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The Book of Gothel
Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Mary McMyne’s spellbinding debut reveals the truth behind the fairy tale—the truth they never wanted you to know, as only a witch might tell it.
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician."—Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked
Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, young Haelewise has never quite fit in. Shunned by her village, her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, and of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
When her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother spoke of—a place called Gothel, where she meets a wise woman willing to take Haelewise under her wing. There, she discovers that magic is found not only in the realm of fairy tales.
But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles, behind the world Haelewise has always known.
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician."—Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked
Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, young Haelewise has never quite fit in. Shunned by her village, her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, and of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
When her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother spoke of—a place called Gothel, where she meets a wise woman willing to take Haelewise under her wing. There, she discovers that magic is found not only in the realm of fairy tales.
But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles, behind the world Haelewise has always known.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2022
569 people are currently reading
28992 people want to read
About the author
Mary McMyne
7 books257 followersMary McMyne is the author of the novels The Book of Gothel and A Rose by Any Other Name. Her fairytale poetry chapbook, Wolf Skin, won the Elgin Chapbook Award. A graduate of the NYU MFA program, she has received the Faulkner-Wisdom Prize for a Novel-in-Progress and a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, among other honors. She is the poetry editor for Enchanted Living. Find her across social media as @MaryMcMyne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,142 reviews
February 20, 2023
The Book of Gothel tells the story of Haelewise, the future Mother Gothel who serves as the traditional villain in Rapunzel.
Given the connection to Rapunzel, I'm a bit worried that The Book of Gothel may be mis-marketed to a YA audience. This is not Tangled, and it's definitely not a Disney-type retelling of a classic fairy tale from the villain's perspective. In fact, Rapunzel herself only makes a fleeting appearance in the book.
Rather, The Book of Gothel is a nuanced adult fantasy by an accomplished medievalist, immersing the reader in a world inspired equally by fairy tales and real history. At the same time, The Book of Gothel is immensely readable.
Mary McMyne has brilliantly captured the intersection of pagan witchcraft with Christian mysticism in the early medieval period. I especially loved having Saint Hildegard as one of the principal characters in the book. Hildegard's embrace of mysticism and herbal medicine was a great fit for the story.
The characters themselves are complex and compelling. There is also a strong feminist element to the book, which is incorporated in a realistic fashion for the time period of the story.
The ending of the book was perfect, leaving me with a wide range of emotions and a tremendous respect for what Mary McMyne has accomplished with this story.
Given the connection to Rapunzel, I'm a bit worried that The Book of Gothel may be mis-marketed to a YA audience. This is not Tangled, and it's definitely not a Disney-type retelling of a classic fairy tale from the villain's perspective. In fact, Rapunzel herself only makes a fleeting appearance in the book.
Rather, The Book of Gothel is a nuanced adult fantasy by an accomplished medievalist, immersing the reader in a world inspired equally by fairy tales and real history. At the same time, The Book of Gothel is immensely readable.
Mary McMyne has brilliantly captured the intersection of pagan witchcraft with Christian mysticism in the early medieval period. I especially loved having Saint Hildegard as one of the principal characters in the book. Hildegard's embrace of mysticism and herbal medicine was a great fit for the story.
The characters themselves are complex and compelling. There is also a strong feminist element to the book, which is incorporated in a realistic fashion for the time period of the story.
The ending of the book was perfect, leaving me with a wide range of emotions and a tremendous respect for what Mary McMyne has accomplished with this story.
July 29, 2022
The Book of Gothel is a wonderfully cozy story of the witch who stole Rapunzel and kept her in the tower.
Haelewise, daughter of Hedda, a well-respected midwife, has always lived under her mother’s protective wing. When Haelewise’s mother suddenly dies, her father abandons her, and the village shuns her Haelewise sets out to find the mysterious tower named Gothel. The tower is purported to offer protection for women and girls who seek it. Throughout her journeys, Haelewise will be at odds with the Church, her mother’s pagan beliefs, and a powerful noble family.
Reading this Rapunzel backstory was like being wrapped in a warm hug. It’s very much a coming-of-age, character-driven story where the reader follows Haelewise as she grows into herself. It touches on topics like the patriarchy, pagan practices, and feminism.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this, I felt that some parts dragged a bit, and I could have done without the romance. I much preferred the sections that focused on Haelewise’s and Matthaus’ friendship as they were growing up.
The writing style feels like YA in the beginning, but then it slowly matures as the story deepens.
I highly recommend adding this book to your fairytale retelling tbr.
Thank you to Orbit for the physical and digital copies for review purposes.
https://booksandwheels.com
Haelewise, daughter of Hedda, a well-respected midwife, has always lived under her mother’s protective wing. When Haelewise’s mother suddenly dies, her father abandons her, and the village shuns her Haelewise sets out to find the mysterious tower named Gothel. The tower is purported to offer protection for women and girls who seek it. Throughout her journeys, Haelewise will be at odds with the Church, her mother’s pagan beliefs, and a powerful noble family.
Reading this Rapunzel backstory was like being wrapped in a warm hug. It’s very much a coming-of-age, character-driven story where the reader follows Haelewise as she grows into herself. It touches on topics like the patriarchy, pagan practices, and feminism.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed this, I felt that some parts dragged a bit, and I could have done without the romance. I much preferred the sections that focused on Haelewise’s and Matthaus’ friendship as they were growing up.
The writing style feels like YA in the beginning, but then it slowly matures as the story deepens.
I highly recommend adding this book to your fairytale retelling tbr.
Thank you to Orbit for the physical and digital copies for review purposes.
https://booksandwheels.com
May 20, 2022
Wonderful! This is the most original retelling of "Rapunzel" I've read, and I've read a few and I can only think of another that was as creative as this. It was simply marvellous, absorbing, and well-crafted.
I would never have imagined a setting for the story in 12th century Germany, and including elements such as pagan worship, herbalism, the clash between Christianity and a female-centric Mother Goddess ancient religion refusing to go extinct, and to feature none other than Hildegard von Bingen as a character. Yes, that famous abbess who would in time become Saint Hildegard. But, of course, the storyline isn't purely historical as there's enough magic and nature-based healing arts as well as a sprinkling of the supernatural that makes this a historical fantasy creation, one credible and well-defined enough that, if you took away the magical bits, it would be 100% historical. McMyne has done her research into Medieval Germany and traditional medicine and folk beliefs, and it patently shows here.
The main lead and heroine in this story is young Haelewise, an insignificant peasant girl that would've led an equally insignificant life in a small town if not for the fact that she suffers from fainting spells that, this being a superstitious time when nobody had a good scientific explanation for genetic & neurological disorders yet, has her branded variously as a witch, possessed, cursed, what have you, and shunned by the townsfolk. She's so isolated her whole existence revolves around her mother Hedda, a wise midwife with strange abilities and a believer in the old nature-based religion, and Matthäus, her only friend. Through circumstances that turn her world upside down, Haelewise seeks refuge at a place in the woods so secluded and protected it's the stuff of legend. It's the tower of Gothel, the abode whose name is best known for the woman the fairy tale we all know from the Brothers Grimm casts as the villain in "Rapunzel."
Seriously, why had nobody ever thought of telling the side of the witch from "Rapunzel" set in Germany proper, given that it's the German version of the tale the one that names her as Mother Gothel? Just for this stroke of inspiration, I'd have rated this book the highest. Of course, the author also handled the execution well, as many good premises are blown up to pieces in the execution, and she also has researched the culture and period quite thoroughly. I'm very particular with the misuse of foreign languages, the useless showing off of phrases in German that don't add anything to the story, etc. But here, they do make sense and are to the point. When they speak in German, it's because the plot calls for it, and the author doesn't insult the readers' intelligence by repeatedly "translating" words and phrases right next to them being uttered by a character. I appreciate this very much, as a polyglot myself. Oh, and the interpretation of Rapunzel and how she came to be in the tower and what happened to her! I liked that as well, though I'd have loved to see more of that before the ending as well as perhaps a wee bit less magic in this specific portion near the end.
It was a perfect story to me, hard to put down (don't kill me for using this cliché phrase!), and my only complaints are that there wasn't enough of Matthäus and Haelewise in their adulthood as there was in their childhood and youth, and that I sincerely wish Hildegard von Bingen had had more onpage time, because it felt like she had so little time for the amount of talk about her before she appears, and also because I don't think she was depicted as formidable and multiple-gifted as she truly was. She was far more erudite and had more progressive ideas for her time than she's shown here for lack of exposition time.
Thank you to Redhook Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I would never have imagined a setting for the story in 12th century Germany, and including elements such as pagan worship, herbalism, the clash between Christianity and a female-centric Mother Goddess ancient religion refusing to go extinct, and to feature none other than Hildegard von Bingen as a character. Yes, that famous abbess who would in time become Saint Hildegard. But, of course, the storyline isn't purely historical as there's enough magic and nature-based healing arts as well as a sprinkling of the supernatural that makes this a historical fantasy creation, one credible and well-defined enough that, if you took away the magical bits, it would be 100% historical. McMyne has done her research into Medieval Germany and traditional medicine and folk beliefs, and it patently shows here.
