Review: Rapunzel's Gambit

Rapunzel's Gambit by Mary Mecham is the second ARC I received from the upcoming All That Glitters mult-author series of fairy tale retellings. Though it is meant to be a retelling of "Rapunzel," it has a lot more in common with a book from 1990 called Dealing with Dragons, which was about a princess who was tired of her royal duties and ran away to live with a dragon. This version of Rapunzel is feisty, aggressive, and a bit spoiled. A far cry from an innocent maiden who was kidnapped as a child, she is raised by a wealthy king and believes she can do a better job running the kingdom than him due to his overtaxation of the people. It follows many of the modern princess tropes from recent Disney remakes.

Princess Rapunzel's favorite hobby is causing trouble for everyone around her. She is a shameless flirt, a shrewd chess player, and a royal rebel. Her father is frustrated with her antics and decides to marry her off to the first person who can slay the dragon plaguing their kingdom. Refusing to be tied down, Rapunzel decides to stage a kidnapping and runs away to make a deal with the dragon. Pollox is amenable to her terms and provides her with a luxurious enchanted room that can be turned into a prison cell to trick noble heroes into rescue attempts. The so-called "heroes" can be held for ransom to add to the dragon's hoard. Rapunzel has great fun conning the knights until she is reunited with a squire named Griffin, who is a cut above the rest and seems more sincere in his attempts to free her.

Rapunzel's Gambit has an odd love triangle, as Rapunzel's relationship with the dragon is complicated. She knowingly volunteers to be part of his hoard for her schemes but then becomes concerned that Pollox might think of her as a possession. Isn't that exactly what she signed up for? Although Rapunzel's actions of lying and cheating other kingdoms are admittedly devious, she never repents for her actions or learns any moral lesson. Instead, she is presented as a "Robin Hood" figure whose conning is justified because she gives her earnings to the less fortunate. Another thing that bothered me is that the book used the same tired trope as most stories from this author in which a trustworthy character has a sudden and unexpected turn and starts monologuing in detail about their wicked intentions.

With all that said, I had a fun time reading this book. The plot twists were developed well. Most of the time, I had no idea what would happen next. The characters are unique and interesting, and the plot is pretty original for a fairy tale retelling. Fans of the movie Damsel would love this book, as it takes a classic story in a modern new direction. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I didn't struggle so much with the questionable morals of the main character. The love triangle was also very compelling. I genuinely had no idea who Rapunzel would end up with. The father/daughter element was a little weaker. I thought both Rapunzel and the king were to blame for their actions, and their resolution felt forced. Still, it was nice to include some family values in a book like this.

Rapunzel's Gambit is a unique and engaging take on the classic fairy tale, with a feisty and complex heroine at its center. While the book's moral ambiguity and questionable character motivations may be off-putting for some readers, fans of modern fairy tale retellings and strong female protagonists will likely enjoy the twists and turns of Rapunzel's story. With its blend of humor, adventure, and romance, this book is a fun and compelling read, even if it doesn't always toe the line of good decision-making. If you're looking for a fresh take on a classic tale with a dash of sass and wit, Rapunzel's Gambit is definitely worth checking out.