I have seen A Feather So Black around everywhere as the next romantic fantasy to watch. And if you love a book that feels like a mash up of Fair Folk, swan curses, and siblings, then you’ll have to check this out! Keep reading this book review of A Feather So Black for my full thoughts.
Summary
In a kingdom where magic has been lost, Fia is a rare changeling, left behind by the wicked Fair Folk when they stole the High Queen’s daughter and retreated behind the locked gates of Tír na nÓg.
Most despise Fia’s fae blood. But the queen raises her as a daughter and trains her to be a spy. Meanwhile, the real princess Eala is bound to Tír na nÓg, cursed to become a swan by day and only returning to her true form at night.
When a hidden gate to the realm is discovered, Fia is tasked by the queen to retrieve the princess and break her curse. But she doesn’t go with her is prince Rogan, Fia’s dearest childhood friend—and Eala’s betrothed.
As they journey through the forests of the Folk, where magic winds through the roots of the trees and beauty can be a deadly illusion, Fia’s mission is complicated by her feelings for the prince…and her unexpected attraction to the dark-hearted fae lord holding Eala captive. Irian might be more monster than man, but he seems to understand Fia in a way no one ever has.
Soon, Fia begins to question the truth of her mission. But time is running out to break her sister’s curse. And unraveling the secrets of the past might destroy everything she has come to love.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Let me just start off by saying that only in the last 30% was I really drawn into the book. It’s not that the first parts weren’t good, I was just waiting to be pulled in. I distinctly remember the part where until then I wasn’t sure I’d want to read the sequel, but then once the shoe dropped – definitely sold. I liked the premise of swan curses – one of my favorite folktales – and being haunted by the image and legacy of your sibling? Immediately yes. But the middle half seemed to drag a bit as the passage of time sped up and I felt like the pacing slightly slowed down in terms of action.
Which is a weird thing to say. But I was having a lot of trouble in the middle. However when the story ends up starting to conclude and the timing, the countdown we’ve been waiting for enters the last moments, then I felt the themes come into focus. I think, for me, the themes make it a book I’d still recommend. I’m a big fan of good theme pay offs, I can excuse a lot if there’s a theme I love. So the theme of being turned into a weapon? I loved it.
Themes?
For Fia, her mother has honed her into a weapon, telling her love will only make her weak, and no one can love her like her. What a toxic thing to say. But because of that, A Feather So Black, each little moment, is about Fia trying to figure out if she will be that weapon. If she will make the sacrifices, bargains, and pyres to give up herself. If she will let herself be someone else’s weapon. Another piece of Fia’s journey is to see her own magic and whether it’s only something to be controlled. And finally, to see if all of her is worth loving.
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I loved the pay off and resolution – so far – for these themes by the end. It just takes a while for them to grow and bloom. Will I read the sequel? Depending on where the synopsis takes us, I think it could be a good jumping point for the themes that have made a great foundation. Find A Feather So Black on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.