Entwined by Heather Dixon

Title:  Entwined
Author:  Heather Dixon
Pages:  480
Genre:  YA/ Teen
Source: Book It Forward ARC Tours  

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.  [via GoodReads]

I love the tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Grimm brothers - so needless to say, reading Entwined was a "must" for me.  Ms. Dixon not only uses the tale as the backbone of her story, but she cleverly gives the story a twist to make it unique, engrossing and just downright fun.

Azalea and her eleven sisters, along with their kingdom, are all mourning the loss of their mother, the queen.  Donning black dresses, staying in doors, allowing no dancing, or the prospect of suitors... nor anything remotely fun, the girls are depressed.  The king is heartbroken over the loss of his wife and marches off to war leaving the girls, including their newborn sister, on their own.  It is while he is away that the girls discover an enchanted staircase leading  far beneath the castle to a world where they dance and dance... and dance.  They literally dance their shoes to shreds every night.  But beneath its lovely facade, there is danger lurking in this world.... and if the girls don't get out before it's too late, they might have to give up more than just their dancing shoes.

Told through the eyes of Azalea, you learn of their kingdom, of her sisters whom are all named after flowers starting with Azalea (the oldest) to Lily (the new addition).  Oh but, I loved Azalea and her sisters.  I liked how they each had their story - although not all got the same attention, you still knew who each sister was and how their stories entwined.  I loved their sisterly bond and the love they had for one another was really joyful to read about.

Ms. Dixon has a sense of humor - with laugh out loud moments, you could really see her wittiness shine through.  I loved those silly moments where I found myself giggling or with a big goofy grin on my face.  It really gave this story - which from previous re-tellings I've found dark and gothic, to be something fun and carefree.

All in all,  Entwined is a beautiful fairytale, riddled with music and dancing, romance and sisters and love ... in many forms.  I found myself swept away by its beauty and magic.

My Rating: