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Once Upon a Short Story #6
Swan Song
Odette is running out of time...
Odette's curse will turn her into a swan permanently if Prince Siegfried doesn't propose to her by midnight. But when the clock begins to chime, he's dancing with someone else.
Can Odette convince him of her true identity and take her place by his side?
More important... Does she want to?
Swan Song is book six in the Once Upon a Short Story collection.
Discover a unique twist on your favorite fairy tales with these standalone adventures!
This short story of 1,800 words (about 5 pages) was originally given as a gift to my newsletter subscribers. If you would like to receive free bonus content, news, and more, you can sign up for my newsletter at http://www.angelagmarshall.com/
Odette's curse will turn her into a swan permanently if Prince Siegfried doesn't propose to her by midnight. But when the clock begins to chime, he's dancing with someone else.
Can Odette convince him of her true identity and take her place by his side?
More important... Does she want to?
Swan Song is book six in the Once Upon a Short Story collection.
Discover a unique twist on your favorite fairy tales with these standalone adventures!
This short story of 1,800 words (about 5 pages) was originally given as a gift to my newsletter subscribers. If you would like to receive free bonus content, news, and more, you can sign up for my newsletter at http://www.angelagmarshall.com/
11 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2019
18 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Marshall
24 books308 followersAngela Marshall loves fairy tales and has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She works as a professional pianist and teacher and enjoys crocheting.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
In addition to writing books, she has published numerous piano solos including Romanza, Forgotten Waltz, and Notes from the Past.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 26, 2020
Just how swan is true love?
Q:
The man may be an evil sorcerer, but he really knows his transformation charms. Turning me into a swan is impressive. Turning his daughter into an exact replica of me is even more so. (c)
Q:
This confirms my theory that he only wanted me for my beauty. (c)
Q:
This confirms my theory that he only wanted me for my beauty. It’s both nice to be right and hurtful to discover that your looks were all that mattered. (c)
Q:
Words never mattered much with us. At the time, it seemed like we had a deep connection that transcended something so common as mere speech. It was magical that we could gallop through the forest on his horse and not need to say a word.
But now I wonder if it was because we had nothing to say. (c)
Q:
The other swans were nice enough. Nicer than any human had ever been to me, actually. (c)
Q:
He had been courting me in his shy swan way since I arrived. He built me a nest. He brought me food. He hissed at dogs that came too close. (c)
Q:
She looks suitably shy and maidenly. Not at all like the kind of girl who would go galloping through the forest with a man she just met. (c)
Q:
I loved him for the freedom he gave me. For frantic horse rides through the forest that made me feel alive. (c)
Q:
My heart soars as we race through the sky.
Because for the first time in my life, I can truly fly free. (c)
Q:
The man may be an evil sorcerer, but he really knows his transformation charms. Turning me into a swan is impressive. Turning his daughter into an exact replica of me is even more so. (c)
Q:
This confirms my theory that he only wanted me for my beauty. (c)
Q:
This confirms my theory that he only wanted me for my beauty. It’s both nice to be right and hurtful to discover that your looks were all that mattered. (c)
Q:
Words never mattered much with us. At the time, it seemed like we had a deep connection that transcended something so common as mere speech. It was magical that we could gallop through the forest on his horse and not need to say a word.
But now I wonder if it was because we had nothing to say. (c)
Q:
The other swans were nice enough. Nicer than any human had ever been to me, actually. (c)
Q:
He had been courting me in his shy swan way since I arrived. He built me a nest. He brought me food. He hissed at dogs that came too close. (c)
Q:
She looks suitably shy and maidenly. Not at all like the kind of girl who would go galloping through the forest with a man she just met. (c)
Q:
I loved him for the freedom he gave me. For frantic horse rides through the forest that made me feel alive. (c)
Q:
My heart soars as we race through the sky.
Because for the first time in my life, I can truly fly free. (c)
March 27, 2022
only 11 pages and i’m shipping two swans together. i wish this one had been longer
November 17, 2021
This was way shorter than I anticipated. I don't know the original story, but this was a nice enough retelling and I guess had some kind of moral? I am not sure what that is, though. Maybe the moral is to not marry before ascertaining your and your partner's feelings, affections, constancy? Or it could be to find someone who recognizes the you in every form? I am not sure.
April 27, 2020
Super cute and a really quick read. Noticing a pattern where her main characters seem to think they're better than everyone else- which could be charming in a book where we have more time to get to know the character and learn her endearing qualities too, but in such short fiction it's kind of meh.
