What do you think?
Rate this book
Three hundred years ago six brothers were cursed to live as swans. This is their return.
A novella epilogue to the Tales of Silver Downs series.
This novella is a mailing list exclusive and is not available for purchase. Sign up at kyliequillinan.com to claim your copy today.
A novella epilogue to the Tales of Silver Downs series.
This novella is a mailing list exclusive and is not available for purchase. Sign up at kyliequillinan.com to claim your copy today.
80 pages, ebook
Published May 15, 2017
81 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Quillinan
36 books71 followersKylie writes about women who defy society’s expectations. Her novels are for readers who like fantasy with a basis in history or mythology. Her interests include Dr Who, jellyfish and cocktails. She needs to get fit before the zombies come. You can find her online at kyliequillinan.com.
SWAN – the epilogue to the Tales of Silver Downs series – is available exclusively to her mailing list subscribers. Sign up at kyliequillinan.com.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Kylie Quillinan
1. I studied Ancient Greek at university because I wanted to read Homer in his own language.
2. I’m fascinated by miniatures and tiny things, and am building my own dollhouse.
3. I studied to be a journalist because I thought that would provide a more reliable income than writing. I hated it because I wasn’t telling my own stories, only repeating what somebody else had already said.
4. If I wasn’t a writer, I would have been a marine biologist except that I get very, very sea sick. I’m also claustrophobic under water so that was never going to work out.
5. I never ever look into a mirror in a dark room.
SWAN – the epilogue to the Tales of Silver Downs series – is available exclusively to her mailing list subscribers. Sign up at kyliequillinan.com.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Kylie Quillinan
1. I studied Ancient Greek at university because I wanted to read Homer in his own language.
2. I’m fascinated by miniatures and tiny things, and am building my own dollhouse.
3. I studied to be a journalist because I thought that would provide a more reliable income than writing. I hated it because I wasn’t telling my own stories, only repeating what somebody else had already said.
4. If I wasn’t a writer, I would have been a marine biologist except that I get very, very sea sick. I’m also claustrophobic under water so that was never going to work out.
5. I never ever look into a mirror in a dark room.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 7, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this episode.
February 16, 2019
In Hilde’s family there was an old tale that in 300 years 6 brothers who were turned into swans would return home. Her brother Drystan was convinced this would be the year they would return. So, Hilde and Drystan were out by the lake next to sunset every day that summer waiting. And then one day, the brothers returned. 6 brothers who had grown up several hundred years earlier, left to readjust to a changed world where people now worship a single roman god rather than multiple druid deities and fairies, where the priests are always watching, waiting to find heretics to burn at the stake.
Totally fascinating book! It's like the story of the Swan Princes, but what happened after they returned to being human. Even though the characters connected into previous books and some of the cameo characters too, this was easy to read as a stand-alone (admittedly, it’s the first time I’ve picked up one of the author’s books). Though it’s got me itching to pick up other books in the series to see those characters in other stories, like I’m dying to see Hilde serving in the war (though I’m not sure which book it’s in), there were other tales mentioned that have me intrigued like Agata’s tale, and the brothers are in book 4. I loved Hilde as a narrator, though it bugged me that her name was at the top of each chapter. I know that’s for newbie indie authors to differentiate between switching points of views because they can’t figure out how to make it so the readers understand who is talking. But here it was really unnecessary since Hilde was the only point of view used. Still, she’s a strong personality since she thinks with the mind of a soldier itching to get back into battle, though she’s currently on the mend. Only two of the brothers were decently fleshed out, all the rest faded into the background and barely had any speaking lines at all (it also didn’t help that a lot of the names were spelled nearly the same). Even Hilde’s brother was rather thin on personality. I kept wanting a romance in this, so I was a bit sad when there wasn’t. The story had a lot of things happening in it and explored a lot of different ideas, like the change in beliefs from the past to the present, trying to integrate themselves and get used to a new time period, deal with the fact that people they knew and loved were long gone, and the aftermath of their lives spent as birds, Hilde as a soldier is rather progressive for her own time, it was fascinating watching the brothers trying to wrap their minds around the idea of women as soldiers. I would definitely consider picking up more of the series.
