Description

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans,” this enchanting fantasy by Diane Zahler, author of The Thirteenth Princess and A True Princess, is a tale of family, bravery . . . and a terrible spell.

Princess Meriel’s brothers have been cursed. An evil enchantment cast by their conniving new stepmother has transformed the handsome princes into swans. They now swim forlornly on a beautiful heart-shaped lake that lies just beyond the castle walls.

Meriel will do whatever it takes to rescue her beloved brothers. But she must act quickly. If Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south or perish.

With help from her newfound friends Riona and Liam—a beautiful half-witch and her clever brother—Meriel vows to finish a seemingly impossible task. If she completes it, her brothers may be saved. But if she fails . . . all will be lost.


  • Brave Princess Heroine: Princess Meriel is headstrong and determined, but she’ll need every ounce of her courage to complete the secret, painful task required to save her brothers.
  • Unbreakable Sibling Bonds: When an evil spell transforms her five beloved brothers into swans, Meriel is the only one who can fight for them.
  • An Evil Stepmother: The beautiful and conniving Lady Orianna has enchanted the king and cast the curse, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep the princes from their thrones.
  • Witches and Magic: To succeed, Meriel must rely on help from her new friends, the half-witch Riona and her brother Liam, in a kingdom where magic is real and dangerous.
  • A Race Against Time: Meriel must work fast. If she can’t break the spell before Heart Lake freezes, her brothers will be forced to fly south and might be lost forever.

About the author(s)

Diane Zahler is the author of The Thirteenth Princess, A True Princess, and Princess of the Wild Swans. Her books have been praised for their "delicious descriptions" (Kirkus Reviews) and their "gratifying depth" (Publishers Weekly). Diane lives with her husband in New York's Harlem Valley, in an old farmhouse held together by magic spells and duct tape.

Reviews

“A mostly faithful retelling of Andersen’s “The Wild Swans.” As with her other fairy-tale interpretations, Zahler shines in her ability to set an exquisite scene, and her descriptions of both the luxury of royal life and the more cozy aspects of a commoner’s cottage will bewitch fans of Andersen’s original.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“As with her other fairy-tale interpretations, Zahler shines in her ability to set an exquisite scene.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Engaging and entertaining. A pleasant magical outing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of Jessica Day George and Gail Carson Levine will enjoy Zahler’s light, lyrical prose, as well as her stalwart and true heroine and strong secondary characters, all of which make this fairly straightforward retelling of Grimm’s “The Six Swans” fun to read.” - Booklist

Praise for A True Princess: “Readers who enjoyed Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted, Zahler’s The Thirteenth Princess or E.D. Baker’s “Tales of the Frog Princess” series will also relish this tale.” - School Library Journal

Praise for The Thirteenth Princess: “Delicious descriptions.” - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Thirteenth Princess: Lively reworking of familiar elements.” - Booklist

A suspenseful climax leads to a happy conclusion. Fans of Gail Carson Levine’s “Princess Tales” series who are ready for something longer and more novelistic will love this tale - School Library Journal

More by Diane Zahler

More Love & Romance

More Juvenile Fiction

More Fairy Tales & Folklore

More Girls & Women

More Birds

More Animals

More Royalty

More Fantasy & Magic

More Adaptations

More Anthologies

More Humorous Stories

More Stories in Verse