The Swan Maiden grabbed my attention with its gorgeous cover. The contents of this fairy-tale-spinoff kept me (mostly) enchanted, although in all I must say that the cover almost exceeds the story. Enjoy the review, and don't forget to leave a comment below!
Title: The Swan Maiden
Author: Heather Tomlinson
Page Count: 304 pages
Stars: 3 of 5
- 3 = enjoyable. May have minor content issues or flaws in the writing.
Teaser: Doucette wants to be a “swan maiden,” a creature of
flight and magic, like her two elder sisters. At last, she has the chance to
realize her dream—but the day comes when she must decide between love and
magic.
Age level: Teens and up (13+)
Violence: 2 of 5
- 2 = PG-level violence that's a minor theme in the book
- 3 = romance is a major theme of the story but is appropriate for teens
Language: 0 of 5
Christian worldview: The magic in this story seems to be
hereditary and viewed with suspicion or even dislike. (See this post for my
thoughts on how magic in fantasy can or can’t mesh with faith.) The biblical
lesson that a little power makes you want a little more is clearly told. The
value of faithful love is also evident in the story.
My thoughts: This story was an elegant and enjoyable
fantasy. I immediately connected with the feelings of jealousy and longing that
Doucette experienced as she watched her older sisters flaunt their magic in
front of her. The hero of the story, while a bit cliché, did show a lot of
courage and honor and loyalty. Although the setting is a medieval fantasy,
Tomlinson manages to deftly sidestep clichés by making the story focused on
medieval France and incorporating very vivid details of life to make the
setting come alive to readers.
My major problem with The Swan Maiden was a decision
Doucette made towards the end of the story. The decision felt too selfish for
her and unlike the way she’d behaved in the past. I didn’t think it was
completely necessary for the story, either, particularly considering the
ending. Still, it taught her a good lesson that I won’t spoil here.
In sum, The Swan Maiden was a light fantasy with good
themes. A nice book to read with a cup of tea on a rainy day.
Hi! I was wondering if you'd be willing to host a stop on my blog tour this fall for my YA Christian contemporary fiction novel, "Purple Moon". If so, would you mind sending me an email at christiswrite (at) gmail (dot) com? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Tessa Emily