The main lead and heroine in this story is young Haelewise, an insignificant peasant girl that would've led an equally insignificant life in a small town if not for the fact that she suffers from fainting spells that, this being a superstitious time when nobody had a good scientific explanation for genetic & neurological disorders yet, has her branded variously as a witch, possessed, cursed, what have you, and shunned by the townsfolk. She's so isolated her whole existence revolves around her mother Hedda, a wise midwife with strange abilities and a believer in the old nature-based religion, and Matthäus, her only friend. Through circumstances that turn her world upside down, Haelewise seeks refuge at a place in the woods so secluded and protected it's the stuff of legend. It's the tower of Gothel, the abode whose name is best known for the woman the fairy tale we all know from the Brothers Grimm casts as the villain in "Rapunzel."
Seriously, why had nobody ever thought of telling the side of the witch from "Rapunzel" set in Germany proper, given that it's the German version of the tale the one that names her as Mother Gothel? Just for this stroke of inspiration, I'd have rated this book the highest. Of course, the author also handled the execution well, as many good premises are blown up to pieces in the execution, and she also has researched the culture and period quite thoroughly. I'm very particular with the misuse of foreign languages, the useless showing off of phrases in German that don't add anything to the story, etc. But here, they do make sense and are to the point. When they speak in German, it's because the plot calls for it, and the author doesn't insult the readers' intelligence by repeatedly "translating" words and phrases right next to them being uttered by a character. I appreciate this very much, as a polyglot myself. Oh, and the interpretation of Rapunzel and how she came to be in the tower and what happened to her! I liked that as well, though I'd have loved to see more of that before the ending as well as perhaps a wee bit less magic in this specific portion near the end.
It was a perfect story to me, hard to put down (don't kill me for using this cliché phrase!), and my only complaints are that there wasn't enough of Matthäus and Haelewise in their adulthood as there was in their childhood and youth, and that I sincerely wish Hildegard von Bingen had had more onpage time, because it felt like she had so little time for the amount of talk about her before she appears, and also because I don't think she was depicted as formidable and multiple-gifted as she truly was. She was far more erudite and had more progressive ideas for her time than she's shown here for lack of exposition time.
Thank you to Redhook Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for a review.
August 23, 2022
The Book of Gothel is the story of Haelewise, a girl shunned for her unnerving black eyes and “demonic” fainting episodes. Her mother had always been different, preferring herbs and fantastical stories to church and teachings of purity. But when Haelewise is forced to leave her village, torn apart from her family, she finds magic within her that makes her mother’s tales seem closer to reality than she originally believed.
This book didn’t need to be a Rapunzel retelling. Rapunzel herself was more of an afterthought, and if the name Gothel had been changed, I would have never thought of this as a Rapunzel retelling. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it was confusing to me since the book is definitely marketed as something it’s only loosely connected to.
I was never fully immersed in The Book of Gothel. The writing, while mystical at times, had a stiffness to it that prevented me from getting attached to any of the characters. While I did like Haelewise, I can’t say she stood out to me. The side characters and villains were also mostly unremarkable. Although I don’t think the plot was very complicated, somehow it was difficult to follow and felt convoluted and repetitive.
This novel has a soft magic system, and while I generally enjoy the enigmatic atmosphere that this sort of magic entails, it begins to get on my nerves when it is used as a crutch to get characters out of problems. For example, there is a heavy use of visions that tell Haelewise what to do when she gets into trouble.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t have any impact on me. I’m disappointed because Rapunzel is one of my favorite fairy tales, but I don’t think The Book of Gothel will stick with me.
2 stars
This book didn’t need to be a Rapunzel retelling. Rapunzel herself was more of an afterthought, and if the name Gothel had been changed, I would have never thought of this as a Rapunzel retelling. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it was confusing to me since the book is definitely marketed as something it’s only loosely connected to.
I was never fully immersed in The Book of Gothel. The writing, while mystical at times, had a stiffness to it that prevented me from getting attached to any of the characters. While I did like Haelewise, I can’t say she stood out to me. The side characters and villains were also mostly unremarkable. Although I don’t think the plot was very complicated, somehow it was difficult to follow and felt convoluted and repetitive.
This novel has a soft magic system, and while I generally enjoy the enigmatic atmosphere that this sort of magic entails, it begins to get on my nerves when it is used as a crutch to get characters out of problems. For example, there is a heavy use of visions that tell Haelewise what to do when she gets into trouble.
This wasn’t a bad book, but it didn’t have any impact on me. I’m disappointed because Rapunzel is one of my favorite fairy tales, but I don’t think The Book of Gothel will stick with me.
2 stars
July 19, 2022
You can totally read this book and not even realize it's a twist on Mother Gothels origin story. You can take that positively or negatively. Personally, I think the author created a unique take on the character, from childhood to adult, and how certain tragic events (plus mysterious magic) shaped her into becoming the witch we all know from the fairytale.
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
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August 14, 2022Absolutely fabulous!
August 8, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
This is an interesting book to review- there are a lot of things I love about it, but some of the choices with pacing and characterization brought it down a little bit. The Book of Gothel is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, somewhat in the vein of The Bear and the Nightingale. It follows the early life of the woman who would become the witch who (according to legend) trapped Rapunzel in a tower.
Thematically it's an exploration of traditional forms of female spirituality pushed out by the Christian church, and more broadly of womanhood, what it means to be considered a witch, and how history is shaped by the people who get to tell the story. I really enjoyed how it tackled all of that.
Know that this book IS a slow-burn. If you need something fast-paced and plot driven, it's not going to be for you. And the bulk of the book takes place while Haelewise, our heroine, is 16 and 17 years old. In many ways she behaves like a teenager, often making impulsive decisions that aren't thought through and doing dumb things. In that way, it can feel more like reading a YA novel at times, but the larger themes are decidedly adult.
I wish this had spend more time on the later parts of her life. It's rushed through at the end, but the narrative would have been more satisfying to me and might have felt more balanced if we had gotten less time with her as a teenager and more time with her as a woman. That said, I like the project and where it ends, and would be interested in reading more from this author in the future. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include sexual assault, child death, pregancy, childbirth, depictions of blood, murder
This is an interesting book to review- there are a lot of things I love about it, but some of the choices with pacing and characterization brought it down a little bit. The Book of Gothel is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, somewhat in the vein of The Bear and the Nightingale. It follows the early life of the woman who would become the witch who (according to legend) trapped Rapunzel in a tower.
Thematically it's an exploration of traditional forms of female spirituality pushed out by the Christian church, and more broadly of womanhood, what it means to be considered a witch, and how history is shaped by the people who get to tell the story. I really enjoyed how it tackled all of that.
Know that this book IS a slow-burn. If you need something fast-paced and plot driven, it's not going to be for you. And the bulk of the book takes place while Haelewise, our heroine, is 16 and 17 years old. In many ways she behaves like a teenager, often making impulsive decisions that aren't thought through and doing dumb things. In that way, it can feel more like reading a YA novel at times, but the larger themes are decidedly adult.
I wish this had spend more time on the later parts of her life. It's rushed through at the end, but the narrative would have been more satisfying to me and might have felt more balanced if we had gotten less time with her as a teenager and more time with her as a woman. That said, I like the project and where it ends, and would be interested in reading more from this author in the future. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include sexual assault, child death, pregancy, childbirth, depictions of blood, murder
August 9, 2022
Me: This is a good book.
G.: What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me to read this book?
Me: Ee...
G.: Or do you mean that this is a good book whether I want it or not?
Me: Well...
G.: Or perhaps you say that you feel good about this particular book, or are you simply saying that this is a book to be a good read?!
Me: All of them, I'm SURE! The best retelling I've ever read!
"There’s nothing like a woman who lives alone to get stories going."
This fairy tale is set in Germany in the 13th century, about Mother Gothel, who become known by the name of a tower. The tower that kept Rapunzel in it. This is the story of Haelewise, daughter of Hedda, a witch who stoled a girl, but did she really?!
A villain who has said the story from her point of view is not a villain anymore, it becomes a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of a girl who tries, try so hard to survive.
The magic elements are slight and the charm and pull of the story are huge. This Rapunzel tale is full of love, a caring heart, and even tarnkappen, magical hand mirror and figurine!
One of my favorite books of this year.
My huge thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for giving me the chance of reading The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne; I have given my honest review.
G.: What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me to read this book?
Me: Ee...
G.: Or do you mean that this is a good book whether I want it or not?
Me: Well...
G.: Or perhaps you say that you feel good about this particular book, or are you simply saying that this is a book to be a good read?!
Me: All of them, I'm SURE! The best retelling I've ever read!
"There’s nothing like a woman who lives alone to get stories going."
This fairy tale is set in Germany in the 13th century, about Mother Gothel, who become known by the name of a tower. The tower that kept Rapunzel in it. This is the story of Haelewise, daughter of Hedda, a witch who stoled a girl, but did she really?!
A villain who has said the story from her point of view is not a villain anymore, it becomes a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of a girl who tries, try so hard to survive.
The magic elements are slight and the charm and pull of the story are huge. This Rapunzel tale is full of love, a caring heart, and even tarnkappen, magical hand mirror and figurine!
One of my favorite books of this year.
My huge thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for giving me the chance of reading The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne; I have given my honest review.
June 27, 2022
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne was an amazing tale filled with old lore and spirit. ️ Absolutely fantastic if folktales or the magic of fairytales is your goblet.
Quote per publisher "Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?"
There is a prevailing sense that’s never left me since my childhood and that is the magic and simultaneous fear of forests and fairytales. One can say, they are ingrained or fused into my entire being. Having been raised with Brother Grimm’s fairytales mainly, this eerieness, this sense of awe, has never left me and I experience it as an adult still, when I get the right story into my hands.
The Book of Gothel was everything I look for in a fairytale that has not been written yet!
This is not a retelling but takes place before Rapunzel’s time as we know it. The story begins with a professor traveling to Germany upon receiving an invitation to analyze a book found in an old cellar. The book of Gothel unfolds like the story of a diary that has been passed down by generations and tells the story of the peasant girl Haelewise, her mother and grandmother in the 13th century, rooted in parts of the true history of the famous abbess, Hildegard von Bingen. Immediately one picks up on the time setting and characterization in the novel. Forests, little medieval villages, markets, apothecaries, apprenticeships, and Christianity build the contrasting frame around pagan worship, herbalism, spirits, and the supernatural.
Haelewise is ousted in her town for her fainting spells and her mother's attempt to heal her with the remedies of Mother Goddess. Practicing midwifery won't keep her afloat after her mother dies since everyone blames her for the deaths of the lives she touches and her father leaves the home. In the forest, she finds refuge in a tower shrouded in mist and through the practice of herbalism, finds guidance from her mother. What has been protected from her the entire life, now unfolds in a series of circumstances that she must overcome while enciphering the truth of her mother's secrets long guarded.
This story feels fresh and authentic to stand on its own. The author's research of the old ways and language were surprisingly accurate and left untranslated in parts for authenticity. The plot unfolds richly with intrigue and crooked ways from nobility, unforeseen twists, and mystery. Plenty of heart in it too.
I truly enjoyed this novel and didn’t want it to end. Lovers of historical folktales and fairytales would enjoy this book too.
I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
Quote per publisher "Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?"
There is a prevailing sense that’s never left me since my childhood and that is the magic and simultaneous fear of forests and fairytales. One can say, they are ingrained or fused into my entire being. Having been raised with Brother Grimm’s fairytales mainly, this eerieness, this sense of awe, has never left me and I experience it as an adult still, when I get the right story into my hands.
The Book of Gothel was everything I look for in a fairytale that has not been written yet!
This is not a retelling but takes place before Rapunzel’s time as we know it. The story begins with a professor traveling to Germany upon receiving an invitation to analyze a book found in an old cellar. The book of Gothel unfolds like the story of a diary that has been passed down by generations and tells the story of the peasant girl Haelewise, her mother and grandmother in the 13th century, rooted in parts of the true history of the famous abbess, Hildegard von Bingen. Immediately one picks up on the time setting and characterization in the novel. Forests, little medieval villages, markets, apothecaries, apprenticeships, and Christianity build the contrasting frame around pagan worship, herbalism, spirits, and the supernatural.
Haelewise is ousted in her town for her fainting spells and her mother's attempt to heal her with the remedies of Mother Goddess. Practicing midwifery won't keep her afloat after her mother dies since everyone blames her for the deaths of the lives she touches and her father leaves the home. In the forest, she finds refuge in a tower shrouded in mist and through the practice of herbalism, finds guidance from her mother. What has been protected from her the entire life, now unfolds in a series of circumstances that she must overcome while enciphering the truth of her mother's secrets long guarded.
This story feels fresh and authentic to stand on its own. The author's research of the old ways and language were surprisingly accurate and left untranslated in parts for authenticity. The plot unfolds richly with intrigue and crooked ways from nobility, unforeseen twists, and mystery. Plenty of heart in it too.
I truly enjoyed this novel and didn’t want it to end. Lovers of historical folktales and fairytales would enjoy this book too.
I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
July 21, 2022
DNF at 70%
This morning, I closed my e-reader with a long sigh at another anticipated book that became an utter disappointment.
The Book of Gothel promises to be the complex origin story to the iconic Rapunzel villainess, Mother Gothel. However, if you did not know that, you could read the whole book without guessing it was about her.
What went well?
- It is obvious that McMyne put a lot of work into this book and I commend them for it. The historical research into medieval times and origin stories clearly shines throughout the novel.
-The writing is easy and accessible, lending a strong voice to Haelewise, from her childhood to becoming Gothel.
What wasn't so great?
- The characters lacked any depth or complexity. Especially Haelewise's action sometimes completely contradictory to her character and illogical at best.
-The plot was threadbare at best and non existent at worst. With no strong characters to carry over the novel, the often directionless plot that takes illogical turns to advance the narrative couldn't save this novel.
-The worldbuilding is....not the best.
Anyway, there are alot of people who will enjoy this novel for its historical research and a unique take on Gothel's character. But I'm not one of them.
Best wishes to the author and thank you to the publisher for providing an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This morning, I closed my e-reader with a long sigh at another anticipated book that became an utter disappointment.
The Book of Gothel promises to be the complex origin story to the iconic Rapunzel villainess, Mother Gothel. However, if you did not know that, you could read the whole book without guessing it was about her.
What went well?
- It is obvious that McMyne put a lot of work into this book and I commend them for it. The historical research into medieval times and origin stories clearly shines throughout the novel.
-The writing is easy and accessible, lending a strong voice to Haelewise, from her childhood to becoming Gothel.
What wasn't so great?
- The characters lacked any depth or complexity. Especially Haelewise's action sometimes completely contradictory to her character and illogical at best.
-The plot was threadbare at best and non existent at worst. With no strong characters to carry over the novel, the often directionless plot that takes illogical turns to advance the narrative couldn't save this novel.
-The worldbuilding is....not the best.
Anyway, there are alot of people who will enjoy this novel for its historical research and a unique take on Gothel's character. But I'm not one of them.
Best wishes to the author and thank you to the publisher for providing an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
This fine retelling/origin story of the Rapunzel fairy tale features so many things that I enjoy: strong female characters, dark, forbidding forests, wise women who know their way around an herb garden, and dangerous quests to rescue pregnant princesses. If you're looking for an involving story with a smart, likeable heroine, this could be the book for you.
July 8, 2021
(Review of a pre-publication copy) Fans of WICKED and CIRCE; of wonder, secrets, and visions—this book is for you. In this imaginative retelling of “Rapunzel,” Mary McMyne’s captivating novel evokes the magic of beloved fairy tales and delves into the mystery of how faiths and fortunes shift. THE BOOK OF GOTHEL will hold readers in delighted thrall right to the startling end.
Haelewise—with her black eyes and strange fits—is shunned by the people in her pious village. Her mother, Hedda, attempts to shelter her and comfort her with fantastic tales, including one about a wise woman in a faraway tower. Before Hedda dies, she gives her daughter a figurine of a bird-woman, and after she’s gone, Haelewise begins to hear voices when she holds the object. The girl’s father abandons her, and she leaves the village to find the mysterious woman in her mother’s stories. Haelewise’s journey leads her to the Tower of Gothel and the old woman herself. There, Haelewise learns the power of plants—and of powers she has never experienced before. Soon, she will be compelled to leave the tower’s safe haven to discover the truth about the bird-woman and her family’s ancient legacy.
For readers who enjoy historical fiction, the novel is set in medieval Germany and includes the numinous presence of Hildegard of Bingen.
Haelewise—with her black eyes and strange fits—is shunned by the people in her pious village. Her mother, Hedda, attempts to shelter her and comfort her with fantastic tales, including one about a wise woman in a faraway tower. Before Hedda dies, she gives her daughter a figurine of a bird-woman, and after she’s gone, Haelewise begins to hear voices when she holds the object. The girl’s father abandons her, and she leaves the village to find the mysterious woman in her mother’s stories. Haelewise’s journey leads her to the Tower of Gothel and the old woman herself. There, Haelewise learns the power of plants—and of powers she has never experienced before. Soon, she will be compelled to leave the tower’s safe haven to discover the truth about the bird-woman and her family’s ancient legacy.
For readers who enjoy historical fiction, the novel is set in medieval Germany and includes the numinous presence of Hildegard of Bingen.
May 19, 2023
This is not a retelling of Rapunzel and the tower as the cover might lead you to think but a story about the witch that put her there. As you are reading the story, you wonder how in the world Rapunzel has anything to do with this it but near the end you find out how.
The story surrounds a young girl named Haelewise. She is beautiful but has eerie black eyes and odd fainting spells. The villagers swear she is possessed by a demon. Her mother spends her time trying to find a cure for her as her father rarely shows interest. As she gets older her mother becomes ill and tells her if something should happen to seek out the witch in the forest. So, when the time comes, Haelewise sets off with a heavy heart. There she finds the old woman who is willing to take her in and long as she is willing to follow the rules. Of course, she doesn’t and it sets off another crazy turn of events.
