Growing up means feeling alien in our own skin—trying to figure out where we belong, what we are, and how we can come to those conclusions. When someone promises us answers, especially if they do so quite sweetly, we may find ourselves inclined to listen. Sometimes, that help is just what we need; others, it's a death sentence.

A Warning About Swans is a unique story, steeped in folklore, fairy tales, and history. Written in verse, it's the story of Hilde: one of six daughters of Odin who live in the forests of Europe. They can turn into swans with the use of a magic cloak, and in addition to bringing dreams to life, each presides over a magical aspect of the wild. Hilde's responsibility is to usher souls to the afterlife. As one might expect, this can weigh on a girl. So when she meets a beautiful boy who promises to guide her into the life of a human lady, she readily agrees.

Following Richter's dreams, Hilde accompanies him to Bavaria and the court of Ludwig II. At first, things are beautiful; but Hilde soon finds that being a lady in the human world feels like just another cage. After meeting Franz Mendehlson—an artist who paints a keenly insightful portrait of her—she begins to wish for home again. Soon, Hilde begins to spend more time with Franz and even fall for them. But her path to a life with which she is comfortable is fraught with peril, because Richter isn't the type to let go of magic once he finds it.

This book is a compelling read for its free-flowing verse and its mixture of myth and history. I was reminded of "The Six Swans," a Brothers Grimm fairy tale that isn't quite as known as their Disney-fied counterparts. In this story, six brothers are turned into swans as a curse rather than a gift. To free them from their curse, their sister must make them each a shirt of a magical flower, all while maintaining a vow of silence. Should she break that vow, her work will be in vain. During this time, the king of a neighboring kingdom falls for her and marries her. But her mother-in-law levels hideous accusations against her, all while the new queen is unable to speak up and defend herself.

There are clear parallels here: the six swan siblings, the magical clothing that must be accessed to set things right. But, more importantly, both stories carry a theme of a young woman unable to speak out against the injustices leveled against her. In the fairy tale, it's literal; in A Warning About Swans, there are other reasons.

I've never read anything by R.M. Romero before, but I will again. This is an enchanting book, wearing its fairy tale inspiration proudly across every page. The burgeoning romance between Hilde and Franz, both magical souls who choose to unclassify themselves from strict definitions of what they are, is charming and bittersweet. As much as it's a story about not trusting every sweet word one hears, it's a reassurance that some love really is true and selfless. Watching out for people who want to use you doesn't mean never trusting anyone. And while much of its final act is heartbreaking, its final pages make the journey worthwhile.

A Warning About Swans comes out July 11.