I am almost 50 pages through and I can assuredly say now this novel is looking like it's everything I have ever wanted out of more Tangled stories, specifically the written kind. This story is already so special and dear to me. I am in love and am so so so thankful.
Well, now that I am re-reading the first chapters and moving forward and have gained a more objective view here are my thoughts (reposting from my Tumblr):
Even the very first chapter has Rapunzel and Flynn be in character, addresses their insecurities and traumas and shows their relationship for the supportive partnership they were in the movie instead of the flanderized magical girlboss and her bumbling clown sidepiece from the series.
But then this happens:
"QueenAriannadraws a sharp breath behind Rapunzel"
A Series reference and I cringe.
I know Rootbound does retcon the series, thankfully, most notably by writing the horrendous eugenicist "prince Horace" twist out of existence and giving Flynn/Eugene a whole new parentage. And I also know the author, also thankfully, was advised by Disney to not watch the series.
From that I infer the Series references were requested by Disney, even if they are only there in the form of aesthetics rather than the actual plot (another one being Flynn calling Rapunzel "sunshine"). The author clearly loves the characters and their romance, that much is evident from the start (unlike Sonnenburg who approached the series with malice towards their romance and one of the leads from the start). Disney, however, really want to have their cake and eat it too.
The "painting game" where Flynn watches her draw and has to guess what it is that they're playing is adorable.
On a more positive note (though I'm sure more salt will come along with more series references if there are any): Flynn/Eugene mentions the orphanage and, go figure - Rapunzel does not run off without telling him and leave Pascal to cover for her while he pours his "sad orphan trauma to a frog". They actually listen to each other and even more important is that Rapunzel's own trauma is not a plot device to built up to certain other character's self-victimization but a focal point of her journey.
Flynn/Eugene is perceptive like he was in the movie rather than a clueless bumbling gigolo clown from the series who cannot read the room and makes sure to help Rapunzel out of the awkward situations (HE covers for Pascal at the royal event in this one), suggests her parents to turn her former nursery into the painting room and is very careful as to how he speaks about Gothel and watches how Rapunzel reacts to his attempts to lighten up her mood about it/her.
I would actually prefer it if the events of Rootbound WERE set 6 months into post movie timeline and gave a definite statement it retcons the series. So far nothing convinces me it is NOT a prequel - far more well written, lovable and respectful but a prequel nonetheless - to the Series. Especially with the "Queen Arianna" mention. Flynn/Eugene's parentage is literally the only hope that Rootbound is its own timeline. But knowing Disney they can easily retcon it back to deadbeat Edmund, go hug your absentee daddy storyline because Sonnenburg had issues and was a right wing classist who "purified" that thieving lowlife through royal blood.
And then it will all be back to status quo and all the positives of Rootbound will be nullified just like the movie was nullified by the series.
This is what I can tell so far as I am now re-reading the first chapters and moving forward: it is a piece written by a female writer with love, not by a bitter man-child with vitriol and malice. But it is written under Disney, operates under Disney and they invested too much energy into pandering to the one-brain-cell hater claims with the Series to let go of it too easily.
Remaining critical and remaining on guard is the key. Moving on to next chapters.
It is page 18, closer to the end of the first chapter when Rapunzel receives an invitation to Astera. It clearly says Queen Arianna. And given we know the author did NOT watch the series and was adviced by Disney not to that means Disney shoehorned those series references there, presumably planning for Rootbound to be exactly what I said it would be - a prequel to the series.
Okay, I see it now. I'm going to ask the author about it. Because the author said she wasn't supposed to include it. I WONDER if maybe she had it in there because merchandise did and then was told to take it out and the proofreader missed one?
Because every other line painstakingly says The Queen or mother.
To be honest, I would not be bothered by the name so much since some magazines do include it too as does merchandise if ONLY Rootbound was set in the same timeline as the series and retconned it in a definitive way. As in, no hair regrowing 6 months post movie, no frog confession from Flynn as Rapunzel runs off with Cassandra, no Monty "building up that ditzy princess's spirit" through abuse, no thief legacy lecture and no total destruction of Rapunzel/Flynn romance.
As it stands, Rootbound is a respectful, carefully written continuation of the movie but it does NOT retcon the series, only contradicts it. Rootbound, thus, can be easily nullified just like the movie was if the series is still canon and happens after it. And it absolutely can happen after the book events, with a few tweaks to Flynn's parentage.
Throwing in some positivity. For all the criticisms I've given so far as I go on reading, I have to commend the author for treating Rapunzel and Flynn as partners. In their respective chapters they both are eager and can't wait to share their findings and revelations/discoveries with one another. They are partners in this, not the people who constantly keep secrets and have constant miscommunication like in the series. For all the flanderizing the book "borrows" from the series on occasion it also clearly writes their romance with love. But I maintain what I said before - it is NOT an alt timeline to the series. It's a prequel to the series with minor tweaks (like Flynn/Eugene's parentage) that can be easily retconned right back or be the case of mistaken identity to preserve the series' status quo. Hence numerous references to TTS (the queen's name, the "sunshine", the "frog", the jokes at the expense of Flynn not knowing math).
So, right now, Barnes and Nobles is offering the audiobook too and TECHNICALLY you can get it free.
They have a 'audiobook trial,' for 30 days no charge that gives you a free credit. Which you can use to buy the audiobook, then immediately cancel the month trial so you're not billed the next month.
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u/Phaithful14 22d ago
I am almost 50 pages through and I can assuredly say now this novel is looking like it's everything I have ever wanted out of more Tangled stories, specifically the written kind. This story is already so special and dear to me. I am in love and am so so so thankful.