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Book of Gothel
Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in the tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Told from her own perspective, The Book of Gothel is a lush, historical retelling filled with dark magic, crumbling towers, mysterious woods, and evil princes. This is the truth they never wanted you to know, as only a witch might tell it. Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda--a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of--a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It's also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known...
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review
vlwelser
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

I like fairytale retellings that center on the villain backstory. This is the "evil witch" from Rapunzel. As if the book people wouldn't know that. This is a really good story and I appreciate what the author did with it. It has been on my want to read for a while.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

IuliaC I enjoyed this one too 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo
57 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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IuliaC
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

Like all fantasy literature trying to restore the reputation of the wicked witches in traditional tales, this book, too, is both attractive and confusing in terms of emotions it triggers. There is a conflict between the old witchcraft ways and christianity as a metaphor for the eternal clash between feminine and masculine energy.

It's good these ladies are allowed to voice their side of the story, it leaves the reader with a wider perspective.

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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Mehso-so

Fascinating story, but slow moving. It took me so long to get through that I ended up finishing on audio to save time. I thought it was a Rapunzel retelling, but it's actually a prequel. Unfortunately, the story ended where I wish it began, so I was personally a little disappointed. Still an interesting read exploring womanhood, motherhood, and navigating the patriarchy. But seriously, be warned, VERY LITTLE RAPUNZEL lol
⭐️⭐️⭐️

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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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I always forget what a skill reading out loud is! I'm using my voice to soothe my son while I read my book (tagged) and am yawning/stumbling over words every few sentences. Clearly not ready for the Reading Olympics 😅

Ladygodiva7 No kidding! I‘m like that with singing, I can‘t sing but after singing a few hymns or Christmas song, my jaws are TIRED!! No one to read out loud to, but that would be tiring too. Skills indeed! Cute baby!!!! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @Ladygodiva7 It's amazing how little we generally exercise our vocal cords lol I have no idea how audiobook narrators do it! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @Ladygodiva7 And thank you 😊 he's 8 weeks today 14mo
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dabbe Sweet little man! ❣️ 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Sending u lots of energy Mama and him lots of snuggles ♡♡♡ 13mo
marleed I read my own books aloud at times for the same reason to my 6-mo old grandson. It gives me mad respect for good narrators. I don‘t know how Julia Whelan, Cassandra Campbell and so many others can read so many books aloud so seamlessly. 13mo
ShyBookOwl @marleed Agreed! It's not an easy job. It really is a skill and a talent 13mo
ShyBookOwl @ShelleyBooksie Thank you 😊 13mo
88 likes8 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Cozy afternoon reading

Side note: I've been reading this book for a month! It's good. My time is just limited these days 😌 I can still tear through audiobooks though!

Monica5 ❤️❤️ 14mo
Suet624 Oh gosh. How adorable. 14mo
Tineke Cute baby. My girl is a week older than your baby. Just this week I managed to start my first book since her birth. I might have to buy an ereader... 14mo
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Such a precious little one! 🥰 14mo
Reggie Omg so precious! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @Tineke congrats! And yes, I recommend it. Isn't it wild how many things u need to learn to do one-handed with a baby?? 14mo
ShyBookOwl @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Reggie @Suet624 Isn't he?! Thank you 😊 ❤️ 14mo
ShelleyBooksie Oh, I miss those days ♡♡♡ What a beautiful little guy ♡♡♡♡¿ 14mo
ShyBookOwl @ShelleyBooksie I hear they go quickly. But I can't help but be excited for the sleeping through the night stage 😅 14mo
ShelleyBooksie Hehe - sleep is good! I remember the zombie months. There is just something magical when they are that young. ♡♡♡ Although it didn't always feel magical when I was living it! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @ShelleyBooksie Is it?! I don't remember 😅😅 14mo
79 likes11 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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A good day for staying inside with a book. Snow always makes me want to read gothic fairy tales. Hoping to get through a chunk of the tagged one this afternoon. Currently about halfway through.

Read-y_Picker Ooh I‘ve got that one in my backlog. How are you finding it so far? And what happened to the Haunted house? At least you seem to be getting some serious reading done! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @Read-y_Picker Doing the haunted house on audio. I always have one audiobook and one ebook going simultaneously ... I fly through audiobooks but making time to sit and read is so much harder! I've been reading this one since Jan 3rd 😳 it's really good though! It's a very different approach to Rapunzel with women trying to gain control over their bodies and lives. Plus secret magic! 14mo
Read-y_Picker Lol same! And one print if I can manage it… sound like I may have to move that one up on the TBR! 14mo
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ShyBookOwl @Read-y_Picker Have you read The Bear and the Nightingale? It has simular vibes to that. Oh, and Spinning Silver too! 14mo
Read-y_Picker Yes and no but I‘m so bad I hardly remember The Bear and the Nightingale, as it was a few years ago and somehow I always end up reading similarly themed stories at the same time… a couple summers ago I was simultaneously reading 3 or 4 books about time travel/reincarnation/longevity. Have to be more careful about it. But seriously you had me at secret magic lol. 14mo
ShyBookOwl @Read-y_Picker Haha! I try not to read similar books at the same time but either way I always forget the endings of books after a few weeks. They just fall out of my head 🤷🏽‍♀️ 14mo
Read-y_Picker @ShyBookOwl glad to know I‘m not alone 😄 14mo
TheSpineView That's a lot of snow! 14mo
ShyBookOwl @TheSpineView And it's still going! ❄️ 14mo
67 likes10 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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That explains a lot 😅

