Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Mary McMyne's spellbinding debut, rich with historical detail and forbidden magic, reveals the truth behind the fairy tales—the truth only a witch could tell.
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician."—Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked
Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, young Haelewise has never quite fit in. Shunned by her village, her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, and of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
When her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother spoke of—a place called Gothel, where she meets a wise woman willing to take Haelewise under her wing. There, she discovers that magic is found not only in the realm of fairy tales.
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.
Praise for The Book of Gothel:
"A sprawling epic, full of magic, love, and heartbreak." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A luscious origin story." —Booklist (starred review)
"A sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairy tales and back again." —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author
"Sparkles with the intermingled magic of gods and goddesses, seers and wise women." —Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
Genre: Fantasy
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician."—Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked
Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, young Haelewise has never quite fit in. Shunned by her village, her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, and of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it.
When her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother spoke of—a place called Gothel, where she meets a wise woman willing to take Haelewise under her wing. There, she discovers that magic is found not only in the realm of fairy tales.
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.
Praise for The Book of Gothel:
"A sprawling epic, full of magic, love, and heartbreak." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A luscious origin story." —Booklist (starred review)
"A sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairy tales and back again." —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author
"Sparkles with the intermingled magic of gods and goddesses, seers and wise women." —Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
Genre: Fantasy
Praise for this book
"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
"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
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician." - Gregory Maguire
"The Book of Gothel delivers an intelligent spin on a well-loved fairy tale, the rich historical detail deftly woven with folktale magic and thoughtful characterisation." - Rowenna Miller
"The Book of Gothelis 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
"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
"Both gently and fiercely told, The Book of Gothel is a sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairytale and back again." - Hannah Whitten
"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
"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician." - Gregory Maguire
"The Book of Gothel delivers an intelligent spin on a well-loved fairy tale, the rich historical detail deftly woven with folktale magic and thoughtful characterisation." - Rowenna Miller
"The Book of Gothelis 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
"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
"Both gently and fiercely told, The Book of Gothel is a sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairytale and back again." - Hannah Whitten
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