Although the story was not quite what I expected, I very much enjoyed the book and all of the characters in it. It will be one of those stories that will stick with me for quite a while.
The story surrounds a young girl named Haelewise. She is beautiful but has eerie black eyes and odd fainting spells. The villagers swear she is possessed by a demon. Her mother spends her time trying to find a cure for her as her father rarely shows interest. As she gets older her mother becomes ill and tells her if something should happen to seek out the witch in the forest. So, when the time comes, Haelewise sets off with a heavy heart. There she finds the old woman who is willing to take her in and long as she is willing to follow the rules. Of course, she doesn’t and it sets off another crazy turn of events.
Although the story was not quite what I expected, I very much enjoyed the book and all of the characters in it. It will be one of those stories that will stick with me for quite a while.
October 12, 2022
The story of the witch that supposedly imprisoned Rapunzel in her tower, but looking at a mostly realistic basis for the fairy with some fantastic elements. The story deftly interweaves real historical figures and events into the tale of Haelewise who is destined to become Mother Gothel, the keeper of the tower Gothel while also illustrating the world of early medieval Europe with Christianity supplanting pagan animistic beliefs.
This reminded me strongly of The Bear and the Nightingale, albeit with a German rather than Russian bent. The content and themes feel very similar, including how Christianity reinforced the patriarchal nature of the civilization of the time, but also how women could achieve freedom and power within the early Christian social structures, notably through the inclusion of Saint Hildegard of Bingen as a character.
It's also very minor, but I liked the modern day framing story represented in the prologue and epilogue. I also enjoyed the various takes on other early Germanic fairytales that Haelewise refers to in the text.
Recommended.
This reminded me strongly of The Bear and the Nightingale, albeit with a German rather than Russian bent. The content and themes feel very similar, including how Christianity reinforced the patriarchal nature of the civilization of the time, but also how women could achieve freedom and power within the early Christian social structures, notably through the inclusion of Saint Hildegard of Bingen as a character.
It's also very minor, but I liked the modern day framing story represented in the prologue and epilogue. I also enjoyed the various takes on other early Germanic fairytales that Haelewise refers to in the text.
Recommended.
August 21, 2022
I guess I'll give McMyne points for writing a book about a storybook villain wherein they aren't perceived to be the villain for simply being naïve... Haelewise was certainly more complicated a character than that... That said... the story just didn't give?
Mayhaps my expectations were too high, but I think that there was just something that was lacking from the book. The way the last couple of chapters just gave us montages definitely wasn't the strongest way to end the book. I think it's definitely an interesting look to see Haelewise as a character in her own right divorced from the Gothel character that you're expecting... but it does feel odd that so much of the story is about this young woman completely divorced from the character of Rapunzel. And when Rapunzel does show up in the narrative that's when we get this montage moment and the book is over...
The book has a framing device that I just think was completely unnecessary. I think that both the prologue and epilogue should be cut given how little they add to the narrative and seem to serve only to not have the author have to give interviews about why they chose to write the book. The narrative being presented as a researcher reading this ancient manuscript is completely pointless... Haelewise a couple times makes mention of the fact that the narrative the reader is experiencing is a recollection that she's been recording as she nears the end of her life, and those work just fine without the random inclusion of two characters from 2022 no matter how the epilogue attempts to tie them into the plot.
It's two pronged in that I went into this expecting too much. It certainly wasn't a bad book, but in the hunt for loving something as much as I have loved Heather Walter's work with retellings, this just fell a little flat. As a story I think it works pretty good, I would recommend, I think that a wide range of readers would likely enjoy this more than I did.
Mayhaps my expectations were too high, but I think that there was just something that was lacking from the book. The way the last couple of chapters just gave us montages definitely wasn't the strongest way to end the book. I think it's definitely an interesting look to see Haelewise as a character in her own right divorced from the Gothel character that you're expecting... but it does feel odd that so much of the story is about this young woman completely divorced from the character of Rapunzel. And when Rapunzel does show up in the narrative that's when we get this montage moment and the book is over...
The book has a framing device that I just think was completely unnecessary. I think that both the prologue and epilogue should be cut given how little they add to the narrative and seem to serve only to not have the author have to give interviews about why they chose to write the book. The narrative being presented as a researcher reading this ancient manuscript is completely pointless... Haelewise a couple times makes mention of the fact that the narrative the reader is experiencing is a recollection that she's been recording as she nears the end of her life, and those work just fine without the random inclusion of two characters from 2022 no matter how the epilogue attempts to tie them into the plot.
It's two pronged in that I went into this expecting too much. It certainly wasn't a bad book, but in the hunt for loving something as much as I have loved Heather Walter's work with retellings, this just fell a little flat. As a story I think it works pretty good, I would recommend, I think that a wide range of readers would likely enjoy this more than I did.
July 18, 2022
This was a beautiful and somewhat tragic retelling of Rapunzel featuring the origin story of the witch who put her in the tower.
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
The Book of Gothel came at me by surprise and just destroyed me in all the best ways. Everyone knows the general tale of Rapunzel, but I think it's quite rare to see such an original, well thought out, and enthralling retelling of the origin of the witch who started the story.
The story starts out with Haelewise's childhood in her medieval village with her midwife mother, Hedda, and father. Haelewise is unfortunately plagued by mysterious fainting spells that make her stand out to her village in unwanted ways, with people thinking she is cursed by a demon or affiliated with the "old ways." When Haelewise's mother dies and she is left on her own, she embarks on a journey to visit a place called Gothel where she hopes to escape her village and become an apprentice to the wise woman who lives there.
Haelewise is a beast of a character. She drove me absolutely crazy sometimes with some of her decisions, but I also felt a fierce love and protectiveness towards her because of her continual determination and steadfast refusal to listen to things she doesn't believe in. She is an incredibly stubborn character, and because of this she never gives up on her search for the truth and for something more in her life. It was very fulfilling to watch her growth and interactions with people around her evolve over the course of the story, shifting from a quieter, somewhat naive girl to a confident, clear-minded woman.
Kunnegunde was also a really intriguing character that I could never really figure out. She's kind and helpful, but also a bit dark and mysterious and I just felt like I never knew how she would react to something Haelewise said or did, which made her a character I couldn't help but find myself captivated by. I felt like her evolution over the course of the novel was a bit up and down and almost inconsistent at times, but I'm not sure if that's just part of her character or if that's more of a situation where readers are finally figuring out who she is. There were also a lot of other female characters in this book that had some strong, compelling storylines and roles, so that was a nice plus.
The religious aspects that intermixed with the magical components was not something I expected from a Rapunzel retelling, and I think McMyne incorporated it really well. However, I'll admit that I do still have some questions about the way the magic, religious components, and everything else worked together, as it was a little hazy at times. I'm not sure if this was more of a "me" problem or the story itself, but it is one of the only things that sort of prevented me from fully becoming enmeshed in the world.
I really enjoyed the world-building and think that McMyne chose a really unique setting to tell this story, one which I think fit really well with all of the characters and the specific story that she wanted to tell. Everything flowed together really well and I appreciated that McMyne really seems to have taken her time to develop the characters and the environments that they inhabit. There is also a small romantic component in this book as well, but it was not overwhelming and did not overtake the story in any way. I actually really liked this romance and found it very satisfying, and I also thought it fit into the rest of the narrative well.
The ending of this book, however, is what really killed me. I was a bit devastated, but at the same time there was a sort of persistent thread of hope that kept me reading and hoping for more. I won't give any spoilers, so I'll keep my thoughts vague. This was what I would call a tragically beautiful ending that sort of broke my heart in ways I didn't expect, but continued to surprise me the entire time. This whole book was really strong, but the last fifty pages are what really pushed this book up to something extra special for me. I feel like I'd love a novella-sized follow-up that highlights basically the last chapter of the story and expands upon everything to give us a better view.
And as much as I've just said how I've loved the ending, I'm going to be a little contradictory and say that I also wish it had been just a little less rushed and spent more time expanding and developing some of the latter events. The last hundred pages or so felt very rushed and like a lot of content was thrown in to get things moving, and although it definitely kept the pacing up and kept me engaged in the story, a lot of things happened really quickly without enough time spent on them. We spent so much time on Haelewise's childhood that once we get to the later events of this story, everything happens really quickly and we sort of speed through the last bit, it seems. I'm not mad at this story because I adored it so much, but I say all this just to convey that I would have loved to get even more from this ending.
Overall, The Book of Gothel is a stunning, heart-wrenching retelling of the origin of the witch from the classic Rapunzel story. It covers so many important messages around women's lives and their power that takes so many different forms, and it does so while telling the vivid, enchanting story of Haelewise as she finds her place in the world. I've given The Book of Gothel five stars!
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
The Book of Gothel came at me by surprise and just destroyed me in all the best ways. Everyone knows the general tale of Rapunzel, but I think it's quite rare to see such an original, well thought out, and enthralling retelling of the origin of the witch who started the story.
