As to Eva Wilhelm's performance, she did a splendid job. I could say more, but I don't wish to spoil the book. Finally, we have Clothilde, Siegfried's queen mother who is determined to maintain the throne at all costs, even that of her son's life. Secondly, we have Siegfried, a rascal of a prince who finds himself questioning his lifestyle and is destined to meet the swan princess Odette. Firstly, we have Odile, apprentice daughter of Baron von Rothbart, a cruel sorcerer who turns maidens into swans as punishment for their supposed sins. In this grand retelling of a classic tale, we're given three POV characters to follow. This is my favorite book by Mercedes Lackey, and having a chance to return to it is a real treat. However, the baron’s treachery is beyond anything the other characters expect.Ever since I got an Audible account, I've been patiently waiting for this book to join it's ranks. His stated plan is that the prince will meet his daughter at a lake on a hunting trip, and that she will be his ideal choice for a bride. Then Baron von Rothbart enters the scene. The queen arranges for the prince to meet several eligible princesses, and hopes this will distract him sufficiently to delay the coronation, with the intention of a fatal “accident” for him at some later date. Clothilde intends to hang onto the throne as long as possible, and encourages Siegfried in a life of wine, women and hunting rather than the responsibilities of state.Īs Siegfried approaches his eighteenth birthday, the courtiers remind the queen that the prince must marry and be crowned. The king had died some years previously, and Crown Prince Siegfried has not yet come of age to take the throne. The Baron makes a promise to Odette that if she can win the love of a man, who will remain faithful to her for a month, all the girls will be freed from the spell.Ĭlothilde is the Queen Regent of a small European kingdom. She is learning magic herself, and sometimes takes the form of a black swan. She is naive and trusting of her father, always seeking her father’s approval, and not realising his real treachery.

Odile is the sorcerer’s daughter, generally left in charge of the captured girls at the sorcerer’s manor. The leader of the group of girls turned into swans is the princess Odette. In reality these girls have committed minor sins compared to their husbands or fathers, often being mistreated, and married off to men against their will. This book is a fantasy story retelling the story of Swan Lake.īaron von Rothbart is a powerful sorcerer, who captures young women he believes to have betrayed or been unfaithful, enchanting them to take the form of swans, so that they only take their human form in the moonlight.

The black swan by mercedes lackey