I will read anything Roshani Chokshi writes. And The Swan’s Daughter is this perfect balance of fairytale and adventure. I love the Chokshi take on fairy tales! Keep reading this book review of The Swan’s Daughter for my full thoughts.
Summary
Prince Arris knows that marriage means murder. Thanks to a poorly worded wish to a sea witch, all one needs to rule the Isle of Malys is the heart and hand of the kingdom’s heir. Historically, this has been construed quite literally.
Thus, Arris expects that the day after his marriage and murder he will wake up as a sentient tree alongside the rest of his predecessors. His only chance at a long life is finding true and lasting love. When Arris’s parents announce a tournament of brides to compete for his hand and heart, a slew of eligible, lovely and (possibly murderous) bachelorettes make their way to Rathe Castle. Amidst glittering balls in ozorald caves, strolls through menageries of daydream trees and pearl crocodiles, tea time on glass boats and kisses that leave his head spinning, Arris cannot tell who is here out of love for him…or lust for power.
Until he meets Demelza.
As a veritas swan, Demelza’s song wrings out the truth. Forced into hiding, Demelza strikes a deal. Arris will provide her with safekeeping in exchange for her truth-telling song to sort through his potential brides.
While Arris is used to dodging death threats and Demelza is accustomed to fighting for her voice to be heard, to survive the tournament of brides requires a different kind of bravery. And perhaps the bravest thing one can do is not merely protect one’s life, but find the courage to chase a life worth living.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Roshani Chokshi has a way of telling fairy tales which feels cruel, glittering, and whimsical all at once. She has this way of encapsulating this topsy turvy magic while also not shying away from the often callous cruelty we too often find in fairy tales. The punishments with claws that feel right, but seem a shade away from what we’d do and exactly what we’d wish. There’s this immediate vibe in The Swan’s Daughter which feels almost like a YA take on that atmosphere in The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. Additionally, Chokshi is an expert at examining ‘monstrous love’ in its perceived ugliness, strength of will, and cleverness.
Demelza was never taught to dream and so The Swan’s Daughter is her coming into her own. It’s about her contemplating her future and also her own capabilities. I loved her character journey and the beautiful opposites her and Arris make. For her, loving is a lack of control and giving up her freedom. For Arris, he so desperately wants to be in love he’s grasping at flaws even though they would have the power to hurt him. When our tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, taking time becomes a luxury, a way to seize this moment. They both have similar fears, but approach it differently even if they recognize the danger love can pose. So for them, it gets to the heart of what makes love terrifying.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
But?
While I felt the actual love was a bit hasty, especially for Arris who kind of loves everyone, the themes of the love appeal to me. I love how we have to chose love. It’s never a sure thing and we never know that someone won’t hurt us. It’s one of those situations where I fell in love with them being in love, not necessarily in how I saw the execution of some of the crucial moments. The romantic tension was a little lacking considering how much I know Chokshi can induce. That being said, I love the themes in The Swan’s Daughter and what this book says about love in this fairy tale world. Find The Swan’s Daughter on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.