A Curse Dark as Gold - Tapa dura

"Bunce blends multiple elements in her savory stew of genres-mystery, romance, work, and chicanery simmer in a rich broth of history infused with light touches of traditional beliefs and folk magic. The Rumpelstiltskin story progression is deftly integrated into a plot that enfolds and extends its implications regarding class and the value of skilled workmanship. In an author's note, Bunce readily admits where she has tweaked historical detail to align more favorably with folkloric belief, and her instincts prove right on target as she gives flesh to distinctively individual characters with almost archetypal resonance. Charlotte's complex loyalties to her family, the mill, and the townsfolk who depend upon it for their livelihood make her an estimable character indeed, well worth applauding in a tale that is as spooky and suspenseful as it is satisfying." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
"An innovative interpretation of Rumpelstiltskin. . . . The pastoral microcosm of Shearing is classic fairy tale, but it gains traction in the gritty social and economic details of small-town life, and the sisters, subtly differentiated, are strong characters defined by fierce loyalty, pride, and determination that goes beyond simple feistiness. Similarly, the villains are rendered with nuance. The result is a fully realized dramatic conflict characterized by the folkloric magic of memory imprinted upon place; inherited legacies; and the power of recognition, recompense, and forgiveness." -- Horn Book

As the debt mounts after the sudden death of her father, Charlotte Miller begins to consider the rumors about the curse on her family's woolen mill, but when a stranger makes a bargain with her to turn straw into gold in exchange for her mother's ring, Charlotte fears that her quick decision may end up being more trouble than it is worth.