The Swan Maiden

by Heather Tomlinson

In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. Doucette can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan skin like her older sisters. But she must run the castle household while her sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that . . . until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright. Sudden, soaring freedom―it is a wish come true. Yet, not even magic can protect against every danger, especially when the heart is involved. As she struggles to find her own way in the world, Doucette risks losing the one person she loves most of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fairy Tales, Romance, Retellings, Fiction, Fairy Tale Retellings

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2007

About the author

Heather Tomlinson grew up in California and New Hampshire, graduating from Wellesley College with a degree in French literature. After teaching English in France and French in the United States, she worked at a book wholesaler. Now she writes the kinds of novels she likes to read.

Heather lives on a sailboat in southern California with her engineer husband, her baby boy, and cats X, Y, and Z.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though it was nothing spectacular. It held a sense of "old fairy tales" for me--the traditional ones that have a lot of magic and wonder but rather flat characters. Some of the descriptions in "Swan Maiden" are exquisite, and I enjoyed the attention to the French countryside (right down to the herbs and flowers) and the sense of magic that flowed through our heroine, Doucette. However, I did not really sympathize with Doucette--or any of the characters, for that matter; they seemed undeveloped and self-absorbed. Our hero was pleasant enough but, again, lacked depth. Overall, a pleasant if forgettable read. (And I do love the cover art!)

[Liaken · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bleh. Stupid. No thanks. Not recommended. The main character isn't a character at all. She only reacts to what goes on around her, and never consistently, only in ways that will forward the very tenuous plot. All of the characters are this way. They only do things to make the plot move. When the plot requires them to be nice, they're nice. When it requires them to be beastly, they're beastly. The only interesting thing is seen coming a mile off, and is rather a disappointment when it does come.

And, **potential spoilers---that is, if you're going to waste time reading this book** the ending proves what a miserable excuse for a character Doucette (yes, that's really her name) is. After ditching her betrothed because a dog licked him (ah, ah, ah! I said, let NO ONE kiss you---and well, you know, that dog lick . . .) and spending her time building a castle with a moat and tormenting every visitor she has in spiteful ways, and then burning down her castle in a fit of rage because, guess what, her betrothed is getting married . . . well, she comes down out of the sky and says, "Aren't you marrying the wrong girl?" And proceeds to throw herself at him and kiss him while his bride-to-be is standing right there. But then, to make sure everything is okay, the author commands the bride to actually be in love with the brother, so everything works out, thus making things so that Doucette isn't a jerk (!).

Bleh. Again, bleh.

At the end of one of the chapters, the mysterious question was asked, just how far would her mother go to get her way, and I seriously muttered aloud, under my breath, "Who gives a d---." I was fed up.

Why did I finish reading it? Well, that is a good question. Probably partly because I was hoping it would get better. Which it never did. Probably partly because I was supposed to be taking a break from my grading and wanted the book to distract me . . . I don't know.

But it really was wasted time. I wish I had read something else instead. Ah, but then I wouldn't have had the chance to write this one-star review. So, something good from all things, I suppose.

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that were lovely--a fast moving plot and some interesting description, but there are better books in this genre that I would recommend... I was pulled to the cash register by the cover, but there were holes, and the most ridiculous scene with one of the main characters, Jaume, walking on his hands, playing a pipe. I read the passage tens of times trying to make out how it might be possible--being a gymnast, I know you can't walk on your hands and play a tune on the pipe simultaneously!

