Queen B’s Decree: The Swan’s Daughter was remarkably cozy, despite how murderous everyone seems to be.
Demelza is the daughter of a truth-telling swan and an evil wizard, and her father (who loves her…in his evil way) has discovered that Demelza’s heart is the key to his immortality. So she runs to the one place he’s banned from—the royal castle—where Prince Arris is hosting an event to choose his bride. Which sounds normal, except all the brides want to kill him (it’s just a thing in royal houses I guess?) so Demelza offers her truth-telling skills as a barter for safe haven.
Yes, it’s whacky and whimsical. Yes, Arris is a total dope who wants to believe in love and gets distracted by random women kissing him. Yes, both Demelza and Arris are both blind to their own feelings as they begin a friendship. But oh, this story had me hooked and I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator, Ell Potter, did a fabulous job.
I love the magical world, how normal it was to have a second life as perhaps a tree after your first mortal one ends. How all the different magical beings just accepted the quirks of the others. How (after the possible brides are narrowed down) sweet the friendships Demelza makes, giving that found family feel.
It was fun and ridiculous and sweet, yet it showed that while falling in love may be easy, staying in love is due to choosing your partner and working through anything that may pop up. What a wonderful listen and I’ll be looking for more from this author.
Book: The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
Series: standalone
Genre: Fantasy
Plot Devices/Tropes: found family