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A Warning About Swans
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  • Published: 11 July 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593740231
  • Imprint: RH US Audio Childrens
  • Format: Audio Download
  • RRP: $23.00

A Warning About Swans

  • R. M. Romero
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Swan Lake meets The Last Unicorn by way of the Brothers Grimm in a dreamy, original fairytale in verse which transports readers to the Bavarian Alps.

Bavaria. 1880. Hilde was dreamed into existence by the god Odin, and along with her five sisters, granted cloaks that transform them into swans. Each sister’s cloak is imbued with a unique gift, but Hilde rejects her gift which connects her to the souls of dying creatures and forces her to shepherd them into the afterlife—the “Other Wood.”

While guiding the soul of a hawk to the Other Wood, Hilde meets the handsome Baron Maximilian von Richter, whose father was once a favorite of the king and left him no inheritance. Hilde is intrigued by Richter’s longing for a greater life and strikes a deal with him: She will manifest his dreams of riches, and in return, he will take her to the human world, where she will never have to guide souls again.

But at the court of King Ludwig II in Munich, Hilde struggles to fit in. After learning that fashionable ladies are having themselves painted, she hires non-binary Jewish artist Franz Mendelson, and is stunned when Franz renders her with swan wings. The more time she spends with Franz, the more she feels drawn to the artist’s warm, understanding nature, and the more controlling Richter becomes. When Hilde’s swan cloak suddenly goes missing, only Franz’s ability to paint souls can help Hilde escape her newfound prison.
  • Published: 11 July 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593740231
  • Imprint: RH US Audio Childrens
  • Format: Audio Download
  • RRP: $23.00
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Praise for A Warning About Swans

Praise for The Ghosts of Rose Hill:

“A story of deep hurts delivered with a very gentle, kindly touch.”—NPR

* "An ode to the Diaspora and to the many folktales and myths populating Ilana’s mixed heritage, Romero’s luscious work dives into dark, painful caverns and emerges in sprays of enthralling hope. A must-read for lost souls everywhere." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

* "An intoxicating blend of the contemporary and otherworldly, Romero’s layered novel in verse interlaces romance and ghost story with an exploration of cultural identity, folklore, and history. In lyrical, immersive language that’s both contemporary and ageless, Romero brings vivid life to the teenagers’ powerful romance." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

* A modern folktale, a love letter to the diaspora, and a unique novel-in-verse, this work is recommended for all teen collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

* " [A] wistful and deeply symbolic tale of feeling seen and finding powerful connections to the past."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

"Romero's novel in verse combines Judaic tradition with fantasy and is divided into movements like a classical musical piece." —Booklist

"Dreamy verse makes for an organic introduction to ghosts and Jewish folklore but remains rooted in the history of Prague and Ilana’s struggles to negotiate her parents’ immigrant identities. . . . [A] mix of family drama, Jewish history, and the supernatural."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A modern Märchen steeped in a century of history. Both the beautiful and the monstrous come to life in gorgeous verse prose and a story that will haunt me for years to come. Absolutely breathtaking." —Kip Wilson, critically acclaimed author of White Rose

"The Ghosts of Rose Hill merges folk tale with reality, examining through haunting, evocative verse how little space there is between mythic monsters and the ones we must face in this world. Completely memorizing." —Joy McCullough, acclaimed author of Blood Water Paint

"Filled with lush descriptions and soulful emotion, The Ghosts of Rose Hill doesn't shy away from delving into the darker side of Prague's history and lingered with me long after reaching the final page. Readers will find themselves captivated." —Aden Polydoros, author of The City Beautiful