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with many of the reviews that the beginning of the book was the best part because it had a very traditional once upon a time feel to it and the main character was a bullied third child. Even though the romance was a bit fast and unbelieveable(tomlinson could have provided more examples of the two falling in love or hinted more at it) I still liked the plot. The story started to drag for me in part two of the story where Doucette and Jaume had to run from her family. Doucette is barely likeable sometimes because she has a very immature personality. Not only is she timid and easily bullied but she is also petty and prone to the same unkindness her sisters exhibit. She complains a lot and never lets Jaume explain himself before leaving in a huff. Just because Jaume was laughing in the first part she got pissed and left and later because he let his DOG kiss him. That last part was trully a WTF moment for me because at this point she's just looking for excuses to leave the guy that went through hell to be with her?? Doucette as a character just confuses me and Jaume is no better. I mean who is totally ok with the same girl jilting you for no reason over and over and why is he in love with her in the first place?I cant believe he took her back in the end no questions asked. Most of the time i think Doucette is really just in love with her magic and to only reason she wanted Jaume is because hes a hottie and she wanted to detach herself from her stiffling family. Really her family is pretty messed up imo but i did like her sister Cecille cause shes a free spirited person who may play pranks but doesnt do it to be cruel.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know if it's fair that I rate this book. I didn't read it all. At the begining it was similar to Goose Girl, so I was pretty sure that I would like it. However it was so slow that I started skipping pages and then chapters. I did read the last chapter and I was glad I didn't waste my time reading it all. I suggest someone else read it and then you can tell me what a wonderful book it was and maybe I'll try reading it again.

[Melanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geared towards the lower end of the YA spectrum.

I didn't like it as much as Tomlinson's Toads and Diamonds, though.

I think the mother's attitude toward the two elder sisters could have been developed a bit more. We can infer what their relationship must be like - which partially explains their behavior - but it's never really demonstrated and I think a little of that might have gone a long way to fleshing out the two elder sister's characters. As it stands, they seem a little one-dimensional.

There's also a couple of areas where it's not quite believable - playing pipes while walking on hands? A water-tight pool made of dry-fitted (mortar-less) stones, made in just one day without tools? The dog kiss?

It's not a bad book, by any means, it's just not as good as it could have been.

[Rebecca L]

I did a book publisher on this one. Read the first page and when it didn't grab me decided to ditch it. On to another!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m a sucker for a good fairytale !!! nostalgia may be clouding my judgement, but this was just as good as i remembered it being :’)

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, this was fine. I liked the fairytale aspect, but I think it would’ve been better as a picture book. There wasn’t a lot of character development, and it was pretty flat.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review originally posted here.

The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson is a novel that uses the idea of a girl who can transform into a swan via a magical swan skin. This is not a direct retelling of any specific swan maiden tale, but uses elements prevalent in several, and sets it against a backdrop of medieval France. It has many fairy tale staples in it. The impoverished man seeking to perform a task to gain the hand of a maiden, magic, transformations, enchantresses. If you go into it keeping in mind that it is really just a long form fairy tale and are not expecting much more you may enjoy it. I didn't have this mindset going in and it really didn't do much for me as a result.

The main character, Doucette, is a bullied doormat when we meet her. Unable to practice the magic her sisters, both swan maidens, were born to she is being trained by her mother to be a good wife and chatelaine. Her sisters bully her and use their magic to make her miserable. Then, during a time of spring cleaning, she finds a swan skin. Her swan skin that her mother has been hiding from her for years. Angry and energized with the knowledge that she can do magic too she strikes out on her own to join her sisters for their summer of magic learning with their aunt. She puts no thought or planning into her flight and takes absolutely no precautions. Then, intoxicated by her freedom and new found power, she propositions a guy she barely knows but has the hots for, then flies off in a huff before he can completely respond. (Showing her to be way too immature to be even thinking about a relationship like that.) This never changes throughout the entire novel. The only things standing between Doucette and her happy ever after is her own bratty petulance. Once she is reunited (the first time) with this young man they declare their love and intention wed. This is the most interesting part of the story. He has to complete three impossible tasks set by her father and she is struggling against her controlling mother. When they conquer her parents and have fled for his home, Doucette flies off in a huff again for no good reason other than she has to have her own way at all times. Clearly she was not ready for marriage. After spending some months alone she seeks out her love, who is then planning to wed some one else. Except I'm not convinced she really learned anything from any of this. The resolution of the story lacks closure because I couldn't help but feel she was going to repeat the same cycle over and over.

The hero of the tale is sacrificing, loving, caring, considerate and way to good for Doucette. I didn't have much respect for him because he made himself an endless victim of her fickle magical tantrums. I think his happily ever after will consist of being a doormat for his enchantress wife.

Some of these are issues inherent in fairy tales. You see them pop up all the time. The characters are selfish, two dimensional, self consumed, and focused on their own wishes. This is why Sondheim had so much fodder for writing Into the Woods. There are two acts to that play though, and in the end four of the characters have at least learned something and grown. You have hope for their future. This should be true of a fairy tale told in full novel form as well. You can do more, and I think should do more, with the character arcs. I was disappointed with The Swan Maiden because the characters never became real people. They were their two dimensional fairy tale caricatures from beginning to end.

There was an interesting question underneath the story. Could Doucette have both love and her magic? Does she have to choose or is there room for compromise? This mirrors the thoughts and struggles of many young women starting out in life. It would have been a compelling component if Doucette had been in any way sympathetic. Her behavior was too childish for this to be explored fully. (For a wonderful book that explores this conflict thoroughly and amazingly well read Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers.)

All that being said, the language of the book is beautifully descriptive and definitely conveys the old French setting well. If I had gone into reading this expecting nothing more than a longer form fairy tale I may not have been as disappointed.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off catchy, if a bit cliche. Two mean-hearted sisters who have everything the kind, third sister wants. Good looking peasant to fall in love with. Yet, that was where the good bit ends. After that, the main character becomes a selfish brat that only thinks of herself and how she's going to prove to everyone that she's a wonderful sorceress. Sure, I could see that going somewhere interesting. Only, it doesn't go anywhere. She ends up leaving the guy that went through three torturous, impossible trials just because she thought she had to choose between him and magic. So she just leaves. No goodbyes, no explanation, she's just gone. Then, she shows up at his wedding and wants to be his again. That upset me! You can't just leave and then come back, then leave and come back at his wedding. Sure, the author made it seem okay because the brother really wanted to marry the would be fiance, but I still think it's wrong. Naturally, he forgives her and loves her again. Why? I have no idea. He said he loved her because she'd never said anything unkind to anyone, yet she breaks his heart multiple times and he still loves her back. Some of you will be saying "true love" but I say stupidity. So, yeah, I didn't really care for this book. Awesome cover, though!

[E.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading through reviews on Goodreads, I can understand why so many people dislike this book, and dislike Doucette. For me, though, she was absolutely believable and very sympathetic: that someone who has been bullied and squelched her entire life (particularly when one form of that abuse has come under the guise of "oh, but you're special, that's why I'm completely controlling everything you ever do and refusing to let you fulfill your potential") would be very, very confused when she finally escapes that abuse. First she thinks of magic as her "savior," then she thinks that everything will be "perfect" with Jaume, away from her family, and when real life intervenes, she breaks down. It's only after a time spend alone that she is able to find balance between her magic, her love, and her independence (or rather, non-dependence on Jaume).

The only thing keeping me from giving this a higher rating is that the ending felt rushed, and Jaume was a little too perfect to be believable (and Doucette's excuse for justifying leaving him was too thin even for someone searching for an excuse, even for a fairy tale). Overall, though, I found this a thoughtful, bittersweet, ultimately hopeful tale.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doucette is the youngest sister. Her two older sisters are mysterious and powerful swan maidens, who can transform themselves into swans at will. Sorcery is their birthright, and Doucette longs to be like them. She may have more magic than she ever imagined...

Heather Tomlinson once again shamlessly uses French as a crutch in her fantasy world, but this time it is not so painful because she claims to have based her story off of a French fairy tale to begin with. If so, it doesn't have the continuity of any French fairy tale that I've ever read. The story starts off strong, and has great discriptions throughout the book, regardless. The story though... she brings in plot elements that she uses once and then never brings up again. It was better than Auralie, and entertaining enough.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her sisters are swan maidens, but she is not; magicless and condemned to learn to be a castle chatelaine under her mother's stern eye, and to marry well at her parents' command, unlike her sisters who have free choice. But what if everything she has been taught is a lie? What of the young shepherd who is so kind to her? What will she make of her future, and will she succumb to the temptations of power?

This was actually quite well-written and I enjoyed the characters, especially as they were much more nuanced than one would expect. The story has a solid core of third-wave feminism, though like all fairy tales there is a strong emphasis on peirbonding. I enjoyed it, though I think the author could do more with the characters, and more depth of the background.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one I started reading, and soon realized I'd already read it before and forgotten. I read about 50 pages and then skimmed through the rest. I liked it less than I remembered. Doucette is annoying. She's whiny and stuck up at the same time. I just couldn't relate to her or like her. This is the second book from Tomlinson I've read recently and I'm very underwhelmed. I don't think I'll be reading any more of her books. To be fair, the writing in this was clearer than it was in "Diamonds and Toads."

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked how it was based on a French fairytale. The beginning took a bit to understand. The middle was great! I adore Jaume. However, I really disliked the last 5 chapters or so. Doucette was selfish and foolish. The ending resolved too quickly. Or the story should have ended before those 5 chapters.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this book, but it was obviously her first book. The pacing was bad, skimming over the climax and the development of the romance. Thankfully the author improved, her Toads and Diamonds is very good, I recommend that.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard one for me to rate. This story had all those fairytale surprises and motifs that I love. Yet at the same time, I really struggled to embrace the protagonist's point of view and the decisions she makes. In the end, the conclusion of this tale felt unsatisfying.

[Bru]

I loved the romance parts the best but really did not like the turn the story took when she became magic obsessed. Then the ending felt too rushed.

[Alli Saleh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pleasant. Originally I picked this up thinking of the 90's cartoon "The Swan Princess." My goodness, I was wrong- but charmed none-the-less.

Doulcette is a young noble, teased by her older, soceress sisters due to her lack of "swan skin." Swan Skins give the girls the ability of magic and to transform into swans or any flying creature of their magical choosing.

Doulcette is a sweet girl and clearly appreciated and respected by the castle employees for her respecting them. Her mother intends for Doulcette to be a chastlaine- a perfect nobleman's housewife. She wanted Doulcette to be unsullied by her father's side of the family, who just happens to be magical. Doulcette dreams of having her own swan-skin and having her own magic. Meanwhile, an unlikely romance begins with a local shepherd and he completes 3 challenges to win her hand- being a low-born. In the meantime, Doulcette finds her swan-skin hidden by her mother and achieves magical abilities. However, her mother finds her out and burns the skin, removing Doulcette's powers. She helps her beloved (Jaume) complete the final task by entering a magical spirit's cauldron and regaining her magic at the price of her toe.

Jaume wins her hand-against her spiteful mother's wishes- and they set off as newly weds. Doulcette is torn between her love for Jaume and her love of magic. Eventually, she leaves him on the journey to his home and constructs a castle of magic where she abides in freedom. A season later, she learns Jaume is to be married. Realizing the selfishness and folly of her decision, she returns to claim Jaume as her husband. Basically, they live happily ever after.

SO....I gave this 3 stars because it was simply pleasant. I loved Jaume's love for Doulcette and up until she leaves him, I think his love is well-placed. I did cringe when she left though. Up until that point, I very much enjoy her as a character. Doulcette longed for freedom and magic- she wanted to be a free-bird, but couldn't shake her love for Jaume. I thought she was an absolute spoiled brat. Jaume literally moved heaven and earth and his very life to become her husband. I guess what did I expect? She was born a noble...

Anywho, I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did initially. I knew this was going to be a rather easy read and it was. It reads just like a Disney fairytale...and it basically is. It's not a complex book, but it's enjoyable if you like fairytales. This is appropriate for any aged reader due to the innocence and simplicity of the story.

