A warning about swans
(Book)

Content warnings: Animal death, physical and psychological abuse, emotional manipulation.

Swan maiden Hilde sacrifices her magical wings to seek freedom in the human world, but when her pact with an upstart baron takes her to the court of Ludwig II, she struggles to fit in, and only Jewish artist Franz, who has the power to paint souls, can help her escape her newfound prison.

Bavaria. 1880. Hilde was dreamed into existence by the god Odin, and along with her five sisters, granted cloaks that transform them into swans. Hilde gift 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 Baron Maximilian von Richter, whose father was once a favorite of the king and left him no inheritance. Intrigued by Richter's longing for a greater life, she offers to manifest his dreams of riches if 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. When non-binary Jewish artist Franz Mendelson renders her with swan wings. When Hilde's swan cloak goes missing, only Franz's ability to paint souls can help her. -- adapted from jacket

Ages 14 and up.,Peachtree Teen.

Grades 10-12.,Peachtree Teen.