The Soldier and The Swan by Catherine Brooks | Historical Romance At It’s Best

For a moment, our eyes met in a silent conversation that said everything. I knew what he needed—because I needed it too. – The Soldier and The Swan

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When a book is said to have yearning, The Soldier and The Swan by Catherine Brooks is the perfect definition of it, and what I will now be holding as the standard to be considered “yearning” from now on. This book was one of the most immersive reading experiences I’ve had in a long time; it completely consumed my thoughts until the last page.

Literally—I found myself dreaming about the book when I was at the halfway mark. Dreaming about a book, or rather, dreaming I was inside a book, is something I can’t say I’ve ever experienced before. Needless to say, I finished that next morning.

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The Soldier and the Swan Synopsis (Spoiler Free)

Set in wartime San Francisco, The Soldier and the Swan follows Vivienne Hartley, a former ballerina who gave up the stage to care for her war-injured husband, Charlie. When Charlie’s younger brother Danny returns home from war, emotions immediately begin to rise to the surface, blurring the lines between love and loyalty.

The parallels to Swan Lake throughout the novel were beautifully done and added so much emotional depth to Vivienne’s journey. Her struggles between duty and desire mirror the ballet in such a beautifully haunting way.

What made this story so unforgettable for me was how deeply emotional and immersive it felt. The writing itself is not overly lyrical which I typically love, but instead it’s incredibly detailed in a way that pulls you directly into Vivienne’s world. I felt every glance, every silence, every accidental touch, every little ounce of tension between these characters. This is a romance built entirely on longing.

The Soldier and the Swan Review (Spoilers)

This book takes its time in the best way possible. The slow burn, the yearning? Absolutely incredible.

Initially, I wished we had more backstory for Vivienne and Charlie’s relationship so the emotional conflict felt more balanced. I wanted a reason to root for Charlie, but only found myself rooting for Danny and Vivienne…immediately. Charlie is beyond emotionally distant, the man won’t even say he loves Vivienne! She truly became more of a nurse than a wife for Charlie, no matter how hard she tried to change that.

As the story went on, I understood why that intimate backstory of Charlie and Viv was left out. The story later reveals that Danny had loved Vivienne long before he ever met her, by watching her ballet performances from afar and speaking about her to Charlie before leaving first for war.

Vivienne: He said I was as graceful as the strokes in a Monet

Danny: Did he now? Wonder where he heard such a line.

The Soldier and The Swan by Catherine Brooks

So when we learn that Charlie used Danny’s own words about Vivienne in order to charm Vivienne for himself—comparing her grace to “the strokes in a Monet,” —I realized we didn’t get their intimate backstory because it was never authentic to begin with.

The romance between Viv and Charlie was always built from Danny’s feelings. Charlie used Danny’s admiration and love for Vivienne to sweep her off her feet for himself.

Because of this, the connection between Danny and Vivienne didn’t feel so rushed at all. It only felt inevitable.

At this point, I realized this wasn’t simply a historical romance. It was slowly turning into an absolute tragedy. You can see why I was literally dreaming of them, right?

Longing in The Limbs of The Willow Tree

One scene in particular that has permanently etched itself into my brain: the kiss beneath the willow tree. After Viv jumps into the pond, Danny rushes out thinking she’s drowning.

Spoiler alert: in many ways, she is drowning. She has spent so much of her life with Charlie submerged beneath grief and caregiving that she cannot escape, no matter how hard she fights. She barely recognizes herself anymore…

But Danny can recognize her, and hidden beneath the limbs of the willow tree, they finally give in to everything they’ve been trying so hard to suppress. This scene felt absolutely magical yet heartbreaking all at once.

For a moment, our eyes met in silent conversation that said everything. I knew what he needed—because I needed it too.

The Soldier and The Swan by Catherine Brooks

The relationship between Vivienne and Danny unfolds through lingering glances, soft accidental touches, conversations loaded with feelings neither of them are willing to say aloud, and silent moments that carry enormous emotional weight for both of them. The connection between Vivienne and Danny is one of the most satisfying romances I’ve read in quite some time.

There’s no spice in this story, but I think that made the romance even stronger. It keeps the emotional fire between them burning so slowly the entire novel, and because of that, their relationship never loses its intensity and the yearning scale is off the charts.

Audiobook Review: My Immersive Listening Experience

I was lucky enough to receive both the eBook and Audiobook ARC, so when I say this was an immersive read it quite literally was for me. I cannot praise the narration enough. The audiobook narrator (Heather Daniel) captured Vivienne’s emotions so perfectly that I genuinely felt every ounce of her heartbreak, longing, exhaustion, physical pain, and of course hope.

I highly recommend pairing The Soldier and the Swan audiobook with the ebook if you can. Together, they made for one of the most immersive reading experiences I’ve ever had.

Final Thoughts: is The Soldier and the Swan Worth Reading?

This story unfolds slowly, allowing readers (and listeners) to sit loooong with the characters emotions and the impossible choices they are faced to make. So, if you’re looking for a fast-paced romance filled with dramatic twists, this isn’t for you. But, if you love slow burn romance built on pure yearning, The Soldier and the Swan is absolutely worth reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eBook and Audiobook ARC!