[Danielle W · Rating 3 out of 5]

*some spoilers!* I enjoy retellings of lesser-known tales and this was a pretty good one. I was often frustrated with Doucette due to her gentleness but that’s because of a difference in personality. I liked the exploration of freedom, specifically freedom for women in a strongly patriarchal society. What does freedom mean? What tools does an oppressed person need to become free? I liked that there were comparisons provided showing both Doucette’s privileges as a noblewoman with the particular problems posed by her position and just good ole misogyny. I was particularly interested in how the swan skin represents - both metaphorically and in many ways physically - sexual freedom in particular since sexual/reproductive freedom is so deeply tied into women’s agency and freedom within society. Many cultures have devised ways of keeping girls and women “pure” and only sexually available to specific men in specific situations which often includes physical separation of the sexes as well as psychological conditioning. Doucette does have contact with many men at the beginning of the novel but they are servants for the most part as she has interacted little with the court. Gaining her swan skin gives her the freedom to do what she will - within certain class-based parameters - sexually, the loss of the skin forces her back within her old bounds, and the rassemblement gives Doucette innate power that is no longer tied to a physical object. Somebody might come at me and say “it’s not that deep!” which, true, this book isn’t a thesis or a feminist manifesto but a woman’s freedom from physical, sexual, and class bonds which are all connected to each other is the primary theme of the story. On another note I was very interested in Doucette’s relationship with her sisters since that occupies a good deal of the book and I would love to see more of Cecilia and what she goes on to do.

[A Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was embarrassingly boring and I was tempted to quit, but about halfway through , the plot got a little interesting. The characters always remained flat though. The whole thing reads like a middle grade. I used to love fairy tale retelling when I was high school but I think I’ve officially grown out of them. And I’ve never heard of the original fairy tale about a swan maiden. The ending was lackluster; it would have been more profound if Doucette had completely given up her magic in exchange for the love of her life, since she knew he didn’t care for that side of her. He gave up everything for her so it just seemed really one-sided to me. And I was really upset that she got all this magic just by giving up her little toe. In my opinion the cost of all that magic should have been way higher

[Holli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very straightforward tale that feels plucked straight from an old book of fairy tales. The magic is fun and interesting and I enjoyed the transformation descriptions. The romance starts out feeling shallow but gains depth through the characters actions. There is something in this tale about the corrupting nature of power and the power of love but it's done a bit hamfisted and without a lot of time to explore it. Doucette changes her personality twice in a very short span in the third act and it's both jarring and feels unearned (magic transformations notwithstanding). I think perhaps this is a product of the original fairy tale it was adapted from and trying to keep the same events even if they didn't make sense from a character standpoint. Overall I enjoyed the book.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raised as a chastelaine-in-training unlike her sisters who are learning the arts of sorcery, Doucette discovers when she is sixteen years old that she too has magic in her blood, and she must brave her mother’s wrath–and the loss of the man she loves–in order to follow her birthright.

This is a pretty good fairytale retelling, but there’s just something about the writing — the pacing I think? or the flow? — that keeps it from being a 4 or 5 star book. That said, I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

(I may do a fuller review later on.)

I also have a book blog :)

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely something. I am glad that the main character was not perfect and developed over time. The ending was sweet and cute and romantic (for a children's book). It was overall pretty one-dimensional, but it was a clean read. The kind that cleanses a palate, I recommend it as an in-between books sort of book.

[Jennifer Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a sweet YA book set for middle grade readers. It has a sense of innocence to it and has an old Fairytale magic feel. I would have liked a more expanded plot, perhaps including the family’s future (like how magic affected her family once she had left) or some final climax involving the character’s mom.

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. I liked how well developed the characters were. I was able to see everything being played out. It had a good plot but was a bit fast for my liking. I would see this book as a romance YA.

[Lynn Coullard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve read a retelling of the Swan Princess stories before, and I enjoyed this one for the most part. The protagonist was a bit passive through the first half of the book, but I felt like it was consistent with her as a character.

[Mary-Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was younger and just found myself thinking about it randomly today. Adding it on here so that I don’t have to google search the name next time it pops into my head 😅