I've heard of the 12 Dancing Princesses, but never actually read the story so this one was definitely new to me. Although a bit too detailed and focused on nonessential things, overall, I really liked Entwined. It was beautifully written and I am a fan of historical fiction, especially back when girls would wear those fancy dresses and go to balls. 
 The characters were definitely the driving force of the story and really made it entertaining for me. With 12 sisters, how could it not?! I loved how much they loved and cared for one another, since usually little sisters tend to hate/resent the older one, or they're just so selfish and annoying that it turns me off from them. But in Entwined, I really loved each of the little sisters, with their own little quirks, but Azalea was definitely my favorite and I easily related to her the most. There wasn't too much in the way of romance throughout the book, especially with the style of relationships at the time, but I didn't mind it because the relationship between the sisters and their father was the key part to the story. 
 I have to say, I really didn't like the father at first. He seemed so cold, selfish, and narrow-minded, but slowly I started to see his true character. I knew he was grieving over the loss of his wife and I didn't like the way he was handling it, but along the way I understood and sympathized with him. Honestly, the characters really are the heart of the story and their growth and how they cope with their loss in the family was the best part. 
 Of course, all the magic, dancing, fun and games also helped too. It was a very nice story!