With this book being the third book i had to read the first two before i could get to this. I found this such an easy read, finishing each book an hour or two after starting it. The Midnight Swan could be read as a standalone however i do recommend reading the first two books - The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox first so you get the full story of Seren, Tomas and The Crow. This was a fantastic end to the trilogy and is definitely recommended for younger readers. It will keep them hooked from beginning to end.

It’s the Summer Fair! At first, Seren is distracted by the worries of her dear friend, the Crow, but she and Tomos are soon completely enthralled by all of the amazing sights, sounds and smells that fill their senses. They want to see and do everything – except try the wooden roundabout with horses gently rising up and down. It reminds them too much of the magical carousel in book two! As Seren explores the fair, she comes across a small, dark alleyway. There she finds a stall laden with wonderful objects. She can’t help but pick up an unusual box with a picture of a black swan wearing a diamond necklace and the mysterious words, “If you can open My closed lid, Your heart’s desire Inside is hid.” It will be the perfect gift for the Clockwork Crow so Seren decides to purchase the box. At that moment, everything changes.

The Midnight Swan is a story full of powerful magic, daring quests, great sacrifice and true friendship. The truth about the Clockwork Crow is finally revealed leaving Seren and Tomos with an incredible task. Will they be able to solve the puzzles and face their fears in order to protect their home and each other? All the while, They are trying to find a way into the house and steal what they most desire: the Tylwyth Teg, Welsh fairy folk, want nothing more than a human child and treasure. They will do anything to capture one of the children and take them into their own world.

Seren’s life is full of questions: Will the Crow ever become human again? What does her future hold? Will she be able to stay at Plas-y-fran or will she be sent away? Will They come for the children again? Is she safe? What does she truly desire? This determined, clever girl pushes all concern for herself aside as she uses her cunning to help those most dear to her. Her loyalty and strength make her a fantastic heroine.

The Midnight Swan is an incredibly satisfying, layered conclusion to an outstanding trilogy of magic and folklore. With a pen that writes itself, a magical Midsummer Ball, birds who speak in riddles and the ultimate sacrifice in friendship, this is a story of suspense and wonder. Readers will be glued to its pages as they journey with Seren, Tomos and the Clockwork Crow right to the very end.

Thank you to Firefly Press for this wonderful book!

The Midnight Swan is the final part in this utterly enchanting trilogy and follows The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox, both just as mesmerising as this book.

Seren and Tomos are enjoying the excitement of exploring the Summer Fair when Seren is drawn into a dark alley with an unmanned stall from which she acquires a small metal casket painted with the face of a black swan and the enticing message: If you can open my closed lid, your heart’s desire inside is hid. She takes this home to her tutor, who is trapped in the body of a Clockwork Crow, in the hope that opening it may help him find his human form again.

As soon as the Crow sees the box, he knows it is the work of the Tylwyth Teg who are intent on causing dark mischief amongst humans, but also knows that it may provide the key to breaking the enchantment which has been cast over him. He finally tells Seren and Tomos the truth of how he became enchanted, and it is worth having waited three books for!

So begins a dangerous journey by the children and the Crow to break the enchantment, a journey which sees Seren making a terrifying bargain, and which sees the Crow unleashing his own magic as they journey into an enchanted land to enter the Garden of the Midnight Swan, but will any of them have their heart’s desire met, or will the renowned trickery of the Fair Folk thwart them?

This story is beautifully atmospheric and lyrical, perfectly capturing the allure and danger of the Tylwyth Teg as they gate-crash Lady Mair’s Midsummer Ball and offer enticing, but perilous, bargains. The underlying sense of danger and urgency is palpable as Seren, Tomos and the Crow are drawn inexorably towards the Midnight Swan.

I adored the characters in this book. Seren is a wonderfully kind-hearted and courageous girl who is prepared to make selfless sacrifices for those she loves. She is desperate to belong in a family, and has doubts as to whether she is still welcome in Plas-y-Fran. The Crow is absolutely brilliant! He is cantankerous, rather rude and boastful yet also endearing as he is hiding behind a façade, feeling fearful, but trying not to show it.

