Books like 'A Wild Winter Swan'
Readers who enjoyed A Wild Winter Swan by Gregory Maguire also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy historical-fiction magical-realism retellings coming-of-age fairy-tale season-winter magic grief
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War Music: An Account of Books 1-4 and 16-19 of Homer's Iliad by Christopher Logue, Homer
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn his brilliant rendering of eight books of Homer's Iliad, Logue here retells some of the most evocative episodes of the war classic, including the death of Patroclus and Achilles's fateful return to battle, that sealed the doom of Troy... -
The Conspiracy at Meru by Shatrujeet Nath
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsVICTORY IS TEMPORARY. THE BATTLE IS ETERNAL.Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine have fought valiantly to repel the rampaging hordes from Devaloka and Patala – but Avanti has been brought to its knees. Ujjayini lies battered its citizens are scared and morale is badly shaken... -
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe long siege of Troy, the battles fought over it, and the city's eventual capitulation and incineration are events which have often been retold since their first recitation by Homer. Seldom, however, will they have been narrated with such close attention to the minute particulars of battle, to its reek and terror and pain, as in this startling account by Daniel Kelly... -
As Brumas de Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsColeção Completa: As Brumas de Avalon [4 volumes]A Senhora da Magia, A Grande Rainha, O Gamo-Rei e O Prisioneiro da Árvore são os quatro volumes que compõem As Brumas de Avalon - a grande obra de Marion Zimmer Bradley -, que reconta a lenda do rei Artur através da perspectiva de suas heroínas.Guinevere se casou com Artur por determinação do pai, mas era apaixonada por Lancelote... -
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Vikramaditya Veergatha Book 1 The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.But was the Halahala truly destroyed?A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it...Categorized as:
epic historical-fiction myths retellings action-adventure adult ancient-civilization book -
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, Julie Morstad
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA New York Times bestseller!“Kate DiCamillo's dazzling first title in the Norendy Tales trilogy is brimming with wit, whimsy, and heart as it follows five puppets fulfilling their thrilling shared destiny.” – Shelf AwarenessShut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark...Categorized as:
fairy-tale friendship family magical-realism magic historical-fiction myths retellings -
The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsFrom Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker's Gift...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magical-realism magic family grief literary-fiction coming-of-age season-winter -
King Midas and the Golden Touch by M. Charlotte Craft
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratings"There once lived a very rich king called Midas who believed that nothing was more precious than gold."So begins this imaginative and breathtaking retelling of the myth of the man with the golden touch. When a mysterious stranger offers to reward Midas for a kindness, the king does not hesitate: He wishes that all he touches would turn to gold...Categorized as:
fairy-tale family historical-fiction magic myths retellings ancient-civilization book -
A Girl Called Rumi by Ari Honarvar
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar's debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling.Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother's California garage...Categorized as:
magical-realism historical-fiction myths family low-fantasy retellings fiction fantasy -
Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBaba Yaga is a witch famous throughout Russia for eating children, but this Babushka Baba Yaga is a lonely old woman who just wants a grandchild?to love."Kids will respond to the joyful story of the outsider who gets to join in, and Polacco's richly patterned paintings of Russian peasant life on the edge of the woods are full of light and color... -
Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn atmospheric, feminist retelling of the early life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, set against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.When King Uther Pendragon murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage, Morgan refuses to be crushed. Trapped amid the machinations of men in a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, she discovers secret powers...Categorized as:
retellings historical-fiction myths magic magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy arthurian -
Four Sisters by Val Wood
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA powerful story about the bond of sisterhood and how it can triumph against any adversity, from the Sunday Times bestselling author Val Wood.Hull, 1852. Matty has had to care for her three younger sisters ever since their mother’s death ten years ago. She and the girls’ beloved father have worked hard to keep the family together and now it’s time to celebrate as Matty turns eighteen...Categorized as:
historical-fiction family literary-fiction epic friendship coming-of-age historical tragedy -
The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhy is it, Terence wondered, that the things you know most surely are always the things you can’t demonstrate to any one else? And why is it, after all of these years, that Terence is still just a squire, offering advice on how best to scrub the rust spots from armor? But Squire Terence has more to worry about than his place on the social scale... -
Shiang by C.F. Iggulden
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBecome one of the first to read the second book in the bestselling Empire of Salt trilogy the epic fantasy series, and pre-order today.___________IF THESE STONES COULD SPEAK . . . THEY WOULD CALL FOR WAR.In Shiang, the young king rules without dissent. Mazer swordsmen stand watch on every corner, looking for the first sign of rebellion... -
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Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThe moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn...Categorized as:
coming-of-age fairy-tale family friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism -
Sword of the Ronin by Travis Heermann
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn 13th-Century Japan, a land of ancient spirits, shapeshifting animals, and demons, Ken'ishi is a warrior without a master. Orphaned in infancy, he has only one link to his past - Silver Crane, his father's sword. When Silver Crane is stolen, Ken'ishi must go on a quest to recover his very identity. The crime lord known as Green Tiger holds the key to Ken'ishi's past... -
Sting Magic by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe has the wrong kind of magic but the right kind of heart.In the Winged Empire, magic comes on swift wings.Literally.It manifests from its bearers as a bird, granting its skills to those who wield it.But this year, things are different.Aella is the fiercely determined daughter of settlers on the far edge of the Winged Empire... -
The Raven by Aderyn Wood
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEpic Fantasy in a prehistoric setting...”What good fantasy looks like.” – Kindle ReviewerThe clan’s survival is under threat, but one has the power to save them – their Outcast.In the Wolf Clan, in winter's darkest hour, a baby is born with a powerful gift. But dangerous omens brand her an Outcast, and the Elders name her Iluna... -
A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Girl Who Drank the Moon meets Pax in this fantastical tale of a wolf who forms an unlikely alliance with Baba Yaga to save the forest from a wicked tsar.Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans—especially witches—but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga...Categorized as:
fairy-tale friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings -
Love & Sleep by John Crowley
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe long-awaited new novel by one of the most important American authors of magical realism. In Aegypt Crowley opened the gates on a world of magic and mystery lying just beyond our own. In Love & Sleep, the second novel in a projected tetralogy, he renews his claim on the exalted territory of the imagination...Categorized as:
coming-of-age historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism adult book -
Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsReserved yet resilient, Ella Blakeley lives with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, without hope of escape—until the day Prince Kenton announces a ball that changes everything. Even without mice, magic, or fairy godmothers, Ella might discover a life that’s better than she ever dreamed. This intricately woven twist on Cinderella is an enchanting book you won’t be able to put down...Categorized as:
coming-of-age fairy-tale family historical-fiction magic myths retellings action-adventure -
The Hammer of the Sun by Michael Scott Rohan
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn the great battle which had returned control of Morvannec, the legendary city, to mankind, Elof the Smith had saved Kara, his love, from the immortal Power which ruled her. But in the seven years since, the Smith has grown fearful that Kara, herself no mortal, will one day leave him... -
The Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsClara Stahlbaum has her future perfectly planned: to marry the handsome pianist, Johann Kahler (ah!) and settle down to a life full of music. But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker...Categorized as:
fairy-tale historical-fiction magic magical-realism myths retellings season-winter action-adventure -
The Prairie Thief by Melissa Wiley
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn this “delightful mash-up of Little House on the Prairie and The Spiderwick Chronicles” (SLJ), experience life on the prairie—with one fantastical twist!Louisa Brody’s life on the Colorado prairie is not at all what she expected. Her dear Pa, accused of thievery, is locked thirty miles away in jail...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure -
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Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the bestselling author of Karna's Wife, comes this book about Urmila, Sita's sister and the neglected wife of Lakshman, and one of the most overlooked characters in the Ramayana. As Sita prepares to go into exile, her younger sisters stay back at the doomed palace of Ayodhya, their smiles, hope and joy wiped away in a single stroke... -
The Book of Flying by Keith Miller
