The Golden Braid

By: Melanie Dickerson

Narrated by: Jude Mason

From New York Times bestselling author comes The Golden Braid, a Rapunzel retelling that proves the one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

“The Golden Braid is a delightful, page-turning retelling of the story of Rapunzel. Dickerson brings this familiar fairy tale to life with a fresh and unique plot that is full of complex characters, a sweet romance, and danger at every turn. Rapunzel’s search to understand her place in the medieval world is a timeless identity struggle that modern readers will relate to. Her growing courage and faith are inspirational and will have readers cheering her on and sad to see the story come to an end.” —Jody Hedlund, bestselling author of An Uncertain Choice

Like a whirlwind...

This story was light and fun, the kind I love to listen to while I'm sewing or otherwise needing my eyes and hands but not my brain. I have no complaints, and I've read several of Dickerson's books now (though this is my first audio copy.)

However...The narrator reads crazy fast, with little to no phrasing. I am a fast speaker myself, but I couldn't handle this. It made me feel stressed trying to keep up!

I ended up turning it down to .75 speed, and even then, it was often hard to tell who was talking because the voices were all very similar and their conversation ran together. Often, even at .75 speed, the only way I could tell that Dickerson had started a new section, chapter, or a new character's perspective was by contextual clues - because there was no pause between one section/chapter and the next to signify the change.

Mason's voice was very consistent throughout the book - the book was read, rather than acted, with little variation in the voices of the characters.

That said, Mason has a lovely, pleasant, clear voice, and I think that if she would just slow down and take a moment to allow space between sections of the chapters, she would make a very excellent reader.

Love it!

We have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series and are now listening to it for the second time around! Good and clean christian romance. I listen to it in the car with my teenage daughter and we both love them!

Amazing as always

I absolutely love all of Melanie Dickerson’s works. I love her takes on fairytales and how each book interacts with the ones before and after.

Amazing

Amazing book so far, I can barely stop listening to go to the bathroom. I don't think her mother actually lives her, its intriguing.

Pure, clean romance

Both Rapunzel and her sweetheart admire their looks as well as their manners, as is the case in Dickerson's books. I feel safe reading these as they contain no graphic romance, and they're all centered on the Christian faith. I love sweet romances.

Loved every second

So glad I had this on a long drive. It went by so fast! I loved every second of this story and I thought the narrator was great. I love Melanie's books and now I'm listening to The Warrior Maiden. It's nice to find something I like that is also appropriate for my children to hear too. Very clean and inspiring story.

Inspirational and Entertaining

I e really enjoyed all this Authors books. I find them reminding me that I can overcome anything and enjoy life

A great story and great narration!

We love Melanie Dickerson's books! Jude Mason is one of my favorite narrators! Thanks Audible!

I think this is my favorite

Can’t wait till a new series comes out! The reading is always exciting with never slow boring moments and not overly dramatic that it isn’t realistic. Jude Mason’s voice is one of my favorites.

Another great historical romance

I love Melanie Dickerson books. This one was no exception. I enjoyed the audio, with the accent of the performer, it seemed like I was right there. There were enough differences to the original Repunzal story to make it refreshing with a twist but enough similarities to keep the fairy tale feeling.
I've read her earlier books and enjoy recognizing some of the family connections.
I love the obligatory happy ever after ending...which is why I read historical romance and Ms. Dickerson delivers warm romance without the eroticism that is found so often.
I recommend it highly.