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Lightkeepers
What if Rapunzel was trapped in a dangerous cult, and Flynn Ryder was trapped in the foster care system? How would they still find their way to each other and to the lives they dream of?
Zella has been faithful to the Program her entire life, never doubting Mother’s choice to keep her in isolation since birth. As the first “Child of the Lighthouse,” she’s always had a responsibility to be an example to the others—be grateful, be obedient. But after seventeen long years up in her lighthouse all alone, it’s getting a lot harder to push down her secret—and forbidden—dreams of living a normal life, no matter the risks she’s heard of. She secretly dreams of freedom.
Ryder can’t count the amount of “families” he’s had over the years. He’s been bounced around from home to home for as long as he can remember. That’s why he’s not exactly impressed by this new family’s fancy house, or the fancy new school they’ve enrolled him in. They’re putting on a friendly face, but they’ll show their true colors eventually. They always do. Luckily, he only has to make it a little while longer because soon he’ll be eighteen, and he’ll finally be free.
One whirlwind night changes everything for Zella and Ryder, as the two dreamers cross paths and open each other’s eyes to what true freedom could really look like.
A haunting but charming modern-day take on the Rapunzel story we all know and love.
Zella has been faithful to the Program her entire life, never doubting Mother’s choice to keep her in isolation since birth. As the first “Child of the Lighthouse,” she’s always had a responsibility to be an example to the others—be grateful, be obedient. But after seventeen long years up in her lighthouse all alone, it’s getting a lot harder to push down her secret—and forbidden—dreams of living a normal life, no matter the risks she’s heard of. She secretly dreams of freedom.
Ryder can’t count the amount of “families” he’s had over the years. He’s been bounced around from home to home for as long as he can remember. That’s why he’s not exactly impressed by this new family’s fancy house, or the fancy new school they’ve enrolled him in. They’re putting on a friendly face, but they’ll show their true colors eventually. They always do. Luckily, he only has to make it a little while longer because soon he’ll be eighteen, and he’ll finally be free.
One whirlwind night changes everything for Zella and Ryder, as the two dreamers cross paths and open each other’s eyes to what true freedom could really look like.
A haunting but charming modern-day take on the Rapunzel story we all know and love.
Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2022
226 people are currently reading
7833 people want to read
About the author
Kennedy Plumb
8 books101 followersKennedy is an author of YA fairytale retellings, lover of LOVE, advocate of foster care and adoption, and mom of 5. She resides in Arizona with her family and lovingly writes in her (practically nonexistent) spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
June 16, 2023
yknow sometimes a book isn’t good so much as it is reading 12 different au fanfictions of your favorite movie and that’s ALLOWED!
November 16, 2022
I flew through Lightkeepers by Kennedy Plumb in about 24 hours. Her writing style reminds me of talking to your best friend while unpacking for an overnight. It's fast talking, but also whispers, splashed with sass, full of realness.... plus that note you passed in Math which almost got taken by the teacher and the notebook with silly games you play on the bus.
In Lightkeepers we follow an unexpected story of Zella and Ryder. Zella has grown up in a very restrictive religion (... cult, perhaps?) inspired by the purpose and role of a Lighthouse. Isolation, strength, self-sacrifice. Being the daughter of the leader puts extra pressure on her to be perfect. During a night of religious routine Ryder comes bursting into her life.... dripping wet. Ryder is a foster teen. Where Zella has every moment and detail of her life controlled. Ryder has been handed off time and time again. He is used to failing and not getting second chances. In another new home and another new school he has to start over yet again. The next 48 hours changed their lives in ways I never saw coming. I gasped, I got annoyed with teen-choices, I put it down to cry, I cheered.
If you like fairytale retellings- get this book, if you like dystopian but want something different- grab this book, if you are a teen stuck on a disney trip- get this book, if you have been a foster kiddo or know one- get this book, if you need a quick 'brain-candy' read- get this book.
**I received this book as an e-ARC read from the author.**
In Lightkeepers we follow an unexpected story of Zella and Ryder. Zella has grown up in a very restrictive religion (... cult, perhaps?) inspired by the purpose and role of a Lighthouse. Isolation, strength, self-sacrifice. Being the daughter of the leader puts extra pressure on her to be perfect. During a night of religious routine Ryder comes bursting into her life.... dripping wet. Ryder is a foster teen. Where Zella has every moment and detail of her life controlled. Ryder has been handed off time and time again. He is used to failing and not getting second chances. In another new home and another new school he has to start over yet again. The next 48 hours changed their lives in ways I never saw coming. I gasped, I got annoyed with teen-choices, I put it down to cry, I cheered.
If you like fairytale retellings- get this book, if you like dystopian but want something different- grab this book, if you are a teen stuck on a disney trip- get this book, if you have been a foster kiddo or know one- get this book, if you need a quick 'brain-candy' read- get this book.
