Spin: A Fairy Tale Retelling

Spindlewind Trilogy #1

by Genevieve Raas

The international bestselling book that brings a dark and steamy look at the tale of Rumpelstiltskin.

A necklace, a ring, a child...There is always a price one is willing to pay.

Laila sees her impending death in the mountains of straw waiting to be spun into gold. Faced with the impossible, she makes the impossible decision to survive, no matter what the cost.

A shadowy stranger sees an opportunity for vengeance.

Born to a nightmarish destiny that crushed and embittered his faith in humanity, he devotes himself to dealing in dark desires and desperate souls, and Laila's is ripe for the trade.

When the stranger asks his price, Laila is bound by blood and magic to pay.

His own heart was never supposed to be part of the deal, but when honor drives Laila to break their bargain, he ends up tangled in his own web of deceit and destruction in a desperate attempt to save her life. In the black of night, there are no fairytales, only choices.

One choice makes a queen. One choice consumes a soul. It's a roll of the dice in a game where love is everyone's undoing.

Spin, Genevieve Raas' debut fantasy novel, is a twisted, sexy retelling of one of Grimm's classic tales and the first book in the Spindlewind Trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Audiobook, Fairy Tale Retellings, Romance, Dark

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2016

About the author

Genevieve Raas is an international bestselling author living in the US with her husband and rather haughty Chihuahua, Mr. Darcy. When she isn't writing dark fairytales or fantasy, you can find her plotting out her next travel destination.

A graduate from Indiana University, Genevieve holds a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Certificate in Professional Editing. She has taught university writing courses, and has worked as Lead Transcriber on several published anthologies, including: The Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury, Volume 2 and the New Ray Bradbury Review.

Now, she is venturing out on her own, into the wilds of untamed lands and untold stories.

Genevieve writes fantasy, dark fantasy, horror, and romance.

Reviews

[Lana Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fairy tale for the brave of heart. What an intense story. This is based off the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale but the author weaves a much deeper tale of betrayal, revenge and intrigue that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Rumplestiltskin was born a nobleman but lost his family and title to a mad king who murdered his entire family as he watched. He was a mere child when it happened, but the autrocity marked him forever with hatred, despair and a deep-seated need for revenge. Fate in a human form steps in to help him with his dearest desire, which is to kill the king who murdered his family. Fate gives him magical powers and encourages him to use them to obtain his goal. Everything he does is self serving and manipulative to gain him what he desires most--the demise of the king. He believes he's found the path to the king's destruction when he sets up a miller's daughter to be a pawn in his plot. Laila has a drunken father who claims she can spin straw into gold. This claim reaches the king's ear and he has the girl brought to him. He tells her unless she can do this outrageous deed he will behead her, then tosses her into a dungeon with a bunch of straw and a spinning wheel. Rumplestiltskin shows up just in the nick of time to save her. He promises to give her what the king is demanding for a price--a necklace that belonged to her deceased mother. Desperate for her life she agrees and he spends the night spinning every last straw into gold using the magic fate bestowed upon him. But the greedy king demands more and Rumplestiltskin is only too happy to oblige. He bends Laila to his will causing her to desire the king's demise as well. Whether it is Rumplestiltskin's will or her own, she transforms from the quaking girl fearful of loosing her head into a woman who will do anything to survive. She tells the king that if he wants more gold from her he must make her his queen. The king unwilling to kill the goose that lays his golden eggs agrees. Then Rumplestiltskin forces Laila to make an unholy pact to pacify the king once last time and to give her what she most desires, life itself and a life of luxury. She agrees to give Rumplestiltskin her firstborn. But Laila and Rumplestiltskin's meeting in the king's dungeon aren't just fraught with mutual black passions. Real passion blooms between them, but both fight and deny it. As a reader of romance I wanted to see these two find a way to each find happily ever afters. Didn't happen. This is a book with a cliffhanger because it is part of a series. I think the author did a really good job with this story and I would definitely read on.

[Brianna York · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tidy and engaging story is one of the best things I have read all year. The pacing is perfection, the characters are larger than life and the emotions evoked by it linger even after the reader is done with the book. I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lailas father has told one untrue boast too many times and she finds herself taken away by force by the Kings guard to an audience with the king. His demand:Spin him a room full of straw into gold and she will keep her head.

Otherwise chop-chop.

Locked inside the dungeon Laila contemplates burning herself to death to escape being executed ,for there is really no way she could ever spin one thread of straw into gold,a strange man appears and tells her he spin the straw into gold and save her Life.

For a price...

This story is as you know a retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale,wich and I suppose we have the tv-series Once upon a time to to thank for making him popular. This book doesnt quite manage to spin (pun intended) a tale that makes the particular Rumpelstiltskin into a seductive character. The sexual elements just feels very off when considering they pop up suddenly instead of building the sexual tension up...it just feels akward.

The main character goes from someone that has likeable traits to someone that is completely unlikable.She makes a bargain with the king to become his Queen. This is similar to the fairytale but while this is something I can take in stride in the original story In this retelling its stated from the beginning that Laila finds the king repulsive. So when she wants to become the Queen its a complete turn around from how she feels about him.

[Hannah Stahlhut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spin is a dark tale that unravels in a sexy, brooding whirlwind that takes you into a world of vengeance, betrayal, and longing. The lead characters, Rumpelstiltskin and Laila, the miller's daughter, are drawn to one another's pride and ambition in a destructive path that draws you in and doesn't let go. Genevieve Raas knows how to create a world and characters that are as compelling as they are vindictive.
Can't wait to see what else is in store for the Spindlewind books!

[D.H. Nevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew the retelling of an old story could be so compelling? Perhaps it’s morbid curiosity, but there’s something that tastes forbidden about catching a glimpse of the dark pasts and complex motivations behind beloved characters from our childhood. In Spin, Ms. Raas masterfully creates dire and plausible backgrounds for Rumpelstiltskin and the poor souls he visits, and carefully constructs the world they must inhabit. Rumpelstiltskin himself is an enigma. I found myself curious about him, then disliking him, then pitying him, and finally wishing for some kind of happily ever after for him. Laila is also intensely interesting. I enjoyed her growth and her strength throughout the story. The attraction between the two main characters, as well as the thread of their tragic situations, made this a wonderful, multi-layered story for me.

[Rachael Tamayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathless

There is no other word for how I felt reading this. The author has a streak of brilliance in her pen as she scratches out this awe inspiring re-telling of the classic Rumplestiltskin in a way that will leave you clamoring for her next book. The best thing I’ve read this year. This author is a diamond waiting to be discovered.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable story! I remember being hooked on Brothers Grimm’s fairytales when I was a child so when I came across Rumpelstiltskin’s story retelling, I knew I just had to pick it up and I couldn’t be happier that I did! What I really enjoyed was the complexity of both central characters, Laila and Rumpelstiltskin. Both had their share of hardships in their lives and both harbor feelings of pain and desire for revenge in their hearts. That constant struggle between the darkness and light in both was masterfully executed, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with both, despite their motives and flaws - but hey, that’s what made them so human and real. Well, almost human, in Rumpelstiltskin’s case.
The plot was wonderfully constructed and many fascinating details were added to a traditional story, such as Rumpelstiltskin’s family history and multiple other subplots, all leading to a truly explosive conclusion. Beautifully written, charged with tension and passion, it’s a great read for everyone. I’ll definitely continue with the series. A real five-star read!

[David Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has done a wonderful job of retelling this classic fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin. Sure, you know the basics of the plot, but the depth that is brought to the characters far surpasses that of the children's fable of old. Yes, Rumple is still the villain of the piece, but we are given a glimpse of his background and the pain he's experienced. The result is a fully rounded character that it was easy to relate to. The heartbreak and all too human motivations are intense and well communicated to the reader. The descriptive prose is vivid and crisp; the dialogue- believable. In summary, the story breathed new life into this tale of my childhood and left me wanting more- both from these characters and the author. I definitely recommend.

