Princess of the Wild Swans - by Diane Zahler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans," this enchanting fantasy by Diane Zahler, author of The Thirteenth Princess and A True Princess, is a tale of family, bravery . . . and a terrible spell.

Princess Meriel's brothers have been cursed. An evil 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 beautiful 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.

From the Back Cover

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

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