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsIn Keith Miller's debut novel, our hero is Pico, a poet and librarian who is forbidden to pursue the girl of his dreams - for she has wings, and Pico does not. When he discovers an ancient letter in his library telling of the mythical Morning Town where the flightless may gain their wings, he sets off on a quest...Categorized as:
coming-of-age fairy-tale friendship magic magical-realism myths 21st-century action-adventure -
Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom the author of the Gael Song trilogy, an epic new historical fantasy set in the tumultuous, magical world of medieval Ireland during the time of the Norman invasion.Over a hundred years after she went missing, Isolde, born to the family of a famous Irish king and a powerful immortal, inexplicably reappears.Her mother's kin, the Descendants, are one of the two magical races of Ireland... -
The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA disabled orphan discovers he has miraculous abilities linked to the Light-Eaters, a primordial race that warns intolerant, early-1900s villagers of an upcoming natural disaster. Having won a number of awards, Robin Gregory's The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman is being lauded as a classic...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths -
The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsA young woman is both a bard--and a warrior--in this thrilling historical fantasy from the author of the Sevenwaters novels.Eighteen-year-old Liobhan is a powerful singer and an expert whistle player. Her brother has a voice to melt the hardest heart, and a rare talent on the harp. But Liobhan's burning ambition is to join the elite warrior band on Swan Island... -
Pandora Gets Frightened by Carolyn Hennesy
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPandy has recaptured six of the great Evils that she "accidentally" let loose, and now our foursome--Pandy, Alcie, Iole, and Homer--is on the hunt for the worst of them all: Fear. The team must journey into the dreaded underworld for their final adventure.Meanwhile, Hera, who knows where Pandy is heading, has been wreaking havoc in the shadowy world... -
The Snow Song by Sally Gardner
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWomen imprisoned by superstition, chained by guilt. Perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests is a village, rife with secrets. Cut off from the outside world it is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all.Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magical-realism season-winter magic fairy-tale myths literary-fiction romance -
I Am One of You Forever by Fred Chappell
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsWonderfully funny and also deeply touching, I Am One of You Forever is the story of a young boy's coming of age...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction magical-realism book fiction historical -
The Quest of the Fair Unknown by Gerald Morris
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsOn her deathbed, Beaufils’s mother leaves him with a quest and a clue: find your father, a knight of King Arthur’s court. So Beaufils leaves the isolated forest of his youth and quickly discovers that he has much to learn about the world beyond his experience... -
The Shadowed Land by Signe Pike
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsKing Arthur and his contemporaries are boldly reimagined in this “mystical, epic, and captivating” (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author) series that resurrects the real historical figures who inspired one of our most enduring legends... -
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The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThere’s just not enough…not enough money, not enough food, not enough fish for her daddy to sell at the market. Hard times have come to the forest, but Calpurnia wants to turn them back into soft times...Categorized as:
family friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings animals -
Fudoki by Kij Johnson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEnter the world of Kagaya-hime, a sometime woman warrior, occasional philosopher, and reluctant confidante to noblemen--who may or may not be a figment of the imagination of an aging empress who is embarking on the last journey of her life, setting aside the trappings of court life and reminiscing on the paths that lead her to death...Categorized as:
fairy-tale historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings -
With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJust when Harmonia thought she had saved everyone she loved, the unthinkable happens and her life is shattered… in the space of just one breath. Now, she is left alone to shoulder a challenge, because she alone can fulfill a prophecy and restore Olympus. She knows she can succeed; she is the daughter of gods, after all... -
With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJust when Harmonia thought she had saved everyone she loved, the unthinkable happens and her life is shattered… in the space of just one breath. Now, she is left alone to shoulder a challenge, because she alone can fulfill a prophecy and restore Olympus. She knows she can succeed; she is the daughter of gods, after all... -
Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProudly dedicated to both J. R. R. Tolkien and Richard Wagner, Rhinegold is a tour de force that will enthrall devotees of either master of magic, casting a fascinating new light on the stories they have told. What The Mists of Avalon did for Celtic culture, Rhinegold does magnificently for its Nordic counterpart... -
Once and Forever: The Tales of Kenji Miyazawa by Kenji Miyazawa
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe magic of Miyazawa's tales reaches out to people of all ages and lands. The sophisticated reader can savor them consciously as literature, while the younger reader can delight in them as imaginative stories that comment on and deepen his own experience. The underlying themes are universal, but the forms and treatment can be appreciated at many levels and vary subtly from piece to piece...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings 20th-century adult -
The Well At The World's End: Volume I by William Morris, Lin Carter
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsIn the land of the Upmeads, King Peter's sons thirst for adventure and the King agrees that all except Ralph, the youngest, may go forth. But Ralph secretly makes his way to Wulstead, and here learns about the Well at the World's End, beginning a journey which will eventually lead him there...Categorized as:
epic historical-fiction literary-fiction myths retellings action-adventure adult book -
The Arrival of Missives by Aliya Whiteley
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsThe Arrival of Missives is a genre-defying story of fate, free-will and the choices we make in life. In the aftermath of the Great War, Shirley Fearn dreams of challenging the conventions of rural England, where life is as predictable as the changing of the seasons. The scarred veteran Mr... -
The Secret Garden: The Cinematic Novel by Linda Chapman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBased on the upcoming major motion picture and inspired by the original classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this cinematic novel retells the entire film and features an eight-page full-color insert.The Secret Garden Cinematic Novelization retells the iconic, classic tale that will be visualized for a whole new audience with a full-length feature film...Categorized as:
family friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magic magical-realism retellings book -
A Rush of Wings by Laura E. Weymouth
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor fans of Serpent & Dove and A House of Salt and Sorrows comes a “transportive and beautiful” (Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights) romantic fantasy about an untrained witch who must unlock her power to free her brothers from a terrible curse and save her home.Rowenna Winthrop has always known there’s magic within her... -
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Ikimetsien sydänmailla by Mikko Kamula
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Äkkiä Heiska kavahti taaksepäin. Naisen selässä oli jotain kovaa ja kyhmyräistä. Hän tuijotti Heiskaa kaipaavasti mutta selvästi varuillaan, olkapäät jännittyneinä. Muistutti jälleen villiä kissaeläintä. Silloin Heiska ymmärsi. Nainen ei ollut ihminen."Mitä tiedät suomalaisesta mytologiasta? Metsänhaltijoita, maahisia, jättiläisiä, noitia, tietäjiä ja nykyään jo lähes unohtuneita jumalia...Categorized as:
historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings adult audiobook book -
Celia's Song by Lee Maracle
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMink is a witness, a shape shifter, compelled to follow the story that has ensnared Celia and her village, on the West coast of Vancouver Island in Nu: Chahlnuth territory. Celia is a seer who - despite being convinced she's a little "off" - must heal her village with the assistance of her sister, her mother and father, and her nephews...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism adult book fiction historical -
Dæmonomania by John Crowley
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsOur ReviewIn a perfect world, John Crowley would be universally recognized as one of our greatest living writers. His novels -- which include Little, Big, arguably the finest single volume fantasy of the past half century -- are intricate, beautifully composed creations that demand -- and repay -- repeated readings...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism 21st-century adult book fiction -
The Serpent and the Grail by A.A. Attanasio
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe boy-king Arthor has beaten back the berserker wolf warriors of the Saxon god, uniting his island kingdom -- but at a terrible cost. For the Grail, the chalice of the Last Supper and the magical shield of Britain, has been stolen.Without the Grail's protection, Britain lies parched and barren, a demon-haunted landscape where sulfurous vapors taint ther air... -
Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella by Shirley Hughes
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe classic story of Cinderella gains even more charm in this glamorous retelling by world-famous picture book writer and illustrator Shirley Hughes. Ella Cinders loves helping her father in his dress shop and laughing with her friend Buttons, the store's delivery boy. Then comes the terrible day when her father remarries and everything changes... -
The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWelcome to the Winter Gardens of Half Moon House. Please do not mishandle the exhibits. (The owners accept no liability for any events that occur, magical or otherwise…)The Winter Garden open at the stroke of midnight with no great fanfare – after all, this is a time when all virtuous folk should be in bed. But for the few curious souls that brave the opening of its gates what enchantments await...
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