[C.A. King · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Thanks to her father, Laila's life depends on spinning straw into gold. No one can do that. No one that is except a strange man who offers his services in exchange for a price. If she agrees she'll be giving away much to much. If she doesn't she'll be dead.

This was a quick fun read especially since I always loved this particular fairy tale. It has everything the original does and more! It was interesting to see a little more of the other side of the coin.

[M.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much! Incredibly well written and thoroughly moving. I was in tears. Big fates, big emotions, everything painted with a grand brush. I desperately wanted the ending to be different, but that’s only because I rooted for Laila so. Read this to be awestruck! Very much recommended.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan. I wanted to be. It sounded like a cool idea. However, it is poorly edited, has shallow characters with unrealistic motives and at least one part that I feel was stolen from Susan Kay's Phantom. There was instant desire/all consuming obsession that didn't make sense either. Aside from a few insult ridden conversations the two main characters have no more interaction than to shove each other around in the hay once after *a* kiss. That is it. It didn't lead to anything that warranted being lovestruck. Women that fall for abusive men aren't my cup of tea but the story didn't even have that much of a romance plot. He was just a jerk trying and failing to be aloof and mysterious. Can't even be bothered to read the next one and I hate leaving a series unread.

[H.L. Girton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be upfront and say I do not like retelling of fairy-tales. For me that is a personal preference and I just don't find myself interested in them. It is a booming genre lately and the selections get overwhelming. I also feel like I'm playing Russian roulette with this type of book because there are so many out there that are just botched, butchered or down right disastrous. Some get too raunchy and become too cliche and that just doesn't suit me. I like a good, pull me in, unique and original work and this genre is hard to get right.

That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I actually had to ask around about it because I was worried I wasn't going to like it. I thought for sure this was going to be another one of those books that wanted to fit in with the new fad and try to be the next fifty shades of gray, which i try very hard to avoid anything that is too raunchy and sexual. Its not my cup of tea. I also worried that it would be one of those books I had to force myself to finish because I had that nervous fear that this book would fall into the generalized category of this genre. Its hard to find a book like this in this specific genre that actually outshines the others. It was beautifully written and the story telling was captivating. It gave a whole new meaning to the genre than what I had expected. Its a wonderful read and its a diamond in the rough. Don't let this one pass you by. It took me by surprise so much that I wanted to rethink my decision to give this genre another chance, that maybe somewhere out there are more stories that outshine the bad reputation that shadows this fad.

The creative world building in this story was fantastic. It gave such create perspective to an old story that I never imagined. The author does a wonderful job bringing this story to life. It jumps off the pages and comes to life before your eyes, blowing your mind with the imaginative creative and vivid details. I recommend this read to anyone who loves fairy-tales. The author does a good job writing in a smooth and fluent way that makes you turn page after page without realizing it. you get sucked right in and she doesn't let you go until the very last page. And better yet, there is a second book!

[Christy Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know there’s an eternal debate on whether to include prologues in book, but in this book, it’s done RIGHT. It was intriguing, twisted, and made me smile. In the narrative itself, the back and forth between Rumpelstiltskin and Laila was well-marked and easy to follow. The story itself was full of manipulative action, and I found myself pulling for Rump. The trials and tribulations from the tale forge Laila into a stronger woman, someone who is willing to do what she needs to do in order to prevail. It had a lovely twist in the end, and I understand that it’s part of a series, so the cliffhanger didn’t annoy me too much. Occasionally the melodrama got a bit heavy, but it mostly worked with the style.

The Rump side of the narrative seemed a bit distant because of the reminiscent quality of the tale. I would have liked a bit more now-action in his point of view, to better know his character. I kept comparing him to Mr. Gold from Once Upon a Time (a good thing, he’s a favorite!) so I wanted more meat to his story. Without that internal connection, I wasn’t quite sold on the romantic storyline. I do like one of the ending lines about those who are consumed by the past being easy to manipulate. That rings perfectly true in any world, in any society.
.

