Gillian and Zoe are bound by some incredible psychic/physics/magic phenomenon that no one can explain in The Swanhawk by Alexandra Collard. While taking a small vacation after the conclusion of her ballet performances, Gillian finds herself experiencing a type of déjà vu as she enters the small town of St. Ives on the Cornish coast. As local people see Gillian, they feel as though one of their own, Zoe, is having them on since the two girls are exact replicas of one another. As time progresses, Gillian begins to assimilate some of the characteristics of Zoe and the words of a fellow passenger come back to her – the Druid is not surprised Gillian is drawn to this particular seaside town. Becoming involved with the same people Zoe had been around changes Gillian even more, and the emotionally charged relationships have everyone confused. Returning to her structured world of ballet, Gillian finds that she is not as secure as she once was, whereas footloose Zoe is delving deeper into classical themes and more straight-forward living. When the girls finally meet, will there be room for both of them in the small town or does the universe have other plans for one of them?

Wow! What an interesting concept and the author pulled it off beautifully! Alexandra Collard has written an amazing analysis of the duality of individuals represented by two separate women in The Swanhawk. An unbelievable set of coincidences is explained by quantum physics and Druid lore, and play out in this riveting story as the characters don’t know what to believe. The development and deconstruction of Gillian and Zoe as individuals is emotionally astute and the interactions between them and their friends is a true study in wishful thinking, desperation, and the search for identity. An excellent read, The Swanhawk provides plenty of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages, waiting to see what happens next.

Swanhawk by Alexandra Collard is a romantic, paranormal story filled with mysterious twists and appealing characters. It begins with the story of Gillian, a young ballet dancer who takes a trip to the small town of St. Ives. On the train ride there, she meets a druid priest, who mistakes her for someone else. And this is only the beginning as person after person in St. Ives mistakes her for this mysterious stranger. Her visit is fraught with confusion and suspicion as she finds herself remembering memories that are not her own. Is it amnesia; does she have a twin? Is it all coincidence, or is she like Schrödinger’s cat — neither here nor there — or is this all one great spoof put on by Zoe, Gillian’s doppelgänger? Is this vivacious young woman everyone in St. Ives insists Gillian looks like playing a game for her own amusement?

In Swanhawk, Alexandra Collard presents many questions about existence. The characters are real and relatable as they are caught in a mystery that may not have any explanation. The story is a pleasant and captivating read that kept me guessing as to what was really going on. Swanhawk has vivid descriptions, natural dialogue, and fairly diverse characters. I particularly enjoyed the intriguing link between Gillian and Zoe and how their personalities altered over the course of the story. While there are a few moments where the pacing slows a bit, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysterious relationships, romantic messes, and strange coincidences.

The Swanhawk by Alexandra Collard is the story of two very different women from different walks of life whose lives collide in the strangest way possible. Gillian Johnson is a ballet dancer and Zoe Shepherd is a folk singer. The two women’s lives collide when Gillian decided to spend some vacation time at St. Ives in Cornwall, England. Gillian wanted to take a break from her tiring life as a ballet dancer, but she had no idea her whole life would change.

Everyone at St. Ives thinks she is Zoe, and she starts to have memories that are not hers. Something is happening and she has no idea what it is. The day she leaves, Zoe comes back and she has no idea why everyone is behaving as they are. Things are too crazy to make sense, until a druid called Sinclair develops a theory that explains the connection between these two. What is the mystery that connects them? Is it biological, or is it something magical?

This is certainly one of the best mystery novels I have read so far this year. The novel begins with a bang and keeps up the pace until the very end. Well developed characters, smooth transitions and an amazing storyline, The Swanhawk is as intriguing as the title sounds. This is a definite keeper! Very cool!

Have you ever felt the sense of being somewhere or having seen something before, even though you know this is the first time you have ever been somewhere? Ever wonder about parallel universes and dimensions? The Swanhawk is a unique and wonderful story that takes us into the heart of the idea, through the lives of Gillian and Zoe. Gillian is a prima ballerina, who lives a modest life of dance and longing for a wonderful career, but is suspicious of men in general. If anyone is any different, it would be Zoe, a fun-loving, free spirited wild child who is a singer and writer of music. The only thing that Gillian and Zoe have in common is that they look identical, in fact so much so that the people of St Ives, where Zoe occasionally lives, think Gillian is playing a prank on them. What follows is the twisting and intermingling of their lives through the men that they each fall for - Neil and Paul. Author Alexandra Collard fabricates an intricate tapestry of life and relationships, each seeming to play off the other until finally Gillian and Zoe are destined to meet.

The Swanhawk takes place in recent times, so it is not hard to understand, but the concept of parallel universes and dimensions becomes such a paradox that you aren't sure who to like more; Gillian or Zoe. The first part of the book is mostly about Gillian, then Zoe, and only in the last third does this paradox start becoming the focal point, and solving the mystery of who belongs and who doesn't takes over. Author Alexandra Collard writes an engaging novel of these two women who look alike, but take almost completely opposite paths in life. Could they be the same woman just taking a different path in a parallel dimension? Have you ever thought what your life might have been like if you had made a different decision? This is a wonderful story, mostly about two women, that plays on this idea and takes the reader on an incredible journey.