Review: Entwined

Author: Heather Dixon
Pages: 480
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge
Source: Library
Synopsis: Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it. 


The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. 


Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. 


But there is a cost. 


The Keeper likes to keep things. 


Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.


Buy the Book (Amazon, The Book Depository) 

Entwined is another retelling of the story of the 12 Dancing Princesses. I wasn't too sure how much I'd like it since I've read many retellings lately but I shouldn't have been worried because I did enjoy it.

What I liked was the characters and their relationships. The Royal was dealt a great loss with the death of the Queen leaving Azalea, Princess Royale to care for the household and the younger princesses. Azalea is our main character and she is in pain herself but she still does whatever she can for her sisters. She's a brave character and somewhat impulsive but I felt her sadness when consulting the King, masked with anger. All her emotions made sense and I enjoyed reading about her.

The other thing I liked was that though the original story is about mostly the dignitaries trying to help the princesses, this retelling wasn't just about that. It felt less like something being retold than its own story. There were many more characters and much more action than the original story though some parts were the same.

The villainous Keeper was intelligently entwined to the story. He was genuinely scary. At halfway through when things began to get rough I shivered and from that moment on Entwined reached a whole new level. I love the magic involved, and the dancing which together made for a more sinister story than I was expecting.

I really did like this story and I'm glad I read it. I was never bored as the 12 sisters will keep you reading of their mischievous pranks and escapades. A great, fun read, 4 stars,

****

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature of Kristi from The Story Siren where bloggers get to share all the amazing new books they've gotten. These books may not be reviewed so it's a good way to feature them anyway.

This time links go to Amazon. ☺

Library Books: 



Angel Burn, Blood Magic (The Blood Journals), Entwined, The Iron Queen

Something Deadly This Way Comes, Dark Goddess, Dark Mirror, Throat



Snakehead, 


For review:



Thank you to HarperTeen! ☺

That's what I got, what did you get in your mailbox? Leave a link!