Book Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon

A charming retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses

Azalea is the eldest of eleven girls who love to dance. This all changes and her world turns upside down when her mother dies birthing the twelfth princess during the Yuletide Ball. The King demands everyone go into mourning for a full year, wearing black with curtains closed and absolutely no dancing.

This kills Azalea and her sisters, because dancing is the one thing that cheers them up and brings them together during such a hard time. To prevent everyone from getting depressed and having her family fall apart, Azalea finds a hidden passage to a magical world where they can dance the night away.

Unfortunately, there’s a catch. A handsome, yet cold man named Keeper lives in this world, and true to his name, he wants to keep things they can’t give up.

Entwined was full of rich history and folklore, and reminded me a little bit of my favorite book: Pride and Prejudice. Because of the nature of the fairytale, I had trouble keeping all the princesses straight. Their descriptions and individual personalities blended together throughout the tale. I would have liked more development of the other romantic relationships as well.

I especially liked how the princesses weren’t rich, and had to make do with porridge on most days, and how the fairytale took a dark turn in the middle.

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fairytale retellings and magical worlds.

3 stars

My Review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth

I don't usually post reviews on this blog because I have a book review blog, but this book is so famous (and I loved it so much) that I thought I'd post my review here as well. I had a two hour drive on Saturday up to the White Mountains to play at a wedding and then a two hour drive back, so I read this book and couldn't put it down until I finished! Has anyone else read this book? Did you like it? (A lot of people don't!)

Here's my review:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary lives in a secluded village surrounded by wire fences that keep out the Unconsecrated, an army of living dead. Ruled by the Sisterhood and the Guardians, the village may be the last one of its kind. Life is not about love and risk, but commitment and adherence to the policies dictated by the Sisterhood. Betrothed to a man she doesn’t love and tempted by her best friend’s intended, Mary has trouble believing in the Sisterhood’s rules. Even more, she craves what lies beyond the village walls, seduced by her mother’s tales of a vast ocean beyond the forest of hands and teeth.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is gruesome and dark with love at its core. Set in a post apocalyptic society of religion and fear, the story draws on freedom verses imprisonment and predestination verses choice. Ryan weaves a complex web of passion, love, and jealousy. Filled with tension, strained relationships, and lots of teen angst drama, this tale is hard to put down. A great sense of irresolution keeps page after page turning at light speed. But if you want answers, this book is not for you. Written in a literary style with elegant prose and poignant descriptions, Ryan is more focused on the journey than the end result. Perhaps she will give us more answers in the second installment, The Dead-Tossed Waves.