The Midnight Swan transported me into a magical world of enchantment, excitement and danger, and completely enthralled me with its evocative atmosphere, heart-warming relationships and sense of other-worldly mystery.

The Midnight Swan is the third (and possibly the final) instalment in the Clockwork Crow series. Think Tom's Midnight Garden blended with The Chronicles of Narnia a dash of Alice in Wonderland and a sprinkle of a well-known fairy-tale and you will only be close to imagining the enchantment you about to be delighted with. Full of faery magic and folk-lore, The Midnight Swan is every bit as good as the previous two books and then some.

I was thrilled to be reunited with the much-loved characters of Seren, Denzil, Mrs Villiers and of course, the cantankerous crow who is on form once again and is as irritable, demanding and bad-tempered as ever!

Returning to Plas-Y Fran felt like coming home. All is calm in the Welsh countryside and there has been no sign of 'Them' the infamous faery folk, the Tylworth Teg since our last visit. Summer has arrived and Seren Rhys is enjoying long, hot days spent playing in the sprawling gardens of the Victorian mansion with Master Tomos. It seems that orphan Seren has really become part of the family and Lady Mair treats the children to a trip to the Summer Fair. An afternoon of sherbert dabs, toffee apples and coconut stalls awaits, but just a few pages into the book, this idylic setting becomes the scene of a mysterious discovery.

Seren finds an exquisitely crafted box, and beautifully painted on the lid is the face of a black swan wearing a collar of diamonds; The box of the Midnight Swan. Catherine Fisher's clever rhyming couplets at the opening of each chapter make a return and the box is inscribed with the words:

"If you can open My closed lid
Your heart's desire Inside is hid"

Could this be what the crow has been looking for all this time? We finally get to hear the much-awaited tale of how the crow really came to be in his current state and Seren and Thomas must accompany him on his quest to solve the riddle and lift the spell. But somehow, someone or something invites 'Them' back into Plas-Y Fran. The treacherous Tylworth Teg are at large once more. in search of a human child and bargains are made at a serious cost. It would seem that the faery folk aren't the only threat to Seren's charming new life, Captain Jones is acting strangely, a letter arrives from her Aunt's solicitor and whispered conversations are happening all around her. Seren fears the family have grown tired of her and she is about to be sent away.

Wishes, curses, a secret garden, enchanted objects and talking animals are the perfect ingredients for a deliciously spell-binding fairy-tale adventure. The plot comes to comes to a nail-biting climax on Midsummer Night when our protagonist Seren is tested to the limit when faced with an impossible choice.

But it would seem all good things must come to an end and what can I say,.. although I felt bereft that this was possibly the last time I would get to step into the world of Seren Rhys and her crow, it's the perfect end to the perfect trilogy.

I read each book in The Clockwork Crow series, back to back and in one sitting, completely and utterly enchanted by Catherine Fisher's magic. The three stories really lend themselves to being adapted for television and each would make a fantastic children's mini-series.

I absolutely adore this trilogy and each book's shorter length and ease of reading make it perfect for pupils to enjoy in Lower Key Stage 2.

I really enjoyed this third book in the series by Catherine Fisher because it was full of magic and adventure. Seren and the others are here, as well as new characters. Their mission, to save the clockwork crow and return him to his human form means that teamwork, magic and good planning are imperative. Seren meets a new family and is reunited with her godfather, and is adopted by her, ending a long string of personal tragedies. A great book, to be recommended to 8-11 year olds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ And a half stars!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

What a truly delightful children's Book, full of Folk law ,Magic, adventures, wholesome friendships & what that means , trust ,love, & even the addition of learning some Welsh too. This will be being added to the list of Books I'm going to buy & send to my grandchildren in Japan. As this story will enhance their English,teach them some words in Welsh which is also another language from their mixed ancestry.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third (and I'm assuming from the ending, final) book in the Clockwork Crow series following on from The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox. You do need to read the other books in this series first or this book won't make a lot of sense to you.

These books are beautifully written with detailed descriptions that make it easy to envisage a country manor house in Wales 100 or so years ago. You can tell that the author knows a lot about the myths and legends from this area and as always the Fair Folk and their magic seems beautiful but with an uncurrent of cruelty and fear.

