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blumoonie's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I re-read thus because I used to love it when I was about 14... this book has got to be one of the biggest reasons I developed a pickme attitude. it's an easy read: world and lore is interesting, the plot not bad, but you can tell the mc will be a tad insufferable when the dedication reads "this book is dedicated to ugly ducklings everywhere. don't worry about those fluffy yellow morons: they'll never get to be swans."
also, the number of typos and grammatical errors are genuinely shocking? i KNOW this was published in 2007, but come on guys 😭
my final qualm is that the audience for this novel feels a little strange. the rather simple plot and young, two-dimensional characters make me feel like it should be targeted at young teens, but the final battle between Alexandra and Zella is extremely graphic- I felt ill as I read it; it's no wonder I couldn't remember how it ended.
overall: fine. wouldn't recommend unless your guilty pleasure is pickme fantasy that doesn't pass the bechdel test.
also, the number of typos and grammatical errors are genuinely shocking? i KNOW this was published in 2007, but come on guys 😭
my final qualm is that the audience for this novel feels a little strange. the rather simple plot and young, two-dimensional characters make me feel like it should be targeted at young teens, but the final battle between Alexandra and Zella is extremely graphic- I felt ill as I read it; it's no wonder I couldn't remember how it ended.
overall: fine. wouldn't recommend unless your guilty pleasure is pickme fantasy that doesn't pass the bechdel test.
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
3.0
Well...I had my heart set on loving this, because I'd read another one of Marriott's novels ([b:Shadows on the Moon|9741685|Shadows on the Moon (The Moonlit Lands, #1)|Zoë Marriott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1357574459s/9741685.jpg|14341418]) and it was fantastic...but with this one, it started really good, and I thought it was going to be fantastic, and her use of imagery and language is amazing, etc. etc. The suspense and dawning horror and the death of her mother, and the magic lore and stuff was all really good too. The characters were also really three-dimensional too, which was brilliant. I was hyperventilating when I realised this was the fairytale in which the girl's brother are like turned into swans and then she has to make T-shirts out of nettles and then people think she's a witch. Or something. Anyway. I just wish wish wish she could have written a better ending.
It was all good, until the ending. It just felt rushed. I was reading it on my Kindle, and I was like at 91% through the book, and I remember thinking, No. No WAY this is so close to the end. NO WAYYY.
Spoiler
The surprising twist at the end involving Mairid could have been a seriously genius idea, which she could've expanded on far more than she did. I didn't really understand what Marriott was getting at and how Mairid became Zella, andmeme_too2's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. Taken from the swan princess, where her brothers are swans and she has to turn them back into men.
eyreguide's review against another edition
4.0
The Swan Kingdom was a lovely story to read - it has a great magical world, and it presents a different spin on the original fairy tale of The Six Swans. I was also impressed that the story brings more detail to the evil stepmother character who is a bit more disturbing as a villain than in the original fairy tale. While the three brothers are sort of cursorily summarized as characters and are not actively in the story for very long, the reader gets to see more of the mother and her influence on the family and the land before she's gone. I admire that this story is full of strong, female characters who all have very different personalities.
I found the main character, Alexandra, sympathetic and engaging and perfect to carry the whole story forward. She acted rather more slowly on her brothers' curse than I would have expected, but this story does take on some unexpected turns, especially with how the romance is woven into the tale. I love that the romance is built on the two characters really getting to know each other, instead of falling in love at first sight, so the romance is very sweet and endearing.
The main smaller issue I had with this story though was in the rather unresolved story line for Alexandra's Aunt - I was thinking she would play a stronger role in the story, but we don't hear from her again. And also in the nature of the Ancestors who guide Alexandra - I felt a bit confused on their role in the world of this magic. It seemed like they were just there when it was convenient, and were unable to do anything.
The reason why this is such an enjoyable read though is in the exciting plot line, the changes that deviated from the original fairy tale (there's a really neat twist about the curse!) and just my own appreciation that it's the women in this story who affect their own lives.
I found the main character, Alexandra, sympathetic and engaging and perfect to carry the whole story forward. She acted rather more slowly on her brothers' curse than I would have expected, but this story does take on some unexpected turns, especially with how the romance is woven into the tale. I love that the romance is built on the two characters really getting to know each other, instead of falling in love at first sight, so the romance is very sweet and endearing.
The main smaller issue I had with this story though was in the rather unresolved story line for Alexandra's Aunt - I was thinking she would play a stronger role in the story, but we don't hear from her again. And also in the nature of the Ancestors who guide Alexandra - I felt a bit confused on their role in the world of this magic. It seemed like they were just there when it was convenient, and were unable to do anything.
The reason why this is such an enjoyable read though is in the exciting plot line, the changes that deviated from the original fairy tale (there's a really neat twist about the curse!) and just my own appreciation that it's the women in this story who affect their own lives.
lobeliaparides's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, it was full of magic and love but one thing I wasn't sure about was how time went in the book.
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I read and reviewed Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon earlier this year (my review) and decided to track down some of her other novels. I started with The Swan Kingdom, a retelling of "The Wild Swans", because I like fairy tale retellings.
The story is basically a longer version of the original giving a more detailed accounting between the time the brothers are turned to swans and Alexandra sets them free. Marriott does add her own little spin on the end to how this happens and that is tied up in the magic Alexandra possesses herself. This was an interesting addition but felt a bit rushed in its conclusion. The language is lyrical and the descriptions vivid. The characters were a little flat and typical for a story like this. The handsome prince is all goodness and light. Alexandra is under appreciated. Basic fairy tale stuff, but it is told well.
Fans of Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest might find this to be too simple in comparison. The Swan Kingdom would work well even with a much younger audience. Middle schoolers who like this sort of book would feel right at home in its pages.
I read and reviewed Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon earlier this year (my review) and decided to track down some of her other novels. I started with The Swan Kingdom, a retelling of "The Wild Swans", because I like fairy tale retellings.
The story is basically a longer version of the original giving a more detailed accounting between the time the brothers are turned to swans and Alexandra sets them free. Marriott does add her own little spin on the end to how this happens and that is tied up in the magic Alexandra possesses herself. This was an interesting addition but felt a bit rushed in its conclusion. The language is lyrical and the descriptions vivid. The characters were a little flat and typical for a story like this. The handsome prince is all goodness and light. Alexandra is under appreciated. Basic fairy tale stuff, but it is told well.
Fans of Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest might find this to be too simple in comparison. The Swan Kingdom would work well even with a much younger audience. Middle schoolers who like this sort of book would feel right at home in its pages.
sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
- This was a unique story. I enjoyed it.
- I liked how the 4 siblings worked together in the beginning. I have 3 older brothers as well.
- The style and the way the story was told was different. I liked it for the most part, but sometimes it got a little slow.
- I forgot the title of the fairy tale, but this is a retelling of the siblings turned into swans and a sister must make clothes for them to change them back.
- This is one of those books where I liked it, but I don't know what to say about it. It was a nice story.
- I liked how the 4 siblings worked together in the beginning. I have 3 older brothers as well.
- The style and the way the story was told was different. I liked it for the most part, but sometimes it got a little slow.
- I forgot the title of the fairy tale, but this is a retelling of the siblings turned into swans and a sister must make clothes for them to change them back.
- This is one of those books where I liked it, but I don't know what to say about it. It was a nice story.
bookslucyking's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very nice fairytale style story with kings and princesses and a magic connected to the power of the land, of the nature. I loved the whole herb part of it. Truth is the story was sometimes a bit quick, Alexandra moved from one place to another but in the end everything made sense. I guess who expects typical YA fantasy, might be dissapointed here, as Alexandra is almost never distracted by any charming prince, she minds her bussines and tries to save her home, once charming prince appears it is in a very delicate and shy way and I was happy for that as I am not much fan when there is too much importance on the romantic side of the story.
So if you like fairytales, kingdoms, magic, if you like when there is some herbology involved in the magic and you dont need a loot of !oh my god I love him, sighing and only thinking about the charming boy!, give it a try!
And as I dont now the original story as this is retelling, maybe this even made it so good for me, who knows what I would say if I would know the original story, but on its own this story of the Swan Kingdom was great!
So if you like fairytales, kingdoms, magic, if you like when there is some herbology involved in the magic and you dont need a loot of !oh my god I love him, sighing and only thinking about the charming boy!, give it a try!
And as I dont now the original story as this is retelling, maybe this even made it so good for me, who knows what I would say if I would know the original story, but on its own this story of the Swan Kingdom was great!
mdesr089's review against another edition
3.0
Quick read. Interesting story.
I remember liking this book more as a teenager.
I remember liking this book more as a teenager.