This is an adaptation of the fairy tale Rapunzel: Set in an appropriate culture, environment and era for the original story, this might not be so much an adaptation as a more personal retelling. We discover - or re-explore - very often through narrative memory, Zel's origins, how she came to be locked away, and how the "prince" (a count in this version) came to discover the maiden in the tower. I really enjoyed the writing and the rhythm of the book, the "fleshing-out" of the story was great. I like knowing the details. And all the details Ms. Napoli gave us were believable, and fit and enhanced our expectations. The parts we expected were there, and the extra details (which I never heard previously and believe were the author's creation) just made the characters more real. The very end could have been slightly more challenging but it was satisfying nonetheless. I think any adult who likes fairy tales will enjoy this book, but be aware it was probably written with teen to young adult in mind. I will be reading further books by this author.
