Come and mend your broken hearts here.
I am a huge fan of fairy tales.
My laptop even bears the name of one of Sleeping Beauty’s fairy godmothers, Merryweather. So it should come as no surprise that I fell head over heels in love with this modern-told fairytale that so beautifully combined bits of the Victorian era and a contemporary love of adventure and quickly-paced story with all the awe and sweetness and language of classic fairy tales.
Set in a Victorian like kingdom at war, Entwined tells the story of Azalea (now isn’t that a lovely fairy-tale princess name?) who has just lost her mother, isn’t her father’s biggest fan, and is the eldest of twelve sisters and therefore, shoulders a great responsibility.
Facing a year of mourning, a year of darkness, a year spent inside, and worst of all, a year without dancing, what will Azalea do? How can she say no to the Keeper, who offers her only what her mother loved best and her father has declared forbidden?
{One of my favorite parts of the whole book was how alluring The Keeper seemed at first, and how thoroughly I detested him by the book’s end…}
Heather Dixon obviously knows her fairy tales. Her style reminds me very much of those princess stories we all know and love. I can’t even think of how to describe her style.
A combination of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, perhaps?
If you are a fan of fairy tales, you should put Entwined on your to-read list. You’ll love this retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. You won’t be disappointed by the subtle, ah-somehow-I-knew-he-was-a-hero romance at the end, either.
About the Author
Heather Dixon grew up in a large family with four brothers and six sisters. She is a storyboard artist as well as a writer, and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Viennese waltz is her dance of choice.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
Rachelle says
Have you read negative ones, Mrs. Pederson? …I've read only good things about it and it was as amazing as promised. :)
Mrs. Pedersen says
This is on my "to read" list. Glad to see a positive review on it. :)
Rachelle says
I love sharing books that I adore. :)
HbroadwayphanN says
Wow, this book looks interesting! My sister read it and now she wants me to, also, and I probably will now. Thanks for sharing!
HbroadwayphanN says
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Rachelle says
Clare, are you sure you haven't read this book? I searched my brain in vain for what seemed like hours for the perfect description of how Dixon uses such beautiful words and phrases…and you got it, girl!<br /><br />Jenna, :D
Jenna K. says
ahhh…this is a story I want to read! It sounds a lot like The Twelve Dancing Princesses :D
Clare Kolenda says
This looks like my kind of story. :) I've always been a fairy tale lover at heart. Who can resist a story with beautiful princesses and words so magical they seem kissed by fairies themselves?<br /><br />And that cover is GORGEOUS too. :)
Rachelle says
Sarah! :D Well, when you get to it, you'll love it. It's right up our fairy-tale lovin' alleys.
Sarah Elizabeth says
Ahem, you already know that Entwined is sitting on my already bulging bookshelves patiently waiting to be read in the sometime very near future…whenever that may be, no one knows though! ;)
Rachelle says
Thanks for visiting, Rachel! (Love "Dove of Snow"). <br /><br />You're welcome, Jill! Thanks for commenting!<br /><br />Just loved this book! <3
Jill says
Wow, Entwined looks really great! I love fairy tale retellings and the summary really caught my attention. Thanks for the review, Rachelle!
Dove of Snow says
Hi Rachelle! <br /><br />I'm stopping in at your blogs for the first time since you caught my attention by so kindly commenting on my blog and following me! I liked this book review — before I got through the first couple paragraphs I was thinking, "Wow, that really resembles the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses"! LOL Guess I was right! I used to love reading that