Entwined

Come and mend your broken hearts here. In this retelling of the classic tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," the eldest princess must fight to save her family--and her heart--from an ancient dark magic within the palace walls. "Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon's debut is both suspenseful and rewarding."--ALA Booklist Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her--beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing--it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. "Readers who enjoy stories of royalty, romance, and magic will delight in Dixon's first novel."-- Publishers Weekly Supports the Common Core State Standards

Come and mend your broken hearts here. In this retelling of the classic tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," the eldest princess must fight to save her family--and her heart--from an ancient dark magic within the palace walls. "Full of mystery, lush settings, and fully orbed characters, Dixon's debut is both suspenseful and rewarding."--ALA Booklist Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her--beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing--it's taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late. "Readers who enjoy stories of royalty, romance, and magic will delight in Dixon's first novel."-- Publishers Weekly Supports the Common Core State Standards

In a series of genre-blending essays, Entwined tells the story of Alex Alberto's decade-long polyamorous journey towards a new kind of family. In these essays, Alex attempts to build two committed relationships at once when no one involved has done it before; develops a powerful bond with the woman their partner loves; sits through a tense Thanksgiving Dinner with religious in-laws; questions the need for rules and hierarchy in their relationships; experiences the intensity of a triad; wrestles with the fragility baked into the nuclear family after their father's stroke; and explores their queerness and gender identity in English, in New York, while struggling to reconcile their newfound self in their native French-Canadian language and culture. Entwined explores the fuzzy lines between friendship, romance, and family with various essay forms, including a play, an advice column, and a love letter. Rather than wallowing in the throes of jealousy, this collection celebrates the hard work of creating a love life that resists conventional narratives. "Entwined is a goddamn bible for poly-curious people." -Chloe Caldwell (she/her), 37, questioning "For Alex, polyamory is about creating a family. By getting to know them and their reality you gain entry to a world that might otherwise seem intimidating." -Sofia M. (she/her), 64, mother of a polyamorous person "Entwined is about the desire to create a life outside of capitalism, heteronormativity, and the patriarchy." -Samantha Paige Rosen (she/her), 33, queer and monogamous "Entwined had me captivated from start to finish. It will no doubt influence my approach to romance and family." -Rio C. (she/her), 21, queer, trans, and curious about polyamory "The variety in content and structure makes it a quick read. Entwined deepened my understanding of polyamory's possibilities; it's not all swinging and sex parties." -Melissa Gopp-Warner (she/her), 43, queer/questioning and monogamous "I laughed, cried, and felt my heart fill the fuck up." - Dan D. (they), 36, queer and newly navigating non-monogamy within a lifelong partnership

In a series of genre-blending essays, Entwined tells the story of Alex Alberto's decade-long polyamorous journey towards a new kind of family. In these essays, Alex attempts to build two committed relationships at once when no one involved has done it before; develops a powerful bond with the woman their partner loves; sits through a tense Thanksgiving Dinner with religious in-laws; questions the need for rules and hierarchy in their relationships; experiences the intensity of a triad; wrestles with the fragility baked into the nuclear family after their father's stroke; and explores their queerness and gender identity in English, in New York, while struggling to reconcile their newfound self in their native French-Canadian language and culture. Entwined explores the fuzzy lines between friendship, romance, and family with various essay forms, including a play, an advice column, and a love letter. Rather than wallowing in the throes of jealousy, this collection celebrates the hard work of creating a love life that resists conventional narratives. "Entwined is a goddamn bible for poly-curious people." -Chloe Caldwell (she/her), 37, questioning "For Alex, polyamory is about creating a family. By getting to know them and their reality you gain entry to a world that might otherwise seem intimidating." -Sofia M. (she/her), 64, mother of a polyamorous person "Entwined is about the desire to create a life outside of capitalism, heteronormativity, and the patriarchy." -Samantha Paige Rosen (she/her), 33, queer and monogamous "Entwined had me captivated from start to finish. It will no doubt influence my approach to romance and family." -Rio C. (she/her), 21, queer, trans, and curious about polyamory "The variety in content and structure makes it a quick read. Entwined deepened my understanding of polyamory's possibilities; it's not all swinging and sex parties." -Melissa Gopp-Warner (she/her), 43, queer/questioning and monogamous "I laughed, cried, and felt my heart fill the fuck up." - Dan D. (they), 36, queer and newly navigating non-monogamy within a lifelong partnership

Outclassed. Outplayed. Outmatched. After our humiliating defeat at Cyanide, Alastair left us shamed and shattered. We lost. But with our resources at a desperate low, new players making dangerous moves, and my brutes on the offense, I know I need to change the game. The last time I tried my hand, I made mistakes that nearly cost us everything-but I'm not the same hesitant little pawn I once was, and I'm not hiding behind my fear anymore. This time, it's my board. The Sinners and the Reapers are in position. The queen and her kings are in play. But we need a better strategy-because if we can't become the family Jasper always promised me we could be, then we might lose more than just our home at Bristlebrook. We might lose our chance at forever as well . . .

Outclassed. Outplayed. Outmatched. After our humiliating defeat at Cyanide, Alastair left us shamed and shattered. We lost. But with our resources at a desperate low, new players making dangerous moves, and my brutes on the offense, I know I need to change the game. The last time I tried my hand, I made mistakes that nearly cost us everything-but I'm not the same hesitant little pawn I once was, and I'm not hiding behind my fear anymore. This time, it's my board. The Sinners and the Reapers are in position. The queen and her kings are in play. But we need a better strategy-because if we can't become the family Jasper always promised me we could be, then we might lose more than just our home at Bristlebrook. We might lose our chance at forever as well . . .