Review: Gilded Locks

Gilded Locks by Julene Johnson is the final ARC I received from the All That Glitters multi-author series of fairy tale retellings. I was eager to read a clean retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" because the ones I had read previously were not. Yet, the book veers way more toward an adaptation of Robin Hood than Goldilocks, even though it is promoted as both, and the title gives off strong "Goldilocks" vibes. It is primarily a political drama with some romance and fantasy on the side. In that way, it differs from the other books in this series and may appeal to a different audience than the rest of the series. Still, it was a unique and interesting concept for the author's first novel.

Grace Robbins is a Protector whose family's goal is to protect their community from a dangerous substance that melts everything it touches into liquid gold. The substance has little use outside of its destructive purposes, but it could be deemed valuable to those who are selfish and greedy. The town is run by a corrupt mayor who exploits the people for taxes. That's where the mysterious Robin Hood figure comes in. The Rogue, a legendary superhero, can be anyone who dons a magical green cloak that hides their identity. Although Grace was next in line to take up the mantle, someone else beat her to it, and she is certain that it is someone she knows.

The romance in this story didn't cut it for me. I figured out who the Rogue was immediately, but that doesn't change the fact that Grace didn't know for most of the book. Until the end of the story, she was growing feelings toward someone she couldn't identify. When this trope is used in superhero stories, the love interest usually has a closer relationship with the superhero's alter ego, even though the hero's mystery is intriguing. Although Grace has some ties to the Rogue's potential identities at social gatherings, they communicate with stiff Regency era greetings, while all the important character-building discussions happen while he is in disguise.

The plot of this book works for what it is, which is not quite a fairy tale adaptation. It reminds me more of a medieval James Bond story, filled with espionage and political intrigue. I'm sure there is an audience for that. I just don't know if it's with a series of fairy tale retellings. While there are some fantasy elements, including the magical cloak and gold-like substance, it gives off more of a sci-fi or superhero vibe than a fairy tale one. It had no semblance of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" that I could see, and I'm not sure how that was supposed to play into the story.

Gilded Locks by Julene Johnson is a unique blend of political drama, romance, and fantasy that draws more inspiration from Robin Hood than the implied Goldilocks. While it differs from other books in the All That Glitters series, the concept is interesting and showcases the author's creativity in her first novel. The story's blend of espionage, intrigue, and superhero elements may appeal to young adults who are looking for action-adventure stories with clean romance, but it may not fit the traditional fairy tale retelling mold of the series.