Review: Golden Tangle

A few weeks ago, I received a surprise ARC of Golden Tangle by Suzanna Fowers. This book is a sequel to Siren's Treasure from the All That Glitters series, but it also works as a standalone. If I recall correctly, Siren's Treasure was quite a bit darker than the other books in the multi-author series, and this book follows suit with action and betrayal on every page. I personally prefer a bit more levity in my books, but if you are looking for a no-spice romantasy that's on the darker side of the spectrum, it just might be perfect for you.

Rapunzel was separated from her family at a young age and transformed into a sucti, a vampire-like creature that absorbs magic from anyone around her. To keep other magic users safe from her parasitic hair, she is kept in a tower, where Circe, the witch who cursed her, claims to be he protector. Circe is absent for most of the book, leaving Rapunzel to stay in the tower of her own free will due to her lack of desire to harm others. One day, a handsome rogue named Valen discovers her powers and agrees to reunite her with her family in exchange for revenge on Circe for using him as a weapon.

Valen falls for Rapunzel quickly, but there is little time for romance in this world of demons and danger. After a tearful reunion with her family, Rapunzel and Valen must determine which of her brothers she can trust and which wishes to use the deadly powers of her hair for personal gain. The magic system in this world is detailed and complex, giving every page a sense of both wonder and terror as people shift into dragons or flow through the air as seafoam on a whim. Rapunzel's powers, which are similar to those of Rogue from X-Men, disrupt their magic, forcing her to claim it as her own.

This was an extremely imaginative story, but I found it difficult to root for the characters because they pretty much all had a secret agenda. Rapunzel was the most virtuous of the lot, but she was cursed to harm anyone who went near her, placing her in a situation where she would be better off staying away from those she cared about. Without spoiling anything, even the epilogue was pretty heavy, providing little sense of relief from the book's dangerous world, and likely setting up the next sequel.

Golden Tangle is a dark and intense fairy tale retelling with a richly imagined world and complex magic system. This book will appeal to fairy tale readers who don't like spice but prefer a darker world with more violence and danger than most of the no-spice fairy tale community writes. It is a unique take on "Rapunzel" that expands upon her moon drop powers from the animated series instead of focusing on the gold healing flower. People who wanted to see more of the "wither and decay" incantation would love this book.