Entwined

The cover was so beautiful I wanted to step through and be that girl. The description was inviting, however, upon finishing the book... I wished the story could have been as beautiful as the cover. The story wasn't horrible. I have read worse- however I wish the author was a little more original instead of using a story that already exists and change a few things and call it new. As I was reading it I felt like I was watching (reading) a Disney movie. Oh well... here's to the next book.

The book arrived in excellent condition, and shipped really fast. I was so surprised when it arrived because I wasn't expecting it for a couple more weeks, but since it arrived early I can read it over Christmas vacation. Great purchase, and I would definitely recommend the seller to a friend.

This is a very clever and well written retelling of the story of the twelve dancing princesses, with a bit of an adult twist. Story was recognizable but fleshed out well, with interesting characters and good plot. Well done and looking forward to more from this author.

The fact that there are so many five star reviews for this book really has me worried. I truly wanted to like this book. From the amazing cover art from Lara Jade to the fact that it's a retelling of a favorite fairy tale but I just could not. The writing and story are just horrible. There really isn't much of a plot aside from twelve flat poorly written princesses who find a magical room to practice dancing when they are forbidden from doing ANYTHING after their mother the Queen dies. Of course they fail to see that the magical gentleman locked in this magical room is indeed the same magical evil king who is bent on killing their father the king for revenge because OMG they just have to dance.
I could go on and on but I really don't want to waste more time on this book that took me months!! to finish. The story is so dragged out and needlessly long and boring, not to mention all of the heavy borrowing from Harry Potter good grief. Avoid this one and go read the classic tale, you'll be glad you did.

Sometimes I think bad fairytale adaptations will be the death of me. I found out about Entwined from a Goodreads list of YA fairy tale adaptations, and people seemed to like it so I thought I’d give it a try. I’ve always liked the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale, and I’d never read anything based off it before.

Unfortunately for me, Entwined aspired to be many things and failed at most of them. The title comes from the “Entwine,” a dance invented by the novel’s villain in which the partners hold a long sash and the man tries to entrap the woman in under three minutes. The novel is set in a vaguely English kingdom with magic–the kind that most fantasy YA novels take place in.

The twelve princesses from the original tale (all with flower names in alphabetical order in order of age–not cliché at all) are in mourning for their mother and don’t have the best relationship with their father, the king. Their mother was a dancer and all the princesses love to dance (which I found a little suspect. Are none of them clumsy?), which is why the mourning period sucks for them. Mourning = no dancing or bright colors or laughter or happiness. At all. This part of the 500-page novel is excruciatingly long, dragging on and on with descriptions of the youngest girls’ whining about how they can’t dance anymore.

So when Azalea, the protagonist and the eldest, finds a door to a magical silvery world inside the castle with a magnificent ballroom filled with faceless dancers, the princesses leap at the chance to dig out their dancing shoes and have a little fun to remember their mother by. They meet the mysterious inhabitant of the secret silver place, a handsome man named Keeper who is one of the best dancers they’ve ever seen.

The rest of the novel consists of Azalea trying to solve the mystery of Keeper’s identity and the dormant magic inside the castle (since a long-ago king cursed his subjects forever within its walls). Unfortunately, the mystery is neither suspenseful nor interesting, and the character development is minimal. I had a hard time identifying with Azalea, and an even harder time keeping all the other princesses straight. (Just because they have alphabetical names doesn’t mean they have distinct personalities.) For the most part, Buttercup, Clover, and the rest just ended up fading into the background and making noises about dancing and kisses every once and a while.

I wish Entwined had lived up to my expectations. I really wanted to enjoy it, and even forced myself to finish it long after I had given up on that. But the magic just wasn’t there.

Check out this review and others on my book blog here: https://ellectricbookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/review-of-heather-dixons-entwined/

This book is the best. It combines both Adventure, Action, and of course just a little bit of romance. I strongly recommend this book not only because it has a good storyline, but also because there is never a slow point in the book.

Be advised: this book contains very little offensive material. There is a little magical violence toward the end, but if it were made into a movie, it would definitely receive a pg rating.

What I liked about this book:

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses" was one of my favorite stories as a child. I can even remember the book I used to read it from, which had this cover that was coral pink with black silhouettes of all twelve princesses. So of course I was thrilled to see a retelling of it. And the author did a good job of adapting the difficult aspects of the story into book form (it's hard to explain why these girls would dance their shoes to ribbons in a magical realm every night).

Entwined didn't have the traditional medieval setting. The author actually did a lot of research into the Victorian era, so it's got this setting that's somewhere in between medieval and victorian (but leaning more towards the latter). It's unique, and I liked it.

You can tell that the author obviously researched a lot before writing this book. I really respect that; fewer authors are doing so, these days.

Dixon worked hard to make this a book where each of the characters had a unique personality, and again, I can respect that. She obviously wanted this to be a book with a little bit of depth, and she did succeed in this endeavor.

What I did not like about this book:

Dixon obviously wanted to give the characters physical quirks, but I think she took it a bit too far. Azalea is constantly digging her fingernails into her palms (like until they bleed...who does that?) and the king is constantly sucking in his cheeks. I think this qualifies as a bit of overcharacterization.

Along those same lines, the protagonist seems a little too obsessed with dancing. These princesses' entire lives are about dancing and little else. They even compare kissing to dancing. I understand having a passion, even an obsession, for something, but again, this seemed to go a little out of proportion. And with all these idiosyncracies, it makes it hard for a real person to relate to the protagonist.

Also, the dialogue! I have a real problem with authors who can't write character dialogue. It bothers me to no end, for example, when characters in a medieval setting (historical or fantastic) run around saying things like "wazzzup, dawg! Wanna hang?!" I understand that Dixon's setting was supposed to be more Victorian, but it still felt very medieval (very few people were living in enchanted castles in the 1800s). So for some reason, the constant exclamations like "balderdash," "R.B." (this one means 'royal business'), "ripping," "I say!" "oh, great muffins," "chums," and, my personal favorite, "toodle pip"---they just seemed so jarring.

