Entwined by Heather Dixon

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
Pages: 480
Source: library
Buy It: Amazon | Borders | Barnes & Noble

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. --Goodreads 

Long before the 12 princesses were ever born, King D’Eathe was the ruler of a magical kingdom. It was said he had such powers to steal people’s souls. However, a war ensued and the Captain General slayed the King and unmagiced the entire palace. But when the 12 dancing princesses find a secret passage in their room, a pathway through a silver forest leads them to realize that the magic may be fighting its way to freedom. Down in the passageway, at the pavilion, the princesses meet Keeper, a creepy yet handsome gentleman, who harbors a secret and desires only one thing. To get out.

Entwined is a historical fantasy full of jaw dropping magic, gorgeous dancing, and fantastic characters. I loved this book, there were a few things that I disliked but overall I’m recommending this awesomeness.

First of all, I love Heather Dixon’s voice. The diction was powerful, creative, and mind-blowing. There was so much imagery that even when I think of the magical forest, Mr. Keeper, or even Lord Teddie—I feel that I can tell you what each look like in detail. I loved the setting, historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and being whisked back in time to a fictional palace was truly breathtaking.

This novel was, so I have heard, based off of the Grimm Brothers’ tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I have never heard of nor read that tale so I can’t say much of its similarities.

The 12 princesses were perfectly woven into 12 rather different individuals. Each character shined on the page no matter how ridiculous their structure of life was (each was named in alphabet order from the order they were born).

The plot is where I was a bit disappointed. It was very slow in the beginning, making it incredibly difficult to get into. I did get into it, however, and after that it got much better. The ending was fantastic! I was almost to the point of biting my nails, I was so nervous of the outcome of the climax.

Overall, this is a book you must pick up. If you’re in love with historical fiction and fantasy then this book has to be on your Bucket List.


First Sentence:

“An hour before Azalea’s first ball began, she paced the ballroom floor, tracing her toes in a waltz.”

Entwined by Heather Dixon, p. 1

Rating:

Cover: 5
Characters: 4
Plot: 3
Ending: 4
Writing Style: 5
Overall: 4





Rated PG for some scary themes.