Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father's inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty--until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk--grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh--Miryem's fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar. But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Wow! So good. ( )

I listened to this mostly on audiobook and partially in print, and have pretty mixed feelings. On one hand, I really enjoyed the beginning and ending of the novel. I thought the plot felt fresh, and ended up liking each of the three main women. They’re very strong and likable in their own way. I also appreciate the twisting of the Rumplestiltskin story, even if it’s never one I enjoyed before.
On the other hand, the middle of this book is also over the place. The plot feels inconsistent and I never knew what to expect, and not in the good way that made me want to read more. A couple more POVs from more minor characters are added and I found them more annoying than anything else, especially Magreta’s. The pacing is also inconsistent and drags out some scenes far too long while flying by others. Finally, the audiobook narrator honestly sucks. There are ultimately four different women characters who get a POV and the narrator makes them sound all alike, save for a stilted Russian (?) accent that makes Wanda easier to pick out. POVs also switch with no signal, so even in print it’s confusing.
I might recommend this to someone who enjoys retold fairytale fantasy with a slow pace. “Spinning Silver” isn’t my cup of tea, but I can see why others would enjoy this book. ( )

I absolutely loved this book. It felt like a great mix of fairy tales and fantasy. I will definitely read more from this author. ( )

Just wasn't catching me. :/