Book Review: ‘The Swan’s Daughter’ is a Delightful Fairytale with ALL the Whimsy
If you’re looking for an old school style of fairytale that borders on absurdist á la Terry Pratchett, Howl’s Moving Castle, or more recently, Never the Roses, you will absolutely love The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi. And another bonus: it’s a standalone! Hooray for more standalones. This was my first book by Chokshi, and I will absolutely be reading her backlist after finishing this one. While this is YA fantasy, it didn’t feel childish. Whimsical? Yes. In fact, it has so much whimsy. The main character Demelza is quite pitiful at first, but I absolutely loved her. Prince Arris definitely kissed a few too many people for my liking, but I did end up loving him too. This book was so quotable, and I’ve shared some of my favorites below. While there’s lots of humor, it’s also beautifully written. Some might argue purple prose, but I didn’t feel it was over the top—I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style. I’d love to read more from this world—maybe a spin off with Ursula?! You’ll love her too.
ProTip: The cover image above is my Fairyloot special edition, while the version below with beautiful foiled edges is the first print run.
Things to Know:
Fairytale
Veritas swans
Curses
The Bachelor, but make it fantasy
Sentient castle
Standalone
Demelza is a misfit—even in her family. Part monster, part veritas swan, she has no wings like her sisters, and spends her whole childhood trying to be useful to her wizard father who is determined to crack the code to becoming an immortal. While the actions of her mother make her feel neglected, we quickly realize they have a purpose: to protect her.
While this book may seem light and fluffy, it’s actually quite dark.
Prince Arris must choose a bride, and preferably one that won’t kill him immediately. All of the princes of his line have their hearts cut out for power, and his father has been the only exception. Although that doesn’t keep his mother from trying to kill him at least once a month to keep the spark alive…trust me, it sounds crazy, but it’s quite endearing when you read it.
Yvlle (pronounced “evil”), Arris’ overly protective and macabre sister was also great comic relief. She and Arris are polar opposite, but I loved their sibling dynamic.
And all of the potential brides were so fun to meet. It definitely gives The Bachelor vibes with all the contestants and ‘trials’. Ursula, the bear shifter, was my favorite. She’s obsessed with food and baking and doesn’t really want to be there. But she’s SO funny.
Overall, if you’re looking for a quick read that’s full of whimsy and ultimately love, you will enjoy this one!
As per usual, I did an immersive read with my physical hardcover and the audiobook, and I enjoyed this narrator! She does a bunch of voices for the different characters that had me laughing out loud. You can find the audiobook on Audible or Libro.fm (ProTips: Audible is 99 cents/mo for three months (99 cents/book) right now AND you can get two free audiobooks on Libro.fm with the code SWITCH right now).
Favorite Quotes:
“I am a monster, yes, but I will be your monster and yours alone.”
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“The novels, which tended to be anxious, shed a few pages—oftentimes prologues, for these were considered largely useless.”
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“If I might be permitted to make an observation…I see that you are disheveled, horizontal and clearly hungry.”
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“I typically settled conflict by incinerating the individual that offended me, but I suspect this is not welcome in family settings.”
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“Sometimes the space to want is a worthy enough goal.”
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“Was there a name for the hope of bringing light to a room simply by entering it?”
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