Why I DNF'd The Swan's Daughter

When I picked up The Swan's Daughter, I expected a captivating story filled with rich characters and a compelling plot wrapped in folklore-like tone. While it did deliver on tone, the rest was lacking for me. I did enjoy some of the novel but I, unfortunately, found myself unable to finish it.

The Promise of the Story

The Swan's Daughter opens with an intriguing premise. It promised, "marriage means murder." A young woman, a swan, has several daughters and when the youngest is born, it's immediately obvious that she is different. When she grows older and becomes eligible for the competition to marry Prince Arris, she is the clear choice to enter the competition over her sisters. But for Prince Arris, marriage means he will die. When the two meet, it's an instant connection. The potential for a deep emotional journey was clear, and I was eager to see how the plot would unfold between the swan's daughter and the prince.

What Interested Me About The Swan's Daughter

The book opens with a tone that feels unmistakably fairytale-like, as if plucked from the pages of an old, well-worn fable. There’s a timeless quality to the storytelling — the kind that evokes whispered legends, enchanted forests, and the moral clarity of classic tales — and it drew me in with its romanticism. Take, for example, the way she describes Prince Arris's view on finding love amidst the many who only want him for his title:

Beyond the families of the gentry, there might be someone who saw the world as he did. Someone who would view his heart as a powerful home for love and not a haven for the love of power. Someone who would not just extend the days of his life, but expand the meaning of it.

Additionally, the author has a talent for comedic one-liners. Though I struggled with the pacing, I enjoyed the author's writing style. A style I found quite funny.

Sometimes Prince Arris wondered if there was another version of himself that might have been able to make peace with a murderous marriage and a short first life.

Where The Swan's Daughter Lost Me

Despite the promising start, several factors contributed to my decision to stop reading, mainly the pacing and lack of story development. The first third of the novel felt stagnant.

Pacing Issues

The narrative pace slowed significantly after the first few chapters. Instead of moving the story forward, the plot bogged down with backstory, excessive detail, and unnecessary scenes that didn't tell the reader information they needed yet or at all. For example, an adorable but insignificant scene between Prince Arris and his sister waking him up with a knife and their conversation thereafter. This lack of momentum made the reading experience feel tedious rather than engaging.

Stagnant Story

Moreover, the two main characters, Demelza and Prince Arris don't even meet until nearly 100 pages in. The competition starts about a third of the way through the book and Prince Arris is introduced to everyone who entered the competition looking to marry him. To avoid murder, he must find true love — an almost impossible feat — not just a compatible match for marriage. The expectation of the story is that romance. The stakes presented to the reader rely solely on the development of this relationship. Yet, we don't see them together for the first third of the book. That was frustrating for me, and I lost interest.

Who Might Still Enjoy This Book

Despite my experience, The Swan's Daughter may appeal to readers who enjoy slow-building stories with detailed world-building. Fans of rich folklore and lyrical writing, who don't mind spending more time with characters in their "old world/status quo" state before the story truly begins, will enjoy this novel. It provides a leisurely pace and some great lines that will surely make readers chuckle.

Final Thoughts

Choosing to stop reading a book is never easy, especially when it shows promise. The Swan's Daughter had the ingredients for a compelling story but the execution just wasn't there for me. This is simply a matter of taste. I still recommend giving The Swan's Daughter a chance if the premise intrigues you.