Princess of the Wild Swans

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler (2012)
Length: 212 pages
Genre: Children's Books
Started: 16 August 2012
Finished: 16 August 2012
Where did it come from? The local library
Why do I have it? The idea of a princess who ruled over wild swans interested me (title)
Reading Challenges: back-to-school readathon
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars LOOVED it!! 
{Image from HERE}


Summary:

Princess Meriel has been motherless for a long time. Though it is hard to compete with her 5 older brothers for her father's attention, she is fine with being the only girl, and since she is the baby of the family, the King often thinks of her. If she did get a stepmother, she believes that she would at least kind to her, or maybe even indulgent, because it has been hard living without a mother.
Then in stomps Lady Orianna, who charmed Father with her good looks, along with just a little taste of witchcraft. But only Meriel recognizes her for who she really is: her brothers think her just a harmless, young, pretty wife. Then her brothers mysteriously disappear, and the only explanation is they were sent off to school, which doesn't satisfy Meriel at all. Why did they have to go, when they had tutors here? Then she remembers a heated conversation she had overheard: The Queen wanted her son (if she had a son) to rule, but he would never have a chance, not with 5 male heirs before him. And then she discovers 5 swans swimming in Heart Lake, one with the beautiful green eyes of her brother Cullan, and she realizes the truth... But how will Meriel save them from their fate? And will she finish the task in time?

Thoughts:

I found this an extremely well written novel. I hardly had any issues with it except that I think that the song in the beginning that Baird sang in the beginning, which likened Lady Orianna to a black swan, did not have to be about a swan. Why? Because later on in the book there would be many opportunities for swan poems. However, if, after extensive research, there seemed to be none better fitting poem for the occasion, I will take kindly to the choice. Perhaps, the author purposely made it a swan poem, to perhaps shed light on why she would turn them all into swans? Maybe she overheard Baird, and decided on-the-spot? Unlikely as it may seem, I wouldn't put it past Lady Orianna.

Also, I really did not think it was necessary for Meriel to think, "It occurred to me that I did not really know how to apologize." I should think that she would have to apologize all day long, whether to a disapproving Queen-mother or to a stern governess. I mean, really! Although, perhaps apologizing to an elder is very different to apologizing to a person one's own age, for Meriel. Or perhaps the difference is that Liam is but a commoner, and she is a princess. But in spirit and heart they are the same, I believe.














-Dana