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Swan Song Of My Era
What happens when Hope Vale, an aspiring Vitiligo make-up artist who wants to eradicate the market of whitening products meets Spes Zrey, an arrogant Hugo-Boss awardee struggling to shape her Designer dream, as they envision reshaping Asia into the next Fashion empire together?
'Set in Malaysia, this Contemporary Fiction is all about the gruelling ambition against all hurdles of reality to break the confinements of Gender and the stereotypes of preferred white beauty in Asia.
'Set in Malaysia, this Contemporary Fiction is all about the gruelling ambition against all hurdles of reality to break the confinements of Gender and the stereotypes of preferred white beauty in Asia.
414 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2021
2 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 96 reviews
July 2, 2021
Spes Zrey, an arrogant Hugo-boss awardee fashion designer with major trust issues, grappling with society's preset stereotypical norms to fight her dream to take the Fashion world into next level. Hope Vale, a vitiligo make-up artist who is hell-bent to eradicate whitening products from beauty industry. What will happen when they find each other in the realm of personal hardships and break the confinements of gender binary and stereotyped beauty standards?
Swan Song of My Era is an Young Adult Queer Contemporary Fiction novel. Set in Malaysia this book revolves around Zrey and her surrounding peoples. This book follows the beauty and fashion world where the the 'stigma of colour' is still prevalent. Author has meticulously raised a very important topic of modern day issues. Apart from that this book has a very good character sketch of protagonist and her life.
The book is mainly written in Zrey's perspective. She may look arrogant at first but her character is very dynamic and has depth. Zrey's character has so many facets, she is an isolated person, calculative but not cold. Her refusal to accept other's opinions come across as arrogance to everyone but her character is highly relatable and realistic. She is more of a guarded personality who respect others of their choices and don't like any intrusion in her space.
The remarkable writing style deserve more praise. The bejwelled and poetic writing with myriad emotions is helping this book to stand out. Sometime It's gloomy and serious, sometime It's happy and humorous, author really has a way with words.
This book radiates very good vibe of love, understanding and body positivity. However this book is lengthy and sometimes the sudden change of plot is confusing. Nonetheless I liked the slow development of characters.
Swan Song of My Era is an Young Adult Queer Contemporary Fiction novel. Set in Malaysia this book revolves around Zrey and her surrounding peoples. This book follows the beauty and fashion world where the the 'stigma of colour' is still prevalent. Author has meticulously raised a very important topic of modern day issues. Apart from that this book has a very good character sketch of protagonist and her life.
The book is mainly written in Zrey's perspective. She may look arrogant at first but her character is very dynamic and has depth. Zrey's character has so many facets, she is an isolated person, calculative but not cold. Her refusal to accept other's opinions come across as arrogance to everyone but her character is highly relatable and realistic. She is more of a guarded personality who respect others of their choices and don't like any intrusion in her space.
The remarkable writing style deserve more praise. The bejwelled and poetic writing with myriad emotions is helping this book to stand out. Sometime It's gloomy and serious, sometime It's happy and humorous, author really has a way with words.
This book radiates very good vibe of love, understanding and body positivity. However this book is lengthy and sometimes the sudden change of plot is confusing. Nonetheless I liked the slow development of characters.
August 6, 2021
4 STARS
This is a great read I find it refreshing!It was a little bit slow in the beginning but then it goes fast!I highlighted many parts of the story!Loved the writing and the characters a lot!
Hope and Spes stole my heart, loved them! Spes is so strong character!Spes is an aspiring fashion designer and Hope is a makeup artist, and their paths intertwine. I liked their relationship!I feel like both were storng and fiesty and I liked their dynamic!
This story deals with some important themes like skin diseases and gender stereotyping.
This is a great read I find it refreshing!It was a little bit slow in the beginning but then it goes fast!I highlighted many parts of the story!Loved the writing and the characters a lot!
Hope and Spes stole my heart, loved them! Spes is so strong character!Spes is an aspiring fashion designer and Hope is a makeup artist, and their paths intertwine. I liked their relationship!I feel like both were storng and fiesty and I liked their dynamic!
This story deals with some important themes like skin diseases and gender stereotyping.
July 15, 2021
“Swan Song” refers to the brilliant song a swan sings right before it dies. Which implies that a swan can put out its best magic mere seconds before it leaves the world forever. Isn’t our society that way too? Once you reach the peak point of your career or academics, your graph is ultimately expected to come crashing down, because your best has already been exhausted.
Spes Zrey and Hope Vale want to change that. They want to show the world that the most excellent thing does not always have to be a sign for something to end, but also for something exceptional to begin.
Both of them have such contrasting personalities but still end up completing each other like the missing pieces of a puzzle. This relationship was very well built, especially the way Elsie went to the root of each and everything to explore a certain character in all their glory.
It was very enjoyable to read about the deep conversations that the characters have, and though the book is kind of slow paced, it is something worth savouring, bit by bit. Talks about some of the most complex topics were handled extremely well, with some quotations worth remembering and loving.
The story is set in Malaysia, and both Hope and Spes have dreams that are not very much accepted or acknowledged by the Asian society. But the best part was that nothing could stop these girls from breaking stereotypes and establishing an individuality of their own. They were bold, spoke up and did not shy away from achieving what they wanted.
Hope’s struggle with the stereotypes that she had to deal with were very upsetting. A talented makeup artist whose art was casually dismissed just because she had vitiligo. I loved the way her character was developed in a subtle way and how she learns to know her worth despite all odds.
Spes had to deal with questions and arguments about her life wherever she went. Some said that she would fail. Some said she wasn’t good enough. Some questioned her worth. But she kept on going in the strongest manner and the way she proudly stood out will make YOU feel proud of her. She came from a complex past and lived in a difficult present, and her character arc was pulled off very well.
The loose ends throughout the story were knitted in a masterful manner towards the end, providing a satisfactory conclusion that gave the beloved characters what they deserved.
Spes Zrey and Hope Vale want to change that. They want to show the world that the most excellent thing does not always have to be a sign for something to end, but also for something exceptional to begin.
Both of them have such contrasting personalities but still end up completing each other like the missing pieces of a puzzle. This relationship was very well built, especially the way Elsie went to the root of each and everything to explore a certain character in all their glory.
It was very enjoyable to read about the deep conversations that the characters have, and though the book is kind of slow paced, it is something worth savouring, bit by bit. Talks about some of the most complex topics were handled extremely well, with some quotations worth remembering and loving.
The story is set in Malaysia, and both Hope and Spes have dreams that are not very much accepted or acknowledged by the Asian society. But the best part was that nothing could stop these girls from breaking stereotypes and establishing an individuality of their own. They were bold, spoke up and did not shy away from achieving what they wanted.
Hope’s struggle with the stereotypes that she had to deal with were very upsetting. A talented makeup artist whose art was casually dismissed just because she had vitiligo. I loved the way her character was developed in a subtle way and how she learns to know her worth despite all odds.
Spes had to deal with questions and arguments about her life wherever she went. Some said that she would fail. Some said she wasn’t good enough. Some questioned her worth. But she kept on going in the strongest manner and the way she proudly stood out will make YOU feel proud of her. She came from a complex past and lived in a difficult present, and her character arc was pulled off very well.
The loose ends throughout the story were knitted in a masterful manner towards the end, providing a satisfactory conclusion that gave the beloved characters what they deserved.
September 26, 2022
Thank you to the author for providing an ebook and physical copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
Thank you @elsie.iyle for this copy.
BOOK REVIEW
4 stars
The style in which this book is written feels very much like an autobiography. There are long monologues and instant flashback scenes.
It started a bit slow mostly owing to the two attributes I have specified before, but once past the 40% mark starts getting better but for me, it's mostly because we are introduced to our second main character- Hope Vale, to be very honest I had started shipping them since the museum scene and since I literally can't read a book which doesn't have a hint of romance so me doing so was a given.
This book has an Asian LGBTQIA+ rep. Being from a South Asian decent there were so many things/instances in this book which feel to be so very true about the Asian society- the taunts, the jabs, the "standardised expected perception of the definition of beauty"
Spes is character whom I very much loved, and of course Hope too, I loved their very first interaction, it was formal yet it was a very deep conversation about art. Indeed one of the best things about this book is the way the MCs talk. Although I did feel that there were times when Spes' conversation with other characters felt bland and like an interview. And I did feel that the book blurb doesn't do much justice to the book's actual plot.
Another thing I loved was the dynamics of the sister trio. I liked the very unique form of chapter titles as quotes with my best being-Creators of Crowns lack the patience to wait for their ascend to the throne enamoured by the prospect of making one for themselves.
I loved how symbolisim feels to be such a big part of this book, starting from the name of the book and ending with the flowers. And the word end reminds me that this book has one of the best epilogue/ending that I have ever read.
BOOK REVIEW
4 stars
The style in which this book is written feels very much like an autobiography. There are long monologues and instant flashback scenes.
It started a bit slow mostly owing to the two attributes I have specified before, but once past the 40% mark starts getting better but for me, it's mostly because we are introduced to our second main character- Hope Vale, to be very honest I had started shipping them since the museum scene and since I literally can't read a book which doesn't have a hint of romance so me doing so was a given.
This book has an Asian LGBTQIA+ rep. Being from a South Asian decent there were so many things/instances in this book which feel to be so very true about the Asian society- the taunts, the jabs, the "standardised expected perception of the definition of beauty"
Spes is character whom I very much loved, and of course Hope too, I loved their very first interaction, it was formal yet it was a very deep conversation about art. Indeed one of the best things about this book is the way the MCs talk. Although I did feel that there were times when Spes' conversation with other characters felt bland and like an interview. And I did feel that the book blurb doesn't do much justice to the book's actual plot.
Another thing I loved was the dynamics of the sister trio. I liked the very unique form of chapter titles as quotes with my best being-Creators of Crowns lack the patience to wait for their ascend to the throne enamoured by the prospect of making one for themselves.
I loved how symbolisim feels to be such a big part of this book, starting from the name of the book and ending with the flowers. And the word end reminds me that this book has one of the best epilogue/ending that I have ever read.
August 7, 2021
Sapphic f/f slow burn, body positivity, and Asian rep!! Do I need to say more??
