Rapunzel Untangled Blog Tour: Guest Post by Cindy C. Bennett + Giveaway!

Welcome to my stop on the Rapunzel Untangled Blog Tour! I am so excited to be part of this tour because I loved Rapunzel Untangled. You can see my review HERE. Be sure to check out all the other fantastic stops on the tour for prizes and reviews of this fabulous book. ^_^

Here at Thoughts, the wonderful Cindy C. Bennett is here with a guest post.

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Rapunzel Really Untangled by Cindy C Bennett

When I decided to write a retelling of Rapunzel, the first thing I did was research her. I looked up and read many of the original fairytales, and either read or read about most of the subsequent retellings. I thought I knew Rapunzel’s story. I was wrong.

We all know about her long hair, about the famous line “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair”, and the Prince climbing up and helping her escape the evil Gothel who holds her in the tower. But I think between all of the retellings, and particularly Disney’s Tangled, much of the story has been forgotten.

The first well-known version of Rapunzel was told by the Grimm Brothers in 1812 with many of those recognizable elements. It’s an adaption of Persinette, published in 1698 by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force in France. There’s also a Persian tale from the 10th century about Rudaba who would let down her hair for her lover Zal to climb up to her, though that’s where any similarities end. It’s also believed that the Grimm Brothers were influenced by the bawdy 17th century collection of tales called The Pentamerone by Italian poet Giambattista Basile. It’s the Grimm version, though, that’s sort of considered the standard for the story.

In the Grimm version, Rapunzel is given as a baby to the witch Gothel because of her pregnant mother’s craving for rampion (an edible plant) that grows in the witch’s garden. (Really? The woman gives away her baby for a plant? Hmm . . . must be something funny in that plant.) The witch locks her up, and it’s Rapunzel’s singing that draws the Prince to her, who sees the witch climbing up Rapunzel’s hair to enter the tower. Soon Rapunzel is pregnant. (You won’t find that in the Disney movie.) When the witch discovers the deception, she cuts Rapunzel’s hair and throws her out into the wilderness. When the Prince comes and finds the witch but no Rapunzel, he jumps into the thorns below, blinded by them. For months he wanders the wilderness until he finds Rapunzel and her twin babies. Rapunzel’s tears then cure the Prince’s blindness and they live happily ever after.

As a girl I remember seeing a cartoon version of Rapunzel that followed the Grimm version sans the pregnancy and babies. I thought it was endlessly romantic that they would risk so much for their love, and that her tears would be the thing that would heal him. Rapunzel Untangled is a different version, though I tried to retain some of the more common, recognizable elements. It’s a much darker version, because to me her story is one of tragedy—being taken from her family and locked in a tower by a crazy witch. Where’s the light in that? I had a great time exploring the darker side of Rapunzel—and a great time discovering the origins and variations as well, untangling her story along the way.

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Thank you so much Cindy!!! <3

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About the author
Cindy C. Bennett

Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. She also has two sons. She volunteers her time working with teen girls between the ages of 12-18, all of whom she finds to be beautiful, fascinating creatures. When she’s not writing, reading or answering emails she can often times be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home (yes, I ride a Harley and no, you'd never know it to look at me!).

Find Cindy on
Her Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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Rapunzel Untangled

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.

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

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GIVEAWAY

Win a copy of Rapunzel Untangled!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Title: Rapunzel Untangled
Author: Cindy C. Bennett
Published: February 12th 2013
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

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.

My Thoughts:

After having read two of Cindy C. Bennett’s novels before, I knew I had to request this new gem of hers. As much as I loved her other works, I had a good feeling that this one would be just as great. It is one of the most enchanting stories I’ve read!

Our lovely Rapunzel has been locked away due to a sickness. If she would ever leave the safety of her room, she could risk losing her life. Of course, she can’t help but be curious about the world she could have been in if she wasn’t confined to her home. She discovers Facebook, and decides to friend request Fane. Upon his acceptance of this request, he starts to send her messages. This daily routine ends up making them want to meet. So Rapunzel takes a risk and allows him to come over while her mother is away.

When the two of them meet, it was just amazing. I loved the dynamic between them. There was so much innocence about it, coupled with a sense of wonder about life on the outside. As time goes on, Rapunzel begins to question why on everything. Her mother doesn’t like this one bit but Rapunzel still wants to know. So she and Fane set out to find out why…

Rapunzel Untangled was wonderful. I thought it was ingenious to mash the original tale into a modern day representation. Rapunzel was a lovely heroine, and Fane was adorably charming. The plot was built perfectly with the right amount of mystery and intrigue to keep me guessing where it will all lead to in the end. Cindy C. Bennett wowed me with this cleverly woven epic. I could read it again and again.

My Rating: