Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
74th out of 159 books
—
280 voters
The Swan Kingdom
by
Zoë Marriott (Goodreads Author)
When Alexandra’s mother is slain by an unnatural beast, shadows fall on the once-lush kingdom. Too soon the widowed king is entranced by a cunning stranger — and in one chilling moment Alexandra’s beloved brothers disappear, and she is banished to a barren land. Rich in visual detail, sparked by a formidable evil, and sweetened with familial and romantic love, here is the...more
288 pages
Published
March 5th 2007
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
Nov 16, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Natalie Tsang for TeensReadToo.com
As 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 r...more
As 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 r...more
This book gets off on the wrong foot and never quite recovers. It ends on the wrong foot, too.
The opening lines of Chapter 1: "You probably know me already. In every story you've ever been told, someone like me exists. A figure in the background, barely noticed by the main players. A talentless, unwanted child. The ugly one. The ugly one only gets in the way. She is as out of place as a sparrow in a clutch of swans."
From those opening lines, I expected to hear more about what made her the ugly,...more
The opening lines of Chapter 1: "You probably know me already. In every story you've ever been told, someone like me exists. A figure in the background, barely noticed by the main players. A talentless, unwanted child. The ugly one. The ugly one only gets in the way. She is as out of place as a sparrow in a clutch of swans."
From those opening lines, I expected to hear more about what made her the ugly,...more
23 likes · like · see review
view all 8 comments
May 17, 2008
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fairy tale fans, incurable romantics
Shelves:
teen
I really enjoyed this poetic retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale. Alexandra, youngest child of the king, is an ugly little thing, but useful. She can use the enaid, the power of the land, to do little things like healing and talking to the beasts and creatures of the land. Her mother's ability to wield the enaid is greater and soaks through the kingdom, bringing lush growth and bountiful crops. Alexandra's three brothers, David, Hugh and Robin, posses little of the gift, but have their own str...more
Loved it. An awesome retelling. Marriott's writing was very clear and intricate. I was impress how easily she described and related magical situations and feelings that are normally difficult to understand and imagine.
6 likes · like · see review
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...more
Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I read and reviewed Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon earlier this year (my review) and decided to track down some of her other novels. I started with The Swan Kingdom, a retelling of "The Wild Swans", because I like fairy tale retellings.
The story is basically a longer version of the original giving a more detailed accounting between the time the brothers are turned to swans and Alexandra sets them free. Marriott does add her own little spin...more
I read and reviewed Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon earlier this year (my review) and decided to track down some of her other novels. I started with The Swan Kingdom, a retelling of "The Wild Swans", because I like fairy tale retellings.
The story is basically a longer version of the original giving a more detailed accounting between the time the brothers are turned to swans and Alexandra sets them free. Marriott does add her own little spin...more
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott is one of my favorite fairy tale retellings of all time. I love it. Zoë has taken the old tale, The Wild Swans and made it completely her own. She wrote us an absolutely lovely guest post that talks about the book far better than I could, so I'm going to link it here.
Alexandra is the young daughter of a distant and disappointing father and a warm, loving and magical mother. Her father is disint...more
The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott is one of my favorite fairy tale retellings of all time. I love it. Zoë has taken the old tale, The Wild Swans and made it completely her own. She wrote us an absolutely lovely guest post that talks about the book far better than I could, so I'm going to link it here.
Alexandra is the young daughter of a distant and disappointing father and a warm, loving and magical mother. Her father is disint...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. I admit part of it is because I finished this while suffering from altitude sickness at my brother-in-law's aunt's house...
Some of the book I liked, such as how the parents, even the wise queen, weren't portrayed as infallible and lovely. And even the father was human, with flaws, but not one-dimensionally evil.
However, other parts were very confusing, or felt rushed. The ending was a bit weird and rushed. It builds up in her childhood, realizing she has po...more
Some of the book I liked, such as how the parents, even the wise queen, weren't portrayed as infallible and lovely. And even the father was human, with flaws, but not one-dimensionally evil.
