One of my favorite things about this tantalizing read is that the subtitle is “A Melodrama.” How cool is that?

The novel follows likeable heroine Maud (an orphan, what could be better?) as she is “rescued” from the orphanage by a trio of scam-artist-old-ladies (no joke), who take her down to their house by the shore, where she is kept captive up in the attic with contact only to the deaf-mute servant (again, no joke).

Maud is the epitome of plucky, and her story strings the reader along until the fairy-tale ending she deserves. And yes, there’s a reason that it’s a melodrama. 🙂

PS The author also wrote the Newberry-award-winning Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!

After reading the buzz on Verla’s board, I had to read this book.

As the type of kid who read the author’s note first to find out the real story behind the story, I was thrilled to see a potential explanation for the Rumplestiltskin fairy tale (and yes, I read Bunce’s author’s note first, heh).

Charlotte is a strong and likeable heroine, who also infuriates the reader at times, which made her more realistic to me. I almost wondered if I was missing something when her relationship with Randall fizzled, but it fit perfectly with her character, so I bought it.

As a young mother, I was much more terrified by Charlotte’s situation than in the original fairy tale. I was completely drawn in by her emotion and by her predicament. What would the reader do in her place?

The only part that was too drawn-out for me was the side story with the uncle and his (and thus Charlotte’s) family history. It wasn’t dramatic enough for so much attention to me.

Overall, I love these modern retellings which offer us explanations – everything from Gregory Maguire’s books to the 2005 movie “The Brothers Grimm,” and Bunce’s CURSE takes its place right beside those as an excellent work of fiction.