The story starts out with Haelewise's childhood in her medieval village with her midwife mother, Hedda, and father. Haelewise is unfortunately plagued by mysterious fainting spells that make her stand out to her village in unwanted ways, with people thinking she is cursed by a demon or affiliated with the "old ways." When Haelewise's mother dies and she is left on her own, she embarks on a journey to visit a place called Gothel where she hopes to escape her village and become an apprentice to the wise woman who lives there.
Haelewise is a beast of a character. She drove me absolutely crazy sometimes with some of her decisions, but I also felt a fierce love and protectiveness towards her because of her continual determination and steadfast refusal to listen to things she doesn't believe in. She is an incredibly stubborn character, and because of this she never gives up on her search for the truth and for something more in her life. It was very fulfilling to watch her growth and interactions with people around her evolve over the course of the story, shifting from a quieter, somewhat naive girl to a confident, clear-minded woman.
Kunnegunde was also a really intriguing character that I could never really figure out. She's kind and helpful, but also a bit dark and mysterious and I just felt like I never knew how she would react to something Haelewise said or did, which made her a character I couldn't help but find myself captivated by. I felt like her evolution over the course of the novel was a bit up and down and almost inconsistent at times, but I'm not sure if that's just part of her character or if that's more of a situation where readers are finally figuring out who she is. There were also a lot of other female characters in this book that had some strong, compelling storylines and roles, so that was a nice plus.
The religious aspects that intermixed with the magical components was not something I expected from a Rapunzel retelling, and I think McMyne incorporated it really well. However, I'll admit that I do still have some questions about the way the magic, religious components, and everything else worked together, as it was a little hazy at times. I'm not sure if this was more of a "me" problem or the story itself, but it is one of the only things that sort of prevented me from fully becoming enmeshed in the world.
I really enjoyed the world-building and think that McMyne chose a really unique setting to tell this story, one which I think fit really well with all of the characters and the specific story that she wanted to tell. Everything flowed together really well and I appreciated that McMyne really seems to have taken her time to develop the characters and the environments that they inhabit. There is also a small romantic component in this book as well, but it was not overwhelming and did not overtake the story in any way. I actually really liked this romance and found it very satisfying, and I also thought it fit into the rest of the narrative well.
The ending of this book, however, is what really killed me. I was a bit devastated, but at the same time there was a sort of persistent thread of hope that kept me reading and hoping for more. I won't give any spoilers, so I'll keep my thoughts vague. This was what I would call a tragically beautiful ending that sort of broke my heart in ways I didn't expect, but continued to surprise me the entire time. This whole book was really strong, but the last fifty pages are what really pushed this book up to something extra special for me. I feel like I'd love a novella-sized follow-up that highlights basically the last chapter of the story and expands upon everything to give us a better view.
And as much as I've just said how I've loved the ending, I'm going to be a little contradictory and say that I also wish it had been just a little less rushed and spent more time expanding and developing some of the latter events. The last hundred pages or so felt very rushed and like a lot of content was thrown in to get things moving, and although it definitely kept the pacing up and kept me engaged in the story, a lot of things happened really quickly without enough time spent on them. We spent so much time on Haelewise's childhood that once we get to the later events of this story, everything happens really quickly and we sort of speed through the last bit, it seems. I'm not mad at this story because I adored it so much, but I say all this just to convey that I would have loved to get even more from this ending.
Overall, The Book of Gothel is a stunning, heart-wrenching retelling of the origin of the witch from the classic Rapunzel story. It covers so many important messages around women's lives and their power that takes so many different forms, and it does so while telling the vivid, enchanting story of Haelewise as she finds her place in the world. I've given The Book of Gothel five stars!
September 1, 2023
This was delightful. A very unique take on the origins of Mother Gothel.
Will be in an upcoming vlog
Will be in an upcoming vlog
June 22, 2022
Rating: Absolutely Love It/All Time Favorite, 5 stars
The Book of Gothel is a standalone historical fantasy novel that tells the real story of Mother Gothel, the infamous witch from Rapunzel's fairy tale. Our opener/prologue begins by following a woman who is chasing tenure at UNC and whose area of focus is women in old fairy tales/manuscripts. She is contacted by a woman in Germany who has found an old manuscript in the basement of her grandmother's home. The story is the manuscript that this woman reads, and it turns out to be the story of Haelewise who has become known by the name of the tower she lives in, Gothel, and is setting the record straight as to what really happened with the princess she stole.
We follow Haelewise from the time she is a young girl as she grows up with her doting mother and distant father. She is shunned in her Christian village as she grows older due to her strange fainting spells and her unusual eyes. People believe that she's been possessed by a demon. Haelewise's mother attempts to treat her using the old ways, and her father by exorcism and other holy remedies, but nothing seems to work. Something occurs that causes Haelewise to flee and seek sanctuary with the wise woman who lives in the woods, and the story goes on from there.
I was instantly grabbed by the opener, but as we got into the story, I was getting slightly nervous because I don't always love the low magic setting. However, the writing and the story itself really pulled me in, and I couldn't put this book down. I was surprised by just how much I loved it. Also, there were a lot more magical elements as the story continued.
I think my favorite thing about this book were the vibes. It was really well-written, and ended up being so compulsively readable. I loved the dark cottagecore vibes, and it was the type of fantasy that felt like it could almost be real - like somewhere in the woods these characters existed, worshiping the Mother, and performing their healing and midwifery for their neighbors. It ended up being much more magical feeling than I anticipated.
Something that this story really explores is how Haelewise and others who follow the old ways can live in the tension of the Christian religion and the "pagan" religion that it replaced. I honestly loved how Haelewise was trying to figure out where she fell in her beliefs and what that meant for her life and her relationships.
I really enjoyed following Haelewise and seeing her grow over the course of the novel. My enjoyment of her as a character sort of snuck up on me, but I really appreciated her spirit and determination to follow her own path. Overall there are some really interesting themes explored in this novel, and I ended up loving the historical aspect of this with integration of some real life figures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Book of Gothel releases on July 26, 2022. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a break from all the Greek myth retellings but still want to revisit a familiar folk tale. It had major Bear and the Nightingale vibes, and was just a really enjoyable read.
In this, the seventy-eighth year of my earthly course, I write my story. A faithful account of my life - heretical though it may be - a chronicle of facts that have since been altered to correct the lies being repeated as truth. This will be my book of deeds, written from the famous tower of Gothel, where a high wall encloses the florae and herbs
Everything that is done can be undone
*Quotes are taken from an eARC and will be verified against the finished copy at time of publication.
The Book of Gothel is a standalone historical fantasy novel that tells the real story of Mother Gothel, the infamous witch from Rapunzel's fairy tale. Our opener/prologue begins by following a woman who is chasing tenure at UNC and whose area of focus is women in old fairy tales/manuscripts. She is contacted by a woman in Germany who has found an old manuscript in the basement of her grandmother's home. The story is the manuscript that this woman reads, and it turns out to be the story of Haelewise who has become known by the name of the tower she lives in, Gothel, and is setting the record straight as to what really happened with the princess she stole.
We follow Haelewise from the time she is a young girl as she grows up with her doting mother and distant father. She is shunned in her Christian village as she grows older due to her strange fainting spells and her unusual eyes. People believe that she's been possessed by a demon. Haelewise's mother attempts to treat her using the old ways, and her father by exorcism and other holy remedies, but nothing seems to work. Something occurs that causes Haelewise to flee and seek sanctuary with the wise woman who lives in the woods, and the story goes on from there.
I was instantly grabbed by the opener, but as we got into the story, I was getting slightly nervous because I don't always love the low magic setting. However, the writing and the story itself really pulled me in, and I couldn't put this book down. I was surprised by just how much I loved it. Also, there were a lot more magical elements as the story continued.
I think my favorite thing about this book were the vibes. It was really well-written, and ended up being so compulsively readable. I loved the dark cottagecore vibes, and it was the type of fantasy that felt like it could almost be real - like somewhere in the woods these characters existed, worshiping the Mother, and performing their healing and midwifery for their neighbors. It ended up being much more magical feeling than I anticipated.
Something that this story really explores is how Haelewise and others who follow the old ways can live in the tension of the Christian religion and the "pagan" religion that it replaced. I honestly loved how Haelewise was trying to figure out where she fell in her beliefs and what that meant for her life and her relationships.
I really enjoyed following Haelewise and seeing her grow over the course of the novel. My enjoyment of her as a character sort of snuck up on me, but I really appreciated her spirit and determination to follow her own path. Overall there are some really interesting themes explored in this novel, and I ended up loving the historical aspect of this with integration of some real life figures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Book of Gothel releases on July 26, 2022. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a break from all the Greek myth retellings but still want to revisit a familiar folk tale. It had major Bear and the Nightingale vibes, and was just a really enjoyable read.
In this, the seventy-eighth year of my earthly course, I write my story. A faithful account of my life - heretical though it may be - a chronicle of facts that have since been altered to correct the lies being repeated as truth. This will be my book of deeds, written from the famous tower of Gothel, where a high wall encloses the florae and herbs
Everything that is done can be undone
*Quotes are taken from an eARC and will be verified against the finished copy at time of publication.
