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
-
Mayluna by Kelley McNeil
12 ratingsA legendary band, an iconic lead singer, and their mysterious connection to a woman whose love helped create the music of a generation. Timing is everything in a powerful novel about fate, regret, and moving on by the author of A Day Like This.In the 1990s, Carter Wills was the lead singer of the English alt-rock band Mayluna, securing his place among music legends... -
![The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom]()
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
28 ratingsMitch Albom creates a magical world through his love of music in this remarkable new novel about the power of talent to change our livesThis is the epic story of Frankie Presto—the greatest guitar player who ever lived—and the six lives he changed with his six magical blue stringsFrankie, born in a burning church, abandoned as an infant, and raised by a music teacher in a small Spanish town,...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friendship grief historical-fiction literary-fiction magic magical-realism -
![Zypheria's call by Nathan Lowell]()
Zypheria's call by Nathan Lowell
12 ratingsSometimes the longest journeys are within.Tanyth must make her way across the ocean to continue her voyage to find the hermit of Lammas Wood. Storms and ice block her path, but her most serious enemy may be people she has never met.As her power grows, she must come to grips with the changes within her even as she must answer the Zypheria's Call... -
![The Confusion, Part I by Neal Stephenson]()
The Confusion, Part I by Neal Stephenson
12 ratingsIn this compelling adventure, Stephenson brings to life a cast of unforgettable characters in the late 1600s on the high seas. It is a time of breathtaking genius and discovery for men and women whose exploits define an age known as Baroque...Categorized as:
historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism adult audiobook book fiction historical -
-
![The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, Evie Gaughan]()
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, Evie Gaughan
18 ratingsOn a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magical-realism magic epic literary-fiction family romance fantasy -
![The Shadow Prison by Jonathan Moeller]()
The Shadow Prison by Jonathan Moeller
8 ratingsRidmark Arban is ready to face the terrible Frostborn in a final battle. But even the mighty Frostborn themselves have been duped, for the shadow of Incariel has used them as its weapons. Unless Ridmark can defeat the Shadowbearer, the shadow of Incariel shall rise and devour the world for all time.. -
![Excalibur by Jonathan Moeller]()
Excalibur by Jonathan Moeller
10 ratingsRidmark Arban is the Gray Knight, leading the defense of Andomhaim from the brutal Frostborn. Yet the realm of Andomhaim is riven with civil war. The false king Tarrabus has usurped the crown in the name of the shadow of Incariel, and the loyal lords must fight the ruthless rebels. Unless Ridmark can defeat Tarrabus and reunify Andomhaim, the Frostborn will prevail... -
![War Music: An Account of Books 1-4 and 16-19 of Homer's Iliad by Christopher Logue, Homer]()
War Music: An Account of Books 1-4 and 16-19 of Homer's Iliad by Christopher Logue, Homer
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]()
The Conspiracy at Meru by Shatrujeet Nath
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... -
![Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 2 of 2 by Luo Guanzhong]()
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 2 of 2 by Luo Guanzhong
12 ratingsThis epic saga of brotherhood and rivalry, of loyalty and treachery, of victory and death, forms part of the indelible core of classical Chinese culture and continues to fascinate modern-day readers.In 220 EC, the 400-year-old rule of the mighty Han dynasty came to an end and three kingdoms contested for control of China... -
![The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly]()
The Fall of the Phoenix by Daniel Kelly
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]()
As Brumas de Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
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... -
![Vikramaditya Veergatha Book 1 The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath]()
Vikramaditya Veergatha Book 1 The Guardians of the Halahala by Shatrujeet Nath
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 -
![King Midas and the Golden Touch by M. Charlotte Craft]()
King Midas and the Golden Touch by M. Charlotte Craft
16 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 -
-
![The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman]()
The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
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 -
![Pandora Gets Frightened by Carolyn Hennesy]()
Pandora Gets Frightened by Carolyn Hennesy
8 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 Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory]()
The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory
10 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 -
![Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco]()
Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco
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]()
Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch
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]()
Four Sisters by Val Wood
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 Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow]()
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
43 ratingsIn a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.Then she finds a strange book... -
![The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris]()
The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris
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... -
![The Book of Flying by Keith Miller]()
The Book of Flying by Keith Miller
14 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 -
![Shiang by C.F. Iggulden]()
Shiang by C.F. Iggulden
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... -
-
![Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin]()
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
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]()
Sword of the Ronin by Travis Heermann
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]()
Sting Magic by Sarah K.L. Wilson
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]()
The Raven by Aderyn Wood
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... -
![With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole]()
With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole
10 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]()
With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole
10 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... -
![Dæmonomania by John Crowley]()
Dæmonomania by John Crowley
10 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 -
![A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton]()
A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
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]()
Love & Sleep by John Crowley
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]()
Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee
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]()
The Hammer of the Sun by Michael Scott Rohan
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... -
![I Am One of You Forever by Fred Chappell]()
I Am One of You Forever by Fred Chappell
12 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 Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork]()
The Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork
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]()
The Prairie Thief by Melissa Wiley
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 -
![The Quest of the Fair Unknown by Gerald Morris]()
The Quest of the Fair Unknown by Gerald Morris
14 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... -
![Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané]()
Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané
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 Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier]()
The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
18 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... -
![The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey]()
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
41 ratingsAlaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow...Categorized as:
fairy-tale family grief historical-fiction literary-fiction magic magical-realism myths -
![Laxdaela Saga by Unknown]()
Laxdaela Saga by Unknown
12 ratingsWritten around 1245 by an unknown author, the Laxdaela Saga is an extraordinary tale of conflicting kinships and passionate love, and one of the most compelling works of Icelandic literature... -
![The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings]()
The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
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]()
Fudoki by Kij Johnson
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 -
![The Eagle and the Sword by A.A. Attanasio]()
The Eagle and the Sword by A.A. Attanasio
8 ratingsMerlin's BeaconAttanasio's The Dragon and the Unicorn began with the Dawn of Time. This equally ambitious and magical epic begins with the Dawn of History.The demon Lailoken, Merlin to humankind, has groomed Pendragon's son, the eagle of Thor, to lead the doomed Celts against the Saxon, Pict, and Angle conquerors. In defeat will Arthor find his victory, and Camelot its triumph... -
![The Wolf and the Crown by A.A. Attanasio]()
The Wolf and the Crown by A.A. Attanasio
8 ratingsThe Warrior King Arthor, Eagle of Thor, has triumphed through war. Now Britain--and destiny--are his to claim. Already rolling on the roads from Tintagel to Camelot is the great wheel that will become the Round Table.But the perilous order promised by Arthor' s victory is threatened by forces beyond human ken... -
![Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy]()
Rhinegold by Stephan Grundy
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]()
Once and Forever: The Tales of Kenji Miyazawa by Kenji Miyazawa
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]()
The Well At The World's End: Volume I by William Morris, Lin Carter
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
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
