The Song of the Swan

Wise spiders, magical threads, and flawed illusions anchor this traditionally structured fantasy that nods to Swan Lake, focused on a child who uses her magical powers to help her swindling merchant caretaker. Desperate to escape the nomadic life she has endured since her mother’s death when she was six, 13-year-old Olga determines to find a legendary jewel, the Scarlet Heart. She runs away with loyal 18-year-old giant Pavel, the third cohort of the swindler’s trio, to a reputedly haunted valley that’s home to Sokolov Palace, rumored both to be abandoned and to house the jewel. Not only is the palace not empty, but exuberant Baron Sokolov hosts hordes of guests nightly at glittering balls. Pavel is enchanted, but Olga, single-minded about finding the treasure and well aware of illusions’ nature, quickly grows suspicious, and the presence of magic-bound swans raises further questions. Organized into eight tales and formally narrated by an omniscient spider who interrupts regularly to provide context for readers (addressed as “little ones”), this complicated and suspenseful work by previous collaborators Sutton and Hannuniemi (A Wolf for a Spell) is sometimes encumbered by Olga’s distrustful nature as she resists succumbing to a compassionate use of her magic. Occasional b&w illustrations create an animated-film ambiance. Human characters present as white. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)