Once Upon a Twilight!: Blog Tour: Wild Swan by Jessica Spotswood + Giveaway

We are exicted to be part of this amazing tour for author Jessica Spotswood. This tour is hosted by The Irish Banana Tour!

Wild Swan
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: May 3rd 2016
Review Source: Sourcebooks Fire

The summer before Ivy’s senior year is going to be golden; all bonfires, barbeques, and spending time with her best friends. For once, she will just get to be. No summer classes, none of Granddad’s intense expectations to live up to the family name. For generations, the Milbourn women have lead extraordinary lives—and died young and tragically. Granddad calls it a legacy, but Ivy considers it a curse. Why else would her mother have run off and abandoned her as a child?

But when her mother unexpectedly returns home with two young daughters in tow, all of the stories Ivy wove to protect her heart start to unravel. The very people she once trusted now speak in lies. And all of Ivy’s ambition and determination cannot defend her against the secrets of the Milbourn past….

I had no expectations at all going in and I went in blind choosing to be surprised as to the storyline. It was a really cute story that I very much enjoyed! The story is about Ivy Milbourn, a teenage girl abandoned by her mother when she was very young. It was told from her point of view. She was raised by her grandfather. He told her stories about the extravagant Milbourn women. Ivy often felt like she didn't live up to the women in her family. I really like how relatable her character is. Many people can empathize with not really knowing their place in this crazy world and not being overly amazing in one specific thing. I like that Ivy is written as a character that stands her ground when it comes to relationships and I liked going on the journey of self discovery with her.

Her mother, Erica came back into the picture after 15 years and shockingly had two other daughters with her. If there was ever a character I wanted to slap, it's Erica. The fact that she never really acknowledged Ivy and treated her so poorly, made my blood boil. The author did a great job evoking many different emotions while reading this book.

I liked the relationship with her grandfather. You could tell he loved her and wanted to push her to be her best. I absolutely adored her friend Claire, a take no bull type of friend. I think Claire's character brought comedy and diversity to the book.

I really like Connor and the fact that he was so real and supportive. It was refreshing to see a "good" guy as the love interest.

I think the writing as a whole. It was intriguing and held my attention the entire time, which is why I was able to read it in one setting. I love the descriptions the author gave to the setting and season. It very much reminded me of summers in my teen years, minus the drama.

I would liked to have seen a little more with the ending and I feel there could have been more of a climax point.

Overall this is a very interesting, quick and easy-to-read story.

I heart books, board games, tea, the color pink, theatre, twirly dresses, and bells chiming the hour. I live in Washington, DC with my playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey. I work part-time as a children's library associate for the DC Public Library. I'm frighteningly enthusiastic.

I use GR to keep track of what I read and to recommend books that I really love.

If you're interested in interviews or guest posts, please contact me at cahillwitch (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!