Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis -Review by Jennifer Ramos

Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing read of another classic retelling! Natalina Reis’ rendition of the classic stories of Hans Christian Anderson and Grimm’s fairy tales will bring readers of these familiar tales and new readers towards curiosity to a new adventure.

This story takes us to the Kingdom of Nem, where King Rian is doing all that he can to ensure an heir to his throne. When his son is finally born, a witch casts an evil spell that when the child turns 18 years of age, everyone in the Kingdom including the King will fall into a deep slumber.

As the years go by, the reader is introduced to Cathal and his younger brother, Odhran. Now as young men, Cathal had grown up protecting the evil wrongdoings of his younger brother as a result of their mother’s dying wish. Odhran tended to have a hurtful and sadistic nature, while Cathal was the complete opposite of being gentle and kind to others. Encounters with some swans nearby had landed Odhran in a special prison while Cathal recovers from being attacked. Under the care of Queen Eala and her family, Cathal learns of his brother’s actions and tries to justify his lack of protection while his brother is under his watchful eye.

As Cathal heals physically and mentally from such a taxing ordeal of years long hardship he endured as a result of Odhran’s harmful actions, he starts appreciating the simple things of life, nature, and love. Such simple life experiences Cathal hasn’t had the opportunity to cherish being the protector to his brother. At the same time, secrets start to come to light when he learns where he is and the people taking care of him. Things he never knew such as magical creatures, witches, and most importantly, family secrets that intertwined the futures of these brothers.

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