It was a fun take on the tale though and I was really happy with how it ended *heart eyes*
It was a fun take on the tale though and I was really happy with how it ended *heart eyes*
December 25, 2019
This one was bittersweet. And short. But I loved the style, and as the others have been, it was unique. Swan Lake has long been one of my favorite stories. This one was told very efficiently for so few words and hits on a point that most other renditions ignore or work around. I liked the twist a lot. I didn't feel as attached to the characters in this one as I have the others, though.
February 9, 2022
Closer to a 4.5. Despite being mostly unfamiliar with the original tale of Swan Lake, I was pretty excited to read a retelling of it. This one is rather short, and part of me wishes it were a bit longer so we could have learned more about Odette and why freedom is something she longed for so dearly. But overall, this story was fun. It was hard for me to follow at first, but I don't think that was any fault of the author. There's not a lot going on, but just enough that when it's jammed all into one small space, it takes a moment to wrap your head around it, especially when you're not overly familiar with the source material. But that was quickly remedied as I continued the story. After reading the author's note at the end (which I've grown fond of, because I love hearing about the inspiration behind such stories), I must agree. Wouldn't life be so much easier as a duck?
May 29, 2020
You know, this one wasn't my favorite. But it was still pretty great, and I love the part when Odette realizes that what she wants isn't really all she's made it out to be and that it's not really what she wants. That's a theme you don't get much of these days. I did laugh out loud when I was reading this (probably all of this series, actually) ... the whole swan thing was pretty funny sometimes. And that bit about things getting lost in translation! 😂😂
August 1, 2020
What makes a happily ever after anyway? I loved how this subverted the usual love conquers all story and despite being really short managed to capture the swan princess' thoughts so beautifully.
-Read as part of the Once Upon a Short Story: Volume One: Six Short Retellings of Favorite Fairy Tales set-
-Read as part of the Once Upon a Short Story: Volume One: Six Short Retellings of Favorite Fairy Tales set-
September 5, 2021
Odette
This is probably going to be my shortest review so that I don’t reveal too much on the story.
This story is only 14 pages long, but is still a good story! I liked how the author changed how her Swan Lake ended (in comparison to other retellings and the original). And though we started at almost the end with the ball where Odile dances with the prince, A.G. Marshall did have us go back and see how Odette and the prince met in Odette’s memory.
This is probably going to be my shortest review so that I don’t reveal too much on the story.
This story is only 14 pages long, but is still a good story! I liked how the author changed how her Swan Lake ended (in comparison to other retellings and the original). And though we started at almost the end with the ball where Odile dances with the prince, A.G. Marshall did have us go back and see how Odette and the prince met in Odette’s memory.
February 15, 2022
“Because for the first time in my life, I can truly fly free”.
Well done, Odette!
🦢
Awww, it was the sweetest retelling I’ve read so far this year. I am starting to realize that even though A.G. Marshall's retellings are very short - they’re done so much better than the longer stuff that I’ve encountered.
I am very excited to read her other works 😊
Well done, Odette!
🦢
Awww, it was the sweetest retelling I’ve read so far this year. I am starting to realize that even though A.G. Marshall's retellings are very short - they’re done so much better than the longer stuff that I’ve encountered.
I am very excited to read her other works 😊
March 6, 2020
I liked it but it was not my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the moral of the story but it was also a little bit weird. The story is also short enough that you don't have much time to get to know the characters.
July 13, 2020
I'm sure I would've enjoyed this rather rushed and vague snippet of a larger story more if I knew more of the specifics to the fairy tale it's based on, rather than just the general idea.
But what I did catch in this retelling, I liked.
But what I did catch in this retelling, I liked.
October 30, 2021
The author wove together two fairy tales involving swans to give us a lovely and charming romantic tale which examines what true love involves (which may take a surprising form). May Odile enjoy her HEA.
August 26, 2024
This was an enjoyable and quick Retelling of Swan Lake and I look forward to exploring more of the short fairy tale retellings in this series as well as some of this authors longer fairy tale retellings.
September 13, 2020
A really short read with an alternative ending for a well-know story
December 12, 2020
It's good. A tale of unexpected gain through loss. It's just not quite satisfying to me. So much potential unrealized.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
January 22, 2021
Loved it. It was a good take on the fairytale.
February 2, 2021
Fun take on the tale. I like how Odile learns about true love from her ordeal.
December 29, 2021
Sweet retelling fairytale
A sweet and short fairytale of a human that was cursed and turned into a swan at midnight.
