A Tangled Magic

by Andrea Eames

Rapunzel meets Six of Crows in this darkly imagined high fantasy for fans of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, and Disney’s Tangled, as a woman with amnesia—and magical hair—searches for her lost memories while navigating a web of royal intrigue, bone magic, and secret monasteries.

All her life, Netta has only known the Tower—its musty shelves of books she cannot read, ink-splattered quills, and endless scrolls of paper. Her mother, ambitious and analytical, has spent decades perfecting her greatest masterpiece: a spellbook of unspeakable power. Netta’s only companions are her long red Hair, which moves of its own accord, and a telepathic raven named Baldbeak. Her only amusement lies in crafting intricate embroidery from scraps of silk and thread.

When attackers storm the Tower, her mother and the spellbook vanish. Determined to find her, Netta ventures into a kingdom on the brink of civil war. The monarch lies dying, while pious Temple fanatics and the noble elite scheme for the throne, forging secret alliances and building hidden armies. For reasons she cannot yet fathom, all these factions seek Netta—and the dangerous, uncontrollable magic in her Hair.

But whom can she trust? The sharp-eyed pickpocket bent on revolutionizing the use of magic? The elusive black market trader known only as the Book Man? The charming magician who slips between shadow and light? From masked carnivals to opulent ballrooms, from hidden monasteries to catacombs, Netta must untangle a web of lies and intrigue - not only to find her mother, but also to uncover the true nature of the power that has shaped her life.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Andrea Eames was born in 1985. She was brought up in Zimbabwe, where she attended a Jewish school for six years, a Hindu school for one, a Catholic convent school for two and a half, and then the American International School in Harare for two years. Andrea's family moved to New Zealand in 2002. Andrea has worked as a bookseller and editor and now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband.

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🖤 A Tangled Magic 🖤

📖Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

✨What to Expect
• Dark fairy tale
• Rapunzel inspired retelling
• Living magical hair
• Royal intrigue
• Bone magic
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Bazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this story feels sweet and dreamy, very YA in tone. it’s not a negative thing, just something to be aware of😉
it starts strong, but then slows down with a lot of background and world-building. for me, there were too many long descriptions and not enough plot movement at all

i was much more interested in the mother’s past than in the daughter’s journey. FMC felt very young to me, which made it harder to connect. I’ll give her 15 years max, instead of 20 and in this case her behaviour would look reasonable in my eyes
i also wasn’t a big fan of convenient plot helpers appearing out of nowhere

this book just wasn’t fully for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. i actually think author has strong potential to create something truly unordinary in the future. overall, it has heart and atmosphere, but i just needed a bit more action and mature FMC

i received ARC from kensington publishing and netgalley, thank you for the opportunity💘

[Sid · Rating 3 out of 5]

{2.5}

Very grateful to have been approved for this ARC on NetGalley because the premise genuinely sounded so interesting and right up my street. I went in really excited… and I’m a bit sad to say it just wasn’t my favourite. A big chunk of the book focuses on world building rather than plot, and while you can tell a lot of thought went into it, it did make things feel like they were dragging at times. The politics and the tension between the monarchy and the temple were genuinely interesting, though, and probably the strongest part of the book for me.

It did start to pick up around the 3/4 mark and I thought we were finally getting somewhere, but then somehow it lost momentum again towards the end and I was mostly just pushing through to finish it. The pacing just felt a bit uneven overall, which made it harder to stay fully invested in what was happening.

The protagonist unfortunately really grated on me. I think she was meant to come across as fiercely independent, but instead she felt stubborn to the point of repeatedly making terrible decisions… only to end up needing help anyway. The romance subplot also felt very underdeveloped since the characters barely interacted for most of the book, so it just didn’t feel believable that feelings would suddenly appear. There’s definitely potential here and it’s far from the worst thing I’ve read, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Still very grateful to have had the opportunity to read it!

[Rallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute triumph! This book is for all the strange kids who wanted more than a fairytale, something with teeth, and nails.

Eames has created such a lush world. From cultural elements (I love the Followers and desperately want to join them, like, please?) to politics and religion, to history, Eames put so much work into building something believable and captivating.

