In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette must run the castle household while her older sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that-until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright.Sudden, soaring freedom-it is a wish come true. Yet it comes with a price. As Doucette struggles to find her own way in the world, she risks losing the one she loves most of all.An age-old fairy tale told in a refreshingly original voice, Heather Tomlinson's stunning debut is fantasy at its most eloquent and richly imagined. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Inspired by French fairy tales, Tomlinson's first novel takes the motif of the "swan maiden"- a beautiful young woman who can assume the form of a swan-and embroiders it into an elaborate romantic fantasy. Doucette, the 16-year-old daughter of a count, longs to be a swan maiden like her two older sisters, Azelais and Cecilia, who can perform sorcery, but for the past six years her parents have led her to believe that she was born without a "swan skin." While her sisters spend each summer with Tante Mahalt perfecting their magic, Doucette undergoes year-round tutelage from their domineering mother in running a noble household-until she discovers the swan skin her mother has hidden from her since birth. Tomlinson presents Doucette's subsequent adventures as a series of forks in the road: Stay with her mother or fly to Tante Mahalt? Marry her true love, the shepherd Jaume, or be made queen? Sacrifice her swan self, and her magic, in exchange for love? The prose rarely rises above the serviceable ("Soft as milk, as clouds, as snow, the dappled swan skin enveloped her in a luscious warmth"); rather, it's the fast-moving plot that will engage readers. Fans of Shannon Hale's Goose Girl and Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest form the likeliest audience. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 7 Up-As the youngest, seemingly unmagical daughter of Lord Pascau, Doucette, 16, is trapped in the castle learning how to manage a busy household while her wildly unrestrained swan maiden sisters study the High Arts with their sorceress aunt. Doucette is expected to behave as a proper young lady and marry as her parents dictate, unlike her sisters, who are free to live-and love-as they choose. Her dreams of flying and of being free to love the shepherd boy Jaume seem utterly hopeless until a chance discovery reveals the birthright that her parents have kept carefully concealed from her. But even then, obstacles stand between Doucette and happiness, not the least of which are Jaume's distrust of magic and a series of impossible tasks that he must complete to win her hand. Inspired by French fairy tales, Tomlinson skillfully weaves a satisfying and enchanting tale that flows quickly and immerses readers in a charming, rustic setting. Independent, determined, and fallible, Doucette is a likable heroine who grows in confidence and trust. The romance is secondary to her development. This book would make an excellent companion to Edith Pattou's East (Harcourt, 2003) and may also appeal to Donna Jo Napoli's fans.-Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

*Starred Review* Sixteen-year-old Doucette is the third daughter of the comte and comtesse of Aigleron. Unlike her two older sisters, who are magical swan maidens with the freedom to fly and control their own lives, Doucette is being trained to be a noblewoman fit for a financially beneficial arranged marriage. Imagine Doucette's surprise when she finds that she, too, is a swan maiden; her parents have lied about her identity and hidden her own dove-gray cloak of feathers. Defying her mother, she flies into the world, eager to claim her magical birthright and her own true love, Jaume the sheperd's son. In her debut novel, Tomlinson has melded several French fairy tales into a beautiful fantasy. Her descriptions of the swan maidens' transformations are so vivid that readers will imagine their own abrupt change from human to bird. The three trials that Jaume must complete to win Doucette's hand in marriage are far too realistic to be read without dismay and discomfort, and Doucette's and Jaume's love for each other is so tender that it will bring a smile to even the most cynical readers. Tomlinson is also able to convey the difficult choices freedom brings, especially for women contemplating love and marriage. Layered, elegantly written, and filled with unexpected twists and turns, The Swan Maiden soars with grace and power.--Bradburn, Frances Copyright 2007 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.