The background of this tale of adventure is 16th century Scotland, in the Highlands of the clan feuds and cattle-reiving days, and it has a sinister undertone of witchcraft and sorcery. Most of us are familiar with Hans Christian Anderson's great story, The Wild Swans, but how many have wondered what happened to the youngest, the one whose shirt was not finished, the one who, even when he became a man again, was left with a swan's wing? This is, in effect, the story of the youngest swan, of the girl who went to the gates of death to help him, of the mercenary soldier who loved them both, and other exploits and battles.

This edition was published as #3 in the MagicQuest series by Ace Books, a reissuing of classic young adult fantasy novels.