this is the idea of vocation. Someone who identifies their vocation and then finds meaning in that vocation has purpose in their work that is different from someone who just does what happens to be in front of them.
There are two additional lines that I want to call out. About half way through the book, James and Aurelia have to make a choice. She again tries to talk him into leaving even though she thinks that him accompanying her is her only choice of breaking her curse. He again pledges to her in a line that seems to be a wedding vow. It is a wedding vow not in the sense of being in front of friends and family and pledging together, but in the sense of pledging himself to her good. “From death into life. I am yours—forever. I am your man. As long as it is in my power, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”
The final line I am going to reference I think was intended to be a referential joke. “Where is the priest so I can free myself of this betrothal curse?” I think is referencing the line attributed to Henry the VIII, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” It is unclear historically if Henry was actually calling for someone to kill Thomas Beckett or if he was expressing frustration that several of his knights decided to fix on their own without forcing the king or order Beckett’s death. But it works as a joke her because Aurelia knows that the only way that she can be free of the curse if if is married (which she views as a type of death) or if she or her betrothed die. It is a dark joke, but one that I laughed at.
I have already given away too much of the plot, but only in rough outlines. The rough outlines are from a story that is over 200 years old and that was based on a fairy tale that is even older. As I read through the book I was reminded of how important fiction is to presenting the “why” to character and virtue formation. I frequently read non-fiction books about character, virtue, and spiritual formation. Those can be important to thinking about character, but traditionally the “why” of character and virtue has been presented through parables and fairy tales because fiction does a better job of framing character than straight non-fiction description.
Throughout the book both Aurelia and James come to see their weaknesses rightly as they are forced to confront themselves in the struggle of the events of the book. Their character is truly revealed as they make choices. Both James and Aurelia can see the character development in the other, but they have a hard time seeing their own character development. At the end of the book there is a section where this is made more explicit in a magical way. Character is both about choices and about developing slowly over time so that those choices become natural to use. We understand this in sports or music. Musicians and athletes practice small steps over and over again so that when those small steps are combined together it is a natural progression not specific individual conscious choices. I am not saying that character is only revealed as pre-conscious choices, because sometimes character is revealed when we consciously are making choices. But I do think that part of development of character is the movement of at least part of our actions to pre-conscious responses.
This was originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/son-of-gold-and-sor...
November 12, 2024
Teen Daughter Review,
““In this clean, romantic fantasy book James of Peros and Princess Aurelia fight for survival together in the black forest. The author of this book did an amazing job of making the emotions of the characters come across the pages. Of course the ending was everything to hope for. This book was very well written and suspenseful. I would recommend it for teenagers 13 and above as there is some fighting violence. It was a good book to end the trilogy in the series, but it also works as a standalone. You don’t have to read the other two for this one to make sense.”
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
““In this clean, romantic fantasy book James of Peros and Princess Aurelia fight for survival together in the black forest. The author of this book did an amazing job of making the emotions of the characters come across the pages. Of course the ending was everything to hope for. This book was very well written and suspenseful. I would recommend it for teenagers 13 and above as there is some fighting violence. It was a good book to end the trilogy in the series, but it also works as a standalone. You don’t have to read the other two for this one to make sense.”
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
September 5, 2024
I'm completely in love with this book. It's easily one of the best books I've read this year.
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I'd never heard of The Story of Pretty Gildilocks before this; I assumed Goldilocks also meant the three bears, so I was really confused when the Bears still hadn't shown up by halfway through. Silly me.
.
This is, ultimately, a story about love and sacrifice, with a healthy amount of forgiving yourself and not letting your past define you.
.
The romance in this was epic, a love story for the ages. I kept waiting for Ewan McGregor to bust out a moving rendition of "Come What May" at any moment!
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"It wasn't honor to some oath that held him to her side; that was just the explanation he offered to people who would never understand his devotion to her. It was that he considered her more valuable than himself."
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Parts of this story were brutal and evoked a lot of emotion. I'd recommend waiting until 16+ for teens due to some pretty dark and heavy elements.
