It was on the last day of the six years during which she was not to speak or laugh if she hoped to free her brothers from enchantment, that her own sentence was to be carried out. Five of the six shirts were done, but the last and littlest was still missing its left sleeve. As they led her to the stake and the fire was about to be lit, she looked up and saw six swans flying through the sky. Her heart leapt with joy at the sight of them. The swans touched the ground before her and with lowered necks walked forward. Quickly she threw the shirts over each of them. At once their swans’ skins fell off and there, once again, stood her own brothers, strong and handsome. Only the youngest and the littlest lacked a left arm, and in its place there remained a swan’s wing.
--"The Six Swans"
The Brothers Grimm
The Six Swans was one of my favorite tales when I was a little girl but I always wondered what happened to the last and littlest prince with his swan’s wing for an arm. Now I know.
Rafe Martin has done a marvelous thing with his Birdwing. He’s told the story of Ardwin Birdwing, the littlest prince, the one with the wing. Birdwing is a fantastic and magical coming of age story.
Ardwin is home now, back in the palace with his father the king and learning to live with his wing. The problem is that sometimes the wing has a mind of its own. It wants to soar, to fly through the skies again and sometimes, so does Ardwin. He alone of the brothers looks back fondly upon the time when they were swans. He can also understand the language of animals and this gives him a great sensitivity.
Article comments
1 - GL Hauptfleisch
Nice review, well expressed.
2 - Gwen-Miley-Stacia
Your review was absolutely positutely ah-mazing.i luved it.u were soooooooooooooo ah-mazing.i mean REALLY ah-mazing.it so totally helped me realize what this bok was all about.before i thought it was confuzzling.BTW stevie,if ur out there,Aloha Senor.Bubi everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11P.S dont think i am a total ditzy airhead cuz im not.i totally get c's in school
3 - Stacey-gwen-miley-doris-quinn-grace-karma-nan
whatevs.it totally STUNK.b-o-r-i-n-g
4 - Stacey-gwen-miley-doris-quinn-grace-karma-nan
whatevs.
5 - Stacey-gwen-miley-doris-quinn-grace-karma-nan
sokay.so-so.asi-asi
6 - Wolven Wing
OMG I loved this book. I'm so into fantasy. This is surely an incredible and well written book. Martin Rafe, YOU ROCK!!!!!
7 - rkunome
this is truly a wonderful book to read and i'm really into fantasy so, I love this book!
8 - Emily McPhee
This is a wonderful book, I loved every minute I read it! This would make a great movie! I loved it and it would be greater if there was a 2nd book also!!
9 - aww
too many princes and names can't remember all >_< at last i couldn't figure out who has done anything O.O
10 - ashley
I REALLY, REALLY like BIRD WING