[Rebecca Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the first time I've been led to a book from another author's recommendation, and actually enjoyed the book! Rumpelstiltskin has been one of my favorite fairy tales since I was a young girl, and "Once Upon a Time" only strengthened my love for the character, so of course I was drawn to this book when I read the premise.

To be honest, I shouldn't have liked this as much as I did. I typically shy away from the type of romance centering around a dark, brooding guy who acts like an asshole but somehow wins the girl, and this book is very much that. However, whether due to my own bias about Rumpelstiltskin, or some clever writing and characterization on the author's part, I absolutely loved every minute of it! At times I hated him, at others I felt compassion for him, and at the end I still didn't know to feel about him. He's still technically the villain of the story, but I can't help but be somewhat charmed...

Overall, this was a great retelling of a classic, and very well-written! I'm looking forward to diving into the next book and seeing what becomes of these two star-crossed lovers 😉

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laila is the miller's daughter, working herself to the bone every day and cursing her boasting father for the trouble it brings them. When her father claims that Laila can spin straw into gold, she's brought in front of the king to perform the impossible task. If she can't, she'll lose her life. And then a strange man appears in her dungeon, and offers her a choice.

Rumpelstiltskin is a dark fairy tale, and this retelling keeps that darkness and adds depth. This story fleshes out Rumple's background and motivations. I liked that Laila was a strong woman with fierce emotions, and not a damsel in distress. This is the first in a trilogy, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger and wraps up this part of the story neatly.

The narration was done well, the story is told alternately from Rumple and Laila's point of view, and the narrator changed his tone for each character. It made it easy to tell who was speaking. It was a good immersive performance. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

[K. Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who hasn't wondered what drove Rumpelstiltskin to make his fateful bargain with the Miller's Daughter (Laila) for her first born son in return for a third night of spinning straw into gold?

Usually he's depicted as a wizened dwarf or gnome, but Spin gives Rumpelstiltskin a makeover. He's a tormented, misunderstood rake with a mission of vengeance against the King who destroyed his family.

I think I was less appreciative of the Miller's daughter-- while I understood her decisions for self preservation, her side of the relationship with Rumpelstiltskin was a little less developed and believable.

Still, an interesting take on the legend, and apparently one that goes on as Rumpelstiltskin and the personification of Fate have more scores to settle and Laila still might need help with her son.....

[Cynthia Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A person consumed by their past is always easy to manipulate because they have no thought for the future."

What an amazing retelling of one of my favorite childhood stories! I have always been enthralled with the tricky little creature of Rumpelstiltskin, but Ms. Raas' story brought a past that explains how Rumple became the villain we know him as today.

Rumple was just a simple man manipulated by the hands of fate. A true product of his environment, he fed on violence and hatred refusing to let love into his heart until it was too late. Now left with nothing but regret I'm anxious to see where book 2 will take me. Will Rumple be able to redeem himself or will he ultimately become the monster everyone fears? A truly misunderstood stood villain that I am rooting for.

[Selene Kallan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fairytale retelling.
Laila is taken to the King, he demands her to turn straw into gold. Something her father made up while drunk in a tavern. Her life now depends on completing the impossible task. A stranger offers his help for a price and she accepts to save her life. Only after the deal is done she realizes she's offered to much.
We get visions from the past of the stranger, how he acquired his magic, what moves him. His backstory is quite interesting. Laila is a good MC, she learns fast and has goodness in her wounded heart.
A must read for those who like a twist, or shall I say a spin on fairy tales.

