Scan barcode
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
agirlsnightbookbash's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
fallandfox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hilde e suas cinco irmãs têm sua existência criada por Odin com capas que lhes dão um poder único e permitem que se transformem em cisnes. Foi fácil me conectar a Hilde em meio à sua dor por ser responsável por ajudar as almas a atravessarem, a solidão de estar nesses últimos momentos e suas irmãs não entenderem foi sufocante para mim como leitora.
A escrita em poemas foi delicada e dolorosa. Quando o abuso que ela estava sofrendo pelas mãos de quem ela confiava ficou mais palpável, eu me senti afogada com ela.
Não foi um livro que eu esperava que fosse me prender tanto e mexer comigo, mas foi uma surpresa bem-vinda. Recomendo muito para quem quer realizar uma leitura profunda e cheia de mensagens sobre amor e, infelizmente, abuso.
A escrita em poemas foi delicada e dolorosa. Quando o abuso que ela estava sofrendo pelas mãos de quem ela confiava ficou mais palpável, eu me senti afogada com ela.
Não foi um livro que eu esperava que fosse me prender tanto e mexer comigo, mas foi uma surpresa bem-vinda. Recomendo muito para quem quer realizar uma leitura profunda e cheia de mensagens sobre amor e, infelizmente, abuso.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
directorpurry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The occasional melodic writing made me sleepy, but I like the story and its echoes of other stories, songs, and mantras. Melodic writing is a risk to take when writing a novel in verse, and the melody of some grouped lines drive home the fairy tale vibe of this one. "Labour" by Paris Paloma resonates strongly in Hilde's struggles. I wish others would read A Warning About Swans and make that connection to women's centuries' old rage. Hilde encapsulates rage of her own and others long lost.
On the lighter side, I read this after hearing it compared to The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and no one can convince me that the classic was not an inspiration even if it was not mentioned in the acknowledgements. The Castle from The Last Unicorn is as much a cage as Richter's castle. Richter is clearly King Haggard, shaped by his own ancestors' greed. Hilde is Amalthea. Franz is Prince Lir or Schmendrick the Magician, I'm undecided. Hilde's five sisters and other creatures who can shift from animal to human are all the other unicorns, lost to the Red Bull. This book is about finding and being who you are with that person inside of you always and knowing where you belong. We are never part one thing and part another, but rather all the parts of us make us our whole selves. The book has defined chapters and is split into 4 tales within itself, so as a whole, I felt it was a quick read.
On the lighter side, I read this after hearing it compared to The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and no one can convince me that the classic was not an inspiration even if it was not mentioned in the acknowledgements. The Castle from The Last Unicorn is as much a cage as Richter's castle. Richter is clearly King Haggard, shaped by his own ancestors' greed. Hilde is Amalthea. Franz is Prince Lir or Schmendrick the Magician, I'm undecided. Hilde's five sisters and other creatures who can shift from animal to human are all the other unicorns, lost to the Red Bull. This book is about finding and being who you are with that person inside of you always and knowing where you belong. We are never part one thing and part another, but rather all the parts of us make us our whole selves. The book has defined chapters and is split into 4 tales within itself, so as a whole, I felt it was a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
What a stunning novel-in-verse! Beautiful prose, quick pacing, and lovely ruminations on life, death, purpose, expectations and the duality and relationship of nature/humans🫶🏽
Our half-swan, half-human main character Hilde in 1880s Bavaria leads us through this dark fairy tale & I listened to the audiobook on Libby alongside my owned physical copy. I loved the romance with our Jewish non-binary love interest, Franz. They are an artist and I love how the romance impacts Hilde, and how compassionate, respectful, and hopeful they both are.
The writing is lush, cozy, and really pulled me in. I loved the magical/fantasy aspects against the historical setting; it was so delightful. I highly recommend to anyone seeking out gorgeously written novels-in-verse!
cw: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Death, Loss of Loved Ones, Confinement, Physical abuse
What a stunning novel-in-verse! Beautiful prose, quick pacing, and lovely ruminations on life, death, purpose, expectations and the duality and relationship of nature/humans🫶🏽
Our half-swan, half-human main character Hilde in 1880s Bavaria leads us through this dark fairy tale & I listened to the audiobook on Libby alongside my owned physical copy. I loved the romance with our Jewish non-binary love interest, Franz. They are an artist and I love how the romance impacts Hilde, and how compassionate, respectful, and hopeful they both are.
The writing is lush, cozy, and really pulled me in. I loved the magical/fantasy aspects against the historical setting; it was so delightful. I highly recommend to anyone seeking out gorgeously written novels-in-verse!
cw: Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Death, Loss of Loved Ones, Confinement, Physical abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Blood
thepinkladylazarus's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
keepcalmblogon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Happy release day to A Warning About Swans! Thank you Netgalley for my e-arc! R.M. Romero is easily a must-read author for me, after how haunted I was by Ghosts of Rose Hill, I knew A Warning About Swans would be just as poignant, and I was not let down!
Hilde may be half swan half girl, but despite her magical forest origin, her experiences are universally human. The content warnings of this book are exactly what it is about: abuse and manipulation. But it’s also about finding oneself, being seen for who one truly is, discovering love, and embracing one’s power.
Romero’s verse prose is elegant, engaging, and captures the breadth of her story in short lines and uniquely formatted stanzas and caesuras. I binge her stories in stolen moments on the couch with tea and my cats–and I plan to do that for every single one of her future releases. 5 stars!
Hilde may be half swan half girl, but despite her magical forest origin, her experiences are universally human. The content warnings of this book are exactly what it is about: abuse and manipulation. But it’s also about finding oneself, being seen for who one truly is, discovering love, and embracing one’s power.
Romero’s verse prose is elegant, engaging, and captures the breadth of her story in short lines and uniquely formatted stanzas and caesuras. I binge her stories in stolen moments on the couch with tea and my cats–and I plan to do that for every single one of her future releases. 5 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
beforeviolets's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Thank you to Peachtree Teen for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A timeless fairytale in verse about a girl made out of the dreams of men, desperately determined to forge a story of her own.
R.M. Romero seems to have a pattern of centering characters who find themselves trapped by the narratives and projections of the people and the world around them, and have to learn how to rewrite those narratives. And it gets me every time.
In our world, I think most people can relate to feeling weighed down by the expectations of others, whether that be parents, partners, friends, or even strangers on the internet. So much of our society teaches us to find worth in who we can be for other people. And so this book’s messages about self-empowerment and choosing the role we play in the stories that are told about our lives feels incredibly relevant despite the 1880s setting.
Juggling themes about the relationship between humans and nature, and about the tool of fairytales in determining who we view as "monsters" and "heroes", Romero strikes a wonderful balance between subtle literary metaphor and overt conversations.
This story feels precious and kind and hopeful. If you’re looking for a modern fairytale with a diverse cast, knife-sharp prose, and a queer romance, look no further.
Content Warnings: animal death, abusive relationship (emotional, physical), confinement, blood, death, nonconsensual kiss, violence, loss of sibling (past), loss of father, drowning (past), grief
A timeless fairytale in verse about a girl made out of the dreams of men, desperately determined to forge a story of her own.
R.M. Romero seems to have a pattern of centering characters who find themselves trapped by the narratives and projections of the people and the world around them, and have to learn how to rewrite those narratives. And it gets me every time.
In our world, I think most people can relate to feeling weighed down by the expectations of others, whether that be parents, partners, friends, or even strangers on the internet. So much of our society teaches us to find worth in who we can be for other people. And so this book’s messages about self-empowerment and choosing the role we play in the stories that are told about our lives feels incredibly relevant despite the 1880s setting.
Juggling themes about the relationship between humans and nature, and about the tool of fairytales in determining who we view as "monsters" and "heroes", Romero strikes a wonderful balance between subtle literary metaphor and overt conversations.
This story feels precious and kind and hopeful. If you’re looking for a modern fairytale with a diverse cast, knife-sharp prose, and a queer romance, look no further.
Content Warnings: animal death, abusive relationship (emotional, physical), confinement, blood, death, nonconsensual kiss, violence, loss of sibling (past), loss of father, drowning (past), grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Grief