**I received this book as an e-ARC read from the author.**
December 19, 2023
This book is giving very much tangled fanfic. Did I enjoy this book? Yes. I am literally obsessed with all things Tangled so of course I was going to be giddy reading this.
Let's talk Content Warnings: Human Trafficking, Gun Threats, Stockholm Syndrome, Mentions of Child Abuse
Let's start off by noting the two main characters in this story are minors just shy of aging into adulthood. Although I will admit by the end of the book I was a little confused on how old Zella is, as we are told she is about to age out of the program by turning 18, but then told she has been missing for 18 years. I get it could have been like a round up thing but it definitely threw me off. In this story we follow Zella. She has essentially never been outside and has lived what is arguably her whole life in a lighthouse isolated from the world outside of video calls with other kids in the same boat so to speak. Then we have Ryder who has been in the foster program for a lot of his life. The one thing I think we could have really done without was the whole Ryder attending school bits, it wasn't really prevalent to the story, like we were introduced to it but it didn't end up going anywhere so it felt like things we weren't needed. I think we needed more moments with his foster parents to really feel a solid resolution with how his story concluded.
This book was very much on the same timeline with very similar events as tangled. Just modernized and with instances that fit better with these being two minors. Both Zella and Ryder has personalities that matched up to their movie personalities down to the first time Rapunzel steps foot on grass and Flynn's beloved smolder.
The parts that were different from the story we all probably watched a hundred times made me so emotional. Like Ryder's big revelation had me hurting for him so much. I will admit that the end kind of confused me because we are told that Zella is a vegetarian, but at the end she talks about enjoying foods like meatloaf and green beans. I would have loved a bit of an explanation on that like was the vegetarian stuff something "mother" forced her into. An acknowledgement of the change would have been helpful!
Let's talk Content Warnings: Human Trafficking, Gun Threats, Stockholm Syndrome, Mentions of Child Abuse
Let's start off by noting the two main characters in this story are minors just shy of aging into adulthood. Although I will admit by the end of the book I was a little confused on how old Zella is, as we are told she is about to age out of the program by turning 18, but then told she has been missing for 18 years. I get it could have been like a round up thing but it definitely threw me off. In this story we follow Zella. She has essentially never been outside and has lived what is arguably her whole life in a lighthouse isolated from the world outside of video calls with other kids in the same boat so to speak. Then we have Ryder who has been in the foster program for a lot of his life. The one thing I think we could have really done without was the whole Ryder attending school bits, it wasn't really prevalent to the story, like we were introduced to it but it didn't end up going anywhere so it felt like things we weren't needed. I think we needed more moments with his foster parents to really feel a solid resolution with how his story concluded.
This book was very much on the same timeline with very similar events as tangled. Just modernized and with instances that fit better with these being two minors. Both Zella and Ryder has personalities that matched up to their movie personalities down to the first time Rapunzel steps foot on grass and Flynn's beloved smolder.
The parts that were different from the story we all probably watched a hundred times made me so emotional. Like Ryder's big revelation had me hurting for him so much. I will admit that the end kind of confused me because we are told that Zella is a vegetarian, but at the end she talks about enjoying foods like meatloaf and green beans. I would have loved a bit of an explanation on that like was the vegetarian stuff something "mother" forced her into. An acknowledgement of the change would have been helpful!
May 13, 2023
4 stars!!
wait this was actually so comforting and cute
wait this was actually so comforting and cute
May 24, 2023
Starting this I just read it because I love Tangled. BUT I WAS NOT READY! This book is just amazing! It went nothing how I thought it would! 10/10! 💗
February 15, 2025
You know what, despite being surface-level and having a bit of fanfiction-y style, this was decent.
Look, Tangled is my fave movie ever, and of course, I'll read any and every retelling ever. This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. Everything is quite shallow - the topic of cults and emotions left from being in one wasn't explored that much, the problems of adoption systems and adapting to new environments, dealing with bullying and even sexual predators online...it was all so oversimplified and didn't have any layers. And yet I read it in one sitting because a girl needs a "no thinking book" from time to time 😅😂
Zella is an interesting character. At first she blindly believes everything. When she finds out the truth, she immediately switches her thinking and doesn't believe in anything the cult told her. That's great of course, but you'd expect some scepticism after believing in that stuff for 16 years. Idk, it was a severe transition and basically confirms what I said about the rest of the book - it's oversimplified. It's almost if the author had a certain word limit and had to cram in as many cute romantic scenes, but didn't have enough space for actual layered character development. 😂 I will admit, I liked Zella's initiative. She took risks and handled a lot of things on her own.
Also, there's this thing that bothers me about the plot - Zella had access to a computer connected to the internet (she had to make video calls to people who questioned their religion and she had to livestream while playing an instrument), and yet she never Googled anything? You could say that her mother somehow monitored her 24/7 or switched off the internet after each call but...surely there were a few seconds between calls to check things up?
Then there was that completely unnecessary plot twist with the mother and Ryder which didn't sit right with me for plenty of reasons 😅 I know it looks like I hated the book with the amount of cons I just listed, but I truly didn't!! It's just that after reading it, I realized how ridiculous it is, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it.
