What if Rapunzel’s mother drank a potion from the wrong flower?
The Twisted Tales this time revisit the tale of Rapunzel—specifically, Disney’s animated feature Tangled with elements from the TV spinoff included. In this version, a peasant brings a different sort of flower to save the ailing, pregnant queen: the Moondrop flower as opposed to the traditional Sundrop, which has magical, healing properties. The mix-up changes things a little bit: Rapunzel grows long, silver hair that imbues her with the power to kill, rather than heal. For the safety of the kingdom, little Rapunzel is tucked away in her tower and watched over by the duplicitous Mother Gothel. Of course, Rapunzel yearns for freedom and finds it in escaping her tower and traveling the countryside with handsome rogue Flynn Rider and a young woman named Gina. The trio investigates the secrets of Rapunzel’s magical hair while Gothel and other villainous characters hunt them down. The action is crisp, and the characters are well rendered; one small drawback is the book’s inability to break free of Tangled’s (admittedly airtight) structure despite the series’ promise of twists. Regardless, the read remains compelling, and the author effectively captures the balance of enthusiasm and longing that makes Rapunzel such a beloved Disney princess. Die-hard fans will thrill, and, at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. Main characters read as White.
An engaging redressing of a near bulletproof tale. (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-368-06382-1
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
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Adventure drags our heroine all over the map of fantasyland while giving her the opportunity to use her smarts.
Elisa—Princess Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza of Orovalle—has been chosen for Service since the day she was born, when a beam of holy light put a Godstone in her navel. She's a devout reader of holy books and is well-versed in the military strategy text Belleza Guerra, but she has been kept in ignorance of world affairs. With no warning, this fat, self-loathing princess is married off to a distant king and is embroiled in political and spiritual intrigue. War is coming, and perhaps only Elisa's Godstone—and knowledge from the Belleza Guerra—can save them. Elisa uses her untried strategic knowledge to always-good effect. With a character so smart that she doesn't have much to learn, body size is stereotypically substituted for character development. Elisa’s "mountainous" body shrivels away when she spends a month on forced march eating rat, and thus she is a better person. Still, it's wonderfully refreshing to see a heroine using her brain to win a war rather than strapping on a sword and charging into battle.
Despite the stale fat-to-curvy pattern, compelling world building with a Southern European, pseudo-Christian feel, reminiscent of Naomi Kritzer's Fires of the Faithful (2002), keeps this entry fresh. (Fantasy. 12-14)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-202648-4
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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