Reviews

A Warning About Swans by R.M. Romero

keliseb's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

fine? didn't hold my attention like crazy but quick and easy! love the mythology connections 

ttweise's review against another edition

4.0

Poetry + fairytale + sisters + non-binary love interest = okay slay!!!

laurenbookishtwins's review against another edition

5.0

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you kindly for my review copy.

A WARNING ABOUT SWANS is a delicately exquisite novel written in a breathtakingly lyrical verse. It's 1880, Bavaria, and Hilde and her five sisters were born of dreams and, with the help of a magical cloak, Hilde has the gift of transforming into a swan and guiding souls to the afterlife.

"We were maidens of myth and children of the air."

When Hilde meets the handsome Richter, she is burdened by the task of ferrying the dead and he is magnetizing and promises her the freedom she craves. But does that freedom come with a cost, and is she willing to pay the price?

A WARNING ABOUT SWANS is a delectable fairytale with a dark underbelly; a cautionary tale if ever I saw one. The prose is magnificent and watching Hilde blossom into something great and fierce is an experience I won't soon forget. If you crave stories of women (and others downtrodden by society) breaking free of their gilded cages and out of the grasp of dangerous, greedy men, then this is the novel for you.

"My fury is more than just my own - I'm seal girls and sparrow girls, wolf girls and stag boys, swan after swan. I'm centuries of raging magic and restless bones."

andromedafalls's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Custom Rating: Hello New Favorite Author/5

abi_the_bee's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

stagemanaginger's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Much darker than I expected going into it. The poetic verse added so much magic to the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

shadylane00's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

haliespages's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

sitrisummoned's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

novelideea's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

3.25