Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined
Author:Heather Dixon
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Young Adult
Hardcover: 480 pages

 

Back Cover Synopsis:

“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.”

Summary:

Azalea has everything that a girl could dream:  beautiful dresses, suitors, loving sisters, and a kingdom that will one day be hers.  Then on the night of her very own coming-of-age ball, her world is torn out from under her.  Her ailing mother passes that very night from labor, leaving her estranged father even more distant, and Azalea the responsibility of taking care of her sisters, especially the newest, Lily. 

The extravagant clothes and days of dancing and running in the gardens are over.  The family is now in mourning and the windows are shut off from the world; the girls in their newly dyed black clothes tucked away from all they know and love.  Just when they think their mourning will stifle them to death, Azalea finds a way for them to continue their dancing without their father’s knowledge.

Her palace once was the home of an evil sorcerer king, but not all the magic had been removed; there was still a lively tea set, a cranky set of sugar teeth, and secret passage ways.  The girls soon discover that one of the ancient king’s passages is in their very room and they venture down until they reach a forest, a silver forest hidden inside their home.  As the girls come across a bridge they see in front of them a ballroom with many people dancing.  It doesn’t take long for the dancers to spy their intruders, for one curious and hungry little sister sneaks to the dessert table to grab some snacks.  When the dancers see the child they all disappear. That’s when they meet the Keeper, who knew they were there all along, for it’s his silver forest. 

Realizing the sisters yearning to dance their hearts out, he offers them a deal.  If they come to visit him, they can dance in his forest until their feet grow numb.  Excited about their little secret, the girls make and oath on silver never to tell anyone about the Keeper or his silver forest, but making that is their first mistake.  Their second is going back to dance again.  You see…the Keeper likes to keep things and Azalea and her sisters may be his greatest treasure yet. 

Who is the Keeper and what does he want with Azalea and her sisters?  Does he have something even darker in mind?

My Rating: 4 ½ stars

This is a tale of romance, magic, and a truly terrific heroine.  After the death of her mother, Azalea is responsible for her siblings.  Though she has every intention to take care of them and keep them safe, she may have just led them into a dark and twisted trap.  A round of applause for Heather Dixon!  Entwined is riveting and will hold you even after the very last page. 

Azalea is a responsible and loving heroine who would stop at nothing to keep her family safe.  Despite her failure at a relationship with her father, she still strives to keep him a part of their family, though a couple of her sisters wish to “disinherit” him.  I find it very said that none of the girls call him father or daddy, to them he’s “The King.”

Plenty of romance can also be found between these pages and some romantic pairings may come as a shock to you.  But what’s the fun of knowing everything? 

You may recognize this story as a retold version of The Thirteen Princesses.  Over the years I’ve read many retellings because it’s in fact my favorite folktale, and this is my favorite version.  Dixon put her own twist on this timeless tale and did a fabulous job at it.  Even though 480 pages seem like a truck load of reading, you may find that it’s very simple to get through it, even in one sitting.  You want to know how?  Because it’s that good!  So good that you’ll hardly even notice, once you awake from your hypnotic slumber into Entwined, you’re already more than half way through the novel!

Important fact: The girls find the Keeper very attractive, and once you learn his secret you will wish to change his name to the Kreeper (Yes I know its normally spelled Creeper).

Experience the suspense for yourself and I promise you will not be disappointed.  Need a fantasy story with a dark edge to it?  Then this is your book!

Will Azalea find a way to save her sisters from the Keeper without breaking the oath?  Do you find the Keeper creepy?