The romance between Azalea and her beau (I won't spoil it for those of you who hate to be spoiled) seemed a little forced. They interacted maybe three or four times in the entire book. I did, however, enjoy the portrayal of the romance between the two other sisters (Bramble and Clover) and their beaus. For some reason, these rang truer to me. I was more excited for them than for the main character.

Overall, I was a little saddened while reading Entwined. It had such potential, a great story with unique twists, and it was well-researched, but the overcharacterization got in the way of it being something wonderful. I really couldn't empathize with or root for Azalea, and it really hampered my love for the story.

I hope this review was helpful. You can check out a synopsis (and more) over at my blog (link is in my profile).

The perfect princess novel. I loved the magic, mystery, and especially the romance. It's clean from anything objectionable -- my kids and I (ages 9, 11, and 13) have all read it several times each.
I can't wait to read more from Dixon.

Reader thoughts:
I loved all the problems Azalea faced. She was assaulted on every side: magical, romantic, patriarchal, and financial. She had to deal with a curse, deal with unwanted suitors, deal with an unloving father, and deal with being a penniless princess. She had to take care of her eleven younger sisters (and I thought 3 siblings was plenty!) and heal from grief over her mother's death and handle being Princess Royale.

Oh, and because the castle was in mourning, none of them were allowed to dance. At all. For a year. And dancing is the only thing that comforts Azalea.

This is a princess who darns her own socks and is mildly afraid of horses. She didn't take sword-fighting lessons or learn to hunt, but she bravely tackles a gun-bearing magician and a centuries-old curse. She knows how to keep her manners and wield her words, and that makes it all the more exciting and deliberate when she chooses to snap in frustration (which she only does about 3 times). She's a real lady, and she'll do anything for her sisters.

I loved the family tension and relationships. Will she ever get along with her father? Do her sisters see her as a mother or as a friend? Can Azalea help them all get along or make it worse?

I loved everything about the end.

Dancing was super important in this book. I bet Dixon/Azalea mentions over a dozen kinds of dances and steps and curtseys. Normally, I yawn when dances are described, but I loved it in this book. You can almost feel Azalea gliding across the dance floor, hear the swooshing of her skirts, see the twirling of her dress. Her posture and timing are perfect.

I think the only other 12 Dancing Princesses retelling I liked this well was Princess of the Midnight Ball, not that I've read many.

The magic reminded me of So You Want to Be a Wizard, which I haven't read in a really long time. I could be wrong. I was equally creeped out and fascinated. The magic sugar teeth felt a bit haunted.

Writer thoughts:
The setting, the feel of this book was so neat. It felt like historical fiction, but it had made up kingdoms and customs. People wore cravats and talked with a British accent (in the audiobook anyway), but the castle had secret passages marked with DE and magical sugar tongs that bit greedy children.

The main plot had good balance to it choice-wise. I mean, some plots have the MC just sucked into the action without any decision on their part. This can be exciting, but it also feels a bit inevitable and a bit like the MC is replaceable. Other MCs are too proactive and cause themselves all sorts of trouble despite a plethora of warnings. These MCs are not very sympathetic because it was their fault in the first place.

Azalea is neither. Or both. She and her sisters choose to visit the magical pavilion where they dance all night. At first. They started the business and ignored a few small warnings. Then it was too late, and Keeper was blackmailing Azalea with her mother's soul. She made her own choices and did her best to stop it, and that spiraled everything into the final conflict.

Beware, this is a fangirly review, so there might be some slight spoilers about.

Entwined was a fairytale from beginning to end. Enchanting, humorous, charming, and sweet. Beauty swirled through every page. And though there were pockets of intense darkness, this book, overall, was a swoon-worthy tale with heartfelt lessons and giggles and loveliness. I was grinning like a fool as I read the final pages - torn between the desire to laugh or sob. This book, my friends, THIS BOOK! My second time reading it, and I simply adored it.

Azalea is the eldest princess; older sister to eleven unique and endearing sisters who a lot of the time sometimes get out of hand. Unexpectedly, they are thrust into a mourning period, and forbidden to dance. But they need to dance! -And are willing to embrace strange situations in order to do what they love.

The characters. The storyline. The relationships. The dancing. The mannerism. Everything! Entwined is brilliant, in the sweetest of ways! It's actually a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, (which happens to be one of my favorite fairytales.) And such a retelling! The best one I've ever read for this particular tale, indeed! I think it was set in a Victorian-like era, which was delightful. The men wore top hats - that's one fact that stood out to me, hehe. It was fun! And there were all these other lovely details that pointed to the Victorian era as well, I believe. Absolutely scrumptious, historically-wise (except for some modern-day phrases that popped up once or twice).

And, as it's based off The Twelve Dancing Princesses, there's lots of dancing! So many different dances touched on! I loved it! I absolutely loved it! I like dancing around, and watching all manners of dancing, from folk dance to ballet. So it was very fun to learn about different dances and watch as the sisters learned new steps and all that wondrous stuff. One of my favorite aspects of Entwined! Perfectly beautiful! ^_^

