This YA retelling of Rumpelstiltskin is an imaginative one; albeit the absolutely most relentlessly pessimistic one.  Just letting you know upfront: there is not a single happy-ever-after in these pages.

Serilda was gifted with an imagination and a swift and sharp tongue.  She revels in imagining all sorts of things, events and people that are more dramatic and interesting than her real life.  And she shares that imagination with everyone.  A simple accident turns into a grand adventure when she tells her father why she's late.  An uneventful trip to a lake turns into a dark and mysterious encounter with a monster when she relates it to her young students.  The children, as children will do, completely love the stories.  The head teacher and the parents: not so much.  Her father, who spends sleepless nights wondering if maybe some of the stories are true: not so much.  And as with the young boy who cried "wolf", Serilda finds that when she needs them to believe her; they don't.

One night, she rescues two Moss Maidens from the Erlking himself; he who leads the Wild Hunt.  But in protecting them, she tells some real whoppers; claims that the Erlking challenges.  So when she is required to attend him in his palace, she is terrified to learn that her claim to spin straw into gold will be tested.  She is locked into a dungeon room full of straw and her life forfeit if it isn't all gold by morning.  Amazingly, a beautiful boy appears in the room and volunteers to take on the task; for a price.  His name is Gild.

During repeat visits to the Erlking's palace, she develops a sort of friendship with Gild although he is unable to tell her who he is exactly or how it is that he can work magic.  But each time Gild performs his magic, the amount of straw gets larger and larger and Serilda is running out of ways to pay his price.  She is also constantly terrified that the Erlking will discover it is Gild who has the magic; which will certainly mean her death and enslavement for Gild.

In her spare time, she tries to discover more about the Erlking and how he came to claim the castle he resides in; and, hopefully, find some clue to Gild's real identity and story.  But all her research just provides more mystery and unanswered questions.  The more important question that she fails to ask is: why does the Erlking need so much gold?  And the answer to that question will either save everyone or doom Serilda, everyone she knows and cares about, and, of course, Gild.

In this retelling, Gild is, of course, the Rumpelstiltskin character; however, he isn't saving Serilda for a nefarious or evil reason.  He's as much a victim as she is.  In the original story, the miller's daughter was condemned by her foolish father; in this one, there is no fault unless Serilda is to be blamed for imagination and a good heart.  The implication of the plot is that Serilda will be the heroine saving herself, Gild and everyone victimized by the Erlking.  But Meyer gives us no resolution, no saving grace, and no happiness for anyone.  Obviously, the story will continue in another book but I have no faith that the author will allow Serilda to be that hero without a lot more unhappiness and death.  A less redeeming story, I don't recall reading. The characters are shallow, the plot tries very hard to be clever; but there is too much unconscionable death to make this an entertaining story.  I can't recommend it.  ~~  Catherine Book