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Feathered: A Young Adult Fantasy Fairy Tale
**UK TOP 50 BESTSELLER IN FAIRY TALES**
Based on the classic story of Swan Lake.
When her bargain with a malevolent wizard goes terribly wrong, Marion DuVal finds herself trapped between two a beautiful but darker parallel of herself, and a swan. Somehow, she must adhere to the wizard’s wishes, but it’s hard to perform epic magic when your feet are flippers and your neck’s the length of a small fishing pole. Caught up in a lie of royal proportions, her task is to get close to the queen, and such a thing is difficult when a certain handsome prince keeps getting in the way.
One girl; two identities. Marion must stop the darkness inside her before it’s too late.
Fans of Red Queen and The Selection will love this brand new medieval fantasy adventure!
"FEATHERED by Rachel Wollaston is a true gem! This re-telling of Swan Lake sparkles with intrigue, sweet romance, light-hearted humor and heart-breaking moments that transports readers into another time and place with ease!" --Dianne @ Tome Tender Book Blog
Based on the classic story of Swan Lake.
When her bargain with a malevolent wizard goes terribly wrong, Marion DuVal finds herself trapped between two a beautiful but darker parallel of herself, and a swan. Somehow, she must adhere to the wizard’s wishes, but it’s hard to perform epic magic when your feet are flippers and your neck’s the length of a small fishing pole. Caught up in a lie of royal proportions, her task is to get close to the queen, and such a thing is difficult when a certain handsome prince keeps getting in the way.
One girl; two identities. Marion must stop the darkness inside her before it’s too late.
Fans of Red Queen and The Selection will love this brand new medieval fantasy adventure!
"FEATHERED by Rachel Wollaston is a true gem! This re-telling of Swan Lake sparkles with intrigue, sweet romance, light-hearted humor and heart-breaking moments that transports readers into another time and place with ease!" --Dianne @ Tome Tender Book Blog
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2017
3 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 18, 2018
She was a simple girl, only practiced white magic, but a bargain made from her heart with a dark wizard will trap Marion in a world of deceit, splitting her between the form of a swan and a dark version of herself. With only a few minutes a day to be her true self, she must find a way to save those she cares for or lose everything including her soul to the horrors of dark magic. A kingdom could be destroyed by her lies, but to tell the truth will shatter her heart.
FEATHERED by Rachel Wollaston is a true gem! This re-telling of Swan Lake sparkles with intrigue, sweet romance, light-hearted humor and heart-breaking moments that transports readers into another time and place with ease!
Ms. Wollaston has created a memorable read filled with heart and the determination of one young woman who will do anything she can to atone for her mistakes! Marion is a strong heroine who thinks well on her feet, whether they are webbed or not and she is supported by a fabulous cast that makes this world actually breathe! Picture and enjoy each scene as they come to life, trust me, it’s easy to do, thanks to this author’s brilliant imagination! Tensions will rise and fall, unlikely friendships will be formed and love will gently bloom, only evil will shadow any chance for a happily ever after, hence, book two…(and I can’t wait to read it!)
Oh, the webs we weave…the feathers we ruffle…magical reading for all ages!
I received a complimentary copy from Rachel Wollaston as part of an upcoming blog tour.
Series: Swan Maiden - Book 1
Publication Date: December 30, 2017
Publisher: Rachel Wollaston
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 366 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
FEATHERED by Rachel Wollaston is a true gem! This re-telling of Swan Lake sparkles with intrigue, sweet romance, light-hearted humor and heart-breaking moments that transports readers into another time and place with ease!
Ms. Wollaston has created a memorable read filled with heart and the determination of one young woman who will do anything she can to atone for her mistakes! Marion is a strong heroine who thinks well on her feet, whether they are webbed or not and she is supported by a fabulous cast that makes this world actually breathe! Picture and enjoy each scene as they come to life, trust me, it’s easy to do, thanks to this author’s brilliant imagination! Tensions will rise and fall, unlikely friendships will be formed and love will gently bloom, only evil will shadow any chance for a happily ever after, hence, book two…(and I can’t wait to read it!)
Oh, the webs we weave…the feathers we ruffle…magical reading for all ages!
I received a complimentary copy from Rachel Wollaston as part of an upcoming blog tour.
Series: Swan Maiden - Book 1
Publication Date: December 30, 2017
Publisher: Rachel Wollaston
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 366 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 12, 2018
As a lover of fairy tales, reading Feathered left me wanting for nothing... (except maybe for book two!) Far off kingdoms, royal balls, magic spells, princes and sorcerers... all the makings of a great fairy tale. But Feathered offered even more - This story has some interesting plot twists. I personally have little knowledge of the story of Swan Lake, but reading the Swan Maiden series had me interested enough to check it out to compare. And If you're a lover of fantasy series, this is only book one! Feathered definitely left this reader wanting more.
February 17, 2018
4.5 stars
I am a huge fan of fairytales, as you all know by now, and when I heard about Feathered, I had to read it. A retelling of The Swan Princess? Yes, please!
Feathered is a bit complicated, but let me try to sum it up. The book opens with Marion being executed for being a witch. But since she had a deal made with an evil wizard to save her father, Elward, he takes her soul and puts it into the body of a swan. She has only one hour a day where she can return to her original form. However, Marion has also managed to create a double - Ida. Ida was created out of the darker parts of personality and when Elward discovers her, he demands that Marion take over Ida's body to pose as a princess and get close to the royal family. But Ida has a mind of her own, as Marion and Elward will soon see.
I found Marion's struggle to be fascinating. This book takes the idea of a "darker half" literally and turns it into the plot (sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but with swans and princess). Ida and Marion's struggle for power was fascinating, although it seems a bit unfair that [possible spoiler alert] that Ida seems to be able to "see" through Marion's eyes a lot more than Marion does through Ida's.
Another thing I enjoyed was the ambiguity of Elward, the wizard. At the start, he's the evil wizard, but by refusing to let him reveal his true plans plus his occasional 'rescue' of Marion has her doubting if he's as evil as he seems. Plus, a 'Healer' wizard as a bad guy was an interesting and unusual decision.
That said, I wasn't really convinced by the romance aspect of the book. Having two personalities split between two human and one swan bodies makes it difficult for me to believe that Marion can spend enough time to fall in love with anyone. Add in the fact that this takes place over a few days and Marion being upset that 'he doesn't realise that's Ida and not me' sounds a bit odd to me. I mean, Ida is a part her and they just met after all. (Trying to be vague so not as to spoilt the book. Sorry if it doesn't make much sense).
Overall, I thought this was an interesting take on the Swan Princess. I think that you'll enjoy this if you're into fairytale retellings.
Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review as part of a blog tour. I also knew the author from WriteOn (I thought her name sounded familiar and her afterword confirmed it!)
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliopphile
I am a huge fan of fairytales, as you all know by now, and when I heard about Feathered, I had to read it. A retelling of The Swan Princess? Yes, please!
Feathered is a bit complicated, but let me try to sum it up. The book opens with Marion being executed for being a witch. But since she had a deal made with an evil wizard to save her father, Elward, he takes her soul and puts it into the body of a swan. She has only one hour a day where she can return to her original form. However, Marion has also managed to create a double - Ida. Ida was created out of the darker parts of personality and when Elward discovers her, he demands that Marion take over Ida's body to pose as a princess and get close to the royal family. But Ida has a mind of her own, as Marion and Elward will soon see.
I found Marion's struggle to be fascinating. This book takes the idea of a "darker half" literally and turns it into the plot (sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but with swans and princess). Ida and Marion's struggle for power was fascinating, although it seems a bit unfair that [possible spoiler alert] that Ida seems to be able to "see" through Marion's eyes a lot more than Marion does through Ida's.
Another thing I enjoyed was the ambiguity of Elward, the wizard. At the start, he's the evil wizard, but by refusing to let him reveal his true plans plus his occasional 'rescue' of Marion has her doubting if he's as evil as he seems. Plus, a 'Healer' wizard as a bad guy was an interesting and unusual decision.
That said, I wasn't really convinced by the romance aspect of the book. Having two personalities split between two human and one swan bodies makes it difficult for me to believe that Marion can spend enough time to fall in love with anyone. Add in the fact that this takes place over a few days and Marion being upset that 'he doesn't realise that's Ida and not me' sounds a bit odd to me. I mean, Ida is a part her and they just met after all. (Trying to be vague so not as to spoilt the book. Sorry if it doesn't make much sense).
Overall, I thought this was an interesting take on the Swan Princess. I think that you'll enjoy this if you're into fairytale retellings.
Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review as part of a blog tour. I also knew the author from WriteOn (I thought her name sounded familiar and her afterword confirmed it!)
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliopphile
January 27, 2018
Feathered is a great debut to a fantastical trilogy I cannot wait to read the rest of. Despite it being a retelling of the well known story and gorgeous ballet Swan Lake, Wollaston uses its base to create something new and utterly intriguing. It is no easy task to so wonderfully weave an old tale together with your own ideas. I received a free copy from Ms. Wollaston for an honest, unbiased review, which I will now happily give.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
There were many things I enjoyed about this novel. First, I was quite fascinated with the idea of “Creators” and “Healers”. It was a unique take on a genre overflowing with cliches. I also loved the idea of Marion creating an evil version of herself, as I found it absolutely refreshing and was interested to see how this would play out (I was not disappointed). Speaking of Marion, her character might have been one of my favourite female heroines, right next to Jane Eyre. Marion was strong, guided by reason, pretty, but still flawed and far from a Mary Sue. She was a great character, because she made mistakes. However, what was perhaps her most endearing trait were her values and superior sense of morality.
I was hooked from the very beginning. I prefer fast-paced stories most of the time, as I like to imagine everything happening whilst I read. Feathered kept its overall pacing quick, but slowed down when it needed to and quickened when necessary. There was a certain air of mystery and longing for answers since the very first sentence, which led me to read on.
Now my absolute favourite part about Feathered would be Elward and his character development. At first, we are made to think he is the villain of the story, but as it progresses, we see that there is so much more to him and I honestly couldn’t have fallen in love with him more. (I also have a feeling Marion will ditch prince Aldren soon and realize that Elward is, oh, so much better, but maybe I’m just being hopeful.) All the characters in Wollaston’s fairy tale novel are fleshed out individuals who keep the plot going.
Nothing is perfect and there was one part, which bugged me throughout the book, as I kept thinking about it. How did Marion, a peasant, not to mention an outcast in her own village, fit in with the people in the castle so easily, especially the royals? Yes, I know that Liyanna had realized her identity as Princess Ida was fake right away, and I have a sneaky feeling that Aldren might have known something fishy was up as well, but it all seemed too simple for Marion. She snuck in and was accepted as a princess pretty much instantly. If she had never met royalty before, how would she have known how to behave? I might be too nitpicky, though.
In conclusion, I want to thank the author for giving this story and its characters a life they very much deserve. I wish you success!
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
There were many things I enjoyed about this novel. First, I was quite fascinated with the idea of “Creators” and “Healers”. It was a unique take on a genre overflowing with cliches. I also loved the idea of Marion creating an evil version of herself, as I found it absolutely refreshing and was interested to see how this would play out (I was not disappointed). Speaking of Marion, her character might have been one of my favourite female heroines, right next to Jane Eyre. Marion was strong, guided by reason, pretty, but still flawed and far from a Mary Sue. She was a great character, because she made mistakes. However, what was perhaps her most endearing trait were her values and superior sense of morality.
I was hooked from the very beginning. I prefer fast-paced stories most of the time, as I like to imagine everything happening whilst I read. Feathered kept its overall pacing quick, but slowed down when it needed to and quickened when necessary. There was a certain air of mystery and longing for answers since the very first sentence, which led me to read on.
Now my absolute favourite part about Feathered would be Elward and his character development. At first, we are made to think he is the villain of the story, but as it progresses, we see that there is so much more to him and I honestly couldn’t have fallen in love with him more. (I also have a feeling Marion will ditch prince Aldren soon and realize that Elward is, oh, so much better, but maybe I’m just being hopeful.) All the characters in Wollaston’s fairy tale novel are fleshed out individuals who keep the plot going.
Nothing is perfect and there was one part, which bugged me throughout the book, as I kept thinking about it. How did Marion, a peasant, not to mention an outcast in her own village, fit in with the people in the castle so easily, especially the royals? Yes, I know that Liyanna had realized her identity as Princess Ida was fake right away, and I have a sneaky feeling that Aldren might have known something fishy was up as well, but it all seemed too simple for Marion. She snuck in and was accepted as a princess pretty much instantly. If she had never met royalty before, how would she have known how to behave? I might be too nitpicky, though.
In conclusion, I want to thank the author for giving this story and its characters a life they very much deserve. I wish you success!
January 24, 2018
Feathered is a retelling of Swan Lake. Marion has been found guilty of witchcraft and has been ordered to be executed by the guillotine. On the day of her execution, she is saved by an evil wizard named Elward. While she is saved by a wizard, she finds that she is trapped between two forms, a swan and a beautiful darker parallel version of herself. Elward soon gives her a mission to pose as a princess and spy on the royal family. She tries to remain unnoticed, but she quickly catches the attentions of the prince. Marion must decide if she should continue the mission or risk it all by falling in love.
For the most part, I really liked Marion. She was a character that I could empathize with. She is mostly seen to be compassionate and kind. However, there were times that I was frustrated with her character. She can be too forgiving at times, and blind to the cruel actions of others. I didn’t like how how she was manipulated by others. Thus, I found her weak and wished that she could defend herself more. Since this is the first installment in the series, I’m hoping that in time she will become stronger and more self-confident.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and adventurous read of Swan Lake. I did not think that the characters were fully developed. I came away from the story not really knowing much about Marion or her powers. I also did not understand the world-building and was confused about how magic works in the realm. I think I would have loved the story more if the story had started with Marion’s life before her execution day to get a better understanding to her character when Elward saves her. Despite these flaws, I can’t wait for the sequel to see what is next in store for Marion. I recommend this novel for fans of Dearest, Princess of Glass, and The Beautiful Pretender.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
For the most part, I really liked Marion. She was a character that I could empathize with. She is mostly seen to be compassionate and kind. However, there were times that I was frustrated with her character. She can be too forgiving at times, and blind to the cruel actions of others. I didn’t like how how she was manipulated by others. Thus, I found her weak and wished that she could defend herself more. Since this is the first installment in the series, I’m hoping that in time she will become stronger and more self-confident.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and adventurous read of Swan Lake. I did not think that the characters were fully developed. I came away from the story not really knowing much about Marion or her powers. I also did not understand the world-building and was confused about how magic works in the realm. I think I would have loved the story more if the story had started with Marion’s life before her execution day to get a better understanding to her character when Elward saves her. Despite these flaws, I can’t wait for the sequel to see what is next in store for Marion. I recommend this novel for fans of Dearest, Princess of Glass, and The Beautiful Pretender.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
January 28, 2018
Okay, try to follow me, here. Fantasy seems easy to write, because of the magic. Your characters can do almost anything you want them to, and the magic explains it. But it’s not that easy. Fantasy can be all sorts of other genres as well. Fantasy Romance, Fantasy Adventure, Fantasy Murder Mystery. And when you write one of those, you are restricted by the conventions of the other genre as well.
This means that when you write Fantasy Spy Fiction, you have to get your intrigue chops straight. If the main character is pretending to be a princess and somebody catches on to one of her mistakes, she better have a very good story to calm his suspicions. And if her excuse is so lame that no one could believe it, but he does, then it’s either poor writing, or…wait a minute…maybe he’s just pretending to believe her, and later…
But if her excuse is so lame that there’s no way he could believe it, then how is she so naïve as to believe that he believes it, (Do you follow me?) and it’s beginning to look much more like sloppy spy fiction.
And I’m afraid that’s the case in this book. The complexity of the situation – girl changes to swan and alternates between avatar of herself and swan that becomes human for one hour of the day, but avatar starts developing a personality – is unfortunately not matched by a corresponding clever turn of plot from the author, and we find ourselves simply not believing. In Fantasy that is Not A Good Thing.
And all of this is very unfortunate, because this is great Fantasy. The main character is fascinating, the romantic plotline is complicated but completely believable, and –it does take a while – eventually we become entranced in the conflict, and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Which we don’t, because this is a to-be-continued serial novel. Nonetheless…
Recommended for fans of Not-So-Fairy Tale Princess stories who are willing to stretch their suspension of disbelief a bit further than normal.
This means that when you write Fantasy Spy Fiction, you have to get your intrigue chops straight. If the main character is pretending to be a princess and somebody catches on to one of her mistakes, she better have a very good story to calm his suspicions. And if her excuse is so lame that no one could believe it, but he does, then it’s either poor writing, or…wait a minute…maybe he’s just pretending to believe her, and later…
But if her excuse is so lame that there’s no way he could believe it, then how is she so naïve as to believe that he believes it, (Do you follow me?) and it’s beginning to look much more like sloppy spy fiction.
And I’m afraid that’s the case in this book. The complexity of the situation – girl changes to swan and alternates between avatar of herself and swan that becomes human for one hour of the day, but avatar starts developing a personality – is unfortunately not matched by a corresponding clever turn of plot from the author, and we find ourselves simply not believing. In Fantasy that is Not A Good Thing.
And all of this is very unfortunate, because this is great Fantasy. The main character is fascinating, the romantic plotline is complicated but completely believable, and –it does take a while – eventually we become entranced in the conflict, and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Which we don’t, because this is a to-be-continued serial novel. Nonetheless…
Recommended for fans of Not-So-Fairy Tale Princess stories who are willing to stretch their suspension of disbelief a bit further than normal.
January 2, 2018
An incredible adventure, Feathered is a wonderful adaptation of Swan Lake. The author Rachel Wollaston weaves a fantastic tale of magic, suspense, and romance. The main character Marion is such a strong heroine as she fights to save her father’s life. Unfortunately she is now being forced to do the biddings of a not-so-nice sorcerer named Elward in exchange for his ability to heal her father. Oh! And she also has to live in the body of a swan for most of the day. It is only after Elward discovers Marion’s spell (that she had done before she became a swan) that his evil plan starts to form. He forces Marion to masquerade as a princess to do something not very kind to the royal family. This is when she meets Prince Aldren and craziness ensues. This book did end on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to see what is in store for book 2!
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
April 16, 2022
2 of 5 stars seems overly critical of a rating to me, but I did find it "okay", and that's what 2 stars is.
I read through the initial chapters available on Wattpad. The positives are that there are a number of intriguing, fresh ideas in the plot of this book and it is competently written. The character's situation, the world, who she is and what she's feeling -- none of that was described with enough detail and richness, however, to really get me really engaged in the story.
Regarding the physical transformation aspects and what it is like to be in the body of a swan, the book spent a little time on it and it was a pretty standard take for transformation prose, so nothing to specifically pick up this book for.
I read through the initial chapters available on Wattpad. The positives are that there are a number of intriguing, fresh ideas in the plot of this book and it is competently written. The character's situation, the world, who she is and what she's feeling -- none of that was described with enough detail and richness, however, to really get me really engaged in the story.
Regarding the physical transformation aspects and what it is like to be in the body of a swan, the book spent a little time on it and it was a pretty standard take for transformation prose, so nothing to specifically pick up this book for.
May 22, 2018
This was an interesting twist on Swan Lake. I found the protagonist very dynamic and relatable – a kind witch whose dream was to save her ailing father. I loved the way Elward kept us guessing. Was he an evil equal to the Swan Lake villain, or was there something more to him? This book was part fairy tale, part mystery, and part comedy/romance. I’m glad there will be more to this series. The resolution was satisfying, but there were enough unanswered questions to leave us hungry for more. Very well done.
January 23, 2018
I just finished reading Feathered. A very thrilling story unfolds in front of me. A white witch, Marion DuVal, seeks help from a short-tempered Sorcerer to save her sick father. A very bad idea. She ends up in the body of a swan. And the moment her evil self and a Prince are involved it gets from bad to worse.
Can’t wait for the second installment of Marion’s adventure, to learn if our Heroine figures out who can be trusted and who’s dark agenda brings more grief and mayhem.
Can’t wait for the second installment of Marion’s adventure, to learn if our Heroine figures out who can be trusted and who’s dark agenda brings more grief and mayhem.
February 5, 2018
Another hit by Rachel.
Can't stop this girl from creating a world you can get lost in. Third book I have read by this brilliant author and can't wait to read more.
Can't stop this girl from creating a world you can get lost in. Third book I have read by this brilliant author and can't wait to read more.
April 17, 2018
Cliff hanger
Must read next book...I don’t own it yet! Challenging to get started. Typos scattered, but the storyline itself was difficult to follow at first. Good book though!
Must read next book...I don’t own it yet! Challenging to get started. Typos scattered, but the storyline itself was difficult to follow at first. Good book though!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews