Entwined
by Heather Dixon
Review by vvbooklady
Twelve dancing princesses! I read this first during high school and absolutely loved it. Then while I was reading House of Salt and Sorrows, I kept thinking about the Barbie movie and trying to remember all those princesses’ names which were in alphabetical order from oldest to youngest. And that reminded me of this other twelve dancing princesses story I had read that also had alphabetical names, but these were all named after flowers. I couldn’t remember the title, but I googled it and managed to find this very familiar cover, so I immediately got it out of the library and read it again and I still love it!
Princess Azalea and her sisters all love to dance! It is a trait and skill instilled in them by their mother, but when she dies giving birth to her twelfth daughter, the King orders the household into strict mourning – which means no dancing for a whole year! Azalea is crushed: how can she grieve her mother when she isn’t allowed to do the one thing that makes her feel connected to her?
Then, miraculously, she discovers a secret passage in the castle that leads to a magical pavilion where she and her sisters can dance as much as they want every night! But it just might be too good to be true… The Keeper of the pavilion does not want to let them go without paying his price.
This book is my aesthetic exactly! I don’t know how else to describe it. The magic, the beauty of their enchanted dancing pavilion, but also that dark, sinister edge to it. The three oldest girls all have love interests, which are all adorable in their own ways, but none of it overshadows the main story and the most important relationship development is between the girls and their father.
Absolutely gorgeous in every way!
Princess Azalea and her sisters all love to dance! It is a trait and skill instilled in them by their mother, but when she dies giving birth to her twelfth daughter, the King orders the household into strict mourning – which means no dancing for a whole year! Azalea is crushed: how can she grieve her mother when she isn’t allowed to do the one thing that makes her feel connected to her?
Then, miraculously, she discovers a secret passage in the castle that leads to a magical pavilion where she and her sisters can dance as much as they want every night! But it just might be too good to be true… The Keeper of the pavilion does not want to let them go without paying his price.
This book is my aesthetic exactly! I don’t know how else to describe it. The magic, the beauty of their enchanted dancing pavilion, but also that dark, sinister edge to it. The three oldest girls all have love interests, which are all adorable in their own ways, but none of it overshadows the main story and the most important relationship development is between the girls and their father.
Absolutely gorgeous in every way!
Other Member Reviews
I have a lot of REALLY good things to say about this book. I absolutely love fairy tale re-tellings, and have read my fair share. This book has bumped a lot of other books down the list. It's definitely in my top 5 in that category. I can't even begin to comprehend how challenging having 12 main characters would be. I have read reviews in which they said all of the younger sisters blended into one. I didn't feel that way at all!
I wanted to keep them straight, and kept a list of the sisters and wrote a bit about their personalities and ages as I went along. There were definitely 12 different characters in this book. They all played a part. I was blown away by how well Heather Dixon pulled this off! I loved them all!
I loved how much of the story revolved around the dancing. There was a kind of magic in the dancing itself. I have never been a dancer, but I really got swept up in their excitement for it.
I felt the plot was solid, the pacing was perfect, the characters were well developed, the villain truly terrifying, and the relationships believable and charming.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was there were two phrases that were WAY overused. I would be all caught up in the story until either Azelea's father "sucked his cheeks in" or she -something to the effect of "squeezed her hands until her nails cut her palms " all I could think was "Where was the editor?!"
Having said that though, I am officially a Heather Dixon fan! I am excited for the new book show more that is coming out! show less
I wanted to keep them straight, and kept a list of the sisters and wrote a bit about their personalities and ages as I went along. There were definitely 12 different characters in this book. They all played a part. I was blown away by how well Heather Dixon pulled this off! I loved them all!
I loved how much of the story revolved around the dancing. There was a kind of magic in the dancing itself. I have never been a dancer, but I really got swept up in their excitement for it.
I felt the plot was solid, the pacing was perfect, the characters were well developed, the villain truly terrifying, and the relationships believable and charming.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was there were two phrases that were WAY overused. I would be all caught up in the story until either Azelea's father "sucked his cheeks in" or she -something to the effect of "squeezed her hands until her nails cut her palms " all I could think was "Where was the editor?!"
Having said that though, I am officially a Heather Dixon fan! I am excited for the new book show more that is coming out! show less
Entwined by Heather Dixon is a retelling of the "12 Dancing Princesses" fairy tale. It is also the loveliest fairy tale retelling I have read in some time. The writing is just elegant; it makes me wish that I could write like that. The world that Dixon creates is charming and different, without being intrusive in its differences. You don't notice the world, you notice the story and the characters -- but the world is the perfect backdrop for the story and the characters.
Possibly the best thing about this book is that it's a debut novel. I can't wait to see what this author does next. Five stars, and highly recommended.
Possibly the best thing about this book is that it's a debut novel. I can't wait to see what this author does next. Five stars, and highly recommended.
First of all, the cover for Entwined is absolutely GORGEOUS that it takes my breath away every time. Isn’t it dreamy and wondrous and exciting? A stunning how-do-you-do that will make you want to grab this book and fall in love with it!
*inhales the frothy cover and sighs*
Entwined takes a while to reach that familiar point where the fairy tale starts to take off, but even then it takes a bit of a stroll before both the characters and story explode into something heart-stopping. I can see how the slow pacing helps to examine the uncomfortable relationship between the King and his 12 daughters. No one seemed to be able to relay their love quite right – and they never had a moment where everything went in their favor. As an outsider looking in, I could see that the King meant well despite his stern words, many absences, and overwhelming grief. I could see that the princesses simply wanted proof of their father’s love. I wanted to shake everyone as the hard feelings kept piling up and show them the bigger picture!
The princesses are quite the handful – and I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Heather Dixon to keep track of who has a big stomach, who is most beautiful, who is in charge, and who might send very strongly-worded napkin notes to a dinner guest. I would say that the 3 older princess definitely stood out most, but there were endearing moments of the younger ones as they got underfoot of the eligible bachelors. The eldest princess Azalea bears a huge show more weight on her shoulders as she tries to keep her family together as promised to her dying mother, to prepare herself for marriage prospects, and to unravel the magic hidden within the castle walls.
Entwined weaves a delicate spell around the reader, one that feels like an old friend but holds enough dash of unknown. This fairy tale is one of my favorites – Faerie Tale Theatre, anyone? Entwined was not exactly what I had hoped for, but I think it still gave a decent retelling that will appeal to fairy tale lovers. show less
*inhales the frothy cover and sighs*
Entwined takes a while to reach that familiar point where the fairy tale starts to take off, but even then it takes a bit of a stroll before both the characters and story explode into something heart-stopping. I can see how the slow pacing helps to examine the uncomfortable relationship between the King and his 12 daughters. No one seemed to be able to relay their love quite right – and they never had a moment where everything went in their favor. As an outsider looking in, I could see that the King meant well despite his stern words, many absences, and overwhelming grief. I could see that the princesses simply wanted proof of their father’s love. I wanted to shake everyone as the hard feelings kept piling up and show them the bigger picture!
The princesses are quite the handful – and I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Heather Dixon to keep track of who has a big stomach, who is most beautiful, who is in charge, and who might send very strongly-worded napkin notes to a dinner guest. I would say that the 3 older princess definitely stood out most, but there were endearing moments of the younger ones as they got underfoot of the eligible bachelors. The eldest princess Azalea bears a huge show more weight on her shoulders as she tries to keep her family together as promised to her dying mother, to prepare herself for marriage prospects, and to unravel the magic hidden within the castle walls.
Entwined weaves a delicate spell around the reader, one that feels like an old friend but holds enough dash of unknown. This fairy tale is one of my favorites – Faerie Tale Theatre, anyone? Entwined was not exactly what I had hoped for, but I think it still gave a decent retelling that will appeal to fairy tale lovers. show less
A beautiful and captivating remake of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I loved this so much! I didn't even go to bed until four in the morning yesterday because I didn't want to put it down. I ended up having to put it down, because I realized I was being a little ridiculous, but the moment I woke up, I started again.
I loved the world created and the characters. Azalea and Clover especially. I especially enjoyed the love story of Clover. So surprising and sweet. And I really loved Teddy, he was a wonderful addition and brought bits of humour to the story, my favourite scene with him was when they're all discussing the lack of birthday presents from the King and Teddy whines that the King didn't get him a present either. That made me giggle.
The book did have faults here and there, but I found I was able to overlook them because the story was interesting enough to keep me tied in and the ending was satisfying. I swooned, I cried and I laughed. All signs to me that this was a fantastic read.
I'd definitely recommend this book though, I really enjoyed it.
I loved the world created and the characters. Azalea and Clover especially. I especially enjoyed the love story of Clover. So surprising and sweet. And I really loved Teddy, he was a wonderful addition and brought bits of humour to the story, my favourite scene with him was when they're all discussing the lack of birthday presents from the King and Teddy whines that the King didn't get him a present either. That made me giggle.
The book did have faults here and there, but I found I was able to overlook them because the story was interesting enough to keep me tied in and the ending was satisfying. I swooned, I cried and I laughed. All signs to me that this was a fantastic read.
I'd definitely recommend this book though, I really enjoyed it.
Summary: Azalea and her eleven sisters live to dance—they have mastered almost every ballroom dance you can think of! But when their mother dies, their father, the King, insists that they stop dancing to properly mourn their loss. The Princesses are heartbroken until they stumble upon a hidden doorway that leads to a magical place where they meet Mr. Keeper, a gentleman who throws them grand parties and lets them dance to their hearts’ content without the King’s knowledge. But Keeper’s generosity will come with a price…
My thoughts: Take a look at Entwined’s cover. See it? It reflects the book perfectly. It’s flouncy, it’s flowery, and it makes me want to put on a pretty dress, grab a handsome gentleman, and start dancing. Guys, I want to live in the world of Entwined. First off, there’s magic, which is an automatic plus. Then there’s the whole bit about dressing pretty and attending balls, which just makes me all dreamy. Add in some sweet suitors and I am so there! Entwined is pretty much my kind of fairy tale, and though I felt the story was just okay, the setting and writing really stole my heart.
I’ve heard that Entwined is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I’ve never read this fairy tale (shame on me!), but some quick Googling provided me all the information I needed to say this: Entwined really does a good job of retelling the story. Almost everything included in the fairy tale is somehow woven into Entwined. I absolutely adore show more retellings—picking out the similarities between the two stories was really fun!
One thing I found interesting about the twelve sisters was how well they all got along! I’ve never had a sister, so I wouldn’t really know, but if I were Azalea, I think I’d get tired of having eleven younger princess following me wherever I went! I was seriously impressed with her mild temperament toward her siblings. It really shows how close their lack of decent parenting brought them (yeah, there’s a dead mom and an inattentive dad in this story). On that subject, though, the King was a very interesting character. I’d say that out of all the characters, he was the most dynamic—he went from being uptight and uncaring to a genuinely cool dad.
The villain of the book, Keeper, was sufficiently creepy. Every time he appeared (and especially when Azalea discovers him crawling on the ceiling like a spider), I shuddered. Towards the beginning of the book, I wanted to shake some sense into the princesses for thinking him gentlemanly! It was neat to see Keeper regress into something more and more like a monster.
Heather Dixon’s writing style really suits Entwined. It’s light and gives the book a magical, fairytale-like feel. The descriptions of each reel and waltz were wonderful as well—I wanted to get up and start dancing with Azalea and her sisters! The story was a bit slow for me, though. I suppose I just wanted a bit more suspense out of the book, which does come, but only in the last few pages.
Overall, I’d give Entwined 4 out of 5 stars. Its story, though fun, didn’t completely enrapture me, but the setting and writing style certainly did. I feel Entwined will be enjoyed most by those who love fantasy or fairytale retellings. show less
My thoughts: Take a look at Entwined’s cover. See it? It reflects the book perfectly. It’s flouncy, it’s flowery, and it makes me want to put on a pretty dress, grab a handsome gentleman, and start dancing. Guys, I want to live in the world of Entwined. First off, there’s magic, which is an automatic plus. Then there’s the whole bit about dressing pretty and attending balls, which just makes me all dreamy. Add in some sweet suitors and I am so there! Entwined is pretty much my kind of fairy tale, and though I felt the story was just okay, the setting and writing really stole my heart.
I’ve heard that Entwined is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I’ve never read this fairy tale (shame on me!), but some quick Googling provided me all the information I needed to say this: Entwined really does a good job of retelling the story. Almost everything included in the fairy tale is somehow woven into Entwined. I absolutely adore show more retellings—picking out the similarities between the two stories was really fun!
One thing I found interesting about the twelve sisters was how well they all got along! I’ve never had a sister, so I wouldn’t really know, but if I were Azalea, I think I’d get tired of having eleven younger princess following me wherever I went! I was seriously impressed with her mild temperament toward her siblings. It really shows how close their lack of decent parenting brought them (yeah, there’s a dead mom and an inattentive dad in this story). On that subject, though, the King was a very interesting character. I’d say that out of all the characters, he was the most dynamic—he went from being uptight and uncaring to a genuinely cool dad.
The villain of the book, Keeper, was sufficiently creepy. Every time he appeared (and especially when Azalea discovers him crawling on the ceiling like a spider), I shuddered. Towards the beginning of the book, I wanted to shake some sense into the princesses for thinking him gentlemanly! It was neat to see Keeper regress into something more and more like a monster.
Heather Dixon’s writing style really suits Entwined. It’s light and gives the book a magical, fairytale-like feel. The descriptions of each reel and waltz were wonderful as well—I wanted to get up and start dancing with Azalea and her sisters! The story was a bit slow for me, though. I suppose I just wanted a bit more suspense out of the book, which does come, but only in the last few pages.
Overall, I’d give Entwined 4 out of 5 stars. Its story, though fun, didn’t completely enrapture me, but the setting and writing style certainly did. I feel Entwined will be enjoyed most by those who love fantasy or fairytale retellings. show less
I'm always up for re-told tales of lesser known fairy tales. ENTWINED happens to be a re-telling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", which seems to have picked up in favor in the last few years (I do believe this is the third or fourth novel I've read based on it!), which pleases me since its one of my favorites.
There's a charm to the novel that I found entrancing as Dixon weaves not just a story about 12 Princesses forced to dance night after night, but 12 Princesses who find peace in the dancing. Who at first welcome it because its a means of staying close to their deceased mother who taught them to love it. Grief plays a large part in the book as it blinds their father (the King) and blinds the Princesses to the danger they so willingly embrace.
Azalea, the oldest, is nominally what the book focuses on, but in truth Dixon tries to give the girls as a collective center stage. They are a tightly knit group despite their large number, given to petty childish grievances and sibling slights, but dependent on one and other just the same. I liked that there was a unity to their characters, but also a spark of individualism as well. Bramble with her quick smiles and quicker wit, Clover with her serious nature and Azalea who strives to be just like her mother.
The romance is understated and treated with modesty; the plot concerns itself more with detailing how the girls respond to their mother's death, the change in their lives and how Azalea's Faustian bargain effects them. show more I admit I wanted more romance, but therein is the catch--Azalea begins the book concerned with dancing, parties and worry over her future husband. Its not that she's flighty or immature, she takes on the responsibilities of her being her father's hostess and role model to her sisters while her mother wastes away from sickness. She is however a young woman, with only one certainty in her future--she'll marry whoever the Council decides to be King. Dancing gives her a joy and parties mean dancing.
There are amusing moments, sad moments and grim moments, but the book ends itself on a happier note. A happily ever after is achieved for a fair amount of the girls, despite some eye-brow raising (like Clover's suitor) and I was satisfied that the girls were not just pretty pieces of fluff waiting to be rescued. show less
There's a charm to the novel that I found entrancing as Dixon weaves not just a story about 12 Princesses forced to dance night after night, but 12 Princesses who find peace in the dancing. Who at first welcome it because its a means of staying close to their deceased mother who taught them to love it. Grief plays a large part in the book as it blinds their father (the King) and blinds the Princesses to the danger they so willingly embrace.
Azalea, the oldest, is nominally what the book focuses on, but in truth Dixon tries to give the girls as a collective center stage. They are a tightly knit group despite their large number, given to petty childish grievances and sibling slights, but dependent on one and other just the same. I liked that there was a unity to their characters, but also a spark of individualism as well. Bramble with her quick smiles and quicker wit, Clover with her serious nature and Azalea who strives to be just like her mother.
The romance is understated and treated with modesty; the plot concerns itself more with detailing how the girls respond to their mother's death, the change in their lives and how Azalea's Faustian bargain effects them. show more I admit I wanted more romance, but therein is the catch--Azalea begins the book concerned with dancing, parties and worry over her future husband. Its not that she's flighty or immature, she takes on the responsibilities of her being her father's hostess and role model to her sisters while her mother wastes away from sickness. She is however a young woman, with only one certainty in her future--she'll marry whoever the Council decides to be King. Dancing gives her a joy and parties mean dancing.
There are amusing moments, sad moments and grim moments, but the book ends itself on a happier note. A happily ever after is achieved for a fair amount of the girls, despite some eye-brow raising (like Clover's suitor) and I was satisfied that the girls were not just pretty pieces of fluff waiting to be rescued. show less
This one was a charmer. I love fairy tale retellings, whether they are modernized or told in the old style. This one was true to its fairy tale beginnings so we got all the lush ballrooms and beautiful flowing gowns, gentlemen and ladies with impeccable manners (some of them, at least!) and most of all in this story, the dancing. Dancing is everything to Azalea and her sisters. They dance when they are happy, they dance to lift their spirits, they dance to connect with their mother. It was interesting to try to picture all the dances, sometimes it comes through as enchanting, and sometimes it slowed the story a little.
While Entwined was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, I also saw alot of parallels to Little Women when it came to the four eldest girls: the responsible and caring Azalea (like Meg), the fiery, temperamental Bramble (Jo), the very timid Clover (Beth), and the outspoken and always-thinking-of-the-future Delphinium (Amy). I loved how each of the twelve sisters had their own defined personalities, even though Azalea, Bramble, and Clover were the three we got to know best.
I loved the development of the relationship between the king and the girls. It starts out very rocky and both the girls and the king are dealing with grief in different ways. That puts them at complete odds in a way that is almost cruel to eachother. But soon the kings sets out to try to mend things with his daughters and there were parts of that that very nearly had me in tears show more because his efforts were so touching.
In all the magic and wonder and dancing in this, parts were genuinely creepy! Some of the scenes down in the hidden pavilion where the girls sneaked off to dance were frightening, with the eerie Keeper and his ghostly dancers.
The writing was very good, kept me wrapped up in the plot and only dipped a few times. One of my quirks with reading is when a description is used repetitively and I found that here: whenever the king was upset he would "suck in his cheeks" and he was upset quite a lot so this phase was on every few pages when the king was involved in the story. But again, that is just my own pet peeve.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable book! Definitely worth a read! show less
While Entwined was a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, I also saw alot of parallels to Little Women when it came to the four eldest girls: the responsible and caring Azalea (like Meg), the fiery, temperamental Bramble (Jo), the very timid Clover (Beth), and the outspoken and always-thinking-of-the-future Delphinium (Amy). I loved how each of the twelve sisters had their own defined personalities, even though Azalea, Bramble, and Clover were the three we got to know best.
I loved the development of the relationship between the king and the girls. It starts out very rocky and both the girls and the king are dealing with grief in different ways. That puts them at complete odds in a way that is almost cruel to eachother. But soon the kings sets out to try to mend things with his daughters and there were parts of that that very nearly had me in tears show more because his efforts were so touching.
In all the magic and wonder and dancing in this, parts were genuinely creepy! Some of the scenes down in the hidden pavilion where the girls sneaked off to dance were frightening, with the eerie Keeper and his ghostly dancers.
The writing was very good, kept me wrapped up in the plot and only dipped a few times. One of my quirks with reading is when a description is used repetitively and I found that here: whenever the king was upset he would "suck in his cheeks" and he was upset quite a lot so this phase was on every few pages when the king was involved in the story. But again, that is just my own pet peeve.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable book! Definitely worth a read! show less
Azalea is the oldest of twelve girls to the royal family of a modest kingdom and she holds a lot of responsibility. After the birth of her eleventh sister, her mother tragically dies, leaving her and her hoard of sisters with their distant and cold father. Now that they are in mourning, they must shun many of the activities they enjoyed when their mother was alive, including wearing colorful dresses, attending parties, and dancing. Azalea, after being victim to her father's constant disappointment and disapproval, stumbles upon a secret room in the castle that leads to a mysterious and beautiful silver forest. In this forest dwells a mysterious man called the Keeper who seems nice at first, giving the girls a place to dance, slippers to dance in, and people to dance with. As times goes on, he gets more sinister and creepy, forcing the girls to return night after night with threats. How will Azalea save her sisters from the Keeper and keep her father ignorant of their troubles?
This is a retelling of a The 12 Dancing Princesses that far surpasses the original. I just read it this past year in a fairy tales class and I just found it weird. The princesses seem like creepy, frivolous sociopaths who don't really care that people regularly die trying to figure out where they dance at night. This retelling takes those sociopathic girls and actually makes them relatively normal, if a little rambunctious and energetic. I immediately liked Azalea and her sisters, who all have been show more alphabetically named after some sort of plant (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, etc.). I thought 12 sisters would be too much to keep track of, but most of the girls had such defined, bold, and different personalities that they were hard to forget. The eldest 3 sisters are the main characters of the work, but the others still have significant roles. Azalea, Bramble, and Clover could not be more different. Azalea is the most like her mother, taking care of her sisters and shouldering a lot of responsibility, while Bramble is the most energetic and fun loving. Clover is the most reserved and quiet, but will stand up for what she believes in when it matters. All of the sisters loved and cared for each other even when everyone else basically abandoned them after their mother's death. I liked all of them except for Delphinium, who was endlessly annoying and pessimistic.
