This book was a great retelling of the fairy tale Six Swans (by The Brothers Grimm) / The Wild Swans (by Hans Christian Andersen). This story combines features of both these related fairy tales and is filled with great characters as well as a wonderful story that draws the reader in and kept my interest till the end. I would have liked an epilogue for when Princess Meriel and Liam were older but the story left off on a good point and I plan to read more by this author. ( )

For as long as I remember I've loved HCA's story "The Wild Swans." It's a lovely tale of sibling love and doesn't seem to moralize as much as some. So I try to read the adaptations (which are much less plentiful than "Cinderella"). I've tried [b:The Swan Kingdom|2124206|The Swan Kingdom|Zoë Marriott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320421543s/2124206.jpg|2129646], and [b:Daughter of the Forest|13928|Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters, #1)|Juliet Marillier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1343589988s/13928.jpg|1897725] and found much to admire and some to dislike. In keeping with that childish love, I decided to read this one.

This adaptation didn't really please me. I might have been the wrong age for it (it really seemed aimed at 8-year-olds) but the danger never seemed real nor did the sibling love. The book seemed rushed and the telepathy really made things too easy. It really brings home the talent of writers like [a:Laura Ingalls Wilder|5300|Laura Ingalls Wilder|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1347574987p2/5300.jpg] who speak to me across a vast majority of ages. ( )

2.5 stars. Not the best retelling but good for younger readers. ( )

Headstrong Princess Meriel spends most of her time escaping from her governess and attempting to emulate her beloved older brothers -- but when her father brings home a new wife, Meriel's life changes, and not for the better. Meriel's stepmother sends the boys away to school -- or so she says. When Meriel discovers six swans swimming on a nearby lake, though, she realizes the truth. With the help of a local family of witches, Meriel learns that she must sew shirts for each of her brothers from nettles -- and she must do so without speaking. In the meantime, her stepmother's cruel magic threatens everyone in the vicinity, and winter is fast approaching. Will Meriel be able to rescue her brothers in time?

I've always loved fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, but not all of them are created equal. This particular retelling is enjoyable enough, but does not stand out in what has become a rather crowded genre. I have a few issues with the plot (note to the squeamish: these could be considered spoilers), and they all come down to the ability of various magic-users to read minds. Meriel's ability to mind-speak with her magic-wielding friends undercuts the drama of her not being able to speak aloud while making the shirts (it feels like cheating, to be frank); and the stepmother's ability to read minds, but inability to learn about Meriel's brothers because Meriel's father thought only of his daughter . . . well, I just didn't buy it.

I'd recommend this to children who are discovering the fairy tale retelling genre for the first time, as it is a less frequently told tale (and the other retellings that I can think of are for older readers), and to fans of this fairy tale in general. Adult readers looking for a retelling of this tale, though, should look first at Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest. ( )

Diane Zahler’s new children’s novel Princess of the Wild Swans owes its essence to the fairy tales The Six Swans (Brothers Grimm) and The Wild Swans (Hans Christian Andersen), but changes some aspects of the story to reflect more modern values.

Princess Meriel’s biggest challenge to date has been trying to avoid her governess’s lessons, but when her father, the King, comes home unexpectedly with a new Queen, she finds herself trying to match wits with her stepmother, an evil witch who turns her five brothers into swans. To break the spell, Meriel must make a shirt for each of her brothers from nettles, picking, spinning, weaving and sewing each shirt herself, and she must not speak a word until the task is complete. Meriel is taken in by a family of (good) witches and half-witches in the nearby village. But the malice of the evil Queen puts the entire village in danger, as she searches frantically for Meriel to keep her from completing her task. The tale races to an exciting conclusion that pits good against evil and reveals the extent of the Queen’s dark alliances.

Although the story is clearly not set in modern times, Meriel’s character is very much a modern girl: sassy, impulsive, head-strong, and determined to take control of her own life; quite unlike the meek and pious princess of the Grimm and Andersen tales. For this reason, children of today will be able to identify with her quite easily. The story is much more action-oriented than the original tales, and the battles between the good and evil witches bring to mind the world of Harry Potter, all elements likely to appeal to modern children. As a story it is engaging and fun to read. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. ( )