Netta is a charming and genuine heroine and it's easy to imagine people jumping in to help her (or finding new motivations to do so) - and luckily she has Baldbeak, who is best bird and I would do anything for him! For someone basically shoved out the nest with no time to prepare and only the barest idea of a strategy she never comes across as stupid (no matter what she might tell herself). My feelings about Patrick and his Puss in Boots flavored insouciance cannot be described without spoilers, so we'll just go with "wow, what an incredibly written and complex character!" (which is true). Also, I'm moving in with the Book Man.

Eames' writing style has an effortless quality to it that draws you in and holds your nose to the page. As a lover of A Harvest of Hearts one of the first things I noticed that really sucked me in is that her heroines have both had their own entirely unique voice. She has a gift for dialogue and for description, quippy moments between Netta & Patrick and Netta & Baldbeak had me cackling and as somebody with mild aphantasia there were descriptions that were so evocative I could truly feel the scene. I also love how she wrote Baldbeak's dialogue and behavior, it felt so natural for a raven ("for why the blood?" sounds like a curious corvid). One thing I love is how deftly Eames uses pacing as a storytelling device; Netta only ever barely has her own footing and a relentless pace keeps the reader in the same position. Our heroine is in a state of constant precarity and that mood is directly reflected in the text. Eames doesn't rely on cheap GOTCHA moments to sweep the world out from under Netta's feet; events are clearly foreshadowed in the same way people watching a horror movie know not to go into the basement. We have the shape of each misfortune before it occurs but that doesn't make them any less dire. And where we don't? They hit even harder.

I ADORE her treatment of necromancy as more than "ooky spooky/dark and scary/violent and evil (or 'morally grey')" but magic dealing in entropy and the body; breaking out of the western lens to find something that feels sacred, powerful, and awe-some which isn't explored enough despite the current popularity of necromancy in fantasy. Netta's power being tied to the "silly" and "pointless" art she does because she loves it - embroidery - speaks volumes to the way Eames encourages the reader to consider power dynamics, access, and meaning. Art is never pointless but we live in a society that is constantly defunding the arts or treating them as lesser and unimportant when without art, we couldn't survive - and the gendered aspect of embroidery and the importance of "women's work" as something that heteropatriarchal society under capitalism struggles to manage and contain also comes into stark relief. Fiber arts have been employed in resistance movements for centuries, and Netta's refusal to give in and be what is expected or desired of her feels reflective of that.

I am so grateful to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Erewhon Books, and Andrea Eames for giving me access to this ARC, I cannot wait for more Persinette and Baldbeak!

TW Animal Welfare: Baldbeak dies but is resurrected.

[Lysandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

5/5

This was incredibly fun! I enjoyed “A Tangled Magic” from the very first page, the prologue being extremely addictive. The story is truly a blend of “Rapunzel” and “Six of Crows” with our twenty year old heroine, Netta, having lived all her life in a Tower with her Mother.

I will start by noting that Netta’s character is extremely well executed — she is a young woman who has spent all her life alone, away from society, her only other companion being her Mother. The first friend she makes is her familiar, Baldbeak, a fiercely loyal and sometimes mischievous raven, and her eternal companion is her Hair, a form of quintessential magic connected to our heroine, who is both extremely rebellious and protective of our heroine. Upon escaping from the Tower, Netta’s horizon suddenly becomes vast — she meets other people for the first time, she finds out others don’t have the same opinions as Mother, and she learns the hard truth of having to always doubt her trust in others. As our heroine grows, so does her perception of Magic and Magic itself becomes a beautiful, protective, nurturing element of our heroine’s story. The lore and the heroine are so beautifully entwined, and it becomes more so as the story progresses.

There are several characters Netta meets on her journey, some of whom become her friends, her found family, her enemies, and well… naturally something even more. The love interest is mostly shrouded in mystery for the vast majority of the novel, that being his appeal, but it’s also his strength. Just like Netta, his own being is entwined with Magic itself, that his Magic is a reflection of his past struggles. It is a great execution. For the “Six of Crows” reference mentioned before, our romantic hero is quite reminiscent of Kaz Brekker, but that is all I shall say for I do not want to spoil.

