Cover Image: Swan Lake

Swan Lake

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Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this graphic novel retelling of Swan Lake. We follow Odette, Dillie, and Fred as they go on a quest to break Odette's curse of turning into a swan every day at sunrise. Along the way they face many monsters as well as evil humans who try to hamper them on their quest. Will they be able to break Odette's curse? You'll have to read and find out for yourself!

I really loved the characters in this graphic novel. The girls were awesome, sword fighting, adventurers and they went on the quest all on their own with no boys to save them. Overall, this was a really great graphic novel and I think any fan of adventure books would be happy to check this out!

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

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Swan Lake is a fun magical retelling of the classic ballet. Its done with a new twist, bringing in characters that suit this version of the story perfectly. Two princesses, both feeling like they need to prove themselves capable to their parents, set out on a quest to prove the innocence of one king and break the curse that causes Princess Odette to turn into a swan every day at sunrise. They team up with a reluctant Prince along the way and journey through treacherous forests and mountains seeking truth and a wish. It’s a wonderful story about found family, finding courage, and finding yourself.

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A fun take on the Swan Lake story - loved the illustrative style and the focus on how different doesn't necessarily mean bad. Also: talking bear!

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This book wasn't really close enough to the original Swan Lake ballet to call it by the same name, so I went in with unrealistic expectations. I hope the two girls' relationships expand in the next books in the series as they obviously have feelings for each other.

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I thought this was great! I loved the spin on this! It was filled with adventure and humor and heart and friendship! It was a great version to give younger readers.

Although, I wish I could have an entire story with the characters in their western wear like in the author’s note! I thought they looked GREAT. Also, the note made me teary-eyed. It was so heartwarming and lovely.

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Such an interesting take on the Swan Princess and Ballet by Tchaikovsky. There are two princesses who could not be more different. The Princess Odette is under a curse from a mysterious sorcerer to turn into a swan every day. Her parents are extremely over protective and all Odette wants to do is dance. Princess Dilly wants nothing more than to swordfight and go on adventures. Upon meeting each other they are instant friends even though they should be sworn enemies. Dilly decides it is her job to break the curse and set Odette free. So off the two friends go on a journey. This had lgbqta+ characters with Dilly's father being gay and women empowerful with matriarchal societies. Very different from the original ballet but an excellent graphic novel read. Fans of Pixar and Adventure Time will love this graphic novel.

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Swan Lake is an enchanting, adventure-filled graphic novel about finding yourself and the power of friendship.

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Thank you to HarperAlly and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of one of the best adventures ever! Such a fantastic retelling of Swan Lake! Great idea making it in a graphic novel format. It really adds to the story and the whole reading experience. Gorgeous images, amazing writing, and wonderful characters made for a fun and exciting reading. Can’t wait to share this gem with my students!

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4 stars. Thank you Netgalley for the arc. This was a lovely middle grade adventure story. Little bit retelling, little bit fantasy, a lot epic adventure!

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A new retelling of Swan Lake in graphic novel form. Odette and Dillie are supposed to be rival princesses. However, they soon become friends. The only catch is that Odette grew up thinking that Dillie's family was responsible for her curse of turning into a swan each day. Dillie is determined to prove her family's innocence. Together they set off to the magical land to try to reverse the curse.

This was a cute story with pretty drawings! Definitely a good update on the classic.

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Thank you to Rey Terciero and Harper Collins for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book.
I loved every minute of it!
The witty banter between the characters kept me fully engaged and rooting for the characters the whole way. I loved the cast of misfits that are accumulated throughout the story and I would love to see this series continue with more adventures in the future. I think that this would be a great addition to any elementary school library. It was a pleasure to read.

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Thank you NetGalley and HarperAlley for providing the E-ARC of this book.

WOW, I did not know that this book was written by Rex Ogle, and I'm in love. I thought this was such a cute and daring re-telling of Swan Lake. The characters and artwork gave me huge "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Netflix remake 2018)" vibes, which happens to be my all-time favorite cartoon series. I loved the simple quest paired with strong female-characters, showing different spectrums of personalities. I love the themes of friendship and the little bits of romance between the main characters.

I definitely will continue to read more of his books. Recommend 10/10

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This is a super cute retelling of Swan Lake with reimagined characters that are funny and sweet. The friendships between the young royals plays out well and the ending was a surprise that I really enjoyed. Will definitely be recommending to my students as an introduction to Swan Lake and other classic stories!

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A wonderfully clever graphic novel that takes the classic story of Swan Lake and turns it into a modern quest with three lovable heroes. It throws away gender stereotypes and reminds us that everyone feels fear, anxiety, and worry. Excellent characters, creative storytelling, and gorgeous drawings made this a true page-turner. I highly recommend it to fans of heroic quests, fairy tales, and graphic novels.

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LOVE this creative use of characters from classic fairy tales (Odette the swan princess is heavily featured) and a great mix of diverse characters (HELLO! We have a cool goth amputee princess who sword fights? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???) along with lovely art and a super fun story with lots of twisty turns at every corner.

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Wholesome and kid friendly fantasy that was fun to read! I’m in touch enough with my inner child to really enjoy the better quality kids graphic novels. You should try it if you’re a stressed adult. 15-20 minutes of stress free reading before bed that asks nothing more than for you to enjoy a story. Both the princesses are likable kids, the evil of adults being idiots who fail to use their words is certainly one kids have to deal with in real life…

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I have zero nitpicky complaints, this book was so fun and cute!

The characters (you know, the talking girl/swan, the spunky princess with a prosthetic leg, the young prince who can talk to animals, and the prince's friend/bear) were such a fun group. I really loved the diversity and the dynamic this group had.

This story is ultimately about love and I was so here for it! It's about loving yourself and others, flaws and all. Odette and Dilly are admirable for many reasons but I loved them most for being so open minded and eager to make amends between their families and kingdoms. Odette's innocence and good heart combined with Dilly's tenacity and "act first, think later" mentality was wonderful. Fred's comments about his various fears, his conversations with Benno the bear, and his empty stomach woes were equal parts funny and endearing.

The plot moves along quickly and is full of action. I loved reading this as an adult and I'm certain I would have loved it when I was in elementary/middle school. The artwork is simple but so expressive. It is easy to follow the story while also getting immersed in the world. Kearney's artwork was perfect for this fun adventure story.

I would absolutely recommend this to readers of all ages and would love to read more from these two!

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Swan Lake is a gorgeous and adventurous retelling of Tchaikovsky's ballet. Two princesses of rival kingdoms become friends and set out to break a curse that will clear the air and prevent war between their parents. Along their adventure, they meet new friends and discover the importance of self-acceptance and the lesson that what you want is not always what you need.
This graphic novel had me hooked from the beginning with fun art and stunning colors. The characters were loveable and made up a diverse cast. This is an excellent fantasy adventure for all ages yearning for their very own quest.

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A high-octane swan lake remake full of magic, friendship, and quests! This was a wonderful fast-paced adventure graphic novel with beautiful illustrations. Middle-grade readers will love the adventure and stay for the friendships.

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