Published: April 1, 2011
Links: IndieBound
(support an independent bookseller near YOU!)
Amazon, Barnes & Noble
(available as Kindle/Nook and audiobook editions)
Book provided by publisher for fair review
Synopsis from Goodreads
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it’s taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
Pushy: Hello there, dear reader!
Cutie: *waves*
Pushy: Welcome to another dynamic duo review, this time with me, Pushy, and the inimitable, Cutie. Thanks for stopping by, we’re pretty sure you’re going to be happy with today’s results.
Cutie: *nods head*
Pushy: So let’s get this party started.
At it’s heart, this novel is every bit a fairy tale that it takes it’s premise from. From the lush background details to the fact that these girls live without a mother (I mean, that’s step one in almost every fairy tale isn’t it?), Entwined brings you back to the part of yourself that fell asleep on your mother’s knee wanting to hear just one more story. Didn’t you feel that way, Cutie?
Cutie: There is something extremely magical about Entwined. From the author’s writing style that easily flows from the pages to the otherworldly setting that wraps itself around you, instantly the reader is transformed into another dimension where magic is real and young girls dance the night away. For all its beauty, this story does have a creepy edge to it. The main antagonist of the story is dark and deadly giving the plot a much need jolt of suspense. And while the story is slow and steady verses quick and fast-paced, I felt it was just right. Entwined is the type of novel you curl up with a cup of tea and immerse yourself in. It’s the type of book that pulls you in with its rich characters, extensive back story, and beautiful setting. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I loved it for being a stand-alone. I adored it for its brilliant plot. And I embraced Azalea and her eleven dancing sisters.
Pushy: I loved Azalea and every one of her quirky, very well written sisters. Each of the twelve of them, even the baby, Lily, had such distinctive, real personalities. Their individual characters felt real to me, particularly in their interactions with each other. I love the way they acted like sisters: crabby and consoling, loving and irritating at the same time in only the way sisters can be with one another.
And the villian! *shivers* Ooooh, he was so evil!! And so darn appealing too (at least to me). *fans self* why do I fall for the bad boys? Regardless, even though I pretty much knew from the get go who the bad guy was, I still had a part of me hoping it wasn’t him! He’s just SO VERY well written.
And finally, can I just say that for me, it’s not a fairy tale if there isn’t a romance (I’m looking at you, Hansel and Gretel! Sheesh!) and Entwined definitely delivers on that front. I loved the four simultaneous love stores that were woven into this tale (I count the love story between Azalea’s parents, because even though her mother dies at the beginning of the story, their love story is fleshed out as the over-arching story progresses).
I was sad that this was a stand alone, merely because I would like nothing more than to slip back into this world over and over again, but I think it is one of those perfect singleton novels that leaves you just enough unexplained to let your heart and imagination fill in the rest.
Cutie: Combining fantasy with mystery, suspense with romance, and extensive back story with a hint of comedy, Entwined is a gorgeous spin on the Grimm Brothers’ timeless classic The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Pushy: As usual, Cutie’s hit it right on the head, so I’m going to simply say, “Ditto!”
If you enjoy Entwined as much as we did, you simply must check out Heather Dixon’s blog, Story Monster. She’s a graphic artist as well as an author and her blog is so sweet and funny and down-right gorgeous, you’ll enjoy just spending time reading all of her posts.
Now go and get lost…in a book!
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I've been drolling over the cover for ages, but your review has now convinced me that I must buy 🙂
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Oh god I agree with Reading Angel, the cover is magnificent & any doubts I had over the book have been cleared by the review! 🙂
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Sweet review chicas!!! And the cover is a beauty;)
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Ok, this looks like such a fun read! I love the cover, and I love the idea behind the book!
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Oh wow, this is a GORGEOUS cover. I got to take a 3D look at it on Reading Teen's IMM vlog, and i love that the graphics on it sparkle and shimmer in the light. That being said, thank you so much for the review. The book sounds an amazing read, and I'm going to add it to my TBR list, thanks to your review! 😀
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Yay! I just keep hearing the most wonderful things about this book. Good thing I just got a copy! Now all I have to do is find the time to read it 🙂
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I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! i'm so happy i picked it up, (: plus i love this site! <3
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[…] makes me want to swoon old school when I think of it. My favorite interpretation of this story is Heather Dixon’s Entwined. HOLY COW was that a great […]
[…] Bewitched Bookworms: “I loved Azalea and every one of her quirky, very well written sisters. Each of the twelve of them, even the baby, Lily, had such distinctive, real personalities. Their individual characters felt real to me, particularly in their interactions with each other. I love the way they acted like sisters: crabby and consoling, loving and irritating at the same time in only the way sisters can be with one another.” […]