However, other parts were very confusing, or felt rushed. The ending was a bit weird and rushed. It builds up in her childhood, realizing she has po...more
Okay, let's just start with the fact that I didn't actually have a good feeling about this book. Firstly it was on sale for $4.99 at my local chapters, and I always feel a bit hesitant about the books that are in the sale area. Secondly, the cover didn't automatically catch my eye, which is important for me, as I do judge a book by its cover. And lastly, I hadn't heard of it beforehand. However, it surprised me.
It has an almost fairytale quality to it that makes it interesting, as I've taken to...more
It has an almost fairytale quality to it that makes it interesting, as I've taken to...more
I should probably declare an interest here: I know the author (the alert reader will see I'm actually mentioned in the acknowledgements). Still, having done so, I will say that this is an excellent book. It is written for the YA market but I have no hesitation in recommending it to adult readers. Set in a fantasy kingdom, the Moonlit Land, which draws on ancient Japan and China, but is not any mundane country, it is a version of Cinderella, in which the heroine, Suzume, sees her family massacred...more
Mar 06, 2012
Homewood Public Library
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult
Alexandra, youngest child of the king, is an ugly little thing, but useful. She can use the enaid, the power of the land, to do little things like healing and talking to the beasts and creatures of the land. Her mother's ability to wield the enaid is greater and soaks through the kingdom, bringing lush growth and bountiful crops. Alexandra's three brothers, David, Hugh and Robin, posses little of the gift, but have their own strengths and are devoted to their sister. Though she does not have her...more
Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/
That's what the blurb says and I have to admit, after first reading that, it sounded like every other magical fantasy out there. I bought it though, simply for the fact that the cover art was absoloutely stunning. Let's put it like this though. I started the book on the car ride home and I had finished it two hours later. This title is the one that showed me that a book can be beautiful.
Everything about this book is gorgeous, from the way tha...more
That's what the blurb says and I have to admit, after first reading that, it sounded like every other magical fantasy out there. I bought it though, simply for the fact that the cover art was absoloutely stunning. Let's put it like this though. I started the book on the car ride home and I had finished it two hours later. This title is the one that showed me that a book can be beautiful.
Everything about this book is gorgeous, from the way tha...more
Apr 12, 2010
Amanda-Lee (StoryWings)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2010
I have always loved the story of The Wild Swans by Hans Christen Andersen. This book does not disappoint.
The Swan Kingdom in itself, is a very well written tale, the underlying tones of The Wild Swans just makes it that much better.
As with all retellings, The Swan Kingdom does take many aspects from The Wild Swans but not so much as to not make it unique. I read Marriott’s reasons as to how and why she wrote the book, answering questions she asked when first reading The Wild Swans and I can unde...more
The Swan Kingdom in itself, is a very well written tale, the underlying tones of The Wild Swans just makes it that much better.
As with all retellings, The Swan Kingdom does take many aspects from The Wild Swans but not so much as to not make it unique. I read Marriott’s reasons as to how and why she wrote the book, answering questions she asked when first reading The Wild Swans and I can unde...more
This book is a retelling of the Six Swans, which has been done before as in Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier but still manages a few twists that were different.
Despite the description at the beginning of the story, there does not seem to be anything particularly nondescript about the main character, although she describes herself as "plain". She is a red haired, "leaf-green" eyed, willowy princess who can work magic. But we are to be convinced that she is pretty ordinary?
The telling of...more
Despite the description at the beginning of the story, there does not seem to be anything particularly nondescript about the main character, although she describes herself as "plain". She is a red haired, "leaf-green" eyed, willowy princess who can work magic. But we are to be convinced that she is pretty ordinary?
The telling of...more
Zoe Marriott writes beautifully; her words grip you from the start. She's a descriptive writer who weaves a magical story. The "magic" in this story is evident from the start as the main character, Alexandra, explains it to us in a "wondrous" way without it sounding "hokey". I got the impression that this was a story of growth for our main character. She suffers great loss and has to find the strength to fight. Her journey is long and dark, and there is so much sadness in Alexandra's story. I co...more
This was a really good book. I wouldhave given it five stars, but unfortuanatly I have read the Hans Cristian Anderson book and know the ending to the story (though she did twist it in a suprisingly delightful way)! This is definetly an author I will watch. Her writing is intense and good. It was a very good retelling of a fairytale in which she did manage to surprise at least a little.
