Mary McMyne
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The Book of GothelEveryone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?
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 medieval 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 unlocks a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known… In the vein of Wicked, Spinning Silver, and Hild, The Book of Gothel is a dark, lush, and beautiful reimagining of Rapunzel told from the witch’s perspective, a story of motherhood, magic, and the stories we pass down to our children. “An inventive retelling of a classic tale that pulls you deep into the wild woods of medieval Germany. The Book of Gothel is a spell-binding debut.”— Signe Pike, author of The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom
“The Book of Gothel is wonderfully rich with historical detail, and sparkles with the intermingled magic of gods and goddesses, seers and wisewomen. Haelewise is a memorable heroine, worthy of legend. Readers will see the story of Rapunzel in a new and refreshing light.” –Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches “Fable and history rhyme in McMyne’s captivating vision of a medieval past steeped in women’s magic and bound by women’s love.” –Jordanna Max Brodsky, author of the Olympus Bound trilogy “Mary McMyne does more than retell a beloved fairy tale. She elevates the voice of the sacred Feminine hidden within. Certain stories endure because of their beauty, wonder, and wisdom. The Book of Gothel is such a novel—one that will hold readers in delighted thrall right to the startling end.” –Ronlyn Domingue, author of The Mercy of Thin Air and the Keeper of Tales Trilogy Available for order:
Mary McMyne has widely published stories and poems in venues like Gulf Coast, Strange Horizons, Redivider, Apex Magazine, and the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. Her debut fairytale poetry chapbook, Wolf Skin (2014), won the Elgin Chapbook Award. A graduate of the New York University MFA Program, she lives with her family in Florida.
Tags: Adult, Fantasy, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Retelling, Speculative Fiction/SFF, Women's Fiction
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