The sisters. Azalea, the oldest, is our main character. The two right under her, Bramble and Clover, had bits of their stories told as well, though the story was never told from their POV. As for the rest, some are mentioned more than others, but they're all usually there, clustered behind Azalea, eyes bright and smiles mischievous sweet. *grins* Lily, the baby, is often gnawing on someone's pant leg ... hehe. I love her. I love that there's so many sisters, and that they're all named after flowers (alphabetically), and their feminine ways and distinct womanliness, and that Azalea's kind of like their mother hen (except when they don't want to listen to her), and they tease and look out for each other in such a sisterly way, and they make up big schemes together (sometimes much to Azalea's chagrin) ...
I'm simply delighted with the non-stereotypical characters of Entwined. Azalea is not the typical hard, tough, kick-butt heroine. She's motherly. She's sweet. She's proper and ladylike. She hurts when her father is indifferent toward the sisters. She's protective. She's emotional. She appreciates getting rescued when in need (though she's mortified at how much of a disaster she looks each time). In short, she's kind of like me, and I love her! *hugs Azalea* I understand her. I connect with her. She's feminine. She's a lady! *sigh* How refreshing to have a woman character that insists on acting like a woman!
Mr. Bradford, the King, Lord Teddie, Minister Fairweller. I LOVED THEM. They are definitely not the strikingly strong, devastatingly handsome heroes with silver tongues that make the women swoon. In fact, they're rather the opposite. Clumsy, rumpled, and a bit awkward. Sometimes they don't know how to show a girl that they truly care about her. But they end up being completely lovable, unique, and real. Mr. Bradford is my favorite. He is so sweet. Thoughtful. Compassionate. He leads, in a quiet way. His crooked cravat and rumpled hair are even endearing. *grins* What a fine young man. He's perfect in an imperfect way, and I love that. Every time he appears, my heart is happy! ^_^ And he totally is a hero! You'll see why! *wink* Lord Teddie is hilarious. And silly. He makes me giggle. And he's wonderful! The King ... I don't even know what to say. I'll touch on him again later in this review. Minister Fairweller, I knew there was something good about him. *smiles*
All the princesses are so funny! From fiery Bramble, to baby Lily. They dance, and curtsy, and spy, and rebel. They cry, and bicker, and plan outlandish escapades.

I was so touched by the father/daughter relationships explored in this book. It's like this journey to love. To healing. To realization. People mess up and make mistakes. Fathers do. The twelve sisters are hurt and angry. They decide to rebel against the King, strict and demanding and indifferent as he is. Because he doesn't care about them! At first, you're angry with the King too, and feeling for the girls' hurt hearts. But as the story progresses, a different side is shown. I LOVE this journey to healing between a fumbling father and his many daughters. It hurt. It was hopeful. It was tentatively humorous. It was tender. Beautiful. (view spoiler).

The romances were perfection. Clean. And adorable. Old-fashioned. And soul deep. They made me laugh. They made me sigh. They made my heart nearly burst with warm, bubbly, happy emotions. <3 <3 <3
I loved the King being all protective and fatherly. Throwing men out on their ear. XD

Onto a vastly darker note. As sweet, and bubbly, and humorous as Entwined is, it does have those scenes were the villain reigns. And the villain in this story is very evil and yucky. Though a lot of the gross, ghastly stories told and things the girls see are lies and illusions - they still make their point, and give you a little chill. (view spoiler) There's frightening magic in this story that the villain wields. And there's this "magic" of swearing on silver or swearing on blood that binds you to your oath. (The villain is the only one who swears on blood or uses magic). (view spoiler). So though the creepiness went much too far in my opinion, I still felt like, all in all, it made sense and it ended perfectly.
But yes, big caution to younger readers and sensitive people. I was fine, but I hesitate to recommend it to my twelve and fifteen-year-old sisters, because they're not used of reading such ghastliness, and it's just not necessary to read, in my opinion! I will probably go through Entwined and black out, with a marker, some phrases and whatnot that I feel take away from the overall innocence and beauty of this story.

I almost felt there was an allegory or lesson to the whole villain and dancing theme. He was so darkly handsome. He talked so smooth. He lured them in, despite their inner hesitation. Also, they felt abandoned by their father, and so turned somewhere else for comfort. I feel like it's a big thing when girls, especially, don't feel loved by their father. It can have some ghastly consequences, and Entwined kind of showed that. Very interesting and thought-provoking.

What else can I say? Besides the creepiness that comes now and then, Entwined by Heather Dixon is an absolute DELIGHT. It's fairytale at perfection. I LOVE IT. *huggles book* Just everything. Just ... EEP! And the ending was loveliness in itself, with a few giggles and heart hiccups added in.

I don't know, my friends. This was just my kind of book. After reading it a second time, I adore it even more. <3

It’s captivating from the beginning!

Entwined is a retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses. It was very well-written. From what I believe the synopsis of this book does not really give you the entirety of what the book is about. Now I know, what is the point of the synopsis giving you everything, when you can just read the book? But that is not what I mean. What I mean is that the book feels like so muchmore than what the synopsis gives. It does mention about her about to have it all, but when you begin to read it, it does not give you the sense that she is very excited about it, she is more nervous and down (which is completely understandable, considering her situation.) Then she sees Lord Bradford, which there is an automatic connection there. But it is not an insta-love, because she even mentions him before she sees him. Then the story progresses and continues to be captivating. The King or as they call him “Sir” has a huge character development which is amazing. Now, for a while I was confused about the ages of them all (well most of them), in the end I did get a vague sense of their ages. I loved both Bramble and Clover. I probably loved Bramble more than what I did Azalea, just because of her wit, but in all, each and every character was really well-built and I liked them each. This story is definitely one of a kind.

I actually wonder how this does not have more posts. It is a very well-known book but I haven’t seen many fandom posts about it.

I also have to shamefully admit, I did judge the book by the cover. It is actually what drew me to see what it was about. It is an amazing and really pretty cover.

Entwined by Heather Dixon is a fairy tale retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. This was interesting for me, because, until reading this book, I knew nothing about about the original fairy tale. Aside from Azalea, Bramble, and Clover, most of the sisters blended together. It was a lot of characters to keep up with. Azalea was the eldest sister and the main character. She carried the story well. Bramble was the snarky, fun sister. Clover was the prettiest sister. I found the pacing to be drawn out quite a bit though. I also would have liked some more chemistry between Azalea and Mr. Bradford. I was surprised to find more chemistry between Clover and her love interest. Keeper was intriguing. The times when the sisters were in his world were hard to turn away from. At times, I wondered if he was meant for Azalea as I felt more tension when they were around him. I never felt like I got to know Mr. Bradford. That disappointed me because when he was around, I found that I liked him. This was a hard one to review, because it sounds like I didn't like this book, when I actually did. The story itself was enchanting. There was a dark, eeriness to Entwined, and I'm glad I read it.

While this is my favorite version of this fairy tale and my 2nd time reading through it, my rating unfairly reflects how I'm really over the the fairy tale retellings. I feel like this story has been done to death & I'm truly sick of them. That said, I am still certain that this is the best rendition I have read & I have read over 15 of them & it's also one of my least favorite fairy tales, so for me to say it's the best version is high praise. It's just hard to muster much enthusiasm for it because the genre has gotten stale & I was never fond of the classic story to begin with.

Entwined is a teen/YA novel by Heather Dixon, based off of the Grimm Fairy Tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. The main character is Princess Azalea, the eldest of twelve royal sisters who all love to dance. When their beloved mother dies, their stoic father - the king - prohibits the girls from dancing during the year of mourning. But their old palace contains deep magic, and the princesses discover an enchanted silver forest within the walls where they can dance each night, hosted by a mysterious magician called the Keeper.

However, the fantasy/magic part of the story isn't what made this novel so good. It was the relationships and personalities of each of the twelve sisters, the delightful humor in the writing, and all of the heartwarming romantic subplots with their unique gentlemen suitors that kept me swiping the e-pages. This is also a beautiful father-daughters story, about an aloof ruler transforming into a loving parent. I almost feel as though all the fantasy aspects could've been taken out of this book, and it still would make a terrific little regency or Victorian coming-of-age romance. But the magical elements added an interesting backdrop - and, of course, life-threatening peril! (Indeed, the end is action-packed.)

If you like an old-fashioned, heartwarming story about a close-knit family, reminiscent of "Meet Me in St. Louis" or "The Sound of Music," skillfully written and blended with fairy tale magic, regency-style romance, and tons of humor and dancing, then I recommend Entwined!

For more book reviews, visit my Wordpress blog at Fantasie Books.

I was complete taken with this novel! It might have gotten a tad tedious in the middle as the characters developed and I waited for something to happen, but I barely noticed, so swept up in the fairy tale. I wasn't familiar with the tale of the twelve dancing princesses, but I googled it after and drew the parallels. I believe I much prefer this version. I usually read romance novels, but these days they revolve around sex, and this book was a nice break from that. In my estimation, it's largely coming-of-age and family themed, with wonderfully woven subplots of mystery, fantasy, and heart-melting romance. And there's humor! There were parts when I smiled and even laughed out loud at the girls' antics. Overall it was about the girls and their father, the king, coping with the mother's death and learning how important they were to one another as well as learning to love each other without the glue that was their mother's will forcing them together. When the evil Keeper threatens to tear their family apart, they find strength in their love and overcome his dark magic. One thing, though--I'm afraid I didn't fully grasp the meaning of the entwine dance and what exactly it was supposed to accomplish in the story. I kept trying to figure out where it would come into play and provide a plot twist or a resolution, but it never did, and I feel it may have been a bit of a missed opportunity. But that was really the only "loose end" I caught. Lastly, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Mandy Williams, did an excellent job of bringing the story and characters to life. This is going on my keeper shelves!

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 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.

When I started reading Entwined, I was skeptical. I was always in love with the story of the twelve dancing princesses, just like other fairy tales. (Though the girls in the original story were brats)
I wasn't sure that I would like this book...I'm not much for fantasy and am more usually into dystopian stories, but I was drawn to the description. Once I started, I could not put it down. It was addictive. Never a dull moment, it was filled it suspense, and drama, and love, and enough magic to be "plausible" without being over the top. I really enjoyed it! And I loved that it wasn't a modern retelling of the tale, but a period peace that was true to the actual fairy tale. Dixon does what Marissa Meyer does in the Lunar Chronicles: she turned a fairy tale into a real story with substance and characters that are developed.
Yes, the ending is sappy. But sometimes it's nice to have some sappy in your life. I don't post spoilers, but I will say Entwined was worth the journey and time. I'd read another Dixon novel any day. I plan on starting Illusionarium once I can get my hands on it.
I just stumbled across this book at my digital library. I had never heard of it before. I hope other people will be more apt to try this one out if I spread the word. Give it a try! I think you'll love it.

This was another friend recommended book, but this one was pretty much forced into my hands with a lot of gushing and giggling. A bit bemused, I took it, admired the cover for a second, then tucked it into my bookshelf and didn’t read it. After I returned it when I found it again two weeks later, the same book appeared from the library. This time I read it (somewhat grudgingly).

I stayed up until 1AM finishing it. This book was amazing. It was the first book I bought for my Kindle, and I still often check it out from the library just so I could have it in book format.

What I found interesting about this is it’s kind of the “thing” right now to write books about a Princess who doesn’t want/act like a Princess. Entwined’s MC, Azalea, is very much a princess. Elegant and charming, and very polite. They also don’t have a lot of money, which was common, but you don’t find that a lot in books, either.

The relationship between the sisters is sweet, Azalea pretty much becoming their mother after the queen died. She struggles between her duties as a sister and as a princess, and dreads the day when Parliament chooses her husband for her.

And the villain. Keeper. He is the creepiest, ickiest villain I have ever had the pleasure/displeasure of reading about. He’s not straight-on scary, just creepy. Spine-chilling. Actually, one of the best villains I have ever seen, simply because of the depth and eeriness of his character.

This book is amazing. I highly recommend it.

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 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.

When I started reading Entwined, I was skeptical. I was always in love with the story of the twelve dancing princesses, just like other fairy tales. (Though the girls in the original story were brats)
I wasn't sure that I would like this book...I'm not much for fantasy and am more usually into dystopian stories, but I was drawn to the description. Once I started, I could not put it down. It was addictive. Never a dull moment, it was filled it suspense, and drama, and love, and enough magic to be "plausible" without being over the top. I really enjoyed it! And I loved that it wasn't a modern retelling of the tale, but a period peace that was true to the actual fairy tale. Dixon does what Marissa Meyer does in the Lunar Chronicles: she turned a fairy tale into a real story with substance and characters that are developed.
Yes, the ending is sappy. But sometimes it's nice to have some sappy in your life. I don't post spoilers, but I will say Entwined was worth the journey and time. I'd read another Dixon novel any day. I plan on starting Illusionarium once I can get my hands on it.
I just stumbled across this book at my digital library. I had never heard of it before. I hope other people will be more apt to try this one out if I spread the word. Give it a try! I think you'll love it.

This was another friend recommended book, but this one was pretty much forced into my hands with a lot of gushing and giggling. A bit bemused, I took it, admired the cover for a second, then tucked it into my bookshelf and didn’t read it. After I returned it when I found it again two weeks later, the same book appeared from the library. This time I read it (somewhat grudgingly).

I stayed up until 1AM finishing it. This book was amazing. It was the first book I bought for my Kindle, and I still often check it out from the library just so I could have it in book format.

What I found interesting about this is it’s kind of the “thing” right now to write books about a Princess who doesn’t want/act like a Princess. Entwined’s MC, Azalea, is very much a princess. Elegant and charming, and very polite. They also don’t have a lot of money, which was common, but you don’t find that a lot in books, either.

The relationship between the sisters is sweet, Azalea pretty much becoming their mother after the queen died. She struggles between her duties as a sister and as a princess, and dreads the day when Parliament chooses her husband for her.

And the villain. Keeper. He is the creepiest, ickiest villain I have ever had the pleasure/displeasure of reading about. He’s not straight-on scary, just creepy. Spine-chilling. Actually, one of the best villains I have ever seen, simply because of the depth and eeriness of his character.

This book is amazing. I highly recommend it.

In this elegant, chilling retelling of the Brothers Grimm's classic Twelve Dancing Princesses, debut author Heather Dixon proves to be an author to watch. Azalea, eldest of the twelve daughters of the King loves to dance more than anything. When a tragedy puts the family into mourning dancing is forbidden. But with the King away at war the girls find a way to dance in secret. A magical room hidden away within the palace where a mysterious young man, known to them only as Keeper, waits each night to welcome them to his pavilion. Dancing until their slippers are worn through each night, the twelve sisters continue sneaking away unaware that their strange host waits like a spider with the darkest intentions.

When the King returns and discovers the tattered slippers it is only the oath sworn by his daughters that keeps him from knowing the truth. Taking matters into his own hands he advertises a bargain to any young nobleman who can discover where the princesses dance each night. Several suitors come in hopes of winning Azalea's hand and the possibility of being the future king. But will the one who discovers the secret be too late?

I have a great passion for well-done retelling of classic fairytales and Entwined falls into that category with ease. Beautiful, atmospheric and intense it was difficult to put down. The characters were all so well sketched and consistent I felt like I was right there with them. Azalea was a heroine flawed and lovely, motherly and yet youthful. Each sister had a personality of her own and Dixon managed to balance them well considering how many there were. The different fellows who came to try and discover the secret were each unique and amusing in their own ways. The King in particular really won my heart with his growth as a ruler and father. Keeper was one of the most chillingly creepy villains I have read to date and this was done with such subtlety and flare he made my skin crawl, literally.

The plot does run a little slow at times, with the princesses stuck in the palace for mourning there are times when you could feel their frustration, their boredom. The magic within the plot is interesting and explained just enough to be useful for the plot but not heavy. Romantic elements are subtle throughout the first two-thirds of the tale but become an important part of the story as the suitors come to attempt figuring out where the princesses are dancing. If you love a romance there is more than one happening in this story which for me made it that much more enjoyable.

With Entwined I was thoroughly entertained, pulled through many emotional highs and lows. I loved this book. I would recommend it for fans of romantic fantasy but especially for readers who like fairytale retellings. While this is a young adult book I think it would be suitable for all ages, keeping in mind it might be a bit scary for the youngest readers. I will be looking forward to more from Dixon, whom I hope plans to write more retellings with the same imaginative twists and romantic undertones she pulled off so well here.

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 bond 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, 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.

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses" has never been one of my favorite fairy tales. However, the title of Ms. Dixon's novel intrigued me, and I decided to read it. How wonderful that I did! This novel is written with enchanting simplicity, yet its profound examination of a family's grief and a young girl's loss of innocence and coming-of-age is enthralling.

When Princess Azalea and her sisters discover a magical portal in their bedchamber, they are immediately drawn into a strange world of dazzling delights. Meeting a mysterious man who calls himself the Keeper, the girls receive invitations to dance every night in the strange pavilion which he oversees. All the girls welcome these invitations, for their daily lives are fraught with sadness. Their mother has died, their aloof father is more distant than ever, and they are forced to spend a year in mourning. The dancing which they adore is forbidden to them. As Azalea and her sisters dance in the strange pavilion, they find that their shoes are worn through each night. Moreover, objects that the girls carry are mysteriously vanishing. Are the nighttime dances a simple respite, an offer from a similarly trapped friend? Or is the Keeper truly as charming as he seems?

Entwined is a chilling, sometimes humorous and very poignant tale. The descriptions of palace life and the mischievousness of the sisters will appeal to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings. Also, Ms. Dixon has created a truly terrifying villain. I especially loved how certain problems associated with the Grimms' version of the tale made more sense in this version. For instance, I always wondered why the princess' danced each and every night. Ms. Dixon offers a logical and profound explanation. I also loved the exploration of the relationship of Azalia and her father. Heartbreaking at times, their relationship is very poignant and relevant to fathers and daughters everywhere. The romance in this story is tastefully handled and not merely a love at first sight scenario.

Please give this wonderful novel a chance. God bless you all.

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 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.

As a mother who still tries to screen everything her 13-year-old daughter reads anymore, I have to admit that the story of the 12 dancing princess in all its fractured forms has always been one of my favourites. I was really happy when I first started reading "Entwined" by Heather Dixon - I had thought (mistakenly) it was that same author who wrote "Toads and Diamonds" (previously reviewed), which I enjoyed very much. As it turned out, Dixon's writing style was rather more like Diana Wynne Jones, except a bit more down-to-earth - which I thought weighted "Entwined" somewhat. Parts of it reminded me of Jones' "The Time of the Ghost" and Frances Hardinge's "Verdigris Deep." I would have preferred a slightly brighter tale: this book was just a little dark. In fact, for a cover that gorgeous, I thought the story itself could've used a little more grace.

That said, I did enjoy the re-imagining of how and why the 12 dancing princesses got their torn shoes, bruised feet and handsome princes. I think the book might have succeeded better if the princesses had been adopted, like they were in Anita Valle's "The Nine Princesses Novellas" (first book in the series previously reviewed), of if they had been cousins. As it was, I was visualizing Barbie's interpretation of the 12 princesses and feeling mightily sorry for the poor queen through much of the book ...! (Even if you didn't think about her giving birth at least 12 times, you'd still feel sorry for her!) ... For these reasons I would rate this book 3.8 stars, and so our combined rating would mean four stars. Said daughter's review follows:

"`Entwined' by Heather Dixon was an amazingly awesome rewrite of the tale of the 12 dancing princesses.

"Azalea is the oldest of her sisters: Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Eve (short for Evening Primrose), Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale and little Lily. But Azalea isn't just the oldest of 12 sisters - she's the oldest of 12 princesses and that means that one day she'll be queen. Unfortunately, that day comes sooner than expected when her mother dies and her father has to leave for war. Dressed in black, and not allowed to go outside do to mourning rituals, the princesses are going crazy. They want to dance like their mother taught them, and so they think it's a dream come true when they find a magical forest and ballroom underneath their bedroom.

"But the Keeper, who owns the magical forest and ballroom, wants something in return. They may dance as much as they like - but by Christmas they must destroy the magic that forbids him to leave his magical kingdom. Will Azalea be able to do it? Or will she and her sisters be the Keeper's slaves ... forever?

"My favorite character would have to be Clover. She's so *sweet* and lovely. Sigh, if only people were more like her. Sadly, I'm more like Bramble - if I don't like you, you usually end up in a closet with mops on your head! :-) Anyways, I like Azalea, too - she always tries to take care of her sisters, no matter what, and I really admire that.

"My favorite part would be the ending, of course. It was wonderful!!!

"What I *didn't* like about the book was
a) may be this is just me, but I couldn't find the proper ages for *all* the girls *anywhere*, only a few, and
b) the Keeper is *way* too creepy. Even for a villain - I mean, it's just down right *evil* to steal a person's soul and then torture it. Ugh!

"I would give the book four and a half stars: two stars for the plot, two stars for the characters, and one and a half stars for the cute names of the girls.:-)"

I found myself getting frustrated with the twelve princesses multiple times while reading Entwined, but ultimately I still enjoyed the story very much. The Twelve Dancing Princesses was my favorite storybook growing up; its pages were embossed with so much shiny that as a child I couldn't take my eyes (or hands) off it. This had a bit of the same effect on me, albeit a more mature one.

It's told from the point of view of Azalea, the eldest sister. First off, I found the names to be delightfully entertaining. Alphabetical order, but some of the most atrocious names! Hollyhock? Bramble? Oh, it was fun to read those! And the physical attributes of the sisters made no sense; hair ranging from black to blonde to red to brunette, eyes of every color on the eyeball-color spectrum. I actually loved it. It easily encompassed everyone and anyone who wanted to put themselves in the story, anyone who was shy, or loud, or gluttonous, or spoke with a lisp.

The plot was dreadfully predictable. I wasn't surprised in the least bit about any of it. Despite that though I loved it. I still wanted to read as much of this in one sitting as I could, and enjoyed what happened along the way. I did get frustrated with the stupidity and stubbornness of the family sometimes, but I will concede that it seems to run in the family. I can't very well denounce their actions when everyone made a stubborn decision, and they're all related, right?

The ending was rightfully a fairytale ending. Much like Pride and Prejudice, the three daughters that are of age (or almost) all end up betrothed to men they love, the King is no longer stony and at arm's length from his daughters, and the girls have all come to see his love for them.

My only complaint is that the girls were a bit too helpless. The men had to ride in--literally--and save the day.

Entwined is a retelling of the Grimm's fairy tale about twelve dancing princesses. I'm only familiar with the Barbie version of this story, thanks to my daughter, so I am not sure how this version compares to the original. Princess Azalea and her eleven sisters love to dance but they are not allowed because they are in mourning for the death of their mother. When they discover a secret passage in the fireplace in their bedroom they explore and discover a magical pavilion where they can dance every night to their hearts' content. There is a gentleman there known only as Keeper to the sisters, he is a mysterious, dashing figure. Keeper allows them to come to his pavilion but eventually Azalea learns that there is a price they must pay. During the day, the sisters need to keep their nighttime activities a secret and try to find a footing with their father, the king. As the times draws closer to deliver to Keeper what he has demanded Azalea learns the truth of who he is and what he intends to do.

