ildapindi

In a hidden tower, Rapunzel’s life has been defined by the walls that confine her and the love of a mother who isn't what she seems. For eighteen years, Rapunzel has lived under the watchful eye of Mother Gothel, isolated from the world, yet filled with a yearning to experience the life beyond the tower’s walls. The dream of seeing the floating lanterns that light up the sky on her birthday has fueled her every thought, but freedom has always seemed out of reach.

Then one day, fate intervenes in the form of a thief named Flynn Rider. On the run from palace guards, Flynn stumbles upon Rapunzel’s hidden sanctuary, and an unlikely alliance forms. Together, they embark on a journey that will challenge their views of the world—and their place within it. As they navigate dangers, forge new friendships, and confront their pasts, Rapunzel discovers more about herself than she ever imagined. Along the way, she learns the true power of love, forgiveness, and the importance of embracing who she is meant to be.

But not all is as it seems. With Gothel’s manipulation and the looming threat of danger, Rapunzel must decide what she truly wants: a life in the tower, or the freedom she has always dreamed of. And when the truth about her past is revealed, she will have to summon the strength to fight for her future—one that’s free from the chains of her past.

In Tangled: A Novel, the magic, adventure, and heart of the original story come alive in a new, deeper way, revealing the emotional journeys of both Rapunzel and Flynn as they find their way to each other and their destinies.

Tangled!

The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine as Rapunzel and Eugene sprinted through the dense forest. The Stabbington Brothers' shouts echoed behind them, but the trees provided cover, their tangled roots and low-hanging branches making pursuit difficult.

Eugene pulled Rapunzel along, his grip firm but gentle. "Keep moving!" he urged. "We just need to put some distance between us and those goons."

Rapunzel's legs burned, her heart pounding against her ribs. Pascal clung tightly to her shoulder, his tiny claws digging into the fabric of her dress. She had never run like this before, never needed to. The urgency of survival was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

The forest grew thicker, the trees pressing closer together. The moonlight barely reached the ground, casting eerie shadows that twisted in the underbrush.

Eugene slowed, glancing over his shoulder. The voices of their pursuers had faded. "I think we lost them," he whispered, his breath heavy.

Rapunzel bent over, hands on her knees. "Are you sure?"

They stood in silence for a moment, listening. The only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl.

Eugene turned to survey their surroundings. "Where the heck are we?"

Rapunzel straightened, brushing her hair away from her face. "I—I don't know. But we have to keep moving, just in case."

He grinned. "Look at you. One near-death chase, and you're already thinking like a criminal."

She shot him a look. "This is survival."

She sighed and pushed past him, her eyes scanning the trees. Then she paused.

Ahead, half-hidden beneath thick vines and moss, was an old, overgrown archway. Beyond it, a faint glow shimmered in the darkness.

Eugene followed her gaze. "Looks like… a path?"

She stepped forward hesitantly. The archway was ancient, its stone covered in carvings too worn to read. Vines wrapped around its pillars, nature reclaiming what had once been man-made.

Eugene touched the stone. "This looks old. Really old."

Rapunzel's fingers grazed the carvings. They were rough, uneven. She had no idea what they meant, but something about them felt… familiar.

A gust of wind swept through the archway, rustling the leaves beyond. The glow pulsed faintly, almost like an invitation.

Eugene shifted uneasily. "Okay. That's creepy."

Rapunzel swallowed. She knew they had to keep moving, but something inside her, some deep, unexplainable instinct, told her this was the right way.

She turned to Eugene. "I think we should follow it."

He blinked. "You think we should follow the mysterious glowing path into the unknown?"

"Blondie, that is literally how every scary story starts."

With that, she stepped beneath the archway, vanishing into the glow.

And the forest swallowed them whole.

The Hidden Path