This one just was not for me. I thought it had pacing issues and no one was likeable. I gave it a shot, but just not a story that captured my attention.

This was such a beautiful and well written story. Poranek's writing is atmospheric and transports you directly into the story.
The characters are strong and there is a little something for everyone in this book. I do think the pacing was off at times as there were very slow sections and then the ending felt rushed. It felt like the story was setting up for a sequel and then it wrapped it all up in the last few pages.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and think it would be perfect if you are looking for a fairy tale retelling that is able to stand on it's own.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF'd at 48%, BUT I think this is a good book, I'm just not in the mood for it (cursed mood-reader vibes). This is a luscious, dark, fairytale-like story that I really wanted to sink into like a velvet fainting couch. The settings, between the theater and the palace, the swan lake and the gardens behind the theatre, were a big draw for me and really captivated me, especially the palace. The dynamic between Odette and Odile was intriguing and the relationship building between Odile (posing as Odette) and the Dauphin was a driving force of the story. The mystery that was unravelling was certainly intriguing, but I found character dynamics to be a driving force behind the story. I thought Poranek fleshed out the lore behind the way magic works and how things are currently structured really well, giving the characters, especially Odile, really solid justification for their actions, but also the Dauphin in how he grew up hearing the story told.

I think this is a good story, especially if you're a fan of Swan Lake (especially my fellow Barbie Swan Lake girlies), Phantom of the Opera, and stories that complicate what's right and what's wrong and challenges long held beliefs. All with a lovely little sapphic romance going on in the middle of all that. If only my mood would cooperate more. I'll certainly come back to it and finish it one day.

*Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing me this arc for an honest review!*

3.5*

I loved Where the Dark Stands Still, the way this author writes is captivating and very detailed and it felt no different while reading A Treachery of Swans. I love the Swan Lake story, this isn’t set as a ballet but as theatre. It gave me Phantom of the Opera vibes which I love. The world building I feel needed a little more explaining. I loved Marie and Odile but I feel both characters needed a little extra umph for me to be attached to them. Overall it was a good read and I do recommend reading it.

2.5 stars

This started off really interesting, however it quickly became very predictable.

I liked the writing style but there were too many choices done on a whim that it feels like there was barely a cohesive plot there.

I was also not convinced by the depth of “attraction” between the love interests.

Overall not was I was expecting.

“Vile, vindictive, villain. The words have become my anthem, my obituary. Villains are pitiless. Villains can’t be hurt. And I am so tired of being hurt.”

A Treachery of Swans is a gorgeously lush and gothic sapphic retelling of Swan Lake. The storytelling and atmosphere is dreamy, but I would be remiss not to say I was left a bit wanting. 🦢

I very much enjoyed the ode to the theatre, the humour and character banter, and the whodunit royal mystery. However, the promised romance, for me, was a bit underdeveloped, and I personally wish we were given more time to believe in our black and white swans love.

Read if you like:
📖 Young Adult (I would say this read more traditional YA than Where the Dark Stands Still)
🦢 Dreamy retellings
⛲️ Beautiful prose and lush settings
🤍 A lighter love story
🥐 To crave French pastries…

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. A Treachery of Swans comes out on June 24th.

a beautiful, mystic retelling the beloved Swan Lake story
told from the point of view of Odile, the adopted child of Rothbart
on a mission to restore magic to the kingdom of Aureal, Rothbart tasks Odile with retrieving the kings crown
working in the palace as a servant to Marie O'dette, the future queen, she takes Maries place and turns her into a swan
but when the current king is murdered. with the prince in danger and odiles brother is framed, the girls must work togeather to find the true murder, save the kingdom and work through their feelings for each other

3.5 rounded up

A Treachery of Swans is a captivating sapphic retelling of Swan Lake woven with a thrilling mystery. The writing is very moody, which is reflective of the fairytale retelling. The plot is fast-paced, but I think some slower moments could have given the characters more room to grow, or at least make their growth more believable. I had to keep reminding myself that this book is marketed as Young Adult, because some of the writing and twists were very reflective of the YA audience. Despite some predictable twists, the ending was satisfying.

The main character, Odile, is complex and believable. I did find that there was a lot of telling rather than showing when it came to her abilities, though. Throughout the story, we are told she has amazing acting abilities, but they're rarely shown these abilities within the plot. Either way, she was a compelling character. The romance between her and Marie was also enjoyable to read.

It was a good read and will be enjoyable for those who enjoy YA fairytale retellings and fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A firm 3.5⭐; rounded up to differentiate it from my rating of A.B. Poranek's first book since I did enjoy this much more and felt that she has better honed her writing craft. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC.

Like her debut, the prose in AToS is gorgeous to read, perhaps even more so. It's lovingly poetic, fitting the melodramatic mood of the novel. The murder mystery aspect gripped my interest, and I'm surprised at how much I was kept on my toes. I was engaged by the twists and revelations, and I liked the gutsy ending.