Just kidding I will.
From the beginning I was sucked in and I couldn’t wait to see how the main character found her artistic passion and what she would do with it. However, I was confused on how the story would play out, I had no clue, but that is also super cool in many ways!
I love the flashback scenes. I’m almost always a fan of flash backs. I love how these specifically gave so much more detail and dimension to the characters.
I love the symbolism in this book! We start the prologue hearing about “swan song” which is said in a folklore that it is the “most beautiful hymn of swans right before their death”. It was a really beautiful and intriguing start to the book.
And the romance! AMAZING! I just love Hope and Spes.
And, thank you PrideBookTours for including me on this tour and Elise Swain for sending me this lovely book!
Just kidding I will.
From the beginning I was sucked in and I couldn’t wait to see how the main character found her artistic passion and what she would do with it. However, I was confused on how the story would play out, I had no clue, but that is also super cool in many ways!
I love the flashback scenes. I’m almost always a fan of flash backs. I love how these specifically gave so much more detail and dimension to the characters.
I love the symbolism in this book! We start the prologue hearing about “swan song” which is said in a folklore that it is the “most beautiful hymn of swans right before their death”. It was a really beautiful and intriguing start to the book.
And the romance! AMAZING! I just love Hope and Spes.
And, thank you PrideBookTours for including me on this tour and Elise Swain for sending me this lovely book!
June 28, 2021
Huge thank you to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of her book to review! No spoilers, but here are my honest thoughts.
Set in Malaysia with Southeast Asian biracial protagonists, this YA contemporary follows Spes Zrey and Hope Vale in their artistical journey. Spes is your conventional canvas artist/ aspiring fashion designer and Hope is a blooming makeup artist, and their paths intertwine in their last year in a Fine Arts high school. As Spes tackles her inner demons and Hope deals with prejudice due to her vitiligo, the both of them find parallels in each other; in their names and in their lives. I have never read a book where the main character has vitiligo, so this is definitely representation that is much needed in the realm of YA fiction. As a Malaysian, it's always nice to read a book set in my home!
This book is quite dialogue-heavy, so it did take some time to get into, but once I learnt about the characters and got a good look into their heads, I was invested. Spes is a firecracker who isn't afraid to speak her mind. She will not take insults from anyone, even if it's from her superiors, because she knows her worth. On the other hand, we have Hope who playfully neutralises Spes's fire. Hope proves her worth without needing to raise her voice and deploying sharp comments. Hope and Spes constantly argue for a good part of the book, but those arguments bared a little piece of their soul to each other until they ultimately found a connection. The conversations between Spes and Hope felt very raw, and it brought a sense of reality to a work of fiction.
Both Spes and Hope are strong and dynamic characters, but the character who stole my heart is none other than the beautiful René Fares. With her elegance, grace, and straight-to-the-heart candour, I resonated a lot with her and looked forward to each time that she made an appearance. Who doesn't love a poised artistic woman?
Following that, I must point out the relevance of the issues addressed. The two main issues are gender stereotypes and Eurocentric beauty standards in Asia, both of which are disputed by the main characters. Spes is consistently egged on to be more feminine and act more like a subservient eldest sister, which is depicted as synonymous to being meek and submissive. Meanwhile, Hope's vitiligo affects the outside perception of her work as a make-up artist. Both of these issues are prevalent in an Asian setting, so this book did a good job at contributing to this discussion. If you are unaware of such issues, then reading this book would definitely be an eye-opener.
One of my favourite things to encounter in a book is the seamless explanation of the title, and this book had exactly that. It's that moment that makes me go "oh, I get it now!" and it truly enriches the reading experience. Swain's writing style is lyrical, almost poetic, and it's too easy to get absorbed in the melody of the writing. Combined with relatable characters, significant issues, rare representation and the little nods to Malaysian culture, I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Swain's work.
Also, it's sapphic, which was a pleasant surprise!
I will end my review with this quote that stood out for me, spoken by Spes Zrey: "The temptations of chasing to evolve into our best selves is so alluring, that we often forget to take the time to accept ourselves."
4/5 stars!
Side note: Isn't the cover gorgeous? The author drew it herself - truly a woman of many talents!
Set in Malaysia with Southeast Asian biracial protagonists, this YA contemporary follows Spes Zrey and Hope Vale in their artistical journey. Spes is your conventional canvas artist/ aspiring fashion designer and Hope is a blooming makeup artist, and their paths intertwine in their last year in a Fine Arts high school. As Spes tackles her inner demons and Hope deals with prejudice due to her vitiligo, the both of them find parallels in each other; in their names and in their lives. I have never read a book where the main character has vitiligo, so this is definitely representation that is much needed in the realm of YA fiction. As a Malaysian, it's always nice to read a book set in my home!
This book is quite dialogue-heavy, so it did take some time to get into, but once I learnt about the characters and got a good look into their heads, I was invested. Spes is a firecracker who isn't afraid to speak her mind. She will not take insults from anyone, even if it's from her superiors, because she knows her worth. On the other hand, we have Hope who playfully neutralises Spes's fire. Hope proves her worth without needing to raise her voice and deploying sharp comments. Hope and Spes constantly argue for a good part of the book, but those arguments bared a little piece of their soul to each other until they ultimately found a connection. The conversations between Spes and Hope felt very raw, and it brought a sense of reality to a work of fiction.
Both Spes and Hope are strong and dynamic characters, but the character who stole my heart is none other than the beautiful René Fares. With her elegance, grace, and straight-to-the-heart candour, I resonated a lot with her and looked forward to each time that she made an appearance. Who doesn't love a poised artistic woman?
Following that, I must point out the relevance of the issues addressed. The two main issues are gender stereotypes and Eurocentric beauty standards in Asia, both of which are disputed by the main characters. Spes is consistently egged on to be more feminine and act more like a subservient eldest sister, which is depicted as synonymous to being meek and submissive. Meanwhile, Hope's vitiligo affects the outside perception of her work as a make-up artist. Both of these issues are prevalent in an Asian setting, so this book did a good job at contributing to this discussion. If you are unaware of such issues, then reading this book would definitely be an eye-opener.
One of my favourite things to encounter in a book is the seamless explanation of the title, and this book had exactly that. It's that moment that makes me go "oh, I get it now!" and it truly enriches the reading experience. Swain's writing style is lyrical, almost poetic, and it's too easy to get absorbed in the melody of the writing. Combined with relatable characters, significant issues, rare representation and the little nods to Malaysian culture, I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Swain's work.
Also, it's sapphic, which was a pleasant surprise!
I will end my review with this quote that stood out for me, spoken by Spes Zrey: "The temptations of chasing to evolve into our best selves is so alluring, that we often forget to take the time to accept ourselves."
4/5 stars!
Side note: Isn't the cover gorgeous? The author drew it herself - truly a woman of many talents!
July 25, 2021
Talking about why you should read it?
1. A Diverse Rep
One of the things I absolutely loved about the story is its representation. There are LGBTQIA+, disability, and vitiligo representation, it's very uncommon to see them together in a single story. And how can I not mention the fact that it's normalized. The experiences faced by these characters are what we see in our lives daily, no sugar coating, just the truth. I can never insist enough on how much this is important.
2. A beautiful depiction of platonic bonds & friendship
We always see friends and families (found families in some cases) in every book, but Elsie managed to create a realistic world with a lot of characters I'll cry for not having in my real life. No, they're not perfect, they fight, they misunderstand, they've their ambitions and are very selfish for it, but that's what makes them believable. I can see myself in their actions, their thoughts, it makes me feel like I'm the part of the story, not directly but definitely.
3. A different perspective on things and people
Reading the book made me realize that there can always be a different take in every given situation. If someone is appreciating you, it's not necessary that it's from goodwill. It can be sarcastic, they can be making fun of your achievement, it can be hypocrisy. The different dimensions of conversations were so surprising yet they felt real at the same time. We often tend to ignore the possibility of another side of the conversation, since it might be harmful to us and our dreams but it doesn't certainly deny its whole existence.
4. Swoon-worthy romance
Okay, now talking about Hope and Spes, these two have my heart. Every damn time I think I'll never fall in love with another character, the author drops a swoon-worthy power couple. Hope Vale, optimistic, and ambitious make-up artist, ready to change the white beauty standards in the Asian industry. Spes Zrey, an ambitious, Hugo-boss awardee, is known to be arrogant and selfish for her dreams. Polar opposites, and completing each other. They never knew they needed each other, but once they met, it all made sense. I can never get enough of these two.
5. Spes Zrey!
I won't be lying if I say that I'll be on my knees for Spes Zrey. A strong, powerful woman who knows how to fight for what's hers. No compromises, and adjustments for her goals, she'll take it with all her might. If it is her right, no one would be able to stop her. She's a bit too hard on herself, no excuses even if it's for herself. She knows how to respect boundaries and personal space. A queen who will love fiercely and with her whole heart. Huge respect. Hands down my favorite character.
Okay, I definitely have one problem with the book, how am I supposed to survive knowing Spes Zrey but also knowing that she will actually be never in my life.
1. A Diverse Rep
One of the things I absolutely loved about the story is its representation. There are LGBTQIA+, disability, and vitiligo representation, it's very uncommon to see them together in a single story. And how can I not mention the fact that it's normalized. The experiences faced by these characters are what we see in our lives daily, no sugar coating, just the truth. I can never insist enough on how much this is important.
2. A beautiful depiction of platonic bonds & friendship
We always see friends and families (found families in some cases) in every book, but Elsie managed to create a realistic world with a lot of characters I'll cry for not having in my real life. No, they're not perfect, they fight, they misunderstand, they've their ambitions and are very selfish for it, but that's what makes them believable. I can see myself in their actions, their thoughts, it makes me feel like I'm the part of the story, not directly but definitely.
3. A different perspective on things and people
Reading the book made me realize that there can always be a different take in every given situation. If someone is appreciating you, it's not necessary that it's from goodwill. It can be sarcastic, they can be making fun of your achievement, it can be hypocrisy. The different dimensions of conversations were so surprising yet they felt real at the same time. We often tend to ignore the possibility of another side of the conversation, since it might be harmful to us and our dreams but it doesn't certainly deny its whole existence.
4. Swoon-worthy romance
Okay, now talking about Hope and Spes, these two have my heart. Every damn time I think I'll never fall in love with another character, the author drops a swoon-worthy power couple. Hope Vale, optimistic, and ambitious make-up artist, ready to change the white beauty standards in the Asian industry. Spes Zrey, an ambitious, Hugo-boss awardee, is known to be arrogant and selfish for her dreams. Polar opposites, and completing each other. They never knew they needed each other, but once they met, it all made sense. I can never get enough of these two.
5. Spes Zrey!
I won't be lying if I say that I'll be on my knees for Spes Zrey. A strong, powerful woman who knows how to fight for what's hers. No compromises, and adjustments for her goals, she'll take it with all her might. If it is her right, no one would be able to stop her. She's a bit too hard on herself, no excuses even if it's for herself. She knows how to respect boundaries and personal space. A queen who will love fiercely and with her whole heart. Huge respect. Hands down my favorite character.
Okay, I definitely have one problem with the book, how am I supposed to survive knowing Spes Zrey but also knowing that she will actually be never in my life.
July 7, 2021
ᵂᵉ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʷʰᵒˡᵉʰᵉᵃʳᵗᵉᵈˡʸ ᵖʳⁱᵒʳⁱᵗⁱˢᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳᵗʰ ᵒᶠ 'ᵐᵉ', ᵗᵒ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳˢᵗᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵃʳᵐᵒⁿʸ ᵒᶠ ʰᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵒⁱᶜᵉ ᵒᶠ ˢᵃᶜʳⁱᶠⁱᶜⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵃᵗ 'ᵐᵉ' ˢʰᵒᵘˡᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵉˣⁱˢᵗ ⁱᶠ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ᵃᶜᵗᵘᵃˡˡʸ ⁱˢ ᵃⁿ 'ᵘˢ', ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗˢ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿˢ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱˢ ⁿᵒ ᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ 'ᵘˢ',ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱˢ ⁿᵒ 'ʸᵒᵘ & ᴵ', ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱˢ ʲᵘˢᵗ 'ʸᵒᵘ'.
𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ~ 4.4🌟
Spes Zrey, the protagonist, guarded yet very compassionate person when it comes her family and the people she cares utmost about. She is very passionate towards her dreams.
Hope Vale, complete opposite of Spes, is an aspiring vitiligo makeup artist is a sweet soul and her name depicts her personality. After reading this story, I realised every Hope needs Spes and every Spes needs Hope in her life. To make her believe that beauty is not defined by society. That it's okay to choose whom we wish to love. That it's okay to break your wall and fall in love. That You need not to be afraid to let people in, to move on from your dark past ♡♡
Story is set in Malaysia with asian protagonist. Elsie skillfully structured this story by taking into account various social and thought provoking topics like body shaming, bullying, LGBTQ and prevalence of skin whitening product in beauty industry. Book inspires you to be comfortable in your skin. How to not let stupid social norms to affect you or define you. If all us of starts to beleive in ourselves just as much as Spes did, then indeed all the idiotic beauty stereotype will be fully eradicated.
Having said that, I would have loved the story even more if chapters were short. There were times when I was completely lost about the plot. But overall story is brilliantly written and I recommend it to everyone. We're part of asian community, so it will be easy to relate.
~thanks to author for the arc copy~
𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ~ 4.4🌟
Spes Zrey, the protagonist, guarded yet very compassionate person when it comes her family and the people she cares utmost about. She is very passionate towards her dreams.
Hope Vale, complete opposite of Spes, is an aspiring vitiligo makeup artist is a sweet soul and her name depicts her personality. After reading this story, I realised every Hope needs Spes and every Spes needs Hope in her life. To make her believe that beauty is not defined by society. That it's okay to choose whom we wish to love. That it's okay to break your wall and fall in love. That You need not to be afraid to let people in, to move on from your dark past ♡♡
Story is set in Malaysia with asian protagonist. Elsie skillfully structured this story by taking into account various social and thought provoking topics like body shaming, bullying, LGBTQ and prevalence of skin whitening product in beauty industry. Book inspires you to be comfortable in your skin. How to not let stupid social norms to affect you or define you. If all us of starts to beleive in ourselves just as much as Spes did, then indeed all the idiotic beauty stereotype will be fully eradicated.
Having said that, I would have loved the story even more if chapters were short. There were times when I was completely lost about the plot. But overall story is brilliantly written and I recommend it to everyone. We're part of asian community, so it will be easy to relate.
~thanks to author for the arc copy~
August 4, 2021
Familial support, siblings tiff, individuality, pursuit of ambition, symbolism and lots and lots of Hope!!!
January 23, 2022
Swan Song of my Era is a story of hope, it is the journey of two individuals and their extraordinary vision. Spes Zrey and Hope Vale have the personalities on the opposite sides of a scale but are united in making the Asian beauty industry more tolerant. Spes has a realistic, rational approach to the world, while Hope's idea of life is filled with dreams. They fit in each other's life perfectly.
Hope's positive energy brings light in Spes' life. Belonging to a broken family and having spent a traumatic life, Spes found the warmth in Hope that she never did before. Together they embarked on their journey of changing the picture of the Asian beauty standards. This book is comforting and the journey of the characters is so gratifying to read about. It's an amalgamation of art, culture, literature and intimacy that leaves the reader yearning for more.
The story moves in it's own pace, as the beginning is unhurried and it takes time to build in the heart of the reader. But as it progresses midway, it turns out to be a page turner! Hope Vale is the heart and soul, her character felt like home. The characters have been all intricately weaved, filled with flaws and insecurities. But the more the reader is exposed to the things that they have been through, the more empathetic we become with them and there is a sudden urge to protect these characters.
This book requires efforts to read it. The characters of this one had complicated journeys filled with obstacles and stress, the experience is going to be similar for the reader too. But at the end, it will be worth it.
Hope's positive energy brings light in Spes' life. Belonging to a broken family and having spent a traumatic life, Spes found the warmth in Hope that she never did before. Together they embarked on their journey of changing the picture of the Asian beauty standards. This book is comforting and the journey of the characters is so gratifying to read about. It's an amalgamation of art, culture, literature and intimacy that leaves the reader yearning for more.
The story moves in it's own pace, as the beginning is unhurried and it takes time to build in the heart of the reader. But as it progresses midway, it turns out to be a page turner! Hope Vale is the heart and soul, her character felt like home. The characters have been all intricately weaved, filled with flaws and insecurities. But the more the reader is exposed to the things that they have been through, the more empathetic we become with them and there is a sudden urge to protect these characters.
This book requires efforts to read it. The characters of this one had complicated journeys filled with obstacles and stress, the experience is going to be similar for the reader too. But at the end, it will be worth it.
September 7, 2021
Can we take a moment to admire this beautiful cover art by the author
who is clearly a woman of many talents ♥️
“Art is my expression, it’s my voice in this world”
Swan song of my era by Elsie Swain is a YA contemporary novel set in Malaysia that is woven around the lives of two ambitious artists Spes Zrey and Hope Vale. Spes Zrey is a strong, persistent and aspiring fashion designer, a prestigious Hugo Boss awardee who believes in herself despite having a traumatic past and facing prejudiced opinions due to the various stigmas surrounding a broken family and single parenting. Hope Vale is an budding makeup artist with vitiligo who is taken for granted due to her appearance. She is like a ray of sunshine, an optimist who wants to break the beauty standards set by society and eradicate skin whitening products from the Asian beauty industry. Hope and Spes have my heart, it was adorable how they ended up supporting, inspiring and completing each other despite their contrasting personalities. Will they be able to challenge societal gender norms, break the beauty stereotypes and accomplish their dreams?
The book started off slow with a lot of detailing and complex dialogues that covered various themes but picks up pace and is unputdownable. The storyline is absolutely unique and beautiful with a good character development. The book is diverse and inclusive with LGBTQ, disability and vitiligo representation. Overall it was a beautiful and inspiring book that encourages us to believe in our dreams, be comfortable in our skin and embrace ourselves for who we are.
who is clearly a woman of many talents ♥️
“Art is my expression, it’s my voice in this world”
Swan song of my era by Elsie Swain is a YA contemporary novel set in Malaysia that is woven around the lives of two ambitious artists Spes Zrey and Hope Vale. Spes Zrey is a strong, persistent and aspiring fashion designer, a prestigious Hugo Boss awardee who believes in herself despite having a traumatic past and facing prejudiced opinions due to the various stigmas surrounding a broken family and single parenting. Hope Vale is an budding makeup artist with vitiligo who is taken for granted due to her appearance. She is like a ray of sunshine, an optimist who wants to break the beauty standards set by society and eradicate skin whitening products from the Asian beauty industry. Hope and Spes have my heart, it was adorable how they ended up supporting, inspiring and completing each other despite their contrasting personalities. Will they be able to challenge societal gender norms, break the beauty stereotypes and accomplish their dreams?
The book started off slow with a lot of detailing and complex dialogues that covered various themes but picks up pace and is unputdownable. The storyline is absolutely unique and beautiful with a good character development. The book is diverse and inclusive with LGBTQ, disability and vitiligo representation. Overall it was a beautiful and inspiring book that encourages us to believe in our dreams, be comfortable in our skin and embrace ourselves for who we are.
July 21, 2021
Set in Malaysia, 'Swan song of my era' is the story of Spes and Hope - 2 girls who want to change the face of their respective fashion and the makeup industry.
Our Spes here, she is a fireball. She stands up for herself, doesn't take insults or pity from anyone and most of all, she recognizes her worth. She might seem arrogant at first, but trust me, once you read about her, you will relate to her on another level!
Hope, on the other hand, is a sweetie pie. All polite and calm, she is fighting the norm of skin whitening products. And the fact that she has vitiligo is only making this tough for her.
Fate introduces these two to eachother. But their fights against everyone, and to some level their internal conflict too, keeps them together.
With thorough detailing, maybe a bit too much🙈, and brilliant character development, this book is extremely thought-provoking. It took me about 3 weeks to read it, but it was all worth it❤ Every relationship - parental, sibling, friend, lover; has been beautifully portrayed.
The book also brings to light numerous social stigmas - skin diseases, divorce, physical disability, and gender stereotyping, to name a few. Once again, all of these have been beautifully explored and catered to!
Also, with a major part of it revolving around the dismissal of children as unsure of their motives, this book will reasonate with every Asian child. After all, who has heard 'we know the best for you' more than us?😂
Our Spes here, she is a fireball. She stands up for herself, doesn't take insults or pity from anyone and most of all, she recognizes her worth. She might seem arrogant at first, but trust me, once you read about her, you will relate to her on another level!
Hope, on the other hand, is a sweetie pie. All polite and calm, she is fighting the norm of skin whitening products. And the fact that she has vitiligo is only making this tough for her.
Fate introduces these two to eachother. But their fights against everyone, and to some level their internal conflict too, keeps them together.
With thorough detailing, maybe a bit too much🙈, and brilliant character development, this book is extremely thought-provoking. It took me about 3 weeks to read it, but it was all worth it❤ Every relationship - parental, sibling, friend, lover; has been beautifully portrayed.
The book also brings to light numerous social stigmas - skin diseases, divorce, physical disability, and gender stereotyping, to name a few. Once again, all of these have been beautifully explored and catered to!
Also, with a major part of it revolving around the dismissal of children as unsure of their motives, this book will reasonate with every Asian child. After all, who has heard 'we know the best for you' more than us?😂
Read
August 17, 2021I do not know if I will be able to do justice to this book while I write this review.
I was hooked to the book from the dedication page itself. I loved every bits and pieces of it.
It is set in a fairytale land we call Malaysia, where a brave Hope Vale and an ambitious Spes Zrey are set to challenge the society and sing their own Swan Songs.
The theme is so particular and thorough in the emotional aspect, you will always feel connected to the characters, and may it be Spes or Hope. Even though they are polar opposite of each other, but that comes from the fact that they have different atmosphere while growing up. I could relate to both of them at some point of their stories. I am in awe with the writing skill of Elysie, as she moves swiftly from one topic to another mentioning numerous social stigmas. We are always running a race to be better than others, but for what? We do not get the time to pause and appreciate how far we have come. This book felt like the need of the hour. With people getting biased with white skin, make up and beauty products. And as Alessia Cara rightly said - we should know we are beautiful just the way we are.
I loved the romance in the story. This book was subtle yet informative. It made me smile and crave for more. I absolutely enjoyed this book and I cannot recommend it enough.
I was hooked to the book from the dedication page itself. I loved every bits and pieces of it.
It is set in a fairytale land we call Malaysia, where a brave Hope Vale and an ambitious Spes Zrey are set to challenge the society and sing their own Swan Songs.
The theme is so particular and thorough in the emotional aspect, you will always feel connected to the characters, and may it be Spes or Hope. Even though they are polar opposite of each other, but that comes from the fact that they have different atmosphere while growing up. I could relate to both of them at some point of their stories. I am in awe with the writing skill of Elysie, as she moves swiftly from one topic to another mentioning numerous social stigmas. We are always running a race to be better than others, but for what? We do not get the time to pause and appreciate how far we have come. This book felt like the need of the hour. With people getting biased with white skin, make up and beauty products. And as Alessia Cara rightly said - we should know we are beautiful just the way we are.
I loved the romance in the story. This book was subtle yet informative. It made me smile and crave for more. I absolutely enjoyed this book and I cannot recommend it enough.
Read
January 27, 2024dnf @6%
""you absolutely should." i answered, shifting on my feet with a small smile as i watched a manatee feeding on the seaweed, the motion of its biting in stark contrast to its barely satisfiable hunger shaping its rather rested comfortable volume like a glutinous bear who had its fill of salmon and was seconds away from hibernating, as the rest floated by with no regards for the competition of the continuing depletion of the current fodder.
was it their usual serene kinetic muscle memory that swallowed up its sense of security of the periodical replenishment of is fodder by its caretaker or was their survival in the danger of competition of fodder activated when the source of its nutrition was completely stripped?"
arey kehna kya chahte ho?
""you absolutely should." i answered, shifting on my feet with a small smile as i watched a manatee feeding on the seaweed, the motion of its biting in stark contrast to its barely satisfiable hunger shaping its rather rested comfortable volume like a glutinous bear who had its fill of salmon and was seconds away from hibernating, as the rest floated by with no regards for the competition of the continuing depletion of the current fodder.
was it their usual serene kinetic muscle memory that swallowed up its sense of security of the periodical replenishment of is fodder by its caretaker or was their survival in the danger of competition of fodder activated when the source of its nutrition was completely stripped?"
arey kehna kya chahte ho?
April 20, 2022
"Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change"
Book review :
5 stars? No, I would like to give this book all the stars in the universe 🌟
(synopsis in the comments)
This is the second book I've read (and reread in the same year cus it was so damn good👁️👄👁️) by Elsie and it really exceeded my expectations. I finished my re read a while ago and I enjoyed every second of it. A beautiful touching story with complex characters that tackles problems like the unrealistic beauty standards in the beauty industry.💖
The MC Hope is now one of my all time favorite characters. She is so confident and determined. Honestly super badass BUTTT she's also very kind and gentle and sees the good in people even after everything she's been through. It took me less than 30 pages to fall in love with her 😭 a queen I Stan more and more everytime I re read this gem!! I'm honestly MAD that Hope and I will never be friends IRL.😤 I'd join a cult for this woman, I'd get a tattoo on my forehead. I'll protect her with my life🤺🤺
From the very informative plot line and beautifully written characters to the dreamy, gripping writing. This book was P. E. R. F. E. C.T *Chef's kiss* my compliments to the chef!! 😚💋
This book stole my heart, its the kind of book that makes you think "just one more chapter then I'll get back to my sad boring life" spoiler alert you're not getting back to your life until you've reached the end of this book! 🙊
There's no denying it. I'm trash for Elsie's books.👌🏼 HER WRITING!! AND HER CHARACTERS 🤒 If she decides to publish her to do list I'll be first in line to read it!! She's Honestly such an incredible writer and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.😻
Thank you so much for sending me your book Elsie. 💖 I'm truly very grateful.
*All thoughs and opinions are my own and unbiased.
Book review :
5 stars? No, I would like to give this book all the stars in the universe 🌟
(synopsis in the comments)
This is the second book I've read (and reread in the same year cus it was so damn good👁️👄👁️) by Elsie and it really exceeded my expectations. I finished my re read a while ago and I enjoyed every second of it. A beautiful touching story with complex characters that tackles problems like the unrealistic beauty standards in the beauty industry.💖
The MC Hope is now one of my all time favorite characters. She is so confident and determined. Honestly super badass BUTTT she's also very kind and gentle and sees the good in people even after everything she's been through. It took me less than 30 pages to fall in love with her 😭 a queen I Stan more and more everytime I re read this gem!! I'm honestly MAD that Hope and I will never be friends IRL.😤 I'd join a cult for this woman, I'd get a tattoo on my forehead. I'll protect her with my life🤺🤺
From the very informative plot line and beautifully written characters to the dreamy, gripping writing. This book was P. E. R. F. E. C.T *Chef's kiss* my compliments to the chef!! 😚💋
This book stole my heart, its the kind of book that makes you think "just one more chapter then I'll get back to my sad boring life" spoiler alert you're not getting back to your life until you've reached the end of this book! 🙊
There's no denying it. I'm trash for Elsie's books.👌🏼 HER WRITING!! AND HER CHARACTERS 🤒 If she decides to publish her to do list I'll be first in line to read it!! She's Honestly such an incredible writer and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.😻
Thank you so much for sending me your book Elsie. 💖 I'm truly very grateful.
*All thoughs and opinions are my own and unbiased.
June 3, 2022
∞
➼ 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝗿𝗮 / 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗶𝗻
⋆
➼ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
An inspiring, bold & original contemporary tale set in Malaysia.
What happens when two young artists on opposite ends of the spectrum—brimming with potential & passion—cross paths amidst a grand clash of passionate dreams? And with the ever-existing & suffocating backdrop of double standards regarding women & men in the Asian society, not just when it comes to careers & family, but also the rigid limitations to the definition of youth, what happens when they join forces against the current, to fight for, not only their beliefs, but the faith in each other?
⋆
➼ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
An empowering story with astounding diversity, deeply explored characters & a well-constructed plot that’ll challenge your very perspective of youth & passion.
Though this definitely isn’t one of the rapid-paced stories where you get sucked right into the plot & suffer from occasional heart-attacks during the twists you failed to see coming straight at you—it is one of the rare & exceptionally beautiful tales where the characters themselves become the storyline—and trust me, they will do more than reel you in—they will steal your very heart.
Spes’ character is amongst the most well-established female protagonists I’ve ever come across. Her defiance—often misunderstood as arrogance—of pursuing her passion & tendency to push herself too far, seemed to me the solitary protest wielded like armor in the face of oppression & disregard.
Why should it be considered scandalous when young women are direct & firm in voicing their beliefs—while such standards are not applicable, instead acceptable & cherished as a male trait? Why do we subconsciously romanticize the proud male lead but never the ambitious female?
Spes’ fierce protectiveness over her mother & sisters also emphasized the invisible double standards Asian women face in being expected to put family above everything. When in the face of such unchangeable cultural barriers, women are condemned to giving up their careers without complaint, but likewise, Spes believed otherwise. She’d be the one to summon the strength to stand in the way of the world if it meant support for her mother, for her sisters, and for her family.
Hope’s entry to the story proved to be turning points for both, as they built a mutual understanding upon deep conversations in which each challenged the other for groundbreaking changes in perspectives.
I loved how Hope learned to set boundaries for her toxic relationships with those whom disrespected her & understood that despite her generosity & consideration, empathy should not be given at one’s own expense in the false disguise of friendship.
She also opened a window for the solid & impenetrable walls Spes had built around herself amidst the consequences of trauma & suffering in the aftermath of trusting the wrong people, and slipped into her world like a gentle breeze, becoming the incentive Spes needed to believe & open up to again in the people around her.
Hope and Jove on the other hand, also called to attention a certain neglected aspect of the assumptions we make for people with disabilities. By not turning a blind eye to their apparent difference, we may not only be respecting them for who they are as a whole, but acknowledging their resilience & hard-work in overcoming their obstacles. Tiptoeing around certain issues does not often lead to assumed respect for the person in question, but ignorance & dismissal of who they truly are.
