57 pages • 1 hour read
Spinning Silver
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Book Brief
480
Novel • Fiction
Fantasy World • Medieval Era
2018
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
Published in 2018 by Nebula Award-winning author Naomi Novik, Spinning Silver is a modern take on coming-of-age fairy tales. Set in a Slavic fantasy world, Miryem Mandelstam becomes a successful moneylender to support her ill mother, attracting the attention of the Staryk king. Concurrently, characters like Wanda and Irina face their own challenges, revealing human experiences such as frustration, longing, and growth. The book contains depictions of abusive family dynamics.
Mysterious
Fantastical
Challenging
Dark
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
148,213 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik blends fairy-tale elements with rich world-building and nuanced characters. Reviews praise its beautiful prose, strong female leads, and inventive plot. Some critique the slow pacing and multiple viewpoints, which can be confusing. Overall, it’s esteemed for its depth and imaginative storytelling.
Who Should Read Spinning Silver?
A reader who enjoys Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik is likely to appreciate intricately woven fantasy tales, strong female protagonists, and folklore-inspired narratives. Comparable to fans of Uprooted by Novik herself and Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale, these readers relish atmospheric world-building and rich character development.
148,213 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
480
Novel • Fiction
Fantasy World • Medieval Era
2018
Adult
16+ years
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