June 2, 2022
A dark fairytale telling an alternative version of the Rapunzel story, really clever and beautifully imagined.
Excellent world building and some intriguing characters keep you turning those pages and overall The Book of Gothel is an excellent example of the remagined fiction that is so popular at the moment.
Really good. Looking forward to what this author does next.
Excellent world building and some intriguing characters keep you turning those pages and overall The Book of Gothel is an excellent example of the remagined fiction that is so popular at the moment.
Really good. Looking forward to what this author does next.
April 18, 2024
“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬.”
Truly, this is one of the best books I've read in awhile. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about a fairytale retelling but knowing it told the villain origin story similarly to 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥, I thought I'd give it a chance. A redeeming origin story will get me every time and I desperately wish I would've picked this one up sooner.
Here are a few of the things that I adored:
💜 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: I honestly will never be able to see Mother Gothel in the same light. This has forever changed my perspective on the entire story of Rapunzel in the best way possible. The magic, the spirituality... everything surrounding the story of Rapunzel and the "villian" of Mother Gothel is just beautifully done. It's almost heartwarming, in a way.
💜 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫: A fierce but tenderhearted woman - I absolutely loved the portrayal of Haelewise. She's selfless (though human, at times) and willing to do anything for those that she loves even if it means sacrificing what she really wants. I loved that the author showed femininity and vulnerability while also creating a character that can hold her own, especially at a young age.
💜𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: I'm not sure how McMyne was able to do it, but she created such a cozy, woodsy feeling in her writing.... despite some relatively serious themes being portrayed. The world building and storytelling are absolutely gorgeous. It's written in such a way that comes together beautifully, but not so wordy and complicated that it puts you off wanting to get invested. The style really just invites you into the story.
If you've been following my reviews for awhile, you know how infrequently I give out my 5 star ratings... especially for anything even remotely fantasy-related. This one is absolutely the exception - it's wonderfully done.
I will say the ONE (technically two, I guess) thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the prologue and epilogue. They just kind of felt forced? I wholeheartedly understand the intentions, but it took me out of the story completely. I don't think that context was really needed to feel the impact of the story as a whole - if anything, it almost takes away from it. Clearly not enough to affect my rating though, so take that criticism with a grain of salt.
Overall, I love this story and it will be one I think about every single time I think about Rapunzel's fairytale. Incredibly impressed.
Truly, this is one of the best books I've read in awhile. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about a fairytale retelling but knowing it told the villain origin story similarly to 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥, I thought I'd give it a chance. A redeeming origin story will get me every time and I desperately wish I would've picked this one up sooner.
Here are a few of the things that I adored:
💜 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: I honestly will never be able to see Mother Gothel in the same light. This has forever changed my perspective on the entire story of Rapunzel in the best way possible. The magic, the spirituality... everything surrounding the story of Rapunzel and the "villian" of Mother Gothel is just beautifully done. It's almost heartwarming, in a way.
💜 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫: A fierce but tenderhearted woman - I absolutely loved the portrayal of Haelewise. She's selfless (though human, at times) and willing to do anything for those that she loves even if it means sacrificing what she really wants. I loved that the author showed femininity and vulnerability while also creating a character that can hold her own, especially at a young age.
💜𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: I'm not sure how McMyne was able to do it, but she created such a cozy, woodsy feeling in her writing.... despite some relatively serious themes being portrayed. The world building and storytelling are absolutely gorgeous. It's written in such a way that comes together beautifully, but not so wordy and complicated that it puts you off wanting to get invested. The style really just invites you into the story.
If you've been following my reviews for awhile, you know how infrequently I give out my 5 star ratings... especially for anything even remotely fantasy-related. This one is absolutely the exception - it's wonderfully done.
I will say the ONE (technically two, I guess) thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the prologue and epilogue. They just kind of felt forced? I wholeheartedly understand the intentions, but it took me out of the story completely. I don't think that context was really needed to feel the impact of the story as a whole - if anything, it almost takes away from it. Clearly not enough to affect my rating though, so take that criticism with a grain of salt.
Overall, I love this story and it will be one I think about every single time I think about Rapunzel's fairytale. Incredibly impressed.
July 28, 2022
4.5 stars
The Book of Gothel is a charming and lyrical fairytale telling the origin story of Mother Gothel from the beloved classic tale of Rapunzel. We follow a character named Haelewise on her journey throughout life and hear the story of what really happened with Rapunzel from the Witch's own mouth. Full of black magic, a sinister atmosphere and discussion of fascinating historical themes, this is a tale that will stick with you long after reading and is a truly unique retelling; that instead of casting Gothel as the villain tells the tale of a complex and flawed woman.
With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. But when her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the tower of legend-a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known.
My favourite thing about this story was the enchanting atmosphere, I'm a sucker for any book set in a forest and the combination 0f the vivid imagery, haunting prose and lush descriptions the author creates set the stage a truly incredible and moving tale. I also adored Haelewise as a character, she really carries the story and was a very complex character but you grow so invested in her and her story. She has such inner strength and kindness, but is often treated as less than or ostracised for being a witch and hence you see how this shapes the way she interacts with the world.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the midwifery aspects to the story. I tend to love anything healthcare/healer related, especially in this kind of historical atmospheric fantasy because I find it so interesting to see how practices are different from now. I also thought making the mother gothel character a midwife was such good decision, it added an extra layer to her character and the feelings she has towards the babies she helps deliver.
While I wouldn't have said the romance was a huge part of this book, it is still a significant aspect to the story. I really liked the relationship between Haelewise and her love interest, the slow development from childhood friends to lovers, to being torn apart by circumstances, to having an affair type relationship, to eventually having a really sweet and fitting ending, you feel the angst and passion throughout all stages of life and honestly it's just a beautiful journey.
I also really enjoyed both the historical setting and the framing of women within it. The Tower of Gothel provides a refuge for women who need help (often with pregnancy/gynae related concerns) and in an era where this aspect of women's health was often neglected it is really interesting to imagine was this kind of refuge would be like and the stories of the women who seek help from it.
Overall this a stunning tale of sacrifice, motherhood, womanhood and love against the odds. I think if you enjoyed the Winternight trilogy or Circe you will love this one as well, following the stories of women often forgotten by history or cast as the villains, told through gorgeous lyrical prose with a beautiful atmosphere there is so much to enjoy!!
The Book of Gothel is a charming and lyrical fairytale telling the origin story of Mother Gothel from the beloved classic tale of Rapunzel. We follow a character named Haelewise on her journey throughout life and hear the story of what really happened with Rapunzel from the Witch's own mouth. Full of black magic, a sinister atmosphere and discussion of fascinating historical themes, this is a tale that will stick with you long after reading and is a truly unique retelling; that instead of casting Gothel as the villain tells the tale of a complex and flawed woman.
With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. But when her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the tower of legend-a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known.
My favourite thing about this story was the enchanting atmosphere, I'm a sucker for any book set in a forest and the combination 0f the vivid imagery, haunting prose and lush descriptions the author creates set the stage a truly incredible and moving tale. I also adored Haelewise as a character, she really carries the story and was a very complex character but you grow so invested in her and her story. She has such inner strength and kindness, but is often treated as less than or ostracised for being a witch and hence you see how this shapes the way she interacts with the world.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the midwifery aspects to the story. I tend to love anything healthcare/healer related, especially in this kind of historical atmospheric fantasy because I find it so interesting to see how practices are different from now. I also thought making the mother gothel character a midwife was such good decision, it added an extra layer to her character and the feelings she has towards the babies she helps deliver.
While I wouldn't have said the romance was a huge part of this book, it is still a significant aspect to the story. I really liked the relationship between Haelewise and her love interest, the slow development from childhood friends to lovers, to being torn apart by circumstances, to having an affair type relationship, to eventually having a really sweet and fitting ending, you feel the angst and passion throughout all stages of life and honestly it's just a beautiful journey.
I also really enjoyed both the historical setting and the framing of women within it. The Tower of Gothel provides a refuge for women who need help (often with pregnancy/gynae related concerns) and in an era where this aspect of women's health was often neglected it is really interesting to imagine was this kind of refuge would be like and the stories of the women who seek help from it.
Overall this a stunning tale of sacrifice, motherhood, womanhood and love against the odds. I think if you enjoyed the Winternight trilogy or Circe you will love this one as well, following the stories of women often forgotten by history or cast as the villains, told through gorgeous lyrical prose with a beautiful atmosphere there is so much to enjoy!!
Read
September 30, 2022DNF at 53%
Haelewise is an outcast in the village with her strange eyes and fainting spells. When her mother dies, she must set out to find her destiny.
I was excited for this book because of the slantwise way it was approaching the Rapunzel fairytale, where the tower is not a prison but instead a place of female empowerment. Unfortunately, the story didn't work for me on many levels.
Haelewise is an interesting lead, but I found her naive beyond belief and didn't care much what happened to her. I found the prose rather turgid and the plot incredibly slow. But when we got to the point of Rika keeping secrets from Haelewise, I gave up. While she hints at a grand conspiracy around the old religion but refuses to speak beyond vague confirmations, I found myself rather fed up about the plot's lack of progress.