Suet624 Sure does. 1y
KathyWheeler It explains a whole lot! The show, Angel, had some politicians who were demons. 1y
Texreader Good gosh yes! 1y
ShyBookOwl @KathyWheeler Ah not surprised! BIG Buffy fan but never got into Angel enough to watch it all. But I remember that in s1 the law firm was all demons which I found clever 1y
KathyWheeler @ShyBookOwl The politician demons were near the final season. I loved both Buffy and Angel. Angel really did Cordelia and Charisma Carpenter wrong though. 1y
73 likes5 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Phew! I thought we were headed straight for the old princess swap trope 😅

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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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The cellar was, at least, a cool respite from the murderous heat wave afflicting the Black Forest, though it smelled like a crypt and I nearly broke my trick knee on my way down the crumbling steps.

#FirstLineFridays

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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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I've been very excited for this one so I finally dove in yesterday. Only 30 pages in (reading with a newborn... not the easiest lol) but I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm a sucker for retellings 😍

KateReadsYA I love retellings too and congratulations on your baby 💗🤗 1y
emz711 Good for you but get some sleep! 1y
Tineke Reading with a newborn🥱 I haven't been able to open a book yet. When was your baby born? My daughter is 3 weeks and 2 days old now, born on the 14th of December. 1y
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ShyBookOwl @Tineke oh no way! My little guy was born Dec 17th. He was 6 weeks early though so we spent 12 days in the NICU. We've been home since the 29th, still settling in! How are you doing? Is she your first? 1y
ShyBookOwl @emz711 😅 good advice 1y
ShyBookOwl @KateReadsYA thank you! 1y
llwheeler Congrats! 1y
emz711 @ShyBookOwl I looked up if I read anything in the first month. I think I got through one book 1y
ShyBookOwl @KateReadsYA thank you!! 1y
ShyBookOwl @emz711 That sounds about what I'm on track for lol 1y
69 likes1 stack add11 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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😅 🎶 have a holly jolly Xmas, it's the best time of the year 🎶

Soubhiville 🤣🤣 1y
okthislooksbad 👀👀😂😂😂 1y
52 likes2 comments
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ShyBookOwl
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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For a fee??? 🤔😔🙄

ChaoticMissAdventures Tax the church? 1y
45 likes1 comment
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BookishMeandering
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

My last finish of the year 2022 was a great read. If you love fairy tale retellings with a somewhat historical and feminist perspective - you will love this! Full reviews on Goodreads and Instagram.

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CaitlinR
Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

A creative retelling of the Rapunzel story. I enjoyed the myth building, the magic, and the celebration of so many strong women; there‘s no trapped Princess waiting for rescue here! Set in the 12th century, when Christian beliefs and older powers coexist. Heroine Haelewise hears the voice of The Mother, but knows the ways of The Father. SHE battles the evil Prince, rescues Rapunzel, and accepts the mantle of the old powers. Couldn‘t put it down.

CaitlinR Photo of the author from Hanchette. 2y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Addison_Reads
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

#NetGalley

I loved this Rapunzel retelling. It's more the background story of Rapunzel's family. It's full of magic, folklore, religious and social commentary, and lots of action.

Mother Gothel is the "witch" who lives in the Tower, but this story puts a very modern feeling spin on the traditional tale.

If you like fairytales I highly recommend this one.

40 likes1 stack add
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peanutnine
Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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This weekend's #bookhaul - I was only gonna get two books but then they got me with their new book display at the register and Book of Gothel was added in an impulse 😅
Also the socks were too cute to pass up 🐱

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ElleMNOpe
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

This fabulous fractured retelling of Rapunzel is a beautiful debut! Set in historical Germany & including great social & religious context. McMyne's writing flows without a hitch & weaves a tale that is so wholly itself that it leans only gently on the original story. There something to the feeling of the novel that gave me light Philippa Gregory vibes & I loved that. If you're a lover of fairy tales, this one is not to be missed.

14 likes3 stack adds
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Lostinagoodbook
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

A book that will stab you right through the heart.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookreviews #amreading #rapunzel #fairytale #NetGalley
@orbitbooks
Full review at: https://lostnagoodbook.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/the-book-of-gothel-mary-mcmyne/

11 likes1 stack add
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Nessavamusic
The Book of Gothel | Mary McMyne
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Pickpick

I won this from a Goodreads giveaway. This is a fresh new take on the Rapunzel story from Mother Gothel‘s POV. It tells the story of her childhood and magic with some hints at many other fairy tales. I did like this overall, though the pacing was uneven, it dragged in the middle then had a rushed ending. I believe this is the authors first book, and I look forward to more work by her. 3.5⭐️
#20in4 book 3!

Andrew65 3 books is great 👏👏👏 2y
50 likes2 stack adds1 comment