Book Review: The Swan’s Daughter

The Swan's Daughter 

by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A retelling, ‘anyone but me’ love story (you know the kind where the last people who are supposed to get together do). With an obvious outcome, and a game of challenges to win a Prince’s heart. The Swan’s Daughter is exactly what you would expect from a Romantasy. Its blurb tells you everything you need to know. While there is nothing overly special here; there is also nothing wrong. For me this is a cozy, easy going ‘beach read’. I know (more or less) exactly what is going to happen (and not just because I know the original story outcome) as it is telegraphed from the opening chapters.

I really enjoyed the use of tree imagery, unique ‘life’ of the chosen one, and the overall layout of the curse. A well written, easy to follow story that provides some lovely landscapes to transverse. Roshanki Chokshi is as description and lovely in her prose as ever; whilst making this an easy enough cozy young adult read. There are zero surprises but sometimes that’s okay. A story like this will never be 5 stars for me but I can be content in one when I’m looking for something easy.

A cute, frustrating at times, friends to lovers storyline with a dash of girl power. I am impressed the girls don’t all claw each other’s eyes out during the competition; and it’s nice to see them (mostly) come together as friends supporting one another near the end. Kudos to Chokshi for not making this another woman pitted against woman story that degrades friendship and implies women must always be in competition with one another. This is the perfect type of story to show that there is a place suitable for each and every woman; we need not be all vying for the same life or partner. We aren’t all going to be princesses, and that’s okay. The sooner we accept that each woman’s path is her own and needs to be found for themselves the better off we will all be. I’m happy to say The Swan’s Daughter gives that morale in the end and I felt our ‘chosen one’ girl isn’t the only one to get what she desired. It’s a good message to give teens, and one we could all stand to be reminded of.

Overall, The Swan’s Daughter is a cute narrative, with exactly the right kind of young adult fantasy prose to bring a teen over to fantasy for the first time. A solid choice for any youngster interested in delving into fantasy and romance; or an adult looking for a cliche, predictable break.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: The Wind Weaver

The Wind Weaver 

by Julie Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars if pressed… ironically the fantasy world building is not bad. The romance is a bit cringy and our leading gal somewhat annoying at times. Which confuses me as this is Julie Johnson’s first foray into fantasy (she usually does contemporary romance, a genre I tend to avoid) and I’d have expected the exact opposite. Or maybe it’s that, as a long time fantasy reader, I’m still getting used to this Romantasy ‘thing’ in which decent fantasy books suddenly have heated romances.

The Wind Weaver is a tad long, has sometimes uneven pacing (but fantasy often does so I wasn’t bothered), and the most annoying spelling of magic (maegic). For me, I can’t figure out why you’d spell a couple words different (including fire as fyre) but not develop more lore and change up more items? Instead the choices of ‘made-up’ words or spelling feels awkward and unnecessary. Either embrace it and go all in; or avoid it entirely.

And yet I was flipping pages like mad! I was invested, curious, engaged, and all around on edge for most of the book. Now, that doesn’t make a book ‘good’ necessarily. It makes a book ‘readable’ (my choice of made up words). Or better yet accessible. Like Fourth Wing this is a very accessible fantasy debut. It has enough character interaction, mild spicy moments (not very many), and a lot of yearning and longing to bring you through the journey across the continent and into the lands where our leading man originates. I felt the romance was a bit abrupt (once kissing actually happened)… but it wasn’t awful. Interestingly the most intriguing character, Soren, is the one we see very little of; but appears to be a major player in book two.

However, Soren appears to get a bigger chunk of the pages in book two. Thus, I will continue on. I’m not enamoured but I do like both our leading men enough to balance out the annoyances of our main girl (she’s naive in dumb ways… I dunno she bugs me a bit). And I will get over the use of magic spelled stupid for the sake of wanting to find our other (possible?) elemental and see what twists the prophecy may give. I’m wary… as complex fantasy takes planning and thought. But I didn’t think Rebecca Yarros could pull it off after her Fourth Wing set-up, and I was wrong. So I’m willing to gamble here too; if only because I love a fast paced fantasy novel with powerful men!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: The Fourth Princess

The Fourth Princess 

by Janie Chang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fourth Princess is a lovely combination of historical fiction, what Janie Chang is know for, and gothic mystery. The reveals caught me by surprise in two instances (while three others were what I expected). This is, however, a good enough ratio (without having anything too convenient happen) that I can say it was an enjoyable story overall. My favourite points are, of course, the most gothic ones. I loved the mansion and its atmosphere, our ghost, and learning more about Chinese superstition. I know the Chinese tend to be very superstitious and Chang certainly portrays that here; as well as shares tidbits of culture including wards to deter the bad and how much ‘evil’ a Chinese household staff can endure before heading for the hills.

A stand out moment for me is the diary entries of our absent, but still close to the narrative, Rosaline. It’s impressive that the diary entries give enough sense of our missing woman that I felt she was a character all on her own; even though we never actually interact with her. I also adored the many languages, and mixture of Western influence on China during this time period which Rosaline seems to embody (as does the crazy Princess). Although, it reminded me how much I hate that Western culture is always so pushy about its ‘ways’ and so disrespectful of others. I try to take solace as a Canadian (Chang is also Canadian) that we embrace many cultures here; but I know we are also suppressing so much more than we should.

I was glad to get a brief overview of the politics of the day. While on one hand it might have been nice to gain a better understand of the political chaos; I’m also glad not to as it was complex and I felt I got just enough to feel the anxiety of our characters living on the cusp of a great change. If you are interested in the intricacy of the politics as the last Emperor falls you may be disappointed as this story mostly revolves around the mansion mystery and our characters personal experiences.

Overall I feel this is a solid mixture of historical fiction (with many facts throughout as Chang always has) and a flavour for the gothic. It’s not quite at the same gothic level as Silvia Moreno-Garcia but it was just enough gothic atmosphere to keep me going. It helps I was pleasantly surprised at the complexity of the ending reveals. I will confess, I might give this only four stars if not for adoring Chang and having met her whilst in the midst of reading this book. There is always something a bit special about hearing the author talk, in person, about what inspired their book and why they chose the people and topic they did.

All caveats aside, you won’t go wrong with this read if you want some gothic mystery threaded with the clash of Chinese and Western culture of the day. And be sure to savour the diary entries as they truly speak out from the page in a captivating way.

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