I LOVED this twisted tale more than any of the others so far. The twist was definitely there and super intriguing, while the characters ànd plot held true to the Tangled tale we have all grown to love so much. What Once Was Mine will make you fall in love with this classic all over again. Highly Recommend this one! 5 stars!

The Review

What a fun and truly entertaining take on the classic story of Rapunzel and the Disney version in the film Tangled! Truly, the story does a great job of laying the groundwork for this retelling by introducing a brother whose sister is in the hospital being treated for cancer and decides to retell her the story of her favorite movie while adding his own twists on it to help keep her mind occupied. This really added a personal and human element to this fantasy retelling, especially when readers learn of this story point’s origin in the author’s afterward.

The haunting, atmospheric tone that the author lays down in the tale of Rapunzel is great to see unfold. The inclusion of magic and witchcraft into the narrative to explore this twist on her origins was great to see unfold. Yet it was the characters that really sold this story, from the inclusion of characters like Countess Bathory, a new villain based on the historical figure to be included alongside Mother Gothel, to Gina, whose strength and partnership with Flynn give them both a stronger voice in the narrative overall.

Yet it was Rapunzel and Gothel who stole the show. The protagonist’s knowledge of her origins (up to a point), and her desire to keep others safe was a unique twist on her character, as was her complex and emotional relationship with her “mother”. Gothel’s manipulations and selfishness took up all-new levels in this retelling, and the action-packed final confrontation these two had in the midst of a shockingly larger confrontation was powerful for the story Tangled began all those years ago.

The Verdict

A haunting, magical, and engaging dark fantasy take on this Disney classic, author Liz Braswell’s “What Once Was Mine” is a brilliant story and one of the year's top contenders for the fantasy novel of 2021. A gripping tale of magic gone wrong, betrayal, and the bonds between mothers and their daughters, the addition of a more grounded narrator and a rich tapestry of mythology from beyond Disney’s typical storytelling background made this story shine brightly.

This retelling was so much fun!!

I personally love Rapunzel and the Tangled movie is one of my favorite Disney movies. I could not appreciate the hospital setting in the beginning or throughout the book. There was a bit of a disconnect for me but it didn't cut up the book too much. This is the first 'Twisted Tale' book I have read, so I am not entirely sure if this is how they are all formatted. Otherwise, this was super fun. I loved the different outlook on Rapunzel and that she was still a good person in the end. This is a great YA book but I also enjoyed it very much as an adult. A major complaint I have about the book was the length. This YA took me entirely way too long to read. I feel that the fluff could have been cut and the book would not have suffered. Overall a great time and I can't wait to pick up another Twisted Tale.

I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a copy of this book! I have read a few other twisted tales from Disney and LOVED them so I was very excited when I got a copy of this!

I went in with maybe too high of hopes that this book would be everything twisted and dark. I think it follows the original story line very well, but maybe that is why I have mixed feelings? Tangled is probably my least favorite movie and Rapunzel isnt my favorite story so that could also be why.

However, I do think this is a good addition to the twisted tales collection and if you REALLY love Rapunzel, I am sure you will love this book.

This is my first Twisted Tale and I'm very happy that this is the book to start me in the series! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but Tangled is my absolute favorite Disney movie. I was worried I wouldn't be able to enjoy the story if it was changed from the one I've come to love, but that was not the case. This book is about what would happen if Rapunzel was given medicine from a Moon Flower instead of the Sun Flower. This obviously gives her drastically different powers, so without spoiling any of the story, that is what leads the events of this book. I was so happy to see familiar faces, but also happily surprised with new characters brought in. I also had no idea that this story would feature and storyline centered in our own world. In this case, it was a brother visiting his twin sister in the hospital while she was being treated for cancer. It added another element to the story, which I enjoyed. I'm not sure if the other Twisted Tales do anything like this, since this is my first one, but I loved the realness it added! I would definitely recommend this book to both avid Twisted Tale fans as well as newcomers alike!

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an e-arc of this book*

First, I liked how the format of the story gives a nod to the princess bride. It is a fun to have a brother changing up his sisters beloved classic story to keep her entertained while getting treatment for cancer. . I also like how this twisted tale took one key element of the original story and changes it causing a ripple effect of change to the over all story. While this version is darker, it felt fitting with how a brother might change up a story. I was surprised by the length of the book. I am aware that I checked how far I was in the book more than normal, which I would attribute to some scenes being too long and me being ready for a scene change.

While there are new characters (Gina and her mother) that I loved. I was glad that Rapunzel remained the sweet original person I love. Overall, I was happy with this retelling as it was different enough from the original story, while staying truthful to the heart of the tale.

Thank you Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the e-arc. This is my honest review.

I was so delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review this book. This is my first time reading the Twisted Tales series and it will certainly not be my last. I found the book to be delightful, entertaining and new. The age range for this book is set correctly and the story line flows nicely. I found it very easily to follow yet still found my self trying to guess the twists the author would write. If you are looking for a cute, fast paced, cheesy story this is for you. My hope is that all Repunzel fans will give this read a try.

Okay y'all, I am HUGE Disney fan! Give me the chance to experience anything Disney and I'm in. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to not only read this book but listen to the audiobook. There is just something about returning to childhood and reading along while listening to someone else reading. The narrator was spot on with her tone and emotions. Add to her fabulous reading all of the extras like musical interludes and I was in hog heaven.
This story retold Rapunzel's story as put forth by Disney as Tangled. It also had a Princess Bride feel where there was a brother reading this exact story to his sick sister. There is just something about being immersed in the story only to be brought back out and have the story mention the sibling duo. It makes you realize how far in the story your brain went.
This story is absolutely perfect for the young and old alike. Well done!
Many thanks to Net Galley for not only granting me an ARC of the book but the audiobook as well.

I feel like any review of media related to “Tangled” I need to preface with my absolute love of the original movie. During one of the worst times of my life, I went to a movie theater for the first by myself. And I got lost in this beautiful movie that made me forget my troubles. It was the first time in weeks I had laughed. I came out of the theater feeling lighter and calmer. To this day, Tangled is my comfort movie. I’ve watched the television read the books based on it. I’ve sat in the Tangled restroom area and watched the fireworks at Magic Kingdom because it made me feel for a little while I was in Rapunzel’s world.

I’m also a fan of “A Twisted Tale,” an anthology series of books based around alternate "what-if" spins based on Disney animated movies. Think “Marvels’ What If,” but in young adult book format with Disney Princesses. So I was thrilled when they announced the Tangled version as their 12th entry in the series. The excitement rose when I found out Liz Braswell was writing this book since she wrote my favorite in the series “Part of Your World.”

The premise of “What Once Was Mine” is what if Queen Ariana was given the Moondrop blossom instead of the Sundrop? She and her daughter Rapunzel still live but things are very different. Rapunzel now has the dark power of the Moon. Her golden healing hair is now silver “murder hair” as the characters call it.

I was at first disappointed the book didn’t use any characters or lore from the series “Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure,” like my favorite characters Cassandra and Varian. The TV series shows what happens when someone harnesses the power of the moon with the moonstone. However, the unique way the story is framed makes it work.

The book as a whole is surprisingly dark. There were many moments where I was shocked Braswell was allowed “to go there.” I don’t want to give anything away but this is not your usually Disney story. The original Grimm stories where step-mothers are made to dance to death and princes are blinded, come to mind.

The best compliment I can give this book is when reading the dialogue I heard the iconic voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in my head. Even though these characters meet in a different situation they are still at heart the characters I fell in love with over a decade ago.

Mother Gothel is still one of the most terrifying Disney villains. The new characters fit right into the world, even the historic Elizabeth Báthory, who is best known for the legend of bathing in women’s blood to keep herself youthful.

Overall the book is compelling and a must-read for all Disney fans, especially those who like a darker story.

Thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion & NetGalley for the early copy.

I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I always enjoy a good fairytale retelling, and this did not fall short of the story of Rapunzel at all. This is a very worthy read for anyone who enjoys retellings.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What Once was Mine is a fractured fairytale based off of Rapunzel. It’s what happen if Rapunzel’s mother drank the essence of the moondrop flower, a flower that has the power to kill rather than heal. For Rapunzel’s own safety as well as the rest of the kingdom, she’s locked up in a tower. Wanting to see the floating lights, she plans an escape and soon meets some companions who will help her along the way.

Pros:
-I absolutely love fractured fairytales and this was no exception! The story was different enough from the original that I had no clue what to expect and was surprised time after time.

-the book was super fast-paced and there didn’t seem to be any dull moments/scenes

-the book has multiple povs. Mother Gothel’s povs were the most interesting to read. It was cool to see her motivations in everything she does.

-Gina. She was my favourite character because she was so multi-dimensional.
I’m super glad Liz Braswell added some new characters because it helped to keep the story engaging.

Cons:
-I don’t have any, would recommend this book to anyone!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Once Was Mine tells the story of Disney's Tangled, but with a twist: the flower that Rapunzel's mother takes is not the golden Sundrop flower, but rather the silver Moondrop. When the flower's magic gives Rapunzel seemingly deadly powers, she is sequestered away with Mother Gothel for everyone's safety.

I thought the premise of this twisted tale was quite interesting, and overall it did not disappoint in execution. Rather than Flynn teaming up with Maximus the horse, we see Flynn team up with another rogue, Gina. There's more magic, more mystery, and more Pascal.

Although I ultimately liked Gina as a character, I was somewhat disappointed that the story did end up featuring an attempt at a love triangle. While Tangled does involve romance between Flynn and Rapunzel, it involves a lot more than just romance, so it was just a bit of a letdown that the romance got so much more complex.

The best part about this piece was the fact that it was darker, and despite that fact, Rapunzel remained her genuine, bright self. With the power of death in her hands, fear of her power, and a plot involving selling her to the highest bidder, it was wonderful how the author kept Rapunzel's spirit through it all. I do think this was also helped by the frame story, which offered a moment of bittersweetness and served to continually center the original story.

Overall, this was a solid installment in the Twisted Tales series, and I look forward to what subsequent installments will have to offer.

What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell

Another installment in Disney’s Twisted Tale series, “What Once Was Mine” gives its readers a look into what may have happened had Rapunzel’s mother taken an herb that gave Rapunzel’s hair the power to take life rather than heal it. Rapunzel is so filled with guilt and fear that she may accidentally take a life that she resides up in her tower not seeking release but seeking solitude and protection. There are so many twists and turns on the <I>original</I> story with a good mixture of new characters!

Tangled is one of my favorite Disney films of this era so I was overjoyed that this was to be released. This was my first experience in the Twisted Tale series and I quite enjoyed it, more than likely I will pick up another in the future. This is a hefty read coming in at over 500 pages and a bit slow on the uptick so readers beware! I would recommend it to my fellow Tangled lover and twisted tale fans alike! Also has some Princess Bride vibes when it comes to the actual, physical storytelling.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What Once Was Mine is a fun romp and a quick read despite it's lengthy page count. A retelling of Rapunzel, the story does follow the traditional tale fairly closely for the first section of the novel, but then spins off into it's own version of the tale with new twists, new characters, and a lot of really cute and adventurous fun.

The story is told in two timelines, with the narrative of Rapunzel being a story within a story a la the movie The Princess Bride. After reading the author's note, I understand the reason for this construction choice, but I didn't feel it was executed well. These sections instead pulled me out of the story and made the overall tale feel a bit more juvenile. In addition, it wasn't really fully fleshed out and felt more like a commercial interlude. For me, it was wasted space. I would have preferred to solely have the central Rapunzel tale from start to finish.

Despite my issues with the modern storyline interruptions, the writing was good and easy to breeze through with decent atmosphere and great character descriptions. The characters do, for the most part, follow the traditional tale, but there are some additional heroes and villains at work who really made the story fun. The story does get a little dark and maybe slightly too aggressive, but I found it interesting.

There is definitely a middle grade/younger YA feel to the majority of the writing and there are some pretty cheesy moments, but What Once Was Mine is an enjoyable guilty pleasure read and I had a good time. Time to pick up the rest of the series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

Tangled is probably my favorite Disney film, so getting to read this retelling was so much fun. I loved how the author's subtle shifting of the tale threw the story in an entirely new direction. I almost preferred this version of Rapunzel over the original story.

That being said, I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy soon!

Fairy tales are told and retold. It’s how these things work. Disney knows that better than most. Their own retellings of fairy tales have been so ubiquitous across generations that more often than not it is their retelling that becomes the yardstick against which all other adaptations are measured.

But lately, there has arisen a new trend of Disney retelling their own stories. The most prominent example of this is the live action remakes of their animated classics, but on the publishing side, there is the A Twisted Tale series. Functioning as something of a Disney What-If, these books retell all or part of the Disney story loved by all, with one key detail changed.

Liz Braswell’s What Once Was Mine, a retelling of the 2010 movie Tangled, asks the question: what if Rapunzel’s mother drank from the wrong flower? In this case, rather than the Sundrop flower, which granted Rapunzel (and her hair) the power of healing, she drank the Moondrop flower, which comes with a whole host of complications.

As a baby, Rapunzel’s hair comes out silver rather than gold. And in a fit of newborn tears, she accidentally kills a servant who touches her hair. Wanting to protect the kingdom, and their baby, the king and queen leave her in the care of Gothel, who claims to be a witch who can help Rapunzel learn to control her powers. However, seeing the so-called “murderhair” as the advantage it is, Gothel keeps Rapunzel locked up in her tower, frightened of herself.

The action starts to unfold as the movie does, but with key deviations along the way that make the adventure worthwhile, even for readers who are intimately familiar with the story already. Determined to locate the mysterious Flynn Rider so he can guide her to the floating lanterns that appear in the sky on her birthday, Rapunzel sets out alone from her tower, and meets a new friend named Gina. Gina promises to help her find Flynn, which they eventually do, and it is there that the story takes a turn into brand new territory.

The three of them, needing to regroup and plan a way to get Rapunzel to the lanterns, retreat to Gina’s mother’s home. Her mother, a proper witch, recognizes Rapunzel for who and what she is, and gives her the tools needed to harness her power. Though the quest slows down, it allows the characters a chance to breathe and to grow. The romance between Rapunzel and Flynn is given the time and space to flourish here, and is more scorchingly intimate than I expected from a Disney book.

But romance is only one component. What is a Disney story without its villains? Yes, there is Mother Gothel, but with her comes a variety of nobles who all want to possess Rapunzel for their own purposes, and to whom Gothel is more than willing to sell her adopted daughter. One of these nobles is the very real Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the world’s most prolific female serial killer who would torture her victims then bathe in their blood. The sequences focused around Bathory were the most chilling in the book. I’m tempted to call them “horror-like” but there is no “like” about it. It is horror made appropriate for the age range of the target readers. That said, if you’re very squeamish like I am, it might be wise to tread with a touch of caution.

The strength of What Once Was Mine is taking the time to build out aspects of the characters that a film doesn’t have the space to do in under two hours. As mentioned above, there’s the romance between Rapunzel and Flynn that is allowed to grow organically, with even elements like his signature “smoulder” repurposed to serve their budding connection. Beyond that, Rapunzel’s friendship with Gina is the kind that is both healthy and caring, but also sees both women challenging each other and their preconceived notions of what life can and should be. The two are sisters in spirit, if not by blood.

It comes as no surprise that the focus on family, and the dynamic between siblings comes across so strongly. The entire novel is structured as a story that a brother is telling his sister through her chemotherapy treatments. Though both of them would love to go back to the kind of relationship they had prior to her diagnosis, the retelling of Rapunzel’s story is their way of adjusting to their new normal - or rather, their normal-for-now - while maintaining their connection.

The most notable part of the book, though, is the way Braswell writes Rapunzel. She walks that line of naive but not unaware. There is a lot Rapunzel doesn’t know about the world. Her view on almost everything is shaped by the 37 books she’s read over and over. She is sheltered, but she’s not an idiot. Her instincts are good, and she is willing to learn. She was written with such precision that even her lapses in judgement felt realistic rather than contrived. The way she gradually overcame Gothel’s conditioning was wonderful to see, and by the end she stood proud on her own and in control of her own power and destiny.

With a Happily Ever After of course. This might be a twisted retelling, but it’s still a fairy tale after all.

Braswell’s 9th Twisted Tale What Once Was Mine reimagines Disney’s Tangled. This reimagined story of Rapunzel is not as different as one might expect. We still have the basis of Rapunzel: A girl with long hair stuck in a tower, but there is more darkness to this story than you find in Disney’s version. The crucial difference she confronts us with is Rapunzel’s hair, which is not golden but silver in Braswell’s tale and with this distinct color comes a different power for the crown Princess. We still get Mother Gothel, Pascal, our friends from the Snuggly Duckling, and of course Flynn, but we also get more characters some you are bound to love and others to hate.

Braswell’s tale also jumps between two stories, Rapunzel’s and the person who is telling this version of the story. Kind of like The Princess Bride. I was worried this way of telling the story would take away from the tale, but it didn’t. The theme of family is present from start to finish and more in your face than Disney’s tale and this makes the second story, the one about the person who is telling this version of Rapunzel, fit perfectly.

Aside from characters, Braswell’s writing style is very enjoyable to read. Her pacing is great, and this novel is in limited third person POV and changes that limited person throughout different chapters. If you have read any other Twisted Tales by Braswell, specifically Part of Your World, the writing style is very similar. If you have read that and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this. If you have read none of Braswell’s previous Twisted Tales, I still recommend this novel and would say follow it up with her Twisted Tale Unbirthday (an Alice and Wonderland reimagining), which is one of my favorite books!

I found this to be too different from Braswell's other Twisted Tales. Other than the characters, there wasn't much that I found to be the same or similar, which I didn't like.

Thank you so much to Disney Hyperion Publishing for an advanced copy of What Once Was Mine in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Pub Date: September 7, 2021
Star Rating: 3 stars

This was a highly expected Twisted Tale for me, and I thought it was an interesting story. It's a bit darker than the previous Twisted Tales, and the concept is a little bit different than the previous books in the series.

While I found this book enjoyable overall, I did find it lacking compared to the previous books in the series. I didn't enjoy the setup of this story as much the previous ones, and I thought the setup/style of the book detracted form the quality of the story.

Even thought I found this book generally enjoyable, it is my least favorite in the series, and I'm really disappointed by that because it was so highly anticipated.

What Once Was Mine is the 12th Twisted Tale story but the first one I’ve read. I’ve been meaning to start this series for ages but just hadn’t gotten to it yet. I wasn’t sure if I could read the books out of order but since I was able to get an early copy via NetGalley I gave it a shot. It was soooo good! The book immediately piqued my interest because we’re immediately introduced to a set of teen twins at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Readers learn that Daniela is undergoing treatment for cancer and loves the movie and book Tangled. Being a sweet brother, Brendan put up with the repetition until during one chemo session he decided he was going to tell his own version of the story.

The cast of characters had familiar favorites but we’re also introduced to some new and brave adventurous ones! I liked the creativity of incorporating the basic plot but definitely twisting it in a new and different way.. Sprinkled throughout the book are serious, reflective moments where Rapunzel contemplates important questions about life. I highly recommend giving this book a try if you’re a fan of brave, daring, and bold characters looking to find their way and place in life.