A Throne of Swans is an engaging story of royalty, betrayal & secrets inspired by Swan Lake.
Right from the start Katherine & Elizabeth Corr takes us into this magical world where nobility can transform into the bird that represents their house, where as those that aren't nobility are called flightless and are seen as lesser beings that are there to serve.
Aderyn is Protector of Atratys now that her father has passed away, one of the few people keeping her secret that she is flightless, before his death he insisted that she stay in the castle so she is safe from other nobility and the king finding out. Not even Aderyns father can talk her into staying though, as she is desperate to find out why her mother was murdered years ago, an attack that also left Aderyn heavily scarred and unable to transform into herself into the family bird, a Swan.
Aderyn's path to find out the truth takes on many different turns and she doesn't know if there is anybody at court she can trust. As well as this her Uncle, the king, is accepting bids from her cousins to have her hand in marriage, and he suspects her being unable to fly through rumours circling their way round court when she arrives in horse and carriage. If the truth comes out she will lose her title and her life as it is unacceptable to be noble and flightless. She finally finds somebody to confess to about being unable to transform and her quest to find her mothers murderer but as time goes on its apparent she is entering a very precarious position where she is on the brink of losing it all...
My first impression of A Throne of Swans was that it had a slow start with a lot of places and names that at first I found it hard to take in, but by the time Aderyn arrives at court things really pick up the pace and we are confounded with conspiracy after conspiracy as is usually the case with stories involving royalty.
I really enjoy the political stratagems and power playing characters in these young adult fantasy books and feel myself locked into the plot just a few chapters in. A Throne of Swans definitely had all of that and more, seeing characters ulterior motives played out and watching our strong minded female protagonist being one step ahead of the game when we don't expect it.
I liked the way this book is not a standalone and we still get a decent ending without feeling unfinished, but enough had happened that there is an emotional connection to want to see what happens next. The romance was subtle for the most part of the book but by the end I was urgently turning the pages after finding I had developed a stronger love for the pairing than at first I realised. I am eagerly anticipating the next book from the Corr's!
Right from the start Katherine & Elizabeth Corr takes us into this magical world where nobility can transform into the bird that represents their house, where as those that aren't nobility are called flightless and are seen as lesser beings that are there to serve.
Aderyn is Protector of Atratys now that her father has passed away, one of the few people keeping her secret that she is flightless, before his death he insisted that she stay in the castle so she is safe from other nobility and the king finding out. Not even Aderyns father can talk her into staying though, as she is desperate to find out why her mother was murdered years ago, an attack that also left Aderyn heavily scarred and unable to transform into herself into the family bird, a Swan.
Aderyn's path to find out the truth takes on many different turns and she doesn't know if there is anybody at court she can trust. As well as this her Uncle, the king, is accepting bids from her cousins to have her hand in marriage, and he suspects her being unable to fly through rumours circling their way round court when she arrives in horse and carriage. If the truth comes out she will lose her title and her life as it is unacceptable to be noble and flightless. She finally finds somebody to confess to about being unable to transform and her quest to find her mothers murderer but as time goes on its apparent she is entering a very precarious position where she is on the brink of losing it all...
My first impression of A Throne of Swans was that it had a slow start with a lot of places and names that at first I found it hard to take in, but by the time Aderyn arrives at court things really pick up the pace and we are confounded with conspiracy after conspiracy as is usually the case with stories involving royalty.
I really enjoy the political stratagems and power playing characters in these young adult fantasy books and feel myself locked into the plot just a few chapters in. A Throne of Swans definitely had all of that and more, seeing characters ulterior motives played out and watching our strong minded female protagonist being one step ahead of the game when we don't expect it.
I liked the way this book is not a standalone and we still get a decent ending without feeling unfinished, but enough had happened that there is an emotional connection to want to see what happens next. The romance was subtle for the most part of the book but by the end I was urgently turning the pages after finding I had developed a stronger love for the pairing than at first I realised. I am eagerly anticipating the next book from the Corr's!