I loved every bit of it!
A sweet and short fairytale of a human that was cursed and turned into a swan at midnight.
I loved every bit of it!
April 14, 2022
super short and sweet retelling of a classic tale. i particularly enjoyed how odette was reflective of her situation.
February 9, 2023
An amusing short story about the Swan Princess. Makes fun of some of the typical fairy tale tropes without taking it too far.
December 3, 2019
Title: Swan Song (Once Upon a Short Story #6)
Author: A.G. Marshall
Format: Kindle (Free)
[ Enjoyed ] Yes.
[ Last Read ] Last night.
[ Reread ] Probably won't.
[ Cover Lust ] A little. (Pretty colors.)
[ Intriguing Title ] Not really.
[ Interesting Premise/Plot ] Did not read blurb.
[ Preview Impressions ] Did not preview.
[ Kept My Attention ] Yes.
[ Got Bored / Mind Wandering ] Almost.
[ Skimmed/Skipped Scenes/Chapters ] Nope.
[ Reread Past Scenes For Fun ] No.
[ Reread Past ScenesCause My Memory Sucks To Clear Confusion ] No.
[ Stayed Up Late ] No.
[ Took a Long Break Midway ] Nope.
[ Ending Left Me Feeling ] Good for you Odette! But wait, true love ain't gonna break the curse?!
[ Easy Light Reading ] Yes.
[ Turn Brain Off ] *shrugs* (I did.)
[ Guilty Pleasure ] Nope.
Other thoughts I'm throwing in: (Might contain spoilers; I fail at identifying them.)
In general, Swan Lake does not interest me. But I've read the other retellings in this series so not gonna skip this one. Swan Song gives your typical princess/heroine/damsel-in-distress/whatever... A BRAIN THAT IS CAPABLE OF THINKING.
Odette here doesn't fall for that insta love (at first sight) very long and realizes...STUFF. Her self discovery(?) winning over the urgency to break the curse--plus a better love interest (that I want to know more of cause curiosity)--makes this retelling not so boring. (Although I guess the twist is nothing new nowadays.) The ending makes me happy for her (and Gwhonk(? Or whatever his name is.)).
Author: A.G. Marshall
Format: Kindle (Free)
[ Enjoyed ] Yes.
[ Last Read ] Last night.
[ Reread ] Probably won't.
[ Cover Lust ] A little. (Pretty colors.)
[ Intriguing Title ] Not really.
[ Interesting Premise/Plot ] Did not read blurb.
[ Preview Impressions ] Did not preview.
[ Kept My Attention ] Yes.
[ Got Bored / Mind Wandering ] Almost.
[ Skimmed/Skipped Scenes/Chapters ] Nope.
[ Reread Past Scenes For Fun ] No.
[ Reread Past Scenes
[ Stayed Up Late ] No.
[ Took a Long Break Midway ] Nope.
[ Ending Left Me Feeling ] Good for you Odette! But wait, true love ain't gonna break the curse?!
[ Easy Light Reading ] Yes.
[ Turn Brain Off ] *shrugs* (I did.)
[ Guilty Pleasure ] Nope.
Other thoughts I'm throwing in: (Might contain spoilers; I fail at identifying them.)
In general, Swan Lake does not interest me. But I've read the other retellings in this series so not gonna skip this one. Swan Song gives your typical princess/heroine/damsel-in-distress/whatever... A BRAIN THAT IS CAPABLE OF THINKING.
Odette here doesn't fall for that insta love (at first sight) very long and realizes...STUFF. Her self discovery(?) winning over the urgency to break the curse--plus a better love interest (that I want to know more of cause curiosity)--makes this retelling not so boring. (Although I guess the twist is nothing new nowadays.) The ending makes me happy for her (and Gwhonk(? Or whatever his name is.)).
July 14, 2019
My favorite of the series
Loved this! It was so beautiful. Sometimes what you really want isn't what you really need and something better is waiting in the sidelines.
Loved this! It was so beautiful. Sometimes what you really want isn't what you really need and something better is waiting in the sidelines.
September 18, 2019
Fantastic ending! Another success from a master short story weaver.
September 30, 2019
This was a neat twist on Swan Lake. Not my favorite version of it, but still neat. Definitely a twist I have never read before.
November 29, 2019
These retellings are fun
I love it who needs the captivity of rules of the castle when you can fly free? This is great
I love it who needs the captivity of rules of the castle when you can fly free? This is great
January 16, 2020
An interesting twist on a fairytale I don't often see retold.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews