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    Strands of Bronze and Gold: The Bluebeard Fairy Tale Retold
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    Strands of Bronze and Gold: The Bluebeard Fairy Tale Retold
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    Strands of Bronze and Gold: The Bluebeard Fairy Tale Retold
    Audiobook12 hours

    Strands of Bronze and Gold: The Bluebeard Fairy Tale Retold

    Written by Jane Nickerson

    Narrated by Caitlin Prennace

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .

    When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram's beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation-on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting-from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

    Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it's as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives-all with hair as red as her own-in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she's trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac's intoxicating world.

    Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut-a thrilling retelling of the "Bluebeard" fairy tale.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 12, 2013
    ISBN9780385361248
    Unavailable
    Strands of Bronze and Gold: The Bluebeard Fairy Tale Retold

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    Reviews for Strands of Bronze and Gold

    3.5/5

    106 ratings22 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      After her father's death, Sophia is invited to the home of her wealthy godfather. She enjoys the luxury, even if her godfather does seem to be too familiar, and the slavery on the plantation makes her uncomfortable. Then she begins to discover hints about her godfather's wives, each of whom died, and all of whom had hair the same color as hers.
    • 5/5
      It's Bluebeard. You know it's bluebeard going in, and you keep thinking that there will be some magic, or that the story will end sooner than it does or that it will be predictable -- but no -- Nickerson does an absolutely splendid, creepy job of stringing us along until the very end. And I love that her books feel magical, feel fairy tale, but really don't overtly have magical happenings -- they have atmospheric magic -- they have elements that people have believed in for centuries, but they don't suddenly bust out in sparkles or flying. Masterful retellings, and exquisitely rendered characters.
    • 3/5
      BookNook — Young Adult book reviewsStrands of Bronze and Gold was written well and certainly had interesting elements, but unfortunately the majority of the book was boring. The problem is that once Sophia arrives at the Abbey, Bernard doesn't let her go anywhere or do anything. As such, 95% of the book takes place in the Abbey. Sophia wanders around, has dinner with Bernard, and explores a little. And 352 pages of that just gets uninteresting really quickly. There are long, drawn out periods where I literally felt like there was no action and no plot development. Sophia slowly learns that Bernard has a temper, but that's the only real sense of development.To some people, Strands of Bronze and Gold might be a creepy read, but I actually wasn't that creeped out by it. Maybe because I'm not a teenager and I have read much creepier adult books? I also feel like the fact that it's advertised as a Bluebeard retelling worked against the book. I wonder if Strands of Bronze and Gold would have been more interesting if I didn't go into it expecting Bernard to be a creepy wife-killer. If I didn't know that from the start, maybe the ending would have been somewhat of a surprise instead of something I anticipated from the very beginning.My other main problem with the book was the insta-love between Sophia and Gideon. Sophia meets another man in the woods (Gideon) and after like two meetings they are already "in love". That was hard for me because Sophia began to cling onto her 'love' for Gideon like a beacon in the darkness of the Abbey, but I couldn't relate to it or appreciate it at all.On the bright side, I did think that Bernard was an interesting character. He was easily the most dynamic character in Strands of Bronze and Gold. Since he had a temper, you never quite know which side of him you were going to get. He could be sweet, charming, flirtatious, but also creepy, forward, demanding, controlling, and temperamental. But unfortunately, the dynamic characters stop here. The others were either uninteresting or popped in and out so much that I constantly forgot about them until they temporarily reappeared.But the biggest downside of Strands of Bronze and Gold is just the lack of action. If it wasn't so darn boring, I feel like this could have been a great book. It certainly has beautiful writing and I did like the historical elements of it. There are some connections to slavery and the Underground Railroad that I quite enjoyed reading about. But the fact that not much actually happened in the story is what makes me feel indifferent towards the whole thing. I just had no connection to it. It took me over a week to read it just because it couldn't hold my attention.
    • 3/5
      Strands of Bronze and Gold was an okay read but with an excellent audio narration by Caitlin Prennace. I probably would have abandoned this story very early on because of the annoying main character had it not been for Prennace's wonderful storytelling. I also enjoyed the writing and flow of the story itself. I only knew the bare minimum about the Bluebeard legend before beginning this and I don't think I've really learned anything more of significance about that tale by reading this. Books like this make me face uncomfortable truths about myself, such as, maybe I'm just not a very nice person. The reason I come to this conclusion is that, when faced with a foolishly naive character, I usually root for the "villain" to kill her off. I find myself losing patience with characters who are so painfully oblivious that I think it is only fair that the much more interesting and complex villain get the pleasure of torturing and murdering her for my entertainment. And I'm often disappointed when it doesn't happen that way. Such was the case with Strands of Bronze and Gold.