The plot follows Netta’s journey, as I alluded to before, in search of Mother and her stolen spellbook. It’s quite direct truthfully speaking, but the twists and turns of it all, the entertainment, is found in Netta’s own reactions to the external world she’s placed into for the first time in her life. Her experience is bittersweet, and she truthfully does her best considering herself.

The prose is rather lovely; it’s blended between Netta’s own perspective and the more objective storytelling of previous events, and the author’s talent shines through. The exposition/world building is well executed and paced neatly throughout the entirety of the novel, which offers the somewhat direct storyline even more appeal.

Despite this novel having an adult character as a heroine, I would easily place this in the category of middle grade fantasy — and I mean it as a praise. In the end, Netta has no experience outside the Tower and her evolution is the spotlight of the novel.

Lastly, a special shout out to Baldbeak and him being a good boy indoors.

[J Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!!

This is a fairytale retelling done SO well!!!

Sentient hair?!
Telepathic raven familiar?!
Unique magic that’s a mystery even to the FMC?!

You had me at sentient hair!!!

I loved every minute of this book! It has enough of a Rapunzel element that it felt like stepping into a familiar world, but Eames did not rely on the classic fairytale to drive this story! She made it beautifully magical and unique! Bravo!👏


*This is a Dark Fairytale Retelling*
There are events throughout that discuss dark magic that involves pain and sometimes inflicting pain on others in order to use magic. The darkness increases the further into the book you get.
The ending includes events and descriptions that are moderately gruesome. It is not intense enough that it would fall under the Horror category, but I would not recommend to young teenagers or people who are sensitive to



Language-None to mild
Spice-None

*Dark Fairytale Retelling*
I would not recommend this for those under 15, due to the dark themes and a magic system that involves a level of brutality




Spoiler Free Quotes:

“This is a desperate escape attempt, Patrick, not an opportunity to flirt.”
“It can be two things.”
🤭


I had a glimpse of how magic was in everything and everyone, and our determination to categorize it—to separate it into disciplines and order it to march in inky lines on the page, to imprison it between covers, to limit it to a collection of syllables on a human tongue—had gone against its most essential nature.
💞

“When one is the smallest piece on the board, one learns quickly how to move unnoticed—or appear larger.”
♟️


I felt like a fool, trying to have a conversation with my own Hair about fashion, but it was worth trying. I selected amber ribbons from the tray and held them up above my head cautiously, as if holding out a piece of food to a wild animal. For a moment, the Hair stayed still, and I braced myself for a fight ... But then it reached up to tangle itself with the ribbons. It entwined itself with the shining fabric and braided half of itself into a circlet around my head, crown-like. The rest of fell in loose tendrils beneath. It took a matter of seconds.
🎀

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the magic system, the world building and the plot. The politics and action interwove throughout creating a dynamic and engaging story, of Rapunzel with a twist, a girl raised in a tower, sheltered and naive, her mother obsessed with research, the subject hidden from her, her only friend a raven. She is forced to venture out into the world after waking to intruders in her home, her mother and her life's work missing. She knows nothing of the world, of the politics and realties of life beyond her tower. She stumbles through increasingly intense situations, trusting increasing untrustworthy and concerning characters, betrayed repeatedly, used, manipulated, coveted, hurt and chased. Her naivety is a constant, she lacks common sense, discernment and general intelligence, which does get irritating at times, especially as she makes the same mistakes and choices, however, it does make sense with her upbringing... The ending is well-done, she makes her final stand, a major sacrifice, standing up for herself and against her mother, against other's expectations and the will of powerful forces behind her.

The magic system was incredible. I loved the different sacrificial elements, the different treatment of mages and 'affinities', the view of magic being bound with that of class and religion, the rebellious movement vying for magical freedom, the mythology of the plague and villainising of certain types of magic, and the constant theme of embroidery throughout. It was interesting, diverse and evolving throughout. I wish the MC had been more interested in, or even inclined to, researching her own magic or the magic of others, in asking others and learning beyond the limited myths her mother told her growing up. Her inability to read also prevented any independent research, so the information given to her is never guaranteed to be a true reflection of what is written down...

An intriguing, engaging and action-packed tale, with interesting politics and magic-system! The MC's naivety does grate but she develops through the story and her final stand is a brilliant end to the story.

[Chrysanthi Gatidou · Rating 5 out of 5]

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆📖⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ Kindly provided by NetGalley 𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆📖⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

There’s something about A Tangled Magic that felt like stepping into a hidden garden at dusk — a little wild, a little mysterious, and completely enchanting.

Andrea Eames writes magic the way I love to experience it: quiet, tangled up with emotion, and rooted deeply in character rather than spectacle. This isn’t flashy fantasy. It’s intimate. It’s layered. It’s the kind of story that slowly wraps around you before you even realize you’re fully caught in it.

What I loved most was how the magic feels intertwined with identity — messy, complicated, and sometimes inconvenient. It mirrors the characters’ inner struggles so beautifully. The emotional undercurrent running through this book surprised me in the best way. Beneath the magical elements, this is really a story about belonging, choices, and learning to live with the parts of yourself you don’t fully understand yet.

The atmosphere? Stunning. Slightly whimsical but with an edge. There’s a softness to the prose, but also tension simmering underneath. I found myself highlighting lines because they felt quietly profound — the kind that make you pause and reread.

And the relationships… I adored the dynamics. Nothing felt forced. Connections evolved naturally, with that subtle ache that makes you root for people even when they’re flawed. It had that gentle romantasy energy I’m always drawn to — more emotional depth than dramatic declarations.

If I’m being honest, it’s not a fast-paced, plot-twist-heavy fantasy. It unfolds deliberately. But that’s exactly why it worked for me. It gave the story space to breathe.

A Tangled Magic feels like:

wandering through ivy-covered walls

secrets whispered in candlelight

magic that’s as complicated as love

This one lingered with me after I turned the last page — and that’s always the sign of something special.

Perfect for readers who love atmospheric fantasy, emotional growth, and stories where the magic is tangled up in the heart. 🌙✨

[a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an e-arc on NetGalley. Thank you to Andrea Eames and Kensington Publishing.

A Tangled Magic is a dark fantasy retelling of Rapunzel with a minor romantic subplot. This is a dark but intricate and meditative novel, with it's own moments of intensity to be sure, but I think the comps may lead someone to think this book is more action forward than it is. It leans more towards introspection than anything else. The narrative primarily concerns itself with the growth and development of our protagonist Netta, above all else, even if it does not completely succeed in it.

The plot is rather medium paced in my opinion, kicking off almost immediately, but settling into something a tad slower. I think the author's grip on the narrative itself is strong (especially in the beginning) but the interruptions of whole chapters dedicated to flashbacks and lore dumps felt rather jarring. The information was relevant to the story thankfully, but I found the way the author included them left something to be desired.

Furthermore, while I found the majority of the narrative to be strong, as the final 15% went on it began to unravel. The final confrontation was drawn out in some places and cut short in others. Our FMC Netta certainly does show growth over the course of the story, she did not show enough growth, nor was she proactive enough for me to find her decisions in the ending all that believable.

All the main characters were lovable and well realized, but I found the villains weren't as well written. At times they seemed almost cartoonishly malicious, to the point where I wondered how anyone was willing to tolerate them.

I will applaud Eames for not shying away from the world building for this novel, which works with the narrative so neatly, I don't think she could have written the novel without it. I really love retellings that can stand on their own shoulders and justify their existence in their own right.

A Tangled Magic comes out on July 28th, 2026.

[CharlieJLZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because I love a fairytale retelling but this is so much more.


I won't spend ages writing the basis to this story as the description covers it well. However, I will share my view after finishing it.


This is brilliantly written and felt like an absolute adventure. It took you through the FMC journey to find her mother, meeting fascinating characters and places, visiting ballrooms, and catacombs. 

I laughed quite a few times during this too. 


To me this was one of the best books in a while for handling strength, power and determination, without relying on cliches. There was a moment in the book I couldn't understand why Netta didn't just take the obvious choice away from danger, but after I stood by her decision and took something from her wanting to make her own decisions and trust her gut and abilities. 


The things I connected well with:

-  The world building. I've read so many, yet absolutely loved this one and it was one of the most immersive I've read in a while

- Main characters strength and the message it gave out. I've taken a bit of her mindset with me and I love Netta's growth.

- I'm not into reading romance yet the love interest was handled really well as sometimes there are more important things than your own need to enter into a relationship. But I was so here for the love interest, tension and 2 characters relationship dynamics! 


I really hope there is a sequel, I'd have bought it straight away afterwards. 


Thank you to #netgalley #kensingtonpublishing and #AndreaEames for the chance to read this ARC. 

[Shreya Goswamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book from NetGalley by @andrea_eames_author and my mind was completely and utterly 'stitched' into the pages. If you're looking for romance, then back off! Because this gives a powerful badass FMC who doesn't need a man to define her.🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
Tropes : Fairytale Retelling 🖤 Animal Companion 🖤 Dark Magic 🖤 Chosen One 🖤 Women Power 🖤Magic through art
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I finished it in 2 days and here I thought I was coming out of a book slump!
Perks :
👉🏻Visual Storytelling
👉🏻Plot Twists
👉🏻Women Empowerment
👉🏻 Morally Grey MMC
👉🏻Slow-burn angsty romance
👉🏻Rapunzel vibes
👉🏻Comedic breaks (especially Baldbeak's sarcasm)
Overall impression: I loved how all chapters are based on stitches and embroidery 🪡 It definitely takes centre stage throughout the story and I guess that makes it so unique! I mean, who knew there are so many types of stitches! If you like magic, gore, fairytale and animal sidekicks, you've got yourself an immersive world-building! If the author comes up with a sequel (I need a sequel 🥺) then I'm sooo in 🖤🪡
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[dark fantasy, folklore vibes, magical realism, witchy aesthetic, soft magic, moody fantasy, feminine rage, ravens and magic, enchanted worlds, mystical heroines, fairytale retelling, spellbinding story, atmospheric fantasy, mythic storytelling, cozy reading, fantasy aesthetic, literary magic, dreamlike prose, gothic vibes, myth and mystery, haunting beauty, slow-burn fantasy, poetic writing, women in fantasy, hidden magic, dark academia vibes, fantasy mood, whimsical worlds, bookish aesthetic, reader’s escape]

[TiffanyMarieTicer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing dark almost horror whimsy fantasy book. Andrea really knows how to create lovable characters who are relatable.

Netta our FMC basically wakes up not remembering what happened and her mom is missing along with a spellbook everyone seems to want. She goes on a quest to find her mother, but in the process finds herself.

This is a fantastic story! It’s not really a coming of age because she’s definitely an adult, but more of a coming of self discovery. As you can tell I’m not a writer hahahaha.

There is an amazing sidekick Raven named Baldbeak who you can’t help but love. And then of course there’s her sentient Hair.

The different side characters she meets along her journey are unique and the emotions she makes you feel after meeting them will have you fully invested. This definitely has some dark elements which I love because the world is not always a bright place.

The magic elements are so creative and such great detail was taken to make sure the reader understands the world.

Overall, this was a wonderful read that will likely be even better the second time around! Absolutely adore!

Political intrigue
Sentient Hair
Telepathic Raven
Evil vs Good
Morally gray MMC
Relatable FMC
Found Family
Darker elements - bone magic
All the emotions!

Thank you Andrea and Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Rhiannon Green · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

I feel so bad when I apply for an ARC and get selected, only to dislike the book I received. I want nothing more than to be able to support someone's hard work and dedication, and I feel so honored to be chosen for the opportunity to read books before the general public. That being said, I have had several just total misses lately in my ARC reads, this being one of them I honestly wish I could be a beta reader for some of these, because the potential is there, they just need better execution.

This book was described as a Rapunzel retelling meets Six of Crows. So, obviously, I wanted to read that! However, I was utterly bored for 80% of the book. The plotline served very little purpose. Struggles were resolved quickly throughout and just made way for the next quickly resolved issue. There were numerous events that if you deleted them entirely from the story, would have zero impact on the plot.

The romance was meh at best and the MMC was honestly just cringe. I like that the story wasn't about a romantic relationship but I would have preferred a friendship to that. The villains were boring and until the end with the exchange between Netta and her mother, I just really didn't feel strongly about anything that happened. Baldbeak was the best part, but even as an animal sidekick, he fell flat.

This book was not for me, but I appreciate the story the author was portraying.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tangled Magic is a fun and refreshing take on the fairytale retelling of Rapunzel. If you love stories with a dark twist to your favorite childhood stories then this is the book to pick up and read.

Netta is a compelling FMC heroine just trying to figure out life after her mother mysteriously goes missing. Being locked away for almost 2 centuries with her mother she sets out to found answers. Alone and trying to figure out who she is while investigating her missing mother, her powerful spell book she can’t even read while trying to figure out the mysteries of her magical hair gives this story the edge and desire to find out what happens to very end.

As a swoon worthy reader of A Harvest of Hearts that quite literally has my heart for life. This one was a bit harder for me to love in the beginning and took till about 50% to really begin to love the story. This is more of a slow placed dark retelling and once you get into its a quick pace read you will love. The atmosphere, magic system and characters for sure made up for it and if you love and enjoy dark fairytale retellings with adventure, lots of secrets and a FMC discovering her POWER keep this one on you radar and preorder it today!

[Dawn aka wolfinbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But the thing about a kiss is that, when you’ve done it once, the possibility of another one is always hovering between you.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wish I could give this more than five stars! Preorder this now!!! I am because I need a physical copy! In the meantime pick up A Harvest of Hearts because it’s just as awesome as this!!! Andrea Eames is a phenomenal author!! I’m already pleading for a sequel to this!

Netta’s home is invaded, she has amnesia, and her mother is missing! She is determined to find her mother so she sets off on journey to do so. Many dangers await her and she must learn whom she can trust. Netta must also uncover truths about herself which is never an easy undertaking.
How could I not love a character with long, red magical hair and a telepathic raven as a companion!!:) Bonus her gift of embroidery, which was beautifully portrayed (ok that could of been knitting/crochet lol) Loved this book so much! A classic that you’ll grab off your shelf for comfort and smiles!

Thank you Andrea Eames, @NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for the complimentary ARC. Review is based on my thoughts and opinions.
ARC/Release date:July 28,2026

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

eARC received in exchange for an honest review (Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this copy.)

I LOVE a good retelling of a familiar story, one we all grew up with and know by heart.

I LOVE a dark retelling even more so! Gritty and layered in ways the original might have lacked.

Unfortunately, A Tangled Magic spent so much time 'telling' rather than 'showing' that I was bored with the world-building info dumps. Eames' writing style draws you in, and is beautifully descriptive, but felt weighed down frequently throughout the book.

Baldbeak gets 5 stars from me, and Netta is a standout heroine who feels genuine, but is unfortunately stuck in a story I quickly grew tired of reading. And Patrick was... there.

3 out of 5 stars from me. It was a perfectly fine read, but left me wanting.

[Nikolett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netta is a young woman with magical Hair, living with her mother in complete isolation. Her only friend is a talking raven - well, at least to her he talks. It’s a lonely life but she tries to make the best of it, until one day her mother disappears and Netta goes to find out what happened to her. She meets good friends and formidable enemies, discovers the world and herself. I loved this journey. Her character, that was innocent but not naive, her strength and her determination to solve her problems not expecting rescue from others. This is not a typical romantasy, the characters are more complex and more human, but altogether a very entertaining ride. And I won’t ever see ravens the same way.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc.

[Lucie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

For people who want a raven character obsessed with eating dead people’s eyeballs!

Okay, this was only mentioned about two times, but Baldbeak really did provide some great humour to this book! I loved the character dynamics generally, especially Netta’s friendships with Mieka and the Book Man. The magic system was also really interesting, with the use of ‘affinities’ helping to make it feel more believable. If you liked ‘A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking’ by T. Kingfisher, then I think that this book is for you.

(Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review)

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to read an Advanced Readers Copy of Andrea Eames newest masterpiece and it was a joy!

Beware! Wiley Word Mage, Andrea Eames, casts an irresistible spell in this gorgeous reinvention of an iconic fairy tale. I adored A Tangled Magic, Netta's tenderness of heart, iron resolve, and her magical hair with a mind of its own. Shimmering, atmospheric, lyrical and powerful, the narrative unfolds like the expertly stitched Temple Tapestry in the story. There’s bone magic, a telepathic raven and an irritatingly handsome travelling magician, ready to help and hinder Netta in equal measure. Truly enchanting.

[Erin Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one!
I wouldn't call this a Rapunzel retelling, more a story inspired by Rapunzel.

A Tangled Magic started off a little slow for me. Netta has lived her whole life in the Tower. When it is attacked and her mother disappears, we learn about the world along with Netta.
There is good world building and a solid magic system. Diverse cast of characters spanning from morally gray to morally black 🤣
By the middle of the book, I was highly invested and barreled through the end.

This dark fairy tale has magical hair, bone magic, political intrigue, and a "talking" raven.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an early copy for review.

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for a chance to review
A Tangled Magic

by Andrea Eames

Overall, I had a really good time with A Tangled Magic. Netta made such a strong lead, and the world felt creative and original.
It does read like a YA and I found myself setting it aside more than once but once everything came together, I was completely on board. The ending definitely made the slower pacing worthwhile. I might try the audio version instead.

[Jo Wyld · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ARC from Net Galley

I really enjoyed this! The world building is great, particularly the way the story brings magic to life! Plus there are lots of likeable characters with some slow burn romance too! 🔥

Whilst there are rapunzel style elements, you dont feel that you are reading yet another fairy tale retelling! 👏

I loved baldbeak! 🐦‍⬛

4⭐️

[Trisha Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing tale and retelling of thr Rapunzel story. It was fresh and excitong, with enough tension to really keep the story going. It played out very nicely in terms of the various side characters and their motivations. Netta was a very strong main character and I loved each step of her journey.

[Nana Portulez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first chapter as a sneak peek when I joined Andrea’s street team, and was instantly hooked.

Just like she did with A Harvest Of Hearts (a criminally underrated book), Andrea stitched the dark and whimsy together (yes, yes, I’m doing puns, you’ll get them once your read this book), bringing us a gritty and emotional Rapunzel retelling.

We follow Netta, a girl with no magical abilities, but with sentient Hair. Together with her formidable companion Baldbeak, she leaves the tower she spent her whole life in, in search of her missing mother and the lost memories of the night she disappeared.

Even though Netta is 20 years old, I’d say this is still a coming of age story, since she has never experienced life outside the tower.

Throughout her journey, we’ll meet many characters, some good, some not so good, and some really despicable.

Netta is forced to navigate relationships with other people, when she only ever dealt with Mother, the Hair and Baldbeak. That alone is quite the feature for anyone!

The world building is really well don, the magic system is dark and unique, and the plot is full of twists and turns; absolutely perfect.

Baldbeak is by far my favourite character besides Netta, however, I did fell in love with Patrick, our MMC. I guess most would describe him as morally grey, but I say he is morally colour blind, in some aspects. He definitely knows right from wrong, and he doesn’t strike me as a bad person at all.

The whole book reads as a very complex tapestry (Netta would appreciate this pun), where magic, family drama and politics are deeply intertwined.

I could go on and on and on about this amazing book, but this caption is long 😅

Andrea was already an auto buy author for me, so I definitely recommend this book to anyone!

Thank you @netgalley @kensingtonbooks and Andrea, for the opportunity to read the ARC 💜

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers – Kensington Publishing – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I got intrigued by reading what this story was inspired and likened to, and I do think it has its audience but it didn’t work for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and didn’t find the overall story that interesting. I did, however, enjoy the descriptive language.

I can’t fault it on anything really – it just wasn’t for me. And that is okay.