I also wished the characters and their relationship were stronger. We get told that Haelewise and Matthäus are in love, that Haelewise thinks of Rika as a friend so close as to be a sister, and so on, but the writing did not convince me of this.
While I thought the themes of feminism and the old religions versus the new were interesting, I did not enjoy the execution. For these reasons, I have decided not to read on.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Haelewise is an outcast in the village with her strange eyes and fainting spells. When her mother dies, she must set out to find her destiny.
I was excited for this book because of the slantwise way it was approaching the Rapunzel fairytale, where the tower is not a prison but instead a place of female empowerment. Unfortunately, the story didn't work for me on many levels.
Haelewise is an interesting lead, but I found her naive beyond belief and didn't care much what happened to her. I found the prose rather turgid and the plot incredibly slow. But when we got to the point of Rika keeping secrets from Haelewise, I gave up. While she hints at a grand conspiracy around the old religion but refuses to speak beyond vague confirmations, I found myself rather fed up about the plot's lack of progress.
I also wished the characters and their relationship were stronger. We get told that Haelewise and Matthäus are in love, that Haelewise thinks of Rika as a friend so close as to be a sister, and so on, but the writing did not convince me of this.
While I thought the themes of feminism and the old religions versus the new were interesting, I did not enjoy the execution. For these reasons, I have decided not to read on.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
November 1, 2022
I loved this book. review to come
July 29, 2022
I don’t really have favorite fairytales but if there’s one I can say I really enjoyed, it has to be Rapunzel. So when I saw that this book was to be a retelling of the story from the witch’s perspective, I was immediately intrigued. And I’m glad that it lived up to the expectations.
I don’t wanna give it away but the narrative device used to tell the witch’s story was something that took me by surprise and I have to say I really enjoyed it. And the writing itself is so captivating. It’s got complete fairytale vibes, but a bit on the darker side and it’s pretty fast paced, so I just wanted to keep going once I started. The descriptions are also very evocative and I could totally feel the mysterious and otherworldly nature of everything. I also liked the unpredictability of the story - I really couldn’t guess even for a second where it was going until the story almost reached the end.
Haelewise is a young girl who has always been different from others but sheltered from the world due to her mother’s protectiveness. But once she loses her mother and finds herself alone and cast away, she decides to find purpose and is very determined in her path. Despite her longing for love and affection, I found that Haelewise is a very resolute character, who knows she has to do something even when she isn’t clear of the path, and will do whatever it takes to achieve the outcome. The way she handles every obstacle in her life is admirable and I really liked her character, even when I wasn’t sure what she was thinking or what she was gonna do next.
Kunegunde is the forest witch who gives her sanctuary and I thought the author did an interesting job creating such a push and pull relationship between them, where they seem to care for the other but are also always at odds. Rika was a small presence, so I felt we really didn’t get to know her well. Ursilda on the other hand as well as Beatrice felt like strong women who valued their relationships and faith more than power and I appreciated their strength of conviction. Haelewise’s mother is a significant presence even though she dies pretty early on, and it felt like she was always with her daughter, protecting and guiding her. And finally, I have to talk about Matthäus whose relationship with Haelewise felt both unbreakable and under developed. Every interaction between them is charged with love and tension, but I felt we didn’t get enough backstory to help us see why they shared such a strong bond. But his loyalty was also definitely very enviable because despite everything, he never forgot his first love.
On the whole, this was a very engaging and fun fairytale retelling which got dark at times, but was also equally powerful in telling a story about women whose historical narratives get forgotten when books are written, who are powerful and confident and do a lot for each other, but never gain the right recognition. This is a story dedicated to all such women and I’m glad I got to read it.
I don’t wanna give it away but the narrative device used to tell the witch’s story was something that took me by surprise and I have to say I really enjoyed it. And the writing itself is so captivating. It’s got complete fairytale vibes, but a bit on the darker side and it’s pretty fast paced, so I just wanted to keep going once I started. The descriptions are also very evocative and I could totally feel the mysterious and otherworldly nature of everything. I also liked the unpredictability of the story - I really couldn’t guess even for a second where it was going until the story almost reached the end.
Haelewise is a young girl who has always been different from others but sheltered from the world due to her mother’s protectiveness. But once she loses her mother and finds herself alone and cast away, she decides to find purpose and is very determined in her path. Despite her longing for love and affection, I found that Haelewise is a very resolute character, who knows she has to do something even when she isn’t clear of the path, and will do whatever it takes to achieve the outcome. The way she handles every obstacle in her life is admirable and I really liked her character, even when I wasn’t sure what she was thinking or what she was gonna do next.
Kunegunde is the forest witch who gives her sanctuary and I thought the author did an interesting job creating such a push and pull relationship between them, where they seem to care for the other but are also always at odds. Rika was a small presence, so I felt we really didn’t get to know her well. Ursilda on the other hand as well as Beatrice felt like strong women who valued their relationships and faith more than power and I appreciated their strength of conviction. Haelewise’s mother is a significant presence even though she dies pretty early on, and it felt like she was always with her daughter, protecting and guiding her. And finally, I have to talk about Matthäus whose relationship with Haelewise felt both unbreakable and under developed. Every interaction between them is charged with love and tension, but I felt we didn’t get enough backstory to help us see why they shared such a strong bond. But his loyalty was also definitely very enviable because despite everything, he never forgot his first love.
On the whole, this was a very engaging and fun fairytale retelling which got dark at times, but was also equally powerful in telling a story about women whose historical narratives get forgotten when books are written, who are powerful and confident and do a lot for each other, but never gain the right recognition. This is a story dedicated to all such women and I’m glad I got to read it.
January 19, 2023
The Book of Gothel was a chance library checkout that drew me in from the first page. After some more thoughtful reads I just wanted something with a setting that would sweep me away.
The allusions to fairy tales are numerous, and the freedom from a strict, single retelling was quite refreshing. I liked the mysterious aspects that strung the plot along. Elements of women’s creativity and resourcefulness, though a bit heavy-handed and unrealistic at times, are still my catnip. A few things needed more explaining but I hope this doesn't get a sequel, as it makes a good standalone.
Overall, a fun read--just the thing for a winter night. Enjoyable and well-paced.
Update: five stars because this has really stuck with me.
The allusions to fairy tales are numerous, and the freedom from a strict, single retelling was quite refreshing. I liked the mysterious aspects that strung the plot along. Elements of women’s creativity and resourcefulness, though a bit heavy-handed and unrealistic at times, are still my catnip. A few things needed more explaining but I hope this doesn't get a sequel, as it makes a good standalone.
Overall, a fun read--just the thing for a winter night. Enjoyable and well-paced.
Update: five stars because this has really stuck with me.
August 11, 2022
You could’ve told me this was just a random fantasy book and I would’ve believed it. Theres not much to the Rapunzel story sequel. In my opinion, the witch wasn’t witchy enough and was too good to be “evil”. I also feel like the way she was able to take the children was not the original story.
I know it’s a loose retelling but I don’t know if it was marketed correctly. I did like it though, some of it did get slow at points but I liked the feminism aspect of it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
I know it’s a loose retelling but I don’t know if it was marketed correctly. I did like it though, some of it did get slow at points but I liked the feminism aspect of it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
October 8, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne is a prequel/ fairytale retelling of Rapunzel focusing on the witch that locked Rapunzel away in the tower. I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it didn't quite work out for me. I appreciate that the author seemed to do quite a bit of historical research into that time period, but seriously it seemed like the Rapunzel hook was an afterthought. If I didn't already know that the lead character goes on to become Mother Gothel from the introduction, I wouldn't have guessed it because it's that loosely connected. I also wish Haelewise was written as a straight out villain rather than as a sympathetic figure. Honestly, I might have preferred that.
The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne is a prequel/ fairytale retelling of Rapunzel focusing on the witch that locked Rapunzel away in the tower. I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it didn't quite work out for me. I appreciate that the author seemed to do quite a bit of historical research into that time period, but seriously it seemed like the Rapunzel hook was an afterthought. If I didn't already know that the lead character goes on to become Mother Gothel from the introduction, I wouldn't have guessed it because it's that loosely connected. I also wish Haelewise was written as a straight out villain rather than as a sympathetic figure. Honestly, I might have preferred that.
June 23, 2022
Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in the tower, hidden away from all. Raised by a witch and told she can never go outside of such a place, but do you know the story of the one responsible for putting her there?
Haelewise has always lived in the shadow of her mother, Hedda - a woman who is determined to do anything and everything to ensure her daughter is protected and kept from the harm. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned and feared by most in her village, her only solace lies within the stories her mother recites of child-stealing witches, princes in wolfskins, a tower cloaked in mist where women find shelter and refuge from those who seek to take everything from them.
Hedda dies and with this a shift happens within Haelewise which sees her flee to the tower mentioned in her late mother’s fairytales where she comes face to face with the wise woman of Gothel who isn’t that pleased to have a visitor in her home.
Haelewise is not alone in her search for the tower after she chances upon an encounter with Rika, a girl who carries a secret which people would kill to uncover but as the pair bond, hidden magic, deadly enemies and a power most dark start to manifest which will test the faith of Haelewise as it becomes apparent her mother may have not been entirely truthful with her daughter, and she may be wise to stay away from the very thing she is so drawn to no matter how right it may feel….
Gothic, enchanting, and authentic in its storytelling, the author lures you in to a world you will find hard to let go of.
Haelewise has always lived in the shadow of her mother, Hedda - a woman who is determined to do anything and everything to ensure her daughter is protected and kept from the harm. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned and feared by most in her village, her only solace lies within the stories her mother recites of child-stealing witches, princes in wolfskins, a tower cloaked in mist where women find shelter and refuge from those who seek to take everything from them.
Hedda dies and with this a shift happens within Haelewise which sees her flee to the tower mentioned in her late mother’s fairytales where she comes face to face with the wise woman of Gothel who isn’t that pleased to have a visitor in her home.
Haelewise is not alone in her search for the tower after she chances upon an encounter with Rika, a girl who carries a secret which people would kill to uncover but as the pair bond, hidden magic, deadly enemies and a power most dark start to manifest which will test the faith of Haelewise as it becomes apparent her mother may have not been entirely truthful with her daughter, and she may be wise to stay away from the very thing she is so drawn to no matter how right it may feel….
Gothic, enchanting, and authentic in its storytelling, the author lures you in to a world you will find hard to let go of.
June 8, 2022
*A physical ARC was kindly sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not in any way affect my review
There is just something…fascinating about books that have to deal with witches living in the times of Christianity as the religion that dominates the region. There is also something equally fascinating about the term old magic. In general, I just love these kinds of books and if you happened to have read The Book of Gothel as an ARC and want more of the whole witches/pagan side vs Christianity rising as a religion, I highly recommend Written in the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt which follows a young girl in 5th century Alexandria (and it includes the Library of Alexandria, whole and unburnt…until the end, of course)
When I received The Book of Gothel, I did not plan on starting it right away, never mind finishing it in 2 days. I had simply opened it and wanted to read a tiny bit, just one chapter but alas, does that ever really work with us readers? I’m really glad I continued reading it because it really pulled me in.
The biggest thing that intrigued me is that it incorporates the story of Rapunzel closer to the end and instead follows the lady we know (as per the Disney movie Tangled as well as the original Grimm brother’s fairytale) as “Mother Gothel”. Except that in this one, “Mother Gothel” was not actually named Gothel. Her name was Haelewise and “Gothel” actually refers to the tower Rapunzel is famously locked in - also a haven for women in need in this book and a tower that is protected by a mist that makes it difficult for men to find the tower.
So in this story, Haelewise is the daughter of a woman named Hedda. They live in a small village and Haelewise has been known for constantly having these “fainting spells” and black eyes, causing her to also be sensitive to light. Haelewise is shunned by her whole village - first, she has her unnaturally dark eyes, and her fainting spells but also, she has this uncanny ability to soothe babies and deliver them in the right way despite not being a mother herself.
Her mother unexpectedly dies, and Haelewise feels abandoned by anyone who has made her feel like a person - her mother is gone, her father has remarried and her best friend and first love, Matthaüs has been engaged to someone else who is pregnant, and the child is not his.
Haelewise decides to set out for Gothel, armed with her knowledge of everything her mother has taught her, she becomes the apprentice to the woman who lives at Gothel. But Haelewise isn’t the only one who goes to Gothel; a young girl named Rika who has a secret the church strives to keep hidden.
As I said before, I really love the whole old magic vs Christianity aspect of this book - it’s just so fascinating to me. I love the incorporation of spells as well and stuff like runes and different herb usage for different illnesses. I also enjoyed the Grimm fairy tale vibes - tales of princes and princesses and a magical wolf-skin that helps men find the Tower of Gothel.
I especially love how the cover gives the impression of an old tale - the story is set in around 12th-century Germany, I think the cover pulls off the vibes for that.
So, if you want a retelling of the story of Rapunzel, detailing how we came to know the story and the story of Mother Gothel herself (and if you have a soft spot for retellings like me) you’ll definitely want to pick this one up!
Out July 26th, 2022!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Love,
Mila
Links: Youtube | Blog | Storygraph | Instagram
There is just something…fascinating about books that have to deal with witches living in the times of Christianity as the religion that dominates the region. There is also something equally fascinating about the term old magic. In general, I just love these kinds of books and if you happened to have read The Book of Gothel as an ARC and want more of the whole witches/pagan side vs Christianity rising as a religion, I highly recommend Written in the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt which follows a young girl in 5th century Alexandria (and it includes the Library of Alexandria, whole and unburnt…until the end, of course)
When I received The Book of Gothel, I did not plan on starting it right away, never mind finishing it in 2 days. I had simply opened it and wanted to read a tiny bit, just one chapter but alas, does that ever really work with us readers? I’m really glad I continued reading it because it really pulled me in.
The biggest thing that intrigued me is that it incorporates the story of Rapunzel closer to the end and instead follows the lady we know (as per the Disney movie Tangled as well as the original Grimm brother’s fairytale) as “Mother Gothel”. Except that in this one, “Mother Gothel” was not actually named Gothel. Her name was Haelewise and “Gothel” actually refers to the tower Rapunzel is famously locked in - also a haven for women in need in this book and a tower that is protected by a mist that makes it difficult for men to find the tower.
So in this story, Haelewise is the daughter of a woman named Hedda. They live in a small village and Haelewise has been known for constantly having these “fainting spells” and black eyes, causing her to also be sensitive to light. Haelewise is shunned by her whole village - first, she has her unnaturally dark eyes, and her fainting spells but also, she has this uncanny ability to soothe babies and deliver them in the right way despite not being a mother herself.
Her mother unexpectedly dies, and Haelewise feels abandoned by anyone who has made her feel like a person - her mother is gone, her father has remarried and her best friend and first love, Matthaüs has been engaged to someone else who is pregnant, and the child is not his.
Haelewise decides to set out for Gothel, armed with her knowledge of everything her mother has taught her, she becomes the apprentice to the woman who lives at Gothel. But Haelewise isn’t the only one who goes to Gothel; a young girl named Rika who has a secret the church strives to keep hidden.
As I said before, I really love the whole old magic vs Christianity aspect of this book - it’s just so fascinating to me. I love the incorporation of spells as well and stuff like runes and different herb usage for different illnesses. I also enjoyed the Grimm fairy tale vibes - tales of princes and princesses and a magical wolf-skin that helps men find the Tower of Gothel.
I especially love how the cover gives the impression of an old tale - the story is set in around 12th-century Germany, I think the cover pulls off the vibes for that.
So, if you want a retelling of the story of Rapunzel, detailing how we came to know the story and the story of Mother Gothel herself (and if you have a soft spot for retellings like me) you’ll definitely want to pick this one up!
Out July 26th, 2022!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Love,
Mila
Links: Youtube | Blog | Storygraph | Instagram
April 9, 2022
Brilliantly, beautifully written! This book is very hard to put down, and has many many dimensions...!
Set in the High Middle Ages, it lushly describes life in those harsh times from the viewpoint of a young woman who has extraordinary powers and goes to great depths to express them, regardless of the oppression of women and the oppression of spirituality from times long-gone. But I'm being far too mundane in describing a tale that takes you into an intimate look a young romance that faces great challenges, high and thrilling adventure, witchcraft combined with herbalism and midwifery, and through the danger resulting from crossing nobility - especially male nobility. Whether you're looking for a coming of age story, an in-depth picture of village life in Germany during the Middle Ages, or a feminist view of powerful women of that era who kept alive a mystery religion honoring the Divine Feminine, this book will enthrall you - not to mention provide you with delicious fantasy. More dimensions bring in an intriguing portrayal of Hildegard of Bingem as well as a captivating treatment of mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter and father-daughter relationships. Ms McMyne has succeeded in creating the story of an astonishing life with such depth. It would make a fabulous movie! PS: You don't want to miss the magical, surprising moment that transforms Haelwise into the witch of the Rapunzel tale.
Set in the High Middle Ages, it lushly describes life in those harsh times from the viewpoint of a young woman who has extraordinary powers and goes to great depths to express them, regardless of the oppression of women and the oppression of spirituality from times long-gone. But I'm being far too mundane in describing a tale that takes you into an intimate look a young romance that faces great challenges, high and thrilling adventure, witchcraft combined with herbalism and midwifery, and through the danger resulting from crossing nobility - especially male nobility. Whether you're looking for a coming of age story, an in-depth picture of village life in Germany during the Middle Ages, or a feminist view of powerful women of that era who kept alive a mystery religion honoring the Divine Feminine, this book will enthrall you - not to mention provide you with delicious fantasy. More dimensions bring in an intriguing portrayal of Hildegard of Bingem as well as a captivating treatment of mother-daughter, grandmother-granddaughter and father-daughter relationships. Ms McMyne has succeeded in creating the story of an astonishing life with such depth. It would make a fabulous movie! PS: You don't want to miss the magical, surprising moment that transforms Haelwise into the witch of the Rapunzel tale.
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