Gilded

Serilda is a village storyteller known for spinning tall tales to hide her status as a cursed outcast. When she lies to the tyrannical Erlking, claiming she can turn common straw into gold, he whisks her away to his haunted castle. To survive his deadly ultimatums, she strikes a bargain with a mysterious boy named Gild who possesses the magical ability she lacks. As they work in the castle dungeons, Serilda uncovers cold secrets about the king’s Great Hunt and the restless spirits trapped within the veil.

This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin targets readers of dark folklore and gothic romance. Fans of atmospheric world-building will appreciate the focus on German mythology, malevolent spirits, and the cost of magical debts. The narrative provides a detailed look at how stories shape identity and the danger of making promises to ancient, fickle monsters. Readers finish the book with a deeper understanding of the classic fairy tale's mechanics and a tension-filled introduction to a larger conflict between mortals and the supernatural.