I really enjoyed this story, it was entertaining, a little creepy and quite interesting. The author did well giving each of the sisters different personalities, the reader was easily able to remember which was which, no small feat with so many to keep track of. Keeper was a very effective villain, charming when he needed to be and quite scary as the story progressed. I was, however able to figure out exactly who he was long before Azalea. The King, the sisters' father, I felt was a likable character just misunderstood by his daughters and not good at communicating with them. My only complaint about his character was the countless number of times the author said he sucked in his cheeks, this happened nearly every time he had any part in the story. It annoyed me so much that it completely took me out of the story, I began to wonder if he didn't spend all his time with his cheeks sucked in which couldn't be very comfortable. I do feel that this book is very suitable for teens, no foul language or inappropriate behavior which I have found is sometime present in YA fiction. I would definitely recommend this book to young adults and adults alike.

This retelling of "the 12 dancing princesses" had a few weak moments that made me cringe, but ultimately I found it quite enjoyable. I generally find the retelling of classic stories a bit annoying, and even more so when I'm not forewarned up front that the plot isn't original. And yet the author approached the story from such a novel angle that I found myself uncertain how the story would resolve itself.

Granted, EVERY princess whom you suspect will end up with a suitor ends up with precisely the person you'd expect. The ending hits a happy/sappy note despite the author's attempts to avoid it. There are occasional cringe-worthy moments (such as "his voice reminded Azalea of rich, thick cream, the sort one could add to any recipe to make it taste better")... not to mention the silliness of 12 daughters named alphabetically after plants (although it does help you keep track of their relative ages!), and some sappy descriptions where the older daughters compare notes on what it feels like to be kissed ("like dancing, actually" oh no, more like "when the gentleman catches you in his arms, that warm feeling that makes your toes sort of curl"). Not to mention the patent absurdity of a king seeking suitors (including political allies) for his daughters, and then throwing one after another out the door, sometimes with force, as if he'd never have to interact with them again. So there are several things that make it hard to leave reality suspended.

And yet I found myself liking all the sisters, liking some of the suitors who had annoyed me at first, understanding the king a bit more (despite some flaws in the way he was written), enjoying the book, feeling entertained by the action, and ultimately reading it in less than a day (while on vacation). It's nowhere near a masterpiece, but for a first novel it's not bad.

What a real and personable world Heather Dixon creates in this book! Hers is the fifth retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" to come out in the last four years, but it is nevertheless a standout.

A year earlier, eleven princesses hid in the rose bushes to watch the Yuletide ball while their mother was upstairs, awaiting the birth of her twelfth daughter. Now Azalea is attending the ball herself, with her sisters no doubt secreted in a new hiding place, watching her. But none of them can feel as giddy as they did the previous year, when their mother was still alive.

In Dixon's retelling of the famous fairy tale, Crown Princess Azalea is a bit of a mother hen, trying to keep her sisters out of trouble while dealing quietly with her own grief and maybe, just maybe, taking an interest in a kindly young man named Lord Bradford. (Or is he simply Mr. Bradford, a commoner?) A case of mistaken names complicates the already subtle dance between these two would-be lovebirds, while Azalea's sisters Bramble and Clover have convoluted romantic troubles of their own.

But the true trouble comes when Azalea mistakenly opens the way to a magical place where a dark stranger named Keeper makes glittering promises, luring the girls into his web of music and dance. At first a magical sanctuary, Keeper's realm turns out to be the fulfillment of century-old curses and sorcerous ambitions.

I suspect the most important plot thread in this book is the need for mending the rift between the King and his daughters. His long-time formality and his added coldness after his wife's death have shaped an estrangement that a heartsick Azalea actively nurtures. Forbidding them to dance is only one of the rules that feel unbearable to the princesses. But this very rift with their father turns out to have created an opening for the Keeper to enter the girls' lives and work his wiles.

Blackmailing Azalea to break his enchantment, Keeper becomes increasingly dangerous. As Azalea comes to realize her peril, she scrambles to protect her family, but the threat has grown beyond her control, and she is hard pressed to save her sisters, her kingdom, and herself.

Fortunately, she and her sisters have allies, not to mention an invisibility cloak that comes in handy at a crucial moment or two. And don't forget the enchanted tea set (though I'm still trying to figure out the precise shape and purpose of the part of the set referred to as "sugar teeth").

Azalea and her sisters are a marvelous bunch whose loyalty, humor, and personalities give even the drafty, mysterious palace a feeling of home. The whole book has a nicely Edwardian feel, or perhaps it's Victorian. No wonder the book has earned itself three starred reviews from major review sources. I think you'll like these girls and their story very much.

Note for Worried Parents: Although Entwined is aimed at teens, it is wholesome enough for younger readers, probably 10- to 12-year-olds. The only real problems would be the truly menacing gothic villain and some brief references to sensual attraction.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Greenwillow Books, 2011
474 pages
YA; Fairy-Tale
4.5/5 stars

Source: Received a copy through the store's Vine Program

My mom always read fairy tales to me when I was growing up.I adore fairy-tales and retellings and since "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" was one of my favorites, I knew that I'd want to read this one. Luckily I was able to get my hands on it and I devoured it. Despite its length, this book moves fairly quickly while still allowing me the chance to savor the story.

The main character is Azalea, eldest of twelve daughters in the royal family. All of the daughters are named alphabetically, which was very helpful for me to keep track of them. The eldest three, Azalea, Bramble (!), and Clover, seemed to have the best defined personalities and they are also the ones who get suitors. But the other sisters make their presence known and all together, the sisterly affection and camaraderie was one of my favorite parts.

