But I loved the secondary characters-Stepon, Wanda, and Miryem’s parents-and they felt like members of my own family by the end of the novel. I understand why she made them, though, and still enjoyed watching her grow as the book progressed. I never quite felt on the same page as the second female heroine, Irina, possibly due to personality differences and choices she made. It took me a while to care about Miryem and her world-possibly because Miryem had to harden herself to help her family, and I know/care little for economics-but once I did, I couldn’t stop reading to find out what would happen to her and her friends and family. Partly because of these extra, delicious layers of meaning, I could read this novel again and again and find new treasures each time. I love how Novik weaves the themes of hope, despair, power and greed into winter and sunlight and silver and gold. 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. When the Staryk king gives her an impossible challenge, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that pulls in a peasant girl and the unhappy daughter of a local lord. Her ability to turn silver into gold draws the attention of the king of the Staryk-grim fey creatures who appear more ice than flesh. Miryem’s father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty-until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Spinning Silver is a blizzard–fierce, powerful, and beautiful.

Spinning silver review