The romance between Zella and Ryder was super adorable and cute. They had an adventure around town, had some nice moments together, and both respected each other a lot. I liked the way he treated her, gently without attacking her beliefs but also supported her and gave her enough info to make a decision on her own.
In the end, I kinda got what I wanted - a fast, light Rapunzel read to start up my romance binge.
Look, Tangled is my fave movie ever, and of course, I'll read any and every retelling ever. This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. Everything is quite shallow - the topic of cults and emotions left from being in one wasn't explored that much, the problems of adoption systems and adapting to new environments, dealing with bullying and even sexual predators online...it was all so oversimplified and didn't have any layers. And yet I read it in one sitting because a girl needs a "no thinking book" from time to time 😅😂
Zella is an interesting character. At first she blindly believes everything. When she finds out the truth, she immediately switches her thinking and doesn't believe in anything the cult told her. That's great of course, but you'd expect some scepticism after believing in that stuff for 16 years. Idk, it was a severe transition and basically confirms what I said about the rest of the book - it's oversimplified. It's almost if the author had a certain word limit and had to cram in as many cute romantic scenes, but didn't have enough space for actual layered character development. 😂 I will admit, I liked Zella's initiative. She took risks and handled a lot of things on her own.
Also, there's this thing that bothers me about the plot - Zella had access to a computer connected to the internet (she had to make video calls to people who questioned their religion and she had to livestream while playing an instrument), and yet she never Googled anything? You could say that her mother somehow monitored her 24/7 or switched off the internet after each call but...surely there were a few seconds between calls to check things up?
Then there was that completely unnecessary plot twist with the mother and Ryder which didn't sit right with me for plenty of reasons 😅 I know it looks like I hated the book with the amount of cons I just listed, but I truly didn't!! It's just that after reading it, I realized how ridiculous it is, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it.
The romance between Zella and Ryder was super adorable and cute. They had an adventure around town, had some nice moments together, and both respected each other a lot. I liked the way he treated her, gently without attacking her beliefs but also supported her and gave her enough info to make a decision on her own.
In the end, I kinda got what I wanted - a fast, light Rapunzel read to start up my romance binge.
November 16, 2022
I received this book as an e-ARC from the author.
Lightkeepers is a modern day retelling of Rapunzel.
Zella is, unknowingly, in a cult and is trapped in a lighthouse. Ryder is a foster kid, being passed a long in the system.
I thought this book was really good! I typically enjoy fairytale retellings and this is no exception. It was an interesting choice to make Zella part of a cult, but it works. This is how her life is and she doesn’t question it…until she does.
I really liked Ryder. I felt so bad for him, he was always second guessing himself and stressed that his foster family was going to tell him to leave at any minute. I also appreciated the information on foster care and the links at the end of the book.
This book was darker than I initially thought it was going to be. There are some wild twists, too! I didn’t realize I was at the end of the book and wanted more!
My only gripe with the book is that the characters “snort” in response A LOT, but that’s probably me being picky.
Overall, great YA book. I laughed, gasped, got teary, and it left me wanting a sequel!
Lightkeepers is a modern day retelling of Rapunzel.
Zella is, unknowingly, in a cult and is trapped in a lighthouse. Ryder is a foster kid, being passed a long in the system.
I thought this book was really good! I typically enjoy fairytale retellings and this is no exception. It was an interesting choice to make Zella part of a cult, but it works. This is how her life is and she doesn’t question it…until she does.
I really liked Ryder. I felt so bad for him, he was always second guessing himself and stressed that his foster family was going to tell him to leave at any minute. I also appreciated the information on foster care and the links at the end of the book.
This book was darker than I initially thought it was going to be. There are some wild twists, too! I didn’t realize I was at the end of the book and wanted more!
My only gripe with the book is that the characters “snort” in response A LOT, but that’s probably me being picky.
Overall, great YA book. I laughed, gasped, got teary, and it left me wanting a sequel!
December 14, 2025
i had a whole half of a review typed up and goodreads decided to refresh 🙂 so wtv. i liked this and the only thing i DIDNT like was the crazy psycho mom plot twist bc that came out of nowhere. thank you and good night.
September 8, 2023
Mijn hart 😭🩷
December 1, 2022
I loved this book! It was such a charming story, with a touch of creepy on the side. I adore Tangled, so was excited when I learned this was a Rapunzel retelling.
Zella has lived her whole life in a lighthouse. Never going outdoors, never spending time with people other than her mother. Yet she has always wondered what she is missing out on. When a mysterious boy unexpectedly tumbles through her window, she may have a chance to discover the truth behind all the lies.
I loved the characters in this book. Zella and Ryder's friendship was so sweet and charming. My favorite characters were Ryder's foster parents. They were the supportive adults he needed. I loved that they didn't send him away, like so many had before.