The idiom “swan song“—also the name to all our characters & the story they share—penetrates the tale, vividly portraying the anxiety young artists often share in the ambition of reaching their height of creativity, yet fearing in return to be defined & limited by so.
Would we ever reach our highest point in life? What if our creativity & potential burns itself out before we get there? And how is it even fair to be decided by people other than ourselves?
Instead of allowing the notion to dominate or intimidate them, their “swan song” becomes the very ignition to their fire & passion, fueling their struggle in finding the strength to overcome fear, thus materializing into something incredibly beautiful.
⋆
𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚.
𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 “𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙧𝙖“ 𝙗𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.
⋆
Youth is often defined as a certain period—a phase of insecurity & naivety, arrogance & ambition—by which we are disregarded because we are young. But youth is also an era, a limited stretch of time in which we are all indefinitely infinite.
If you are a dreamer, believer, kindred soul with a kaleidoscopic heart—read this.
⋆
#bookie #bookiemnstr #殼螻蟻🐜 #bookiemnstr_reviews #swansongofmyera #elsieswain
➼ 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝗿𝗮 / 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗶𝗻
⋆
➼ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒
An inspiring, bold & original contemporary tale set in Malaysia.
What happens when two young artists on opposite ends of the spectrum—brimming with potential & passion—cross paths amidst a grand clash of passionate dreams? And with the ever-existing & suffocating backdrop of double standards regarding women & men in the Asian society, not just when it comes to careers & family, but also the rigid limitations to the definition of youth, what happens when they join forces against the current, to fight for, not only their beliefs, but the faith in each other?
⋆
➼ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
An empowering story with astounding diversity, deeply explored characters & a well-constructed plot that’ll challenge your very perspective of youth & passion.
Though this definitely isn’t one of the rapid-paced stories where you get sucked right into the plot & suffer from occasional heart-attacks during the twists you failed to see coming straight at you—it is one of the rare & exceptionally beautiful tales where the characters themselves become the storyline—and trust me, they will do more than reel you in—they will steal your very heart.
Spes’ character is amongst the most well-established female protagonists I’ve ever come across. Her defiance—often misunderstood as arrogance—of pursuing her passion & tendency to push herself too far, seemed to me the solitary protest wielded like armor in the face of oppression & disregard.
Why should it be considered scandalous when young women are direct & firm in voicing their beliefs—while such standards are not applicable, instead acceptable & cherished as a male trait? Why do we subconsciously romanticize the proud male lead but never the ambitious female?
Spes’ fierce protectiveness over her mother & sisters also emphasized the invisible double standards Asian women face in being expected to put family above everything. When in the face of such unchangeable cultural barriers, women are condemned to giving up their careers without complaint, but likewise, Spes believed otherwise. She’d be the one to summon the strength to stand in the way of the world if it meant support for her mother, for her sisters, and for her family.
Hope’s entry to the story proved to be turning points for both, as they built a mutual understanding upon deep conversations in which each challenged the other for groundbreaking changes in perspectives.
I loved how Hope learned to set boundaries for her toxic relationships with those whom disrespected her & understood that despite her generosity & consideration, empathy should not be given at one’s own expense in the false disguise of friendship.
She also opened a window for the solid & impenetrable walls Spes had built around herself amidst the consequences of trauma & suffering in the aftermath of trusting the wrong people, and slipped into her world like a gentle breeze, becoming the incentive Spes needed to believe & open up to again in the people around her.
Hope and Jove on the other hand, also called to attention a certain neglected aspect of the assumptions we make for people with disabilities. By not turning a blind eye to their apparent difference, we may not only be respecting them for who they are as a whole, but acknowledging their resilience & hard-work in overcoming their obstacles. Tiptoeing around certain issues does not often lead to assumed respect for the person in question, but ignorance & dismissal of who they truly are.
The idiom “swan song“—also the name to all our characters & the story they share—penetrates the tale, vividly portraying the anxiety young artists often share in the ambition of reaching their height of creativity, yet fearing in return to be defined & limited by so.
Would we ever reach our highest point in life? What if our creativity & potential burns itself out before we get there? And how is it even fair to be decided by people other than ourselves?
Instead of allowing the notion to dominate or intimidate them, their “swan song” becomes the very ignition to their fire & passion, fueling their struggle in finding the strength to overcome fear, thus materializing into something incredibly beautiful.
⋆
𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚.
𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 “𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙧𝙖“ 𝙗𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.
⋆
Youth is often defined as a certain period—a phase of insecurity & naivety, arrogance & ambition—by which we are disregarded because we are young. But youth is also an era, a limited stretch of time in which we are all indefinitely infinite.
If you are a dreamer, believer, kindred soul with a kaleidoscopic heart—read this.
⋆
#bookie #bookiemnstr #殼螻蟻🐜 #bookiemnstr_reviews #swansongofmyera #elsieswain
July 20, 2021
This book greeted me like the protagonist of this book when you will first meet her – arrogant, pompous, and hell-bent on pushing you away from her, but as time will pass both of them will open up their hearts and suck you into them.
Now talking about the book, the initial 100 pages were a terrible experience for me. They took the longest to cover and were most difficult to comprehend. The writing style was too ornamental and the art analogies went way over my head when the protagonist began to converse in art symbolism and deep philosophies. The first-person narrative style with sudden turns in thoughts made it difficult to comprehend the chronological sequence of the events for me, but as the book proceeded, I got the hang of the narration.
The middle part of the book was filled with a lot of events. It had Asian representation, prejudices prevalent regarding the youth, glimpses of childhood trauma, instances of family and societal pressure, and many such things. The story remains concentrated on the art world circle the author has built and we rarely see much beyond that except in the last part of the book. The art procedures, symbolism, philosophies have been discussed and elaborated at length; It at times felt like a personal and monotonous recitation of life and the troubles that came with it. The protagonist seemed angry and arrogant in the beginning but as the story proceeds, the author shows us inside her head for better perspective, however flawed it might be.
The last part is the best part for me. When the story had begun and so many ornamental and superfluous words were thrown at me in the name of art, it had pissed me off to the extent that I was sure that I was going to hate this book, but this part is where it all turned. It is a peek into the psychology of the plot. It opens up the possibility of understanding. As I became more acquainted with Hope Vale, I began to turn hopeful towards this book. The confessions were tough to get but as the veils lifted and the fragments of the initial pages began to take their places, I could see a heart-wrenching tale take place. It made me angry at those bullies and so many others in real life. Suddenly the protagonist didn’t seem that arrogant or irrational anymore. Everything began to make sense.
Now let’s talk about the writing style of this book. It is still going to be something I struggle with. The language is outright poetic and balances on the brink of vagueness and misinterpretation. I struggled to comprehend the meaning of the sentences, just like is the case is with the classics. However, the bombast language in the initial pages was a huge disappointment for me.
Apart from the language, I found everything befitting of the story. The plot was really beautiful and heart-touching. The characters were complex but they all had their own struggles and stories to tell to the world. The chemistry between the characters was also defined beautifully. The slow-burn romance in the story will leave you craving for more. The passion of the characters towards their work and dreams is very infectious. The characters give way to being elitist and proud of their work because of the efforts they put in and not just some privilege thrown up to them.
I would also like to give trigger warnings regarding instances of bullying, vitiligo, homophobia, mental barriers. There are instances where characters are being shamed due to a lack of traditional beauty standards or conventional career paths.
Overall I wouldn’t call my reading experience smooth sailing from the beginning till the end. It was a complex read. It was like communicating and getting to know a person. As we spend more time together, we get to know each other in a better light, neither of us changing ourselves for the sake of others but just building a better understanding of the other. The book, in the beginning, may come off as an arrogant show-off but slowly it will reveal to you the secrets and passions that make it real and moving.
I hope you have a good relationship when you pick this up. It demands time and effort on your part, and not just a will to know the story.
Now talking about the book, the initial 100 pages were a terrible experience for me. They took the longest to cover and were most difficult to comprehend. The writing style was too ornamental and the art analogies went way over my head when the protagonist began to converse in art symbolism and deep philosophies. The first-person narrative style with sudden turns in thoughts made it difficult to comprehend the chronological sequence of the events for me, but as the book proceeded, I got the hang of the narration.
The middle part of the book was filled with a lot of events. It had Asian representation, prejudices prevalent regarding the youth, glimpses of childhood trauma, instances of family and societal pressure, and many such things. The story remains concentrated on the art world circle the author has built and we rarely see much beyond that except in the last part of the book. The art procedures, symbolism, philosophies have been discussed and elaborated at length; It at times felt like a personal and monotonous recitation of life and the troubles that came with it. The protagonist seemed angry and arrogant in the beginning but as the story proceeds, the author shows us inside her head for better perspective, however flawed it might be.
The last part is the best part for me. When the story had begun and so many ornamental and superfluous words were thrown at me in the name of art, it had pissed me off to the extent that I was sure that I was going to hate this book, but this part is where it all turned. It is a peek into the psychology of the plot. It opens up the possibility of understanding. As I became more acquainted with Hope Vale, I began to turn hopeful towards this book. The confessions were tough to get but as the veils lifted and the fragments of the initial pages began to take their places, I could see a heart-wrenching tale take place. It made me angry at those bullies and so many others in real life. Suddenly the protagonist didn’t seem that arrogant or irrational anymore. Everything began to make sense.
Now let’s talk about the writing style of this book. It is still going to be something I struggle with. The language is outright poetic and balances on the brink of vagueness and misinterpretation. I struggled to comprehend the meaning of the sentences, just like is the case is with the classics. However, the bombast language in the initial pages was a huge disappointment for me.
Apart from the language, I found everything befitting of the story. The plot was really beautiful and heart-touching. The characters were complex but they all had their own struggles and stories to tell to the world. The chemistry between the characters was also defined beautifully. The slow-burn romance in the story will leave you craving for more. The passion of the characters towards their work and dreams is very infectious. The characters give way to being elitist and proud of their work because of the efforts they put in and not just some privilege thrown up to them.
