Twisted Tales is a series that inserts alternative plot elements into Disney movies to imagine how they play out. 

This installment, written by Elizabeth Braswell, retells the tale of Rapunzel, or Tangled, and follows the series’ trend of naming the books after lyrics from songs in the movies. 

The book title What Once Was Mine is taken from a line from the song Flower Gleam and Glow. 

The plot is altered so that Rapunzel’s mother drinks the moon drop flower instead of the sun drop flower. This means that Rapunzel developed different powers as a baby – including the ability to kill anyone who touches her. 

After the death of her nursemaid, the King and Queen decide to keep their child hidden and protected so that their kingdom needn’t suffer from losing the princess 

They lie and say that their daughter died, while in reality Mother Gothel (who puts up a good front) takes care of the young princess. 

However, after years locked in her tower, Rapunzel yearns for something more and leaves the tower with Flynn Ryder, just as in the movie. Unlike the movie though, she also runs into Gina, an amateur thief looking to make a name for herself. 

But Mother Gothel has more nefarious schemes up her sleeve. She has secretly been planning to auction Rapunzel off to the highest bidding criminal. 

Being chased by these villains and also desiring to understand herself more, Rapunzel finds a Good witch and learns important lessons: that she can control her powers, and that she has the potential to be many things and shouldn’t limit herself based on other people’s plans for her.

The characters in this version of the tale are as lovable as ever. While some have been altered or added for the sake of plot, there is still the charm we have come to expect from the Disney movie. 

The new characters are also very enjoyable, as Gina provides an interesting foil to both Eugene (an experienced thief and Rapunzel’s love interest in both movie and book) and Rapunzel. Gina shares Rapunzel’s optimism, unlike the jaded Eugene, but she also has real-world knowledge and is street smart, unlike the sheltered Rapunzel.

Additionally, Braswell delves deeper into Rapunzel’s character, exploring how the abuse she faced impacted her self-esteem. Not only that, but the author reveals how the Queen struggled with the decision to have Rapunzel raised by someone else, but in the end allowed it for the sake of the Kingdom.

The story is from a lovable Disney movie aimed at children, but it’s been adapted to a young adult audience. This updating is particularly clear in  the mature themes of abuse and death. 

There are also a lot of historical references, which also account for the rating, since history is often bloody. Countess Bathory (one of the criminals seeking Rapunzel’s power), for example, is based on a real person: the Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed who was alleged to have murdered women from 1590-1610. 

Furthermore, the reading level is fit for teens and includes quite a few metaphors. The writing is clear and concise and gives life to the fictional Kingdom of Corona.

Overall, the story is a beautiful one that explores the world that the movie set up. It delves deeper into character backgrounds and introduces more realistic themes. It isn’t just a book, it’s an exploration of fantasy and reality and the connections between the two.