Prince Arris wants to fall in love without his heart getting cut out. Unfortunately, his untimely death is practically guaranteed thanks to a family curse that grants the realm’s magic and power to anyone who possesses his heart. But Arris is not giving up on true love, and he hosts a competition to determine if any of the lovely contestants actually want to be his queen and not his killer. Demelza enters the competition, not to win the prince’s heart, but to find sanctuary. As a veritas swan, Demelza’s singing ability can force the truth out of anyone, and she uses her power to strike a deal with the prince. She’ll help Arris find his true love in exchange for his protection.
When asked about her inspiration for The Swan’s Daughter, Chokshi wanted a magic-infused story that created awe and wonder for her readers, and she does exactly that. This story is a fantastic fairytale full of whimsy. Magic touches every page, from characters’ clothing, a lively castle that shifts to cater to its inhabitants, trees dripping with memories, singing swans, and a prudish vine that protects the contestants from any untoward suitors. The fun plot and engaging characters are greatly enhanced by the magical elements that accompany them throughout the story.
Fairytales always have a lesson, and Swan’s Daughter reminds us that love is a dangerous game. There’s a lot of love and loss in this story, whether it’s Demelza’s mother giving her heart and power away to her sorcerous husband, a cursed royal family whose heir always dies after their wedding day, or Demelza herself, too afraid to develop feelings for anyone. In all facets of this colorful story gem, we see how hard, scary, and beautiful love is. The vulnerability, the desperation, the hurt, and the happiness are all a part of the game. You can’t have one without the other, and cynical Demelza and optimistic Arris will guard their hearts and learn many lessons on love as the competition carries on.
The dynamic between Demelza and Arris is fantastic. Both will face consequences if they fall in love, but they both approach their own demises differently. Demelza guards her heart and fears losing her power. She isolates herself and struggles to understand who she is outside of being useful to others. While Arris wants to love so badly, even though it will bring about his death. He loves life and follows every whim so that he can make the most of every experience. While he wants to absorb every moment before love takes it all away, Demelza wants to shy away from living, believing an uneventful, safe life is better than one with love.
Swan’s Daughter also shows just how intertwined love and power are. Loving someone gives them power over you. This happens quite literally, in the case of veritas swans, whose beloved gains the ability to control their magic. But also in non-magical terms, too. Love requires you to give a piece of yourself to someone and trust that they will take care of it. They can nurture it, support it, or maybe use it against you. The contestants competing for Prince Arris’ heart see love (and his death) as a means to gain power. But the story also doesn’t let us forget that loving someone also makes you powerful, like Arris’s sister, who schemes with determination to protect her doomed brother.
Love can be magical, so it’s only fitting that this story’s magic has a starring role. The magic lives and breathes as a character in its own right, and oftentimes serves as incredible comic relief. The magic feels integrated and inherent to the world. It’s an animated element with its own agency, not just a sparkling, fun trick that is manipulated by people. The characters wholeheartedly accept the magic’s quirks, never questioning the wonder (and terror) around them. The magic simply exists, and everyone exists alongside it with a sort of bemused acceptance. It’s how love is viewed in this story as well. The consequences of Arris and Demelza’s love are terrible, but it’s accepted as a truth of life, like knowing the sun will rise each day. Arris has no grim determination to avoid his fate, but simply adores the possibility that love may help him instead of hurt him.
We have all loved and lost, but The Swan’s Daughter dares you to be brave enough to love again. Pick up this magical tale and find a love story to believe in.
Rating: The Swan’s Daughter – 10/10
-Brandee
