The Song of the Swan

By: Karah Sutton

Narrated by: Gabrielle Decuir, Steve Hendrickson

A magical retelling of Swan Lake, featuring a clever orphan, a castle filled with enchanted swans, and a quest to unearth the secrets of the past.

Olga is an orphan and a thief, relying on trickery and sleight of hand to make her way in the world. But it’s magic, not thievery, that could get her into trouble.

When Olga and her partner-in-crime Pavel learn of a valuable jewel kept in a secluded castle, Olga sees an opportunity to change their lives: a prize so big, they’d never have to steal again. But the castle is not as it seems, ruled by an enchanter who hosts grand balls every night, only for the guests to disappear each morning, replaced by swans. Guided by cryptic clues from the palace spiders, Olga soon realizes she’s in over her head—torn between a bargain with the enchanter, loyalty to Pavel, and determination to understand how the enchanted swans are linked to her own fate.

One thing is certain: there is dark magic behind the castle’s mysteries, and Olga will stop at nothing to unmask it.

Critic reviews

“Sutton's prose shines in this fast-paced adventure featuring engaging characters, a unique take on magic, and some truly creepy moments. I loved it!” — J.A. White, award-winning author of Nightbooks and The Thickety

"An enchanting fairy tale. . . . The characters are interesting, and the story, lovingly inspired by the ballets Giselle and Swan Lake, moves briskly." —Kirkus Reviews

"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." —Publishers Weekly

"Ripe for fairytale fans... Sutton conjures a folkloric Eastern European setting in this Swan Lake retelling, and Illustrator Hannuniemi lends a cozy feel with blaack-and-white renderings." —Booklist