Everyone knows Rapunzel’s story, but do you know the story of the witch? Mary McMyne’s spellbinding debut, The Book of Gothel, rich with historical detail and forbidden magic, tells the story of the medieval midwife who would become known as Mother Gothel.
“Mary McMyne is a magician.”—Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked
Germany, 1156. With her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is 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.
When her mother dies, Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower—a place called Gothel, where she meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing.
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.
The Book of Gothel is perfect for readers of Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver, Rachel Hochhauser’s Lady Tremaine, and Madeline Miller’s Circe.
A Booklist Top Ten SF/Fantasy & Horror Debut • Library Journal Bestselling Library Science Fiction & Fantasy • Featured in BookPage
For the poetry chapbook exploring these themes, check out Wolf Skin. High resolution covers, reviews, official author bio, and more info can be found on Mary’s press kit and about the author page.
Praise for The Book of Gothel
★ “A sprawling epic, full of magic, love and heartbreak.”—Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
★ “A luscious origin story from the witch’s point of view.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Deftly [weaves] Haelewise’s story into real history, making her feel like an actual person… I found myself rooting for her even though I knew that Haelewise turned into the rapunzel-hoarding witch in the end.” — People Magazine
“The characters who inhabit The Book of Gothel are rich and multifaceted and along with McMyne’s clever combination of magic and history, this makes for an incredibly nuanced and immersive read into Rapunzel’s origin story.” — Lit Hub
“Impeccably researched and rooted in the instantly recognizable ‘fairytale country’ of medieval Germany… making the past seem like a place of magic and mystery.”—British Fantasy Society
“Masterfully weaves fantastical elements into the historical backdrop of medieval Germany. A page-turner… ”—Historical Novel Society
“A sumptuous blend of folklore and historical fiction… fiercely feminist.”—Starburst Magazine
“Superbly crafted… a haunting origin story.”—BookPage
“A brilliant addition to the genre.” —Library Journal
“This gorgeous, feminist retelling of ‘Rapunzel’ immediately captivates… Readers of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden will adore this new fairytale fantasy.” — BuzzFeed Books
“Compulsively readable historical fantasy.”— Grimdark Magazine
“Both gently and fiercely told, The Book of Gothel is a sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairytale and back again.” –Hannah F. Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf and For the Throne
“A spell-binding debut.”— Signe Pike, author of The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom
“Heartfelt and vividly imagined.”—Emily Croy Barker, author of The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic
“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, author of The Mercy of Thin Air and the Keeper of Tales Trilogy
“A gut-punch of a fantasy novel—I found myself completely enraptured by this story within a story, and even more taken by the end, which I totally didn’t see coming. The Book of Gothel feels both familiar and like a completely original fairy tale, and I was moved by the Jewish representation. This is Rapunzel like you’ve never seen her before.” —Rena Rossner, author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood
“The fairy tale retelling I never knew I needed. Rooted in history, The Book of Gothel highlights the relationships between women and the ways in which we both help and hinder each other in the name of love and loyalty. Haelewise will be in my heart for a very long time.”–Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart
“An intelligent spin on a well-loved fairy tale.”—Rowenna Miller, author of Torn
“Sparkles with the intermingled magic of gods and goddesses, seers and wisewomen.” –Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
“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, author of the Olympus Bound trilogy
