[Meme]Waiting on Wednesday [#48]

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Illusionarium
Author: Heather Dixon
Publisher: Greenwillow
Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2015

From the author of Entwined, a brilliantly conceived adventure through an alternate London. This sweeping, cinematic tale of an apprentice scientist desperate to save his family—and his world—is The Night Circus meets Pixar.
Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that is breathtaking and wholly original (goodreads).

I read Entwined by Ms Heather Dixon a while back and I loved it! Her writing was addictive and the witty banter between the characters always caused me to laugh out loud, and let's not forget the adorable love interest. Since 2012, I have been on Heather's blog hoping to find a release date or synopsis for her latest piece (btw you should stop by her blog, she's a fab artist). And now FINALLY. FINALLY. We have a cover and a release date! May is looking good!

Top Ten Tuesday [#3]

Hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Books I'd Like to See Made into Movies

1) The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa: The world is so beautiful and all of the characters are memorable, I think this would look amazing on the big screen!

2) The Restorer (The Graveyard Queen Series) by Amanda Stevens: I was reading the sequel last night and I couldn't help but imagine how this would look with special effects and a A list cast. The mood to this book is so wonderfully mysterious and creepy I think that a director would have fun with. 

3) Entwined by Heather Dixon: The entire time I was reading this I was thinking how awesome this would be as an animated movie! The humor is charming, the characters are adorable and lovable. It would be the perfect summer blockbuster for kid's movies!

4) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: This book made me feel so many things! It's such a good story with a great narrative, I think it would be a hit with young movie goers. Parents too!

5) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman: This is by favorite Neil Gaiman book and I would love to see this as a movie. Not a television series, a movie. No reason necessary, It's Neil motherloving Gaiman. 

6) A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux: This is one of my favorite romance books ever. Although this plot has already been done (Kate and Leopold), I think the love story will leave the other "copy-cats" in the dust!

7) The Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon: This might be cheating because I don't want a movie, I want a TV series. I would prefer a TV series because THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS AND I CAN'T JUST CHOSE ONE and also because the sex. This would be a FABULOUS HBO series!

8) Angelfall by Susan Ee: BADASSERY. That is all. I just want to cry in the theatres I think. 

9)  Remembrance by Jude Deveraux: I would prefer this to be a like a two or three part TV series. Regardless I want to see this! I want to cry millions of tears and yell at my boyfriend about why we aren't soulmates like Talis Callie. 

10) The White Cat (Curseworkers series) by Holly Black: I just recently finished the first book and I think this would make for an awesome action movie! I really do think this would bring in the crowds! 

And you guys? 

Entwined Review

Entwined by HEATHER DIXON

Confined to their dreary castle while mourning their mother's death, Princess Azalea and her 11 sisters join The Keeper, who is trapped in a magic passageway, in a nightly dance that soon becomes nightmarish (goodreads).

Review: 

Heather Dixon's debut novel is absolutely darling and I loved it to pieces. With an army of interesting characters and a mysterious plot to boot, Entwined will make all fans of fairy tales and historical fiction swoon at Ms. Dixon's feet. 

Azalea is the oldest of 12 sisters living a lavish life of balls and dancing. When tragedy strikes their family, the princesses find themselves in a world of dreary colors without dancing and parties. With a discovery of a staircase that leads to a magical pavilion, the sisters are able to dance their nights away with no one none the wiser, until their host decides that there is a price to pay in exchange for their nightly rituals. 

This book is adorable and I never wanted it to end. The plot moved at a perfect pace with equal parts romance, mystery, and characterization. The book begins with Azalea planning her first Christmas Ball in hopes of pleasing her ever-absent father the King. The very next day Azalea and her sisters are dressed in black with absolute no talking of dancing or parties which does not sit will with the girls. I loved this novel because it had a decisive beginning, middle and end and nothing was left out, nor was anything rushed. Dixon took her time setting up the characters, the setting and took her time approaching the conflict. 

One of the main reasons I loved this book so much is because of the characters. Azalea and her sisters are absolutely hilarious and have the best interactions. I don't really know how to explain it in a simple review so I'll include a bit of dialogue from the novel: 

“Down with tyranny!' Bramble cried. 'Aristocracy! Autocracy! Monocracy! Other ocracy things! You are outnumbered, sir! Surrender!”

and:

“You forgot my birthday, too."
"And mine."

The girls looked miserable. The King opened his mouth, then shut it.

"Sir!" whined Lord Teddie. "You forgot my birthday, too!"

Bramble gave a surprised laugh, then slapped her hand over her mouth, as though shocked at letting it out. The tension broke. The girls laughed sheepishly, and Lord Teddie beamed. He probably did not have many ladies think him funny. In fact, he probably got slapped by a lot of them.”

Do you see what I mean? Just charming and hilarious! Each character had such a livelihood that I WANTED this to be made into a movie!

As you read from the example dialogue, Dixon's writing style has completely captured the essence of a fairy-tale with a historical fiction twist. Dixon's writing has such a charm that you'll experience fluffy feelings and stay up until the wee hours in the morning to try to squeeze in just one more chapter.

Entwined is an extremely lovable novel with characters that will stay with you long after you finish the final chapter. Heather Dixon has a ridiculous amount of talent and I hope that she takes a dip in the Young Adult genre again.

I highly recommend this novel for all lovers of fairytales and their retellings.