Princess of the Wild Swans

December 1, 2011
In her third fairy-tale novelization, Zahler (The Thirteenth Princess, 2010, and A True Princess, 2011) dips into Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans" and mixes in a bit of Celtic folklore. Twelve-year-old Princess Meriel often vies for the attention of her five older brothers and envies them for their schooling and sports, rebelling against the royal traditions of her day. When her father arrives home at Castle Rua unexpectedly with the beautiful and silken-voiced Lady Orianna, his new queen (the king was widowed 10 years earlier), Princess Meriel is alarmed, and two mornings later her brothers are gone.... A terrible enchantment, powerful spells, Faerie folk (most of whom live below ground, except for good and bad witches) and a mysterious spring set the scene for what turns out to be a much larger battle between good and evil. Riona, a young half-witch herbalist and her brother Liam, an animal healer, also play an important role in this suspenseful, ultimately romantic tale in which Princess Meriel must rescue her brothers, who have been transformed into swans. To break the spell, the princess needs to sew five shirts from stinging nettles without speaking aloud, while eluding the wicked queen who is hot on her trail. Though largely plot-driven, a story that tends to skate on the surface, it is nonetheless engaging and entertaining, especially appropriate for younger middle-grade readers. A pleasant magical outing. (Fairy tale/fantasy. 8-12)

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March 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Zahler uses Andersen's "Wild Swans" and the Grimms' "Six Swans" as a departure point for the story of Princess Meriel, whose five brothers are turned into swans by her evil stepmother, the Witch-Queen Orianna. Meriel is helped by Liam and his sister Riona, a good witch in love with one of her brothers. She explains that to free her brothers, Meriel must sew five shirts out of nettles while remaining mute until the garments are completed. As Meriel's task nears completion, the danger from the Queen increases, and Meriel is hidden in the village, thus putting the townspeople at risk. At the same time, the swans are in danger from the impending winter and from an entrance to the Land of Faerie at one end of the enchanted lake they swim in. A suspenseful climax leads to a happy conclusion. Although the brothers' characters are undeveloped, the main characters and plotting are successful. Meriel's relationship with Liam, in particular, has a contemporary feel. There is a touch of Irish fairy tales in the Gaelic names and the Queen's connections to the monster onchu. Zahler softens the original stories: the effects of the nettles are temporary, as Meriel soaks the stinging substance out of the nettles, and her muteness is greatly tempered by her ability to communicate telepathically with the people who are helping her. Fans of Gail Carson Levine's "Princess Tales" series (HarperCollins) are ready for something longer and more novelistic will love this tale.-Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

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