Braided

Sisters Ever After #5

by Leah Cypess

The fifth book in the Sisters Ever After series of fairy tale retellings from the point of view of the siblings in the background, this is the thrilling and mysterious story of Cinna and her older sister, Rapunzel, who was stolen from their castle as a baby. Now she’s back, leaving Cinna with more questions than answers.

Princess Cinna has grown up longing for her older sister, Rapunzel, who was kidnapped before Cinna was born. Now that Rapunzel has returned home, Cinna couldn’t be happier. She can’t wait to help Rapunzel take her rightful place as heir to the throne.

But Rapunzel is not what anyone—including Cinna—expected. And whoever took her might still be lurking in the castle. When magical creatures begin attacking both princesses, Cinna finds herself with no one to trust…except, maybe, Rapunzel herself.

Will she risk everything for a sister with whom she may have nothing in common except their long, magical hair?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Retellings, Magic, Fairy Tales, Dragons, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2024

About the author

I wrote my first story in first grade. The narrator was an ice-cream cone in the process of being eaten. In fourth grade, I wrote my first book, about a girl who gets shipwrecked on a desert island with her faithful and heroic dog (a rip-off of both The Black Stallion and all the Lassie movies, very impressive).

After selling my first story (Temple of Stone) while in high school, I gave in to my mother’s importuning to be practical and majored in biology at Brooklyn College. I then went to Columbia Law School and practiced law for almost two years at a large law firm in New York City. I kept writing and submitting in my spare time, and finally, a mere 15 years after my first short story acceptance, I sold my first novel to Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins).

I live in Silver Spring, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.) with my husband and four children.

Reviews

[Erin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Craig’s favorite in the series so far!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Braided is the fifth book in Leah Cypess's Sisters Ever After series, which is a collection of middle-grade fantasy novels with a slight twist, the fairy tales are reimagined from the viewpoint of a sibling in the original tale. The book retells the story of Rapunzel through the eyes of her younger sister, Cinna. Each book can be enjoyed as a standalone or read in any order.

Princess Cinna has spent her entire life longing for the older sister she's never known, Rapunzel, who was kidnapped before Cinna was born. Now, rescued from the Faire Realm by Sir Joshan, Rapunzel is finally coming home, and Cinna couldn't be more thrilled. While at the same time a little worried. As the first-born daughter, Rapunzel is the true princess and should take her rightful place as heir to the throne, and Cinna can't wait for that to happen. Rapunzel, however, shows no interest in becoming the Queen, confiding in Cinna that her return was solely for her.

At a banquet celebrating Rapunzel's return, a fae girl appears delivering a message from the Fae Queen, declaring that Rapunzel must return to the Faire Realm within three days. Cinna is distraught because her sister just got to the castle. She desperately wishes to save her. Yet, Rapunzel seems unfazed by the Fae Queen's request and tells Cinna that nothing can be done, she must go back. Returning is a condition of the agreement that was made at the time she was given to the Fae Queen. Cinna says that although everyone else abandoned the search for Rapunzel after her kidnapping, she refuses to do so. She is determined to uncover the person responsible for making the deal with the Faire Queen and devise a way for Rapunzel to remain.

I really enjoyed this reimagining of the Rapunzel fairy tale, especially the intriguing questions that arose about Rapunzel's kidnapping. Cinna grew up believing that it was her duty to guard the Fae border and protect their kingdom. I liked how Rapunzel made Cinna rethink everything that she was told. Questioning who is good versus who is evil and what the real story really is. Each chapter begins with a letter Cinna wrote to Rapunzel as she was growing up. They're really sweet letters and convey how Cinna feels as the years go by.

It's truly saddening that these sisters were separated and prevented from getting to know each other sooner. Despite leading vastly different lives and experiencing such loneliness, they always hoped to one day reunite. Cinna, sweet Cinna, who often felt like she was always saying the wrong thing to Rapunzel. Worried that her sister may not like her. And so confused about Rapunzel's reluctance to share details of her abduction and time in the tower. Cinna truly loves Rapunzel and her resolve to uncover the truth is very admirable. Braided reminds me a little of Caroline Carlson's Wicked Marigold (releasing 7/24), as both stories feature a sister's unexpected return and some of the mistakes that they both. If you enjoy fairy tales with a unique spin, this is must-read. Other titles in the Sister's Ever After series include, Thornwood, Glass Slippers, The Piper's Promise, and The Last Rose.

**A huge thank you to Banholzer PR and the publisher for the E-ARC**

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my local library. It's a current finalist for the Norton Award.

I've loved Cypess's other creative reinventions of fairy tales, and this one is also a delight. The tale retells in Rapunzel in a fresh way through the viewpoint of Rapunzel's younger sister, Cinna. She has never known Rapunzel, as her big sister was spirited away by evil fairies before she was born. Even so, she frequently writes letters to Rapunzel and hides them in her room; Cinna is cosseted and friendless these days, her mother the queen often cold and callous as she prepares her daughter to someday assume the throne of the Borderlands. That includes lessons on just about everything, including how to utilize their family's magical hair. When Rapunzel is abruptly rescued and returns home, Cinna is thrilled--mostly. But her sister is nothing like she expected, and Rapunzel has only been given three days of grace to visit the human world.

