The swan maiden

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Where to find it

Information & Library Science Library — Juvenile

Call Number
J TOMLINSON
Status
Available

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Summary

In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette must run the castle household while her older sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that - until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright.Sudden, soaring freedom - it is a wish come true. Yet it comes with a price. As Doucette struggles to find her own way in the world, she risks losing the one she loves most of all.An age-old fairy tale told in a refreshingly original voice, Heather Tomlinson's stunning debut is fantasy at its most eloquent and richly imagined.

Sample chapter

Her fingers plunged into the feathers. Soft and warm, the swan-skin offered a silent promise. Change. Did she dare? Doucette crossed to the window, pushed aside the embroidered curtains, and stared out of the luxurious room that suddenly seemed a prison. Over the years, Doucette had heard her father instruct her sisters' escort. Like them, she could follow the sheep flocks to a lake in the mountains, then seek the lake's eastern shore. The river Immeluse would lead her the rest of the way to her aunt's castle, to a season of studying magic with Azelais and Cecilia. If she dared. The wind kissed her cheek. Doucette sat and took off her shoes. Her hose. Her gown, and the soft chemise underneath. Folding each item, she set it on the bed. The breeze gusted, stirring dried rose petals in a wooden bowl and raising tiny bumps along Doucette's skin. She took a deep breath and drew on the coat of feathers. Magic tingled the length of her body and down her spine. Her neck stretched, her legs shrank. Her skin exploded in feathers. The world spun around her as her vision took on a crystalline sharpness. The floor rose to meet her, then stopped with a jolt. She was a swan. Excerpted from The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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