I would also like to give trigger warnings regarding instances of bullying, vitiligo, homophobia, mental barriers. There are instances where characters are being shamed due to a lack of traditional beauty standards or conventional career paths.
Overall I wouldn’t call my reading experience smooth sailing from the beginning till the end. It was a complex read. It was like communicating and getting to know a person. As we spend more time together, we get to know each other in a better light, neither of us changing ourselves for the sake of others but just building a better understanding of the other. The book, in the beginning, may come off as an arrogant show-off but slowly it will reveal to you the secrets and passions that make it real and moving.
I hope you have a good relationship when you pick this up. It demands time and effort on your part, and not just a will to know the story.
May 30, 2021
Elsie Swain's Swan Song Of My Era is a sprawling exposition that highlights the significance of Faith. Faith, as a well-defined system of ontological experiences and belief systems that define human existence rather than the anthropomorphic figure that is portrayed on the cover of the book. A tour de force, Swain's prose embarks on a journey of chronicling the realities of women who display the gumption to transcend the barriers of the feminine experience, that is, the ones who obliterate the glass ceiling of rules, norms and traditions. Swain's prose is an exploration into the social matrices where the gendered subversion of women is a banal truism even in the contemporary era, as a result of hegemonic social structures. Swain goes into painstaking details with regards to the conveying of her message, hitting home the idea that individualistic control within the delineation of the feminine experience is imperative to the blossoming of a woman. The soul of the work is the protagonist of the novel, Spez Zrey, a child whose primary plight is defined by the fact that her parents have ended their marriage, and she happens to have two female siblings. The subjectivity of the novel, especially with regards to the portrayal of the three siblings, amplifies the work's aesthetic qualities and also allows for a level of intimacy with the reader. Swain's narration essentially exhibits the nature of sexual subversion and how the girls' lived experiences are defined by the termination of their parent's marriage, despite Spes being a recipient of the hallowed Hugo Boss Award. The three siblings, Spes, Pax and Felicity have been shown as characters whose social psychologies are very different from each other. Spes is shown as prudent when she chooses her companions, and indifferent to the opinions of those who demean or vituperate her, while Pax is shown as a perennial pleaser. Felicity, however, is shown on similar lines as Spes. The introduction of a certain Hope Vale introduces yet another dimension of mysticism into the work, insofar that Spes and Hope are shown as individuals with shared interests despite the fact that they aren't aware of each other's identities. It may be argued that Swain does so not only in order to establish an added layer of mystery but to also allow the reader to observe the characters' consciousness. Following her achievement, that is, winning the Hugo Boss Award, an individual belonging to the "Savoire Faire" has an interview with Spes. Her interview is a dialogic dive into the lived experience of a girl, and this is narrated from the point of view of the "other" in this case, adding layer after layer of authenticity and to some extent, revolt. Spes states that her penchant for fashion designing is a result of her understanding of the significance of a person's presentation viz-a-viz their clothes and appearance, and the idea that a powerful presentation is essential to an individual's persona and thereby, their stature. The introduction of Rene Fares, Destiny, Theus, Grace and the specially gifted Jove add several dimensions to the work, with each of the characters putting their blood, sweat, tears and talents to have themselves defined as a success, success which a result of their gifted abilities, a steely determination, and an inextinguishable desire for greatness. The gendered and bodily dimensions are shattered, and the cynosure of the novel turns out to be the characters' desires. Spes's characterisation is immaculate and exquisite, displaying a girl who is hell-bent on making a statement of epic proportions, who also engages in the fact that shared realities, do, in fact, make all the constituent realities, a far more definitive and beautiful idea.
July 4, 2021
This review is originally posted at my site: https://inkdrinkerhana.wordpress.com/...
Let me talk about the characters first; although Spes is kinda annoying at the start, I still like her character, she's honest and does everything that she wants even when people criticize her for it. I can honestly relate to her when it comes to being cynical and so guarded, and she's also this kind of person who plans and takes everything seriously. She is not one-dimensional because even though she's arrogant, she's still nice in her own way. Throughout the book, it is so admirable to see how Spes is so respectful of other people's boundaries. As for Hope, her character is so precious. Her personality is so lovable and I really think that it would be interesting to have a conversation with her. She is so thoughtful and sweet. I also like her that she's still kind despite Spes being dismissive towards her at the beginning.
The dynamic between these two characters are so good and well-balanced. I'm glad that the author wrote the progression of their relationship a slow-burn because it made me savour them more. Like the subtle ways that they will smile at each other, it does makes me appreciate their relationship more.
As for the plot, I kinda didn't get it at first because of the writing style. It was a little hard to distinguish where the plot is going because of how dense (atleast for me) the writing style is. But as I get further, I can finally saw what the book is about. This book talks about passion and dreams in a very deep way. This book is full of characters that has ambition and really pursue their dreams, it is so inspiring to see. They are very focused and eager to chase what they desire. The views of each character towards their ambitions and dreams, and how they deal with each of their obstacles is one of the reason why this book is amazing.
My only problem with this book is the narration and writing style. It was a little hard to get into because the author uses so many flowery words to describe something. I feel like the author mostly focused on the writing style and just leaving certain details. Like for example, the narration was more on flowery words rather than just make some details clear like why are these characters do these things. Maybe the author must have put the details but it's hard to pick up due to those flowery words. This book talks so much in a very philosophical way and takes even the smallest thing so seriously like it's making a thesis. That again, makes me not get what the actual plot at first. One of the examples is the debate between Spes and her siblings. It's so petty and they talk like it's one of the most philosophical thing in the world and it's so long that it slowly makes the whole thing so annoying. That is just my only problem. I actually enjoyed following the journey of Spes and Hope. It is really inspiring and admirable to read!
Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars! It's true that I had a hard time when it comes to narration and writing style, but I like how this book talks about pursuing your passions and achieving your dreams. This is one of the thought-provoking books i've read. I still recommend it because it is actually good!
Let me talk about the characters first; although Spes is kinda annoying at the start, I still like her character, she's honest and does everything that she wants even when people criticize her for it. I can honestly relate to her when it comes to being cynical and so guarded, and she's also this kind of person who plans and takes everything seriously. She is not one-dimensional because even though she's arrogant, she's still nice in her own way. Throughout the book, it is so admirable to see how Spes is so respectful of other people's boundaries. As for Hope, her character is so precious. Her personality is so lovable and I really think that it would be interesting to have a conversation with her. She is so thoughtful and sweet. I also like her that she's still kind despite Spes being dismissive towards her at the beginning.
The dynamic between these two characters are so good and well-balanced. I'm glad that the author wrote the progression of their relationship a slow-burn because it made me savour them more. Like the subtle ways that they will smile at each other, it does makes me appreciate their relationship more.
As for the plot, I kinda didn't get it at first because of the writing style. It was a little hard to distinguish where the plot is going because of how dense (atleast for me) the writing style is. But as I get further, I can finally saw what the book is about. This book talks about passion and dreams in a very deep way. This book is full of characters that has ambition and really pursue their dreams, it is so inspiring to see. They are very focused and eager to chase what they desire. The views of each character towards their ambitions and dreams, and how they deal with each of their obstacles is one of the reason why this book is amazing.
My only problem with this book is the narration and writing style. It was a little hard to get into because the author uses so many flowery words to describe something. I feel like the author mostly focused on the writing style and just leaving certain details. Like for example, the narration was more on flowery words rather than just make some details clear like why are these characters do these things. Maybe the author must have put the details but it's hard to pick up due to those flowery words. This book talks so much in a very philosophical way and takes even the smallest thing so seriously like it's making a thesis. That again, makes me not get what the actual plot at first. One of the examples is the debate between Spes and her siblings. It's so petty and they talk like it's one of the most philosophical thing in the world and it's so long that it slowly makes the whole thing so annoying. That is just my only problem. I actually enjoyed following the journey of Spes and Hope. It is really inspiring and admirable to read!
Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars! It's true that I had a hard time when it comes to narration and writing style, but I like how this book talks about pursuing your passions and achieving your dreams. This is one of the thought-provoking books i've read. I still recommend it because it is actually good!
June 27, 2021
Author Elsie Swain's novel 'Swan Song Of My Era"' released in May 2021 and it follows the story of a two main patrogonist Spes zrey and Hope vale set in Malaysia.
Spes Zrey who is an aspiring fashion designer, and Hope Vale who is an aspiring vitiligo makeup artist and she wants to eradicate the dynamics of the skin whitening product market.
This novel is a delightful queer, young adult romance that is satisfyingly familiar without sacrificing surprise. Spes Zrey, the novel’s protagonist, is relatable and decently authentic who is determined and passionate about achieving her dream and she is courageous enough to stand for herself and knows how to read others. She's the kind of person who will give you the classic comeback," You can’t make me! You’re not the boss of me.” In simple words, she's the person who knows that she has the right to determine what it is that she really “should” be investing her time and energy into doing.
Talking about Hope Vale just one line,
she's the reason why we should believe in "hope". She's the character whom you have to fall in love with.
Their story follows transformative decisions, how creative spirit takes power in the human world, and the turmoil of relationships to create a book that is both tender and brutal.
Author Elsie Swain's writing refuses to be put into a box or to be labeled as just one kind of narrative or another. Instead, it touches the innermost parts of the body, its language tactile and clear. That is exactly what this novel reads like: experiences gathered by an earnest attempt to communicate truths, fathomable to others or not. She knows how to grab you from the first line and not let go; she also knows that plot means nothing without a character we can root for, even when she's making difficult choices.
'Swan Song Of My Era" breaks the boundaries of identity and other social constructs.
This novel is alarming, mystifying, and immersive.
The author wants to give us a message with the book and it is that most of us are raised with an internal “code of ethics” or “emotional barometer” that reminds us that we live up to our promises and complete our tasks on time. Sometimes the “shoulds” are things that other people are telling us we should be doing or even things that we just imagine that other people are thinking. We can create a lot of inner turmoil all by ourselves, without even realizing that only we know what we, ourselves, “should” be doing.
No one is inside your head, but you. No one is living your life, but you. There’s no reason to give away ownership of your decisions to what “anonymous others” think you should be doing with your life.
Spes Zrey who is an aspiring fashion designer, and Hope Vale who is an aspiring vitiligo makeup artist and she wants to eradicate the dynamics of the skin whitening product market.
