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The Serpent and the Swan
She’s not an average princess, but is she as dangerous as they believe?
Cygna has been kept under the shadow of secrecy for two decades. Not only is she the King’s illegitimate firstborn, she’s also an extraordinary half-fae with a wing in place of an arm who instills fear and suspicion in those close to her.
But now a terrifying evil is ravaging the kingdom. A Lindworm is making a path straight for the castle, and the King and Queen believe Cygna has the power to stop the serpent. Except Cygna knows what her hateful stepmother really wants is to keep Cygna from inheriting the throne.
They send Cygna on a dangerous journey to the underworld where she meets others like her. She begins to see she’s not the unnatural creature she was brought up to believe. But will Cygna have the bravery to confront the terrifying serpent and defeat her darkest fears? Her freedom and life will depend on it.
The Serpent and the Swan is a magical coming-of-age novella perfect for fantasy readers inspired by Scandinavian folklore and the darkest fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
Cygna has been kept under the shadow of secrecy for two decades. Not only is she the King’s illegitimate firstborn, she’s also an extraordinary half-fae with a wing in place of an arm who instills fear and suspicion in those close to her.
But now a terrifying evil is ravaging the kingdom. A Lindworm is making a path straight for the castle, and the King and Queen believe Cygna has the power to stop the serpent. Except Cygna knows what her hateful stepmother really wants is to keep Cygna from inheriting the throne.
They send Cygna on a dangerous journey to the underworld where she meets others like her. She begins to see she’s not the unnatural creature she was brought up to believe. But will Cygna have the bravery to confront the terrifying serpent and defeat her darkest fears? Her freedom and life will depend on it.
The Serpent and the Swan is a magical coming-of-age novella perfect for fantasy readers inspired by Scandinavian folklore and the darkest fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
- GenresFantasyFairy TalesEbooks
132 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2021
About the author
Ashland Pym
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Ashland Pym made her debut in the theatre where she won a few minor awards and delighted in tormenting characters, actors, and audiences alike. After taking a break to get her MA/PhD in Myth and Psychology, she returned to fiction with a blend of dark, contemporary, and historical fantasy.
Pym has been a shepherd, a stage manager, and a volunteer for collecting otter droppings. She dabbles with myth in academia, couches it into fiction, and lives it in her tiny woodland cottage in Connemara.
Or you can get early announcements, sneak peaks, and giveaways from Pym's Pen, her monthly reader list. Sign up at http://www.pymspen.com/signup
Ashland Pym made her debut in the theatre where she won a few minor awards and delighted in tormenting characters, actors, and audiences alike. After taking a break to get her MA/PhD in Myth and Psychology, she returned to fiction with a blend of dark, contemporary, and historical fantasy.
Pym has been a shepherd, a stage manager, and a volunteer for collecting otter droppings. She dabbles with myth in academia, couches it into fiction, and lives it in her tiny woodland cottage in Connemara.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 10, 2021
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
A cursed princess by her unconventional parentage. A kingdom brought almost to ruins by her father's greed. A ruthless queen with a heart that can't be mended and a quest that will either salvage everyone or destroy everything.
This has been such an amazing fairytale with lessons to learn along the way. Cygna is being born with a swan wing instead of a left arm and even tho her father loved her, he never actually accepted her the way she was. He kept her in the dark, made her wear uncomfortable dresses to hide her wing, and when she came of age instead of making her the queen of the throne, he accepted the Queen’s advice and sent Cygna on a quest to save the castle from the monster of the Underworld – the Lindworm.
It's not very often when I get to read fairytales, and this one was surprising. The story is based on traditional stories like The King Lindorm from Scandinavian folklore, where a human is being trapped in a serpent body. He is angry, self-righteous, and greedy inflicting cruelty on those around him. In this tale, it takes a brave female to liberate him from his curse – stripping him from his awful traits and break him down to his barest self before he can redeem himself as a monarch and a husband.
However, in our story, Cygna is not being married to the Fae King but sent on the quest on saving the castle from his wrath. But Cygna is not on this quest just to redeem the king, but also for her own redemption. The 9 layers of clothing she is stripping are her old self, her persona that she was before. The 9 layers of skin the king is shedding are the traits that he leaves behind to be reborn. Both of them go through a transformation that will change and break them before they can find themselves again.
