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Last updated on March 25, 2026
Blanca & Roja by Anna Marie-McLemore is a magical realism novel that sounds like my kind of story. I have yet to read a book written by Anna Marie-McLemore, if you can believe it. I am a huge fan of retellings, and the fact that it is a Swan Lake retelling that is going to be dark also has me pumped for it. This one is also a diverse read, so I have very high hopes for it.
Blanca & Roja by Anna Marie-McLemore
Title: Blanca & RojaAuthor: Anna-Marie McLemore
Genre: Magical Realism, Young Adult
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.
The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.
But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.
Book Quotes: Blanca & Roja by Anna Marie-McLemore
The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.
We find what is beautiful in what is broken. We find what is heartening in what is terrifying. We find the stars in the woods’ deepest shadows.
About Anna Marie-McLemore
Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and taught by her family to hear la llorona in the Santa Ana winds. Her debut novel THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults book, and a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award. Her second novel, WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS, was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature, and was a 2017 Stonewall Honor Book. Her latest is WILD BEAUTY, and BLANCA & ROJA is forthcoming in fall of 2018.
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About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
Wow, I love that cover! And a Swan Lake retelling? That’s new to me!
I know! That cover is amazing, isn’t it?!
I’ve wanted to read this book as well!
This sounds really amazing! I love Swan Lake retellings. This is gonna be such a good story, I think 😀
I have a good feeling about it, too! 🙂
Lovely choice! I haven’t read anything by the author just yet, either, but I can’t wait to, all of her stories sound amazing. I’m eager for that one, it sounds amazing 😀
I am eager to try this one as well. 🙂
This sounds so cool. I’ve heard some people talking about it so I’m sure there are lots of people waiting for it! Hope you love it!
It does sound cool, doesn’t it?!
I loved Wild Beauty so much, and thought McLemore’s writing was just so beautiful. I am eager to read more of her books.
I have heard great things about her writing. I really need to try one of her books asap. 🙂
The cover… and I want this one! This sounds fantastic!
YAAAAS SO STOKED FOR THIS!!! You should definitely try this author’s other books. The Weight of Feathers was beautifully atmospheric, and When the Moon Was Ours was gorgeously unique. ♥
I do really need to change this, don’t I ?!
I actually just requested this one from NetGalley today. I love fairy tale retellings and this one sounds like it’s got a unique twist. In hope we both love it!
I have really high hopes for it! 🙂
I love retellings. And that cover is beautiful! Will keep an eye out for it.
A lot of people are pretty excited for this book. It’s not one of my most anticipated list but I have it on my TBR list.
I read The Weight of Feathers a couple of months ago (same author) so I bet this is a pretty good book.