Review: My Name Is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton

Title:  My Name is Rapunzel 
Author: K.C. Hilton

Publishing Date: November 13th 2013

Pages: 322
Genre:  YA Fairytale Retelling

Series: Stand Alone
Source: Audio

  

My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.

This book has been on my TBR for quite a while and I was very excited for it when I first discovered it on Goodreads. This was sometime over a year ago and as time went on I forgot about the release date. I was browsing Audible and noticed it. I grabbed it, started it, and finished it right away. Loved it. Possibly one of the best and my all time favorite retelling. The first Rapunzel retelling I read and I think any other is going to have a very difficult time measuring up to this one. It was a fantastic story, I adored Rapunzel and everyone that crossed her path, and the ending was just perfect. 

Rapunzel was cursed when she was 18 years old. The old witch wanted her hair for the anti aging ability it gave her. When Rapunzel fell in love and threatened to move away the witch cursed her. Rapunzel doesn't age and her hair can't be cut. Rapunzel tells her story from when she was cursed in the late 1700's all the way until the ending in 2013. She tells her of her family, friends, and romances. Her story is filled with joys and sadness, and everything in between. 

I loved it! I was more than satisfied and this book went way over any expectations that I had. I can't even say what was the best part of the story Everything worked so well together, the writing, the pacing, the characters, the story itself. It was all just so wonderful. 

One thing that I was surprised with was my love for Rapunzel. I love my fairytales but in everyone there are times the main character, the damsel in distress, just gets on my last nerve. I am happy to say that this Rapunzel didn't. She totally rocked. She was caring, courageous, smart, and so so sweet but also real tough. Her life was hard. She loved and lost so many times throughout her life. Destined to be alone, well except for the nasty witch that cursed her, and she still carried on. I guess she didn't have much of a choice, she was cursed with immortality, but she tried to live her life as best as she could. She found little things or memories to keep her mind off how terrible her surroundings were. She did have a few pity parties, but for the most part she just dealt. She did what she could to truly live without having attachments. Attachments meant two things, her secret being discovered and losing another loved one. She tried so hard to escape her dreadful life too. It just never worked out. There were forces at work to keep her right where she was. She didn't give up. She was determined. Then there was my favorite characteristic of Rapunzel, she was so selfless.  As much as she had gone through she would have done it all over again if it meant helping someone or saving someone. She was just wonderful. 

This book had so many wonderful characters, Rapunzel was just the center of them all. She had very loving parents. I adored her parents. They loved her with all they had. It was terrible and heartbreaking when they left her. There were many loyal friends that cared for her deeply and looked after her. I even liked the witch. She was a very well done character that I hated and I also liked. 

I have to admit I don't know the story of Rapunzel that well. Really the only parts I knew... Rapunzel had very long blonde hair, ,she lived in a tower, and a prince would come to visit and say "Rapunzel. Rapunzel. Let down your hair. So... I didn't have much to compare too. What I know about fairytales, they are supposed to be dark, scary, and the villain always plays dirty. This story was that. The story did have some of the important elements about the hair, the tower, and sort of the prince and then it had so much more. Dragons, reporters, spells, good guys, bad guys, loss, love, and great ending. 

I loved the way the story was written. It starts at the very beginning. When Rapunzel was cursed. The story is told in the fast forward of all the important times in her life to tell her story, until we get to modern day. Then there are some flashbacks and some memories scattered throughout. I enjoyed the past as much as the present in the story. Her entire life was worth the listen. A lot happens in 200 plus years that builds a character. I was completely invested in her story and from the very first sentence. It was written incredibly well and paced just perfect. The narration for the audio was also magnificent. 

This is a shelf collector for me. I will take time to revisit Rapunzel many times in the future.