A review by camiandkitread
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

"A Company of Swans" was one of my favorite Eva Ibbotson books as a tween/teen so I was excited to revisit it and see if it still held up.  While it would have been a five-star read for me, the adult/minor relationship in the story felt unsettling now that I’m the same age as the adult characters. 

Ibbotson has a real talent for writing dreamy historical romances, but  
her books are very much products of their time and often include uncomfortable—sometimes questionable—age gap relationships.

On the plus side, I appreciate how her villains always face some form of satisfying retribution, and "A Company of Swans" is no exception. Professor Morton's comeuppance, in particular, was gratifying, though readers have to wait until nearly the end of the book to see it unfold. 
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