This novel is a delightful queer, young adult romance that is satisfyingly familiar without sacrificing surprise. Spes Zrey, the novel’s protagonist, is relatable and decently authentic who is determined and passionate about achieving her dream and she is courageous enough to stand for herself and knows how to read others. She's the kind of person who will give you the classic comeback," You can’t make me! You’re not the boss of me.” In simple words, she's the person who knows that she has the right to determine what it is that she really “should” be investing her time and energy into doing.
Talking about Hope Vale just one line,
she's the reason why we should believe in "hope". She's the character whom you have to fall in love with.
Their story follows transformative decisions, how creative spirit takes power in the human world, and the turmoil of relationships to create a book that is both tender and brutal.
Author Elsie Swain's writing refuses to be put into a box or to be labeled as just one kind of narrative or another. Instead, it touches the innermost parts of the body, its language tactile and clear. That is exactly what this novel reads like: experiences gathered by an earnest attempt to communicate truths, fathomable to others or not. She knows how to grab you from the first line and not let go; she also knows that plot means nothing without a character we can root for, even when she's making difficult choices.
'Swan Song Of My Era" breaks the boundaries of identity and other social constructs.
This novel is alarming, mystifying, and immersive.
The author wants to give us a message with the book and it is that most of us are raised with an internal “code of ethics” or “emotional barometer” that reminds us that we live up to our promises and complete our tasks on time. Sometimes the “shoulds” are things that other people are telling us we should be doing or even things that we just imagine that other people are thinking. We can create a lot of inner turmoil all by ourselves, without even realizing that only we know what we, ourselves, “should” be doing.
No one is inside your head, but you. No one is living your life, but you. There’s no reason to give away ownership of your decisions to what “anonymous others” think you should be doing with your life.
May 4, 2021
Before starting review I would like to mention a thought of Helen Keller, “Most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or touched.”
This is true in context of this book because it breaks all the stereotypes which are believed to be essential to follow by a girl for the sake of satisfaction of orthodox societal norms. I would like to appreciate Author “Elsie Swain" for her courageous work. Detailing of all the characters is magnificent. This book is a reflection of bitter reality and taboos which are perceived from centuries in our society.
Plot of the story has been settled up in Malaysia and depicts Asian cultures and beliefs. Story revolves around "Spes Zrey" who is an aspiring fashion designer, prestigious Hugo Boss Awardee and Hope Vale who is a makeup artist and she wants to extirpate the skin whitening product market.
Spes is an adamant girl who is passionate for achieving her dream. She has guts to face the criticism offered by the society and also she is courageous enough to shut all the mouths who are trying to bring her moral down. She had to organize an exhibition so she teamed up with her ideal Rene and Hope Vale joined their team as a makeup artist. Spes and Hope both were in same team. Initially both of them had clashes over their perceptions and personalities. Hope Vale is a soft hearted and compassionate girl however Spes is rebellious and stubborn.
Soon they both got a chance to know each other more nearly and they admire each other for their work. Hope was quite vocal in expressing her feelings however Spes chose silence over speaking her heart out.
Spes continuously faced problems for fund raising of her event. At that time she and Hope commenced the market research for their exhibition. Meanwhile they came close to each other and they both turned out to be soulmates for one another. But this is not the end of story, Here is the struggle to smash traditional malpractice begins. How they tackle narrow thinking of society regarding sexual orientation, freedom of work and expression of women!! Will Hope be able to change perception of people regarding skin tone? Will Spes be able to fulfill her dream?
A special mention to “Jove” (Friend of Spes) whose personality is inspirational. I loved her enthusiasm and dedication towards her goal!!
All incidents and conversations will touch your heart!!
This is true in context of this book because it breaks all the stereotypes which are believed to be essential to follow by a girl for the sake of satisfaction of orthodox societal norms. I would like to appreciate Author “Elsie Swain" for her courageous work. Detailing of all the characters is magnificent. This book is a reflection of bitter reality and taboos which are perceived from centuries in our society.
Plot of the story has been settled up in Malaysia and depicts Asian cultures and beliefs. Story revolves around "Spes Zrey" who is an aspiring fashion designer, prestigious Hugo Boss Awardee and Hope Vale who is a makeup artist and she wants to extirpate the skin whitening product market.
Spes is an adamant girl who is passionate for achieving her dream. She has guts to face the criticism offered by the society and also she is courageous enough to shut all the mouths who are trying to bring her moral down. She had to organize an exhibition so she teamed up with her ideal Rene and Hope Vale joined their team as a makeup artist. Spes and Hope both were in same team. Initially both of them had clashes over their perceptions and personalities. Hope Vale is a soft hearted and compassionate girl however Spes is rebellious and stubborn.
Soon they both got a chance to know each other more nearly and they admire each other for their work. Hope was quite vocal in expressing her feelings however Spes chose silence over speaking her heart out.
Spes continuously faced problems for fund raising of her event. At that time she and Hope commenced the market research for their exhibition. Meanwhile they came close to each other and they both turned out to be soulmates for one another. But this is not the end of story, Here is the struggle to smash traditional malpractice begins. How they tackle narrow thinking of society regarding sexual orientation, freedom of work and expression of women!! Will Hope be able to change perception of people regarding skin tone? Will Spes be able to fulfill her dream?
A special mention to “Jove” (Friend of Spes) whose personality is inspirational. I loved her enthusiasm and dedication towards her goal!!
All incidents and conversations will touch your heart!!
May 23, 2021
If you are looking to read something that would entirely shake up your perspective on how you view yourself and the rest of the world, Swan Song of my Era should be your go to book. A book about teenage girls would usually involve a lousy love traingle and the everyday harp about dealing with "drama". However, here you are taken into a new, a more mature world. The way the characters unfold as the book progresses will leave you in awe and make you believe that such characters are indeed real in life. As I began reading the book, Spes was someone I despised and that Hope would be that one dramatic character who would flip her over. The best part about the book, no character changes the other but makes the reader appreciate each other's qualities. The duo brings to you hope something which they can't seem to find in their lives but help us discover it within ourselves through their story. Apart from the intricate work on character development, the entire foundation of the plot was a breath of fresh air. Being an Asian myself, the book brought out such realistic issues, making the reader feel at home and connecting warmly woth the story. My only regret - I really wish I had something like this to read in my adolescent years. The plot is extremely well researched and does not fail to include geographical intricacies and the craftsmanship of art. Every character be it minor or the protagonists, have definition to their role and so very realistic. Jove, Pax, Felicity, Quinsy, Theus- a bunch of people from the book who have captured the real essence of friendship and care. An artist's book written by the artist herself❤️
It is a story about friendship, determination, love and ambition. It is a story that is real and ome that the reader can turn into reality. Swan Song of my Era gives you hope, warmth, inspiration and most importantly the ultimate reading experience.
#swansongofmyera
It is a story about friendship, determination, love and ambition. It is a story that is real and ome that the reader can turn into reality. Swan Song of my Era gives you hope, warmth, inspiration and most importantly the ultimate reading experience.
#swansongofmyera
August 4, 2021
“Youth is the fire that drives the passion and that will extinguish the flames of doubt to ignite the catalyst making our dreams exist in our reality.” — Elsie Swain, Swan Song of My Era
•
~ thank you so much @/pridebooktours (on Instagram) and Elsie Swain for giving me a copy to review & for including me on this tour!
•
4/5 stars
This book is unlike any I’ve read before. From the writing style, plot, characters, and unique perspectives on real world issues, it was a refreshing read!
What I especially liked was the characters. (Hope was my favorite.) I found it very interesting to read the book in Spes’s perspective because of how much character development she went through. I think it would also be so cool to read it in Hope’s pov! I really liked how Spes wasn’t portrayed as a ‘typically strong female protagonist’, but rather, the author wrote her as something similar to a ‘strong male lead’. It was very refreshing to read that unique take on gender roles and expectations. I also thought the friendships, romances, and family relationships between the characters was very well written and realistic.
After getting used to the poetic writing style, it was easy to get into the rhythm of the plot and story. Although, sometimes it was a bit confusing, I think that added to the reading experience. Another thing that I would like to mention is the diversity! As an Asian American, it’s hard to find books that correctly portray Asian cultures, but this one understood the assignment. Especially with the family matters and how others / the community plays a big role in who you are. I also liked to see how the book talked about following your dreams, listening to youth, and grappling to make use of time.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a female & female slow-burn romance story that is character driven and doesn’t shy away from hard topics!
— Amaya
•
~ thank you so much @/pridebooktours (on Instagram) and Elsie Swain for giving me a copy to review & for including me on this tour!
•
4/5 stars
This book is unlike any I’ve read before. From the writing style, plot, characters, and unique perspectives on real world issues, it was a refreshing read!
What I especially liked was the characters. (Hope was my favorite.) I found it very interesting to read the book in Spes’s perspective because of how much character development she went through. I think it would also be so cool to read it in Hope’s pov! I really liked how Spes wasn’t portrayed as a ‘typically strong female protagonist’, but rather, the author wrote her as something similar to a ‘strong male lead’. It was very refreshing to read that unique take on gender roles and expectations. I also thought the friendships, romances, and family relationships between the characters was very well written and realistic.
After getting used to the poetic writing style, it was easy to get into the rhythm of the plot and story. Although, sometimes it was a bit confusing, I think that added to the reading experience. Another thing that I would like to mention is the diversity! As an Asian American, it’s hard to find books that correctly portray Asian cultures, but this one understood the assignment. Especially with the family matters and how others / the community plays a big role in who you are. I also liked to see how the book talked about following your dreams, listening to youth, and grappling to make use of time.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a female & female slow-burn romance story that is character driven and doesn’t shy away from hard topics!
— Amaya
June 24, 2021
Set in Malaysia, Swan Song of my Era is the journey of Spes Zrey, an extraordinarily talented, arrogant, and a Hugo-Boss award recipient and Hope Vale, an equally talented make-up artist with vitiligo— as they set on their journey to change the skin-whitening products obsessed society.