.
HUGE thanks to Owl's Nest Publishers for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I can't wait for everyone else to have a chance to experience this story! And I really can't wait to read it again.
.
I'd never heard of The Story of Pretty Gildilocks before this; I assumed Goldilocks also meant the three bears, so I was really confused when the Bears still hadn't shown up by halfway through. Silly me.
.
This is, ultimately, a story about love and sacrifice, with a healthy amount of forgiving yourself and not letting your past define you.
.
The romance in this was epic, a love story for the ages. I kept waiting for Ewan McGregor to bust out a moving rendition of "Come What May" at any moment!
.
"It wasn't honor to some oath that held him to her side; that was just the explanation he offered to people who would never understand his devotion to her. It was that he considered her more valuable than himself."
.
Parts of this story were brutal and evoked a lot of emotion. I'd recommend waiting until 16+ for teens due to some pretty dark and heavy elements.
.
HUGE thanks to Owl's Nest Publishers for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I can't wait for everyone else to have a chance to experience this story! And I really can't wait to read it again.
October 11, 2024
Until I read “Son of Gold and Sorrow,” I was unfamiliar with “The Story of Pretty Goldilocks” fairytale by Madame d'Aulnoy. Do not confuse it with Goldilocks and the Three Bears as it’s a completely different story! (And the fact the KB Hoyle chose THIS particular quirky tale to retell shows her writing mettle.)
Hoyle kept some of the original quirkiness of talking fish, giants, and potion-making in her retelling, but she also brought depth and a redeeming character arc into the plot. She creatively added in fae, and the witch Baba Yaga and her house with chickens legs from Slavic folklore. She also included the one bed trope so be aware that “Son of Gold and Sorrow” seems most appropriate for younger YA audiences as romance plays prominently in the plot but is handled vaguely.
More information is located here - http://www.wilsonhillworks.com/review...
Thank you to @kbhoyle and @owlsnestpublishers for the arc.
Hoyle kept some of the original quirkiness of talking fish, giants, and potion-making in her retelling, but she also brought depth and a redeeming character arc into the plot. She creatively added in fae, and the witch Baba Yaga and her house with chickens legs from Slavic folklore. She also included the one bed trope so be aware that “Son of Gold and Sorrow” seems most appropriate for younger YA audiences as romance plays prominently in the plot but is handled vaguely.
More information is located here - http://www.wilsonhillworks.com/review...
Thank you to @kbhoyle and @owlsnestpublishers for the arc.
October 30, 2024
There was so much to love about this romantic fairytale retelling! It's not based on a fairytale I'm familiar with, so it felt new and fresh to me. We follow a princess who is under a curse and decides to run away. She encounters James (a side character in previous books in this series) and enlists his help. They have quite a magical journey and I was on the edge of my seat for quite a few moments! I'll admit that, at first, I didn't buy into their romance. They start as enemies, but they very quickly fall in the love. It felt like a mix of enemies-to-lovers and insta-love. However, as the book progresses, their love deepens into something very real. The depth of their love and sacrifice for one another is touching and beautiful. If you like fairytale retellings, you'll love this one!
December 26, 2025
I think this was my favorite of the three companion novels of Hoyle's Fairytale Collection. The overlap events with Son of Bitter Glass were very minimal--only in about the first chapter--and other world-building items that had been formed in the first book were brought back in to move this story along. I loved the character growth of Jack who has been in all three stories, and the central quandary of the story was fulfilled beautifully. Before I started the book, I looked up the origin tale, "The Story of Pretty Goldilocks," which I'd never read--it was fun to have that in the back of my mind for touch points in the story. Hoyle does a great job of tying it in, while making the story her own. Perhaps there will be more stories in this world? I hope so!
October 18, 2024
I've loved every book in The Fairytale Collection, but I think SON OF GOLD AND SORROW may be my favorite. I've had a soft spot for James since the first moment he came on page, and he's only grown on me since. It was such a pleasure to watch him fully come into his own! The story was exquisitely told with fantastic characters, beautiful world-building, and the perfect blend of an old-school fairytale feel with a fresh twist. What a joy to read!
