From Publishers Weekly
Parallel tales of love and persecution give this multilayered fantasy added poignancy, although not the cohesion of a tightly plotted novel. One story strand, set in 1689, relates the labors of Eliza Grey, disowned daughter of the Earl of Exeter, to save her 11 brothers from a curse that transforms them into a flock of wild swans every dawn to dusk. Following their magical flight to the New World, Eliza, obeying the instructions of a fairy, applies herself to weaving enchanted shirts that will break the spell, and maintains the stoic vow of absolute silence imposed upon her by the fairy for the task's duration, even when her misunderstanding husband and their Salem-like village accuse her of witchcraft. Kerr (Emerald House Rising) alternates chapters from this tender fairy tale with episodes from the life of Elias Latham, a young gay man living in New York in the 1980s. Disowned by his family, he is saved from hustling on the city streets by Sean Donnelly, a gentle musician and writer who encourages Elias's talents as a photographer, introduces him to Manhattan's gay subculture and eventually becomes his lover. Elias reciprocates by helping Sean achieve reconciliation with his own estranged family when the pair are stricken with AIDS. Despite subtle correspondences between the two storiesAincluding shared names, common images and mutual reflections on sibling and parental relationshipsAthere is not enough synergy to fuse their themes or distinguish either as more than a simple parable. Nevertheless, Kerr's characters are sensitively rendered, and their plights make for a moving meditation on the ties that bind individuals to family and community. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Fantasy writer Kerr's (Emerald House Rising, Warner, 1997) second novel is a complex retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Kerr weaves together the parallel stories of two teenagers from different eras, 20th-century Elias and 17th-century Eliza. As the book alternates between their stories, both are rejected by their families, both persecuted for a difference they cannot helpAand both learn the importance of love and loyalty. The acceptance and friendship Elias finds within the early 1980s gay community eventually enable him to accept himself, while Eliza's perseverance in her silence and toilAeven when she is sentenced to burn at the stake for witchcraftAenables her to reverse the spell set on her 11 brothers by her evil stepmother. The book should appeal to fans of authors such as Mercedes Lackey. Recommended for public libraries.ARachel Singer, Franklin Park P.L., ILCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
A schizophrenic yarn: partly a reworked fairy tale set in 1689, the remainder a story of a young gay man's encounter with AIDS in 1981. In 1689, young Lady Eliza, daughter of the Earl of Exeter, is cheated of her birthright by her stepmother, an evil witch who has also transformed poor Eliza's brothers into swans. The brothers decide to fly to America, carrying Eliza in a net slung beneath them. Reaching their destination, Eliza dreams about how she can free the swans from the spell: she must weave coats for each of them, from stinging nettles, using only her bare hands, and she must not speak until the task is complete. Though she marries a well-meaning magistrate, Jonathan Latham, Eliza cannot explain her task, and eventually she's accused of witchcraft and condemned to be hanged. In alternating chapters, young Elias LathamEliza's descendantthrown out of the family home because he's gay, survives wretchedly in New York until he's befriended by journalist/musician Sean Donnelly. Sean, also gay, introduces Elias to the gay community. The two become partners, even though Elias doesn't understand Sean's need to participate in orgies with total strangers. Eventually, though, friends fall ill one by one, and the threat of AIDS looms ever larger. Sean develops symptoms and, with bitter regret, realizes he's infected Elias, too. Both stories are effectively handled and heartfelt, but between them no sparks fly: Kerr (the paperback Emerald House Rising) is trying to promote parallels and resonances where none are apparent. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Two different interweaving stories that mirror each other in theme and character study. The first story starts in 1689 England, where 15-year-old Eliza finds her 11 brothers turned into enchanted swans. Rejected by her father, Eliza is flown to America by her brothers. There, Eliza has a chance of saving her brothers, until she is accused of witchcraft-and now must fight for her own life. In the second story, Elias, a young man living with AIDS in the 1980s, is also rejected by his family and must learn to live life on the streets. With his new companion Sean, Elias finally finds personal acceptance amid the ostracism of a scorning public. Like Eliza before him, Elias struggles to understand the needless suffering he must endure.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Parallel tales of love and persecution give this multilayered fantasy added poignancy, although not the cohesion of a tightly plotted novel. One story strand, set in 1689, relates the labors of Eliza Grey, disowned daughter of the Earl of Exeter, to save her 11 brothers from a curse that transforms them into a flock of wild swans every dawn to dusk. Following their magical flight to the New World, Eliza, obeying the instructions of a fairy, applies herself to weaving enchanted shirts that will break the spell, and maintains the stoic vow of absolute silence imposed upon her by the fairy for the task's duration, even when her misunderstanding husband and their Salem-like village accuse her of witchcraft. Kerr (Emerald House Rising) alternates chapters from this tender fairy tale with episodes from the life of Elias Latham, a young gay man living in New York in the 1980s. Disowned by his family, he is saved from hustling on the city streets by Sean Donnelly, a gentle musician and writer who encourages Elias's talents as a photographer, introduces him to Manhattan's gay subculture and eventually becomes his lover. Elias reciprocates by helping Sean achieve reconciliation with his own estranged family when the pair are stricken with AIDS. Despite subtle correspondences between the two stories--including shared names, common images and mutual reflections on sibling and parental relationships--there is not enough synergy to fuse their themes or distinguish either as more than a simple parable. Nevertheless, Kerr's characters are sensitively rendered, and their plights make for a moving meditation on the ties that bind individuals to family and community. (May)

VOYA - John Charles

Two people living in different eras face prejudice and hatred while finding love and acceptance. The two plots are set in alternating chapters, gradually coming together in the novel's powerful conclusion. The first story is that of Eliza Grey, who in 1689 England discovers her long-lost brothers have been turned into swans by their evil stepmother. Eliza and her brothers escape to New England where Eliza tries to break the spell without jeopardizing the love of her new husband. In the second story, Elias Latham is a recent high school graduate thrown out of his house when he tells his parents he is gay. Trying to stay alive on the streets of New York City in the early 1980s, Elias finds love when Sean Donnelly, a musician, opens his home to Elias--but their happiness is brief once Sean discovers he has AIDS. Kerr's first book was the marvelous, clever fantasy Emerald House Rising (Warner, 1997/VOYA August 1997). In The Wild Swans, Kerr moves beyond the more traditional genre framework of that book into something a bit different, an ambitious blend of literary fiction and historical fantasy with fairy tale overtones. Kerr has a rare gift for honest storytelling and does not shy away from some of the grittier aspects of Elias's story. The despair and degradation of life on the streets is reflected in Elias's futile attempts to earn money by hustling strangers. The open attitude Sean has toward casual sexual encounters in bathhouses threatens his relationship with Elias. This beautifully-written, magical book is perfect for sophisticated teens who have enjoyed The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror short story collections or retold fairy tale anthologies such as Black Thorn, White Rose (Avon, 1994/VOYA April 1995). VOYA Codes: 5Q 2P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult).

Library Journal

Fantasy writer Kerr's (Emerald House Rising, Warner, 1997) second novel is a complex retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Kerr weaves together the parallel stories of two teenagers from different eras, 20th-century Elias and 17th-century Eliza. As the book alternates between their stories, both are rejected by their families, both persecuted for a difference they cannot help--and both learn the importance of love and loyalty. The acceptance and friendship Elias finds within the early 1980s gay community eventually enable him to accept himself, while Eliza's perseverance in her silence and toil--even when she is sentenced to burn at the stake for witchcraft--enables her to reverse the spell set on her 11 brothers by her evil stepmother. The book should appeal to fans of authors such as Mercedes Lackey. Recommended for public libraries.--Rachel Singer, Franklin Park P.L., IL

David Soyka - SF Site

This is a wonderful book. Trust me.

Locus

...[An] ambitious fantasy....[The book delivers] a vital message about love, tolerance, and understanding.Read all 6 "From The Critics" >

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Jane Yolen

As intricately woven as the nettle shirts Eliza makes for her swan brothers, this moving book will remain with me for a long, long time. — Author of Briar Rose

Pat Wrede