Both Hope and Spes are both a symbol of hope, but with very clashing personalities. Spes comes with a past trauma, a broken family that has made her heart hard. Meanwhile Hope is a pure ray of sunshine. As Hope gets to melt Spes' heart and her skeptic view of the world, she inspire her to become a better person, and in turn Spes instills courage in Hope. Hope and Spes' journey is filled with competitions to prove themselves and fighting a judgmental society which has obnoxious beauty standards.
With a prose as beautiful and metaphorical as poems, and dialogues that are filled with heartfelt emotions, author Elsie Swain converges art, culture, literature and love into a book that will surely touch your heart. Spes' relationship with her siblings and her rivals take a very smooth arc in the book. Her feelings for Hope and their relationship delves into a slow-burning romance that is very much character-driven. The whole setting of the book is like an intricate portrait that looks so simple yet on a closer look you'll find the finest details that will leave you with amazement.
The only downside of the book it that it takes time to settle in. The first 40% of the book will make you wonder where it is leading to. But with Hope's entry everything falls into place. Also, the dialogues go on for pages so I had the extreme urge to skip a few paragraphs, but the beautiful characters and their stories kept me going and it is through the dialogues that the story flows.
Read my full review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2021/...
Both Hope and Spes are both a symbol of hope, but with very clashing personalities. Spes comes with a past trauma, a broken family that has made her heart hard. Meanwhile Hope is a pure ray of sunshine. As Hope gets to melt Spes' heart and her skeptic view of the world, she inspire her to become a better person, and in turn Spes instills courage in Hope. Hope and Spes' journey is filled with competitions to prove themselves and fighting a judgmental society which has obnoxious beauty standards.
With a prose as beautiful and metaphorical as poems, and dialogues that are filled with heartfelt emotions, author Elsie Swain converges art, culture, literature and love into a book that will surely touch your heart. Spes' relationship with her siblings and her rivals take a very smooth arc in the book. Her feelings for Hope and their relationship delves into a slow-burning romance that is very much character-driven. The whole setting of the book is like an intricate portrait that looks so simple yet on a closer look you'll find the finest details that will leave you with amazement.
The only downside of the book it that it takes time to settle in. The first 40% of the book will make you wonder where it is leading to. But with Hope's entry everything falls into place. Also, the dialogues go on for pages so I had the extreme urge to skip a few paragraphs, but the beautiful characters and their stories kept me going and it is through the dialogues that the story flows.
Read my full review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2021/...
August 12, 2021
Real rating: 3.5 stars
Swan Song of My Era was a very interesting and unique book, I haven't read anything like it before and maybe that's the reason I couldn't give it a better rating, because I'm not used to this type of writing and story, so I couldn't fall in love with it or the characters.
However, it was a really nice read, I enjoyed some parts of it quite a lot. I loved the fact that it's such an inclusive and diverse book with LGBTQ+, disability, Asian and Vitiligo representation, which was amazing. Our main character, Spes, is such a strong female who doesn't let anybody talk her down, who doesn't take s*it from the people around her, who loves her family and friends in such a beautiful and healthy way. She doesn't stop fighting for her dreams and I loved watching her develop and become better.
I loved how the author developed the relationship between Hope and Spes, two girls in love with different forms of art, but who found something so beautiful in each other. Their friendship is so inspiring and I was rooting so hard for them to be together, I was so happy when they finally took the step towards something more. They're truly made for each other.
Another thing I really liked about this book was how the author portrayed the relationships between Spes and her two sisters: Pax and Felicity. I found myself in Spes and Pax's relationship, having a sister myself, I completely related to them and the fact that nothing between them seemed fake, but genuine, made me so happy. They fight, but they love each other so much, yet they sometimes fail to show it.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable read and it might be amazing for you if you like books with lots and lots of dialogue, books that are mostly character driven.
Swan Song of My Era was a very interesting and unique book, I haven't read anything like it before and maybe that's the reason I couldn't give it a better rating, because I'm not used to this type of writing and story, so I couldn't fall in love with it or the characters.
However, it was a really nice read, I enjoyed some parts of it quite a lot. I loved the fact that it's such an inclusive and diverse book with LGBTQ+, disability, Asian and Vitiligo representation, which was amazing. Our main character, Spes, is such a strong female who doesn't let anybody talk her down, who doesn't take s*it from the people around her, who loves her family and friends in such a beautiful and healthy way. She doesn't stop fighting for her dreams and I loved watching her develop and become better.
I loved how the author developed the relationship between Hope and Spes, two girls in love with different forms of art, but who found something so beautiful in each other. Their friendship is so inspiring and I was rooting so hard for them to be together, I was so happy when they finally took the step towards something more. They're truly made for each other.
Another thing I really liked about this book was how the author portrayed the relationships between Spes and her two sisters: Pax and Felicity. I found myself in Spes and Pax's relationship, having a sister myself, I completely related to them and the fact that nothing between them seemed fake, but genuine, made me so happy. They fight, but they love each other so much, yet they sometimes fail to show it.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable read and it might be amazing for you if you like books with lots and lots of dialogue, books that are mostly character driven.
June 7, 2021
I would rather be foolish than fear all the possible hurdles I need to overcome to make my dream my reality"
BOOK TITLE: SWAN SONG OF MY ERA
AUTHOR: ELSIE SWAIN
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION
RATING: 4/5
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
The story revolves around two main patrogonist spes zrey and hope vale. Spes Zrey who is an aspiring fashion designer, prestigious Hugo Boss Awardee, and Hope Vale who is aspiring vitiligo ( a skin condition in which there is a loss of skin color in blotches) makeup artist and she wants to eradicate the skin whitening product market.
I love the character of the spes zrey who is determined and passionate about achieving her dream and she is courageous enough to shut all the mouths who are trying to bring her morale down. personally, my fav part where she had to give an interview and I recommend everyone to read that part. It was amazing how she took to stand for herself and shut the interviewee's mouth.
This book breaks all the stereotypes which are believed to be essential to follow by a girl for the sake of satisfaction of orthodox societal norms and this book has amazing representation for LGBTQ+Asians.
I really appreciate such an amazing work of elisie swan and I highly recommend this book to everyone and especially those who are connected with art as they may feel more connected with this book.
BOOK TITLE: SWAN SONG OF MY ERA
AUTHOR: ELSIE SWAIN
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION
RATING: 4/5
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
The story revolves around two main patrogonist spes zrey and hope vale. Spes Zrey who is an aspiring fashion designer, prestigious Hugo Boss Awardee, and Hope Vale who is aspiring vitiligo ( a skin condition in which there is a loss of skin color in blotches) makeup artist and she wants to eradicate the skin whitening product market.
I love the character of the spes zrey who is determined and passionate about achieving her dream and she is courageous enough to shut all the mouths who are trying to bring her morale down. personally, my fav part where she had to give an interview and I recommend everyone to read that part. It was amazing how she took to stand for herself and shut the interviewee's mouth.
This book breaks all the stereotypes which are believed to be essential to follow by a girl for the sake of satisfaction of orthodox societal norms and this book has amazing representation for LGBTQ+Asians.
I really appreciate such an amazing work of elisie swan and I highly recommend this book to everyone and especially those who are connected with art as they may feel more connected with this book.
June 23, 2021
"One of the largest fears that kept consuming me like the hail destroying the delicate, pink blossoms into confetti, was letting the notion of discovering that I never had adequate natural skills to seize my dream - become a reality"
The human mind is said to be one of the most evolved because of our singular ability to dream. Dreamers, they call us; every person who's aspired to become something of their own accord. Why does it threaten the others? Freedom is always a terrifying concept, especially when it come to freedom of thought.
'Swan Song of My Era' is a book that revolves around passion, trust, love and aspirations. Spes Zrey, a designer with trust issues, meets Hope Vale, a makeup artist shunned by mainstream society. A stream of coincidences and chance encounters were signs that they were bound together by fate. And fate had sweet plans for them.
This story is about dreams realised, and the amount of hard work and rejections that goes into them. Every one of us has a similar story, and some of us are still on our journey; this book cones across as a reminder and a story of hope.
With a subtle wlw rep, poetic expressions and deep conversations of self reflection, this story is the one thing you need if you feel like giving up.
Rating - 🌟🌟🌟.💫
The human mind is said to be one of the most evolved because of our singular ability to dream. Dreamers, they call us; every person who's aspired to become something of their own accord. Why does it threaten the others? Freedom is always a terrifying concept, especially when it come to freedom of thought.
'Swan Song of My Era' is a book that revolves around passion, trust, love and aspirations. Spes Zrey, a designer with trust issues, meets Hope Vale, a makeup artist shunned by mainstream society. A stream of coincidences and chance encounters were signs that they were bound together by fate. And fate had sweet plans for them.
This story is about dreams realised, and the amount of hard work and rejections that goes into them. Every one of us has a similar story, and some of us are still on our journey; this book cones across as a reminder and a story of hope.
With a subtle wlw rep, poetic expressions and deep conversations of self reflection, this story is the one thing you need if you feel like giving up.
Rating - 🌟🌟🌟.💫
July 15, 2021
Swan Song of My Era
The cover art of the book is what attracted me to pick it up in the first place. It's designed by the artist herself. Swan song of my era is truly one of a kind experience. This book tackles hard topics with ease.
It talks about gender stereotypes, Eurocentric beauty standards, South Asian culture and a lot more. The MC, Hope Vale is a make up artist with vitiligo. I had no idea about the bullying people with vitiligo faced until I read this book. I didn't care much for the other MC Spes, who is a fashion designer.
It's a Sapphic love story behind all the layers. I loved how flowers were used to convey hidden meanings metaphorically. I loved how they fought prejudice and came out as strong, independent, powerful women.
- Afreen
The cover art of the book is what attracted me to pick it up in the first place. It's designed by the artist herself. Swan song of my era is truly one of a kind experience. This book tackles hard topics with ease.
It talks about gender stereotypes, Eurocentric beauty standards, South Asian culture and a lot more. The MC, Hope Vale is a make up artist with vitiligo. I had no idea about the bullying people with vitiligo faced until I read this book. I didn't care much for the other MC Spes, who is a fashion designer.
It's a Sapphic love story behind all the layers. I loved how flowers were used to convey hidden meanings metaphorically. I loved how they fought prejudice and came out as strong, independent, powerful women.
- Afreen
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