I actually enjoyed this book more than the other two installments. My issues with both of the books prior to this one was I felt that Seren solved the problems she was facing too easily and the solution wasn't something that I, the reader, couldn't have worked out from what I was told. This book was much better in this respect and I felt as a whole the story was an interesting magical adventure.

There was definitely some character growth for both the Crow and Seren and the ending was well done. Several of the other characters (Captain Jones, Denzil and Lady Mair) haven't changed much and do still feel rather two-dimensional.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers aged 8+ who enjoy magical stories and historical fiction.

Quite simply... The Midnight Swan is the perfect end to the perfect trilogy. Each book is as deliciously dark and utterly spelling-binding as its prequel and Catherine Fisher enchants her reader from beginning to end.

I must admit, I began The Midnight Swan with trepidation. The first two books in the series had captivated me. They were a work of art. Vibrant, almost visceral and all-consuming, I was part of Seren’s world. And so I was nervous...There were so many loose ends to tie together, so many ways that I could be disappointed as a reader. Would this be the classic case of a final book just not quite living up to expectations?

I am delighted to report that The Midnight Swan is the perfect swan song. It was everything I hoped it would be, and more! From the opening couplet to the final sentence, I was hooked. I devoured it, hungry to find out where the writer was leading me. Like its prequels, it cast a spell over me, and dropped me straight back into the world of Plas-y-Fran.

Seren is the perfect protagonist: headstrong, loyal and courageous. Greeting her for the third time was like meeting an old friend. The Crow has retained all of his wit and charm and the relationship between these two characters is a thing of beauty.

The Midnight Swan is everything you could wish for in a children’s book. At its heart it’s an adventure story, steeped in mystery and suspense. Magic runs through each and every page and it’s rich in folklore. It’s historical fiction and it even has some comedy thrown in for good measure. It’s a truly fantastic book and a fitting end to a spell-binding trilogy.

Think the joy of The Secret Garden crossed with the magic of Narnia and the dark enchantment of a fairy tale and you get The Midnight Swan. This tale transports you seamlessly from rural Wales to magical lands.

This, the third instalment of The Clockwork Crow adventures, continues the story orphan Seren Rhys and the sinister 'Them' who are always lurking. The story starts with Seren trying to help the crow go back to his human form whilst worrying that she is going to be sent away from the family home which she has been welcomed into. We begin with a fair in the village where they live and are given the first experience of the dark magic surrounding them. The author's description is so vibrant and vivid it felt as if I was there. With my teacher hat on, I was thinking of all the activities and questions I could create to extend the children's thinking - and there were many! As a parent, I could imagine myself reading this as a bedtime story to my children (when they are old enough) and them begging me to read on. Each chapter starts with a poetic sentence or two which serves as a great introduction to the chapter and would be a great discussion point when reading this book with children.

I felt that this was probably the best yet of the books. The characters are well developed and each is lovable in their own way - even the cantankerous crow. This series will definitely become a well loved classic by my class and I could see it being made in to a magical adaption for the screen. Congratulations Catherine Fisher and thanks to Firefly Press for allowing me to read this beautiful book. I can't wait to introduce it to my class when it is published.

The Midnight Swan is a great end to such a charming series. It has its own intriguing plot to hook you in, as well as a wonderfully satisfying ending to wrap up the trilogy. Magic, adventure and friendship. What more could you want?

I definitely recommend this series to young and old readers alike. It has an enchanting fairytale quality about it, with a great pace, lots of excitement and really likeable characters.

This is the third instalment of a series with the same characters, so it didn’t get the build up of characterisation but went right into the action. It’s a creative story and would have been better with a bit more characterisation. I really liked the story and it’s path.

I enjoyed the previous two books in this series (The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox), so I was expecting to enjoy this one. It exceeded my expectations!

I absolutely loved this story. I loved all the usual elements, the Fae, the magic, the Crow, the couplets at the start of each chapter, but this one had so much more. I really enjoyed the fact that Tomos got to take a more active part in this book, rather than just being enchanted by the Fae, as he was in the previous two. I can’t say too much without spoilers, but the ending was wonderful, with love and happiness for all. I sincerely hope this won’t be the last book in the series, but this feels very much like all the threads have been wrapped up. If so, I’ll be looking out for Catherine Fisher’s next book with great eagerness.

On another note, the covers of all three of the books in this series are enchantingly beautiful. I especially loved the cover of The Velvet Fox.

If you’re looking for an easy to read, enchantingly magical adventure story, look no further than this book, indeed this series! I really recommend it.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

What a fabulous ending, I couldn’t put it down. Teaching in a school in Wales, I am constantly looking for Welsh authors or, an even rarer find ,books with a Welsh theme. This series ticks all the boxes and I know my class will love it! I can wait to use Catherine Fisher and her books as an author study in my class.

Thank you to Firefly Press and Netgalley for this digital advance copy.

Having read The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox, I was over the moon to be given the opportunity to read this early. I absolutely adored the first two novels and the eerie, ethereal Twylyth Teg.

The summer fair has arrived at Plas-y Fran and while enjoying all it has to offer, Seren discovers a strange stall full of old items down an alley. Picking up a beautiful old box that she believes will help the crow on his quest to become human again, the Twylyth Teg are once again summoned and come to wreak havoc. Amidst this, Seren is also dealing with suspicions that the Jones family have plans for her to move on from the place she has come to regard as home.

Seren remains feisty and courageous, as in the previous novels and ready to stand up to The Fair Family. She is a fantastic protagonist and I love how she dotes upon the crow, despite his constant cantankerous nature.

My favourite part of Catherine Fisher’s writing, however, is her evocative description of the Twylyth Teg and their land. It’s like a written version of an Enya so in my head! (And let me tell you, I love Enya!). Faeries are tricky creatures to be feared and this is never far from the back of my mind while reading these novels. The description is so effective, it sets me on edge and makes me feel nervous whenever we cross into the land of the Fair family.

This trilogy has been amazing and I can’t wait to start reading them to my son. The Midnight Swan is a dazzling final instalment and I couldn’t put it down.

My nine year old daughter has loved this series, and The Midnight Swan was no different. Catherine Fisher is clearly a gifted writer with the ability to imagine the unimaginable, and make the impossible real. Continuing to follow Seren and the crow, The Midnight Swan gives us more insight into the crow and it’s life and desires. A magical quest ensues. Brilliant.

What a wonderful magical series. It took me back to classic children’s books of 40+ years ago. Set in Wales, this lovely adventure features orphan Seren who has to save her friends and her new home from Them, the Fair Family who will stop at nothing to regain the land they see as Theirs. Headstrong and fearless Seren draws on the investigative techniques of Sherlock Holmes and is assisted by the Clockwork Crow who just happens to be either a prince/professor/school teacher (depending on his fib of the day) who has been transformed against his will into bird form. Together, with a little help from their friends, they take on the mighty Tylwyth Teg. Highly recommended.

It has been a while since I have been in the world of Seren and the Clockwork Crow so it was with great excitement that I re-read the first two books after being approved via NetGalley for an ARC of The Midnight Swan. Yes, this can be read as a stand-alone, but to really appreciate the story and how the tales of Seren, Tomos and the Clockwork Crow unfold it is well worth taking the time to enjoy the Clockwork Crow and the Velvet Fox before The Midnight Swan.

After twice rescuing Tomos from the Tylwth Teg all is well at Plas-Y-Fran. The house is calm and Seren, Tomos and the rest of the residents are living happily surrounded by Denzil’s protective charms to keep out ‘Them’. They have even taken the time to celebrate together at the Summer Fair. But the Tylwyth Teg are never far away and Seren finds herself drawn to a box emblazoned with a swan and a message that could be the answer to the Crow’s problems.

When a green fountain pen that Tomos finds turns out to be cursed they realise too late and the pen has invited in the very people that they are so desperately trying to keep out. With everyone in danger and Seren fearing that she may be sent back to the orphanage she makes the bravest decision of all…

Catherine Fisher has turned out yet another magical mystery that will keep readers guessing right until the end. The Midnight Swan is well-paced and will keep readers in that uncomfortable yet exciting place, shrouded in mystery and suspense and with just the right amount of spooky.

As soon as I began reading, I was once again swept away by Fisher’s delightful prose and I immediately felt like I was back with old friends. Like the two previous books, The Midnight Swan is full of magical objects, mysterious beings and folklore. I love the two lines rhymes at the start of each chapter that give a taste of what is to come.

With characters facing constant peril, the reader is always wondering will they, won’t they make it. There are plenty of twists, turns and troubling truths. I have been desperate to know the truth about the Crow, and Fisher has unveiled this beautifully. The Crow has lost none of his irritable demeanour and is back at his bossy and demanding best. Seren is a plucky heroine who is loyal to those she cares about. Her loyalty is tested to the absolute limits this time around as she has to decide whether to sacrifice herself to save someone else.

Woven within the tale are strong messages about friendship, family, belonging, empathy and resilience. Many of these messages come out through the actions of Seren and the choices that she makes.

This is a genuine page-turner. Fisher’s writing keeps you on tenterhooks and I read the book in one siting. It was unputdownable. I love this trilogy and recommend it to readers of 8+.

This is the third book in Catherine Fisher’s Clockwork Crow trilogy and, while they do make sense as short, magical adventures read on their own, I’d recommend starting with book one and reading them in order, especially to get the most out of Seren and Crow’s stories.

Bearing that in mind, this review presumes knowledge of the first two.

If you’ve read the first two, you’ll be pleased to see both of their tales reach satisfying conclusions here, but not before another encounter with the Tylwyth Teg, who are back to cause mischief again.

However, this time they’re not the only magical beings at play as we finally hear the true account of what happened to Crow and meet The Midnight Swan.

I won’t say too much about the plot, as like the previous books it’s short – small but perfectly formed as they say – and I don’t want to give anything away.

Suffice to say, with a magic mirror and a thicket of thorns; vanishing places and changing paths; enchanted objects and a secret garden; bargains, promises and curses; wishes, courage and gifts this has absolutely everything fans of folklore and fairytale could wish for. And more.

There’s symbolism and reference to other tales in abundance and a gloriously Wonderland-like feel to the whole book. And the parliament of birds was just inspired. I loved it.

Squeezing an exciting midnight quest (complete with river rapids, pursuit and capture) into such a short book alongside all of this is skilled indeed and made for thoroughly gripping reading.

Magical, immersive and steeped in folklore, I absolutely LOVED this and can’t recommend this trilogy enough. Yes it is short, but that makes it even easier to read back to back and I promise that’s exactly what you’ll want to do once you’ve begun!

Really enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic end to the series.. The characters are all very dynamic and life-like. The perfect book to show family bonds and friendship. I have loved every book in this series. I hope there is a new book from Catherine soon!

Seren, Tomos and the Clockwork Crow are back in the third mysterious instalment of adventure against The Fair family, also known as Tylwyth Teg.
When I was approved to read this book, I decided to go back to read The Clockwork Crow and The Velvet Fox, and I am so glad I did for though there are plenty of references to previous encounters with the legendary folk, there is something thrilling about reading a trilogy within a smaller timeframe.

The Fair Family still lurk within the grounds of Plas-Y-Fran, and the children have been warned to be ever alert to their tricks. When Seren brings home a box with a black swan, she has no idea as to the danger she has brought home. The Clockwork Crow knows more than he is letting on so Tomas and Seren must coax it out of him. It turns out it was a black swan who first cursed the crow and he was set a task but it has taken nearly 200 years and still incomplete.

Seren, in her immense bravery, sets out to find the item needed to break the curse holding the crow. Making a promise she hopes to never have to keep, she takes away the item and on the Midsummer Night, she, Tomos and the Crow travel to return the item in the hopes of breaking the curse.

Seren is an incredible character, full of worry over her current situation, hopeful she can stay at Plas-Y-Fran but certain she needs to help The Clockwork Crow. She is willing to make huge sacrifices to save him, proving her kindness and courage time and time again.

This trilogy brings alive the magic of Welsh legends and Seren becomes a character of legendary value. With setting descriptions bringing alive the Welsh countryside, there is little doubt to the talents of Catherine Fisher. I adored this trilogy and though I feel closure, I would welcome Seren back in future books!