I enjoyed the role dancing and magic played in the novel. The close knit siblings weren't as frivolous as their fairy tale counterparts seemed to be. There was no defined reason for the dancing that had grave consequences in the original tale. In Entwined, the girls used dancing as a coping mechanism for their grief and to still feel close to their mother in some way. It also serves as a way for Azalea to teach her sisters about discipline, poise, and proper demeanor. The magic aspects of the world aren't immediately apparent, but kind of sneak up on you as you read. It starts small with an ill tempered magic tea set and ends with magical silver, enchanted passages, and an creepy villain with dark magic. I liked how the magic in the castle was really a relic of the past, enchanted by a past king, and people just didn't know how much magic was there or how to unenchant it. I enjoyed the understated and believable magic as well as the role dancing played for the sisters.
Entwined breathes new life into the flat characters and bizarre story of the 12 Dancing Princesses. I loved the romance, magic, emotions, characters, and relationships portrayed. I would definitely read anything else Heather Dixon writes in the future. show less
This is a retelling of a The 12 Dancing Princesses that far surpasses the original. I just read it this past year in a fairy tales class and I just found it weird. The princesses seem like creepy, frivolous sociopaths who don't really care that people regularly die trying to figure out where they dance at night. This retelling takes those sociopathic girls and actually makes them relatively normal, if a little rambunctious and energetic. I immediately liked Azalea and her sisters, who all have been show more alphabetically named after some sort of plant (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, etc.). I thought 12 sisters would be too much to keep track of, but most of the girls had such defined, bold, and different personalities that they were hard to forget. The eldest 3 sisters are the main characters of the work, but the others still have significant roles. Azalea, Bramble, and Clover could not be more different. Azalea is the most like her mother, taking care of her sisters and shouldering a lot of responsibility, while Bramble is the most energetic and fun loving. Clover is the most reserved and quiet, but will stand up for what she believes in when it matters. All of the sisters loved and cared for each other even when everyone else basically abandoned them after their mother's death. I liked all of them except for Delphinium, who was endlessly annoying and pessimistic.
I enjoyed the role dancing and magic played in the novel. The close knit siblings weren't as frivolous as their fairy tale counterparts seemed to be. There was no defined reason for the dancing that had grave consequences in the original tale. In Entwined, the girls used dancing as a coping mechanism for their grief and to still feel close to their mother in some way. It also serves as a way for Azalea to teach her sisters about discipline, poise, and proper demeanor. The magic aspects of the world aren't immediately apparent, but kind of sneak up on you as you read. It starts small with an ill tempered magic tea set and ends with magical silver, enchanted passages, and an creepy villain with dark magic. I liked how the magic in the castle was really a relic of the past, enchanted by a past king, and people just didn't know how much magic was there or how to unenchant it. I enjoyed the understated and believable magic as well as the role dancing played for the sisters.
Entwined breathes new life into the flat characters and bizarre story of the 12 Dancing Princesses. I loved the romance, magic, emotions, characters, and relationships portrayed. I would definitely read anything else Heather Dixon writes in the future. show less
My mom insists that she was never really into fairy tales when she was little. I insist she's lying. Maybe she wasn't the dress up like Cinderella and run around the backyard pretending to talk to woodland creatures type, but I promise you that at one point in her life someone read her a story about a princess in a far away kingdom, etc, etc and she pictured herself in a big poofy dress holding court over the the family dog and her rather large collection of gerbils. Little girls (even the non-girly types) love princesses and talking animals and handsome princes. That's why Disney was invented right? Fairy tales: it's what we do (I feel like that should be on a shirt somewhere). I, myself, spent the vast majority of my childhood playing princess with my stuffed animals and I have the crown (and the superiority complex) to prove it. But I digress, why do we really love fairy tales? I maintain that it is because they are so contradictory. There are always two sides to a good fairy tale. First, the fluff. The beautiful princess, the charming castle, the enchanted forest and the handsome prince. But something sinister lurks in the dark. In all of these stories there is fear. Witches, dragons, imprisonment, and (almost without exception) death. That's what makes the story so great. You're enchanted, but you're afraid at the same time.
Entwined in a fairy tale lovers dream. It is beautiful, witty and tragic. There were times during the book where I laughed out loud (usually show more because of the main character's closest sister, Bramble), there were times when I was grinning like an idiot and there were times when I was so freaked out I had a little trouble going to sleep. This book is magic, plain and simple. Dixon tells the story of Azalea and her eleven sisters. Their mother has died and their father, the King, is distant and can't be bothered with them. The house is in mourning for a whole year and the girls are forbidden from dancing, which is the only way they find comfort. They find a magic passageway that takes them to a silver forest where they can dance every night. However, the sinister Keeper wants something in return. Meanwhile the girls struggle to come to terms with the death of their mother and the absence of their father all while trying to navigate the sticky world of romance. This book is not just about fairy tales and princesses though. The main theme of the story is the importance of family.
This is Dixon's first novel and she has done a magnificent job. One of the most amazing things was the character development. There are the twelve princesses and the king and queen, the household staff and several friends as well as Keeper and by about the fourth chapter you felt that you knew everyone! I found myself going "that's so Bramble" or "why does Delphinium have to be so grumpy" as I read. I truly did not want this book to end. The whole experience was just too much fun. It was sweet and spooky and quirky and hilarious all rolled in to one big shining package. I have been scouring the internet looking for news of a sequel with no success thus far. I really hope Dixon decides to continue the story of Azalea and her sisters, they are too charming for her to stop now. This is a must read! show less
Entwined in a fairy tale lovers dream. It is beautiful, witty and tragic. There were times during the book where I laughed out loud (usually show more because of the main character's closest sister, Bramble), there were times when I was grinning like an idiot and there were times when I was so freaked out I had a little trouble going to sleep. This book is magic, plain and simple. Dixon tells the story of Azalea and her eleven sisters. Their mother has died and their father, the King, is distant and can't be bothered with them. The house is in mourning for a whole year and the girls are forbidden from dancing, which is the only way they find comfort. They find a magic passageway that takes them to a silver forest where they can dance every night. However, the sinister Keeper wants something in return. Meanwhile the girls struggle to come to terms with the death of their mother and the absence of their father all while trying to navigate the sticky world of romance. This book is not just about fairy tales and princesses though. The main theme of the story is the importance of family.
This is Dixon's first novel and she has done a magnificent job. One of the most amazing things was the character development. There are the twelve princesses and the king and queen, the household staff and several friends as well as Keeper and by about the fourth chapter you felt that you knew everyone! I found myself going "that's so Bramble" or "why does Delphinium have to be so grumpy" as I read. I truly did not want this book to end. The whole experience was just too much fun. It was sweet and spooky and quirky and hilarious all rolled in to one big shining package. I have been scouring the internet looking for news of a sequel with no success thus far. I really hope Dixon decides to continue the story of Azalea and her sisters, they are too charming for her to stop now. This is a must read! show less
Azalea and her 11 sisters are supposed to be in mourning for their mother - complete with darkened windows, black clothing, no visits or fun of any sort especially dancing. With their father, the King, away at war, the girls slip out of their room every night to dance in a magic realm. There they meet Keeper, who seems intriguing but has intentions that aren't exactly honorable. Azalea finds that she must work out Keeper's mystery in order to save her family and their kingdom.
So, I may have mentioned that my favorite fairy tale ever is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. The first time I heard it was during a Pre-K story time at the library and I instantly fell in love with it. I checked it out of the library a lot. Then someone gave me a paperback picture book copy as a birthday present. Once I was able to read well enough on my own, that was my go to book. It was literally falling apart when I finally put it away to expand my reading horizons.
Despite my love for The Twelve Dancing Princesses (or The Worn Out Dancing Shoes/The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces) I'd never read a retelling until recently (for YA Lit class last semester). So when I heard that Entwined was another retelling, I knew that it would go on my wishlist for this year. Maybe my love of the original tale made me biased as I was reading, maybe it made me more critical, but overall I loved Entwined. Were there things that I wasn't fond of? Yes, (all the flower names for the sisters, for example) but the show more great parts outweighed them in my opinion.
Since Entwined revolves around 12 sisters, I thought it would be fun to give 12 reasons why I enjoyed reading it.
1. The sisters - with so many of them, it was sometimes hard to keep them all straight, but the portrayal of their relationships, squabbles, and interactions felt very genuine.
2. Lord Bradford - he's pretty swoon-worthy. At one point while reading I decided he was unassumingly dashing, because even though everyone else knows how awesome he is, he seems to be oblivious.
3. The dancing - the way Ms. Dixon describes each dance makes them seem like additional characters in the story.
4. Azalea, the Princess Royale and oldest sister, she's strong and compassionate and looks after and stands up for her sisters. She's also courageous in that she stands up to the King and doesn't let him off the hook for anything.
5. There is magic, but only in small quantities. Only certain parts of the castle are magic and even that is considered a myth until Azalea finds the secret passageway. But also, there is the realization that love is its own type of magic.
6. There is character named Mr. Pudding. For some reason, I just love that name!
7. A certain pocket watch and the theme of time: the passage of time, waiting for something/someone you love.
8. Prime Minister Fairweller - despite his sober demeanor and rule abiding ways, he has a bit of a romantic streak.
9. A mention of treacle tart - in addition to reminding me of Harry Potter, it just shows how it's all the small details that make the house and the magic realm come to life.
10. A certain scene between Azalea and Lord Bradford involving a closet and some spying.
11. Lord Teddy - my favorite of the suitors - he unintentionally delivers comic relief exactly when it's needed, plus he never gives up!
12. Keeper is super creepy as a villain, right from the first sight of him it's very clear that he is evil. I love villains that are unapologetically evil.
If you enjoy reading fairy tale retellings, Entwined should be on your radar. I definitely will be picking up a finished copy at the end of March. show less
So, I may have mentioned that my favorite fairy tale ever is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. The first time I heard it was during a Pre-K story time at the library and I instantly fell in love with it. I checked it out of the library a lot. Then someone gave me a paperback picture book copy as a birthday present. Once I was able to read well enough on my own, that was my go to book. It was literally falling apart when I finally put it away to expand my reading horizons.
Despite my love for The Twelve Dancing Princesses (or The Worn Out Dancing Shoes/The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces) I'd never read a retelling until recently (for YA Lit class last semester). So when I heard that Entwined was another retelling, I knew that it would go on my wishlist for this year. Maybe my love of the original tale made me biased as I was reading, maybe it made me more critical, but overall I loved Entwined. Were there things that I wasn't fond of? Yes, (all the flower names for the sisters, for example) but the show more great parts outweighed them in my opinion.
Since Entwined revolves around 12 sisters, I thought it would be fun to give 12 reasons why I enjoyed reading it.
1. The sisters - with so many of them, it was sometimes hard to keep them all straight, but the portrayal of their relationships, squabbles, and interactions felt very genuine.
2. Lord Bradford - he's pretty swoon-worthy. At one point while reading I decided he was unassumingly dashing, because even though everyone else knows how awesome he is, he seems to be oblivious.
3. The dancing - the way Ms. Dixon describes each dance makes them seem like additional characters in the story.
4. Azalea, the Princess Royale and oldest sister, she's strong and compassionate and looks after and stands up for her sisters. She's also courageous in that she stands up to the King and doesn't let him off the hook for anything.
5. There is magic, but only in small quantities. Only certain parts of the castle are magic and even that is considered a myth until Azalea finds the secret passageway. But also, there is the realization that love is its own type of magic.
6. There is character named Mr. Pudding. For some reason, I just love that name!
7. A certain pocket watch and the theme of time: the passage of time, waiting for something/someone you love.
8. Prime Minister Fairweller - despite his sober demeanor and rule abiding ways, he has a bit of a romantic streak.
9. A mention of treacle tart - in addition to reminding me of Harry Potter, it just shows how it's all the small details that make the house and the magic realm come to life.
10. A certain scene between Azalea and Lord Bradford involving a closet and some spying.
11. Lord Teddy - my favorite of the suitors - he unintentionally delivers comic relief exactly when it's needed, plus he never gives up!
12. Keeper is super creepy as a villain, right from the first sight of him it's very clear that he is evil. I love villains that are unapologetically evil.
If you enjoy reading fairy tale retellings, Entwined should be on your radar. I definitely will be picking up a finished copy at the end of March. show less
Heather Dixon's debut novel is absolutely darling and I loved it to pieces. With an army of interesting characters and a mysterious plot to boot, Entwined will make all fans of fairy tales and historical fiction swoon at Ms. Dixon's feet.
Azalea is the oldest of 12 sisters living a lavish life of balls and dancing. When tragedy strikes their family, the princesses find themselves in a world of dreary colors without dancing and parties. With a discovery of a staircase that leads to a magical pavilion, the sisters are able to dance their nights away with no one none the wiser, until their host decides that there is a price to pay in exchange for their nightly rituals.
This book is adorable and I never wanted it to end. The plot moved at a perfect pace with equal parts romance, mystery, and characterization. The book begins with Azalea planning her first Christmas Ball in hopes of pleasing her ever-absent father the King. The very next day Azalea and her sisters are dressed in black with absolute no talking of dancing or parties which does not sit will with the girls. I loved this novel because it had a decisive beginning, middle and end and nothing was left out, nor was anything rushed. Dixon took her time setting up the characters, the setting and took her time approaching the conflict.
One of the main reasons I loved this book so much is because of the characters. Azalea and her sisters are absolutely hilarious and have the best interactions. I don't really know how to show more explain it in a simple review so I'll include a bit of dialogue from the novel:
“Down with tyranny!' Bramble cried. 'Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!”
and:
“You forgot my birthday, too."
"And mine."
The girls looked miserable. The King opened his mouth, then shut it.
"Sir!" whined Lord Teddie. "You forgot my birthday, too!"
Bramble gave a surprised laugh, then slapped her hand over her mouth, as though shocked at letting it out. The tension broke. The girls laughed sheepishly, and Lord Teddie beamed. He probably did not have many ladies think him funny. In fact, he probably got slapped by a lot of them.”
Do you see what I mean? Just charming and hilarious! Each character had such a livelihood that I WANTED this to be made into a movie!
As you read from the example dialogue, Dixon's writing style has completely captured the essence of a fairy-tale with a historical fiction twist. Dixon's writing has such a charm that you'll experience fluffy feelings and stay up until the wee hours in the morning to try to squeeze in just one more chapter.
Entwined is an extremely lovable novel with characters that will stay with you long after you finish the final chapter. Heather Dixon has a ridiculous amount of talent and I hope that she takes a dip in the Young Adult genre again.
I highly recommend this novel for all lovers of fairytales and their retellings. show less
Azalea is the oldest of 12 sisters living a lavish life of balls and dancing. When tragedy strikes their family, the princesses find themselves in a world of dreary colors without dancing and parties. With a discovery of a staircase that leads to a magical pavilion, the sisters are able to dance their nights away with no one none the wiser, until their host decides that there is a price to pay in exchange for their nightly rituals.
This book is adorable and I never wanted it to end. The plot moved at a perfect pace with equal parts romance, mystery, and characterization. The book begins with Azalea planning her first Christmas Ball in hopes of pleasing her ever-absent father the King. The very next day Azalea and her sisters are dressed in black with absolute no talking of dancing or parties which does not sit will with the girls. I loved this novel because it had a decisive beginning, middle and end and nothing was left out, nor was anything rushed. Dixon took her time setting up the characters, the setting and took her time approaching the conflict.
One of the main reasons I loved this book so much is because of the characters. Azalea and her sisters are absolutely hilarious and have the best interactions. I don't really know how to show more explain it in a simple review so I'll include a bit of dialogue from the novel:
“Down with tyranny!' Bramble cried. 'Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!”
and:
“You forgot my birthday, too."
"And mine."
The girls looked miserable. The King opened his mouth, then shut it.
"Sir!" whined Lord Teddie. "You forgot my birthday, too!"
Bramble gave a surprised laugh, then slapped her hand over her mouth, as though shocked at letting it out. The tension broke. The girls laughed sheepishly, and Lord Teddie beamed. He probably did not have many ladies think him funny. In fact, he probably got slapped by a lot of them.”
Do you see what I mean? Just charming and hilarious! Each character had such a livelihood that I WANTED this to be made into a movie!
As you read from the example dialogue, Dixon's writing style has completely captured the essence of a fairy-tale with a historical fiction twist. Dixon's writing has such a charm that you'll experience fluffy feelings and stay up until the wee hours in the morning to try to squeeze in just one more chapter.
Entwined is an extremely lovable novel with characters that will stay with you long after you finish the final chapter. Heather Dixon has a ridiculous amount of talent and I hope that she takes a dip in the Young Adult genre again.
I highly recommend this novel for all lovers of fairytales and their retellings. show less
I was surprised and delighted by how much enjoyment I got out of this book. I love fairy tale stories and re-tellings of all stripes but to find one like this was magical indeed and it was such a joy to read. Entwined is a re-telling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses set in a Victorian era kingdom. There is a castle and balls, there are beautiful dresses and magic, and of course there is lots and lots of dancing. Underneath it all there lurks a danger that threatens to destroy everything.
The eldest princess Azaela has eleven younger sisters each named after a flower alphabetically, Bramble, Clover and so on. This ends up being a wonderful way to have several very different sisters and also an easy way for the reader to keep track of just which sister is being spoken of by the letter her name starts with. The author juggles a cast of twelve princesses beautifully and you never get bored with them. Their mother the Queen was a beautiful dancer and taught each of them how to do all sorts of different dances so that the princesses equate the love of their mother with the joy of dance. When the queen dies in childbirth with the youngest princess, Lily, things take a dark turn in the castle. The King is devastated and puts the castle into mourning, closing up the windows, dressing the family in black, and absolutely forbidding dancing. The princesses grieve the death of their mother, and the sudden emotional distance of their father, and want to celebrate and show more remember her through dance, but how can they when they have been forbidden?
What follows is a wonderful story featuring a magic castle, twelve princesses, unwanted suitors, a mystery to be solved, and a sinister evil that threatens everything the princesses love. Azaela was such a strong heroine, she took such fantastic charge in the wake of her mother’s death in caring for her younger sisters as best she could. Her sisters were a joy to read about as well from stubborn cranky Bramble, to shy sweet Clover, to even little Lily taking her first steps in the dance. The suitors who attempt to solve the mystery were also a joy to read about because, let’s face it, there was some real comedy gold to be had right there. A single princess they could deal with, but twelve?
This was a wonderful book and I recommend it to any one that takes joy in reading fairy tales, especially rewritten ones. The magic the story wove around me made the pages fly past and for a long book (nearly 500 pages!) it almost seemed too short by the time I was done. This story of several strong young women who manage to keep their family together through increasing odds was a great joy to read. I highly recommend it.
I received this book for free to review. show less
The eldest princess Azaela has eleven younger sisters each named after a flower alphabetically, Bramble, Clover and so on. This ends up being a wonderful way to have several very different sisters and also an easy way for the reader to keep track of just which sister is being spoken of by the letter her name starts with. The author juggles a cast of twelve princesses beautifully and you never get bored with them. Their mother the Queen was a beautiful dancer and taught each of them how to do all sorts of different dances so that the princesses equate the love of their mother with the joy of dance. When the queen dies in childbirth with the youngest princess, Lily, things take a dark turn in the castle. The King is devastated and puts the castle into mourning, closing up the windows, dressing the family in black, and absolutely forbidding dancing. The princesses grieve the death of their mother, and the sudden emotional distance of their father, and want to celebrate and show more remember her through dance, but how can they when they have been forbidden?
What follows is a wonderful story featuring a magic castle, twelve princesses, unwanted suitors, a mystery to be solved, and a sinister evil that threatens everything the princesses love. Azaela was such a strong heroine, she took such fantastic charge in the wake of her mother’s death in caring for her younger sisters as best she could. Her sisters were a joy to read about as well from stubborn cranky Bramble, to shy sweet Clover, to even little Lily taking her first steps in the dance. The suitors who attempt to solve the mystery were also a joy to read about because, let’s face it, there was some real comedy gold to be had right there. A single princess they could deal with, but twelve?
This was a wonderful book and I recommend it to any one that takes joy in reading fairy tales, especially rewritten ones. The magic the story wove around me made the pages fly past and for a long book (nearly 500 pages!) it almost seemed too short by the time I was done. This story of several strong young women who manage to keep their family together through increasing odds was a great joy to read. I highly recommend it.
I received this book for free to review. show less
When Azalea’s mother dies the castle goes into mourning. Everyone has to wear black, the windows are covered and dancing is strictly prohibited. Desperate to dance, the girls discover a secret passage that leads them to an enchanted forest. It is here they meet The Keeper. The girls are so desperate to escape the depressing castle they are blinded to The Keeper’s motives, and the dangers closing in on them.
Entwined is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I adore fairy tales and never hesitate to snatch up a new retelling when it hits the shelves. I thought Entwined was perfectly executed. It had all the elements I desire in a fairy tale. Azalea was a wonderful narrator and main character. Her sisters were well developed even though they were more like secondary characters to the plot. The Keeper was a despicably perfect villain. There were also a few romantic interests for the girls that added a nice romantic element to the plot. I also like that the boys didn’t have to be the heroes in this one. Azalea and her sisters are strong and smart girls who could kick butt when necessary.
Entwined summoned a continuous sense of nostalgia for this long time lover of fairy tales and princesses. It was a book that just made me feel good. It isn’t a book I devoured in one sitting, but one I looked forward to cuddling up with while drinking a cup of tea each evening before bed. This is a very big book, but it doesn’t seem that way when you’re reading. I was show more completely and totally enchanted by the author’s writing and the story she told. I couldn’t believe how quickly the pages flew by. I can see myself reading this with my daughters when they are a little older. I will most definitely add a finished copy of Entwined to my shelf of favorites very soon.
Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous and a perfect fit for the story on the pages! show less
Entwined is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I adore fairy tales and never hesitate to snatch up a new retelling when it hits the shelves. I thought Entwined was perfectly executed. It had all the elements I desire in a fairy tale. Azalea was a wonderful narrator and main character. Her sisters were well developed even though they were more like secondary characters to the plot. The Keeper was a despicably perfect villain. There were also a few romantic interests for the girls that added a nice romantic element to the plot. I also like that the boys didn’t have to be the heroes in this one. Azalea and her sisters are strong and smart girls who could kick butt when necessary.
Entwined summoned a continuous sense of nostalgia for this long time lover of fairy tales and princesses. It was a book that just made me feel good. It isn’t a book I devoured in one sitting, but one I looked forward to cuddling up with while drinking a cup of tea each evening before bed. This is a very big book, but it doesn’t seem that way when you’re reading. I was show more completely and totally enchanted by the author’s writing and the story she told. I couldn’t believe how quickly the pages flew by. I can see myself reading this with my daughters when they are a little older. I will most definitely add a finished copy of Entwined to my shelf of favorites very soon.
Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous and a perfect fit for the story on the pages! show less
(Review originally posted on my blog: http://awordsworth.blogspot.com/2011/07/entwined.html)
Entwined takes the basic story of twelve princess sisters who mysteriously wear out their dancing slippers every night and makes it a richer story about family bonds; the power of dance as language, expression, and 'therapy;' and the ultimate power of Love. There is intrigue, mystery, dimensional characters, and magic. Lots and lots of magic. What begins as a simple secret adventure becomes a much darker and more significant 'quest' of sorts for Azalea and her sisters (all with garden names, alphabetically by age). Dancing suddenly becomes more than just a way to feel happy or free again, and as the stakes rise - everything they thought they understood about their family and relationships will be tested and tried.
I was quickly caught up in the story, waiting and watching to see just how everything would play out. The theories I developed early in the reading were disproved later, and I found I didn't mind. I liked the way the story unfurled better - it had more depth, more surprise. I loved the characters - Bramble made me laugh out loud, and I enjoyed the way Dixon made each of the sisters different. It'd be so easy to only focus on one or two for 'fleshing out,' but each of the twelve has a unique approach to life, and together? Oh man, if I had a pack of sisters like that ... Azalea did make me want to shake her a few times, but not so much that I stopped reading. And she grew show more through the story, so by the end I was happy for her. The supporting characters, a.k.a The Guys, are also diverting and well-rounded, surprising and delightful. Quite a nice handful of heroes for such a fairy tale. show less
Entwined takes the basic story of twelve princess sisters who mysteriously wear out their dancing slippers every night and makes it a richer story about family bonds; the power of dance as language, expression, and 'therapy;' and the ultimate power of Love. There is intrigue, mystery, dimensional characters, and magic. Lots and lots of magic. What begins as a simple secret adventure becomes a much darker and more significant 'quest' of sorts for Azalea and her sisters (all with garden names, alphabetically by age). Dancing suddenly becomes more than just a way to feel happy or free again, and as the stakes rise - everything they thought they understood about their family and relationships will be tested and tried.
I was quickly caught up in the story, waiting and watching to see just how everything would play out. The theories I developed early in the reading were disproved later, and I found I didn't mind. I liked the way the story unfurled better - it had more depth, more surprise. I loved the characters - Bramble made me laugh out loud, and I enjoyed the way Dixon made each of the sisters different. It'd be so easy to only focus on one or two for 'fleshing out,' but each of the twelve has a unique approach to life, and together? Oh man, if I had a pack of sisters like that ... Azalea did make me want to shake her a few times, but not so much that I stopped reading. And she grew show more through the story, so by the end I was happy for her. The supporting characters, a.k.a The Guys, are also diverting and well-rounded, surprising and delightful. Quite a nice handful of heroes for such a fairy tale. show less
The Twelve Dancing Princesses has always been my favorite fairy tale. While the gorgeous cover is what initially made me see what Heather Dixon's debut novel, Entwined, was all about, the fact that it retold this tale made it a Day One Buy for me. Lush and descriptive, Entwined brings the tale to life like never before. I loved the way Dixon extracted the best parts of the story and tweaked other aspects, making the story fresh and vibrant. It manages to remain true to the original tale while still becoming its own entity, which can be hard to pull off when creating a new version.
Despite the fact that there are twelve princesses involved in this tale, Dixon uses a creative way of allowing readers to remember who's who by naming them alphabetically. Our main character, Azalea, is the crown princess, followed by her sisters, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose (Eve), Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale, and Lily. Not only are they all named after plants and flowers, the very fact that they're named such reveals the way their father the king leads a very structured lifestyle. This trick is also good for readers. The girls are all about a year apart; Azalea is fifteen at the novel's start and baby Lily is a newborn. If readers are confused about why Ivy is acting like a child, for example, it's easy to figure out that she's one of the youngest princesses.
The book starts off with Azalea getting ready for her first yuletide ball now that she's finally show more of age. We immediately see how important dancing is to her. I love the way Dixon fleshes out this interest and turns it into an entity of its own. Even the novel's title, Entwined, is based on a dance called the Entwine, which is a clever twist (that taught me something new, no less!). In the original fairy tale, we never know why the princesses go dancing each night or how they found the enchanted forest in the first place. In Entwined, however, we're with the girls every step of the way. We see how they're no longer allowed to dance after their mother passes away during childbirth. They feel stifled during their year of mourning. They find the enchanted forest within the walls of the castle quite by mistake, but through it, can cherish their mother's memory through dance, a need no one but the princesses can comprehend. Love interests are introduced early on, allowing time for love to blossom. The man in charge of the enchanted dance, Keeper, is mysterious and written in such a way, my arms got goosebumps as I read. The forest itself is gorgeous and I could see it in my mind's eye. Because Dixon focused on making the fairy tale's nemesis so dark, she maintained a light balance in the "real world." Unlike in the original, men aren't put to death if they're unable to discover how the girls manage to dance the night away. I appreciated this aspect and loved meeting all of the potential suitors. Lord Teddy and Mr. Bradford were my favorite characters. Lord Teddy stole the show every time he appeared on a page, creating many laugh-out-loud moments.
Overall, I love the way Dixon kept to the traditional tale while still giving us something new and unique. Entwined is almost five hundred pages, and when I first picked it up, I wondered how it could take so long to tell the story. The pacing remained even and never dragged. Once the story sucked me in, it was impossible to put down. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is still a favorite of mine, especially this version of the classic tale. show less
Despite the fact that there are twelve princesses involved in this tale, Dixon uses a creative way of allowing readers to remember who's who by naming them alphabetically. Our main character, Azalea, is the crown princess, followed by her sisters, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose (Eve), Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale, and Lily. Not only are they all named after plants and flowers, the very fact that they're named such reveals the way their father the king leads a very structured lifestyle. This trick is also good for readers. The girls are all about a year apart; Azalea is fifteen at the novel's start and baby Lily is a newborn. If readers are confused about why Ivy is acting like a child, for example, it's easy to figure out that she's one of the youngest princesses.
The book starts off with Azalea getting ready for her first yuletide ball now that she's finally show more of age. We immediately see how important dancing is to her. I love the way Dixon fleshes out this interest and turns it into an entity of its own. Even the novel's title, Entwined, is based on a dance called the Entwine, which is a clever twist (that taught me something new, no less!). In the original fairy tale, we never know why the princesses go dancing each night or how they found the enchanted forest in the first place. In Entwined, however, we're with the girls every step of the way. We see how they're no longer allowed to dance after their mother passes away during childbirth. They feel stifled during their year of mourning. They find the enchanted forest within the walls of the castle quite by mistake, but through it, can cherish their mother's memory through dance, a need no one but the princesses can comprehend. Love interests are introduced early on, allowing time for love to blossom. The man in charge of the enchanted dance, Keeper, is mysterious and written in such a way, my arms got goosebumps as I read. The forest itself is gorgeous and I could see it in my mind's eye. Because Dixon focused on making the fairy tale's nemesis so dark, she maintained a light balance in the "real world." Unlike in the original, men aren't put to death if they're unable to discover how the girls manage to dance the night away. I appreciated this aspect and loved meeting all of the potential suitors. Lord Teddy and Mr. Bradford were my favorite characters. Lord Teddy stole the show every time he appeared on a page, creating many laugh-out-loud moments.
Overall, I love the way Dixon kept to the traditional tale while still giving us something new and unique. Entwined is almost five hundred pages, and when I first picked it up, I wondered how it could take so long to tell the story. The pacing remained even and never dragged. Once the story sucked me in, it was impossible to put down. The Twelve Dancing Princesses is still a favorite of mine, especially this version of the classic tale. show less
I love the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Grimm brothers - so needless to say, reading Entwined was a "must" for me. Ms. Dixon not only uses the tale as the backbone of her story, but she cleverly gives the story a twist to make it unique, engrossing and just downright fun.
Azalea and her eleven sisters, along with their kingdom, are all mourning the loss of their mother, the queen. Donning black dresses, staying in doors, allowing no dancing, or the prospect of suitors... nor anything remotely fun, the girls are depressed. The king is heartbroken over the loss of his wife and marches off to war leaving the girls, including their newborn sister, on their own. It is while he is away that the girls discover an enchanted staircase leading far beneath the castle to a world where they dance and dance... and dance. They literally dance their shoes to shreds every night. But beneath its lovely facade, there is danger lurking in this world.... and if the girls don't get out before it's too late, they might have to give up more than just their dancing shoes.
Told through the eyes of Azalea, you learn of their kingdom, of her sisters whom are all named after flowers starting with Azalea (the oldest) to Lily (the new addition). Oh but, I loved Azalea and her sisters. I liked how they each had their story - although not all got the same attention, you still knew who each sister was and how their stories entwined. I loved their sisterly bond and the love they had for one show more another was really joyful to read about.
Ms. Dixon has a sense of humor - with laugh out loud moments, you could really see her wittiness shine through. I loved those silly moments where I found myself giggling or with a big goofy grin on my face. It really gave this story - which from previous re-tellings I've found dark and gothic, to be something fun and carefree.
All in all, Entwined is a beautiful fairytale, riddled with music and dancing, romance and sisters and love ... in many forms. I found myself swept away by its beauty and magic. show less
Azalea and her eleven sisters, along with their kingdom, are all mourning the loss of their mother, the queen. Donning black dresses, staying in doors, allowing no dancing, or the prospect of suitors... nor anything remotely fun, the girls are depressed. The king is heartbroken over the loss of his wife and marches off to war leaving the girls, including their newborn sister, on their own. It is while he is away that the girls discover an enchanted staircase leading far beneath the castle to a world where they dance and dance... and dance. They literally dance their shoes to shreds every night. But beneath its lovely facade, there is danger lurking in this world.... and if the girls don't get out before it's too late, they might have to give up more than just their dancing shoes.
Told through the eyes of Azalea, you learn of their kingdom, of her sisters whom are all named after flowers starting with Azalea (the oldest) to Lily (the new addition). Oh but, I loved Azalea and her sisters. I liked how they each had their story - although not all got the same attention, you still knew who each sister was and how their stories entwined. I loved their sisterly bond and the love they had for one show more another was really joyful to read about.
Ms. Dixon has a sense of humor - with laugh out loud moments, you could really see her wittiness shine through. I loved those silly moments where I found myself giggling or with a big goofy grin on my face. It really gave this story - which from previous re-tellings I've found dark and gothic, to be something fun and carefree.
All in all, Entwined is a beautiful fairytale, riddled with music and dancing, romance and sisters and love ... in many forms. I found myself swept away by its beauty and magic. show less
It takes a lot to really surprise me in my reading endeavors, but "Entwined" did. I love fairy tale re-tellings and I nearly always enjoy them to some degree. When I saw this beautiful cover (isn't it just gorgeous?) and read that it was a re-telling of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses', it was a no-brainer on whether to read it. "Entwined" amazed me. I read it breathlessly, and when I couldn't read it, all I could think about was getting back to it.
The story sticks to the plot of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses' but it absolutely expands on it and twists it into something unique and truly beautiful. The story centers around Azalea, the eldest of 12 sisters (natch!). The girls have never been especially close to their father, whom the call The King. Their mother was always the one who was open with her time and affection. But then their mother dies. The girls find themselves literally abandoned by their father when he immediately heads off to war. They entire a year long period of mourning. They must not leave their home, must always wear black, and must NEVER dance.
When the girls find a secret passage that leads to a magical world where they can dance their hearts away, they are ecstatic. But there is a truly heinous villain known as Keeper who will extract a cost for their nightly dances. If you know the story at all, you know that eventually the father learns that they are wearing out their dance shoes when they shouldn't be dancing and offers a daughter to the man wise show more enough to figure out where they are dancing. This leads to my personal favorite part of the tale where the girls meet a series of men who come stay at the castle with them.
This book has such heart! I teared up more than a couple times for these girls. You get to know each of them, their little quirks and personalities. I think the author made this very simple by giving the girls alphabetical names...Azalea is the oldest, Bramble the next and so on, down to little baby Lily. The relationship with The King is complex and always had me guessing. The Keeper is creepy beyond creepy. The portion of the book that dealt with the mystery forest where the girls danced reminded me a little of the secret world in "A Great and Terrible Beauty".
And a fairy tale it wouldn't be if their wasn't a prince or potentially prince or two. The romance was definitely the least exciting piece to the story but that felt just right. These aren't girls who are going to wait to be saved by their princes, although the story definitely sticks to the era about which it was written.
All around a surprisingly fantastic read and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Should Heather Dixon attempt another fairy tale, I would be the first in line to buy it. show less
The story sticks to the plot of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses' but it absolutely expands on it and twists it into something unique and truly beautiful. The story centers around Azalea, the eldest of 12 sisters (natch!). The girls have never been especially close to their father, whom the call The King. Their mother was always the one who was open with her time and affection. But then their mother dies. The girls find themselves literally abandoned by their father when he immediately heads off to war. They entire a year long period of mourning. They must not leave their home, must always wear black, and must NEVER dance.
When the girls find a secret passage that leads to a magical world where they can dance their hearts away, they are ecstatic. But there is a truly heinous villain known as Keeper who will extract a cost for their nightly dances. If you know the story at all, you know that eventually the father learns that they are wearing out their dance shoes when they shouldn't be dancing and offers a daughter to the man wise show more enough to figure out where they are dancing. This leads to my personal favorite part of the tale where the girls meet a series of men who come stay at the castle with them.
This book has such heart! I teared up more than a couple times for these girls. You get to know each of them, their little quirks and personalities. I think the author made this very simple by giving the girls alphabetical names...Azalea is the oldest, Bramble the next and so on, down to little baby Lily. The relationship with The King is complex and always had me guessing. The Keeper is creepy beyond creepy. The portion of the book that dealt with the mystery forest where the girls danced reminded me a little of the secret world in "A Great and Terrible Beauty".
And a fairy tale it wouldn't be if their wasn't a prince or potentially prince or two. The romance was definitely the least exciting piece to the story but that felt just right. These aren't girls who are going to wait to be saved by their princes, although the story definitely sticks to the era about which it was written.
All around a surprisingly fantastic read and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Should Heather Dixon attempt another fairy tale, I would be the first in line to buy it. show less
** spoiler alert ** It was not a very unpredictable book. You know almost immediately who the elder sister's love interests are, who the villain is and how the book will end. The Keeper however, is one of the scariest villains I have EVER read about, totally creepy as well. The way he uses the memory of their Mother to taunt them...ugh *shudders*! But this book was the most beautifully told version of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" fairy tale that I have read yet. The sisters were all very humanized and real to me, each with fairly distinct personalities. I loved the dynamic between the girls and their father, how it affected their family after the Mother died in the beginning of the book. In other versions the Father was silly or just plain distant. In this book you can tell it is a lot more complicated than such easy characterizations. While the romances for the three eldest girls are fairly predictable, they are sweet and fairly well-developed for a plot that has so many things going on at one time. I was impressed by the originality and the freshness of this version of the story - all the others I have read have felt semi-stale. Azalea was the perfect heroine, with Bramble and Clover right beside her. Heather Dixon accomplished a book that is well worth reading, that will make you think and make you alternately smile, yell in frustration, laugh and feel like crying. My favorite part was the letter that Teddy sends to the King petitioning for Bramble's hand in show more marriage. It said the following:
Your Most Exalted Majesty, Your Grace, etc., etc.:
I don't know what ruddy else I can offer. You won't have a fig to do with my lands or my money or anything, I suppose, of value to anyone else. I suppose that makes you a good father but it certainly makes things rum for me. I haven't anything else to offer, but a sincere heart, one that aches for Bramble, her sweet, plucky spirit, her smart, whippish mouth, her heart and her dear hand.
I'm in agony now, hoping that my steward will convince you. If not I think I'll break all the windows in the house and drown myself in a bucket.
A most sincere heart---
Lord Edward Albert Hemley Haftenravenscher, Esq.
This note made me laugh so much I almost fell in a bucket and drowned (lol). show less
Your Most Exalted Majesty, Your Grace, etc., etc.:
I don't know what ruddy else I can offer. You won't have a fig to do with my lands or my money or anything, I suppose, of value to anyone else. I suppose that makes you a good father but it certainly makes things rum for me. I haven't anything else to offer, but a sincere heart, one that aches for Bramble, her sweet, plucky spirit, her smart, whippish mouth, her heart and her dear hand.
I'm in agony now, hoping that my steward will convince you. If not I think I'll break all the windows in the house and drown myself in a bucket.
A most sincere heart---
Lord Edward Albert Hemley Haftenravenscher, Esq.
This note made me laugh so much I almost fell in a bucket and drowned (lol). show less
Entwined is one book that I can't ever get out of my head and forget. It's also one book that I'll never choose to forget willingly. Creepy and enchanting, Entwined is the most beautifully written twist on the tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.
I read this book a few months ago and up till now, I'm still caught up in the world Heather Dixon so cleverly crafted. I didn't expect the book to have such a tasteful creepiness to it, but the dreamlike writing did mesmerize me. And the story wouldn't be complete without dancing, would it? Don't fret,
Entwined has plenty of that. In fact, Heather Dixon describes the dance steps with such grace, it sparks my imagination and I can almost picture the princesses dancing.
Twelve beautiful princess, with personalities that make each of them stand out. I don't have a favorite because I loved all of them! But I have to say, I enjoyed Bramble's wittiness and spunk. Aside from those sisters I loved Lord Teddie and Mr. Bradford, with Mr. Bradford being my favorite. They complimented the story and even better, spun a whole tale of romance. So we have the princesses, the men, and here is where I come to Keeper. Bottom line, he is an absolute creep. A charming and sinister creep, who made the hairs on my back stand.
The story progressed at an sensible pace, and one of the other things that I loved were the princesses developing relationship with their father. That had to be the part that stuck out to me the most and even though I loved every show more since piece of the book, I loved this the best. There are different elements in Entwined and love is one big part of that.
Entwined has captivated me completely and I don't think I can ever snap out of the spell it has cast on me. This has to be the book that made me a fan of twists on fairy tales such as the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I might as well be obsessed with Entwined! show less
I read this book a few months ago and up till now, I'm still caught up in the world Heather Dixon so cleverly crafted. I didn't expect the book to have such a tasteful creepiness to it, but the dreamlike writing did mesmerize me. And the story wouldn't be complete without dancing, would it? Don't fret,
Entwined has plenty of that. In fact, Heather Dixon describes the dance steps with such grace, it sparks my imagination and I can almost picture the princesses dancing.
Twelve beautiful princess, with personalities that make each of them stand out. I don't have a favorite because I loved all of them! But I have to say, I enjoyed Bramble's wittiness and spunk. Aside from those sisters I loved Lord Teddie and Mr. Bradford, with Mr. Bradford being my favorite. They complimented the story and even better, spun a whole tale of romance. So we have the princesses, the men, and here is where I come to Keeper. Bottom line, he is an absolute creep. A charming and sinister creep, who made the hairs on my back stand.
The story progressed at an sensible pace, and one of the other things that I loved were the princesses developing relationship with their father. That had to be the part that stuck out to me the most and even though I loved every show more since piece of the book, I loved this the best. There are different elements in Entwined and love is one big part of that.
Entwined has captivated me completely and I don't think I can ever snap out of the spell it has cast on me. This has to be the book that made me a fan of twists on fairy tales such as the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I might as well be obsessed with Entwined! show less
This is such an enjoyable story. I decided to read it based on some positive reviews and a gorgeous cover, and I’m so glad I did. It tells the story of twelve princesses, who tragically lose their mother at the beginning of the book during the birth of the last sister. The oldest daughter, Azalea, is left to look after her youngest sisters, and even makes a promise to do so at her mother’s bequest.
The death leads to the entire household being in a state of mourning for a year, which makes the girls even more sad, because this means no dancing, which is the one thing that makes them happy. When they find a secret entrance in the castle that leads to an enchanted forest where they can dance in secret, they are elated. The only flaw is that this forest is watched over by a mysterious man called Keeper. What is he going to want from them?
I did find that the story had a slow pace in the beginning, but I promise that it does develop into quite the edge-or-your-seat climax. I reached what I like to call the ‘point of no return’ towards the last 1/4 of the book, which is that point where you literally cannot stop reading.
As for the writing itself, I must say that I thought [a:Heather Dixon|386042|Heather Dixon|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1314682998p2/386042.jpg] did a wonderful job with this story. I’m not a dancer at all, and the scenes where the girls danced were written in a way that I was able to see in my mind exactly what they were doing and show more feel the emotion behind it. I loved that. Also, a story with twelve sisters...? They could’ve been left to be bland and unimportant, but Dixon gave them some rather distinct personalities. I absolutely LOVED the second-oldest girl, Bramble. She was adorably sassy! I also really had a soft spot in my heart for Clover.
Overall, I thought this story was absolutely lovely. I found myself wishing that I had just bought it rather than checking it out from the library, because I know I’m going to want to re-read it sooner rather than later. show less
The death leads to the entire household being in a state of mourning for a year, which makes the girls even more sad, because this means no dancing, which is the one thing that makes them happy. When they find a secret entrance in the castle that leads to an enchanted forest where they can dance in secret, they are elated. The only flaw is that this forest is watched over by a mysterious man called Keeper. What is he going to want from them?
I did find that the story had a slow pace in the beginning, but I promise that it does develop into quite the edge-or-your-seat climax. I reached what I like to call the ‘point of no return’ towards the last 1/4 of the book, which is that point where you literally cannot stop reading.
As for the writing itself, I must say that I thought [a:Heather Dixon|386042|Heather Dixon|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1314682998p2/386042.jpg] did a wonderful job with this story. I’m not a dancer at all, and the scenes where the girls danced were written in a way that I was able to see in my mind exactly what they were doing and show more feel the emotion behind it. I loved that. Also, a story with twelve sisters...? They could’ve been left to be bland and unimportant, but Dixon gave them some rather distinct personalities. I absolutely LOVED the second-oldest girl, Bramble. She was adorably sassy! I also really had a soft spot in my heart for Clover.
Overall, I thought this story was absolutely lovely. I found myself wishing that I had just bought it rather than checking it out from the library, because I know I’m going to want to re-read it sooner rather than later. show less
A retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” Entwined is the story of Azelea and her sisters who, like the classic fairy tale, discover a magical passage that leads them to a forest of silver and a pavilion where they dance the nights away. But instead of the young suitor who follows after the youngest princess, this story centers around the oldest sister, starting with the circumstances that led her and her sisters to such a mysterious agreement.
The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Eathesbury, which borrows heavily from Victorian England in its politics, slang, and customs, but leaves plenty of room for anachronistic touches to balance it out. Cockney slang and modern day colloquialisms trade off, going from “little goose” and “no kidding!” in quick banter. For people who want an authentic period piece with magical elements, this book may be aggravating to read. But otherwise the prose is simple and flowing, with references thrown in for color but largely accessible to a modern day reader.
Long ago, Eathesbury was ruled by the mad High King D’Eathe, an evil tyrant who practiced black magic and was rumored to be able to steal people’s souls. The general who led the rebellion against him was made king of Eathesbury and his descendants have carried on the title for hundreds of years, bringing peace to the land while leading it away from its wilder magical history. Now, the kingdom’s greatest dilemma is handling some very precocious princesses, show more who often get into trouble and even have official sounding names for their mischief, such as the Great Slipper Scandal.
Unfortunately, their carefree antics are overshadowed by the severe illness that has taken hold of their mother, the Queen. And when she dies shortly after giving birth to their twelfth daughter, the girls are desolate at the loss. Then doubly hurt by the mandate of the King ordering them to lock themselves away in mourning, and taking away the mementos that remind them of her and abstaining from any activities—including dancing, the one activity that their mother loved best.
Azalea swore on her mother’s deathbed that she would take care of her sisters, so when she is faced with the oppressive constraints and her sisters’ misery, she tries to teach them dance steps to ease their grief. But when they are discovered and locked in their rooms as punishment, all seems lost until Azalea discovers a secret passageway to an enchanted pavilion where they can eat to make up for the supper they missed, and dance to replace a deeper pain with sore toes and ruined slippers.
The guardian of the pavilion, known as Mr. Keeper, offers his place as a sanctuary and the girls readily agree. There is just one problem, Azalea realizes. Things go missing while they dance. First it is items they hardly missed, tiny trinkets, spools of thread, and then more important items, like the heirloom watch Lord Bradford’s let them borrow to keep time. And when their grief lessens and the real world seems to call them back, it seems Keeper’s possessiveness may extend to the girls themselves…
Dixon’s large cast makes for a daunting read, but she does a great job of making sure the girls and assorted characters are identifiable, or at least discernable. The twelve princesses are named for flowers/plants and follow the letters of the alphabet, starting with Azalea and ending with Lily. It gives readers an easy reference for their ages relative to each other without constant reminders, as well as insight into their characters.
Azalea is the natural lead as the sixteen year-old eldest sister, who has just begun to shoulder adult responsibilities. However, the promise of balls and romantic suitors is set aside when their mother dies, and she is tasked with taking care of her eleven younger sisters. She has the natural protectiveness of an older sibling, and Dixon writes her moods swinging between a responsible caregiver and headstrong teenager with a great believability.
Bramble is the spunky troublemaker and second oldest. She usually gets the best lines, such as the time where she ran away from the King shouting: “Down with tyranny! Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!” She’s also given to strange exclamations and the one most likely to tease the others for lighthearted moments.
Clover is the soft-spoken and stunningly beautiful third daughter, who often acts as the voice of kindness when the other girls get too far out of hand. Her stutter makes her dialogue easily identifiable, and goes noticeably quiet in the midst of any sibling quarrels.
The other girls are all given moments of definition, but largely blend in for the story. It would be a difficult and completely different story if all twelve girls were given an equal amount of spotlight, but Dixon juggles them well. The story is sprinkled with various asides to the girls’ quirks, such as Goldenrod and Flora’s closeness as twins, Delphinium’s artistic streak, Kale’s word mimicry, and so on. It is neatly tied together by Azalea’s devotion to them, which is the emotional thread of the story and handled with a sincerity that keeps everything going even when the intricacies of the plot stagger.
The family’s interpersonal relationships are the strongest and best part of the novel. Dixon writes with experience when she describes the way the princesses band together under their father’s abandonment, or the way they bicker when things go wrong. She makes sure that—while not every girl is a fully realized character—there is a genuine cohesive unit of sisters. It works especially well in contrast to the rocky relationship Azalea has with the King, trying to reach him on behalf of her sisters and also for her own sake. When she does petty spiteful things, including running into the dangers of Keeper’s world, there is an emotional resonance people can sympathize with even when she’s obviously in the wrong.
But while the character dynamics skim over every part of the narrative, the one place where Entwined drags its feet is in is its pacing. The book is framed within the year of mourning, but while the first half lays groundwork of magical intrigue, the second half muddles through the secondary plots of the suitors and the King’s attempts at reconciling with the girls. Both of these have their purpose in the story, but they sacrifice the slow spun realization that Keeper may not be exactly what he seems, ruining the tension in a way the book never fully recovers from. A particularly awkward example comes when Keeper issues an ultimatum to find the magical object keeping him in the pavilion or he won’t return Lord Bradford’s watch, and the girls dither for three months before deciding to renege on the agreement. It takes out the ominous influence of Keeper on the girls, while simultaneously making them less sympathetic because either they believe him to be unjustly imprisoned or they suspect sinister motives but continue dancing in his realm anyway. By the time the novel should be tightening its plot threads into a gripping climax, the novel overextends the conflict and then limps its way into a comfortable denouement.
Although the ending doesn’t exactly live up to the promises of the start, Dixon has written a charming book that mixes Disney-like fairy tales with some darker elements. It manages to juggle a large assortment of characters and give them all an outline and coherency within the narrative, even if gliding over all the smaller parts means the story sometimes sacrifices depth and pacing for tying up loose ends. While not a perfect weaving of family, magic, duty, and love, Entwined brings the elements together in an interesting read, creating a worthy retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”
If you like this, you might also like...
"East" by Edith Pattou, another retelling of a classic fairy tale with romance and strange enchantments
"Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine, for the plucky protagonist who finds ways around her curse show less
The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Eathesbury, which borrows heavily from Victorian England in its politics, slang, and customs, but leaves plenty of room for anachronistic touches to balance it out. Cockney slang and modern day colloquialisms trade off, going from “little goose” and “no kidding!” in quick banter. For people who want an authentic period piece with magical elements, this book may be aggravating to read. But otherwise the prose is simple and flowing, with references thrown in for color but largely accessible to a modern day reader.
Long ago, Eathesbury was ruled by the mad High King D’Eathe, an evil tyrant who practiced black magic and was rumored to be able to steal people’s souls. The general who led the rebellion against him was made king of Eathesbury and his descendants have carried on the title for hundreds of years, bringing peace to the land while leading it away from its wilder magical history. Now, the kingdom’s greatest dilemma is handling some very precocious princesses, show more who often get into trouble and even have official sounding names for their mischief, such as the Great Slipper Scandal.
Unfortunately, their carefree antics are overshadowed by the severe illness that has taken hold of their mother, the Queen. And when she dies shortly after giving birth to their twelfth daughter, the girls are desolate at the loss. Then doubly hurt by the mandate of the King ordering them to lock themselves away in mourning, and taking away the mementos that remind them of her and abstaining from any activities—including dancing, the one activity that their mother loved best.
Azalea swore on her mother’s deathbed that she would take care of her sisters, so when she is faced with the oppressive constraints and her sisters’ misery, she tries to teach them dance steps to ease their grief. But when they are discovered and locked in their rooms as punishment, all seems lost until Azalea discovers a secret passageway to an enchanted pavilion where they can eat to make up for the supper they missed, and dance to replace a deeper pain with sore toes and ruined slippers.
The guardian of the pavilion, known as Mr. Keeper, offers his place as a sanctuary and the girls readily agree. There is just one problem, Azalea realizes. Things go missing while they dance. First it is items they hardly missed, tiny trinkets, spools of thread, and then more important items, like the heirloom watch Lord Bradford’s let them borrow to keep time. And when their grief lessens and the real world seems to call them back, it seems Keeper’s possessiveness may extend to the girls themselves…
Dixon’s large cast makes for a daunting read, but she does a great job of making sure the girls and assorted characters are identifiable, or at least discernable. The twelve princesses are named for flowers/plants and follow the letters of the alphabet, starting with Azalea and ending with Lily. It gives readers an easy reference for their ages relative to each other without constant reminders, as well as insight into their characters.
Azalea is the natural lead as the sixteen year-old eldest sister, who has just begun to shoulder adult responsibilities. However, the promise of balls and romantic suitors is set aside when their mother dies, and she is tasked with taking care of her eleven younger sisters. She has the natural protectiveness of an older sibling, and Dixon writes her moods swinging between a responsible caregiver and headstrong teenager with a great believability.
Bramble is the spunky troublemaker and second oldest. She usually gets the best lines, such as the time where she ran away from the King shouting: “Down with tyranny! Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!” She’s also given to strange exclamations and the one most likely to tease the others for lighthearted moments.
Clover is the soft-spoken and stunningly beautiful third daughter, who often acts as the voice of kindness when the other girls get too far out of hand. Her stutter makes her dialogue easily identifiable, and goes noticeably quiet in the midst of any sibling quarrels.
The other girls are all given moments of definition, but largely blend in for the story. It would be a difficult and completely different story if all twelve girls were given an equal amount of spotlight, but Dixon juggles them well. The story is sprinkled with various asides to the girls’ quirks, such as Goldenrod and Flora’s closeness as twins, Delphinium’s artistic streak, Kale’s word mimicry, and so on. It is neatly tied together by Azalea’s devotion to them, which is the emotional thread of the story and handled with a sincerity that keeps everything going even when the intricacies of the plot stagger.
The family’s interpersonal relationships are the strongest and best part of the novel. Dixon writes with experience when she describes the way the princesses band together under their father’s abandonment, or the way they bicker when things go wrong. She makes sure that—while not every girl is a fully realized character—there is a genuine cohesive unit of sisters. It works especially well in contrast to the rocky relationship Azalea has with the King, trying to reach him on behalf of her sisters and also for her own sake. When she does petty spiteful things, including running into the dangers of Keeper’s world, there is an emotional resonance people can sympathize with even when she’s obviously in the wrong.
But while the character dynamics skim over every part of the narrative, the one place where Entwined drags its feet is in is its pacing. The book is framed within the year of mourning, but while the first half lays groundwork of magical intrigue, the second half muddles through the secondary plots of the suitors and the King’s attempts at reconciling with the girls. Both of these have their purpose in the story, but they sacrifice the slow spun realization that Keeper may not be exactly what he seems, ruining the tension in a way the book never fully recovers from. A particularly awkward example comes when Keeper issues an ultimatum to find the magical object keeping him in the pavilion or he won’t return Lord Bradford’s watch, and the girls dither for three months before deciding to renege on the agreement. It takes out the ominous influence of Keeper on the girls, while simultaneously making them less sympathetic because either they believe him to be unjustly imprisoned or they suspect sinister motives but continue dancing in his realm anyway. By the time the novel should be tightening its plot threads into a gripping climax, the novel overextends the conflict and then limps its way into a comfortable denouement.
Although the ending doesn’t exactly live up to the promises of the start, Dixon has written a charming book that mixes Disney-like fairy tales with some darker elements. It manages to juggle a large assortment of characters and give them all an outline and coherency within the narrative, even if gliding over all the smaller parts means the story sometimes sacrifices depth and pacing for tying up loose ends. While not a perfect weaving of family, magic, duty, and love, Entwined brings the elements together in an interesting read, creating a worthy retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”
If you like this, you might also like...
"East" by Edith Pattou, another retelling of a classic fairy tale with romance and strange enchantments
"Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine, for the plucky protagonist who finds ways around her curse show less
Dixon, H. (2011). Entwined. New York: HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 474 pp. ISBN: 978-0-06-200103-0. (Hardcover); $17.99.*
This atmospheric, slightly gothic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is an intoxicating, moody fantasy that captures the spirit of the original but adds several fresh new twists. Azalea is both vulnerable and assertive. Her sisters each have distinct and real personalities. The Keeper is delightfully mysterious and increasingly creepy. He provides Azalea and her sisters the room in which they are able to dance, but all the while there is this undercurrent suggesting that the cost of this dancing will be much higher than Azalea expects. This mystery involving what the Keeper expects, moves the narrative forward and keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. The relationship Azalea has with her father develops as the story moves forward; readers gradually understand that Azalea’s portrayal may be somewhat ignorant of her father and the many years he has lived in this very strange castle. Certainly those familiar with the Grimm fairytale will not feel betrayed by Dixon’s story. At its core, Entwined is a book about learning to embrace those things in life we love, whether they are dancing or family or a safe place to live. The writing is lush, blooming with detail. The romance is not the Disney contrived nonsense that we see in movies; it is very believable, which is something of which Dixon may be justifiable proud in this retelling of a classic show more fairy tale. Pair this one with The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun. Purchase this one for both middle school and high school libraries. show less
This atmospheric, slightly gothic retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is an intoxicating, moody fantasy that captures the spirit of the original but adds several fresh new twists. Azalea is both vulnerable and assertive. Her sisters each have distinct and real personalities. The Keeper is delightfully mysterious and increasingly creepy. He provides Azalea and her sisters the room in which they are able to dance, but all the while there is this undercurrent suggesting that the cost of this dancing will be much higher than Azalea expects. This mystery involving what the Keeper expects, moves the narrative forward and keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. The relationship Azalea has with her father develops as the story moves forward; readers gradually understand that Azalea’s portrayal may be somewhat ignorant of her father and the many years he has lived in this very strange castle. Certainly those familiar with the Grimm fairytale will not feel betrayed by Dixon’s story. At its core, Entwined is a book about learning to embrace those things in life we love, whether they are dancing or family or a safe place to live. The writing is lush, blooming with detail. The romance is not the Disney contrived nonsense that we see in movies; it is very believable, which is something of which Dixon may be justifiable proud in this retelling of a classic show more fairy tale. Pair this one with The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun. Purchase this one for both middle school and high school libraries. show less
The only other encounter I've had with the fairytale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, was the retelling by Jessica Day George in Princess of the Midnight Ball. While I liked that version, I highly enjoyed the darkness of Entwined.
With this book being nearly 500 pages long, Dixon did a wonderful job of pacing the story. I did not feel rushed or overwhelmed. The details and plot were intriguing and engaging.
The story is told from the eldest daughter's (Azalea) perspective. We are introduced to the eleven other girls (all named after flowers and in alphabetical order according to birth) throughout the book. While the vast amount of names still confuses me, (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose, Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale and Lily) each girl emerges with a more distinct personality which makes it easier to sort them out.
I'm always saddened by a less than ideal family situation. The girls relationship with their father wasn't perfect. He was King first and foremost and a father second. Royal Business and things of the sort took precedence over his daughters. This changed throughout the course of the book causing me to grow more connected to the King, as the girls did.
Keeper was a bit of a creeper (ha ha) and absolutely strange. I could see how he could be appealing to girls in some ways, but he's that guy in horror movies that you are physically screaming for the girl not to be left alone with!
The only thing that had me a bit down about show more was the dancing. It plays a big role in this story, being a major part of the girls lives, but I just couldn't see it. It must be hard to describe a dance sequence to an outsider, but I just couldn't visualize the dances that the girls participated in each night.
Entwined is a dark and dazzling debut. Like the purpose of the Entwine dance, this book will tie you up and hold you captive until the end. show less
With this book being nearly 500 pages long, Dixon did a wonderful job of pacing the story. I did not feel rushed or overwhelmed. The details and plot were intriguing and engaging.
The story is told from the eldest daughter's (Azalea) perspective. We are introduced to the eleven other girls (all named after flowers and in alphabetical order according to birth) throughout the book. While the vast amount of names still confuses me, (Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose, Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale and Lily) each girl emerges with a more distinct personality which makes it easier to sort them out.
I'm always saddened by a less than ideal family situation. The girls relationship with their father wasn't perfect. He was King first and foremost and a father second. Royal Business and things of the sort took precedence over his daughters. This changed throughout the course of the book causing me to grow more connected to the King, as the girls did.
Keeper was a bit of a creeper (ha ha) and absolutely strange. I could see how he could be appealing to girls in some ways, but he's that guy in horror movies that you are physically screaming for the girl not to be left alone with!
The only thing that had me a bit down about show more was the dancing. It plays a big role in this story, being a major part of the girls lives, but I just couldn't see it. It must be hard to describe a dance sequence to an outsider, but I just couldn't visualize the dances that the girls participated in each night.
Entwined is a dark and dazzling debut. Like the purpose of the Entwine dance, this book will tie you up and hold you captive until the end. show less
"Entwined" was cute. It was sweet, dainty, and mostly well-written (that is to say, there were only a few spots where the tone tripped over a modern phrase or word), and it was good, clean fun. My favorite part was the relationship between all the sisters--those were all so well done. All twelve of them were individuals, and they were all believable for their ages.
(TWELVE female characters that spent the whole book in center stage!! Can you imagine?? I was in heaven.)
However, I did get awfully bored of Azalea (the main character) needing to be saved. Over and over, she faints, or falls in an icy stream, or just generally needs to be babied by one of The Men. Yes, the physical climax of the story involved the sisters saving their father (one of The Men), but that doesn't negate the prior "weak ankles" bits. I would have liked to see more of Azalea's struggle to deal with the Keeper on her own, since she seems literally unable to tell anyone about his dastardly plans, and how isolating and frightening that experience was. I also found myself ambivalent during the big showdown with the Keeper.
Overall, the story was "meh" and I had difficulty staying with it. The twelve princesses, however, were done better than I ever would have dared to dream they would be. They make "Entwined" worth reading, and I do recommend it. (Just... maybe go to the library. I would've been put-out to have spent $20 on a hardcover copy.)
(TWELVE female characters that spent the whole book in center stage!! Can you imagine?? I was in heaven.)
However, I did get awfully bored of Azalea (the main character) needing to be saved. Over and over, she faints, or falls in an icy stream, or just generally needs to be babied by one of The Men. Yes, the physical climax of the story involved the sisters saving their father (one of The Men), but that doesn't negate the prior "weak ankles" bits. I would have liked to see more of Azalea's struggle to deal with the Keeper on her own, since she seems literally unable to tell anyone about his dastardly plans, and how isolating and frightening that experience was. I also found myself ambivalent during the big showdown with the Keeper.
Overall, the story was "meh" and I had difficulty staying with it. The twelve princesses, however, were done better than I ever would have dared to dream they would be. They make "Entwined" worth reading, and I do recommend it. (Just... maybe go to the library. I would've been put-out to have spent $20 on a hardcover copy.)
Just when Azalea is of age to fully enjoy the beautiful gowns, the dancing slippers, the balls, charming young suitors and everything else that comes with being a crown princess it's taken away.
With the entire palace in mourning and the girls not allowed to dance, Azalea is trapped. Not allowed to leave or even go outside, she's also charged with looking after her sisters. Sisters who wish to dance.
Keeper has somewhere the girls will be able to dance and not be seen. Locked away in an enchanted passage that's long since been forgotten about, Keeper hosts dances for the 12 young princesses every night.
But Keeper likes to keep things and the girls might not find out just how high the price of admittance to his silver forest is until it's too late.
Heather Dixon's Entwined is a true fairy tale--not a faery tale which there have been quite a lot of lately, but a fairy tale of which, after reading this, you might just decide there need to be more. There are princesses (a whole lot of them! but thanks to a brilliant naming scheming on the author's part, they're easy to keep straight), a King, the royal household, suitors, etc.
Anyone who grew up on Disney movies (the true ones with princesses and balls and talking mice or teacups) should love Entwined. It is a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale and seems to follow the tale pretty closely but is greatly expanded and so, so much more enjoyable because of that.
Heather Dixon's Entwined is like a Disney version of show more one of Grimm's fairy tales meets a little bit of Lewis Carroll.
Entwined is full of dancing, humor, intrigue, suspense, some maybe love triangles, and even danger. (Of all of the books I've read this year--and it's somehow become quite a lot--this is one of the few that's actually made me laugh even while I was admiring it's awesomeness or worrying what would happen next.) And of course it makes you wish you took a formal dancing class (or paid more attention in the one you did take!) so you could go to a ball and know what you were doing!
Very much looking forward to more from Heather Dixon.
4.5/5 stars show less
With the entire palace in mourning and the girls not allowed to dance, Azalea is trapped. Not allowed to leave or even go outside, she's also charged with looking after her sisters. Sisters who wish to dance.
Keeper has somewhere the girls will be able to dance and not be seen. Locked away in an enchanted passage that's long since been forgotten about, Keeper hosts dances for the 12 young princesses every night.
But Keeper likes to keep things and the girls might not find out just how high the price of admittance to his silver forest is until it's too late.
Heather Dixon's Entwined is a true fairy tale--not a faery tale which there have been quite a lot of lately, but a fairy tale of which, after reading this, you might just decide there need to be more. There are princesses (a whole lot of them! but thanks to a brilliant naming scheming on the author's part, they're easy to keep straight), a King, the royal household, suitors, etc.
Anyone who grew up on Disney movies (the true ones with princesses and balls and talking mice or teacups) should love Entwined. It is a re-telling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale and seems to follow the tale pretty closely but is greatly expanded and so, so much more enjoyable because of that.
Heather Dixon's Entwined is like a Disney version of show more one of Grimm's fairy tales meets a little bit of Lewis Carroll.
Entwined is full of dancing, humor, intrigue, suspense, some maybe love triangles, and even danger. (Of all of the books I've read this year--and it's somehow become quite a lot--this is one of the few that's actually made me laugh even while I was admiring it's awesomeness or worrying what would happen next.) And of course it makes you wish you took a formal dancing class (or paid more attention in the one you did take!) so you could go to a ball and know what you were doing!
Very much looking forward to more from Heather Dixon.
4.5/5 stars show less
Following her mother’s death, Azalea is thrust into an unknown world of mourning rituals and absolutely no dancing per the strict orders of the King, who also just happens to be her father. With eleven younger sisters, Azalea must show a determined spirit, especially when the King must leave their magical home of Eathesbury to fight in the war. To keep up her sisters’ spirits, Azalea learns to break the rules with the help of the Keeper, but this mysterious figure asks the girls to pay a high price for his services. Based on Grimm’s “Twelve Dancing Princesses”, Entwined is a lesson in being true to oneself in the face of adversity. Boasting elements of romance, dark fantasy and adventure, this novel is sure to appeal to the Twilight crowd. Highly recommended. For ages 13-16.
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. I love the fairy tale of the twelve dancing princesses and was excited to read a retelling of it. It is a good retelling, although it starts off a bit slow.
Azalea (aka Lea) is the eldest of twelve daughters. When her mother passes away she is the lady of their house. With her father gone at war (and avoiding any contact with them prior to his departure) and her sisters banned from any kind of revelry for the period of mourning she is desperate for a way to amuse her depressed sisters. Then she stumbles upon a secret passage in their room that leads to a secret ballroom where a mysterious man named Keeper lets the princesses dance their hearts away. Of course there is a cost for this revelry that is darker than they could have imagined.
Dixon does an excellent job juggling the twelve sisters without the readers becoming confused. They are named in alphabetical order, a clever trick that lets the reader remember who is the youngest and the oldest. The story mainly focuses on the three oldest sisters who are of age: Azalea, Bramble, and Clover. All of them have distinct personalities, are likable, and are interesting to read about.
Much of the story focuses around dance; many types of dances are discussed and the dances themselves have some magic to them. There is more magic in general incorporated into this story than in previous retellings I have read. I loved that the magic and the mysterious show more Keeper are well woven into the history and politics in the realm.
I did have some problems with this story. It starts out very slowly. It takes about a quarter of the book for the sisters to even discover the secret passage; the events that come before are meant to set up the story and convey the princesses' boredom, and they do. They also bore the reader. The story picks up later as the suitors start arriving at the castle, but even this is slow at parts. If some of this had been cut out and the story tightened up it would have been an absolutely terrific story.
The story ends well and should please readers. There is also a sense of sisterly-love and family throughout that is heartwarming and makes the reader really pull for these girls and hope that everything will end up okay.
You can't help but compare this book to Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. I think I like this version a bit better than that one, but it moves at a slower pace. I think Dixon does a better job of painting a picture of the underground Ballroom and really pulling the reader into it. I also think Dixon created a much creepier villain in Keeper than George did in her version of the story. The biggest difference between the two is that in George's version the girls dance as a punishment, in this version they start dancing because they desperately want to.
Overall a solid fairy tale retelling, I enjoyed reading it. If you love fairy tale retelllings this is one to check out, it is very well done. If you enjoy the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses in general you may also want to check out Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George; it is similar in quality and a slightly different take on the story. show less
Azalea (aka Lea) is the eldest of twelve daughters. When her mother passes away she is the lady of their house. With her father gone at war (and avoiding any contact with them prior to his departure) and her sisters banned from any kind of revelry for the period of mourning she is desperate for a way to amuse her depressed sisters. Then she stumbles upon a secret passage in their room that leads to a secret ballroom where a mysterious man named Keeper lets the princesses dance their hearts away. Of course there is a cost for this revelry that is darker than they could have imagined.
Dixon does an excellent job juggling the twelve sisters without the readers becoming confused. They are named in alphabetical order, a clever trick that lets the reader remember who is the youngest and the oldest. The story mainly focuses on the three oldest sisters who are of age: Azalea, Bramble, and Clover. All of them have distinct personalities, are likable, and are interesting to read about.
Much of the story focuses around dance; many types of dances are discussed and the dances themselves have some magic to them. There is more magic in general incorporated into this story than in previous retellings I have read. I loved that the magic and the mysterious show more Keeper are well woven into the history and politics in the realm.
I did have some problems with this story. It starts out very slowly. It takes about a quarter of the book for the sisters to even discover the secret passage; the events that come before are meant to set up the story and convey the princesses' boredom, and they do. They also bore the reader. The story picks up later as the suitors start arriving at the castle, but even this is slow at parts. If some of this had been cut out and the story tightened up it would have been an absolutely terrific story.
The story ends well and should please readers. There is also a sense of sisterly-love and family throughout that is heartwarming and makes the reader really pull for these girls and hope that everything will end up okay.
You can't help but compare this book to Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. I think I like this version a bit better than that one, but it moves at a slower pace. I think Dixon does a better job of painting a picture of the underground Ballroom and really pulling the reader into it. I also think Dixon created a much creepier villain in Keeper than George did in her version of the story. The biggest difference between the two is that in George's version the girls dance as a punishment, in this version they start dancing because they desperately want to.
Overall a solid fairy tale retelling, I enjoyed reading it. If you love fairy tale retelllings this is one to check out, it is very well done. If you enjoy the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses in general you may also want to check out Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George; it is similar in quality and a slightly different take on the story. show less
The Twelve Dancing Princesses was one of my favourite fairy tales growing up, and Entwined was a great take on the story! Heather Dixon's writing was absolutely beautiful, as was the world that was created in Entwined and the story that was told.
One of my favourite things about this book was the lovely atmosphere and setting. Seeing as this book was a retelling of a fairy tale, you would expect the setting to have a sort of whimsical feeling, and it really did. While reading, I was really able to envision the rich settings of the castle and the silver forest. It all felt so enchanting and magical! I think that the amazing setting just enhanced the story and added so much!
I really liked alot of the characters in Entwined. The main character, and eldest sister, Azalea was such a caring, wonderful character. After the death of her mother, Azalea really becomes almost like a mother to her younger sisters, and I really liked that about her. She cared so much about her family and seemed to be like the family rock. I don't think that her sisters would have been able to cope as well as they did with their mother's death had Azalea not been there to comfort them.
Also, I actually really liked the character Keeper. Although he was the villian of the book, I was really intrigued and captivated by him and the mystery that clouded him. He was really interesting to read about and I found myself looking forward to the scenes that he was in! I also thought that he was kind of sexy show more hehe... I seem to have a weakness for the bad guys in books!
Because Entwined took place in a fantasy world with a society that seemed to resemble that of Victorian era England more than that of the society that we live in today, the romance side of the book was there, but a bit lighter that I would have liked. In Entwined, the characters didn't just jump into a romance with kissing, etc.. The romances had to involve courting and the courting part of the book, although sweet and romantic, didn't provide much room for kissing scenes (which I like!)!
Also, as I mentioned before, Heather Dixon's writing was beautiful, but I also found Entwined to be quite a slow read. Despite the lovely writing, it wasn't a book that I could sit down with and read in one sitting. It was just a bit too slow for me to be able to do that, in my opinion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses! I really liked alot of the characters (even the bad guy!) and just adored the rich atmosphere that Heather Dixon created with her words. She really has such a lovely writing style! Although I would have liked a bit more in the romance department and a bit of a faster pace, I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it! show less
One of my favourite things about this book was the lovely atmosphere and setting. Seeing as this book was a retelling of a fairy tale, you would expect the setting to have a sort of whimsical feeling, and it really did. While reading, I was really able to envision the rich settings of the castle and the silver forest. It all felt so enchanting and magical! I think that the amazing setting just enhanced the story and added so much!
I really liked alot of the characters in Entwined. The main character, and eldest sister, Azalea was such a caring, wonderful character. After the death of her mother, Azalea really becomes almost like a mother to her younger sisters, and I really liked that about her. She cared so much about her family and seemed to be like the family rock. I don't think that her sisters would have been able to cope as well as they did with their mother's death had Azalea not been there to comfort them.
Also, I actually really liked the character Keeper. Although he was the villian of the book, I was really intrigued and captivated by him and the mystery that clouded him. He was really interesting to read about and I found myself looking forward to the scenes that he was in! I also thought that he was kind of sexy show more hehe... I seem to have a weakness for the bad guys in books!
Because Entwined took place in a fantasy world with a society that seemed to resemble that of Victorian era England more than that of the society that we live in today, the romance side of the book was there, but a bit lighter that I would have liked. In Entwined, the characters didn't just jump into a romance with kissing, etc.. The romances had to involve courting and the courting part of the book, although sweet and romantic, didn't provide much room for kissing scenes (which I like!)!
Also, as I mentioned before, Heather Dixon's writing was beautiful, but I also found Entwined to be quite a slow read. Despite the lovely writing, it wasn't a book that I could sit down with and read in one sitting. It was just a bit too slow for me to be able to do that, in my opinion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses! I really liked alot of the characters (even the bad guy!) and just adored the rich atmosphere that Heather Dixon created with her words. She really has such a lovely writing style! Although I would have liked a bit more in the romance department and a bit of a faster pace, I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it! show less
"There were twelve dancing princesses," he whispered. "and their little hearts were broken. But one day they found a magical land of silver and music where they could dance and forget all their troubles."
This is only the 2nd book I've read based on this old Fairytale - the twelve princesses. I've never read the actual tale and I'm not sure I plan to track it down. Of the two retellings I liked this one the best.
Although there were so many, this one did a good job of keeping the girls separate and each personality and girl were original and interesting.
But holy details. I loved getting to know the girls and their lives but the middle drug. It was all I could do to get through it. The end was fast paced, finally, and it all flew to the end. Interesting story and re-telling.
This is only the 2nd book I've read based on this old Fairytale - the twelve princesses. I've never read the actual tale and I'm not sure I plan to track it down. Of the two retellings I liked this one the best.
Although there were so many, this one did a good job of keeping the girls separate and each personality and girl were original and interesting.
But holy details. I loved getting to know the girls and their lives but the middle drug. It was all I could do to get through it. The end was fast paced, finally, and it all flew to the end. Interesting story and re-telling.
Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.
It was magical. I loved it, for all it's flowing words, and fairytale beauty. I can honestly say that I've read several adaptions of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but this is the only one that has captured my heart and made me really want to read more about them. I mean, twelve princesses, named in alphabetical order? Nothing could be more magical, in my opinion. I loved Azalea's charm and wit, and Bramble's plotting and pranking, because for me, some characters are better as pranksters. Also, Clover was very interesting, and I wish we got to see more of her in the story.
I also loved how the author took a different approach to the dancing, because it was way better when they chose to be there than it was when they were cursed to be there because their mother had wanted twelve children. Much more intriguing. And forever making me want know more about how it ended. The author did a good job. One thing though, when Lily first appears, your shocked when she rarely comes back up, because shes a baby! And you see her a grand total of about 8 times in the book. How did that baby stay alive? It's insane!
I really liked the subplot with the romances, and the strange goings on by Keeper. When you first read him, you think, "Oh No, Here comes trouble." and guess what? Your right. He is trouble. In the worst kind of way. I won't tell you anything that he does, because that would ruin the book, but it is freaking scary. Because he is show more completely, and utterly, off his rocker. But you'll figure it out. I was highly entertained, and barely breathing so I could figure out what happened next, so what do you say you check it out? show less
It was magical. I loved it, for all it's flowing words, and fairytale beauty. I can honestly say that I've read several adaptions of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but this is the only one that has captured my heart and made me really want to read more about them. I mean, twelve princesses, named in alphabetical order? Nothing could be more magical, in my opinion. I loved Azalea's charm and wit, and Bramble's plotting and pranking, because for me, some characters are better as pranksters. Also, Clover was very interesting, and I wish we got to see more of her in the story.
I also loved how the author took a different approach to the dancing, because it was way better when they chose to be there than it was when they were cursed to be there because their mother had wanted twelve children. Much more intriguing. And forever making me want know more about how it ended. The author did a good job. One thing though, when Lily first appears, your shocked when she rarely comes back up, because shes a baby! And you see her a grand total of about 8 times in the book. How did that baby stay alive? It's insane!
I really liked the subplot with the romances, and the strange goings on by Keeper. When you first read him, you think, "Oh No, Here comes trouble." and guess what? Your right. He is trouble. In the worst kind of way. I won't tell you anything that he does, because that would ruin the book, but it is freaking scary. Because he is show more completely, and utterly, off his rocker. But you'll figure it out. I was highly entertained, and barely breathing so I could figure out what happened next, so what do you say you check it out? show less
I love retellings of classic fairy tales. I felt that the story had a lot of promise, and I did truly enjoy the importance of dancing in the lives of the 12 sisters.
But there were some major problems with the novel. For a book with twelve princesses, the story is strangely lacking in women characters. Other than the princesses' mother, there are apparently no other women in the kingdom except one cougar after men and some sort of colorless housekeeper, named but never described. I found the main character strangely passive.In fact, in the great mirror-scene climax, every victim is female, and every rescuer is male.
I felt that the author did not make any real distinctions among the sisters; I could barely tell them apart, except for the elder four. I also had a very hard time picturing them…especially their ages. The story begins with Azalea's very first ball; that must mean she can't be much older than 17 if she's just "come out. " Yet within a few pages worth of time, she's immediately comfortable reaching out to stroke a man's hair! I found the romance of the third sister, Clover, even weirder. How old is the Prime Minister?!
The dialogue is very clever. I loved the touches of humor, and shivered over the terrifying villain. But the book just cried out for better editing. When Azalea is angry or stressed, she clenches her fists so hard she drives her fingernails into the palms of her hands--11 times in the novel. I also couldn't get past the girls passing around a show more "grammarian," which is not a book of grammar, but a person who studies grammar. Interesting image. Also, the casual use of the word "boff" to describe a person who's dashing off somewhere or other. Unfortunately, in the US the word means something quite a bit coarser. show less
But there were some major problems with the novel. For a book with twelve princesses, the story is strangely lacking in women characters. Other than the princesses' mother, there are apparently no other women in the kingdom except one cougar after men and some sort of colorless housekeeper, named but never described. I found the main character strangely passive.
I felt that the author did not make any real distinctions among the sisters; I could barely tell them apart, except for the elder four. I also had a very hard time picturing them…especially their ages. The story begins with Azalea's very first ball; that must mean she can't be much older than 17 if she's just "come out. " Yet within a few pages worth of time, she's immediately comfortable reaching out to stroke a man's hair! I found the romance of the third sister, Clover, even weirder. How old is the Prime Minister?!
The dialogue is very clever. I loved the touches of humor, and shivered over the terrifying villain. But the book just cried out for better editing. When Azalea is angry or stressed, she clenches her fists so hard she drives her fingernails into the palms of her hands--11 times in the novel. I also couldn't get past the girls passing around a show more "grammarian," which is not a book of grammar, but a person who studies grammar. Interesting image. Also, the casual use of the word "boff" to describe a person who's dashing off somewhere or other. Unfortunately, in the US the word means something quite a bit coarser. show less
Though I’m not all that familiar with the twelve dancing princesses fairytale (I see you judging me!), I was sure that Entwined would be a book I could immerse myself into. I started it during my most recent reading funk this past week and, unfortunately, we got off to a shaky start. After taking a reading break, though, I found myself very much charmed by this retelling.
I won’t even lie, it would be impossible to try to recall all of the sisters; all of them didn’t have unique, distinguishable characteristics to tell them apart. However, I can say that their dynamic was so much fun to read about. They were stubborn, loyal, and very loveable. Bramble was definitely the standout with her behavior and fierceness.
Following their mother’s death, the girls are ordered into mourning by their father. The biggest change for them was not being allowed to dance. Their defiance led them into a secret, magical passage every night where they met the villain of the story, Keeper. I have to admit, I found Keeper to be quite alluring at first, but he of course turned into a creepy creepster.
Romance wise, I would have loved more depth to the relationships. They were all very cute and sweet, but there wasn’t enough swoon for my liking. Azalea was obviously the focus of the story, and I loved her suitor, but the story would have benefited from more attention to Bramble and Clover’s romances. I adored both of the girls and I would have liked to feel the same way about their show more guys.
By far, my favorite part of the book was the relationship of the girls with their father, the king. It was easy to sympathize with both sides and understand how they felt following the death of the mother. The distance was aching, but it was so wonderful to see the gradual growth back together. The king? Was amazing and I loved peeling back his layers to uncover what a big softie he was. He was probably my favorite character of the entire book.
Overall, this was a cute and very likable story. I will definitely give this a re-read in the future when I’m in the mood for a heartwarmer. show less
I won’t even lie, it would be impossible to try to recall all of the sisters; all of them didn’t have unique, distinguishable characteristics to tell them apart. However, I can say that their dynamic was so much fun to read about. They were stubborn, loyal, and very loveable. Bramble was definitely the standout with her behavior and fierceness.
Following their mother’s death, the girls are ordered into mourning by their father. The biggest change for them was not being allowed to dance. Their defiance led them into a secret, magical passage every night where they met the villain of the story, Keeper. I have to admit, I found Keeper to be quite alluring at first, but he of course turned into a creepy creepster.
Romance wise, I would have loved more depth to the relationships. They were all very cute and sweet, but there wasn’t enough swoon for my liking. Azalea was obviously the focus of the story, and I loved her suitor, but the story would have benefited from more attention to Bramble and Clover’s romances. I adored both of the girls and I would have liked to feel the same way about their show more guys.
By far, my favorite part of the book was the relationship of the girls with their father, the king. It was easy to sympathize with both sides and understand how they felt following the death of the mother. The distance was aching, but it was so wonderful to see the gradual growth back together. The king? Was amazing and I loved peeling back his layers to uncover what a big softie he was. He was probably my favorite character of the entire book.
Overall, this was a cute and very likable story. I will definitely give this a re-read in the future when I’m in the mood for a heartwarmer. show less
This story was enchanting from page one. It had just the perfect blend of magic and fantasy, sadness and desperation, and familial love and romance. The story built slowly but thoroughly...bringing the reader into the web of Azalea's family...and into the hearts of the twelve princesses. The family dynamic between the sisters, their estranged father ("The King" as they call him), and even the palace staff lends itself to a full reading experience. The romance was sweet and appropriate and developed believably and honestly over the course of the book. The villian was a perfect foil for Azalea's innocence, family loyalty and bravery.This is a perfect escapist read. Quick, easy and charming. Sure to appeal to all generations who enjoy fantasy, fairy tales, and the sweet innocence of youth.
It’s very well written, and although the plot is a little slow to start off, I think it’s essential for it to go at that pace. It introduces the reader to a detailed world with a good amount of characters to read about. The sisters in the book are distinct enough so the reader can figure out who is who. Some of their personalities are stronger and more memorable than others (Bramble comes to mind). There’s real well placed moments of humor throughout the book and you do find yourself laughing here and there. The more fantastical and magical elements of the book are also well done, especially towards the ending where the pace of the book goes at whirlwind speed and keeps the reader engaged well until the last pages.
The character of the Keeper is also well written. As the book progresses his sinister side comes out and it does get a little, well creepy. It suits the story and the setting (where the Princesses go to dance). The setting itself does seem marvelous and beautiful but there’s a coldness and detachment to it - which is a very likely home for the Keeper himself as his personality also is a reflection to the setting.
The ‘couples’ of the book are well done and they suited each other.
It’s another retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses but I feel that it’s much more than that. It’s well detailed, and despite it’s length, it’s a beautifully written story where when you’re done with the book, you feel satisfied, and complete. Definitely show more recommended for those in love with young adult books, fairy tales and the retelling of them, but also those that like fantasy stories without intense descriptions of magic. show less
The character of the Keeper is also well written. As the book progresses his sinister side comes out and it does get a little, well creepy. It suits the story and the setting (where the Princesses go to dance). The setting itself does seem marvelous and beautiful but there’s a coldness and detachment to it - which is a very likely home for the Keeper himself as his personality also is a reflection to the setting.
The ‘couples’ of the book are well done and they suited each other.
It’s another retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses but I feel that it’s much more than that. It’s well detailed, and despite it’s length, it’s a beautifully written story where when you’re done with the book, you feel satisfied, and complete. Definitely show more recommended for those in love with young adult books, fairy tales and the retelling of them, but also those that like fantasy stories without intense descriptions of magic. show less
Entwined is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses Fairytale. We start with Azalea preparing for a ball – her first one! – and dreading having to dance with the King, who is a very stiff dancer. But her mother is ill and someone has to take her place, and being the oldest of 11, the job falls to her.
But the ball never goes as planned – first the King never appears, then it ends prematurely. There are bad news, the eleven princesses become motherless. But they gain a little sister. The house enters in mourning, meaning that all their dresses are dyed black, the windows are draped in black, they cannot go out except on Royal Business, and *gasp* they cannot dance. And if there is something that these sisters like doing, it is dancing.
But this is a world with magic, and with magic they find a perfect place to dance – a silver forest with a magical pavilion, with music aplenty, and a guardian – Keeper, who is trapped there and wants their help to escape.
What first stands out on this book are the sheer number of characters – of course there would be many, it's the 12 Dancing Princesses, after all, but all of them get to be rather different from the others. And I really liked that they were so neatly named – bless the King with his organization and rules complex! – it was easier to set them apart this way. And what is this revolutionary technique? Well, they are named in alphabetical order: Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Eve, Flora and Goldenrod, show more Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale and Lily! The older ones got more action, of course, and more screen time. But the young ones were adorable as well!
As for the story, it was sweet, not without its sadness and perils. But in the end, the feeling I have of this book is that it was sweet. I really liked the King and his part on the story, and was glad that the fact that he was mourning his wife was not forgotten. He was stiff, and it was understandable that the girls felt unloved, but all the time I couldn't hate him for it. And the more the story progressed, the more I liked him as a character – he did love his daughters, although I think he didn't really know what to do with so many of them and that he was overwhelmed by their energy and liveliness.
Keeper's part of the story did make my brain churn since he first appeared – there was something in him that put me on guard (unlike, for instance, Fairweller, who is despised by Azalea and Co., and who I did like him from the start). But Keeper's mystery soon became rather obvious, although I wasn't sure how it was going to play out. In the end it worked out fine (better than I had hoped) although it was a bit a cheating there to get to the happy ending – but I'm glad it ended that way.
I also liked the writing on this one – there was a hint of humour throughout it that I enjoyed, from arguments with magic sugar teeth, to sisterly gossiping and teasing. I loved the interactions between characters, especially between sisters. There were, however, parts where I felt a bit lost about the surroundings and about who was holding the little ones, especially Lily, who kept changing hands between sisters.
To sum it up, Entwined is a really sweet book, with very good characters. Well worth reading.
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But the ball never goes as planned – first the King never appears, then it ends prematurely. There are bad news, the eleven princesses become motherless. But they gain a little sister. The house enters in mourning, meaning that all their dresses are dyed black, the windows are draped in black, they cannot go out except on Royal Business, and *gasp* they cannot dance. And if there is something that these sisters like doing, it is dancing.
But this is a world with magic, and with magic they find a perfect place to dance – a silver forest with a magical pavilion, with music aplenty, and a guardian – Keeper, who is trapped there and wants their help to escape.
What first stands out on this book are the sheer number of characters – of course there would be many, it's the 12 Dancing Princesses, after all, but all of them get to be rather different from the others. And I really liked that they were so neatly named – bless the King with his organization and rules complex! – it was easier to set them apart this way. And what is this revolutionary technique? Well, they are named in alphabetical order: Azalea, Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Eve, Flora and Goldenrod, show more Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale and Lily! The older ones got more action, of course, and more screen time. But the young ones were adorable as well!
As for the story, it was sweet, not without its sadness and perils. But in the end, the feeling I have of this book is that it was sweet. I really liked the King and his part on the story, and was glad that the fact that he was mourning his wife was not forgotten. He was stiff, and it was understandable that the girls felt unloved, but all the time I couldn't hate him for it. And the more the story progressed, the more I liked him as a character – he did love his daughters, although I think he didn't really know what to do with so many of them and that he was overwhelmed by their energy and liveliness.
Keeper's part of the story did make my brain churn since he first appeared – there was something in him that put me on guard (unlike, for instance, Fairweller, who is despised by Azalea and Co., and who I did like him from the start). But Keeper's mystery soon became rather obvious, although I wasn't sure how it was going to play out. In the end it worked out fine (better than I had hoped) although it was a bit a cheating there to get to the happy ending – but I'm glad it ended that way.
I also liked the writing on this one – there was a hint of humour throughout it that I enjoyed, from arguments with magic sugar teeth, to sisterly gossiping and teasing. I loved the interactions between characters, especially between sisters. There were, however, parts where I felt a bit lost about the surroundings and about who was holding the little ones, especially Lily, who kept changing hands between sisters.
To sum it up, Entwined is a really sweet book, with very good characters. Well worth reading.
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I liked Azalea. She is a unique character to be created (at least as a main character) in this day and age. She's strong enough to cope with her mother's death, and being forced into a mother-like role, and comfort her sisters, yet weak enough to throw tantrums, actually be endangered by the villain, and need the help of other characters. To need the help of the male characters. I found the tantrums very annoying, so I didn't like that part of her, but I did like that she was vulnerable--something I haven't seen as much of lately. I don't have a problem with strong female leads, I actually do really like them, but not every woman is strong in the way this culture values, and it's nice to see another kind of character represented for once. Especially since people are offended when a woman is rescued by a man, but think it's the greatest thing when a man is rescued by a woman (why can't there be both).
That said, Azalea was strong in her own way, the way she cared for her sisters, and the way she was forced into the role her mother should have held. People forget or don't realize how much strength that would take. Even though she wasn't what is considered a 'strong female lead,' Azalea was a strong character. As I said before, Azalea's tantrums were the place where I think her character, as a character, suffered greatly. She was (understandably) upset with the way her father treated her, and more importantly, her sisters, but the tantrum she threw nearly got her entire show more family killed. If she hadn't sworn, and made her sisters swear, not to tell anyone about the pavilion, then they would have been able to tell their father the moment they realized that the Keeper was dangerous, but no, Azalea made them swear, on silver that just happens prevents them from breaking their oaths to spite for her father making her feel unloved. I'm not quite sure why she didn't try to put herself in her father's shoes to feel his pain, and realize that, wrong though it was, pushing his daughters away was how her father dealt with his grief.
The king was foolish enough as well. He, like Azalea, was guilty of not putting himself in his daughter's shoes to realize that they too were feeling the loss of their mother, and his pushing them away made them feel unloved.
Bramble and Clover were nice characters who weren't explored very deeply, and I had trouble keeping the rest of the sisters straight. Bramble and Clover's love interests were interesting, but their potential was left relatively unexplored. Bradford was a stereotype. This was disappointing, but I still liked him. He had so much unplumbed potential, and I think with a little more development he could have been a really strong and an un-stereotypical character.
The villain was creepy, mysterious and sinister. But then he stopped being mysterious, which sucked away his sinisterness, leaving him just creepy and evil. I wish that it would have taken a little longer for him to reveal his motivations to us.
The plot is excellent and the writing is good. What the author needs to work on is her characters. Please excuse that I am mostly pointing out the things I didn't like in the book. For some reason it's really easy to do that. I really did enjoy this story. show less
That said, Azalea was strong in her own way, the way she cared for her sisters, and the way she was forced into the role her mother should have held. People forget or don't realize how much strength that would take. Even though she wasn't what is considered a 'strong female lead,' Azalea was a strong character. As I said before, Azalea's tantrums were the place where I think her character, as a character, suffered greatly. She was (understandably) upset with the way her father treated her, and more importantly, her sisters, but the tantrum she threw nearly got her entire show more family killed. If she hadn't sworn, and made her sisters swear, not to tell anyone about the pavilion, then they would have been able to tell their father the moment they realized that the Keeper was dangerous, but no, Azalea made them swear, on silver that just happens prevents them from breaking their oaths to spite for her father making her feel unloved. I'm not quite sure why she didn't try to put herself in her father's shoes to feel his pain, and realize that, wrong though it was, pushing his daughters away was how her father dealt with his grief.
The king was foolish enough as well. He, like Azalea, was guilty of not putting himself in his daughter's shoes to realize that they too were feeling the loss of their mother, and his pushing them away made them feel unloved.
Bramble and Clover were nice characters who weren't explored very deeply, and I had trouble keeping the rest of the sisters straight. Bramble and Clover's love interests were interesting, but their potential was left relatively unexplored. Bradford was a stereotype. This was disappointing, but I still liked him. He had so much unplumbed potential, and I think with a little more development he could have been a really strong and an un-stereotypical character.
The villain was creepy, mysterious and sinister. But then he stopped being mysterious, which sucked away his sinisterness, leaving him just creepy and evil. I wish that it would have taken a little longer for him to reveal his motivations to us.
The plot is excellent and the writing is good. What the author needs to work on is her characters. Please excuse that I am mostly pointing out the things I didn't like in the book. For some reason it's really easy to do that. I really did enjoy this story. show less
This was the third of the three books that retell Grimm's The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Of the three, it was my least favorite. The twelve princess are named for flowers, in alphabetic order. The oldest, Azalea, tries to protect her sisters, but leads them to the hands of the Keeper, who an evil sorcerer trapped by ancient magic. Azalea's relationship with her father is explored and the resolution, her growth and her Father's is interesting. The second sister, Bramble, was my favorite. Brash, bold, outspoken - she made me laugh.
What ruined this book for me was the endless dance metaphors. Everything was compared to dancing - eating, drinking, walking, dressing, riding, bowing, opening doors, picking up trash - whatever, it didn't matter. Within the first few pages, I was done with the dance metaphors. As the rest of the book was so wonderful, I was annoyed to have that one oversight hamper my enjoyment of this otherwise good work. I would mention it, but I would recommend the George and Marillier books first.
What ruined this book for me was the endless dance metaphors. Everything was compared to dancing - eating, drinking, walking, dressing, riding, bowing, opening doors, picking up trash - whatever, it didn't matter. Within the first few pages, I was done with the dance metaphors. As the rest of the book was so wonderful, I was annoyed to have that one oversight hamper my enjoyment of this otherwise good work. I would mention it, but I would recommend the George and Marillier books first.
This is a delightful retelling of the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
To start out with, we need to know what the title ENTWINED refers to. The Entwine is supposed to be a dance. It is described this way: (in brief) Similar to a troit-temps waltz, it is danced in open position with a long sash. The lady and gentleman each take ends of the sash, which their hands must not leave. In a series of quick steps, the gentleman either twists the sash around the lady's wrists, pinning them (aka the Catch) or the lady eludes capture within three minutes time.
The story, and the Princesses, captivated me. I adore fairytales and this is a fantastic one! Heather Dixon did an amazing job in bringing the Princesses to life - their personalities are outstanding. While ofcourse I loved Azalea, my favorite has to be Bramble - she's loud and obnoxious and defends her sisters to the end. The Princesses are named after flowers, alphabetically. That's where the fun begins in the story. ENTWINED is full of mischief and giggles, as well as magic and scariness. The girls and their suitors are a riot!
The royal family live in a falling apart castle with some remnants of magic leftover - such as the tea set with the biting sugar tongs. When the family goes into mourning (do any fairytales have both parents in the story??) and the King departs for a war...the Princesses are left on their own. Pretty dresses, laughter, the gardens and dancing are forbidden. There is nothing the girls love better show more than dancing and they are heartbroken.
Until...Azalea discovers a way for them to dance secretly - it involves a magical staircase and the mysterious (and handsome) Keeper.
The characterization of the King was amazing. I began by seeing him as a cold, aloof man with no concern for his daughters, but quickly came to realize that he just didn't know how to connect with them. It was wonderful to watch him figure out the situations and grow as a parent.
As I read the story, I saw a beautiful movie - the Entwine dance was performed by Azalea and Keeper, but almost as a shadow - while the rest of the story went on over it. Will Azalea be caught? I can't wait to see what Heather Dixon does next! show less
To start out with, we need to know what the title ENTWINED refers to. The Entwine is supposed to be a dance. It is described this way: (in brief) Similar to a troit-temps waltz, it is danced in open position with a long sash. The lady and gentleman each take ends of the sash, which their hands must not leave. In a series of quick steps, the gentleman either twists the sash around the lady's wrists, pinning them (aka the Catch) or the lady eludes capture within three minutes time.
The story, and the Princesses, captivated me. I adore fairytales and this is a fantastic one! Heather Dixon did an amazing job in bringing the Princesses to life - their personalities are outstanding. While ofcourse I loved Azalea, my favorite has to be Bramble - she's loud and obnoxious and defends her sisters to the end. The Princesses are named after flowers, alphabetically. That's where the fun begins in the story. ENTWINED is full of mischief and giggles, as well as magic and scariness. The girls and their suitors are a riot!
The royal family live in a falling apart castle with some remnants of magic leftover - such as the tea set with the biting sugar tongs. When the family goes into mourning (do any fairytales have both parents in the story??) and the King departs for a war...the Princesses are left on their own. Pretty dresses, laughter, the gardens and dancing are forbidden. There is nothing the girls love better show more than dancing and they are heartbroken.
Until...Azalea discovers a way for them to dance secretly - it involves a magical staircase and the mysterious (and handsome) Keeper.
The characterization of the King was amazing. I began by seeing him as a cold, aloof man with no concern for his daughters, but quickly came to realize that he just didn't know how to connect with them. It was wonderful to watch him figure out the situations and grow as a parent.
As I read the story, I saw a beautiful movie - the Entwine dance was performed by Azalea and Keeper, but almost as a shadow - while the rest of the story went on over it. Will Azalea be caught? I can't wait to see what Heather Dixon does next! show less
Twelve Dancing Princesses is a hard one to work with. I recognize this. This is a pretty damn good attempt. I don't know that it's entirely successful — the romances at the end come out of absolutely nowhere, for example, and I am not really sold on the characterization of the King, either — but it's working with some difficult source material. I don't know that I buy that all twelve sisters love dancing, although they are generally distinguished well, because we never see why the non-Azalea characters love it. They just ...do. The idea of the royal family being poor is fascinating and I kind of want an entire family saga explaining how this happened and what the hell kind of monarchy this is and so on and so forth. (Apparently I want all my worldbuilding to come with economies.)
But oh god did I need some escapist fantasy last night, and this fit the bill.
But oh god did I need some escapist fantasy last night, and this fit the bill.
There was nothing really special about this book but it made me enjoy the act of reading and sometimes that is lost trying to read popular books (not that this book is very popular). The descriptions of snow were beautiful, perfect for November. I never got annoyed by some repeated things, like the main character always digging her fingernails into her palm (something I do too).
Favorite quote:
"It was hard to be frightened of a building that smelled of old toast" (p. 52)
Favorite quote:
"It was hard to be frightened of a building that smelled of old toast" (p. 52)
A cute, adventurous, and clever retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses. There were really too many princesses to keep which was who straight easily, and their most of the younger sisters' personalities seemed very flat and contrived, but I suppose it was the TWELVE dancing princesses so the author didn't have much choice in narrowing it down to a more manageable 2 or 3 princesses. Also, it seemed like the author threw in a lot of dance jargon just to be like "See, I know lots of dance words. So I must know what I'm talking about."
I did like Azalea, the oldest princess, and I liked the way the story resolved. I would have liked to see more with the gentleman callers trying to solve the riddle - that could have been a great avenue to explore, especially with how sassy and feisty the princesses are.
Mostly, I loved the IDEAS in this book, and even though there were some inconsistencies, some things unexplained, and some really obvious storylines/connections, it was still INTERESTING to see how things developed and played out. And there were even a few sort of baby plot-twists and surprises, which was nice and made the book not COMPLETELY predictable.
I really loved this book, and it's great for Heather Dixon's first novel. I look forward to reading what will hopefully be many more great books by her. :)
“Down with tyranny!' Bramble cried. 'Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!”
― Heather Dixon, Entwined
I had a really hard time getting into this, it just didn't capture my interest at all and the only reason I even finished this was because I was listening to it on audio. I really wanted to like the story, especially since the cover is so beautiful but that just further proves the statement "you can't judge a book by its cover." I was just bored with this one all the way through, so much so I found myself having to actually reread certain parts because my attention wondered away from the book and I didn't know what just happened. Some parts were confusing as well, like when the girls talked about having hand me downs and being poor, yet they're princess, their father is a king and it sounds like they live in a huge, magical palace. WTH? I was also confused about what happened to the keeper at the end. I don't think it was explained that well. Overall, it wasn't absolutely horrible (which is why it's not a 1 star) but it just wasn't for me. Hopefully someone else likes it more.
A sweet retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses that focuses on family and dancing. Heather elaborates on each girl's personality, bringing her to life and making each a relatable character. I especially liked Bramble. The eldest, Azalea throughout the book teaches the girls several dances as well as their significance and meaning in their world giving more importance to them.
I would have liked to read more about the gentlemen and their attempts at solving the riddle. I think with Bramble and the twins, this could have been a few very funny extra chapters.
Heather sticks well to the original tale, filling it out wonderfully while adding her own charm to the mix. She answers a few questions such as, how the girls arrived at the underground dance pavilion.
At times though it did drag on, and wished it would pick up. There are times in books where a story will relax and give the characters a rest. I just wish the rest time was a bit more engaging.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book and look forward to Heather's future works.
I would have liked to read more about the gentlemen and their attempts at solving the riddle. I think with Bramble and the twins, this could have been a few very funny extra chapters.
Heather sticks well to the original tale, filling it out wonderfully while adding her own charm to the mix. She answers a few questions such as, how the girls arrived at the underground dance pavilion.
At times though it did drag on, and wished it would pick up. There are times in books where a story will relax and give the characters a rest. I just wish the rest time was a bit more engaging.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book and look forward to Heather's future works.
I love fairy tales, retellings or originals, so I always give new ones a try when I hear of them. Entwined caught my eye because of the cover, but when I heard it was a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I knew I had to read it.
However, The Twelve Dancing Princesses is not my favorite fairy tale, even though I don't think I've actually read it. About a year ago, I read an adaptation of it, The Princess of the Midnight Ball, and pretty much hated it. Not having read the original story, it's hard not to judge the story overall. Anyway, I determined to read this anyway and hoped it would be better.
The first 200-300 pages felt much the same and I did not like them. I think the difficulty is that the sisters are so freaking obsessed with dancing; they care about it more than anything else in the world, so they really come off as airheads. Dixon tries to lesson that by making them poor princesses who have to mend their own shoes, but they have such one-track minds that I cannot see any of them as real people.
Although the end of the book definitely got better and became rather engaging, I never felt like most of the characters showed any real depth, except, ironically, for Lord Teddie, who I thought was absolutely ripping! They were all defined by one or two characteristics and that was all. However, the matches formed at the end are still super cute, so I enjoyed it, even if the characters are flat.
All in all, I am glad I read it, but I think The Twelve Dancing show more Princesses may have fallen even farther in my esteem. I definitely think Entwined could have been shorter and better done, but if you love dancing and cute pairings, you'll likely enjoy it. Although I definitely had some serious misgivings about this, I think I would be willing to try something else by Dixon before writing her off. show less
However, The Twelve Dancing Princesses is not my favorite fairy tale, even though I don't think I've actually read it. About a year ago, I read an adaptation of it, The Princess of the Midnight Ball, and pretty much hated it. Not having read the original story, it's hard not to judge the story overall. Anyway, I determined to read this anyway and hoped it would be better.
The first 200-300 pages felt much the same and I did not like them. I think the difficulty is that the sisters are so freaking obsessed with dancing; they care about it more than anything else in the world, so they really come off as airheads. Dixon tries to lesson that by making them poor princesses who have to mend their own shoes, but they have such one-track minds that I cannot see any of them as real people.
Although the end of the book definitely got better and became rather engaging, I never felt like most of the characters showed any real depth, except, ironically, for Lord Teddie, who I thought was absolutely ripping! They were all defined by one or two characteristics and that was all. However, the matches formed at the end are still super cute, so I enjoyed it, even if the characters are flat.
All in all, I am glad I read it, but I think The Twelve Dancing show more Princesses may have fallen even farther in my esteem. I definitely think Entwined could have been shorter and better done, but if you love dancing and cute pairings, you'll likely enjoy it. Although I definitely had some serious misgivings about this, I think I would be willing to try something else by Dixon before writing her off. show less
The beauty of the cover snagged me on this book. After I started reading it I realized that it involved A LOT of dancing. This is normally ok, but this book takes it to another level. While that is a slight annoyance, the characters make up for any and all shortcomings.
Azalea and her sisters are charming. All of the girls are the product of the King's desperate attempts to have a son to take the throne. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but Azalea has the most weight on her shoulders. She has the burden of looking after her sisters and preparing to rule as queen. She carries her role well and stands up for herself really well for someone her age. Once it is apparent things are not going to go his way, the King comes to several realizations about his daughters. I enjoyed watching their relationships grow and change throughout the book. There are several, several suitors in this book for the girls, but they just do not seem realistic. Quite a few incidents and relationships actually seem just "tacked" on or an after thought. The "Keeper" seems vague to me. I learned some information about him, but I guess I simply didn't understand him.
The plot was very odd to me. It was not bad, but it wasn't great either. It is continually slow from the beginning all the way through until the ending scenes. However, unlike others this book had the wonderful characters to carry me through and keep me interested until the end. That being said, there were several times I stopped show more reading and would ask myself why in the world they would feel the need to dance at a time like that. I love music and dance, but I think I just do understand that "need" for it in every aspect of life. The final scenes do a really great job of wrapping up the book. It's one of the better endings I've seen in a while.
Dixon's writing is very beautiful to me. She does an amazing job with descriptions and vivid details. It made it easy for me to imagine that I could be standing right in the middle of the story, just watching from afar. Everything right down to the dialogue between the characters felt like it welcomed my subconscious into a whole other world and experience. It is a very solid good read and I do recommend it for everyone. show less
Azalea and her sisters are charming. All of the girls are the product of the King's desperate attempts to have a son to take the throne. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but Azalea has the most weight on her shoulders. She has the burden of looking after her sisters and preparing to rule as queen. She carries her role well and stands up for herself really well for someone her age. Once it is apparent things are not going to go his way, the King comes to several realizations about his daughters. I enjoyed watching their relationships grow and change throughout the book. There are several, several suitors in this book for the girls, but they just do not seem realistic. Quite a few incidents and relationships actually seem just "tacked" on or an after thought. The "Keeper" seems vague to me. I learned some information about him, but I guess I simply didn't understand him.
The plot was very odd to me. It was not bad, but it wasn't great either. It is continually slow from the beginning all the way through until the ending scenes. However, unlike others this book had the wonderful characters to carry me through and keep me interested until the end. That being said, there were several times I stopped show more reading and would ask myself why in the world they would feel the need to dance at a time like that. I love music and dance, but I think I just do understand that "need" for it in every aspect of life. The final scenes do a really great job of wrapping up the book. It's one of the better endings I've seen in a while.
Dixon's writing is very beautiful to me. She does an amazing job with descriptions and vivid details. It made it easy for me to imagine that I could be standing right in the middle of the story, just watching from afar. Everything right down to the dialogue between the characters felt like it welcomed my subconscious into a whole other world and experience. It is a very solid good read and I do recommend it for everyone. show less
An original take on the classic fairytale of the dancing princesses who mysteriously wear out their slippers every night.