January 9, 2025
K.B. Hoyle's Fairytale Collection goes from strength to strength! James and Aurelia are my new favorite hero and heroine of this series. Their journey is fraught with trial and testing that kept me at the edge of my seat, but their worth and honor are proved over and over in how they rise to challenges and love courageously through all of them. I'll be thinking about them for a long time to come!
September 2, 2024
I read and loved both Son of the Deep and Son of Bitter Glass, but I think Son of Gold and Sorrow is officially my favorite in the Fairytale Collection. I'm less familiar with "The Story of Pretty Goldilocks" than I am with "The Little Mermaid" and "The Snow Queen." However, as I started reading, I realized that I do know (and love) a fairy tale very similar to Pretty Goldilocks—"Ivan and the Firebird." I was so curious to see how the book would recreate all the beats of that original story, and it absolutely didn't disappoint!
Synopsis: James, a secondary character in the other two Fairytale Collection books, finally gets his own story in this one. Heartbroken, ashamed, and generally lost, he runs into a woman from his past who needs his help. Aurelia is running from her own demons, but they're catching her up, and James might be her only chance at defying the curse that runs in her blood. Initially, Aurelia is sure James is just as selfish, arrogant, and rude as he was during their last meeting. As she realizes how much he's changed, she finds herself falling for him, and him for her. Aurelia is already betrothed, however, and in order to save her, James will have to overcome the impossible.
What I loved: The characters. James has been my favorite for a while, so that was hardly a surprise, but I very much enjoyed seeing his dynamic with Aurelia. I love a good redemption story, and I couldn't help rooting for James as he worked through his shame and self-doubt. Aurelia struck me as such a powerful and strong-willed character, in spite of her terrible circumstances. She's a beautiful example of how a heroine doesn't have to be perfect or entirely independent in order to have agency. She and James make a fantastic duo, supporting each other and helping each other heal.
The plot is also done so well. This is one of my favorite aspects of Hoyle's retellings: she holds to the original elements of the story, adding depth and complexity to characters, expanding the narrative, and holding true to the themes. While this did mean I could often predict what would happen next, I was still completely sucked in and had a hard time putting the book down. It was delightful to see how the next beat of the original story would be reimagined, and how the characters would react.
Overall, a brilliant addition to the Fairytale Collection.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: James, a secondary character in the other two Fairytale Collection books, finally gets his own story in this one. Heartbroken, ashamed, and generally lost, he runs into a woman from his past who needs his help. Aurelia is running from her own demons, but they're catching her up, and James might be her only chance at defying the curse that runs in her blood. Initially, Aurelia is sure James is just as selfish, arrogant, and rude as he was during their last meeting. As she realizes how much he's changed, she finds herself falling for him, and him for her. Aurelia is already betrothed, however, and in order to save her, James will have to overcome the impossible.
What I loved: The characters. James has been my favorite for a while, so that was hardly a surprise, but I very much enjoyed seeing his dynamic with Aurelia. I love a good redemption story, and I couldn't help rooting for James as he worked through his shame and self-doubt. Aurelia struck me as such a powerful and strong-willed character, in spite of her terrible circumstances. She's a beautiful example of how a heroine doesn't have to be perfect or entirely independent in order to have agency. She and James make a fantastic duo, supporting each other and helping each other heal.
The plot is also done so well. This is one of my favorite aspects of Hoyle's retellings: she holds to the original elements of the story, adding depth and complexity to characters, expanding the narrative, and holding true to the themes. While this did mean I could often predict what would happen next, I was still completely sucked in and had a hard time putting the book down. It was delightful to see how the next beat of the original story would be reimagined, and how the characters would react.
Overall, a brilliant addition to the Fairytale Collection.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 10, 2024
I love a good fairytale retelling, but it can be surprisingly hard to find adaptations that add depth and richness to the characters and plot while still honoring the heart of the original tale. K. B. Hoyle’s Fairytale Collection is a refreshing exception. Each of the three books in this ongoing series is filled with creative nods to the fairytale source, and preserves core themes like perseverance, compassion, and sacrificial love. But the plots are layered and edge-of-your-seat exciting, and the characters’ personalities and motivations are so true to life that they leap right off the page and into your heart.
I adored SON OF THE DEEP (a “Little Mermaid” retelling with a merprince and human princess) and SON OF BITTER GLASS (a retelling of “The Snow Queen”), but SON OF GOLD AND SORROW might just be my favorite yet. The male protagonist, James, was my favorite secondary character in the two previous books, and this third book is a deeply satisfying development of his character arc. In SON OF THE DEEP, he starts off as funny and determined, but also terribly selfish. The trials he faces in SON OF BITTER GLASS begin to nudge him toward true nobility of heart, and by the end of SON OF GOLD AND SORROW, he’s a true hero who will lay down everything he’s got in order to give life to others.
The story is told in dual perspective, and it took me a little longer to understand and appreciate the female protagonist, Aurelia. Sometimes she’s bold; other times, timid. But as Aurelia grows in her trust of James and begins to reveal her past, I quickly began to root for her with all my heart. I loved seeing her grow in courage and confidence.
Aurelia and James bring out the very best in one another, and strengthen each other to face impossible odds. The outer trials they face—fae creatures, witches, wicked kings, a giant, a dragon, and more—are terrifying (and brilliantly written), but it’s their victory over inner battles through the deep love they hold for each other that gives this novel its core strength. The result is a deeply inspiring tale that will linger long in the reader's imagination!
I adored SON OF THE DEEP (a “Little Mermaid” retelling with a merprince and human princess) and SON OF BITTER GLASS (a retelling of “The Snow Queen”), but SON OF GOLD AND SORROW might just be my favorite yet. The male protagonist, James, was my favorite secondary character in the two previous books, and this third book is a deeply satisfying development of his character arc. In SON OF THE DEEP, he starts off as funny and determined, but also terribly selfish. The trials he faces in SON OF BITTER GLASS begin to nudge him toward true nobility of heart, and by the end of SON OF GOLD AND SORROW, he’s a true hero who will lay down everything he’s got in order to give life to others.
The story is told in dual perspective, and it took me a little longer to understand and appreciate the female protagonist, Aurelia. Sometimes she’s bold; other times, timid. But as Aurelia grows in her trust of James and begins to reveal her past, I quickly began to root for her with all my heart. I loved seeing her grow in courage and confidence.
Aurelia and James bring out the very best in one another, and strengthen each other to face impossible odds. The outer trials they face—fae creatures, witches, wicked kings, a giant, a dragon, and more—are terrifying (and brilliantly written), but it’s their victory over inner battles through the deep love they hold for each other that gives this novel its core strength. The result is a deeply inspiring tale that will linger long in the reader's imagination!
February 16, 2025
This book has been living rent free in my brain ever since I finished it. Fairytale retellings can have such a potency to them because of the deeper themes and everlasting motifs they are pulling from.
Aurelia and James are two characters who I felt so drawn to. Aurelia is someone who has experienced intense trauma to the extent that it is taking a physical toll on her. I loved the nuanced way in which K.B. Hoyle handled Aurelia's story. She showed how there can be heavy consequences for trauma experience while she also showed what an amazingly resilient woman Aurelia is. I have loved getting to know James through the Fairytale Collection. He is one of those characters it is easy to make snap judgements about and yet, you slowly see how there is more to him than meets the eye.
I also loved how the love-at-first-sight trope was dealt with. The story had a tongue in cheek way of acknowledging itself.
As the story unfolded and I saw the odds that Aurelia and James had to face I found I couldn't read quickly enough because I simply had to know what was going to happen!
Aurelia and James are two characters who I felt so drawn to. Aurelia is someone who has experienced intense trauma to the extent that it is taking a physical toll on her. I loved the nuanced way in which K.B. Hoyle handled Aurelia's story. She showed how there can be heavy consequences for trauma experience while she also showed what an amazingly resilient woman Aurelia is. I have loved getting to know James through the Fairytale Collection. He is one of those characters it is easy to make snap judgements about and yet, you slowly see how there is more to him than meets the eye.
I also loved how the love-at-first-sight trope was dealt with. The story had a tongue in cheek way of acknowledging itself.
As the story unfolded and I saw the odds that Aurelia and James had to face I found I couldn't read quickly enough because I simply had to know what was going to happen!
October 22, 2024
I received an ARC of Son of Gold and Sorrow in exchange for a review.
Honestly, the first 1/3 of this book was hard to get through for me. I felt like we were galloping through each event, and the romance between Aurelia and James seemed to develop really fast. However, I stuck it out and was pleasantly surprised by the later part of this book. Ms. Hoyle does an excellent job of making the world feel immersive and the plot twists kept me engaged as James and Aurelia continued their journey. I enjoyed the nods to other fairy tales and how they played into the plot.
All in all, this is a story about two people who love each other with a deep, sacrificial love coming together and finding ways to defeat darkness and evil. It's filled with the right tension of action and heartfelt moments. I would definitely recommend this book for older teens or young adults looking for an indie take on classic fairy tale tropes.
Honestly, the first 1/3 of this book was hard to get through for me. I felt like we were galloping through each event, and the romance between Aurelia and James seemed to develop really fast. However, I stuck it out and was pleasantly surprised by the later part of this book. Ms. Hoyle does an excellent job of making the world feel immersive and the plot twists kept me engaged as James and Aurelia continued their journey. I enjoyed the nods to other fairy tales and how they played into the plot.
All in all, this is a story about two people who love each other with a deep, sacrificial love coming together and finding ways to defeat darkness and evil. It's filled with the right tension of action and heartfelt moments. I would definitely recommend this book for older teens or young adults looking for an indie take on classic fairy tale tropes.
June 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Maybe my favorite in the Fairytale Collection so far!! Love the way the relationship between Aurelia and James is developed over weeks and weeks in the forest (rather than love at first sight).
Also really appreciated that both characters have their flaws and struggles and talk about loving the other not in spite of those things but because of them- as whole, complete, and complex people.
James is such a special character because he has played a large part in each book- it is so satisfying for him to finally find his peace and his person.
There were times in the middle of the book that i felt the characters were just going through the same terrible trials over and over - and would they ever catch a break? but i think that repetition of hardship is more realistic (albeit not witches and green ladies in the real world) and their perseverance makes their eventual love that much sweeter.
read this book in 3 days- didn’t want to put it down!!
Also really appreciated that both characters have their flaws and struggles and talk about loving the other not in spite of those things but because of them- as whole, complete, and complex people.
James is such a special character because he has played a large part in each book- it is so satisfying for him to finally find his peace and his person.
There were times in the middle of the book that i felt the characters were just going through the same terrible trials over and over - and would they ever catch a break? but i think that repetition of hardship is more realistic (albeit not witches and green ladies in the real world) and their perseverance makes their eventual love that much sweeter.
read this book in 3 days- didn’t want to put it down!!
January 8, 2026
For a fairy tale retelling, this was definitely one of the better ones and my favorite of the 3 light ya fantasy books i tried over winter break.
This was a retelling of a fairy tale i had never heard of called Pretty Goldilocks. This had a very magical feel to it, and with a clean romantic storyline as well.
i do think KB Hoyle should be more widely read- the Gateway Chronicles are some of my teen girls' favorites to read and reread and share with friends.
This was a retelling of a fairy tale i had never heard of called Pretty Goldilocks. This had a very magical feel to it, and with a clean romantic storyline as well.
i do think KB Hoyle should be more widely read- the Gateway Chronicles are some of my teen girls' favorites to read and reread and share with friends.
March 25, 2025
Ah❤️ This was by far my favorite in the Fairytale Collection! I loved the character arc for James. This will be a book I can easily reread in the future.
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