      I give the book 3 stars and the audio narrator 5 stars.
    • 3/5
      *many thanks to Random House & NetGalley for allowing early access to this title*

      I've been wondering what I could possibly say that would add to the discussion about this book. To be honest, it's one I probably wouldn't have chosen for review if I hadn't received a galley. It almost feels like everything has been said. I'll give it a shot, but this may be short!

      Before we proceed, you should know that this is a retelling of the Bluebeard fairy tale. It says so in the synopsis, so it's not at all spoilery to state that. You may also know that Bluebeard famously murdered his wives and kept their bodies hanging in a special room. If you want to know more about the tale, go to THIS site. It's a less gruesome version of the story.

      It's immediately apparent who is playing the Bluebeard role in this retelling. Monsieur de Cressac is clearly the villain, though we're made to believe he's this fabulously wonderful rich man who will make all of Sophia's problems disappear. He starts displaying his possessive tendencies almost immediately, and I hated him from the beginning. I think I'd have hated him even if he hadn't been the obvious Bluebeard.

      Then there's Sophia/Sophie/What's-her-face. She was so incredibly naive. She didn't see anything inherently wrong with going to live with an unmarried man without adequate chaperons. Keep in mind that this was a time period when that would bring the worst sort of scandals down on a girl. She seemed wishy-washy to me, never sure of her own mind or what she wanted. Obviously, she's going to do what she can to survive, but she seemed to give in all too quickly. Even at the end, she was still trying to make excuses for de Cressac. Girl, please! The man tries to kill you and you're giving him the benefit of the doubt?!

      Ai yi yi.

      The setting was cool. The Deep South during that time period intrigues me. I wish we could have seen more of the area outside Wyndriven Abbey, but I get why we were confined. That part made sense to me. I think the whole abbey part (I don't want to get into detail about the building itself, because it's a really cool detail that I don't want to spoil) added to the mystery and horror of the story.

      All in all, a book that was pretty okay, but one that I expected more from. 3 Eiffel Towers



      Content Advisory
      Language: Mild
      Sexuality: Mild
      Violence: Heavy
    • 3/5
      Strands of Bronze and Gold was an okay read but with an excellent audio narration by Caitlin Prennace. I probably would have abandoned this story very early on because of the annoying main character had it not been for Prennace's wonderful storytelling. I also enjoyed the writing and flow of the story itself. I only knew the bare minimum about the Bluebeard legend before beginning this and I don't think I've really learned anything more of significance about that tale by reading this. Books like this make me face uncomfortable truths about myself, such as, maybe I'm just not a very nice person. The reason I come to this conclusion is that, when faced with a foolishly naive character, I usually root for the "villain" to kill her off. I find myself losing patience with characters who are so painfully oblivious that I think it is only fair that the much more interesting and complex villain get the pleasure of torturing and murdering her for my entertainment. And I'm often disappointed when it doesn't happen that way. Such was the case with Strands of Bronze and Gold.

      I give the book 3 stars and the audio narrator 5 stars.
    • 3/5
      After her father's death, Sophia is invited to the home of her wealthy godfather. She enjoys the luxury, even if her godfather does seem to be too familiar, and the slavery on the plantation makes her uncomfortable. Then she begins to discover hints about her godfather's wives, each of whom died, and all of whom had hair the same color as hers.
    • 5/5
      When her father dies, 17-year-old Sophia Petherham goes to live with her mysterious godfather Bernard de Cressac at his enormous house in Mississippi. At Wyndriven Abbey, Sophia is given everything she could want -- a sharp contrast to the life of genteel poverty her family has become accustomed to. She also enjoys the doting attentions of M. de Cressac, a man not so old that his attentions are not flattering. Sophia wonders if she could be falling in love with her guardian. Occasional glimpses of his unstable and alarming temper soon make her question her brief infatuation, but despite her cooling affections, his possessive ardor soon becomes overbearing. Moreover, Wyndriven Abbey holds many secrets, most of them related to de Cressac's past. Sophia learns that she is not the first lovely redhead to live at the abbey, though all who came before her suffered tragic, mysterious fates. If Sophia cannot escape, she may be destined to follow in their footsteps.This engrossing read is fascinating and creepy, and the setting is perfect for a Bluebeard retelling. The characterization is perfect, as the reader discovers de Cressac's true nature along with Sophia. The pacing is steady -- as befits a Southern Gothic, it never rushes, but neither does it drag. If you enjoy a story with great characters and atmosphere, with some suspense and creepy elements, I certainly recommend this book!
    • 3/5
      Actual rating: 2.5 stars

      Strands of Bronze and Gold begins quite slowly, taking almost the entire first half of the book to create the creepy and dangerous atmosphere that surrounds the story of Bluebeard. While part of it can be attributed to the fact that Bernard doesn’t allow Sophia to venture out of the Abbey, nothing of import seems to happen until the quarter of the book. Before that point, we get to read descriptions of Sophia’s clothing, the exquisite foods that her godfather eats, and the Abbey itself over and over. This repetition and lack of action caused me to start skimming through the pages of description, pausing only to read the salient points. It wasn’t until the last ~50 pages that the action began to pick up, capturing my complete attention. The ending is tense, creepy and full of suspense, though a bit too short for my liking – if the rest of the book had the same pacing, it would have made for a more enjoyable read overall.

      Bernard is easily the most intriguing aspect of this book, as he is such a dynamic character. There are hints about his true nature from the beginning of the book, though at first they’re overshadowed by the more positive aspects of his character: his good looks, his generosity, and his charming personality. There is a slow buildup to the revelation of his true character, which is kind of disturbing to behold, though readers with prior knowledge of the fairy tale will not be surprised by it.

      I have mixed feelings about the protagonist, Sophia. Her naive, unassuming nature was to be expected, as she said herself that she had been fairly sheltered from the world since her father’s death. Her willingness to sacrifice her happiness to ensure that her family is provided for is admirable, though the inquisitive nature that I expected her to possess – after all, the Bluebeard story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of curiosity – is somewhat lacking.

      While I like the Southern Gothic setting, there is a subplot involving the slavery and Underground Railroad that I was not particularly fond of. It’s never fully explored and seems merely to be a plot device to highlight how kind Sophia is for wanting to help the slaves.

      Overall, despite all of its potential, Strands of Bronze and Gold was merely an “okay” read. If I hadn’t been familiar with the original fairy tale – which provided me with expectations of a creepy, dark, and horror-filled story – I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more.
    • 4/5
      Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.comThis story ... oh man ... it's sweeping. It's isolated. It's dramatic. It's simple. It's ... well. Yeah. (I should probably also confess I read the bulk of this under influence of low-grade fever, waiting for the first dose of antibiotics to kick in and start kicking germ butt. Therefore, if anything totally oddball pops into the review, you know where it came from, ha). Following the death of her father, Sophia Petheram's world is flipped upside down when her godfather - the mysterious, and exceedingly wealthy, Frenchman Bernard de Cressac, who is also now her guardian - invites her to come live at Wyndriven Abbey in a remote area of Mississippi. Adjusting to the sultry, heavy heat of Mississippi after a lifetime in Boston is Sophie's greatest challenge. At first. Monsieur Bernard is all doting kindness, showering her with gifts and delighting her with tales of his exotic travels. There's a wild, ancient beauty to the Abbey and surrounding countryside, and Sophia is happy. Then ... loneliness and isolation start creeping in. Dark mysteries of the Abby's previous inhabitants start infiltrating the carefully guarded mystique. And Sophie begins to see that Monsieur Bernard has as much darkness (if not more) in his soul as he does fanciful light. After months of rising tension and struggles, everything comes to a shocking conclusion -- rocking Sophie's world to its core once again. The careful "world-building" in Strands of Bronze and Gold was mesmerizing. I use the term loosely, since it's not a fantasy world - the setting is our own past, the antebellum Deep South. But it's got a foreign touch, thanks to the eccentric habits of Bernard. And it's an entirely new and foreign life for Sophie, adjusting to slaves and servants and great wealth - and all the expectations and encumbrances that wealth entails. There's a fairly extensive cast of supporting characters, who help guide Sophie through the story, but the spotlight is clearly on Sophie and Bernard. Their interactions, and Sophie's gradual transformation from isolated, naive girl to a wiser, perhaps even fiercer, young lady who takes her destiny into her own hands, create an intense narrative and engrossing story.
    • 5/5
      This book is utterly bewitching. The author weaves a tapestry of magic and madness that is irresistible. Reading this book, I came to really admire her subtlety. Very little actually happens during the first third of the book, yet I was never bored and I kept getting this shivery sense of anticipation that something awful was drawing near.The story starts with Sophie. She's a trusting girl, full of excitement about going to live with her mysterious godfather. When she first arrives, it is like she has entered a magical world full of delightful things. She's just a little spoiled, but in such an innocent, young way that you can't hold it against her. Sophie is also a girl of firm opinions, and even her godfather's best efforts can't get her to fully compromise her beliefs.Into this sparkling house of wonder and beauty creep dark little shadows, slowly stripping away the glamour and leaving only unvarnished truth behind. And the truth is scary as heck. I mean, really. The story goes straight into the realm of horror, gluing your eyes to the page and removing any chance of sleeping when you're done. This book was amazing, but not for the faint of heart.I would recommend this book for lovers of Gothic romance, horror and dark fairytales. If you're looking for an easy happily-ever-after, this is not the book for you.I received an ARC of this book from Random Buzzers as part of their Ambuzzador program in exchange for a fair and honest review.
    • 4/5
      There are some great YA novels out this winter/spring based on old novels or fairy tales. First was The Madmam's Daughter inspired by HG Wells' The Island of Dr Moreau and now there's Strands of Bronze and Gold, a retelling of the Bluebeard fairy tale.It's always fun to read novels that are based on or inspired by or retellings of stories we already know but I loved that I wasn't already familiar with either of these tales. I loved not knowing what was going to come with each turn of the page.Jane Nickerson has chosen a fantastic setting for Strands of Bronze and Gold. In 1855 after the death of her father, Sophia Pertheram leaves behind Boston and her siblings for a new life in Mississippi. Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather, has invited her to live with him at Wyndriven Abbey. Sophie goes expecting a life of luxury with de Cressac and his fine French wife.What greets her is much different.Though she is living a life much more luxurious than she could have hoped, the rest of life with her guardian is quite different than she expected. Isolated from the outside world, Sophia starts to long for someone other than de Cressac, even as his attention turn towards her. Attentions she's not sure she wants . . . and not sure she doesn't.Then there's the matter of his past wives having red hair, red hair just like her.Both the time in which Strands of Bronze and Gold as well as the geographical location add some quite interesting bits to the story. Sophia is a girl -- a young, unmarried young woman -- which limits the options available to her with those she deals with every day as well as with the world at