This was such a fun book, with many surprises along the way. The narrative explores issues like sisterhood and changing expectations and neurodiversity (because Rapunzel does cue that way) without being heavy-handed.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fifth in the popular Sisters Ever After series, this one is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and those who prefer theirs to be fractured or revised. Focusing on the young sister left behind when Rapunzel disappears from her castle and ends up in the Realms, prompting years of attempts to find her and bring her back. Since she was supposed to rule the kingdom, her absence forces Cinna, to learn the ropes of being the future queen, something Cinna isn't sure that she even wants. Through the years, Cinna writes letters to Rapunzel, hiding them in hopes of someday sharing them with her when/if they meet. The author takes quite a few liberties with the original story, salting this one with humor, intrigue, and sly asides from Rapunzel, who is nothing like what Cinna imagined. There are some strange twists and turns, but fans of the series will lap the story up even while trying to sort out who is trustworthy. If singer Meghan Trainor declared that "it's all about the bass" when it comes to body shapes, in this delightful story, it's truly all about the braids since the hair of Cinna, Rapunzel, and their mother is magical, prompting interesting fighting scenes with magical beasts and descriptions of various kinds of braids. Those just might make those of us with thin or short hair wish for longer, thicker, more abundant locks. Alas! Failing that, we can read this book and sigh over the magnificence of Rapunzel's tresses. Add this one to a collection devoted to fairy tales.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

The return of Cinna's older sister, Rapunzel, changed many things.

Cinnariosia, or Cinna for short, has longed for her older sister, Rapunzel, for as long as she can remember. When Sir Joshan, an annoying knight, finally finds Rapunzel, Cinna is overjoyed. Rapunzel turns out to be different from what Cinna expected. With the clock ticking and only 3 days, Cinna learns more about her older sister.

"Sisters Ever After" returns with its trademark impressive storytelling in this latest book based on the tale of Rapunzel. Mrs. Cypess delivers an outstanding rendition, crafting a gripping narrative with surprising plot twists.

Cinna, the main character, exudes both cuteness and determination, making her instantly endearing. Her personality strongly reminds me of a dear friend. Rapunzel is a complex and intriguing character, often displaying a carefree nature, while Sir Joshan embodies arrogance. The complex relationship between the sisters and the risks Cinna faces for her sister's sake kept me on the edge of my seat.

Readers with a soft spot for fairytales and the enchanting world of Sisters Ever After will undoubtedly find this book irresistible.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @nicolebanholzerpr, for contacting us and sharing this awesome book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yaroslav Barsukov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, tender, poetic tale told from the perspective of Rapunzel’s lesser-known sister, Princess Cinna. The girls are separated at a tender young age after the Fairy Queen abducts Rapunzel (or could it be that someone has made a deal with the fae?), and to cope with her loneliness, Cinna begins writing letters to the sister she never really knew.

When the recipient of these letters makes an unexpected return, Cinna cuts her hair in a charming attempt to demonstrate that she “doesn’t want anything that is rightfully Rapunzel’s.” But her older sister is nothing like Cinna imagined her to be; our heroine is torn between her loyalty to Rapunzel and her desire to protect the Borderland, her home. Throughout her voyage of self-discovery, you feel for her all the way. Expectations are subverted for the familiar figures seemingly fated to play familiar roles, and the main mystery leads to an incredibly satisfying resolution.

I devoured this one in two sittings. Five books in, and the series is going as strong as ever! In fact, this book, like all the previous ones, is a standalone; you don't need to have read the other four novels. References to them are peppered throughout, but these are more of easter eggs.

10/10

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting addition to Rapunzel's story. Readers meet Cinna, Rapunzel's younger sister, and see her grow up through the letters she wrote to the sister she never knew. The story picks up right after Rapunzel has been rescued and returns to the castle. Readers see how the family interacts and learn about each member as shared from Cinna's perspective. Not a surprise ending but a resourceful one. I appreciate that neither young woman chooses to simply be used without offering their own perspectives.

[Ethel Hesslen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit disappointed in this book--I loved the other books in the series, but this one....it just wasn't as interesting. I wasn't as invested in the story. I didn't like the world (although some concepts of it, like the hair magic--braid spells--were mildly interesting), and something about the plot just wasn't interesting. However, this book wasn't completely bad. I probably wouldn't recommend it but as I can see the appeal for other readers it may just be a me thing.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars from Mae! She liked that Rapunzel got to meet her sister, that they can still see each other even though they don't always live together, and that they can write each letters instead of just Cinna writing to Rapunzel.

I thought it was a pleasant read-aloud, a little slow at times but this was mostly compounded by the fact that Mae is in a phase where she needs to be nudged a little (or a lot!) to do reading.

Rating: G

[Maya Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how Cinna never gave up on her sister and how everyone was wrong about the realms. This book showed me that I can’t believe everything anyone tells me, that you can’t expect people to be what you want them to be when you haven’t even met them yet and that you should always be happy with what you have because it can always get worse.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

a retelling of Rapunzel that casts her as a princess stolen by the fey, but the real central character is actually the little sister she never met. There's lots of magic, but the best part was the sisterly relationship,which I loved.

[Kristin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful edition to the Sisters Ever After series.

My 15 year old niece and I read it together. We love the author's sense of humor as well as her creativity in weaving old story a new way. She is a lifted writer IMO.

We will both be sad when this series is complete.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the Sisters Ever After series. Since I am not the target audience for this book, I don't have much else to say. But it was an interesting take on the Rapunzel story, and the characters had to navigate some complicated family situations.

[Muffin Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highest rating for this series! Finally it has a good ending

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my daughter - it’s a fun reimagining of Rapunzel.

[R2 Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little more Easter eggeys!
Fireball is sooo cute!
The name Cinna makes me sad.
Yes, I've watched Catching Fire .

[Kinlee Lytle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsatisfying...

[Saanvi Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Cinnariosia is more than excited when her sister, Rapunzel, who had been stolen away by the Fae is finally coming back after years. But in between Rapunzel hinting that whoever gave her away to the Fae might still be in the castle and