Rootbound: A Tangled Novel by Owen, Margaret

Revisit Rapunzel and Eugene from Disney's Tangled as they race to protect a neighboring kingdom in this thrilling fantasy adventure penned by the New York Times bestselling author of Little Thieves.

A cunning king. A devious princess. Best. Week. Ever.

Rapunzel knows nothing about her neighboring kingdom, Astera - and not just because she only left her tower a month ago. The famously reclusive island has limited its contact with outsiders for decades. So when a suspicious invitation arrives welcoming Rapunzel to the Asteran princess's coming of age ceremony, and offering her a chance to be useful for the first time since she lost her healing powers, Rapunzel accepts - and unwittingly plunges herself and her companion, Eugene, into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets.

Eugene is just happy to get one last adventure with Rapunzel before his criminal background catches up with him and prevents their happy ending. Yet as they're drawn further into the country's problems, they uncover truths about Eugene's parentage that point to deeper unrest in Astera, and suddenly the fate of their own kingdom, not just their personal dreams, is at stake.

Thrust into a power struggle between Astera's beloved princess, Verette, its domineering king, Enver, and a mysterious secret society, Rapunzel and Eugene race to protect their home from an unsettlingly familiar threat and discover that the past can either hold them back, or help them blossom.

Author: Margaret Owen
Publisher: Random House/Disney
Published: 07/28/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.08lbs
Size: 9.13h x 6.27w x 1.17d
ISBN: 9781368101042
Age Range: 12-UP

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 06/26/2026 pg. 1
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2026

About the Author
Margaret Owen was born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, and has worked in everything from thrift stores to presidential campaigns. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning Little Thieves trilogy and The Merciful Crow duology, and co-editor of The Grimoire of Grave Fates anthology. Her books have been featured by NPR, Tor.com, Kirkus Reviews, Kids' Indie Next, and YALSA. In her free time, she enjoys exploring ill-advised travel destinations, raising money for social justice nonprofits through her illustrated work, and negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her monstrous cats. She lives in Seattle, Washington.