large. There are times in the novel when, as a reader, you want Sophia to do something more, to take some other action but given the time -- and the location -- it's not feasible.Slavery is also a part of the story. Not only does it, logically, bring characters into the story but it also allows readers to see traits of some characters we might not otherwise see. How different characters feel about slavery -- and the people themselves -- as well as the conflicts it creates among different characters is a great addition to the story and very fitting. With Sophia being from Boston and the story set in Mississippi, it works very well.The tension in this story is quite incredible. As mentioned, you do want Sophia to do something at times but it's also understandable why she is not.That she can't and that so many things keep her so isolated and keep seeming to cage her in more and more, only serve to amp up the suspense. The mystery of what's going to happen, where things will go for her, how she'll manage, is all great.Along with that mystery and suspense, the relationships she builds with some fairly unlikely characters make the story even more enjoyable, add some hope for her, but also some worry, as well. Worry that something may happen to them for it.It was a bit odd having Sophia always talking of her 'godfather,' especially as certain parts of the story developed, only because I kept reading it as grandfather. Aside form that, however, there wasn't much at all I didn't just love about this one. It didn't grab me right away but after that, it just kept on going and I had to know how it would all turn out!(egalley received via NetGalley from publisher for review)
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.allthingsuf.comMy initial response to STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD was an up and down of emotions. I was excited to read this variation of the Bluebeard tale, made new by featuring Bluebeard’s goddaughter rather than a wife. Then I was turned off by my introduction to the heroine, whose admiration for her sight-unseen godfather had strong romantic tones, even when she thinks he is married. Soon I realized each cringe and naive comment built the foundation of the narrative, more ghost story than fairy tale, and I was again swept away.I love a good Jane/ Rochester romance, but the emphasis on physical attraction between godfather and goddaughter was overt enough to tip from titillation to distaste before the first chapter was over. I sunk deep into the creeping menace of the story. The author created a thick mist of threat and mystery, making it impossible to tell exactly where the path head was leading. Subtle eddies of the supernatural swirled amidst plausible explications, and I found myself hoarding details, trying to fill in the background of the mysterious M. Bernard. The line between supernatural and inexplicable is a wavering boundary in this book, and I enjoyed sifting through clues to piece together both past and present.Though the foundation of the story was meticulously well crafted, layering eccentricity to manipulation to cruelty, the last third of the story slowed down significantly for me. Once the fog began to clear, once I could see Sophia’s happily ever after on the horizon, I was more impatient for her to get there than caught up in the climactic ending. Furthermore, from rape to slavery to domestic abuse, STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD deals with many issues that may or may not impede a reader’s ability to immerse themselves in this ghost story. If you make it through the mine field of triggers, however, STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD is a chilling, horrifyingly realistic retelling of the Bluebeard fairy tale and a scary little book to curl up with some evening.Sexual Content: Kissing, attempted rape, references to rape.
    • 4/5
      Sophia Petheram grew up poor but happy with her three siblings. When their father dies, she is invited to live with her wealthy godfather Monsieur Bernard de Cressac. Thus she goes to live in Mississippi, far from her home in the North, to live with a man she only knew through his extravagant gifts.Sophie is initially charmed by Monsieur Bernard, who offers her a life of luxury and indolence. She loves the pretty dresses and excellent food. However, there is a darkness lurking in Wyndriven Abbey. There are Monsieur Bernard's many former wives - all redheads like Sophie. There's his need for control and his temper. There are the slaves, something the daughter of an abolitionist finds intolerable. Eventually, Sophie cannot ignore her instincts and she begins to investigate Monsieur Bernard's secrets and assert her own personality.At first, STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD didn't have much to interest me aside from the setting. I love the fairytale "Bluebeard," but it seemed like the novel was moving so slow. I loved the descriptions of Sophie's new world and how well Jan Nickerson's prose evoked the oppressive heat of Mississippi, but it felt like nothing was happening. When a visitor comes to town and helps Sophie find her resolve, STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD clicked into place for me. Suddenly, the novel was working. Shortly after that moment, I fell completely in love with STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD when something happens to make Sophie realize the difference between idly crushing on Monsieur Bernard and having him return her affections. It's a creepy, quiet evil in a novel full of more theatric, Gothic evils.I cannot praise the setting enough. Nickerson manages to make the pre-Civil War