I was not prepared to be so emotionally affected by this book. Zella's and Ryder's experiences and emotions were so touching and I became invested in both of their stories. The ending was heartwarming and satisfying. I loved reading this.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for sending me a copy of this book.
Zella has lived her whole life in a lighthouse. Never going outdoors, never spending time with people other than her mother. Yet she has always wondered what she is missing out on. When a mysterious boy unexpectedly tumbles through her window, she may have a chance to discover the truth behind all the lies.
I loved the characters in this book. Zella and Ryder's friendship was so sweet and charming. My favorite characters were Ryder's foster parents. They were the supportive adults he needed. I loved that they didn't send him away, like so many had before.
I was not prepared to be so emotionally affected by this book. Zella's and Ryder's experiences and emotions were so touching and I became invested in both of their stories. The ending was heartwarming and satisfying. I loved reading this.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for sending me a copy of this book.
April 6, 2024
this was cute, however I felt that a lot could have been flashed out more. I felt that there were a lot of scenes where the characters were starting to connect emotionally, only for the scene to end abruptly. However, I’m always down for all things Tangled and this was a quick and easy read, so 3.5 stars it is.
February 19, 2023
4.5/5 stars
"We thank the Lighthouse for Its light and direction. May we always look to the Lighthouse for safety from the storm and let It guide us back to shore. Turning our backs on Its light will only lead us to destruction. So may it be."
Lightkeepers is a modern retelling of the story of Rapunzel as depicted in Disney's Tangled. "Zella" is a teen girl who has spent her entire life living under the watch of the Children of the Lighthouse, a "program" that "protects" children from the outside world by keeping them living in complete isolation under a strict set of guidelines that they must live by. Meanwhile, "Ryder," an outwardly confident yet emotionally guarded teenage boy, has spent nearly his whole life bouncing between foster homes and now finds himself adjusting to yet another new school, new town, new family. One fateful night, the two teens, feeling trapped by their circumstances and yearning for a better life, meet under unique conditions, and their time together sets them both down a path that will change the course of their lives. Lightkeepers revamps the plot and setting of Disney's Tangled in an exciting, refreshing way while preserving all the humor, charm, and spirit of the original.
OMG, y'all. I am so shook by how much I loved this book. I couldn't put it down and tore through it in less than a day (oops). What a fun parallel of the original film! Plumb has the characters' personalities, relationships, and overall feel of the story down to an absolute tee and I loved watching the story unfold all over again in such a fresh, clever, lovable way. If you are a fan of Tangled (especially if you enjoy YA), you MUST give Lightkeepers a read. It's a masterclass in fantasy retelling and has set the bar impossibly high for any others I may read in the future.
I cannot believe this book hasn't gotten more traction. I really hope more people discover this absolute gem of a book! It's YA lit at it's finest and I could not possibly recommend it more highly- to anyone, both fans of Tangled and people who don't even know the story (yet). This is a book I believe anyone could be completely enchanted by. An instant new favorite for me.
Thank you to Kennedy Plumb for the ebook, which I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"We thank the Lighthouse for Its light and direction. May we always look to the Lighthouse for safety from the storm and let It guide us back to shore. Turning our backs on Its light will only lead us to destruction. So may it be."
Lightkeepers is a modern retelling of the story of Rapunzel as depicted in Disney's Tangled. "Zella" is a teen girl who has spent her entire life living under the watch of the Children of the Lighthouse, a "program" that "protects" children from the outside world by keeping them living in complete isolation under a strict set of guidelines that they must live by. Meanwhile, "Ryder," an outwardly confident yet emotionally guarded teenage boy, has spent nearly his whole life bouncing between foster homes and now finds himself adjusting to yet another new school, new town, new family. One fateful night, the two teens, feeling trapped by their circumstances and yearning for a better life, meet under unique conditions, and their time together sets them both down a path that will change the course of their lives. Lightkeepers revamps the plot and setting of Disney's Tangled in an exciting, refreshing way while preserving all the humor, charm, and spirit of the original.
OMG, y'all. I am so shook by how much I loved this book. I couldn't put it down and tore through it in less than a day (oops). What a fun parallel of the original film! Plumb has the characters' personalities, relationships, and overall feel of the story down to an absolute tee and I loved watching the story unfold all over again in such a fresh, clever, lovable way. If you are a fan of Tangled (especially if you enjoy YA), you MUST give Lightkeepers a read. It's a masterclass in fantasy retelling and has set the bar impossibly high for any others I may read in the future.
I cannot believe this book hasn't gotten more traction. I really hope more people discover this absolute gem of a book! It's YA lit at it's finest and I could not possibly recommend it more highly- to anyone, both fans of Tangled and people who don't even know the story (yet). This is a book I believe anyone could be completely enchanted by. An instant new favorite for me.
Thank you to Kennedy Plumb for the ebook, which I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2023
One thing about me is that I will read EVERY Tangled retelling there is, so when I saw this on Netgalley I immediately requested it! Side note, before I get into the actual review - I followed the author on instagram before I even started reading this and she is the sweetest human being. I’ve grown to love Kennedy and think of her as one of my friends, despite never having had a real conversation with her.
