Entwined by Heather Dixon

Azalea is the oldest of twelve daughters of the King, which means it will soon be time for her to choose a mate and future King. But when her mother passes away, the palace goes into mourning for a full year, and all balls and parties cease. For Azalea and her sisters, this is the worst possible thing that can happen, as dancing is the only thing that can keep their spirits alive. Then Azalea discovers a hidden forest within the palace, that is run by a handsome gentleman who calls himself The Keeper. Here, the princesses can dance to their heart's content. As time goes on, however, Azalea begins to notice a more sinister side to Keeper. With her life spinning out of control, Azalea must find the courage in herself to do the right thing.

Entwined is a beautiful book, plain and simple. I couldn't stop myself from falling deeply into the lush atmosphere. The language and writing style was soft with details but rich with colors. Heather Dixon was brilliant in her descriptions of the hidden forest, with some imagery sure to linger in the minds of readers long after the book is finished. Azalea was a tremendously powerful character, with her thoughts and actions completely justified and intelligent. The King was also written very well, and I was pleased to see him prominently penned into the plot. This book was not only a fabulous retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it was also a tender story of a father struggling to care for his daughters. And I LOVED the delicate addition of magic throughout. At over 450 pages, this read felt quick. I personally could not put it down for anything, except maybe to Google a few of the dances listed inside. Especially the romantic Entwine! Heather Dixon instantly became a favorite author, and I look forward to reading more from her!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars