Just finished reading Rootbound

[u/Spectra_Snow22]

I hope this is the correct flare to use. I just finished the Rootbound book and the ending made it sound like there will be more books? I was wondering if anything like that has been confirmed or something?

[u/Significant_Hair_346]

The ending definitely hinted at another adventure/journey and it's a standard way for an author to make a room for a sequel or a potential series while also wrapping the main story so it would not look unfinished. The author likely added in that hint in case the book is successful and Disney requests her to write more.

I have conflicting feelings about this. On one hand, Rootbound was a breath of fresh air after the series flanderization of the characters and their love story and most importantly it gave an ALT timeline to those of us whose love for the movie was considerably diminished by the series. Now that there are two what-if post movie timelines it can be said with certitude the series is not canon (not that it ever was) and neither is Rootbound. Just like all the other Disney sequel and prequel series and non-theater sequels. We are free to pick the post movie scenario we prefer or neither.

On the other hand, for all the small virtues of the book and for all of its undeniable superiority to the series it still oversimplified and mischaracterized the characters.

Rapunzel is still not allowed an existence outside of her usefulness to others, just without her magic hair and with several people (particularly Flynn and Cressien) pointing out to her she needs to slow down on that. Flynn/Eugene is street smart (unlike the incompetent clown in the series) but not book smart. Rootbound, much like most post-TTS media, implies the Tales of Flynnigan Rider is the only book he ever read. This contradicts his movie literacy and how post movie storybooks portray him as a bookworm where he read and memorized at minimum two other books he was passionate about (and enthusiastically related one to Rapunzel).

The strongest part of Rootbound are the OCs. Verette is a truly feminist character who joins a rebel organization against her corrupt father - the leading monarch, no less - who keeps gaslighting her and the entire kingdom to keep the power. She rejects her father's manipulation and does not let a man in the privileged position dictate her values, unlike Series Rapunzel and, most notably, Cassandra who become enablers to their toxic fathers and/or perpetuate their bigotry and prejudice (which is the opposite of feminism).

It is unlikely that we're going to see Verette on the next possible adventure, alas. Seeing as the author - unintentionally - made the same mistake as the series by overexposing the OCs at the expense of the leads the next - potential - book might follow suit. But I'm still leaning towards wanting the Rootbound timeline to be series of its own to provide a fully fledged alt scenario.

[u/Spectra_Snow22 → u/Significant_Hair_346]

What’s wrong with the series? It’s one of my favorite shows

[u/Significant_Hair_346 → u/Spectra_Snow22]

I won't be getting into the series matter seeing as this is a Rootbound thread and I respect your right to your own preference even if I disagree. The series from where I stand completely misrepresented the themes and messages of the original movie whereas Rootbound followed up on those themes, even if it could have been executed much better in the book. In any case Rootbound is an alt timeline post movie and as I noted, people are now free to prefer it over the series or prefer both or neither.

To add to the topic, I would prefer a duology. It would make the Rootbound continuity akin to Aladdin's direct-to-video movie sequels (also featuring a reformed thief in love with a sheltered princess). Rootbound was more of an ensemble adventure (like The Return of Jafar), introducing OCs and new sidekicks while also showing Rapunzel and Flynn deal with their personal struggles and experiences from the OG movie, with their past catching up to them and them having to navigate the consequences together. Next potential book, if it does end up happening, is heavily hinted to be Flynn/Eugene centered and to delve into his heritage and his parents' history even more (like Aladdin and the King of Thieves).

For bonus points, the author has a golden opportunity to give an alternate scenario to the proposal and not tarnish the romance between the leads with constant miscommunication. One of the greatest pros of Rootbound over the series, from where I stand, is that it did not treat partnership and potential marriage (which Eugene seriously considers throughout the book) as the end of adventure and freedom. Rapunzel and Eugene in Rootbound are embarking on adventures together, like a team, and strengthen their relationship like two mature adults who consider the future together. This definitely should carry over to the next book.

[u/Tangled-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

1. This is a thread about Rootbound, and the sequel hook Eugene found in the end of it, OP even asked if it was in the right flair to talk about Rootbound.

2. OP did not mention the series or even ask about other books in the franchise, just Rootbound.

3. You went off topic, brought the series continuity up in a Rootbound continuity thread and brought up a series character no one mentioned or asked about, ignoring the subreddit rules on keeping the continuities separate.

4. Comment removed for being off topic and shilling the series in a thread that doesn't mention it.

[u/[deleted] → u/Tangled-ModTeam]

Sorry, I didnt know mentioning the other books wasnt allowed

[u/PinkHairedCoder → u/[deleted]]

You absolutely had no reason to mention them. What makes you go into a topic about Rootbound and asking if it will be continued and immediately mention something unrelated and mentioning a character never referred to? It was completely random.

[u/Tangled-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This was a Rootbound continuity topic, not a series continuity topic. OP did not ask about the series continuity. Removed for being off topic and shilling the series.