What I don't particularly love about this is when a novel goes out of its way to tell the reader how competent its protagonist is, but they're laughable not. What was the point of being told how Odile is SUCH a good actress, able to mimic how to talk and act like nobility, when she doesn't bother with that most of the time. That particular narrative ick aside, I found Odile to be a compellingly complex character. As a victim of emotional abuse, while her choices can be frustrating at times, it felt authentic on how victims think and act: the dependence on their abuser such that they end up returning to them once again, wanting to please them to the detriment of other loved ones, and the feelings of guilt & fear around someone they're supposed to love. It's because I recognise Odile as a victim of her circumstances that I felt empathy for her, such that when she was finally able to break free of her abuser's toxic hold, it was a moment to cheer.

I also really liked Odile's dynamic with her love interest Marie and Aimé, the prince she's supposed to be manipulating. That said, with the former though, I wasn't particularly enamored with their romance. They could definitely use MUCH more time together. It felt like the two girls rekindled a crush back when they were freaking 13, and Odile never quite got over how superficially gorgeous Marie is now that they're older. With how much the two hurt wounded each other, it also felt like this was gotten over way too quickly, especially on Marie's side. Odile's lack of empathy for Marie's circumstances until she personally had a hand in the latter's downfall is grating. Even as I'm pro-Eat the Rich, I really want a story that acknowledges how horrific a forced arranged marriage is for young noble women, which Marie is threatened with by her mother. Can't empathise with a Poor Little Rich Girl who lived in luxury? Fine. But consider that perhaps even they don't deserved to be sexually assaulted by a husband they're forced to marry. Glad both Odile & Marie acknowledged their own faults and gave apologies at least.

Odile-as-Marie & Prince Aimé were actually a lot of fun together, to the point that until Odile finally manages to get some scenes with Marie past the 40% mark, it's THEIR relationship I wanted to read about, on how they grew a sort of platonic love through friendship. Odile's brother Damien was serviceable but unmemorable, but hey, it's nice to have Achillean representation.

Solid read, perhaps could've been strengthened with Marie's POV chapters, especially when she was a swan. I'm glad that I was overall not disappointed with Poranek's sophomore novel.

A really great fairytale retelling!! The writing style created such a moody and atmospheric setting that I instantly loved. The plot itself was more on the simple side of YA plots. I pretty much predicted all of the twists early on, but I did enjoy my time reading the book nonetheless. I especially loved how everything was tied together in the end.

You could feel that the book may be written towards a younger audience with how the characters are written/portrayed. At times the characters did feel a bit tropey, and being in the POV of Odile really made me feel like I was looking through the eyes of a teenager. However, I did like the slow-burn romance between Odile and Marie. The author also did a good job in making me feel for these young kids that were brought into these circumstances due to the decisions of their parents. I do wish we could have seen more interactions between Damien and Aimé though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always the blonde/brunette duo laced with despair, isn’t it? This sapphic Swan Lake retelling is nothing short of enchanting. Swan Lake is one of the most devastatingly beautiful tales. When I saw this stunning cover and learned that it would hold a sapphic retelling within, I knew I needed to get my hands on it immediately. From the very first page, I was hooked and A Treachery of Swans absolutely lives up to my expectations. One of my most anticipated releases this year, and it did not disappoint.

The writing style clicked with me immediately: lyrical without being overwrought, immersive without ever dragging. Poranek strikes a careful balance with flowery and calculated prose that never strays into self-indulgence. The imagery is lush, the emotions evocatively drawn, and I was fully immersed in the magical world from start to finish.

The pacing of the story is brisk—something I normally love (especially after a streak of underwhelming reads). That said, I think the story might have benefitted from a few quieter moments to break up the action and give the characters more space to breathe. While the plot itself leans on familiar tropes and becomes predictable in parts, I honestly didn’t mind. The strength of the prose, the romance, and the characters more than made up for it.

And can we talk about the enemies-to-lovers romance arc between Odile and Marie? Because wow. This trope is notoriously tricky to pull off—especially in a way that feels earned, meaningful, and healthy—but Poranek nails it. The tension between them is delicious, and there’s such a palpable attraction that practically seeps off the page. Odile’s perspective gives us all the turmoil and passion; so much of the story is driven by her denial, her inner conflict, and her slow-burning realization of what’s really there. It’s everything!

That said, because we’re rooted in Odile’s POV, Marie remains more of an enigma. I would’ve loved to see a few chapters from her perspective, especially once their relationship starts to deepen. The emotion is clearly there—it radiates from the pages—but getting that firsthand insight would’ve made their bond even richer.

The rapid pacing combined with our lack of insight on Marie's inner machinations made the emotional development of the relationship between her and Odile feel slightly stockholm syndrome-y at first. The development felt a little too quick and convenient given the weight of their shared history and cruel circumstances imposed by Odile (and her evil father) onto Marie. Personally, I was able to forgive this and the author did eventually provide explanations—it just took a little bit of faith to get there.

There were a few moments where I questioned the storytelling choices, but Poranek always tied things together in the end. So here’s my advice to readers: trust the damn process.

Ultimately, A Treachery of Swans is a gorgeously devastating queer fairytale. Romantic, heart-wrenching, and brimming with dark magic, it updates the classic tale for a new audience in the most sumptuous and transformative way. I’ll absolutely be picking up a physical copy when it releases, and I’m already looking forward to a reread.

A Treachery of Swans honestly and truly blew me away. I’m going to try to put how this book made me feel into words- so bear with me.
There is something about gothic books, especially gothic retellings that just give such an immersive atmosphere. A.B Poranek painted such a vivid and enthralling picture of the scene- that when I close my eyes tonight, I feel like I could truly be there. Be it in the palace, at the lake or at the theatre house.
One of my favourite things is when our main character is morally grey. Don’t get me wrong. I love a morally grey love interest as much as the next gal- but there’s something about watching your heroine trying to be good that is so satisfying. It’s so subversive and human. Odile was both wonderful and dreadful at the same time.
Overall the writing was exquisite, it was moody and enrapturing. The characters were engaging and dynamic. But the mood, the mood was what stole the show for me. I urge you to read this book on vibes alone- I swear it’ll leave you with a certain “je ne sais quoi.”

Fairytale retelling can be quite the hit for miss for me, but this was an absolute HIT. I was never all that into the original story of swan lake but the way they approached all the characters was refreshing.And it was sapphic with is always amazing. The writing was atmospheric and added so much to the amazing story. The ending was amazing.

I'm HEARTBROKEN to say this did not work for me. The cover hooked me, the premise reeled me in (a sapphic swan lake inspired fantasy?? YESSIRRRR), but the execution.... well. I'm a strong believer that YA does not necessarily mean poor or juvenile writing, but unfortunately this one did not hit the mark for quality I was hoping for. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and the characters felt like cliches, quite obvious, and not lending much room for nuance or surprises. Perhaps this should be aimed for a younger YA demographic.

This was a saphhic retelling of Swan Lake, and it was absolutely everything I wanted it to be! Very very atmospheric, and gave such fairytale vibes I could not put it down. Filled with tons of twists, betrayal, court politics and a slow burn. Highly reccomend if you're looking for a fantastic YA saphhic fantasy.

Atmospheric, moody and slightly melodramatic lol. While I had a good time reading the story, it was definitely more in the YA category (younger YA at that). The story was interesting but the writing was simplistic at times, sometimes lacking the nuance found in adult books. But for what it was, I enjoyed the exciting plot, the sapphic slow-burn and the twists near the end.

I did find that the main character Odile identified a little too hard as the villain in her own story... when she is more accurately a dramatic and easily manipulated teen who just needs a damn hug!

Spoiler*****
At the end I started getting confused... was this a series? Where was it going? Then it got wrapped up quite neatly (too easily?) in the background so that the HEA could occur in the epilogue.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this retelling from Odile’s POV. The setting and atmosphere swept me away, and I became fully immersed in this story. Poranek does a fantastic job weaving together different variants of this old story while being able to expand the world and plot, making it feel fresh. The writing and plotting managed to keep me on my toes, questioning the direction the story was taking. The ending is an emotional ride that I honestly wasn’t prepared for. I had a great time with these characters.

A satisfying retelling for both fans of Swan Lake and those not familiar with the source material. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster Canada, Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

All opinions are my own.

I've read this author's debut book before and fell in love with it, so as expected, my expectations for this book are soaring high, especially because this is a sapphic swan lake retelling. It turns out that this book reaches all of them and even goes beyond them!

The book tells a story about the villain of the story, Odile, and her father Rothbarte, as they both are on a mission to take Odette's place and marry the prince so they can steal an artifact that could restore magic to the land. Odette got turned into a swan as Odile took her form and became her. Unfortunately, the king died and now Odile has to find out who the culprit is with Odette's help.

I loved this book so much, I don't even know where to start. The plotline was quite mysterious but not too much that it puts me off, and it's so intriguing reading from Odile's pov and how she feels like a villain but someone that you can sympathize with and also someone that you know have it in her to have a redemption under the right circumstances. I love how different the characters are that you can tell them apart so easily and that none of them are perfect, some even might infuriate you, but you love the story and how they contribute to it. I loveeee the different dynamics between the characters, but most importantly, the romance really DELIVERS. It was soooo good and makes me smile like an idiot every time i see them.

Honestly, my only complaint is the fact that this is a standalone. With the way the last chapter left off, I would love to see a continuation of that because I dearly love Odile's character. But even with that, I still love this book and would highly recommend everyone to read it!

as someone whose only prior knowledge of swan lake was the barbie movie, I am obsessed.

this was a really unique take on the classic fairytale with the intricate magic system and complex world building, i was in awe the whole time. i especially loved this version's take on 'odette' and her relationship to her swan form and how she was able to use it to her advantage. once i got through the slightly confusing opening and was able to orient myself in the book, i was hooked.

I truly think that poranek writes some of the best ya books on the market right now. they are captivating original stories that are appropriate for the age group. with books either being way too aggressively smutty or too unfinished or simple, this is what I would have loved to read as a younger reader.
so yeah maybe some of the reveals were a bit obvious but, for the age group I get it.

thanks to margaret k. mcelderry and netgalley for the arc.

I really wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, not for me. I found myself unable to connect with the lead in order for me to root for them. DNF at 40%