Totally fascinating book! It's like the story of the Swan Princes, but what happened after they returned to being human. Even though the characters connected into previous books and some of the cameo characters too, this was easy to read as a stand-alone (admittedly, it’s the first time I’ve picked up one of the author’s books). Though it’s got me itching to pick up other books in the series to see those characters in other stories, like I’m dying to see Hilde serving in the war (though I’m not sure which book it’s in), there were other tales mentioned that have me intrigued like Agata’s tale, and the brothers are in book 4. I loved Hilde as a narrator, though it bugged me that her name was at the top of each chapter. I know that’s for newbie indie authors to differentiate between switching points of views because they can’t figure out how to make it so the readers understand who is talking. But here it was really unnecessary since Hilde was the only point of view used. Still, she’s a strong personality since she thinks with the mind of a soldier itching to get back into battle, though she’s currently on the mend. Only two of the brothers were decently fleshed out, all the rest faded into the background and barely had any speaking lines at all (it also didn’t help that a lot of the names were spelled nearly the same). Even Hilde’s brother was rather thin on personality. I kept wanting a romance in this, so I was a bit sad when there wasn’t. The story had a lot of things happening in it and explored a lot of different ideas, like the change in beliefs from the past to the present, trying to integrate themselves and get used to a new time period, deal with the fact that people they knew and loved were long gone, and the aftermath of their lives spent as birds, Hilde as a soldier is rather progressive for her own time, it was fascinating watching the brothers trying to wrap their minds around the idea of women as soldiers. I would definitely consider picking up more of the series.
September 11, 2018
A wonderful journey to ancient places with a mix of druid lore, Roman authority and priests practicing the pagan religion of Rome. This would set the time as being somewhere after Roman conquest of England and about 364 C. E. when Constantine the Great underwent conversion to Christianity. Subsequently, the Romanized version of Christianity spread through the rest of Europe and the British Isles.
The family at the center of the story has been raised in the family legends of how a 7th son cursed his 6 older brother’s, turning them into swans for 300 years. The legends have kept the generations waiting for their return, and the time is right for their return. A brother and warrior sister (Drystan and Hilde) are keeping on the watch, and suddenly the swans DO return, 6 strong ones and a 7th weak, trailing swan. Before the eyes of Drystan and Hilda, as the swans settle on the water’s edge, they transform back into men. Unfortunately, the local priest of the Roman religion is on the scene shortly afterward, meeting 2 of the brothers who Hilde introduces as her “cousins”. The priest, ever looking for heresy, poses a significant threat to the brothers and Hilde and Drystan take precautions to prevent the presence of all 6 brothers become known in the area.
What did the brothers do for the 300 years? Will the priest discover the presence of the brothers and make trouble for them? What will the brothers now do, as all they knew 300 years ago is long gone? What about all the other family legends-are they all true as well? All this is answered in this charming, and exciting, little novella.
Critique:
A well written story that seems like a fairy tale initially, but when the details about the Roman religion practicing priest are revealed, and we learn the priest is going to send to Rome for authority to take action against the brothers, we can see that this is a specific period in the history of the British Isles. The fairy tale becomes reality before our eyes, and makes us believe in the curse, the fey and the Old Ones as did the family in the story. I was disappointed only in that the story was over far too quickly—I wanted more! Men, women and children of all ages will enjoy this story. I will be looking for other books by this author, as she is new to me.
The family at the center of the story has been raised in the family legends of how a 7th son cursed his 6 older brother’s, turning them into swans for 300 years. The legends have kept the generations waiting for their return, and the time is right for their return. A brother and warrior sister (Drystan and Hilde) are keeping on the watch, and suddenly the swans DO return, 6 strong ones and a 7th weak, trailing swan. Before the eyes of Drystan and Hilda, as the swans settle on the water’s edge, they transform back into men. Unfortunately, the local priest of the Roman religion is on the scene shortly afterward, meeting 2 of the brothers who Hilde introduces as her “cousins”. The priest, ever looking for heresy, poses a significant threat to the brothers and Hilde and Drystan take precautions to prevent the presence of all 6 brothers become known in the area.
What did the brothers do for the 300 years? Will the priest discover the presence of the brothers and make trouble for them? What will the brothers now do, as all they knew 300 years ago is long gone? What about all the other family legends-are they all true as well? All this is answered in this charming, and exciting, little novella.
Critique:
A well written story that seems like a fairy tale initially, but when the details about the Roman religion practicing priest are revealed, and we learn the priest is going to send to Rome for authority to take action against the brothers, we can see that this is a specific period in the history of the British Isles. The fairy tale becomes reality before our eyes, and makes us believe in the curse, the fey and the Old Ones as did the family in the story. I was disappointed only in that the story was over far too quickly—I wanted more! Men, women and children of all ages will enjoy this story. I will be looking for other books by this author, as she is new to me.
July 3, 2020
The six brothers from The Bard finally transform back to humans after 300 years as swans. They are welcomed back by the descendants of the seventh brother but the world has changed. Pagan beliefs are no longer accepted and the local priest is suspicious.
Can they be protected?
Can they be protected?
May 31, 2017
Amazing fantasy story, as great as all the others by this author. Just loved it.
May 15, 2017
I enjoyed all the books. I found Swan to be a fitting end for the story. Well done in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews