Princess of the Wild Swans

Description:

Princess Meriel's beloved brothers have been cursed by their conniving stepmother. Transformed into swans, they now swim sadly on the heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls.

With help from her new friends Riona and Liam--a pretty half-witch and her clever brother--Meriel vows to break the enchantment. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, the swan princes will be forced to fly south or perish--and all will be lost.

Brief description:

Diane Zahler is the author of The Thirteenth Princess, A True Princess, and Princess of the Wild Swans. Her books have been praised for their "delicious descriptions" (Kirkus Reviews) and their "gratifying depth" (Publishers Weekly). Diane lives with her husband in New York's Harlem Valley, in an old farmhouse held together by magic spells and duct tape.

Review Quotes:

"A mostly faithful retelling of Andersen's "The Wild Swans." As with her other fairy-tale interpretations, Zahler shines in her ability to set an exquisite scene, and her descriptions of both the luxury of royal life and the more cozy aspects of a commoner's cottage will bewitch fans of Andersen's original." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"As with her other fairy-tale interpretations, Zahler shines in her ability to set an exquisite scene." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Engaging and entertaining. A pleasant magical outing." - Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of Jessica Day George and Gail Carson Levine will enjoy Zahler's light, lyrical prose, as well as her stalwart and true heroine and strong secondary characters, all of which make this fairly straightforward retelling of Grimm's "The Six Swans" fun to read." - Booklist

Praise for A True Princess: "Readers who enjoyed Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted, Zahler's The Thirteenth Princess or E.D. Baker's "Tales of the Frog Princess" series will also relish this tale." - School Library Journal

Praise for The Thirteenth Princess: "Delicious descriptions." - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Thirteenth Princess: Lively reworking of familiar elements." - Booklist

A suspenseful climax leads to a happy conclusion. Fans of Gail Carson Levine's "Princess Tales" series who are ready for something longer and more novelistic will love this tale - School Library Journal