South fairytale romantic and dreamy, but the sort of romance that has edges and dreams that turn to nightmares. Fitting, since "Bluebeard" is one of the most menacing fairytales I've ever heard. Nickerson does not pave over history to make the story work, but instead weaves the two together. Sophie would free all the slaves escape if she could, but she's mostly ineffectual. She's unfamiliar with the area, has no real power at Wyndriven Abbey, and there's no reason for anyone to trust her when she claims to want to help. And her efforts for one individual often make things worse for others.For those familiar with "Bluebeard," STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD will hold few surprises. Yet it's a story that always has the power to startle because it's so macabre. And Nickerson does a wonderful job of bringing something new to the tale. Sophie is not innocently curious, but haunted by her glimpses of Monsieur Bernard's evil and her strange kinship with his wives.I'm eager to see Nickerson complete her trilogy and transform more fairytales. STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD will appeal to fans of Sarah Rees Brennan's UNSPOKEN and Donna Jo Napoli's BREATH.
    • 4/5
      The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover and then when I realized it was a retelling of the Bluebeard tale from the Brothers Grimm there was no stopping me from devouring this one. This tale, like many of the Grimm tales, is more dark, gritty mystery and less princess story. We begin the novel with the newly orphaned Sophie who leaves her siblings behind to move in with her godfather M.Bernard. M.Bernard is a widower who has no qualms about lavishing Sophie with ridiculously expensive and Sophie is quite content to have these gifts rained down upon her. Soon, though, M.Bernard begins to show his true colors and becomes possessive, jealous, and often times scary. As M.Bernard’s personality begins to unfold so does the mystery in the novel until we are left on the edge of our seats wondering what is going to happen next.The setting of this novel was scrumptious. Nickerson stayed true to the time period and location to the point where I myself could feel the heat of July in the south. The way she described the abbey made the rambling old building come alive for me. The characters acted true to time period and acknowledge when what their or another character’s actions were considered a faux pas. I am not ashamed to admit that my favorite characters in this novel were the devilish M.Bernard and the sweet, earnest Gideon. M.Bernard was both charming and terrifying and I never knew exactly how I felt about it, which just made me want to read more about him. Gideon was a sweetheart and a true southern gentleman who cared more about making sure Sophie’s reputation was left untarnished than his own feelings. There was no love triangle as Sophie was aware of her own feelings for both men at different times in the novel. Another fun facet of the novel was the involvement of the characters’ opinions on slavery and Gideon’s involvement in the Underground Railroad. Overall Strands of Bronze and Gold was a fun retelling that had a great setting, intriguing characters, and random fun surprises.
    • 4/5
      I loved, loved, loved the antebellum Southern gothic setting of Strands of Bronze and Gold. It's a rather romantic (in the sense of Romanticism) view of what's portrayed as a decadent, patriarchal Southern aristocracy, but Nickerson carries out this portrayal tastefully rather than sensationally. The society she paints seems realistic, not the showy descriptions of wealth and upright heroines outspokenly moralizing against slavery I've often run into before in historical fiction. And the gothic feel? "Bluebeard" is one of my favorite fairy tales for its intrigue and gruesomeness, and Strands of Bronze and Gold certainly lives up to this with its decaying abbey-turned-plantation, ghosts, and seclusion. The creepy-crawlies just keep running down your back as you begin to realize along with Sophia just what she's tangled up with.The gothicness definitely kept me fascinated, compulsively reading as I waited to see what the plot had in store. The ending wasn't much of a shocker if you are familiar with the original tale, but it was still gripping. Yet, parts of the novel seemed choppy. Some characters seemed shallow and underwent major changes without much development. There was just this certain feeling of a lack of complete cohesiveness. I highly recommend Strands of Bronze and Gold as a nice read for a rainy day (which will provide great atmosphere!) - it's an engrossing book for the time you're reading, but it didn't leave me with much afterwards. Breeze through, enjoy, and move on.
    • 4/5
      Background: Seventeen year old Sophia is used to being spoiled by her mysterious godfather, Monsieur Bernard de Cressac. However when her father passes away she is given an offer she cannot refuse, to live with her godfather in his very lavish estate in Mississippi. He is a very mysterious and dark man and Sophia soon learns that her godfather may have more secrets than she bargained for. Nickerson creates a beautiful and exciting retelling of the famous tale of 'Bluebeard'.Review: I received this book in various formats, which was great. I could experience it in a variety of media formats. I started with an e-book, then received ARCs and an audiobook. I dabbled in all of them. I also have a giveaway on the blog for one of my ARCs.I really enjoyed this story and had to put it down only to try to slow down my reading, I didn't want to miss anything or take any detail for granted.The plot is full of