The Book of Gothel

"Smart, swift, sure-footed and fleet-winged, The Book of Gothel launches its magic from a most reliable source: the troubled heart. Mary McMyne is a magician."—Gregory Maguire, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked

Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there? Mary McMyne's spellbinding debut, rich with historical detail and forbidden magic, reveals the truth behind the fairy tales—the truth only a witch could tell. 

Germany, 1156. Shunned by her village for her unusual fainting spells and black eyes, young Haelewise's only solace lies in her mother's stories of witches, magic wolf-skins, and ancient mist-cloaked towers. When her mother dies, she sets off through the woods for the mysterious tower of fable: Gothel. There, Haelewise discovers a haven, a safe refuge for women like her and for those who have lost their way in the harsh world of men. A place where magic lives and where fairy tales of her mother's stories have more truth than she'd ever imagined. 

Praise for The Book of Gothel: 

"A sweeping, sharp story of how history twists into fairy tales and back again." —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author

"Sparkles with the intermingled magic of gods and goddesses, seers and wise women." —Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches 

"A sprawling epic, full of magic, love, and heartbreak." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)