[S.K. Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, fresh retelling of Rumpelstiltskin tale. Laila is a simple miller’s daughter but her drunken father has spouted lies to his drinking pals and soon the tales reach the king’s ear. The king arrests young Laila because he hears she can spin gold from straw and though she attempts to set him straight he demands she spin some gold or lose her head. Rumpelstiltskin comes to the rescue in a timely manner to save her from certain death but the price of his services become steeper.
The story was fresh and well-written. I found it very easy to follow as we switch between Laila and Rumpelstiltskin’s point of view with an interesting back story. Great work and highly recommended.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome fairy tale retelling with Rumplestiltskin and the Miller's daugher. It's a little bit of a darker take, with the main characters driven by revenge and pain. The introduction of the character of Fate into the story line was a great addition. Rumplestiltskin is manipulating characters for his agenda and Fate has plans of his own.

I've already read the blurb for book 2 and I'm dying to read it. The ending of Spun is not quite so tragic if you read the blurb for book 2 and perhaps a character that is just mentioned at the end of the book brings clarity to various plots we aren't quite aware of just yet

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a retelling of the well-known story from our childhood, Rumpelstiltskin but don't let that fool you because the author has made such a clever and original twist that you will keep on reading till the very end. We get to know the story of Rumpelstiltskin in this story, who he is, why he is acting the way he is and what he really wants and feels. Romance is also in the air. The author does a wonderful job endearing him to readers and the way the story ended opened so many interesting possibilities which made me hunger for the second book. Loved it.

[Jo Pilsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop reading (and nearly burned dinner as a result)

I do like reading ‘retellings’ of popular fairytales, not least because you never know what twist the author will manage. Ms Raas’ version of Rumplestiltskin did not disappoint.

You think you know the story, and then, ‘bam’, the twists and turns begin. As for the identity of the character who could be described as Rumplestiltskin’s puppet master, I will leave you to discover it, but suffice it to say, in my rush to find out, I nearly burned dinner.

That must surely be the best recommendation.

[Fiona Tarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 stars as you can see.

Well written, fast moving and a real page turner. I rarely sit down to read a book in one day, but Spin had me transfixed from the first few pages.

The story was compelling and offered a new twist on an old fairy tale favourite of mine. With passion and power, readers will be pulled through this story of pain and revenge.

I think I will be grabbing the sequel very soon.

[Alynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh
That was a no for me.
I thought it was a retelling with romance in it. It was not.
The heroine was awful and completely unlovable. The H was interesting but he really didn't care about the girl (and who s to blame him?)
Plus OM.
Plus so much drama bs.
Plus cliffhanger.
I'm done with this series, there's no next book for me.
I put two stars because, still, the writting was good, but I'm out. So SOOO out.

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a prime example of why your middle school language arts teacher told you to "show, not tell". Though it's a relatively short read, every paragraph dragged on—because I was being told about the characters' hatred, despair, or fury, rather than being shown. This is a rather strict retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin tale, and the minor deviations are not fleshed out enough to capture my attention and draw me into the story.

[Saba · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Rumplestitskin has a backstory.
- Rumplestitskin is his last name. He has a first name (Henry) but I don't expect anyone to call him by this name.
- The romance works only kinda. The author sticks with the fairy tale, so they don't have much time. (It could have been longer at times.)
- I liked the portayal of the king as evil. I'm not entirely sure what to think about the (very unspecified) madness.

[Daniel Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the good ones

I've seen a lot of retellings of Grimm fairytales over the years. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just downright awful. I'm happy to say that this is one of the good ones. So don't let the swamp of poor fairytale retellings out there stop you from enjoying this gem. It's definitely worth your time.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great start to a trilogy! It was nice to read how rumpelstiltskin came to be and what fueled his anger. The twists and turns in this book kept you very invested to keep listening and see what will happen next. I can’t wait to see what will happen next in this trilogy.

[Dorothea Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, fast paced, new "spin" on the story of Rumpelstiltskin. Laila becomes a woman who will do anything to survive. And you will see Rumpelstiltskin in a whole new light. This story kept me intriqued from page one. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this grown up fairy tale.

[India Kells · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of the classic fairytale Rumpelstiltskin where Laila has center stage. I love how the author has developped this character. The book is written at a fast pace and ends on a cliffhanger... curious to know more.