Entwined is a lovely reworking of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Azalea, the princess royale and eldest sister, loses her mother to childbirth. Though newly born Lily survives the ordeal, the tragedy of losing their mother hits the family hard. The girls' father, whom they call 'Sir' or 'the King', begins to drift farther away than before. He demands that the girls give up dancing in order to fulfill the year-long period of mourning. The girls, now dressed in black, must also lose their father in a war, as he leaves to lead the troops. Despite their father's many restrictions, the girls are determined to find a way to dance, a talent inherited by their beloved mother. Upon discovering a magic passageway, the girls begin to take nightly visits to the mystic pavilion looked over by the Keeper. However, this beautiful eternal dance is not what it seems. The girls must face a more dangerous threat than mere family rules. It becomes a battle between dark magic and love.
The most endearing aspect of the novel is the close bond that all the girls share. The realization of their father's love, merely expressed differently than their mother's, emphasizes the importance of vocal confirmation of love and affection between family members. There are tidbits of romance throughout, which add a nice subplot, but it is not the primary focus. Familial love and honesty are the major themes of the novel. To put it simply, Entwined is delightful.
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