For Princess Azalea, hosting her first ball should have been a magical affair - but her night starts off poorly with her father's absence, and ends with the wrenching news of her mother's death. The customary yearlong period of mourning means no color, no dancing, no sunlight, no suitors, and a father who while always rigid, was never this cold and distant. With everything crumbling around them, the girls learn the trick of escaping through a magical door into the Keeper's realm where they can dance each night away, free to learn the steps their mother loved. But the Keeper is far from as benevolent as he appears...
Surprisingly, given the number of sisters there are to keep track of, events flow out smoothly. A sweet tale that edges gradually into suspenseful territory. I just wish someone had selected a better cover.
Recommend to readers of Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Shannon Hale and Tracy Lynn.
For Princess Azalea, hosting her first ball should have been a magical affair - but her night starts off poorly with her father's absence, and ends with the wrenching news of her mother's death. The customary yearlong period of mourning means no color, no dancing, no sunlight, no suitors, and a father who while always rigid, was never this cold and distant. With everything crumbling around them, the girls learn the trick of escaping through a magical door into the Keeper's realm where they can dance each night away, free to learn the steps their mother loved. But the Keeper is far from as benevolent as he appears...
Surprisingly, given the number of sisters there are to keep track of, events flow out smoothly. A sweet tale that edges gradually into suspenseful territory. I just wish someone had selected a better cover.
Recommend to readers of Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Shannon Hale and Tracy Lynn.
I'm not big on fairytale reselling a, unless it's completely different in some odd way. But Dixon's Entwined was brilliantly written and engaging. It took a little while to get into but once I got into the story, I was entranced. The characters were delightful, I know if I had been a princess I would've been Bramble hands down. She was by far my favorite.
Overall, I throughly enjoyed Entwined and look forward to reading more of Heather Dixon's books
Overall, I throughly enjoyed Entwined and look forward to reading more of Heather Dixon's books
Brilliant. LOOK AT THAT COVER! SO SO BEAUTIFUL!! Entwined is a re-telling of the classic fairy-tale (that I have never read) The Twelve Dancing Princesses published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812. Absolutely loved this book... the characters were FANTASTIC - all of them! (my favorite being Bramble). So, if you like romance, magic, enchanted castles, dancing, fairy tales (and even a little action towards the end) then this book is definitely for you! It all awaits you down the stairs, behind the shimmery branches of the silver forest
Read this because I saw it reccomended as a better retelling of the 12 dancing princesses than a different book I recently read. It was better, but still not great. I deff predicted the twists and was not impressed with the magic system.
A magical and fascinating retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses , this book captivated my attention from the beginning. The author's world building was astounding. I liked the way she did not explain everything out to the reader, rather stating facts and letting us draw our own conclusion.
Entwined would probably be one of those books that had I read it during my middle school or high school ages I would have absolutely loved it. Reading it now a little older, there were parts of it that seemed targeted towards those who are a little younger. There were also parts of this book that got confusing. The plot was pretty easy to follow, but there were parts where I had difficulty understanding who was talking and sometimes even what they were talking about. I liked the magical aspects of the book and also the Cinderella type aspect of the family being poor but still being royalty. I would recommend this book to girls who are a bit younger than me. This was good, but definitely not good enough to buy (thankfully I was able to rent this from the public library's ebook file).
I must admit, I was first drawn in by this book's beautiful cover and the promise of a retold fairy tale. Entwined is a retelling of the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, who travel down to an enchanted forest to a magical place where they dance every evening. Azalea, the eldest princess, and her eleven sisters are tormented by their mother's recent death and their father's distance, and they find comfort in their nightly escapades of magical dancing. However, these trips do not come without danger, as Azalea discovers in her encounters with the mysterious Keeper. Entwined is an interesting retelling, definitely for fans of fairy tales.
This book was flat out enchanted, dazzling, and stunning. Before school started in September, I had saw it at a bookstore, and I wanted it. The cover was elegant, I love fairytales, and the brief summary drew me in. I ordered it two weeks later, when I had the money, and waited four weeks for it to be shipped! Despite the delay,I started reading this book and was instantly captivated. I love how Heather Dixon involves the main story line of the classic tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but adds Keeper for a twist! The book is marvelous and I highly suggest it to anyone who is looking for a good fantasy book, but CAUTION! Be prepared to not get anything done while you're reading it!!! :)
I listened to this book while doing some crafts. I borrowed the book from the Library. The story about the "Dancing Sisters" made me think and dream. I enjoyed this story that made me imagine a very good looking man bewitching a princess. The undertone of magic made me think about what might be true or not. This princess in the story did win the "real" man in the end.
I liked this take on "12 Dancing Princesses"- though some princesses were more at the center of attention than others, each princess was unique, and I liked the suitors of the eldest three. The explanation for the princesses' dancing was unusual, and the story a little unexpected, but it held to the fairy tale while adding depth. I wouldn't have minded watching the princesses continue to grow.
Mini Book Review: It took me a while to get into the book, but I am really glad I kept with it. It turned out to be a lovely fairy tale with magic and intrigue and sweet romance. Halfway through the book, I just didn't want to put it down and ended up finishing it at 1:00 in the morning( Miss Dixon you owe me some coffee - it has been a tough day today). It reminded me of those wonderful Grimm fairy tales that I used to read as a child, not the disneyfied ones (Not that those are bad, I loved them too) I won't lie some of the constant mentions of dancing and relating things to how you feel when you dance, sort of irritated me, but not too bad. I loved the relationship between the sisters and their father and felt it really gave the story some realism. I think those who enjoy something a little different will enjoy this. It is a lovely enchanting and truly imaginative tale for the more sophisticated YA reader. Honestly, I would not be surprised if this was made into a movie
4 Dewey's
I picked this up from the HarperCollins booth at the OLA conference and did not have to review it or nothin -- Don't you just love that
4 Dewey's
I picked this up from the HarperCollins booth at the OLA conference and did not have to review it or nothin -- Don't you just love that
This is sweet retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. I liked how their names were ranged alphabetically. It dragged a bit at times and there was some overuse of the word pouf, but the danger and romance and dancing made up for it.
Beautiful re-telling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Delicately approaches how death affects an entire family. High value is placed on family bonds. A little fluffy in places especially where dancing is described but it's to be expected in a YA novel, but overall a much richer and more enjoyable read than I expected.
I read this book for the "A Book Chosen Solely By It's Cover" part of my 2018 reading challenge. Now that I know it is a retelling of the Brother's Grimm "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", the plot makes a lot more sense. I still felt that the plot was a little weak in spots, but it was interesting enough that I read it in one day.
With such a gorgeous cover, it's not surprising that Entwined is a retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It was this amazing, romantic cover that first drew me to this novel -not to mention the intriguing title. I had high hopes for Entwined. Especially after reading Princess of the Midnight Ball, I was already in full-on fairy tale retelling mode. I truly wanted Entwined to blow Princess of the Midnight Ball out of the water and be one of my favorite reads of the year. Perhaps, going in, my expectations were too high, because, while Entwined is still a good book, it's just not a great one.
Azalea and her sisters love dancing. That is, until the night of the annual royal ball at Yuletide, when her mother dies after giving birth to Azalea's twelfth and final sister. Struck by grief, the King demands that all the girls go into mourning for a full year and, most importantly, no dancing is allowed while in mourning. But, living in a castle with a dark, magical history can have its benefits...well, most of the time. Azalea finds a new place for the girls to dance, in a magnificent palace overseen by the Keeper. Of course, the Keeper is connected to the darkness, and when Azalea and her sisters try to leave, he won't let them...
Entwined had its positives and negatives for me. Overall, it's a well-paced, enjoyable read rooted in classic fairy tales with a darker edge. The mythology Dixon creates is engaging and unique, and, by far, is the best aspect show more of the novel. Dixon also does an amazing job of spacing out information about world mechanics and mythology throughout the novel rather than just dumping it on readers at once.
Dixon's writing is strong, but could use a little work. The biggest problem was the lack of details when describing virtually anything, especially when it came to the fantastic world underneath the palace where the princesses dance their shoes to ribbons every night. There were so many things in this book that I could never see, so I sometimes found myself getting confused about what everything looked like. This issue also hurt the novel's overall tone, making it feel a little thin and unencompassing. I really think that if Dixon had worked a little more on setting and detail, it also would have enhanced her characters, who are just okay.
I wouldn't say that Entwined was a complete let down for me. It was well worth reading, enchanting and filled with some great things, but also some not-so-great things. Entwined really has some great potential, but it's not all realized by the end. However, it does prove that author Heather Dixon has talent and potential as a writer, and could improve with future novels. show less
Azalea and her sisters love dancing. That is, until the night of the annual royal ball at Yuletide, when her mother dies after giving birth to Azalea's twelfth and final sister. Struck by grief, the King demands that all the girls go into mourning for a full year and, most importantly, no dancing is allowed while in mourning. But, living in a castle with a dark, magical history can have its benefits...well, most of the time. Azalea finds a new place for the girls to dance, in a magnificent palace overseen by the Keeper. Of course, the Keeper is connected to the darkness, and when Azalea and her sisters try to leave, he won't let them...
Entwined had its positives and negatives for me. Overall, it's a well-paced, enjoyable read rooted in classic fairy tales with a darker edge. The mythology Dixon creates is engaging and unique, and, by far, is the best aspect show more of the novel. Dixon also does an amazing job of spacing out information about world mechanics and mythology throughout the novel rather than just dumping it on readers at once.
Dixon's writing is strong, but could use a little work. The biggest problem was the lack of details when describing virtually anything, especially when it came to the fantastic world underneath the palace where the princesses dance their shoes to ribbons every night. There were so many things in this book that I could never see, so I sometimes found myself getting confused about what everything looked like. This issue also hurt the novel's overall tone, making it feel a little thin and unencompassing. I really think that if Dixon had worked a little more on setting and detail, it also would have enhanced her characters, who are just okay.
I wouldn't say that Entwined was a complete let down for me. It was well worth reading, enchanting and filled with some great things, but also some not-so-great things. Entwined really has some great potential, but it's not all realized by the end. However, it does prove that author Heather Dixon has talent and potential as a writer, and could improve with future novels. show less
I absolutely LOVED this book! I did not want it to ever end. The story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I think that this book was a wonderful interpretation of the story. Captain Bradford ranks right up there with my favorite romantic heroes of all-time! I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone that asks for a good book!
This is a wonderful book. It is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses and has everything a fairy tale should have, romance, evil pretending to be good, damsels in distress and surprisingly, humor. I found it very hard to put down but it took me about 50 pages to really get into it. Azalea, the oldest princess, is devoted to her family but does not always make the best decisions. Although she had sworn to her dying mother to protect her sisters, she unknowingly endangers all of them, her father and the kingdom. But she fights to make it right and finally calls on the most powerful magic of all, love. Beneath all the magic is a story of a family torn by loss and misunderstanding. This would be an outstanding mother/daugther book club choice.
I really enjoyed this book. There were many great elements in this book that drove you to read it faster and faster. The message behind the whole book is breathtaking. Once I began reading it, I was entwined to read the book, never to stop.
The story line of the book had me hooked. After losing a precious family member Azalea and her other sisters are confined to mourning. They are not allowed to do the one thing that reminds them of the lost loved one. The sisters find solace in a magical world hidden in a secret passageway. I can't begin to tell you what a gorgeous book this is. Simply magical and very entertaining, Entwined is a book you must read.
The characters of the book have some major growth that I enjoyed reading! It is a growth not in one character but in all of them. Ms. Dixon's writing flows you along with the story, as if you are in it. The magical realm Ms. Dixon created along with Keeper, is a place I would want to dance forever. This is a re-make of the original Twelve Dancing Princess. I have not read that book but after reading this one, I will definitely go pick it up.
The love behind the family, especially how it ended left me in tears. Such a pure love, between everyone gave hope for the family to be whole once again. I adored the King and the change that happen in him. His love for his children, and the way the girls handled everything with great maturity is fantastic. These girls also had some fire in them that made me laugh in some parts.
This book is show more absolutely beautiful and amazing. Simply wonderful for anyone who wants an out of this world, magical read. show less
The story line of the book had me hooked. After losing a precious family member Azalea and her other sisters are confined to mourning. They are not allowed to do the one thing that reminds them of the lost loved one. The sisters find solace in a magical world hidden in a secret passageway. I can't begin to tell you what a gorgeous book this is. Simply magical and very entertaining, Entwined is a book you must read.
The characters of the book have some major growth that I enjoyed reading! It is a growth not in one character but in all of them. Ms. Dixon's writing flows you along with the story, as if you are in it. The magical realm Ms. Dixon created along with Keeper, is a place I would want to dance forever. This is a re-make of the original Twelve Dancing Princess. I have not read that book but after reading this one, I will definitely go pick it up.
The love behind the family, especially how it ended left me in tears. Such a pure love, between everyone gave hope for the family to be whole once again. I adored the King and the change that happen in him. His love for his children, and the way the girls handled everything with great maturity is fantastic. These girls also had some fire in them that made me laugh in some parts.
This book is show more absolutely beautiful and amazing. Simply wonderful for anyone who wants an out of this world, magical read. show less
This is an adaptation of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale. Azalea is the crown princess and she has eleven younger sisters, alphabetically named after plants or flowers, which is cute. Their mother loves dancing and has taught all the girls to love it too. Then their mother dies and they have to go into mourning for one year, meaning absolutely no dancing. They are saved from this terrible fate, when they discover a secret passage that leads them to a dance floor and a mysterious guardian called Keeper. The longer they dance the more Azalea realizes that Keeper has a sinister agenda.
This was an enjoyable fairytale adaptation. The story emphasized the importance of family, which I liked. Each of the older girls had distinct if not very complex personalities. Really this is Azalea’s story, so she gets the most character depth. Because I knew the basics of the fairytale, the story was fairly predictable, but the author added some interesting pieces to flesh it out. Overall a solid story.
This was an enjoyable fairytale adaptation. The story emphasized the importance of family, which I liked. Each of the older girls had distinct if not very complex personalities. Really this is Azalea’s story, so she gets the most character depth. Because I knew the basics of the fairytale, the story was fairly predictable, but the author added some interesting pieces to flesh it out. Overall a solid story.
It didn't take me long to find the core of this story, but the artful way it was written and told left me wondering how much I really knew about the story...
I felt that this story was not my style as I began listening, the Introduction describing an intricate dance step that I didn't really understand or follow very well. But that soon changed. The story itself was written much like the dances described, beautiful, ethereal, delicate, and a little mysterious.
Read the full review here:
https://ermareads.wordpress.com/novel-novels-2/entwined-playaway/
I felt that this story was not my style as I began listening, the Introduction describing an intricate dance step that I didn't really understand or follow very well. But that soon changed. The story itself was written much like the dances described, beautiful, ethereal, delicate, and a little mysterious.
Read the full review here:
https://ermareads.wordpress.com/novel-novels-2/entwined-playaway/
I. Loved. This. Book.
I'm not so into YA fiction, but a brilliant retelling of a fairytale is a different animal. Not since my love affair began with Cinderella have I been so in love with a story. I highly recommend Entwined for readers of any age. The writing is outstanding and the characterization is awesome. I'll have a more detailed review on OnFictionWriting.com soon.
I'm not so into YA fiction, but a brilliant retelling of a fairytale is a different animal. Not since my love affair began with Cinderella have I been so in love with a story. I highly recommend Entwined for readers of any age. The writing is outstanding and the characterization is awesome. I'll have a more detailed review on OnFictionWriting.com soon.
An adaptation of the 12 Dancing Princesses, this starts off with a lively step and is a moderately engaging tale that has choppy pacing. I think it could have been better edited... We have it catalogued in teen but it is squeaky clean and would be good for a tween reader if they aren't put off by it's length.
Posted First to Blog Critics as Book Review:'Entwined' by Heather Dixon.
The bonds of love are sometimes strained by outside forces. Misunderstandings and even death can destroy the bod as though it never existed.
In Entwined by Heather Dixon you embark on a journey of magic, danger, evil and romance. When Princess Azalea loses much of what she holds most dear, she and her younger sisters turn to the one thing that makes the happy–dancing. Yet this holds heartache as well for they are forbidden by their father the King, for they are in mourning.
Always young rascals, they find a place of magic and beauty hidden deep within the palace where they can dance away their nights, with no danger of being caught and punished. Little do they understand the danger they have invited into their lives. When evil comes to call they are unprepared for the destruction or danger, not only for themselves but to all that they now hold dear.
Dixon has given us a fairy tale with fun and exciting characters. Each of the young men who are looking to wed the princess is amusing and in some cases just silly. Even with such faults there is also strength and humor involved.
The Princess Azalea and her younger sisters are fun and just a little too bold, for their daring takes them into the darkness in a dangerous way. Yet that boldness is also their salvation.
This is a wonderful Young Adult fairy tale with romance, adventure, danger and family. Your will find yourself entranced the beauty, show more saddened by the circumstances and appalled by the danger. What also creates a soft rumble throughout the tale is a ribbon of love and romance that grows and evolves. You will want to keep reading to the very end to see how the young women extricate themselves from the dilemma.
This would be wonderful book for your young adult or teen if they enjoy books. Adults will find this a satisfying read as well for there are numerous qualities that cast interest for readers of all ages. show less
The bonds of love are sometimes strained by outside forces. Misunderstandings and even death can destroy the bod as though it never existed.
In Entwined by Heather Dixon you embark on a journey of magic, danger, evil and romance. When Princess Azalea loses much of what she holds most dear, she and her younger sisters turn to the one thing that makes the happy–dancing. Yet this holds heartache as well for they are forbidden by their father the King, for they are in mourning.
Always young rascals, they find a place of magic and beauty hidden deep within the palace where they can dance away their nights, with no danger of being caught and punished. Little do they understand the danger they have invited into their lives. When evil comes to call they are unprepared for the destruction or danger, not only for themselves but to all that they now hold dear.
Dixon has given us a fairy tale with fun and exciting characters. Each of the young men who are looking to wed the princess is amusing and in some cases just silly. Even with such faults there is also strength and humor involved.
The Princess Azalea and her younger sisters are fun and just a little too bold, for their daring takes them into the darkness in a dangerous way. Yet that boldness is also their salvation.
This is a wonderful Young Adult fairy tale with romance, adventure, danger and family. Your will find yourself entranced the beauty, show more saddened by the circumstances and appalled by the danger. What also creates a soft rumble throughout the tale is a ribbon of love and romance that grows and evolves. You will want to keep reading to the very end to see how the young women extricate themselves from the dilemma.
This would be wonderful book for your young adult or teen if they enjoy books. Adults will find this a satisfying read as well for there are numerous qualities that cast interest for readers of all ages. show less
I have this as an ebook, but decided to listen to the audiobook instead, and I am so happy I did! I really enjoyed the narrator, with her accent and different voices for each character, it really added a lot to the story. This was definitely a fun book, with some cute and creepy bits thrown in. I highly suggest the audiobook if you want to read this. I feel like I wouldn't have liked it as much if I read it myself.
Entwined is a fun novel following some of the classic fairytales with a darker twist. It is a strong novel that tugs at the heart strings of your youth
A retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Azalea and her 11 younger sisters are devasted when their mother dies. Their father, the king, has never shown much affection, and now they have to be in mourning for a whole year - they're not even allowed to dance! But then they stumble upon a magic passage that leads them to a ballroom where they can dance undetected every night. However, the Keeper, who is trapped in the passage, has sinister intentions.
I absolutely loved this book. I have a tendency to read retellings of fairytales and Entwined has officially punched most of the other retelling books I've read right on their front covers. It's one of those books that you'll take everywhere because you have to know what happens next. I was and you'll be entwined into the story and it's characters. The adventure and romance will keep you turning the pages! :D
I really tried to get into this book but it just left me cold and halfway through had to resign myself to the fact that I was never going to finish it. For me there was something detached about the writing and it was a book that just brought no emotion to me. One of the biggest challenges of writers is being able to convey emotion and more importantly, to make the reader to feel. Right from the beginning I felt nothing. There was no gripping prose, no intricate storyline to draw me in.
Loosely based on the classic story of the 12 Dancing Princesses, "Entwined" is a book, that if you are an adult, you are going to want to pick up when you want something exceedingly light and frothy.
Adequately written, I found that my interest level only rose to the 'marginal' level. The principle obstacles being the shallow characterizations -- over and over I was put in mind of the Barbie movie -- and the virtually non-existent descriptions of scene-and-setting.
As for my reading experience, unfortunately for me, I was in a mood where little things niggled. And as a consequence the familiar phrases that kept cropping up got under my skin and on my nerves. The king, for example, was forever 'sucking in his cheeks' in reaction to everything, and for her part, the heroine Azalea was persistently pressing her fingernails into the palms of her hands. At least once every 5 pages -- which is a lot of nail marks. I can't imagine what her poor hands must have looked liked. And maybe the author meant these phrases to be archetypal traits of the characters, but the editor should have talked her into using a more varied palette.
Generally speaking, I'd say that this book would be fine for Tweens and Middle-graders. There's no violence, bad language, or adult situations. The plot has features of interest, and the book is a quick read, being in a fairly large font with nice wide spacing between sentences. Adults and Young Adults might like it as well if they're in the mood for a show more 'nice read' that isn't a challenge. Pleasant fairy-tale stuff.
Pam T~
mom/#kidlit blogger show less
Adequately written, I found that my interest level only rose to the 'marginal' level. The principle obstacles being the shallow characterizations -- over and over I was put in mind of the Barbie movie -- and the virtually non-existent descriptions of scene-and-setting.
As for my reading experience, unfortunately for me, I was in a mood where little things niggled. And as a consequence the familiar phrases that kept cropping up got under my skin and on my nerves. The king, for example, was forever 'sucking in his cheeks' in reaction to everything, and for her part, the heroine Azalea was persistently pressing her fingernails into the palms of her hands. At least once every 5 pages -- which is a lot of nail marks. I can't imagine what her poor hands must have looked liked. And maybe the author meant these phrases to be archetypal traits of the characters, but the editor should have talked her into using a more varied palette.
Generally speaking, I'd say that this book would be fine for Tweens and Middle-graders. There's no violence, bad language, or adult situations. The plot has features of interest, and the book is a quick read, being in a fairly large font with nice wide spacing between sentences. Adults and Young Adults might like it as well if they're in the mood for a show more 'nice read' that isn't a challenge. Pleasant fairy-tale stuff.
Pam T~
mom/#kidlit blogger show less
Once upon last year I tried to read this book and didn't get more than half way through because it dragged so much. Then after getting into listening to more audiobooks I gave this story another shot. I made it to chapter 24 before giving up.
There was so much potential. I love retellings but this one didn't do it for me. The main character loves dance but I didn't get that. The biggest reason that these girls dabbled in the dark stuff that allowed them to dance was to get back at their (grieving, depressed) jerk dad the King (who can't afford a proper staff, nice little pastry treats, new clothes for all 12 daughters instead of hand-me-down boots, etc.)
Azalea moans on and on about being the eldest and having no choice about who she marries even when her father repeatedly tells her that it's her choice. All the girls claim to hate their father but have no trouble accepting his small acts of kindness towards them and hate him even more when he's just trying to respect the age old tradition of mourning for a year (meaning no dancing). Little things like these just bugged me and I couldn't stand to listen anymore.
At first I liked Azalea, she was spunky, smart, empathetic, and something else that I really liked that I can't think of now. I gave up because she got so boring. Personally I would have preferred to read a story about Bramble. She was hilarious, a spark of fire, a mini me at her age. I liked Clover but then she showed her age with an added immaturity "He's been show more mine since I could remember" she says as she recounts the time she 'accidentally' ripped up and burned a letter from a woman interested in the much older guy Clover is in wuv wid. She literally told Azalea it was an accident
Little drive and no growth for any character. I wouldn't go back to try and finish next time. show less
There was so much potential. I love retellings but this one didn't do it for me. The main character loves dance but I didn't get that. The biggest reason that these girls dabbled in the dark stuff that allowed them to dance was to get back at their (grieving, depressed) jerk dad the King (who can't afford a proper staff, nice little pastry treats, new clothes for all 12 daughters instead of hand-me-down boots, etc.)
Azalea moans on and on about being the eldest and having no choice about who she marries even when her father repeatedly tells her that it's her choice. All the girls claim to hate their father but have no trouble accepting his small acts of kindness towards them and hate him even more when he's just trying to respect the age old tradition of mourning for a year (meaning no dancing). Little things like these just bugged me and I couldn't stand to listen anymore.
At first I liked Azalea, she was spunky, smart, empathetic, and something else that I really liked that I can't think of now. I gave up because she got so boring. Personally I would have preferred to read a story about Bramble. She was hilarious, a spark of fire, a mini me at her age. I liked Clover but then she showed her age with an added immaturity
Little drive and no growth for any character. I wouldn't go back to try and finish next time. show less
This was such a sweet, cute, romantic fantasy! I really wanted to live the the slightly magic castle. The only problem I had with it is it took a while to get to the fairy tale part, and even then it was a few pages before I realized it was based on "The Twelve Dancing Princesses".
Entwined: Entwined is a retelling of the story the 12 dancing princesses. Azalea is the eldest of 12 princesses. On Christmas day their mother dies and the whole castle goes into mourning. For a whole year the clocks are stopped, windows darkened, and they all have to wear black. But the worst of all is NO dancing. One day a secret passage is found by the girls and there they go to dance each night. But is that really best .Fantasy
Seriously when I started this book I didn't know what to expect. It looked very long and thick. I thought it'd be slow to read. But I was wrong. This is a very good book full of adventure, fantasy, mystery, romance. Each of the character are funny and unique. Sure some parts of the story you can kind of guess what will happen if you'd read the 12 dancing princesses, but it doesn't ruin the story. This story had a good lesson in it about family. When rating this book I didn't know if I should give it 4 and half stars or 5. I decided five, b/c of the great story line it had.
Seriously when I started this book I didn't know what to expect. It looked very long and thick. I thought it'd be slow to read. But I was wrong. This is a very good book full of adventure, fantasy, mystery, romance. Each of the character are funny and unique. Sure some parts of the story you can kind of guess what will happen if you'd read the 12 dancing princesses, but it doesn't ruin the story. This story had a good lesson in it about family. When rating this book I didn't know if I should give it 4 and half stars or 5. I decided five, b/c of the great story line it had.
There is a saying not to judge a book by it's cover. However, the cover is beautiful and the book is enchanting. The story is based on the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. While it doesnt necessarily stray far from the basic fairy tale, the story is a fun read. The characters were engaging and the story moved well. This is a light and fun read for those who enjoy YA fiction.
This was yet another version of the fairytale about the dancing princesses. I was never able to fully sympathize with the main character which is why I can't say this was a great story. There were a lot of descriptive passages about the different types of dances that the girls enjoyed, which got to be a bit exhausting. I was intrigued enough to finish the story though.
Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
On Christmas Day, Azalea’s mother passes away and the whole country begins a year of mourning. During that time, Azalea and her eleven sisters have to wear black, stay inside the castle, aren’t allowed to dance, and their father has grown distant and ignores them.
Desperate for some grasp at their former life, the girls begin dancing in secret. When they get caught by their father, however, they search for another location. When they discover a magic passage to a place ran by the Keeper, they are thrilled to be invited back every night to dance if they so desire.
When the Keeper starts becoming cruel and violent and demanding that Azalea find the magic object to free him, things become desperate for the princesses. To make matters worse, the king finds out about their evening dancing and puts out an advertisement asking single, eligible males who think they can solve the riddle of the princesses’ evening excursions to come and give it a shot.
Will the princesses find a way to stop the Keeper? Will they be able to mend their broken family?
A retelling of the fairy tale, THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES, this touching, entertaining version will delight fans of Jessica Day George, Mette Ivie Harrison, Gail Carson Levine, Cameron Dokey, and other fairy tale re-tellers for older readers. The characters are well-developed, and the plot does a great job of holding the reader’s interest.
Those who like fantasy, adventure, romance, and comedy show more will all enjoy reading ENTWINED. show less
On Christmas Day, Azalea’s mother passes away and the whole country begins a year of mourning. During that time, Azalea and her eleven sisters have to wear black, stay inside the castle, aren’t allowed to dance, and their father has grown distant and ignores them.
Desperate for some grasp at their former life, the girls begin dancing in secret. When they get caught by their father, however, they search for another location. When they discover a magic passage to a place ran by the Keeper, they are thrilled to be invited back every night to dance if they so desire.
When the Keeper starts becoming cruel and violent and demanding that Azalea find the magic object to free him, things become desperate for the princesses. To make matters worse, the king finds out about their evening dancing and puts out an advertisement asking single, eligible males who think they can solve the riddle of the princesses’ evening excursions to come and give it a shot.
Will the princesses find a way to stop the Keeper? Will they be able to mend their broken family?
A retelling of the fairy tale, THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES, this touching, entertaining version will delight fans of Jessica Day George, Mette Ivie Harrison, Gail Carson Levine, Cameron Dokey, and other fairy tale re-tellers for older readers. The characters are well-developed, and the plot does a great job of holding the reader’s interest.
Those who like fantasy, adventure, romance, and comedy show more will all enjoy reading ENTWINED. show less
First of all, I LOVE the cover of this book! It's gorgeous. As for the book itself, I loved it! I borrowed the audiobook from my library, and the narrator was awesome. The story was scary and sweet, and the sister's were all lovely. I did like that they were named alphabetically so that I didn't have to be constantly trying to figure out who was older or younger.
Charming. If I could, I'd give it 3.5 stars. More for the 12 age group.
Points that could be improved:
Teddie was HI-larious. Should have been included more.
There were a few clarity issues.
And if I had a dollar for every time it was mentioned that "her skirts poufed" around her I'd be able to buy a hard copy of her next book. :)
Points that could be improved:
Teddie was HI-larious. Should have been included more.
There were a few clarity issues.
And if I had a dollar for every time it was mentioned that "her skirts poufed" around her I'd be able to buy a hard copy of her next book. :)
Out of books by Rachel Hartman; I’m following Mandy Williams, the narrator of Rachel’s books. This seems to be a romance woven around a love of ballroom dancing—add in a couple of dashing suitors (one evil, one not), a dash of ancestry and family, sprinkle in a beautiful location, and presto: Story!…made all the more interesting of course, by Mandy’s reading.
Great book, exciting and intense, I enjoyed reading it. The characters were deep as well.
Saw this recommended on a book blog... the buzz about it was that it was based on a fairy tale and was massively dark and twisted. It was based on a fairy tale, and a little bit dark... the sisters mitigated any serious creepiness I think.
Saw this recommended on a book blog... the buzz about it was that it was based on a fairy tale and was massively dark and twisted. It was based on a fairy tale, and a little bit dark... the sisters mitigated any serious creepiness I think.
Saw this recommended on a book blog... the buzz about it was that it was based on a fairy tale and was massively dark and twisted. It was based on a fairy tale, and a little bit dark... the sisters mitigated any serious creepiness I think.
Saw this recommended on a book blog... the buzz about it was that it was based on a fairy tale and was massively dark and twisted. It was based on a fairy tale, and a little bit dark... the sisters mitigated any serious creepiness I think.
RATING: 3.5 stars.
Cute story but I'm finding out that fairytale retellings aren't my thing.
Cute story but I'm finding out that fairytale retellings aren't my thing.
One of my eighth-graders told me this was now her all-time favorite book. Maybe you have to be an eighth-grader to really appreciate it. It started out pretty slowly for me. I think I need to stay away from the fairy tale re-tells, they just never really do much for me. I was pretty luke-warm about it, but there were enjoyable parts.
I tried reading this book because it sounded so interesting and it got pretty good reviews. I was actually really disappointed. I got quite a few chapters in and was bored to tears. I did not find this book interesting at all. Maybe I'll try reading it again later and see if I can get into it but it just didn't hold my attention when I tried.
Loved this book!! The cover caught my interest and I added it to my book pile just on a whim, and it was amazing. I have to admit I am a sucker for romantic retold fairy tales, but this is one of my new favorites=D
http://yearningtoread.blogspot.com/
Azalea is the oldest of eleven girls - soon to be twelve. Her mother has been sickly for a couple of years, and now that the baby is about to come, she is worse off than ever. Before the Christmas Ball, the queen asks Azalea to promise to keep her sisters safe - to protect them. Azalea promises, determined to keep that promise.
The girls' mother dies only a short while after.
Now, in mourning, the girls are not allowed outside, they cannot visit with anyone except on R.B. (royal business), and they cannot dance. But dancing is their way of life - it is what their mother taught them to do, what keeps them going and joyful through the day. They must dance.
When the girls discover a secret tunnel that leads to a breautiful, magical pavilion, they are invited to dance there every night by the Keeper, a dark, gorgeous, and silky smooth young man who seems to have an eye for Azalea. But when things start to get out of hand (the girls learn that the Keeper likes to keep things), family ties are strengthened, and romance buds, the girls must find their way out of a trap that could very well lose their lives - and the lives of those most precious to them - to an terrible cursed gentleman who wants nothing but revenge.
___________________________________________
My thoughts -
Ohhhhhh sigh...happy happy sigh. I was hooked from the very beginning. The massive amount of character, the darling relationships between the sisters, the perfect show more fairy tale world - it made my heart flutter. Even when there wasn't a lot of action or mystery, it was still undeniably interesting and fascinating. Everything about this world inspired me and made me want to live there, even if just for a time. It became my favorite castle, my favorite fantasy country (the landscaping Heather Dixon did was magical!), and my favorite magical underground pavilion.
Seriously, this world is perfect. It's exactly what I, personally, feel should be every fairy tale (even though that's impossible). I've had this vision of the perfect fairy tale world - what it should look, feel, smell like - and I've waited a long time to to read a fairy tale that's like it. This one hits the bull's eye. Completely and utterly. It had just the right amount of creepy, lovely, feminine, adventure, mystery, beauty, silver, glass, black, colors, dancing, romance, personality, and magic. I'm so impressed!
Character notes -
I loved all of the sisters, each and every one of them. Each one had her own lovely something to add to the story: a cute lisp, an adorable stutter, beautiful long hair, a love for reading, a brash vocabulary, or a desire to serve. And they all love to dance, which bonds them together.
Azalea was a beautiful example of an elder sister who loves her sisters more than herself and will do everything she can to help/protect/serve them. Bramble is a personal favorite, just because of her "colorful" word choices. She always uses words that don't quite sound princess-y, but they are perfect for her wild personality. Her relationship with Delphinium made me laugh - they reminded me of Jo and Amy March from Little Women, respectively. The practical girl with the straightforward way of speaking, compared to the romantic girl who is always dramatic - it's a duo that I'll never get tired of. All the rest of the girls were just as wonderful but....as there are twelve of them...I shouldn't get into it. I could probably write individual books about them, they all have so much to offer! ;)
Now on to the gentlemen. There were a lot of male characters presented in this story, which I loved. They were all so unique! The King was a great character because of the conflict he brought to the story. Minister Fairweller was awesome; he may not be a favorite of the characters but I, personally, loved him. Lord Teddie... OH! He had me rolling on the floor laughing for minutes on end - and that's NOT an exaggeration! I would laugh out loud, snort, snicker, and just giggle hysterically. He had the funniest vocabulary!! And for anyone who has read/seen Little Dorrit - he totally reminded me of Edmund Sparkler!! Mr. Keeper is, without a doubt, one of my favorite antagonists. He was so smooth and richly handsome - but I never really knew if he was good or bad. He had me chilled to the bone and then doubting my own feelings about him. Wow.
And, last but most certainly not least.... Mr. Bradford. Lord Bradford. Captain Bradford. I love him. Forget all those super sleek and beautiful and dashing men - Mr. Bradford made me grin from ear to ear in happiness, and shortly into the book he had me wishing I was Azalea. His ruffled hair, stiff collar, and quiet selflessness all had me wishing he'd appear out of the book and fall for me! (Unfortunately, these things never do happen...)
Story notes -
This story had me on my toes the entire time. I read at a minimum one hundred pages a day and had the book with me at all times. I wished for more, more, more! The twists and turns and the originality of it (all the while keeping really close to the Grimms' story) were almost too good to be true. Like I said above about waiting for a book to have that certain feel about - it was just...so perfect. There were no breaks in the story line, the writing flowed gracefully from beginning to end, and there was always something new to chew on. There were a few scenes that really stood out to me (the masque ball, the broken ornaments, the mirrors, the funny scenes with the girls asking the men on R.B. obnoxious questions), but honestly, every scene was phenomenal. Really. :D
One word to sum it up (final thoughts) -
I'm going to do something I've never done before - take from the title. Entwining. This book pulled me in with graceful fingers and let me go with a lasting impression - something I'll never forget. I want my children to one day read this gorgeous version of this fairytale because it is just so wonderful! (And just so you all know - someday, I want to show my husband the Soul's Curtsy. That scene melted my heart!)
Nothing for the parents! This was an extremely clean book! show less
Azalea is the oldest of eleven girls - soon to be twelve. Her mother has been sickly for a couple of years, and now that the baby is about to come, she is worse off than ever. Before the Christmas Ball, the queen asks Azalea to promise to keep her sisters safe - to protect them. Azalea promises, determined to keep that promise.
The girls' mother dies only a short while after.
Now, in mourning, the girls are not allowed outside, they cannot visit with anyone except on R.B. (royal business), and they cannot dance. But dancing is their way of life - it is what their mother taught them to do, what keeps them going and joyful through the day. They must dance.
When the girls discover a secret tunnel that leads to a breautiful, magical pavilion, they are invited to dance there every night by the Keeper, a dark, gorgeous, and silky smooth young man who seems to have an eye for Azalea. But when things start to get out of hand (the girls learn that the Keeper likes to keep things), family ties are strengthened, and romance buds, the girls must find their way out of a trap that could very well lose their lives - and the lives of those most precious to them - to an terrible cursed gentleman who wants nothing but revenge.
___________________________________________
My thoughts -
Ohhhhhh sigh...happy happy sigh. I was hooked from the very beginning. The massive amount of character, the darling relationships between the sisters, the perfect show more fairy tale world - it made my heart flutter. Even when there wasn't a lot of action or mystery, it was still undeniably interesting and fascinating. Everything about this world inspired me and made me want to live there, even if just for a time. It became my favorite castle, my favorite fantasy country (the landscaping Heather Dixon did was magical!), and my favorite magical underground pavilion.
Seriously, this world is perfect. It's exactly what I, personally, feel should be every fairy tale (even though that's impossible). I've had this vision of the perfect fairy tale world - what it should look, feel, smell like - and I've waited a long time to to read a fairy tale that's like it. This one hits the bull's eye. Completely and utterly. It had just the right amount of creepy, lovely, feminine, adventure, mystery, beauty, silver, glass, black, colors, dancing, romance, personality, and magic. I'm so impressed!
Character notes -
I loved all of the sisters, each and every one of them. Each one had her own lovely something to add to the story: a cute lisp, an adorable stutter, beautiful long hair, a love for reading, a brash vocabulary, or a desire to serve. And they all love to dance, which bonds them together.
Azalea was a beautiful example of an elder sister who loves her sisters more than herself and will do everything she can to help/protect/serve them. Bramble is a personal favorite, just because of her "colorful" word choices. She always uses words that don't quite sound princess-y, but they are perfect for her wild personality. Her relationship with Delphinium made me laugh - they reminded me of Jo and Amy March from Little Women, respectively. The practical girl with the straightforward way of speaking, compared to the romantic girl who is always dramatic - it's a duo that I'll never get tired of. All the rest of the girls were just as wonderful but....as there are twelve of them...I shouldn't get into it. I could probably write individual books about them, they all have so much to offer! ;)
Now on to the gentlemen. There were a lot of male characters presented in this story, which I loved. They were all so unique! The King was a great character because of the conflict he brought to the story. Minister Fairweller was awesome; he may not be a favorite of the characters but I, personally, loved him. Lord Teddie... OH! He had me rolling on the floor laughing for minutes on end - and that's NOT an exaggeration! I would laugh out loud, snort, snicker, and just giggle hysterically. He had the funniest vocabulary!! And for anyone who has read/seen Little Dorrit - he totally reminded me of Edmund Sparkler!! Mr. Keeper is, without a doubt, one of my favorite antagonists. He was so smooth and richly handsome - but I never really knew if he was good or bad. He had me chilled to the bone and then doubting my own feelings about him. Wow.
And, last but most certainly not least.... Mr. Bradford. Lord Bradford. Captain Bradford. I love him. Forget all those super sleek and beautiful and dashing men - Mr. Bradford made me grin from ear to ear in happiness, and shortly into the book he had me wishing I was Azalea. His ruffled hair, stiff collar, and quiet selflessness all had me wishing he'd appear out of the book and fall for me! (Unfortunately, these things never do happen...)
Story notes -
This story had me on my toes the entire time. I read at a minimum one hundred pages a day and had the book with me at all times. I wished for more, more, more! The twists and turns and the originality of it (all the while keeping really close to the Grimms' story) were almost too good to be true. Like I said above about waiting for a book to have that certain feel about - it was just...so perfect. There were no breaks in the story line, the writing flowed gracefully from beginning to end, and there was always something new to chew on. There were a few scenes that really stood out to me (the masque ball, the broken ornaments, the mirrors, the funny scenes with the girls asking the men on R.B. obnoxious questions), but honestly, every scene was phenomenal. Really. :D
One word to sum it up (final thoughts) -
I'm going to do something I've never done before - take from the title. Entwining. This book pulled me in with graceful fingers and let me go with a lasting impression - something I'll never forget. I want my children to one day read this gorgeous version of this fairytale because it is just so wonderful! (And just so you all know - someday, I want to show my husband the Soul's Curtsy. That scene melted my heart!)
Nothing for the parents! This was an extremely clean book! show less
The characters are spoiled monsters who drone on about dancing and curtsying until I want to murder them all to make the pain stop. They are also all complete idiots.
And the writing is bad.
And the writing is bad.
[Friday, October 19, 2012] Confined to their dreary castle while mourning their mother's death, Princess Azalea and her eleven sisters join the Keeper, who is trapped in a magic passageway, in a nightly dance that soon becomes nightmarish.
A fractured retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, set in a late 18th/early 19th century principality.
meh on top of meh.
I really don't like fairy tale retellings. I listened to it and the narrator was annoying.
I really don't like fairy tale retellings. I listened to it and the narrator was annoying.
Seeing everyone's interest in this book, it was bought and I have attempted to read it this past weekend.
I don't know if it is due to the Fairytale aspect, but I can't get past Chapter 7.
Done reading this until the Fall when I get back to my bookshelf.
I don't know if it is due to the Fairytale aspect, but I can't get past Chapter 7.
Done reading this until the Fall when I get back to my bookshelf.
Published Reviews
ThingScore 100
Princess Azalea Wentworth of Eathesbury, a consummate dancer and the eldest of twelve lively girls, is left to lead her sisters through the year-long mourning ritual following Mother’s death. The death leaves the girls bereft; the King’s grief makes him distant and Royal Business (RB) sends him away to war. Mourning forbids color, laughter, dancing, courting, even stepping outside the show more once-devilishly-magicked castle’s walls--unless on RB--and the girls are trapped in a world dyed black. Feeling abandoned, the desolate girls escape to a magical space within the castle walls with the help of a silver-threaded handkerchief bestowed upon Azalea by her dying Mother. Although mourning forbids courting, the father advertises a puzzle to attract suitors (RB allowing this) and Azalea fears a loveless marriage arranged by Parliament. Thrilled by the attentions of the Keeper, the fearsome-yet-exciting master of their magical dancing space, Azalea flirts with ever-increasing danger while trying to protect her sisters. Dixon’s masterfully-woven tale of loss, intrigue, danger, magic, romance and relationships will appeal beyond science fiction circles. show less
added by kthomp25