Lady Alexandra is the only daughter of the King of the the Kingdom. She is not noticed often, as her three gorg...more
Lady Alexandra is the only daughter of the King of the the Kingdom. She is not noticed often, as her three gorg...more
Alexandra, 15, is the youngest child of the King and Lady Brahwan of The Kingdom, a rich, prosperous, peaceful place. Alexa, is not as beautiful as her mother, and as such, her father worries that he will not be able to marry her off. But, she is however, her mother's daughter, a powerful and talented wise woman. When Alexa's mother is killed by a horrifying beast, The Kingdom starts to fall apart and the richness and peacefulness which were once plentiful, now is crumbling. As the king tries to...more
I know nothing of the original story she spun this book out of...but as far as fairy tales go, I think it is one of my favorite.
Not because of the way it was written, though there were some pretty accurate portrayals such as love and grief that pushed me to the end; but, more of the concept of the 'enaid', the tides of the earth. I was fascinated through the whole book, rather jealous actually, that the main protagonist Alexandra could feel into the earth and call the tides to do her bidding, s...more
Not because of the way it was written, though there were some pretty accurate portrayals such as love and grief that pushed me to the end; but, more of the concept of the 'enaid', the tides of the earth. I was fascinated through the whole book, rather jealous actually, that the main protagonist Alexandra could feel into the earth and call the tides to do her bidding, s...more
Quite the different retelling of the old fairytale, I found that I enjoyed The Swan Kingdom. Zoë Marriott has a lovely, lovely way with words, and her story is enveloped in the enchanting, magical atmosphere that is admittedly hard to develop. There is a little bit of everything in this story: romance, suspense, action, magic, family, friendship, jealousy, betrayal, murder... well, you get the idea.
One thing that I found rather hard to accept was, sadly, the big build-up on Alexandra's flaw at...more
One thing that I found rather hard to accept was, sadly, the big build-up on Alexandra's flaw at...more
One star for a valiant effort at an original twist to the popular tale "The Six Swans," another for the writing, which wasn't terrible. Mechanically it was great, and stylistically, especially toward the end, it had some clear, vivid moments. Those moments were hard to take, though, because I could see how, if they had been more than just moments, the book could have been beautiful. But ultimately, the writing was the biggest detraction. The author summarized too much of the story and her charac...more
I simply adored this book, even with the Snow White feelig to it, it was very unique, sweet and captivating (well, there was the whole twisted evil stepmother and other dark issues Alexandra went through, but the ending was just so sweet, it lifted my heart and I'm still feelig giddy and light).
Alexandra started thinking herself as incapable and a little worthless, and for quite a time expected someone (her brothers) to come to her rescue and make everything right, but than she realizes she has...more
Alexandra started thinking herself as incapable and a little worthless, and for quite a time expected someone (her brothers) to come to her rescue and make everything right, but than she realizes she has...more
Nov 13, 2008
Heather
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult-books-i-would-recommend,
2008
When Alexandra is 15, her mother (the queen) is killed by a monster in the woods. The king in his grief goes out to find the monster and comes back with a beautiful woman (the monster in a human guise) who has enchanted him. She exiles the three princes and sends Alexandra away from the kingdom, but Alexandra knows that she herself holds great power, and it is up to her to save her people and her kingdom.
the swan kingdom is a book that caught my eye due to its cover. then turned it around and, while reading the description on the back, was captivated by the sensation of something magical waiting to be discovered. in the end it was not quite what i expected but was good non the less. a modern way in narrating a medieval story with very good writing and enough magic to make you believe that this could have happened 500-600 years ago when the land was pure, healthy and magical. because in the end i...more
This book is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's 'The Wild Swans.' I have never read the original story, but after reading Zoe's enchanting interpretation of it, I feel an urge to search out a collection of Hans Christian Anderson's short stories.
Alexandra is the only daughter of the king and feels that her father has never shown her any love. Fortunately she is satisfied with the amount of love she receives from her mother and three brothers, learning to accept her father's lack of emotio...more
Alexandra is the only daughter of the king and feels that her father has never shown her any love. Fortunately she is satisfied with the amount of love she receives from her mother and three brothers, learning to accept her father's lack of emotio...more
Sep 19, 2009
Kiirsi Hellewell
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi-fantasy
I really enjoy reading fairy-tales-turned-novels. I've read excellent novels based on "The Wild Swans" fairy tale before. I wasn't expecting much when I cracked the cover of this one. How could it possibly live up to "Daughter of the Forest" by Julliet Marillier?
Wow, was I wrong. This is Zoe Marriott's first book but she writes like a seasoned veteran. The language is beautiful, the setting real, the characters instantly family. The story was fascinating and compelling and I couldn't put it down...more
Wow, was I wrong. This is Zoe Marriott's first book but she writes like a seasoned veteran. The language is beautiful, the setting real, the characters instantly family. The story was fascinating and compelling and I couldn't put it down...more
First of all, I enjoyed this book.
It was slow to start and I wasn't sure I was going to become attached to the main character - Alexandra - she seemed too sweet and fresh to be particularly engaging.
Also, at all times it was very apparent this was an reworking of a fairytale (The Wild Swans). It felt very fairytale. This is not necessarily a bad thing, that will depend on the reader.
However, once Alexandra went to stay with her bitter Aunt, things got more interesting and the story grew from th...more
It was slow to start and I wasn't sure I was going to become attached to the main character - Alexandra - she seemed too sweet and fresh to be particularly engaging.
Also, at all times it was very apparent this was an reworking of a fairytale (The Wild Swans). It felt very fairytale. This is not necessarily a bad thing, that will depend on the reader.
However, once Alexandra went to stay with her bitter Aunt, things got more interesting and the story grew from th...more
Sep 28, 2008
Kristen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paranormal-fantasy,
youngadult
Based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale "The Wild Swans", this book was filled with magic and follows the usual fairy tale plot of an evil woman who has taken over the kingdom. A young woman must take what her mother has taught her and try to stop this woman from completing devouring the life from the kingdom.
Not bad, an entertaining light read. Definitely felt the YA target audience here. While the writing is pretty good, I feel like the author could have done a lot more writing to tell her story, and the whole thing seemed too short. Many great moments in this story were just those--moments, rather than weaving together into a cohesive, beautiful story. Too quick to get really engaged in the whole thing. Character development was good for some, not so much for others--while there were many indicati...more
Mar 09, 2009
Aerin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
folk-faery-tales,
young-adult
The Swan Kingdom is a re-imagining of the fairy tale Six Swans. The first written account of this tale was done by the Brothers Grimm around 1812, and its variations throughout Europe feature ravens or ducks. Those early versions were meant to emphasize the unity of the family in light of adversity, which theme Marriott continues.
In The Swan Kingdom, King and Queen of the Hartlands have four children: three boys, and the youngest, a girl, Princess Alexandra. Alexandra inherited her mother's skil...more
In The Swan Kingdom, King and Queen of the Hartlands have four children: three boys, and the youngest, a girl, Princess Alexandra. Alexandra inherited her mother's skil...more
Jul 27, 2012
Nafiza
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
fairytale-retellings
I really liked Marriott’s Shadows on the Moon and considering her superior writing skills, happily dived into The Swan Kingdom expecting the same kind of crisp narrative, plotting and character development that made me like Shadows on the Moon so much. However, while the writing skill is undeniable, I cannot say I enjoyed the novel as much as I liked Shadows on the Moon. I don’t even think it’s the novel’s fault. I just felt that it lacked the complexity I had expected of it.
Perhaps it was inten...more
Perhaps it was inten...more
1 like · like · see review
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Giveaway | 1 | 13 | Jun 17, 2011 12:24pm |
I've known that I wanted to be a writer since I finished reading my first book; 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton. I think I was about eight, but I've never changed my mind in all the years since then.
I got my first publishing contract when I was twenty-two, but had to wait until I was twenty-four to see that book published (it was The Swan Kingdom).
I live in a little house in a town by the...more
More about Zoë Marriott...
I got my first publishing contract when I was twenty-two, but had to wait until I was twenty-four to see that book published (it was The Swan Kingdom).
I live in a little house in a town by the...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“To ugly ducklings everywhere,
Don't worry about those fluffy yellow morons:
They'll never get to be swans”
—
82 people liked it
Don't worry about those fluffy yellow morons:
They'll never get to be swans”
“My first memory is of the smell of sunwarmed earth.”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
