The Year the Swans Came

I could read this book over and over and never tire of it. A brilliantly crafted and beautiful story, with magic flowing through every page. Although the truth is not revealed until close to the end, there is a definite sense of it in the undercurrents running through the plot from the start, which immediately drew me in and kept me captivated throughout.
The descriptive writing transported me to a whole new world. Seen through the eyes of the main character the ordinary becomes extraordinary and anything seems possible.
The characters themselves are drawn with great imagination and flair.
This is a grown-up fairytale without the expected ending. Regarding the ending, I find myself hoping that this is not a stand alone book, but rather just the beginning. I would love to re-enter this world and see more from the characters within. I loved it.

A different and unique twist on the usual fantasy novel, really imaginative. I loved the characters these were well written and relatable, so much I happily disliked other characters on their behalf. A well crafted tale, good pacing and interesting plot.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting post World War telling of a myth/fairytale taking place in what I think was The Netherlands. Without revealing too much and as you can assume from the title, this novel is about swans, curses, family, love and friendship. The story was beautiful though a bit long in places. The author did a wonderful job with the characters; I adored Margrit and at the same time I wanted to slap Ruth and shake some sense into Margrit's mother and all of the boys in general. Zande's character was deliciously complicated and I think that an entire novel could be written about him (both his back story and the aftermath from this story).

I really enjoyed it but I felt cheated by the ending. I kept swiping to make sure that I had in fact, just finished the last page. Where's the rest of it? Is there going to be another book? It left so many things up in the air and there are questions I need answered!

Heart wrenching novel of epic scope! I picked this book for the title-I love swans-but this far exceeded my hopes. Ms Spenser has woven a tale of magic and myth that will live in my heart and head forever! Two teenage girls from a land torn by war and occupation come of age together-one gorgeous and selfish, the other insightful and reserved-learning I’d love, loss, family and the frailty of outward appearances. This book seemed slow and steady at the beginning and a little too full of secrets that happened prior to the opening pages but once it got going it just flew fast and furious like a summer storm and the secrets were revealed one after another. I loved it! Thanks to #netgalley for #theyeartheswanscame in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure what I can say about this book without giving away any spoilers, except that it is beautifully written, the descriptions powerful, tender, evocative, the characters rounded - some that you will love, some that you will pity, some that you may despise or be irritated by, but all imprinting themselves on your mind and staying with you long after the end of the book - as will the ending, which is very well crafted, and although it fits with all that went before I was still taken be surprise by the details. All I will say is that it had me scurrying off to look up legends about swans and I would totally recommend it as a wonderful read.

A taunt beautifully written story mainly told from the eyes of a young teenaged girl growing up somewhere in strict after war eastern European country next to the seas. If it didn't have such heavy Slavic over tones & a darker clime I would have though the Netherlands but assume more some country like Romania. It is set after a war, perhaps ww1 & the rebuilding & restructuring of the city after occupation. With two older brothers & an older sister all is well until the oldest boy Pieter "disappears". Whatever happened, she heard some of it & knows her parents know & are not forthcoming on what. Her best friend is a narrcistic, sociopathic beauty that uses Margarit as a prop in place of a real friend. Her treatment of the boys is the same. Naturally , to add to the mix, Ruth, Margarits friend is also wealthy & her family resides next door. The swans, both beautiful & fierce are considered bad luck. As a child Margarits goodness led her to save a young swam being beaten badly by boys with long heavy sticks. It's wing was badly broken but thanks to her it lived to swim away to safety. The difference in her humanity versus her friends careless callousness is extreme. Ruth's vanity & pettiness is brought front & center over a lavish gift of clothes for Margarits birthday & what happens after she dons them. There is a prominent archetype in this type of relationship that screams out the reality & psychology of it not unlike the final girl concept in slash & hacks though depending on reality or prose not always in such a satisfactory manner in reality or writing. There's 4 new foreign boys in school that all are watching the boys jealousy & the girls in budding to full blown lust disguised as love, especially for the leader. Pieter returns home a bit after school has started & intrigue over the new boys has become the mainstay of Margarit. She has also had unusual interactions with Zande while also thinking of another f the boys Jaan. Her second to oldest brother Hans had been taken in his steed to apprentice for his fathers mirror company. A volatile jealous, bombastic figure he is not happy with his brothers return usurping him in his mind especially when it comes to Ruth whom Pieter loves & Ruth claims she has feeling for him. It does not change her victimization of boys at school & she has now gotten involved with Tristan one of the mystery boys while actually wanting Zande which knows the game better than she can ever attempt. I leave this here as an engrossing read withh a bright & wild ribbon of old folklore of eastern Europe.

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book. It is a work of art.

What a wonderful book. The writer somehow recreates the ambience of 17th century paintings, but with a twist of in the story that places the action in a skewed modern setting. Then the fables come to life. The characters are beautifully developed, and though the story rushes to the inevitable conclusion the journey is wonderful. I can only recommend it highly.