Princess of the Wild Swans: A Magical Fairy Tale About Family Bravery and a Quest to Break a Terrible Curse for Kids (Ages 8-12)

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.

• Evil Stepmother: When the conniving Queen Orianna transforms Meriel’s five older brothers into swans, the young princess must find the courage to defy the wicked enchantment.
• Sibling Bonds: A powerful tale of a sister’s devotion as Meriel races against time to save her brothers before their magical lake freezes over for the winter.
• Witches and Magic: Aided by Riona, a friendly half-witch, Meriel discovers the only way to reverse the spell—a painful and difficult quest that will test her limits.
• Vow of Silence: To succeed, Meriel must sew five shirts from stinging nettles without speaking a single word, as every sound she makes will be like a knife in her brothers’ hearts.

Diane Zahler is the author of middle-grade fairy tale retellings The Thirteenth Princess, A True Princess, and Princess of the Wild Swans, and Sleeping Beauty's Daughters, as well as the fantasies Baker's Magic and The Marvelwood Magicians. 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. Visit her at dianezahler.com.