Filled with their mother's love of dancing, the sisters are devastated that after her death, their father banishes dancing as the family moves into mourning. However Azalea vows to help them continue and thus the girls are ecstatic to discover a mysterious secret passage leading to a pavilion with the Keeper where they can dance to their heart's content. But the Keeper is not as benevolent as he seems and his wishes will threaten their familial structure and their lives.

While not entirely understanding the thrill of dancing, I could see how dancing helped the girls remember their mother and further how their father's standoffishness pushed them toward the Keeper. The girls sneak out to go dancing every night to his bewilderment thus resulting in the advertisement that brings to mind the original story.

Of course there's plenty of magic around such as that which infuses the castle from a previous magical owner. An enchanted tea set, a sort of invisibility cloak, and silver play an important role in the final showdown. I, however, was much more interested in the relationships than in these magical elements.

The way the three romances proceeded was familiar. Bramble acted cold to her suitor while secretly harboring deeper feelings. Clover's is conducted somewhat behind the backs of everyone. And Azalea falls for the very nice guy who is frequently around although they are not without their difficulties. I liked all three guys and they all seem honorable and decent chaps.

But the story is really about family and love. The sisters love each other very much but have a weak relationship with their father. He also seems to struggle with how to love them. Over the course of the book, they build stronger bonds and that just warmed my heart. I'm a sucker for books with strong family units. They all draw closer toward the conclusion.

Recommended especially for people who love rich fairy tale retellings.

Cover: Beautiful-I love the elaborate dress although I do wish we had a better view of it.

Robin McKinley, Gail Carson Levine, Juliet Marillier, Patricia Wrede, Shannon Hale -- a lot of excellent fantasy writers have written adaptations of fairy tales.

And if you had to ask me, Heather Dixon might be added to the list sometime soon. Her debut novel "Entwined" is a silken tangle of family drama, magical happenings, romance and mild tragicomedy -- she gives a voice and personality to each one of the twelve dancing princesses, as well as a lusciously beautiful little kingdom filled with silvery beauty.

Azalea and her sisters are devastated when their warm-hearted mother dies during the Yuletide Ball. The grief-stricken King avoids his daughters and goes off to war, but not before he makes it clear that for the year of mourning, there will be NO DANCING. This devastates the girls, since their mother taught them every dance they know, and they see it as honoring her memory.

And one night, they find a magical passage under the castle, leading to a dancing pavilion in a silver forest. The mysterious Keeper allows them to come and dance every night, but Azalea soon discovers that he wants something from them -- something that could set the sinister man free. And as the King advertises for a man who can find the princesses' dancing place, Azalea discovers the horrifying truth of the Keeper's true identity...

Twelve sprightly princesses, an ancient castle riddled with magic, and a midnight dance in a silver forest. "Entwined" more or less follows the basic plot outline of the traditional fairy tale, but Heather Dixon fleshes it out with some new twists -- such as the undead Keeper, the rigid King's feud with his neglected daughters, and the reasons that the princesses are so desperate to dance.

Dixon's writing is sublime, managing to be magically ethereal and robust at the same time. Her dialogue has a slight British archness (even from characters with Germanic names), and her descriptions are shimmering, exquisite little things of satin, jewels and silver.

And despite all the grief and mourning, Dixon inserts some mild comedy into her story -- the suitors who pursue the princesses are handled in a hilarious way, especially one guy who's sent two kingdoms away on a wild goose chase. But she also excels at the creepier moments, which become more pronounced as we find out more creepy things about the Keeper ("He looked like a black, serpentine cobweb on the lattice").

And while she has a pretty large cast to flesh out, Dixon gives each of the princesses a distinct personality -- particular Azalea is an earnest, kindly young girl who just wants to protect her little sisters. The Keeper is a charming elegant gentleman who becomes more monstrous with every appearance, while Mr. Bradford is a quiet, sweet young gentleman who is obviously perfect for Azalea.

"Entwined" entwines its readers in a lush, haunting fantasy riddled with terrifying moments and robust comedy -- and you never quite know what Heather Dixon will pull out next. A delightful read.

The twelve princesses of Eathesbury do not live in luxury; their family is poor and their father, the king, is a strict man. After their mother's death, things become even harder, for the king forbids dancing as part of the mourning ritual. Then the eldest princess, Azalea, determined to look after her sisters, discovers a secret passage that leads to a magical garden where the twelve sisters can dance and dance every night, under the watchful eye of the enigmatic yet charming Keeper. But what the girls don't realize is how dangerous their nightly escape is.

ENTWINED is a beautiful retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". It's a book to curl up and lose yourself in. It's gorgeously written, like a fairy-tale novel set in a fairy-tale world should be. It's detailed but not overly so, and Dixon's writing flows well and creates the right kind of fairy-tale feel. It's a long book and perhaps a little slow, but there's nothing that I would cut out; I enjoyed reading this book too much.

I think what I liked best was that the princesses were named alphabetically; it made it so much easier to keep them straight because I could at least remember where they fell in line. Azalea is a caring older sister figure; she'll do anything for her sisters. The others range from opinionated to scholar to having a sweet tooth to just being sweet. And I can tell you which sister is which. I liked that you could tell that the king, despite being strict and too concerned with order, was still a well-meaning man who did care about his daughters, and I liked that Azalea's love interest was actually a decent man with no mysterious side. I also thought Dixon did an excellent job showing Azalea's gradual distrust of Keeper.

What I have mixed feelings on is the world that Dixon has created. It's a world that I enjoyed being in, to be sure, but it was clearly a magical version of our own because the girls celebrate Christmas and study Latin, and I'm not really a huge fan of using real-world holidays and languages and so forth in high fantasy book; it just makes it too familiar. Even more questionable was some of the dialogue; Dixon uses a slang that, although being oldfashioned, still feels real-worldly. Still, the dialogue had a certain charm to it.

All in all, ENTWINED is quite a worthwhile read for anyone who's desperate for a gorgeous fairy tale retelling.