suspense, intermingled with spine chilling realizations and blood curdling non-gentlemanly actions. I found that Jane Nickerson's writing was a delight. It was beautifully composed and the historical elements only added to the ambiance of the plot.Sophia, our heroine, is a bit naive and stubborn, but soon realizes her folly and tries to assert herself within the household of M. de Cressac. Sadly, she finds out very horrible things about her, now, captor.The whole time there is a feeling of disgust with everything M. de Cressac does and it is NOT wrong to feel that way. I was not disappointed with his horrific character or the part he played, only that he did send shivers up my spine on many occasions.This may be a slow moving book for some, most of the suspense is in emotions and psychological rather than running, chasing, and such. I did not feel this way but was a little taken aback by the time it took to get to the plots apex, and when it finally did, I felt the book was immediately over...Overall I felt this was a beautiful retelling of a horrifying fairy tale.
    • 5/5
      Strands Of Bronze And GoldByJane NickersonMy "in a nutshell" summary...Sophia goes to live with her "godfather" who may just be Bluebeard the Pirate.My thoughts after reading this book...I read most of this book rather breathlessly. It just could not be helped. It involved a sort of evil diabolical older man...a quite wealthy older man...and his red haired goddaughter. Bernard has a "thing" shall we say for lovely red haired women. He marries them and invariably they seem to have miserable lives with him and unhappy endings. Sophia comes to live with him thinking that she is his goddaughter but dastardly Bernard has other plans for her. He has a very dark and evil side. And it doesn't help that he always smells like meat...cooked rotten meat. Unfortunately Sophia is sort of trapped. He is wealthy, he can help her family and she's resigned to her fate...until his evil side grows and grows and he begins destroying everything she cares about.What I loved about this book...It's such a delight to read all of the twists ad turns in this book which is basically a battle between good and evil...a delightful edge of your seat battle.What I did not love...Handsome Bernard...the man you love to hate...he was evil, possessive, cruel and he ate eels! His attempts to seduce Sophia were such fun to read. His cruel intentions and his relationships with others masked his evilness. He was truly a creepy villain while Sophia was the bright eyed innocent virginal heroine.Final thoughts...This book was so good. I loved it. It is a delightful dark tale of a big bad man meeting a sweet innocent young girl...the outcome is phenomenal.
    • 4/5
      Before reading this I had not heard of the Bluebeard fairy tale. I looked it up first just to see what I was getting myself into and holy moley, I was shocked. When I found out all the betrayal and deceit and mystery behind it, I KNEW I had to read it. And let me tell you, I definitely enjoyed it. Sophie leaves her other family members behind when her father dies to go and live with her godfather Monsieur Bernard de Cressac to help keep their costs down. When she arrives things are very much different from her old home. But there is a mysterious air about Wyndriven Abbey and as it unfolds, things start to get more and more weird. Then out of nowhere, the mystery finally unfolds and Sophie is left in a compromising position. For the story to be a retelling, it did not feel like it. For me not having read it before, it really felt like I was reading the original story. The story flowed so smoothly it didn't feel like a retelling. I was also very impressed with the writing of Nickerson. It gave off so much back story without it feeling like an info dump. This was so amazing because the book the background of the slaves, Sophie, and towards the end De Cressac. The only thing I'd like to know is how the sequel will come into play. The ending of this one pretty much sums up the whole story... Sophie, the main character, grows so much throughout the novel. When she first gets there she seemed a little naiieve and scared to me. She believed anything de Cressac said. As De Cressac's true identity comes to light, Sophie grows by trying her hardest to stay safe. Her character grows stronger as the novel goes on. Overall this was a wonderful retelling with a great main character and even more amazing writing. This novel is sure to keep and hold your interest and leave you wanting more.
    • 4/5
      STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD moves the Bluebeard fairy tale to the pre-Civil War South where it meshes nicely with the plantation lifestyle. The story is filled with gothic creepiness and a strong sense of foreboding—and ghosts. Seventeen-year-old Sophia is first pleased to be moving to rural Mississippi to live with her godfather. Her family life in Boston is uncomfortable. After the death of their father, she and her older sister and brothers are living in very reduced circumstances.When Sophia arrives in Mississippi at Wyndriven Abbey, she is dazzled by her dashing new guardian and by the lavish gifts he showers on her. It doesn't take too long though for cracks to appear in the glittery surface. Sophia doesn't like that she is cut off from all contact with anyone outside the plantation. She doesn't like how the slaves are treated. She doesn't like the number of secrets that are being kept from her. Just how many wives has Bernard de Cressac had? She doesn't like Bernard's volatile temper and the accommodations she must make to keep from setting it off. When she meets a young minister in the