Identify Books Toward The Swan Kingdom
| Original Title: | The Swan Kingdom |
| ISBN: | 0763634816 (ISBN13: 9780763634810) |
| Edition Language: | English URL http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763634816&pix=n |
| Literary Awards: | Cybils Award (2008) |
Zoë Marriott
Hardcover | Pages: 258 pages Rating: 3.78 | 4665 Users | 396 Reviews
Narration In Favor Of Books The Swan Kingdom
Shadows have fallen across the beautiful and lush Kingdom. The queen was attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger - a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land unlike her own. Alexandra has more gifts than even she realizes as she is confronted with magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces. She is unflinchly brave and clever as she struggles to reclaim what she knows is rightfully hers. This new voice in fantasy weaves a tale rich in visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force, and sweetened with familial and romantic love.
Details Containing Books The Swan Kingdom
| Title | : | The Swan Kingdom |
| Author | : | Zoë Marriott |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | 1st U.S. ed. |
| Pages | : | Pages: 258 pages |
| Published | : | March 25th 2008 by Candlewick Press (first published March 5th 2007) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Young Adult. Fairy Tales. Romance. Retellings. Magic |
Rating Containing Books The Swan Kingdom
Ratings: 3.78 From 4665 Users | 396 ReviewsAppraise Containing Books The Swan Kingdom
Well... I haven't cried like that in a long time.Wow, I can't say anything. No, really, I can't think of a word. These sentences were written minutes apart from each other. (Okay, I couldn't even understand what I meant, sorry.)Just read it. Do I have to do everything around here?2.5 stars. I wish I had loved this, I wish I did more than just push through so I could be finished. This had an interesting premise that followed the idea of the evil step mother, and yet the plot and characters failed to pull through. The writing was beautiful, if a bit too flowery at times, and there was real potential. But the beginning and end lacked enough energy to get me invested so I only kept reading so I could put this book down and find something else to read
I don't know the whole swan retelling so I can't judge the book and state whether or not the book did a good job at retelling it. Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed this book.Reasons to read:-It's a YA fantasy stand alone.-Likeable and flawed MC: Alexandra is described as plain, ugly, and bland. She's not a normal pretty princess.-Very fast paced.-Cute romance: Though there isn't much romance development, it was still likeable.-Magic.-Evil step-mom.-Heroine doesn't lust after the love interest
Alexandra seems to have nothing special about her. Growing up as a princess with a wise Queen for a mother, a dominant King for her father, and three brothers each specializing in weapons, swordsmanship, intellect, kindness and bravery, Alexandra doesn't seem to mind being on the outskirts of events. That is until her 15th birthday when her mother takes her to a sacred place in the woods and she discovers a hidden power inside her that has been lying dormant. However, on the way home,
3.25 out of 5Good, but not on the same level as her later novels. Clearly a debut, Marriott demonstrates a lot of the same skills (strong female character, unique magic, compelling storytelling) that she will continue to mature in her later work. A bit simplistic, a bit too easily resolved at the end, still, The Swan Kingdom was entertaining and creative. A fun read, if an easy one.
Fun light romance and magic. Alexandra, the main character, has the gift to work with the power of the earth. She knows about healing herbs and works small magics that her mother taught her. When her mother is killed by a wild beast, and her father is enchanted and tricked into marrying the evil being that killed her mother, Alexandra is on her own. Her 3 loving brothers have also been banished, but she can't quite remember what happened to them. She must learn who she is and what her powers are
Reviewed by Natalie Tsang for TeensReadToo.comAs the brightly colored cover suggests, Zoë Marriott's novel THE SWAN KINGDOM is a fantastical read. It is the retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's THE WILD SWANS, a fairy tale that I had never heard of, but that has all the familiar bits and pieces like the evil stepmother, enchanted gardens, and animal transformations. It also has a spunky, magically terrific but socially awkward princess-protagonist named Alexandra. A few of my friends dislike
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