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Rootbound: A Tangled Novel

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Revisit Rapunzel and Eugene from Disney's Tangled as they race to protect a neighboring kingdom in this thrilling fantasy adventure penned by the New York Times bestselling author of Little Thieves.

A cunning king. A devious princess. Best. Week. Ever.

Rapunzel knows nothing about her neighboring kingdom, Astera – and not just because she only left her tower a month ago. The famously reclusive island has limited its contact with outsiders for decades. So when a suspicious invitation arrives welcoming Rapunzel to the Asteran princess’s coming of age ceremony, and offering her a chance to be useful for the first time since she lost her healing powers, Rapunzel accepts – and unwittingly plunges herself and her companion, Eugene, into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets.

Eugene is just happy to get one last adventure with Rapunzel before his criminal background catches up with him and prevents their happy ending. Yet as they’re drawn further into the country’s problems, they uncover truths about Eugene’s parentage that point to deeper unrest in Astera, and suddenly the fate of their own kingdom, not just their personal dreams, is at stake.

Thrust into a power struggle between Astera’s beloved princess, Verette, its domineering king, Enver, and a mysterious secret society, Rapunzel and Eugene race to protect their home from an unsettlingly familiar threat and discover that the past can either hold them back, or help them blossom.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2026

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About the author

Margaret Owen

11 books2,951 followers
Born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, Margaret Owen spent her childhood haunting the halls of Powell’s Books. After earning her degree in Japanese, her love of espresso called her north to Seattle, where she worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. The common thread between every job can be summed up as: lessons were learned.

She now spends her days wrestling disgruntled characters onto the page, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. (There is surprisingly little difference between the two.)

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
Profile Image for Gwen.
61 reviews12 followers
July 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Rootbound 4.25/5⭐

This book was pure nostalgia🥹

Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity

✨Plot✨

Rapunzel has been free from Mother Gothel for only a month when a mysterious invitation to a princess's coronation from a country they haven't had contact with in a century arrives. Rapunzel takes it as her chance to finally be useful and accepts, and unwittingly plunges herself and her companion, Eugene, into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets.

Eugene is convinced her parents won't approve a wedding between Rapunzel and himself since he has no status and is only a common thief, almost hanged by his girlfriend's parents a mere month ago. While in the mysterious kingdom of Astera, they uncover truths about Eugene’s parentage that point to deeper unrest in Astera, and suddenly the fate of their own kingdom, not just their personal dreams, is at stake.

Little did they know there was a war raging on Astera before they ever set foot there.

✨Characters✨

The characters were unique and fit the cartoon, but at times I felt they veered too much into trying to act like average fantasy characters instead of sticking to being their own characters.

✨💜Rapunzel💜✨
Having Rapunzel reflect on Mother Gothel really made me realize how verbally abusive she had been, and it made me sad for Rapunzel. I'm so glad she is still so sweet even though she went through all that

✨🩵Eugene🩵✨
Eugene was kind of different compared to the movie, but I still really liked him! I just had to imagine his voice from the movie saying what he was saying in the book, and then I'd be back immersed, and my mind would connect the dots again.

✨🐚Princess Verette🐚✨
The mysterious princess. . . duh duh duh duhhhhhhhh. She was very closed off for most of the book, but she was a really cool and fun character once you learned more about her.

✨👑King Enver👑✨
Not my favorite charecter. . .

✨💚Pascal💚✨
"Remember, he has violent tendencies"
Pascal was hilarious and entertaining and the best part! This was the exact same Pascal from the movie, and I loved it so much!

✨🐎Maximus🐎✨
He wasn't very present in the book, having been in the stables quite a lot, but he was still amazing! I was thoroughly entertained when he was given a sword and described as "absolutely obliterating" those he was fighting against.

✨Romance✨

Rapunzel and Eugene were so cute, and their love is so wholesome!

✨Writing Style✨

Beautiful writing style!

Also, the magic system was so cool and the roots and everything; I was very intrigued!

✨⚔️Action⚔️✨

Really fun and entertaining. Especially the final battle!

✨Would I Recommend It?✨

YES, 100% it is amazing, and I loved it so much!!!!
Profile Image for Ri ♡ .
599 reviews2,273 followers
upcoming-releases
May 16, 2025
OMG THE COVER 🫠🤌🏼 a tangled retelling??? A TANGLED RETELLING!?!?! i am ready to devour this!
Profile Image for Starr ❇✌❇.
1,862 reviews170 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
July 25, 2026
3.5
*Review to come*

Pre-review to come
HOW DID I MISS THIS? I'm not a big Disney adaptation person but Margaret Owen AND one of my favorite Disney movies??????? 😭😭
Profile Image for Gabriella୨ৎ (semi-ia).
120 reviews151 followers
Want to Read
January 28, 2026
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: ꒱
forgot to add this to my tbr when i first saw it. i'm absolutely obsessed with this cover, it looks so magical and very similar to what rapunzel looks like in the movie. margaret owen is actually an author i've been meaning to try for some time, so i really hope that not only her, but the tangled retelling, will be amazing. i'm sooo scared because i love love loved the movie and it will forever be one of my favourites, so i have high expectations that need to be met in order for me to like this book. praying it won't be a shitty novel that is completely different to the movie. please don't do rapunzel and eugene dirty.

pub date: july 28th 2026
117 reviews1 follower
Want to Read
January 29, 2025
I'M SORRY, WHAT???!!! A novel that acts as a sequel to one of my favorite childhood movies? And releases before my birthday??

Yes, yes, yes.
Profile Image for Darcey.
1,359 reviews353 followers
Want to Read
April 18, 2025
this might be awful. but it's my favourite disney movie PLUS the author of LITTLE THIEVES aka one of the greatest books ever, so i fear i must give it a try anyway!
Profile Image for Chloë Mali.
270 reviews37 followers
July 29, 2026
My expectations, as a bona fide Rapunzel lover, were very, very high. I am pleased to say that they were met and surpassed! This novel is absolutely delightful. There are so many wonderful, humorous quotes (for example: “The first and last time Eugene got caught picking pockets was when he committed the cardinal sin of trying to rob an old lady”) but yet, despite the amount of times something made me laugh, the topic of moving on from eighteen years in a tower with a manipulative parent was so gracefully handled. Rapunzel has her struggles after only a month of being a princess, and I really appreciated seeing that, because it's realistic and should not be brushed over. I am very curious if there will be a sequel... I very much desire one.
Profile Image for shiloh.
184 reviews91 followers
Want to Read
February 20, 2025
I have no words. No words.
Is this real?
This better be good
Actually this HAS to be amazing.
Otherwise I might give up on disney- especially after Wings of Starlight!
Profile Image for Eliza.
316 reviews29 followers
Want to Read
May 16, 2025
Guys, I love Tangled and I love Margaret Owen (see my review of Merciful Crow haha) so this has gotta be goooooood.
Profile Image for jamie ౨ৎ.
122 reviews
July 28, 2026
𝘙𝘢𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘻𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬. “𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘌𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦?”

[…]

“𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦,” 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵, 𝘧𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺

⋆。‧˚ʚ💜💫🏰🌼ɞ˚‧。⋆

The general premise of this book isn’t one I would typically gravitate towards, YA fantasy steeped in kingdom secrets, magic, and darkness, but as it’s a Tangled retelling I had to give it a try. Safe to say, I absolutely loved it.

Rapunzel and Eugene are deftly characterised in a way that feels truly faithful to their on-screen counterparts. When it comes to retellings if the characters essences aren’t captured well it can quickly dampen the novel, so I was apprehensive but ended up so impressed. Eugene’s wit and relentless sarcasm remain intact, meanwhile Rapunzel’s endless optimism, creativity, and selflessness continue to shine throughout the novel.

Above all else, it’s their relationship that makes the story so compelling. Eugene gives Rapunzel the space to process her trauma at her own pace, encouraging her to realise that she is already enough, she doesn’t have to spend her entire life proving her worth to anyone. He helps her adjust to life outside of the tower while never asking her to give up any of her “quirks” that she has attainted due to her unusual childhood (such as her lack of royal etiquette and disdain for shoes!). Equally, the novel doesn’t reduce Eugene to merely the supportive & funny love interest; it gives him his own emotional arc, allowing his insecurities and difficult past to quietly loom over his hopes for a future with Rapunzel.

Pascal and Maximus also make many appearances, which was nice to see, but admittedly I expected Maximus to have a slightly larger role. You can’t have everything, though!

The central plot revolves around a nearby kingdom, Astera, which has stayed closed off from outsiders for years. Unexpectedly, Rapunzel receives an invitation to Asteran Princess Verette’s coming-of-age ball, and the chaos and mystery unfolds from there. Eugene, Max, Pascal and Cressien (a Royal Minister of Diplomatic affairs) accompany her on the venture.

After reading Wings of Starlight and being pretty dissatisfied — I felt rather apathetic towards it, the purple prose was undeniably pretty, but it was not emotionally striking for me like it seems to be for most readers — this has restored my faith in Disney retellings!!
Profile Image for Lydia.
188 reviews60 followers
Want to Read
February 1, 2025
THIS IS EVERYTHING I DIDNT KNOW I NEEDED!!!!!!! If there is anyone I can trust with my precious child it’s Margaret Owen!!!

Forget the rest of 2025 GET ME TO OCTOBER NOW
Profile Image for Liv C..
26 reviews
Read
July 29, 2026
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦… 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭.”

Rootbound continues the story of Rapunzel and Eugene one month after the events in the movie take place. They are tasked with establishing international diplomatic relations with a neighboring kingdom shrouded in mystery.

Margaret Owen's understanding of, and deep care for, the characters and the source material is evident throughout the book. Her expansions of the world and development of relationships in the aftermath of the Tangled film is meticulous and delightful. AND HER WRITING OF EUGENE IS PERFECT!!!! SPLENDID!!!! NO NOTES!!!!

The Tangled film is very near and dear to my heart. Rootbound is everything I could have hoped for and more as a continuation of the story. I hope there is a Rootbound 2, I hope Owen writes it. Now you must excuse me, I’m off to read the rest of Margaret Owen’s works because she has just become my new favorite author!
Profile Image for anna ୨ৎ.
192 reviews18 followers
Want to Read
March 26, 2025
Ok tangled is my second favorite Disney movie (with beauty and the beast being first) so i should like this.
Profile Image for Jordan Lynch.
896 reviews11 followers
July 16, 2026
I am a huge fan of Disney's Tangled, so I was so excited to read this book!

Set a month after Rapunzel's escape from her tower and return to her true family, Rootbound is a story of secrets, adventure, and discovering the type of person you want to be. I'm not sure if/how this fits into the canon since there's an entire show about Rapunzel's adventures as a princess, but this is a wonderful story no matter.

Rapunzel is invited to the mysterious kingdom of Astera to celebrate the princess's coming of age. As a new princess, Rapunzel is still shaky on politics and protocol, but she makes up for it in enthusiasm and a true joy for learning and life. Joining her on this adventure are Eugene, Pascal, and Minister Cressian, who is not impressed with Rapunzel's lack of decorum. Maximus also joins, although his page-time is rather brief. But it's good he's there, because when the party arrives in Astera, it quickly becomes clear that things are not what they seem. It's obvious that the king is keeping secrets, everyone is looking at Eugene like they've seen a ghost, and the princess seems less than excited at becoming queen. What's going on? The crew is going to find out!

Owen has done a fantastic job of nailing the characterization of our familiar favorites. Rapunzel is still joyous and free-spirited, but she's struggling with all the new things in her life: shoes, huge expectations, the feeling that she's not good to anyone without her healing hair. The emotional abuse she endured for years rears its ugly head many times, and it's so realistic to see Rapunzel working through the lies and learning that people appreciate and love her just for being her. Likewise, Eugene is coming to grips with his less-than-savory profession and what that might mean for his relationship with Rapunzel. I loved getting more of Eugene's story in this book, especially his connection to Astera. And I also really loved the new characters, especially Princess Verette. Lots of weird vibes from her at first, but then it all becomes clear, and I loved her parallels with Rapunzel in regard to their upbringing and finding their place in the world.

I also loved the setting of Astera. It's a beautiful place, but it's clear right off that the kingdom and its people are suffering. Owen's descriptions of the city and the obvious disrepair and the almost-depressed air to the citizens really brings the city to life and shows how the kingdom was once a flourishing place and but has changed with the loss of starlight. I loved, loved, loved the addition of the starlight and how it compares to Rapunzel's sunlight. It helps give Rapunzel something to relate to but it has its own unique lore and abilities. I wonder what other magic is in Rapunzel's world?

I assumed this was meant to be a one-off, but the ending gives a surprising twist that perhaps means we might be getting more Rapunzel books? I'm all for it! Rootbound is an amazing book for fans of Tangled no matter their age, and I can't wait to see what Owen has in store for these beloved characters.
Profile Image for Emily.
216 reviews9 followers
July 29, 2026
This was such a fun story! Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies and I've been looking forward to reading this since it was announced, and I'm happy to say it does not disappoint.
The vibes from the movie carry over to this novel very well, and Rapunzel and Eugene's depictions are extremely spot on. I was worried the characters would feel a little off, which sometimes happens in these books, but you can hear just about everything they say in their voices.
The kingdom of Astera was really interesting and I really liked Princess Verrette, who started out being pretty closed-off but ended up being really sweet.
Minister Cressians no-nonsense personality was a nice complement to Eugene and Rapunzel and I liked seeing his character growth.

*It's worth noting that while this book takes place about a month after the movie, it does not follow the canon of the animated series, which also serves as a sequel to the film. It was a little disappointing at first as I adore the series but just think of it as an AU and you'll be fine.
Profile Image for Minna.
2,807 reviews
July 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Disney/Random House, and Ms Owen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Rootbound is a continuation of the Tangled story with Rapunzel, Eugene, Pascal et al. As a big Tangled fan I was really looking forward to this. Let me add that the cover was super cute. Rootbound picks up pretty much right where Tangled left off, give or take a couple weeks. It’s nice to wallow in favorite familiar characters a little longer, particularly seeing how both of them were adjusting to their new lives. It did strike me as sort of YA but considering the original movie is for actual kids I suppose that tracks. Pascal was the standout character which should surprise no one. ;) I wish Maximus was in the story a little more but I’m glad to see him in any amount. Recommended to anyone who loved the movie 👸
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Katelyn.
8 reviews
August 2, 2026
I was both deeply nervous yet excited when I heard about Rootbound. Though it does not follow the animated series, through reading it, it stands quite well on its own. The characterizations for Rapunzel and Eugene was on point and written well (very in-character) there were also other aspects that I hoped the author would keep or add, in which she did! My worries for it not being faithful to the characters and story was alleviated when I read it, and suffice to say Margaret Owen’s did a great job with this Tangled novel!! I enjoyed reading it and could not put it down until I finished it.

And what can I say, Eugene and Rapunzel… they are just so precious to me. The author did them and their relationship justice 💗
Profile Image for Jackie.
699 reviews11 followers
August 4, 2026
So much better than I even expected. Seeing it was tagged middle grade and young adult I was expecting cute,sweet return of loved characters with a more simple, young plot. However I was pleasantly surprised to find a plot that weaved together a lot of the smaller parts of the movie.....want to say more but spoilers..... Eugene had a fantastic story in this one as well in addition to Rapunzel of course which was a pleasant surprise. Best news of all is it seems like it wrote itself to set up for a sequel?!? Yes please!!
Profile Image for Kay ・❥・.
73 reviews21 followers
August 1, 2026
Tangled is my all time favorite Disney film, so when I saw this book in the store I IMMEDIATELY picked it up. Overall it was very fun, it’s definitely targeted towards a younger audience however if you love Tangled and the characters as much as I do, than you will definitely enjoy this.
Profile Image for ashley.
23 reviews
August 3, 2026
A sequel to Tangled that follows Rapunzel and Eugene, along with a third companion, traveling to a nearby kingdom and discovering they have they're own version of the sundrop, all while discovering Eugene's parentage and giving him a job within the castle? It's so familiar...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for jayc.
249 reviews70 followers
Want to Read
February 8, 2025
NOBODY PANIC IT’S FINE I’M TOTALLY NORMAL ABOUT THIS IT’S ALL GOOD
Profile Image for Sara S.
127 reviews18 followers
Want to Read
February 4, 2025
EXCUSE ME ??????????

RUE, WHEN WAS THIS????????
Profile Image for Marah.
102 reviews
March 21, 2025
I'm so excited! I really really hope it features characters from the TV series too!!
Profile Image for m๋࣭⭑⚝.
121 reviews9 followers
jellybean
May 23, 2026
this better give me butterflies or else I'll combust
Profile Image for Laurie.
562 reviews17 followers
July 31, 2026
I was cautiously optimistic about this book because I genuinely *want* these Disney books to be good, yet for whatever reason, most of them fall flat. I was also a bit worried about how the romance would be handled after reading Holy Terrors. I am HAPPY to report that Rootbound is the exception to the Disney novels of mediocrity. The characters stay in character, have relevant things to do, and the book adds to the overall lore and canon of the movie universe. Unfortunately, this book being good is likely a fluke, and it is not enough to make me expect more that bare minimum from Disney Publishing.

This book does ignore the existence of Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, creating a new canon for the moon drop (in this book it’s a star drop, which I feel was intentional to distance itself from the TV show, even though the sun is a star so it makes less sense than a moon drop) and gives Eugene a new background.

This book is everything you could want from a Tangled follow-up. Rapunzel and Eugene were translated masterfully into book form. They retain a lot of their cartoon charm and expressions without coming off as caricatures or over-the-top. The internal conflicts of the characters are perfect. Rapunzel is dealing with all the trauma of Mother Gothel, from being unaccustomed to shoes to learning how to read people and work through her people-pleasing tendencies. She’s also trying to figure out how her skills could be an asset to Corona (Fun fact to note here: they never actually call the Kingdom Corona in the book, for obvious reasons, and to get around this, the kingdom is only ever referred to by its name in a different language or as “the kingdom”). Eugene is dealing with the fact that he is a nobody, waiting for the day the King and Queen decide he has to go and Rapunzel does not need him anymore. This is exactly the type of stuff I wanted to see out of a Tangled book. It develops the characters. The book is targeted at the younger end of the YA age range, so it doesn’t go in depth on the psychological trauma, but there was more of that in here than I ever expected from a Disney book, especially after reading other books from the Disney Press.
While I was disappointed that they take Rapunzel out of Corona and the royal court, to some degree I get it. The story itself is interesting, and it creates space for Rapunzel to sort out what sort of princess she is and plays into how open Eugene’s backstory is.

The book also failed to bring me fully on board for the star drop magic stuff. Overall, it is not a bad story, and to some degree it does fit within the confines of the established canon, however, since we basically had a version of this in the TV series, it feels a bit redundant. The characters are not as well developed in one 300-page book as in three seasons of a TV show. There was a decent attempt made to make Verette a foil for Rapunzel, but she does fall short of Cassandra. Additionally, Verette had little in terms of her own arc, and based on the ending, would have had a stronger case as more of a mentor character for Rapunzel. Rapunzel’s guard Cressien had more character growth than Verette.

I found that the ending did reduce Rapunzel to the product of the Sun Drop Flower despite so much of her internal struggle dealing with separating herself from her magic powers, only for that experience of having had those powers to become the reason she saved the day. I was hoping for a more political intrigue ending where Rapunzel wins with friends and secrets or something, but instead, there was a magic battle.

It feels so weird to say that Eugene's POV and emotional beats hit hardest in the final chapters of the book, but he got an exceptionally good arc with a solid conclusion.

Despite my issues with the ending, the Epilogue had me smiling and open to the possibility of another adventuring sequel.
Profile Image for eternallove.
140 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 27, 2026
Rootbound is a strong sequel to Tangled that expands on this world and its characters in an adventure built on mystery and danger.

There were a few parts about Rootbound that I wasn’t expecting in which I was pleasantly surprised by. For one, the villain. Since so much of Rootbound was built on the mystery and secrets of Astera, I felt like I was right alongside Eugene, Rapunzel, and (a new favorite character of mine) Minister Cressien as they discovered clues and uncovered plot twists. I appreciated that true villain’s identity wasn’t clear until it was absolutely necessary, and when the villain and their desires/motives came to the surface, they were evil and relentless. They never turned good either, they suffered from their twisted actions. It was a great to see a Disney villain who was wicked for the sake of being selfish and manipulative till the end again after so long. It shows audiences, no matter the age, the price of evil nature.

Speaking of the villain, there were times when I felt our heroes were actually in danger. I remember a moment during the final battle where my jaw dropped; a testament to Owen’s ability to attach our hearts with the characters so well. Another thing I didn’t expect was to become so attached to the array of new faces, most notably Cressien. He’s passionate about his kingdom and his duties. Courageous whenever the time comes to face danger or protect his friends. Brilliant when it comes to politics and exploring new perspectives. He’s the loyal friend you’d trust to look out for you. Cressien is one of my favorite examples of good queer representation in Disney stories, not only because of who he loves but who he is as a genuine person.

Finally, the third thing I wasn’t expecting was how much of Rootbound elevated Eugene. From his background to the exploration of his character——taking his victory in Tangled and making it his internal conflict, driving Eugene’s action in Rootbound——was so intriguing. Watching Tangled and knowing everything I do now about Eugene, I feel as though his character has deepened so much in the best ways possible.

Needless to say, there’s also a couple things that I would have really enjoyed seen more of. Maximus and (for most of the story) Pascal got the short end of the stick here. They were barely in the story and when they do show up, I’d always catch myself saying “Oh! Right, they’re here too.” Rapunzel was fantastic and I felt she also grew a lot character wise, though I felt there were multiple times she’d trip up and have no opportunity to pick herself back up. I realize these moments were intentional to show Gothel had such a strong presence in her subconscious after the events of Tangled, but I wanted Rapunzel to empower herself during those important moments instead of apologizing and falling silent. By the end, this was mostly resolved and Rapunzel showed her strength, though personally I would have preferred to have seen a progression of her confidence throughout the entire story than only the very end.

With a score of 4.5 stars overall, I’d love to see Rootbound become an on-screen adaptation someday. I believe Owen has written an incredible sequel to Tangled and Disney fans of all ages will enjoy seeing Eugene, Rapunzel, and Cressien through this tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). This review is based off of an uncorrected proof.
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