Now for the book!
To be completely honest, I don’t want to give a detailed review of this because I just want you all to go read it for yourselves and experience it with no prior knowledge aside from the synopsis, just like I did. It was so good.
I took off 1 star purely because of the writing style at certain parts, but in the author’s defense, it is a YA book so I suppose I need to be more accepting of the cringy/unbelievable or the not-so-well written parts. Thank god it was only a few scenes that made me feel that way and not the whole book.
And for Kennedy - I will be needing a sequel to this immediately, thank you! I also now need a cat named Paxton.
Now for the book!
To be completely honest, I don’t want to give a detailed review of this because I just want you all to go read it for yourselves and experience it with no prior knowledge aside from the synopsis, just like I did. It was so good.
I took off 1 star purely because of the writing style at certain parts, but in the author’s defense, it is a YA book so I suppose I need to be more accepting of the cringy/unbelievable or the not-so-well written parts. Thank god it was only a few scenes that made me feel that way and not the whole book.
And for Kennedy - I will be needing a sequel to this immediately, thank you! I also now need a cat named Paxton.
July 13, 2024
Omg I am going through my old reading journal right now and this was so great!!!;
February 11, 2025
Het idee was heel goed, de uitwerking wat minder. Ook vond ik het nice dat mensen binnen het pleegouder systeem op deze manier aandacht kregen en dat vond ik in dit boek wel echt netjes gedaan. Echter zaten er zo veel rare dingen in dit boek qua hoe mensen dachten en omschreven werden en super veel cliches. I mean Ryder botst tegen een pester aan, overkomt de beste, deze komt nooit meer in het boek ooit meer voor, het hele voorval heeft geen functie in het boek gehad. Zelf de schrijfster schrijft dat het een cliche is, waarom zou je het dan toevoegen? En Zella die maar constant in het zand blijft vallen, ook een beetje raar. En nog meer rare cliches en dingen die binnen het verhaal niet heel geloofwaardig zijn. The Program and The Lighthouse an sich vond ik wel nice uitgewerkt als een soort cult waar kinderen geïsoleerd worden een dat was een slimme manier om de toren van Rapunzel terug te laten komen.
September 9, 2024
I didn’t like or dislike this book.
I feel like my overall enjoyment of it stemmed from my love of Rapunzel. This story was not flushed out enough to honestly make sense if you don’t already know the plot.
It wasn’t written that well—several errors within it. Yet, I kept reading. It was an intriguing take on the story, but executed poorly.
I wish it was about 100 pages longer. It all took place in a matter of days. While the story itself was highly unrealistic, I felt the speed of it made it even more so.
Highly predictable, but I don’t mind that so much.
I got through it quickly and wanted to read it which is why I’m giving it 3⭐️
I feel like my overall enjoyment of it stemmed from my love of Rapunzel. This story was not flushed out enough to honestly make sense if you don’t already know the plot.
It wasn’t written that well—several errors within it. Yet, I kept reading. It was an intriguing take on the story, but executed poorly.
I wish it was about 100 pages longer. It all took place in a matter of days. While the story itself was highly unrealistic, I felt the speed of it made it even more so.
Highly predictable, but I don’t mind that so much.
I got through it quickly and wanted to read it which is why I’m giving it 3⭐️
January 15, 2025
***Trigger Warnings: Parental abuse, mental abuse, verbal sexual abuse, and cult***
This book was everything!!! I knew I was going to love this before I even read it because I am a huge Disney girl. I loved that this was a different take on the Rapunzel story. This book had some wild moments. But was such a fantastic take on the Rapunzel story. Zella and Ryder were so cute. Selfishly I want another book in this series because I need more of Zella and Ryder. This book has my heart. Also Kennedy Plumb is one of the sweetest authors.
This book was everything!!! I knew I was going to love this before I even read it because I am a huge Disney girl. I loved that this was a different take on the Rapunzel story. This book had some wild moments. But was such a fantastic take on the Rapunzel story. Zella and Ryder were so cute. Selfishly I want another book in this series because I need more of Zella and Ryder. This book has my heart. Also Kennedy Plumb is one of the sweetest authors.
March 11, 2024
Is it possible to write a review solely using Emojis???
💡🛶🥲💗🛹🏰⛈️🌊🥞🍵👮♂️🍻💋💜
No hate if y'all don't get that
I love the cover smmmm
This book was amazing and I love fairytale retellings a modern tangled is perfection
The characters were great (minus the mother) spotlight to Tracy and Travis they have to be the best foster parents EVER
The plot was good and unpredictable with just enough romance
I did cry at the end it was so sweet 🥲🥲
This was such a good and original take on tangled
5 stars so underrated!!
