Strands of Bronze and Gold - Book Review

Strands of Bronze and Gold
by Jane Nickerson

What is it about:
The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

What did I think of it:
I love the story of Bluebeard, so when I won this book in a giveaway back in 2013 I was very happy with it. Still it ended up forgotten until I was rearranging my shelves recently.

This is a very decent retelling. I loved the atmosphere that Nickerson created, loathed the slick and slimy de Cressac, and even though I didn't particularly warmed to Sophia I was eager to find out when she would start to suspect that de Cressac isn't as charming as he seems to be.

The story is slow, but it fits the stifling atmosphere of the old abbey and the hot Mississippi weather. I liked the writing and the slowly developing mystery and drama. What I liked less is how the slaves are portrayed and how Sophia is a bit of a White Savior. I would have liked it more if the relationship Sophia develops with the slaves around her had been a bit more equal instead of her being the one to tell them how to save themselves. Or if Nickerson had made one of them more important to the story instead of them mostly being there to make Sophia look good and de Cressac bad.

That aside this was a very intriguing and atmospheric read. I might look into what other books Nickerson has written.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable YA fairytale retelling.



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