Review || The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

Synopsis:
The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

★★★☆☆

Your heart is what I want. I want your love. I want... I want you. Just say you'll love me forever.

I love retellings! Also I love Rapunzel (the Tangled/Disney version anyway). She's so naive and full of life.

Anyway, this book is a retelling of Rapunzel. She's not the usual girl next tower kind of girl, she can throw knife better than any man around, her skills are astounding. But the thing she desire to learn the most is almost out of reach: the ability to read. Then came a man than can teach her that. The problem is, he's a man. When yet another man asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage, she decided that they have to move to another town, to protect her from the wicked ways of man. That's when the aforementioned man, who can teach her, came into play. As Rapunzel grew more knowledgeable about the things in life, she uncover a lot of secrets her mother has kept from her.

Isn't the premise really promising? It sounds really great. Never have I ever read something like this. I love the twists this book has. I mean, I don't have any solid information about the Rapunzel book to compare this to but you get the gist. It's not everyday you encounter a book like this and I am so happy to have grabbed the opportunity when it came up to me because this book is such a gem.

The characters were so fun to read. Rapunzel, our naive yet sophisticated main character, it was pleasurable to see her grow into a stronger and more defined character. Sir Gerek was also enjoyable to read. I love to have read about them developed and grow their complex relationship. The whole "he/she makes my heart thump but I don't like him/her that way" szeuchkabab (that means non-sense, btw) was pretty damn annoying. Other than that and the slow pacing, I have no problem with the book.

Overall, I had such a fun time reading this book. This book has given a whole lot of depth and story to the fairy tale I once knew.

Did I like the ending? YES.

Is it a page turner? Not so much.

Would I re-read it again? Yes, yes, yes.