💡🛶🥲💗🛹🏰⛈️🌊🥞🍵👮♂️🍻💋💜
No hate if y'all don't get that
I love the cover smmmm
This book was amazing and I love fairytale retellings a modern tangled is perfection
The characters were great (minus the mother) spotlight to Tracy and Travis they have to be the best foster parents EVER
The plot was good and unpredictable with just enough romance
I did cry at the end it was so sweet 🥲🥲
This was such a good and original take on tangled
5 stars so underrated!!
April 13, 2024
That got emotional… wow lol this was such a fun and quick read! Retellings are awesome and this one was filled with so many similarities to the movie (in different forms ofc). I hurt for both of them and teared up near the end (which is quite unusual for me). The ending left me content and the plot twist was… man. All in all, awesome read!
September 30, 2023
3.5! This was cute.
September 3, 2023
3,75⭐️
April 8, 2024
Very cute, very Tangled-esque story. I will say, the writing was a little underdeveloped and lacking in high stakes at times. Conflict was usually over very easily. But it was a really enjoyable read all the same; I finished it in a single day!
August 29, 2025
I wanted to like this book more, because I love Tangled. Plus, I like the concept behind a modern Rapunzel where she's in a cult. The execution? It would have been better with a few more edits, or if it were published over the span of a few fanfiction posts.
Want to read
March 25, 2025really wanna read this one day soon since rapunzel has been my favorite movie since i was little
May 22, 2024
Summary
This modern day Rapunzel retelling pairs a girl kept in isolation by a cult, and a foster teen with a crooked smile, secretly soft heart, and penchant for getting in trouble.
Longer Summary
Zella has lived her whole life in isolation, protected from "the disease" and other dangers of the outside world, but there's a part of her (one she works hard to ignore) that longs to take the risk and experience life outside anyway. When she dares to open the window of her lighthouse bedroom for the first time in her life ... she never dreams that such a small act of defiance could unravel the only life she's ever known.
Seventeen year old Ryder has lived the very opposite of a sheltered life. He's just been deposited with a new foster family, and he knows it's only a matter of time before he messes up badly enough for them to politely explain he's "not a good fit" for their family and send him on his way. When he makes some really, really stupid decisions to try to win a place in the school's social structure, he's sure he's sped up the process exponentially. And then (because why stop making dumb decisions?) he takes shelter from a storm by climbing into a lighthouse window that he thought was probably abandoned ... but it definitely isn't.
My Thoughts
This story was definitely high on fluff and romanticization, and low on realism and ... y'know, the actual effects of trauma. A boy with Ryder's history probably wouldn't switch so quickly and effortlessly between really stupid decisions and perfect gentleman. And a girl with Zella's history probably wouldn't ask what rain feels like but also be able to keep up with normal banter about normal outside world subjects. But that's what we get. And, yes, it bounced me out of the story and made me roll my eyes a few times. But if you can recognize that that's the story you're getting and accept the fairy tale version of real life, it's adorable.
This is the rose colored glasses view of what might happen if two teens met under these circumstances ... of what their happily ever after would look like. And, y'know, it /is/ a fairy tale retelling after all ... Grimms Brothers not invited.
Content
Depiction of weird, cultist, controlling living situation. Implications of physical abuse and emotional neglect in Ryder's past. Zella and Ryder kiss a few times.
This modern day Rapunzel retelling pairs a girl kept in isolation by a cult, and a foster teen with a crooked smile, secretly soft heart, and penchant for getting in trouble.
Longer Summary
Zella has lived her whole life in isolation, protected from "the disease" and other dangers of the outside world, but there's a part of her (one she works hard to ignore) that longs to take the risk and experience life outside anyway. When she dares to open the window of her lighthouse bedroom for the first time in her life ... she never dreams that such a small act of defiance could unravel the only life she's ever known.
Seventeen year old Ryder has lived the very opposite of a sheltered life. He's just been deposited with a new foster family, and he knows it's only a matter of time before he messes up badly enough for them to politely explain he's "not a good fit" for their family and send him on his way. When he makes some really, really stupid decisions to try to win a place in the school's social structure, he's sure he's sped up the process exponentially. And then (because why stop making dumb decisions?) he takes shelter from a storm by climbing into a lighthouse window that he thought was probably abandoned ... but it definitely isn't.
My Thoughts
This story was definitely high on fluff and romanticization, and low on realism and ... y'know, the actual effects of trauma. A boy with Ryder's history probably wouldn't switch so quickly and effortlessly between really stupid decisions and perfect gentleman. And a girl with Zella's history probably wouldn't ask what rain feels like but also be able to keep up with normal banter about normal outside world subjects. But that's what we get. And, yes, it bounced me out of the story and made me roll my eyes a few times. But if you can recognize that that's the story you're getting and accept the fairy tale version of real life, it's adorable.
This is the rose colored glasses view of what might happen if two teens met under these circumstances ... of what their happily ever after would look like. And, y'know, it /is/ a fairy tale retelling after all ... Grimms Brothers not invited.
