i went into this book with my hopes up a little too high i think. i read the intriguing description, saw the small blurb about it being geared toward fans of holly black, and saw the beautiful cover.

I really wanted to like this book as it was my first ARC but I have to admit it wasn't for me at all... I felt it was too slow. The idea of the Swan people was interesting, and something i hadn't seen before why I requested it. But I felt that we didn't learn enough there. I had hoped to see more of them, and more politicking among them and the royals. But that didn't happen in the part I read. I think it is a good cute book if you look for some light fantasy in some middle age like setting with rather small world build. And that just wasn't what I had hoped for. Best luck to the author though.

This was a quick and very easy read. It's very simplistic in its writing style and feels like it's much more for middle grade readers or very early YA.

The pacing can be a bit slow at times, with quite short chapters, and the plot is quite predictable.

The characters are somewhat interesting, but there's nothing really that standout about any of them.

Overall, it's an average read.

"The Swan Harp" by Elizabeth Creith is a captivating tale set in the kingdom of Valenia, where the protagonist, Kiar, finds herself grappling with her identity and responsibilities as the next in line to the throne. Kiar, the middle daughter of King Tir and Queen Tianis, is marked by her inability to transform into a swan like her sisters, Adana and Orla, who share their mother's swanfolk heritage.

As Kiar navigates the pressures of impending queenship and the looming threat of Noermark's ambitions, she forms a bond with three young swanfolk fostered within the royal family. Among them, Willow's spirited nature and Tuan's thoughtful demeanor provide solace to Kiar amidst her feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

Creith weaves a compelling narrative that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, intrigue, and familial conflict. The plot is driven by both external threats, such as the encroaching forces of Noermark and dark magic endangering Valenia, and internal struggles, as Kiar grapples with her sense of belonging and the weight of her duty.

The characters in "The Swan Harp" are well-developed and multi-dimensional. Kiar's journey of self-discovery is sensitively portrayed, and her relationships with Willow, Tuan, and her family members are nuanced and richly drawn. The dynamics between the characters add depth to the story, enriching the reader's immersion in the world of Valenia.

Creith's writing style is elegant and evocative, effectively capturing the beauty and tension of the story's setting. However, there are moments where the pacing could have been tightened, particularly during exposition-heavy sections, to maintain momentum and enhance the overall flow of the narrative.

Despite this minor critique, "The Swan Harp" is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and coming-of-age stories alike. Creith skillfully balances elements of magic and political intrigue with themes of identity, friendship, and courage, resulting in a memorable and engaging tale.

In summary, "The Swan Harp" offers a captivating blend of fantasy and adventure, anchored by well-drawn characters and a richly imagined world.

thanks to netgalley for provided me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review.

this one fell flat for me unfortunately. it was fine, but no character or plot point really grabbed me. this book also has a bad case of slow start that had me bored with a race to the finish at the end. an entertaining race to the finish, but pacing problems nonetheless. at the end of the day, the first two thirds bored me and the last third was quite good but not enough to save this one for me.

The first four chapters basically explain what is said in the book's description, and the story really doesn't really move forward until around 40%, which however does not mean that from that point the plot is interesting (I would say it doesn't up until 70%). I would have preferred the story to start around 40-50% of the story, and the protagonist's background develop little by little as the story progressed.

In general, the book is written in a simplistic way, with short chapters (which can sometimes be as short as THREE PAGES) that can interrupt the fluidity of reading (which was the case for me, although I suppose there will be those who prefer this to long chapters).

This one was a surprising easy and quick read for me whilst it was a slow first part of the story it definitely picks up around the half way point. I did find the pacing to be off in several parts of the book too. The plot was fairly predictable from the start but that was ok with me. I felt it did need to have a few more of the twists spread earlier in the book instead of all together near the end.
The book is interesting enough to keep your attention with learning all about each of the sisters and their shifting into Swans. The world building was beautiful and I especially loved the descriptions and learning of the Swanfolks. The writing was kept fairy simply throughout the book and it was easy to follow along with.
The characters could have done with a little more development as I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them nor did I find myself rooting for any of them either.

I do feel like this book falls into the lower end of the Ya genre. It’s something I think a younger person maybe 9 plus would really enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The pacing was quite slow at first, but it picks up in the second half.

The story is quite sad and I really feel it shows how letting kids do whatever they want without consequences can lead to villains. It is not a super complex story with many subplots, but I found it easy to read and entertaining (I finished the story in one day)

I really liked the fact that sisterhood is a big theme in this book, as well as how responsibilities shape each individual.

I would have liked to learn more about the swanfolk and I enjoyed reading about Willow and Tuan and their friendship with Kiar

All in all, a pleasant and well written book

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion

The Swan Harp is definitely worth a read. While the pace was slow initially, it's one of those tales that picks up momentum with time. Although I wasn't fond of some characters, witnessing Kiar's growth was enjoyable. I won't delve into specific critiques, as reading preferences vary, and this is an ARC, not the final version, LOL. Overall, it's a solid read, and I'd recommend it.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher, for the early access.

First of all this book felt more as if was directed to middle aged teens because of the writing. Maybe it’s just me.
Secondly, a lot of the characters fell flat for me.

There were some thing that were repetitive to me. Too detailed but I just couldn’t get into it. Took me a week just to finish it.
Low 3 stars from me.

Thank you Type Eighteen books and NetGalley for this copy of eARC. All opinions are of my own.

This novel centers around three sisters: Adana, Kiar, and Orla, with the story unfolding solely from Kiar's perspective. Kiar finds herself on the path to becoming queen, a role initially designated for her older sister, while her younger sister prepares to serve as a wise-woman. The narrative delves into political intrigue, charting Kiar's evolution from being the middle child to embracing her destiny as the future queen, despite her initial reluctance.

I appreciated how the book handled the intricacies of political maneuvering, and witnessing Kiar's growth and readiness for her impending role was compelling. Initially, what I perceived as "filler" content proved to be integral when the villain's machinations are unveiled, showcasing the complexity of the plot's development. Although the identity of the villain may have been somewhat predictable, I found the multifaceted strategy required to thwart them engaging.

Overall, the story offers a decent narrative, though I believe it could benefit from further exploration of secondary characters such as Willow and Taun, who seem to exist primarily in relation to Kiar. Regarding the synopsis, I found it slightly misleading, particularly in its emphasis on Kiar's romantic struggles with Taun. Their relationship, while significant, lacks romantic overtones until the story's conclusion, challenging the perception of the novel as a romantasy. Additionally, certain elements highlighted in the synopsis, such as Kiar's supposed "inability to change shape," feel inconsequential to the overarching plot.

Despite indications of a sequel, the story felt self-contained to me, with most loose ends neatly tied up. While I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the novel, I remain uncertain about the necessity of a sequel.

A new twist on fantasy, shifting into swans, which intrigued me. The story was good and I would like to read the next in the series. I do think middle grade readers would be delighted to read this book also. The book picks up pace as it unfolds, so hang with it. You'll be glad you did. Thanks #Netgalley and. #Booksgosocial for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Unfortunately this book was not for me.. I thought it was very plain, nothing interesting was happening. There were too many characters to keep track on them, and their dialogue was not interesting. I did not even get to feel the world they were in. I had to give up at 14% it was very boring.
I will not be leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon since I did not finish it.

This story was surprisingly engaging! It very much feels reminiscent of a fairy tale I would've read when I was younger. I absolutely loved the worldbuilding, especially the descriptions of the swanfolk.
However, the main part that let me down my expectations was how slow it felt to get into this book. It was information overload for me which threw off my experience reading this book. There too much detail was given at the start and I found myself losing interest before there was much progress in terms of the plot.

That being said, worldbuilding-wise, this is a well-thought-out fantasy that delved deep into the lore it had established. However, it might be better suited to middle-grade audiences due to the simpler writing. While I enjoyed reading this book, it wouldn't be one I would consider reading again despite its wonderful premise and some beautiful writing.

I had high expectations of this one. This arc looked very promising, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to that.

It felt more like a book for children at the age of 10-12 than a YA book.

I really pushed myself, because when I start with a book I just have to finish it. This book was my first DNF of 2024.

I really tried to push through this but the writing style didn't hold my attention at all. I dressed picking it up knowing I was not enjoying it. DNF at 45%

The Swan Harp – 4 stars
Author: Elizabeth Creith
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Pages 363

The Swan Harp got me at the book cover stage! Stunning cover with all those colours and mystery behind. This book is a nice cozy fairytale about Princess Kiar and her way through to the throne of Valenia. Despite of a delightful and magical world’s setup, the story itself felt a bit flat. Some of the characters brought nothing to the story, they just were there like decoration. Also, I felt like it was not enough information about swanfolks. There was a few bits and pieces, and it had such potential but author didn’t give us much.
Overall, I really enjoyed of this YA fantasy and I’m definitely looking forward for the next chapter of Valenia.

Thank you NetGalley for providing ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#TheSwanHarp #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read and review this book!

While I did really like the plot and the swan shifting, there was something about the way the author wrote that was not young adult for me and I did have to try to not DNF the book. It felt a bit more middle grade and it didn't really make me invest in the characters. While this writing style makes it an easy read for sure, it does not make it a very good one, unless you explicitly target a much younger audience; but the book was marketed as young adult.

A lot of things felt predictable, like the romance between Tuan and Kier. That the queen loves Orla a bit more is never really unpacked in the book. The fact that Kier does gain the ability to shift seems like a bit of a bait and switch when it comes to things because the blurb literally talks about how she cannot shift. The stuff with the other princes was a bit meh, as well as the attitude in the kingdom, like yes we help with harvesting and the girls have a choice in everything they do. I also feel like no one really ever focused on the oldest sister, even after stuff happened between her and Orla. There is also no real sense that Kier has grown enough to resist the calls of being a swan, except that she wore an iron necklace. I'm also a bit miffed that Kier didn't keep the other horses.

We also didn't really unpack why Orla was ready to give Kier to Hafor; like I understand why she wanted Gill, but what was up with that? Besides to make her evil for the sake of being evil?

I don't think I'll be reading the rest of this series.

A whole new world of characters that are powerful, vulnerable and utterly stunning. A thrilling journey, you put it down and start from the beginning again. Truly sensational.

DNF at 10%

The writing style and story aren't really holding my attention.

This is probably a good book for someone who isn't me.