Sunday 22 September 2013

Review : Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett


Summary :

Rapunzel is not your average teenager. 

For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is. 

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.

Review :

A modern day retelling of Rapunzel, the author did a fantastic job of putting a twenty-first century spin onto this classic tale, all while keeping true to the fairytale magic that remains at the heart of the story. 

The story begins with Rapunzel. A lonely girl who, due to a disease that affects her immune system, has spent her entire life locked away in her rooms. With only her distant, unloving mother for company, Rapunzel decides to be rebellious and find herself a friend in the ‘outside’ world. How does she achieve this – facebook!

Through a series of messages, she slowly gets to know Fane. A handsome, funny and loving guy who introduces her to a world Rapunzel never even knew existed. When they finally meet, adventure ensues as the two of them set about breaking Rapunzel out of her tower and exploring the many secrets Gothel Mansion holds. But some secrets are more deadly than others, and Rapunzel is soon to learn she may not be the person she thinks she is. In fact nothing about her life is what is seems…
I really did enjoy this story. I admit, as a reader I did have to overlook a few things and accept some general silliness, but none of this took away my enjoyment of the book.

Rapunzel was a great character and with every page, you could see her becoming a bolder and more confident woman. Depsite the strangeness of her life, she was a very believable and down to earth person, yet with just enough naivety for events to be credible.

Fane I also loved. Charming and witty, he was a perfect modern day Prince although he seemed to take a lot on faith. Yet I couldn’t help but like his character. His patience with Rapunzel, and watching them fall in love was adorable.
Gothel however remains the most interesting of characters. The modern twist of her personality was brilliant and she helped make the story real for me. Also despite her being the bad guy, I did actually feel quite sorry for her in the end. She was just a lonely woman who really loved her child.

Plot wise the story moves quickly and doesn’t lag. Basically if you don’t look at things too literally, and take everything with a pinch of salt, Rapunzel Untangled is a great read and one I think younger teens would especially enjoy.


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