Content
Depiction of weird, cultist, controlling living situation. Implications of physical abuse and emotional neglect in Ryder's past. Zella and Ryder kiss a few times.
July 4, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
im tangled obsessed so when i saw that this book existed, i IMMEDIATELY got it. with my experience with retellings, it always is one of three outcomes:
1. it has nothing to do with the original story, maybe a few minor details
2. its obviously a retelling, but still keeps originality
3. its the same thing, just more smutty (probably)
in this case, lightkeepers falls into section 2. i loved how there was little nudges to the original story but still had major individuality. there was occasionally quotes from the movie, but not an overpowering amount of them, which just made it really cute in my opinion. this is the first book i’ve read with a cult in it, so i cant compare it to anything, but i think it was portrayed pretty well.
zella:
girl who just wants to live her life. shes been stuck in a lighthouse for 17 years of her life and when the opportunity arises to see the world for just one night, she takes it. she’s compassionate, curious, and all around just a sweetheart with a little bit of sass.
ryder:
im gonna be real. i did NOT like this kid in the beginning of a book. he was giving very ‘i dont want your pity because im a foster kid(pleasepityme).’ but with time, he grew on me. after all, you cant put a snarky, dark haired, dimpled boy in a book and expect me to hate him to whole time.
the only things that i didnt like was the whole “eek we might be siblings” thing because i just feel like it was unnecessary and VERY uncomfortable. i also, as i said before, did not like ryder in the start. i think his personality did a big 180, which felt very inconsistent. also, the gun scene felt very forced. i understand needing some sort of way to keep zella from running off, some sort of threat, but it felt like a stretch.
overall, really liked this book! definitely a cute romance meant for any tangled lovers like myself 💗
(okay also i listened to this as an audiobook and could not stand the female narrator. she talked very slow, i actually upped the pace to 1.30, and her voice reminded me of eleanor wong from never have i ever: very forced emotion, fake, overdramatized, etc)
im tangled obsessed so when i saw that this book existed, i IMMEDIATELY got it. with my experience with retellings, it always is one of three outcomes:
1. it has nothing to do with the original story, maybe a few minor details
2. its obviously a retelling, but still keeps originality
3. its the same thing, just more smutty (probably)
in this case, lightkeepers falls into section 2. i loved how there was little nudges to the original story but still had major individuality. there was occasionally quotes from the movie, but not an overpowering amount of them, which just made it really cute in my opinion. this is the first book i’ve read with a cult in it, so i cant compare it to anything, but i think it was portrayed pretty well.
zella:
girl who just wants to live her life. shes been stuck in a lighthouse for 17 years of her life and when the opportunity arises to see the world for just one night, she takes it. she’s compassionate, curious, and all around just a sweetheart with a little bit of sass.
ryder:
im gonna be real. i did NOT like this kid in the beginning of a book. he was giving very ‘i dont want your pity because im a foster kid(pleasepityme).’ but with time, he grew on me. after all, you cant put a snarky, dark haired, dimpled boy in a book and expect me to hate him to whole time.
the only things that i didnt like was the whole “eek we might be siblings” thing because i just feel like it was unnecessary and VERY uncomfortable. i also, as i said before, did not like ryder in the start. i think his personality did a big 180, which felt very inconsistent. also, the gun scene felt very forced. i understand needing some sort of way to keep zella from running off, some sort of threat, but it felt like a stretch.
overall, really liked this book! definitely a cute romance meant for any tangled lovers like myself 💗
(okay also i listened to this as an audiobook and could not stand the female narrator. she talked very slow, i actually upped the pace to 1.30, and her voice reminded me of eleanor wong from never have i ever: very forced emotion, fake, overdramatized, etc)
January 25, 2024
⭐️ 3.5 stars!
"as we hug and cry, and cry and hug, i realize that this is what a family is supposed to feel like. it's supposed to feel like home."
this book was so cute! i was a bit skeptical at first because i thought it was going to be a badly written fanfiction (i'm so sorry) but not only was it well-written but it had a lot of heart and a surprising amount of work behind zella's backstory. it did read a little bit like a fanfiction, but i'm not really complaining lol.
ryder's pov was really interesting to read and i loved his character. i love how - like flynn ryder (or eugene fitzherbert) - he uses humor and charisma to hide his insecurities and emotions. his chapter towards the end made me tear up.
i was also really invested with zella's story. the author creates this chilling cult that forms a realistic version of mother gothel and her manipulative nature.
the romance felt a bit rushed in my opinion, and just didn't have the same heart as the movie but i figure that's a bit difficult to replicate. and honestly, i feel like this novel is what tangled would be like if it focused more on a family aspect rather than a romance. which isn't a bad thing at all - in fact i LOVE family tropes - but i was expecting a swoon-worthy romance similar to the one in tangled.
overall, a decent read. if you liked tangled i'd recommend it :)
"as we hug and cry, and cry and hug, i realize that this is what a family is supposed to feel like. it's supposed to feel like home."
