Princess of the Wild Swans, by Diane Zahler

Title: Princess of the Wild Swans
Author: Diane Zahler
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release: January 31, 2012
Source: Publisher
Buy: (RJ Julia | Harper)

Princess Meriel's brothers have been cursed. A terrible enchantment--cast by their conniving new stepmother--has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls. Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish. With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam--a pretty half-witch and her clever brother--Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved. But if she fails . . . all will be lost.

Princess of the Wild Swans is not the type of book I usually read. But that did not stop me from enjoying it! I was swept away into Meriel’s imaginative kingdom soon after starting Princess of the Wild Swans, and had a great time reading it. Meriel’s story is one that I will not soon forget.

Princess of the Wild Swans reads like an old time fairy tale, which makes sense, I suppose, since it is based on one. It just felt so… magical. The whimsy—and sometimes severity—of this tale made it all the more fun to read. The story felt magical at times, but it also felt very real at others.

Diane Zahler has a beautiful writing style, and this story has made me want to seek out her other works to read more from her. Though she’s not the kind of author I would usually gravitate to, she has shown me what she can do and I am not disappointed. In her short tale, Zahler was able to take me away from my world and into Meriel’s, if even for a mere few hours.

Meriel is a fun character. She is relatable and has a certain complexity to her, but at times I found her to be petty. She definitely grows throughout the novel, and it was great to be able to experience that growth with her. The cast of characters in Princess of the Wild Swans were whimsical and fun. Some were a bit flat at times, but I was able to overlook it.

Princess of the Wild Swans is a whimsical, fun tale that is sure to please readers young and old—especially young. If you’re a fan of fantasy or fairy tales, definitely do not hesitate to check out Princess of the Wild Swans. It surprised me.