Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Goodreads: Strands of Bronze and Gold

Series: Strands of Bronze and Gold #1

Source: Purchased

Published: 2013

Summary: After the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram goes to live with her godfather, a mysterious man who keeps to himself in his abbey in Mississippi.  Initially, Sophia delights in the fantastic world he has created—one where she lives surrounded by beauty, art, and luxury, and can break all the social taboos.  Her godfather, however, keeps her isolated and soon Sophia begins to fear both his violent temper and the veil that lies over his past.  The discovery of his four former wives, all with hair as red as her own, sets into motion a series of events that may leave her a prisoner in the abbey forever.

Review: Nickerson makes the Bluebeard fairy tale her own, setting it in antebellum Mississippi where she can not only play with the details of the original story but also reimagine them in the context of a society preoccupied with class codes and the ideal of the proper woman.  Much of the allure surrounding Sophia’s godfather lies in his encouragement for her to break the social taboos, to dress more exotically, to lower her inhibitions.  In succumbing to his manipulations, Sophia starts to lose both her sense of morality and her sense of self.  Her journey back to find her moral center makes this book stand out from other contemporary retellings that often focus on the darkness of fairy tales, but sometimes forget to let in the light.

Of course, setting forth a moral in any tale proves tricky ground.  In Bronze and Gold, Nickerson does not avoid the common trap of assigning modern sensibilities and philosophies to her protagonist.  Thus, Sophia (somewhat suddenly) shows herself an ardent abolitionist once she steps foot on her godfather’s plantation.  While authors understandably want readers to relate to their protagonists, imposing contemporary beliefs onto historical characters does a disservice to both the past and to readers.  A more provocative and believable story might have shown a sheltered girl who never thought much of slavery (Sophia has enough naivety and even foolishness to find herself lured into Bluebeard’s trap, so it is not such a stretch to imagine she never thought about the hot button issues of her day) until she witnesses it.  Watching Sophia learn to appreciate the humanity of those around her would have been great development for her.  Instead, readers are treated to a girl who randomly spouts off offers to serve on the Underground Railroad to anyone who seems like they might be abolitionists--her only motivation apparently being that doing so will make her a superior moral force in the eyes of the readers.  Perhaps wisely, none of the characters takes up her offer.  (She is, after all, essentially a prisoner in the house of a man who owns slaves.  One wonders what exactly Sophia plans to do for the Underground Railroad.)

Sophia's actions, in fact, often seem written solely because they fit the needs of the plot and not because they form an integral part of her character.  None of the other characters, barring perhaps her godfather, who exudes a mixture of sensuality and danger that should have had the girl running for the door as soon as she arrived, ever rise about mere stock types.  The standard rebellious and handsome youth makes an appearance, as does his pretty and more cautious lover.  The old and wise conductor on the Underground Railroad, the handsome and bookish minister, the leering groom—they are all included.  Arguably, the status of the book as a retold fairy tale might allow for or even call for flat characters, but it still seems odd to focus the story around the premise of the characters’ humanity and then portray them as one-dimensional.

If the characters lack something, however, the atmosphere of the book proves suitably creepy.  Readers will experience the same sense of wonder and danger as Sophia as they explore her godfather’s abbey and his past.  Nickerson has all the ingredients she needs to create an exciting and compelling story.  Perhaps the second in the trilogy will show what she is truly capable of doing. 

Note: The darkness of the plot and some of the themes addressed, such as sexuality, make this book more appropriate for older readers.

The Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman

Goodreads: The Shadow of the Bear

Series: Fairy Tale Novels #1

Published: 1997

Source: Borrowed

Summary: Years ago a priest was murdered and the Church vessels he collected were stolen.  The story passed into rumor and few remembered what had really happened that night.  When eighteen-year-old Blanche and her younger sister Rose welcome a stranger into their home, however, they unwittingly allow the past to enter, as well.  Known only as Bear, the young man has a dark history and a secret he refuses to share.  The girls learn to trust him, but his friendship may cost them their lives.  A retelling of “Snow White and Rose Red”.

Review: The Shadow of the Bear speaks to a type of reader often ignored in contemporary young adult literature—one who does not relate to the students at preppy boarding schools, does not condone a fast and loose lifestyle, does not feel represented by all the protagonists who treat chastity like a disease.  It offers heroes and heroines actively concerned with leading good and holy lives even though they remain flawed and presents a picture of teenage life that some might find unbelievable, but that reflects the realities of many young Catholics.  Lovers of books and beauty will relate to the protagonists who discuss literature, faith, and philosophy all while trying to figure out how these topics fit into their day-to-day experiences. 

Doman seamlessly incorporates the themes discussed by the characters into her plot, thus revealing how the extraordinary and the ordinary often intertwine.  She clearly agrees with the philosophy of G. K. Chesterton who argued that fairy tales reflect the true reality beyond what we can see.  The dragons her characters face, however, are not mythological, but ones many readers struggle with themselves: drugs, death, date rape, and temptation.  The recognition of the characters that they are engaged in a battle that is more than physical imparts to the story its power.

The Shadow of the Bear combines the magic of a fairy tale with real life and, in the process, reminds readers that every day is full of wonder.  It provides a refreshing alternative to the “edgy” contemporary young adult books currently on the market and reminds readers that they are not alone in valuing purity or in seeking beauty.  The sympathetic characters combined with the hint of mystery make this a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any lover of retold fairy tales.