this book was so cute! i was a bit skeptical at first because i thought it was going to be a badly written fanfiction (i'm so sorry) but not only was it well-written but it had a lot of heart and a surprising amount of work behind zella's backstory. it did read a little bit like a fanfiction, but i'm not really complaining lol.
ryder's pov was really interesting to read and i loved his character. i love how - like flynn ryder (or eugene fitzherbert) - he uses humor and charisma to hide his insecurities and emotions. his chapter towards the end made me tear up.
i was also really invested with zella's story. the author creates this chilling cult that forms a realistic version of mother gothel and her manipulative nature.
the romance felt a bit rushed in my opinion, and just didn't have the same heart as the movie but i figure that's a bit difficult to replicate. and honestly, i feel like this novel is what tangled would be like if it focused more on a family aspect rather than a romance. which isn't a bad thing at all - in fact i LOVE family tropes - but i was expecting a swoon-worthy romance similar to the one in tangled.
overall, a decent read. if you liked tangled i'd recommend it :)
January 6, 2023
Book 6 of 2023
A modern take on "Rapunzel" that will make you laugh your socks off and sob at the same time!
Rapunzel is my favourite Disney movie ever so I went into this book with a lot of excitement and expectations!
This retelling is beautifully written and I adored the conversations between Zella and Ryder! The book is mostly lighthearted with lots of jokes and filled with "feel good" moments.
Despite that, the book also covers a few very important topics, which I feel aren't spoken about enough!
The bond Ryder formed with his foster parents and the way they treated him (the only way a foster parent should!!!) made me warm and fuzzy inside! And the plot twist that gets revealed at the end was one I was not expecting!
I did tear up in the last 2 chapters of the book but that was well expected as the story is very dear to my heart and seeing a happy ending for both Zella and Ryder tugged on many heartstrings!
It took me some time to get into the book, approx 30% in before I got hooked up and this is the main reason I couldn't give the book 5 stars.
If you love Rapunzel as much as I do, I definitely recommend reading this book!
Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A modern take on "Rapunzel" that will make you laugh your socks off and sob at the same time!
Rapunzel is my favourite Disney movie ever so I went into this book with a lot of excitement and expectations!
This retelling is beautifully written and I adored the conversations between Zella and Ryder! The book is mostly lighthearted with lots of jokes and filled with "feel good" moments.
Despite that, the book also covers a few very important topics, which I feel aren't spoken about enough!
The bond Ryder formed with his foster parents and the way they treated him (the only way a foster parent should!!!) made me warm and fuzzy inside! And the plot twist that gets revealed at the end was one I was not expecting!
I did tear up in the last 2 chapters of the book but that was well expected as the story is very dear to my heart and seeing a happy ending for both Zella and Ryder tugged on many heartstrings!
It took me some time to get into the book, approx 30% in before I got hooked up and this is the main reason I couldn't give the book 5 stars.
If you love Rapunzel as much as I do, I definitely recommend reading this book!
Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 23, 2022
A modern day, YA retelling of Rapunzel. Zella grew up in the Lighthouse - both literally a lighthouse but also an organization run by her mother. She has never been outside and for a long time has not really questioned her life. Ryder is a foster kid who finally has a family he likes. However, he has to be careful since he knows he can get in trouble easier than other kids. After a party goes wrong, he seeks refuge from the cops in a lighthouse. There he meets Zella, who begs him to take her with him when he leaves. As she sees the outside world, she starts to realize maybe her past is more sinister than she realized.
This was an easy read and lots of nods to what is imo the best version of Rapunzel, Tangled. There were a couple twists I didn't see coming as well.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an easy read and lots of nods to what is imo the best version of Rapunzel, Tangled. There were a couple twists I didn't see coming as well.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2022
4.5 stars
So, I read in the blurb this was a Rapunzel retelling with a dash of Tangled references and a cult thrown in and I was in.
And it worked very well! Interesting story, great characters, supporting families (so rare, yet so good to find them!), it had all that. I even felt my eyes become a bit wet by the end, to be honest.
I really enjoyed this book. There was only two things that have to point out. First, I love agood Tangled reference but I felt there a tiny bit too many in here. Second, I feel like part of the conflict was unresolved/unexplained and I wish it wasn't
All in all, this was a very nice surprise and I read this in only one sitting. If you like fairytale retellings and stories with heart, this is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
So, I read in the blurb this was a Rapunzel retelling with a dash of Tangled references and a cult thrown in and I was in.
And it worked very well! Interesting story, great characters, supporting families (so rare, yet so good to find them!), it had all that. I even felt my eyes become a bit wet by the end, to be honest.
I really enjoyed this book. There was only two things that have to point out. First, I love agood Tangled reference but I felt there a tiny bit too many in here. Second, I feel like part of the conflict was unresolved/unexplained and I wish it wasn't
All in all, this was a very nice surprise and I read this in only one sitting. If you like fairytale retellings and stories with heart, this is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
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