The story has amazing world-building, especially the Underworld. The fae folk is being described so fantastically and even tho for the normal people were considered unnatural, for themselves they were perfect just the way they were. For sure I’d try and read more fairytales because I always find them interesting since most of them have some lessons at the core – and until now I had no idea about the Lindorm folklore.
A cursed princess by her unconventional parentage. A kingdom brought almost to ruins by her father's greed. A ruthless queen with a heart that can't be mended and a quest that will either salvage everyone or destroy everything.
This has been such an amazing fairytale with lessons to learn along the way. Cygna is being born with a swan wing instead of a left arm and even tho her father loved her, he never actually accepted her the way she was. He kept her in the dark, made her wear uncomfortable dresses to hide her wing, and when she came of age instead of making her the queen of the throne, he accepted the Queen’s advice and sent Cygna on a quest to save the castle from the monster of the Underworld – the Lindworm.
It's not very often when I get to read fairytales, and this one was surprising. The story is based on traditional stories like The King Lindorm from Scandinavian folklore, where a human is being trapped in a serpent body. He is angry, self-righteous, and greedy inflicting cruelty on those around him. In this tale, it takes a brave female to liberate him from his curse – stripping him from his awful traits and break him down to his barest self before he can redeem himself as a monarch and a husband.
However, in our story, Cygna is not being married to the Fae King but sent on the quest on saving the castle from his wrath. But Cygna is not on this quest just to redeem the king, but also for her own redemption. The 9 layers of clothing she is stripping are her old self, her persona that she was before. The 9 layers of skin the king is shedding are the traits that he leaves behind to be reborn. Both of them go through a transformation that will change and break them before they can find themselves again.
The story has amazing world-building, especially the Underworld. The fae folk is being described so fantastically and even tho for the normal people were considered unnatural, for themselves they were perfect just the way they were. For sure I’d try and read more fairytales because I always find them interesting since most of them have some lessons at the core – and until now I had no idea about the Lindorm folklore.
March 16, 2021
Pym executes a difficult challenge here perfectly, delivering an engaging and evocative tale in a hugely enjoyable read.
Faery tales, as all folk storytelling traditions do, has a history of telling. re-telling, synthesis, re-creation . . .and however you want to say recycling themes/characters/settings as needed to spin a yarn that calls back to a shared mythology while also engaging with contemporary themes. This makes the novella a perfect format as the author can set a scene and key characters in place with a broad brush by invoking tradition but then give us exquisite details of novelty that updates it all for our time; the story pops from the page as a contrast of the assumed old and the asserted new.
I hate to reference other works to praise an author, as it feels like an ignoring of uniqueness, but I must say if you like Susanna ClarkeSusanna Clarke, I feel you enjoy the "feel" of this as well. I'd say that word-for-word The Serpent and the Swan stands equal with Under the Pendulum SunUnder the Pendulum Sun for bringing the faery tradition forward for fantasy readers.
I do hope Pym delivers more . . .
Faery tales, as all folk storytelling traditions do, has a history of telling. re-telling, synthesis, re-creation . . .and however you want to say recycling themes/characters/settings as needed to spin a yarn that calls back to a shared mythology while also engaging with contemporary themes. This makes the novella a perfect format as the author can set a scene and key characters in place with a broad brush by invoking tradition but then give us exquisite details of novelty that updates it all for our time; the story pops from the page as a contrast of the assumed old and the asserted new.
I hate to reference other works to praise an author, as it feels like an ignoring of uniqueness, but I must say if you like Susanna ClarkeSusanna Clarke, I feel you enjoy the "feel" of this as well. I'd say that word-for-word The Serpent and the Swan stands equal with Under the Pendulum SunUnder the Pendulum Sun for bringing the faery tradition forward for fantasy readers.
I do hope Pym delivers more . . .
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June 29, 2021Check here for news on the sequel!
19 Feb 21 - The sequel, as yet untitled, is well under way in the pre-writing phase. The first book, The Serpent and the Swan is a nice little fairy tale to introduce the world and the characters, and the subsequent books are far more in-depth.
You can also find updates on my website or by signing up for my Readers List, Pym's Pen.
19 Feb 21 - The sequel, as yet untitled, is well under way in the pre-writing phase. The first book, The Serpent and the Swan is a nice little fairy tale to introduce the world and the characters, and the subsequent books are far more in-depth.
You can also find updates on my website or by signing up for my Readers List, Pym's Pen.
March 15, 2021
Overall, I enjoyed the story, though I liked the first part a lot more than the second.
The first half of the book sets the stage, focusing first on Cygna's father and then on her. It was initially a bit confusing because a lot of space is given to Cygna's parents and their relationship, so at the beginning, I thought one of them was going to be the protagonist. Only when Cygna appears - well into the story - the attention shifts to her.
Cygna is a fascinating character, well built, with a complex personality. I particularly enjoyed the complex relations around her and, therefore, her interaction with the different family members.
But precisely because I enter so deeply into Cygna's family and family relations, I was expecting something more out of it.
When Cygna enters the Underworld, a lot gets lost of what has gone on before. The focus and, apparently, the goal of the story change completely.
Although I enjoyed the mood and the atmosphere of the Underground, I found it a lot less involving than the first part. Here, relationships become a lot less important, and I wonder whether this is the reason why I cared less about this part than the first one.
This second part presents itself as a journey of self-discovery for Cygna, which I like, but somehow I lost touch with Cygna's reasons and emotions. While in the first part, I was greatly invested in Cygna's feelings and her yarning for her family, here, the story was more mechanical. I felt that it progressed more because of the story's structure than because of the character's true urge. Why should Cygna be so taken by the Underworld King, for example? This is where Cygna finds her value as a human being, but the process feels so impersonal that it never comes near to the raw emotions of the first part. I couldn't care for these relations the same way I cared for Cygna's family relations, and so I lost investment in the story.
The fight with the Lindworn didn't do anything to get me into the story again. I found it to be lukewarm, considering it's the turning point of the story.
The concluding part was quite disappointing, to be honest.
Because so much emotional involvement built towards Cygna's family initially, I was expecting closure here. Instead, the story shifts so much to Cygna that all the loose ends from the first part are left hanging. And I was really sorry about this. I felt as if the story hadn't concluded.
So, it was a good story, by which I mean that there was a great premise, there were some great characters and conflicts in the first part, but I felt the structure was unbalanced, and so I didn't find satisfaction in the ending.
The first half of the book sets the stage, focusing first on Cygna's father and then on her. It was initially a bit confusing because a lot of space is given to Cygna's parents and their relationship, so at the beginning, I thought one of them was going to be the protagonist. Only when Cygna appears - well into the story - the attention shifts to her.
Cygna is a fascinating character, well built, with a complex personality. I particularly enjoyed the complex relations around her and, therefore, her interaction with the different family members.
But precisely because I enter so deeply into Cygna's family and family relations, I was expecting something more out of it.
When Cygna enters the Underworld, a lot gets lost of what has gone on before. The focus and, apparently, the goal of the story change completely.
Although I enjoyed the mood and the atmosphere of the Underground, I found it a lot less involving than the first part. Here, relationships become a lot less important, and I wonder whether this is the reason why I cared less about this part than the first one.
This second part presents itself as a journey of self-discovery for Cygna, which I like, but somehow I lost touch with Cygna's reasons and emotions. While in the first part, I was greatly invested in Cygna's feelings and her yarning for her family, here, the story was more mechanical. I felt that it progressed more because of the story's structure than because of the character's true urge. Why should Cygna be so taken by the Underworld King, for example? This is where Cygna finds her value as a human being, but the process feels so impersonal that it never comes near to the raw emotions of the first part. I couldn't care for these relations the same way I cared for Cygna's family relations, and so I lost investment in the story.
The fight with the Lindworn didn't do anything to get me into the story again. I found it to be lukewarm, considering it's the turning point of the story.
The concluding part was quite disappointing, to be honest.
Because so much emotional involvement built towards Cygna's family initially, I was expecting closure here. Instead, the story shifts so much to Cygna that all the loose ends from the first part are left hanging. And I was really sorry about this. I felt as if the story hadn't concluded.
So, it was a good story, by which I mean that there was a great premise, there were some great characters and conflicts in the first part, but I felt the structure was unbalanced, and so I didn't find satisfaction in the ending.
January 29, 2021
This book has everything you could want in a fairytale. It is both beautiful and hard to read in its cruelty. Princess Cygna is of two worlds and doesn't belong really in either. However, she still has the heart to do her best to save them. It's a short quick read but I can't wait to read more from this author. Thanks to StoryOrigin for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 30, 2021
* I received an ARC for my honest review*
I really enjoyed this story. It was a wonderful reimagining of the Lindworm story. I would love to read more of these wonderful characters, to see what else they are doing and see what other myths the author can use with them.
I really enjoyed this story. It was a wonderful reimagining of the Lindworm story. I would love to read more of these wonderful characters, to see what else they are doing and see what other myths the author can use with them.
January 11, 2021
A lyrical coming-of-age fairytale that will appeal to fans of Juliet Marillier and Angela Carter.
February 9, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this fairytale. It captivated me from the start and kept making me want to read it quicker, while at the same time wanting to take my time to soak in the words. I really liked the Lindworm and the way it was woven into the story. A fairytale lesson to be learned from this novella is one that we all can use at any point in our lives- one of figuring out how to be happy in your own skin. This is a book I’d definitely reread and would recommend to anyone!
September 19, 2021
5 Stars
Fairy tales and depth
This is just beautiful. I can't say I was familiar with most of the fairytale involved, but I recognized a lot of the mythological underpinnings. The narration was close enough to understand the motivations and thinking of the characters, but not intimate enough to spoil the mystery and magic.
I received a free copy of this book from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
Fairy tales and depth
This is just beautiful. I can't say I was familiar with most of the fairytale involved, but I recognized a lot of the mythological underpinnings. The narration was close enough to understand the motivations and thinking of the characters, but not intimate enough to spoil the mystery and magic.
I received a free copy of this book from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
I really loved this story, and I can't wait for more.
March 11, 2021
Very well done short story. I had lower expectations knowing it was short, so it doesn't go into much detail, interactions are short, descriptions are kept to a minimum, yet the writing is still well done.
This could easily have been fleshed out into a full length novel. I think there may be a sequel planned and look forward to it.
It does read as an original fairy tale, and is executed wonderfully.
This could easily have been fleshed out into a full length novel. I think there may be a sequel planned and look forward to it.
It does read as an original fairy tale, and is executed wonderfully.
March 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this short story. This tale is a twist on the Swan Princess and how two worlds mirror each other. The Swan Princess saves both worlds and goes from child/princess to woman/queen in her adventure. I liked how the author takes on this journey and leaves an open ending leaving us open for further adventures for the Swan Princess. This is a great read and I recommend it for young and old alike.
January 15, 2021
Oh what a delightful read. Much too short only because I was so enjoying it. Can't wait for the sequel!!!
November 9, 2022
Should have taken a few more pages to fully flesh and details everything out but it was a super fast read which is a good thing in my book.
April 19, 2022
2 This is indeed like an old story. Someone is telling you. But it lacked all the emotional attachments and how romance grow first between the king and the allwhitewoman than the other king and C/S. I mean yupp he was beautiful so? (Beside he is a fae so I always shaved him in mind instead of the fancy trimmed (?) beard) so it couldnt engage me at all. Took me 3 days to get over this few pages as I always found something thats needed immediate cleaning.
I loved the design of the cover and honestly expected sg like the Savage&Swan.
At least without the deep discussion of the heroines emotional development you didnt get a multipersonality—hysterics-butbadass-andeveniwantyouiwilldenyyouasihateyou main character so I call it a gain ;)
I loved the design of the cover and honestly expected sg like the Savage&Swan.
At least without the deep discussion of the heroines emotional development you didnt get a multipersonality—hysterics-butbadass-andeveniwantyouiwilldenyyouasihateyou main character so I call it a gain ;)
July 8, 2026
The Serpent and the Swan by Ashland Pym – It has the vibes of a Grimm fairy tale with enough uniqueness to be a new story all its own! I would happily have another adventure in this world! Happy Reading!
January 13, 2021
Review forthcoming
December 30, 2024
This was a quick fun read and interesting fantasy fairytale about Cygna Sigune. I enjoyed it but the ending felt abrupt and I was looking forward to Sigune confront her father and stepmother.
February 25, 2021
I loved this Story. I wasn't sure what to expect but it sucked me from the beginning until the end. It's everything you would want in a fairy tale and more. The world building was detailed and imaginative. I actually felt like this book was too short because I wanted more. I can't wait to read the sequel. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 15, 2022
I loved this story even more the second time I read it. So many subtle nuances that I missed the first time.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews