Gilded by Marissa Meyer | Book Review

First of all, I want to say that I am so excited to write this review. This book has been the sole focus of my attention during the past couple of days, which is quite concerning considering I should be more focused on the fact that I’ll be going back university soon. However, despite all that this book has been the only thing on my mind since finishing it. Whenever I write book reviews I try to write them as soon as I finish a book so that details of the book are still fresh on my mind, as well as what my final thoughts are.

However, this time it was different.

I literally could not formulate any cohesive thoughts after finishing this book– all I could think about was how this is a 5-star read, and it is definitely going on my top reads of 2021 list.

As a law student, it’s practically drilled in our heads that it’s important to give evidence to back up your claim. As a reader and book reviewer, I simply cannot tell you that this is a great read without giving you the reasons as to why it is so great; hence, why this review is published a littler later than usual.

I also want to mention the fact that this e-arc was kindly provided to me by NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd in exchange for a review. As always, my review will contain only my honest opinions and thoughts.

Warning: Spoilers.

If you don’t wish to be spoiled, feel free to come back once you’ve read the book so we can discuss our thoughts together!

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Edition: Hardcover, 512 pages

Expected publication: November 2nd 2021 by Feiwel & Friends

ISBN: 1250618843 (ISBN13: 9781250618849)Edition

Series: Untitled #1

Goodreads blurb:

Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller’s daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda’s outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn’t meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

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‘Gilded’ by Marissa Meyer follows Serilda, a mortal and daughter of a poor miller, who was not only a brilliant and imaginative storyteller, but was also believed to have been marked by the god of lies. Unfortunately her storytelling had put her right in the path of the dark Erlking. He was so seemingly captivated by her tale of being able to do the unthinkable that he orders her away to spin straw into gold. Just as Serilda was on the verge of giving up, a boy appears and offers to help her– in exchange for something– of course. The longer Serilda stays in the Erlking’s presence, the more mysteries seem to leave questions unanswered, including whispers of an ancient curse that lies within the castle walls.

Last Spoiler Warning.

This was such a phenomenal book from start to finish. I genuinely enjoyed this book from the very first page to the last. First, let’s talk about this world that Marissa Meyer has built within these pages. There is something about the way the author describes the setting, along with the sounds and smells that just create such a vivid imagery in my head as I am reading. I just think there’s something so magical about fantasy stories that are set during the winter, and Marissa Meyer’s world building in this book proves my point exactly. One element in most fantasy books that I have quite a hard time keeping up with are the abundance of mythical creatures, so much so that I have trouble remembering what certain creatures look like or what they do. However in this world there are still odd beings– like Phantoms, Moss Maidens and the Dark Ones, that exist but they are memorable.

Now onto the romance part. I really do enjoy the romance in this book, despite it being a possible love-triangle (?) which is one of my least favourite tropes and one that I actively try to avoid. That being said, I did not really mind the love-triangle here. There seems to be an obvious contrast between the attraction Serilda feels for Gild vs her feelings towards the Erkling, so that’s why I’m hesitant to call this a love-triangle. Even though the ending of the book points to the direction of Serilda and Erkling getting together– with him announcing that she is now the new Queen and he will father her unborn child– we know that Gild’s story still remains unfinished, so I’m going to hold onto to the hope for Serilda and Guild happy ending.

Let it be known that I love angsty, dark, mysterious men in books (in real life, I cannot be bothered to deal with broodiness), so the mystery around the Erkling does appeal to me. If Gild did not exsist I would’ve rooted for the Erkling wholeheartedly. However, Gild stole my heart. Gild and Serilda have such a genuine connection and fondness for each other that literally had my cheeks hurting from smiling for too long.

Have I mentioned the fact that this story is set during the winter, so it is very fitting to read this just when the mornings are chillier than normal, and a cup of tea is more than necessary. If ‘Gilded’ by Marissa Meyer is not yet on your tbr, I suggest you add it ASAP.

This is definitely a book you do not want to miss out on!

5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of ‘Gilded’ by Marissa Meyer in exchange for an honest review.

‘Gilded’ by Marissa Meyer is due to be released on November 2nd 2021.

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Have you read ‘Gilded’ by Marissa Meyer? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments below! If not, is it on your tbr or will you be adding it to your tbr?

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