Entwined

Hannah Yang

What an enchanting novel.

Entwined is a beautiful retelling of the twelve dancing princesses, though slightly twisted. With dramatic scenes, beautiful descriptions, and a touching story, I can easily see every minute of Azalea's magical world. Plus, the feelings and emotions in Entwined were very tightly locked with the story.

See, Entwined wins so many bonus points with me. 
Fairytale retelling, check. 
Dancing, check. 
All the feeeeels, check. 
Characters, check!!

There are so many striking characters in the book, I can't say which I like best! As per usual, I really liked the villain, the Keeper. However, every princess from snappy Bramble, sweet Clover and dramatic Delphinium had a personality that was consistently carried out throughout the book. I can honestly just say I loved each and every person.

Did I also mention that the cover is gorgeous?

Entwined is a book not to be missed! I would recommend it for girls of all ages.

I wish I had read this book when I was 12, I probably would have enjoyed it more. 

My biggest critique is that the 12 Princesses had no distinct personalities except for maybe Azalea, Bramble, and Clover, and they were honestly still pretty bland and cliché

Just did not find this story very good, which is a shame because I love the fairytale of the 12 Dancing Princesses, this was just pretty confusing and a lot of times boring and brought no new ideas to the original story. 

I will continue my search for a good 12 Dancing Princesses retelling, because this was not it.

Emma Lechner

I wish I had read this book when I was 12, I probably would have enjoyed it more. 

My biggest critique is that the 12 Princesses had no distinct personalities except for maybe Azalea, Bramble, and Clover, and they were honestly still pretty bland and cliché

Just did not find this story very good, which is a shame because I love the fairytale of the 12 Dancing Princesses, this was just pretty confusing and a lot of times boring and brought no new ideas to the original story. 

I will continue my search for a good 12 Dancing Princesses retelling, because this was not it.

Colleen

4 Stars

This review contains some spoilers.

I found myself with a sudden craving for a fairytale. So I browsed through Goodreads and came across Entwined which is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I am usually intrigued by stories that reimagine fairytales other than Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast and a couple others that are remade entirely too often with results that barely vary. I did hesitate for a moment though because The Twelve Dancing Princesses was always a childhood favorite of mine. (It was my second favorite Brothers Grimm story after The Wedding Of Mrs. Fox.) But my yearning for a fairytale was stronger.

Entwined sticks close to the original fairy tale but with enough originality to keep things interesting. Even being very familiar with the original story, I was kept guessing about certain things. 

Although much of the plot line is akin to the original story, what fleshed Entwined and what I enjoyed most about it was the complexity of the characters. One of the problems with many versions of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is that the girls often come across as frivolous and vapid. They get portrayed as shallow twits who care only for dancing. But Dixon embellished the story with interesting characters and the complexity of different relationships. There is also a touch of coming of age story to it. The story focuses mainly on the oldest princess, Azalea. She bears not only the burdens of being eldest sibling and future queen but also the grief of her mother's death. Before she knows it, Azalea is left trying to fulfill the deathbed promise she made to her mother about protecting her sisters. So there she is, sixteen, motherless, her father off fighting war, with eleven little sisters (yikes!) to take care of, and the gloomy prospect of Parliament having the deciding vote in who she would marry. In struggling to take care of her sisters and keep their spirits up, she continues to teach them to dance. I really loved that their reason for dancing was to stick together and feel close to their mother not just being frivolous and wanting a good time. And it was Azalea's love for her sisters and her difficult relationship with her father that made this story stand out. 

The writing also kept the creepy, almost Gothic essence that old fairytales have. Growing up on Grimm's Fairy Tales, I feel a strange affinity towards those dark, sinister tales. As I child, I would rant and rave about stories being "Disneyized" and ruined. (And honestly still do sometimes.) But for the most part, Entwined captures that mysterious tone those stories so captivating. Not the sappy, overly sanitized fluff to which most fairytales get diminished. Although it did have moments where the tone slipped and moments of modern tone slipped through. Those moments were all the more jarring since they were surrounded by such atmospheric writing.

The story was very engaging, but some moments feel slightly flat (view spoiler)[like when Azalea realized she loved Mr. Bradford... that passage was disappointing. And overall, the love angles for the three eldest girls were extremely obvious from early on (hide spoiler)]. Overall, most of the romantic emotion felt a tad forced. It was the emotional connection between the various family members that made this story strong. Though thankfully there was no angst or trite instant-love.

Many of the characters had very silly names sometimes too nonsensical to be enjoyed. The princesses are all named after flowers or plants of some sort and named in alphabetical order. Some of those names are not too bad such as Azalea or Ivy. But there is an unfortunate younger sister names Kale! What sane parent names their child that? Kale is absolutely the worst princess name ever! (I believe the story did mention a Great Aunt Mugwort once, but still).

With a cast of so many characters, the middle sisters are almost nonentities. The older and younger ones stood out more, but there were definitely a couple in the middle that faded out of notice. I did not even realize until about half way through that two of the middle girls were twins. Still, that does not really detract from the story; it would be very hard to write a story that gave equal time to twelve girls plus the other characters in the book. 

The princesses were also all younger than I expected with the eldest being sixteen at the start of the story. (view spoiler)[It was particularly weird that Clover was courting at age fourteen. Even though in their world fifteen was coming of age, it was still disturbing to think about. At least her father refused to allow an official engagement until she was seventeen and insisted she socialize with other men and not be forced to stick with a decision made at such a young age. (On a side note, I particularly loved her father's character and definitely got a few chuckles out of his reaction to the men trying to court his little girls.) But Clover's beau Fairweller had to be at least a decade old than her. At least. Which does not matter much in later years, but it matters a hell of a lot when you are talking about a fourteen-year-old and a twenty-four-year-old. So I was not rooting for them even though the inevitability of their relationship was clear early in the story. (hide spoiler)]

I also liked that the title tied into the story in a couple of ways. Entwined was overall an engaging and enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fairytales with a darker edge.

But Kale is still the Worst. Princess. Name. EVER.

RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

Mary Horton

It took me over a week to reread this (thanks, college), but it was just like visiting an old friend.

I love this book so much.


  Why I Love This Book:


- It has one of the best casts of characters. YES INDEED. The sisters are so hilarious, adorable, and real--all of them are so different from each other! You have fly-off-the-handle Bramble with her flaming temper and mischief-making ways. (She's simultaneously the best/worst. I probably couldn't stand her in real life. XD) Sweet, gentle Clover, with her endearing stutter. (I just love stuttering characters; don't ask me why.) The oldest sister Azalea--the main character--with her hilariously awkward encounters with Lord Bradford, streak of impulsiveness, and motherly instinct towards her sisters. AND LORD BRAFORD. Be still my heart! He is...quite honestly one of my favorite characters ever. o.o He's so quiet and kind and sweet AND HE'S MY FAVORITE. I would marry him. *coughs*

- The humor. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. This book is funny! Heather Dixon has such a unique sense of humor, and it's always "clicked" with me. Doesn't feel forced or unnatural at all. AND IT'S JUST THE BEST. The sisters are constantly creating chaos/awkwardness/annoyances, and that makes the story very lively. 

Since I love the humor, so much, I can't pass on sharing some quotes.

"You look pretty, as always," he said.
Azalea grinned, deciding not to remind him that the last times he has seen her, she had been soaked, frozen, unconscious, and a torn mess of the undead. 

Mr. Pudding was their Royal Steward. He was also the Royal Stableman, the Royal Boot-Blacker, and the Royal Things-on-the-High-Shelf-Getter.

"He's around the twist," said Azalea. "Breaking all the windows? He's mad."

"Ah, no," said the King. "It's only madness if you actually do it. If you want to break all the windows in the house and drown yourself in a bucket but don't actually do it, well, that's love."

-The setting. It's full of magic and balls and old castles and alllllll the fairytale things. It's just lovely.

- LORD BRADFORD THOUGH. Ahem. 

- The family elements. This is arguably one of my favorite parts of this book. It's got wonderful family dynamics, and their family just feels so real. Not perfect, by any means. But exactly how I picture real families.

- The romance. Yesyesyes. All the romance(s) in this book are superb! It's very light and adorable, and I maaaaaay be a little obsessed with One Couple in Particular. *grins*

- EVERYTHING. I can't think of a thing I disliked about this book! It's one of my all-time favorites. <3

CONTENT: This is a very clean book. No cursing or excessive romance. One (no-good) character attempts to force a kiss, and there are a few brief kisses that are not forced or described much. The magic might be too creepy or weird for some people, as well. I would probably steer clear of this is if you aren't a fan of magic in general.

5 stars!

Shannon Arputharaj

This is so well written. It starts off magical and such, with twelve inseparable sisters dancing. But then it turns really creepy; yet, it is so beautifully written that you hardly notice just how gory.

Tamara Al-Qaisi-Coleman

I LOVE THIS RETELLING! It was beautifully written and executed and a heartwarming read! ❤️

Alexandra Mellas

Original review posted here: http://raidingbookshelves.blogspot.co...

Original Language: English
Publisher: Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins, Inc.
Country: USA
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
ISBN: 0062001035
Page Count: 336

Entwined is Heather Dixon's debut novel and a fantastic reworking of the fairytale favourite The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Her characters are fun, and sweet and the plot is a fascinating way to look at a beloved old tale.

I've always loved fairy tales and any story that gives me a chance to sing a familiar tune in a new place is worth a shot. Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my all time favourites and I adore the chance to explore it again. Dixon has created an enchanting magical world of sweet young princesses named (alphabetically by age) after flowers.

For the most part the characters are charming and well developed. I would have liked less pip in Lord Teddie and a bit more pip in Lord Bradford. Of course, this is a story aimed primarily at young teenagers who want more story that deep characterisation so it worked out well the way it was. The older Princesses seemed to have quite distinct personality traits that make it easier to differentiate them. Azalea was especially well developed - her relationship with her father (Sir) and her budding romance with Lord Bradford.

The plot was interesting, though at times it did feel a little rushed and vague. It seemed to struggle to move on at times, and the transitions from exciting to frightening seemed somewhat disjointed. I did, however, enjoy the development of the romances between the Princesses and their suitors though I found Clover's romance a bit strange and almost creepy.

Ultimately though, Entwined was an engaging reworking of an old classic and I look forward to more stories from Heather Dixon. 

Rating: 3 stars

Judging by the cover: I adore this cover! I can't even explain how beautiful and whimsical it is. The silver design around the border and the dress are both amazing. I don't know how but I want to combine them and wear them somewhere.

Isabella Brouwer

I don't really know why it took me this long to read Entwined, even though I really liked it. The problem was probably that the beginning was great, the ending was also great, but the middle was quite... Uneventful. And for me, that represents a mayor flaw. If the middle is uneventful, you lose my interest, but still, I loved the book.
I liked the swearing over silver and the warm bit of magic inside of you. I also loved Mr. Bradford, he was so amazing that I kept wishing he would realize he loved Azalea and not - in his idea - Bramble, 'cause Azalea isn't freaking Bramble!
Ehm, yeah. I'm sorry, but that was the most interesting part of the book for me, the romance stuff. I'm just obsessed with that kind of things.
So, Entwined was great, but if you're a person who quits reading a book if you don't find it interesting anymore, don't read it.

Renee Delcourt

** spoiler alert **
           I initially picked up this book because it was such nice eye candy. The cover is exquisite. I figured I'd at least check to see what the book was about. The sad part is, I wasn't even shopping for myself. No I was shopping for Sean's birthday present, but once I get into a book store good luck dragging me out without a book for me to begin reading immediately. Sometimes I can be quite impossible. After reading the inside cover I decided, "What the heck, one more book wont break the bank." After the end of my purchase, Entwined happened to be the least expensive book I bought. The second I got home, I began reading and was hooked instantly. I bought this book 48 hours ago, almost exactly. I haven't read as shraight through as I have wanted, because of work and what-not. I was truly captivated by this story. It reminded me so much of a classic fairy tale. The magical scenes are breathtaking and leave you dreaming of the princesses little world beyond the palace.

Want the full review?
Go to: http://thebookprojectandme.blogspot.c...

Binish Fatima

Ava Shaffer

I really liked this book! I thought of it as a darker twist on the 12 Dancing Princesses and loved it because I love twists on fairy tales.

Faith Collins

Reviewed for 

Before I get started I need to make it clear that the 12 Dancing Princesses is my all-time favorite fairy tale. I love finding books that retell the story in a different light but usually find myself disappointed with the retold versions. I felt pretty underwhelmed by this book. Perhaps I hold 12 Dancing Princesses spin-offs at too high a standard or just assume I’m going to adore them and don’t… Either way, this turned out to just be an average read for me.

First: hot dayyummm, that cover is SWOON WORTHY. I love it!
To be fair, there were a few really good things I liked. I thought the characterization of the king was WONDERFUL. He really made the book for me and I loved watching the girls’ relationship with their father change.

I also really enjoyed the concept of hidden passageways, swearing on silver, and those adorable sugar tongs. In addition, Dixon is very skilled at description writing- there are some very beautiful pictures tied up in her words! Her description of the forest was downright stunning.

What I didn’t like: the girls. For some reason, Azalea really was irritating to me. She was feisty which I appreciated but just didn’t strike me as the heroine Dixon was trying for. The rest of them? Pretty boring.

I usually don’t have a hard time with suspending disbelief but I had a hard time believing everyone was a-okay with the final, VERY MAGICAL part of the book. I know that our main characters were aware of magic but for some reason the fact that all of the other characters were cool with (spoiler) girls being trapped in mirrors just felt not believable to me. I feel like Dixon needed to clear up whether or not everyone was aware that magic still existed or not. But, alas, I am not an author.

Keeper was just okay to me. He could’ve been creepier and I was sometimes unclear what was actually happening at his soirees.. were other “dancers” there? Speaking of dancing, the girls absolute adoration of dancing got a little too involved for my taste. In my mind, just because the book is based on dancing doesn’t mean the characters have to be obsessed with it. But, again, see comment: I am not an author.

Overall, I just felt a little let down. Dixon weaves a beautiful, somewhat boring story. Many people describe her writing as relaxing but it made me more sleepy than anything. The plot was fairly predictable (I knew exactly who Lea, Bram, and Clover were going to marry when their respective partners were introduced). That said, there were some really nice, new elements that she explored.

Like I said, maybe it’s my affinity for this fairy tale that always makes me score re-tellings lower than they probably should be. I think many people would enjoy this book (that cover is gorgeous!!) and it most certainly has classroom shelfability.

Kaeli Wolf 

Okay, this is my favourite book (one that's not in a series) because it has everything I love all in one book. Romance, magic, thrills, mystery, and loss. It truly changes my life every time I read it!!

Entwined

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