A review by quitejessi
The Maker of Swans by Paraic O'Donnell

2.0

I was promised a mystery thriller with a touch of fantasy. The only mystery here (as other reviewers have noted) is where the plot is. This is the epitome of all vibes, no plot. And it doesn't work. (And that's coming from someone who liked The Night Circus.) So many questions were raised, and I kept reading, waiting for answers that never came. (And not like, little questions. Questions that were integral to whatever plot that wasn't there. (The titular Maker of Swans is in the book for half of one chapter and does not return. Their presence is never explained or mentioned again.) It felt like Paraic O'Donnell dreamt this fragmented mess and thought "this would be a good premise for a story" but didn't write a story to go with it.

The prose is lyrical (and purply) and the atmosphere is thick and sometimes lovely. But don't waste your time.