So is this the right book for me?!

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Mercedes Lackey has written what seems like hundreds of books, when one reads a complete list. The Black Swan is the first book by her which I've read. Considering her popularity, I expected it to impress. I expected interesting characters, interesting plot, good strong fantasy. I expected a neat twist to the old tale of The Swan Princess (which I remember vaguely from watching the cartoon movie years ago.)

I wasn't disappointed. In fact, the book exceeded my expectations. Lackey combines technically above average writing with unique characters and a swift moving plot to create a good, (though somewhat predictable), novel.

The story begins from the point of view of Odile, a young woman suffering under the oppressiveness of her sorcerer father, who keeps a flock of swan women he has enchanted. Odile watches over these swans, and tries desperately to gain her father's approval.

The book then shifts to the rulers of the land, where a queen, Clothilde, is regent for her son, Siegfried, a corrupt and reckless young man. Clothilde's schemes include ridding the kingdom of her son, so she can rule as true Queen for as many years as she has left to live.

As the novel progresses, Princess Odette gradually gains the respect and friendship of Odile, her keeper of sorts. Baron von Rothbart, Odile's sorcerer father, has a scheme of his own, which includes ruining Clothilde's plan of assuming the Queenship, as he hates all women who betray men, and has a low opinion of women in general. For this reason he has imprionsed his swan women; at some point in their lives, they (allegedly) betrayed a man.

Lackey develops the characters of Siegfried, Clothilde, Rothbart and all in such a way as to make them likeable or detestable—one can't remain ambivalent about them. One pities the young swan maidens, pities even clever Odile. One feels sympathy for the young Siegfried, caught up in his mother's web. One hates von Rothbart, and knows that somehow Odette and the others must defeat him.

All in all, The Black Swan wins my vote. If every Mercedes Lackey book is so interesting, I won't be out of reading material for a long time.

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