woods by her home, she falls in love with him. However, she fears for his safety if de Cressac learns of his existence. After all, a slave who treated her kindly was taken from the house and sent it work in the fields of the plantation. De Cressac treats the slaves like animals while Sophia sees them as human beings. When Bernard first proposes to Sophia, she declines but he doesn't take her no for an answer. It isn't until he allows her family to visit and she sees the potential he has to ruin their lives that she agrees to marry the man she has come to fear and loathe. Sophia is much more than de Cressac every supposes though. Beneath her young, naive appearance is a practical and courageous young woman who will fight for her safety and happiness.This story will appeal to those who like romances, those who like ghost stories, and those who like some creepiness in their fiction. I loved the language in this one which swept me into the story.
    • 4/5
      Strands of Bronze and Gold is a re-imagined tale of Bluebeard and his doomed wives. It is set in the Civil War period in Mississippi. This is a very sinister tale filled with horror, romance, hard choices, and a coming of age plot that is realistic and satisfying to the reader. Young Sophia who longs for a better life is sent to live with her godfather Monsieur Bernard de Cressac at his Abby home in Mississippi after the death of her father. Her family is now penniless and her future is bleak. With no other option she accepts her godfather's invitation to live with him at his Abby. There she is spoiled and pampered beyond her wildest dreams after she arrives. While Monsieur Bernard is a doting father figure, his wild tastes and lavish almost deprived lifestyle start to wear down Sophia's defenses. As he encourages her to abandon her strict beliefs and embrace a wilder existence she begins to unravel the story behind his many tragic marriages. But as she pieces together her godfathers mysterious past she begins to realize that she is trapped in a a dangerous net that might end her life. This story is filled with passion, mystery, horror and intrigue. It took me a bit to really enjoy the story. At first I feared that it would slip into the more romantically deprived story line that some other versions have ventured. However, while there are some innuendos and devious behavior on the part of Bernard and other characters it doesn't cross the line. As the story picks up and Sophia discovers more about Bernard's past I could hardly put the book down. It was a good read and one that I would recommend. The good-I liked that it had a very complex plot with difficult choices for the main character. She wasn't just blindsided by the villains deception. The escalating abuse was realistic and well written. It didn't just pop up out of no where. Bernard's madness was triggered by events in his earlier life. I also liked the additional slavery element and how Sophia discovers her morality and revulsion for the practice and her godfathers treatment of his servants. The underground railroad addition was a nice touch and did not detract from the main story. The bad- It took me a while to like Sophia. The fact that she was portrayed as very sheltered was a bit over the top at first. At least the author fixed that aspect further along in the book. Lastly, the ending came rather quickly for me. It wasn't horrible but I felt that another chapter would have fleshed it out better. Rating- I give this 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very creative and imaginative story. The horror is not overdone or too graphic for more sensitive readers. The only reason it doesn't get a five is because the main character is hard to like for the first quarter of the book and the ending is rather short. Other than that I would definitely recommend this to teens looking for a fairy tale book without all the princess fluff.
    • 4/5
      Author: Jane NickersonPublished By: Random House Children's BooksAge Recommended: YAReviewed By: Arlena DeanBook Blog For:GMTARating: 4Review:"Strands of Bronze and Gold" by Jane Nickerson was a very good read for the YA that was of a historical fiction with bits of horror, love and romance.This author gave us a well written dialog that used a wonderful description with such detail for a easy read. This plot with will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end offering a dramatic ending. The setting of the novel was from the Civil War period set in the Mississippi area. Young Sophia agrees to join her godfather... Monsieur Bernard de Cressac at his Wyndriven Abby estate in Missisippi. From there this story takes off...to where you will find some fanastic descriptions...the "expensive gifts and moments of flattery and indulgence don't make up for the cruelty of the rest of the time, the kindness and respect are more important than superficial charm." Parts that I did not like was the 'handling of race and slavery'....It was in the 19th century and slavery was part of their life... Now, this is the time that I say you must pick up the read "Strands of Bronze and Gold" to get all they how, why, what and who of the well written novel. I will say at this point that this is the story of the 'Bluebeard' Fairy Tale. This is the retelling of it to another degree. Be ready for some glimpsing of ghost issues and even more interesting twists. Sophie may have started out 'naive sweet girl' but in the end will soon 'grow up' to not only protect herself but those she had now grown to care about at this Abbey and and her ownfamily. "Strands of Bronze of Gold' will keep you capivated in the read and I would recommend to anyone who love 'Fairy Tales.'