Exiled and betrayed, Alexandra must face magic, murder and the loss of all she holds dear in a desperate struggle against evil.
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Review:
Alexandra is youngest child and only daughter of the King & Queen and has always felt like an ugly duckling amongst her family. She loves spending time with her mother and brothers but doesn't get on so well with her father who finds her a disappointment because she isn't pretty enough. She loves learning about the healing properties of plants and how to use the magic of the earth from her mother and has become a skilled healer. Alexandra's life changes dramatically when her mother is killed by a horrific monster when walking in the woods. Her father is driven mad with grief and when he meets a beautiful woman he quickly re-marries. Alexandra's step-mother isn't all she seems though and soon Alexandra and her brothers find themselves separated and exiled from their home. Can Alexandra find her brothers and can she break the hold her step-mother has over her father and the rest of her people?
The Swan Kingdom is a re-telling of fairy tale The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen but as I've never read the original I'm not going to compare the two stories in this review. I found The Swan Kingdom was a captivating and beautiful read and I finished it in one sitting. The writing is beautifully descriptive and made it easy to picture Alexandra's home and her country. I loved finding out about the magical abilities that Alexandra and her mother had and the way they were able to use the power of the earth. The story has a great fairytale feel to it that took me back to my childhood and would make great bedtime reading material for children.
Alexandra was a lovely heroine and it was easy spending time inside her head. Her mother's death devastates her but when her family and her people are under threat she will do anything it takes to help them. She is determined to find a way to stop her wicked step-mother and bring her family back together. It won't be easy for her and she will face difficult times but her strength of character will see her through it. The Swan Kingdom is a beautiful fantasy fairytale and one that I'm sure I'll be reading again.
Source: Purchased
Other reviews of this book:
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I loved this book, I read it a few years ago. one day ill have to re-read it
ReplyDeleteI know it's kinda against blogger/writer etiquette to comment on your own reviews but...Squeeee! Thank you, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteLOL, I think it is funny that Zoe comments. I would too! I loved this book and can't wait to read Shadows On The Moon.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to read this book for my fairy tale week coming soon, but I didn't get around to it. I'm still really looking forward to it and will read soon, so lovely to hear that it's so good :)
ReplyDeleteTo anybody who's interested, Zoe is now hosting a giveaway on her blog, and if you'd like to win signed copies of Shadows on the Moon, Daughter of the Flames, and The Swan Kingdom as well as other goodies, click on the link below.
ReplyDeletehttp://thezoe-trope.blogspot.com/2011/06/one-year-blogiversary-extravaganza.html
@ Kristina - I'll definitely be wanting to re-read this one again in the future :o)
ReplyDelete@ Zoe - you're very, very welcome to comment on my blog anytime you feel like it! I love it when authors comment on my reviews - especially authors I love :o)
@ Vivienne - I love Zoe's comments too :o) Shadows on the Moon was amazing too wasn't it!!
@ Clover - I really hope you love this one as much as I did. I'm sure you will!
@ Isabel - thanks for sharing the link to Zoe's giveaway :o)