“They will tell the story, later, of the white swan and the black, but they will tell it wrong.”

Swan Lake holds such a special place in my heart. Any rendition or retellings of this classic tale will always immediately have my attention.

A Treachery of Swans was eerie and utterly enchanting. This sapphic retelling was so atmospheric – I was immediately hooked from the first page.

The writing was outstanding with such beautiful imagery.

The tension between our two starlets was palpable from the very first introduction. The slow burn was tantalizing, but all the more worth it.
The lore and the magic that was built within the story was so unique and I did not know what to expect. I appreciate the author taking a tale that I love so dearly and making this so fresh!

3/5
⚝⚝⚝
-'A Treachery of Swans' tells the well-known story of Swan Lake, in which Odile is chosen to restore magic in Auréal by sabotaging Marie D' Odette but when the plan goes awry, Odile has no choice but to ally herself with her enemy: Marie. The fate of the kingdom is in Odile's hands. What should she do?
-While deciding whether to follow her heart or her duty, Odile falls in love with Marie, which turns her plan upside down. In my opinion, this alliance and subsequent romance are completely forced and have no connection at all. I felt the characters were two-dimensional and their choices often made no sense. I felt Marie had no personality; she was just there to fall in love with Odile and nothing else. On the other hand, Odile was a well-designed character who fought for what she felt was best. Although she was sent with other purposes, she developed throughout the story, which I found great. Furthermore, some problems were often solved out of nowhere, with no explanation, just for the sake of the characters. The ending was terrible — just another problem solved by the poor narrative and dull characters. Overall, I would recommend this book if you're looking for something light and fun to read, but I can't guarantee you'll enjoy it.

Sapphic Swan Lake retelling full of treachery! It was hard to get into the story at first, but I once I got the grasp of it, I couldn’t stop listening. The beginning reminded me of Little Thieves by Margaret Owen, because of the identity theft & impersonation stuff, which is interesting.

The twists & turns were fantastic, and I loved the vibes & atmosphere. I don’t have any particular complaints so objectively it’s a good book (plus look at the gorgeous cover I’m obsessed!) but I also don’t have any strong feelings about it. Soo yeah.

This was a fun read but I didn't absolutely love it like I hoped to. I didn't feel quite connected to the main character, and some of the plot felt predictable, especially with the ending of the story and how things resolved. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting.

Odile and Marie are both engaging, well-drawn characters, and their romance is a lovely thread of yearning that feels authentic and heartfelt. I also found myself unexpectedly charmed by the dauphin, who adds an extra spark to the cast.

The story starts and ends with a gorgeously dark, fairytale-like atmosphere that drew me right in. I just wish that mood had carried through the middle, where the tone shifts toward court dynamics and softer moments. While still enjoyable, those sections didn’t quite capture the same sense of enchantment.

I’m not the core audience anymore, I think many YA fantasy fans will adore this one, especially readers looking for a heartfelt romance anchored in the framework of a beloved classic. It’s a tale with charm, warmth, and just enough magic to make it worth the journey.

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek was absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been looking forward to this sapphic twist on Swan Lake since it first crossed my feed, and Poranek did not disappoint. Although it was paced fairly slowly at the start, the prose was lovely and, at times, gripping, and the characters were well-developed. Throughout the novel, I appreciated the attention to detail when it came to adapting this beloved, well-known story, though Poranek clearly puts their own delightful spin on it that keeps readers who are fans of the ballet satisfied and almost reminded me of Phantom of the Opera, at some points.

Definitely a great book for readers who enjoy sapphic fantasy, moody romance, and retellings.

sapphic? swan lake? sign me up.

the book is slow to start, but also hard to put down. i did find it slightly lacking. it was almost like something was missing. however, i would read again because come on. it's sapphic.

Such a pretty retelling of one of my favorite ballets. Odile and Marie’s hatred to friendship to something more is so organic to watch. I also love how Odile’s brainwashing when it comes to her magical adoptive father is so believable.

I struggled to get into this one as much as I did with When The Dark Stands Still. I absolutely love this author and how she writes, I think this one just wasn't for me plot-wise. If you enjoy swan lake, sapphic romance, and gothic atmospheres I think you'll love this. Unfortunately I think this one just wasn't for me personally.

Ahhh, I just closed this book and involuntarily exclaimed “that.was.GOOD” 🤩

Honestly, I didn’t quite know what to expect with this one, but I was quickly swept up into this world of French nobles, theatre, magic, and mythology. This was a beautiful love story with equal weight given to the gripping quest to bring magic back to the land of Auréal. Of course there are sorcières who still secretly have it and we know who they are because they have ✨ shimmering ✨ golden blood. Even their blood is beautiful - are you kidding me?!

Like all the best books, my pereception of who the villain is changed several times. Not just because of the many twists but because AB Poranek taps into each character’s humanity. I’ll be reading her prior book and whatever she writes next because of this beautiful world she built and the feelings she was able to evoke with her gorgeous writing style. I just totally adored the experience of reading it!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the gifted copy.

🦢 ✨ 🦢 ✨ 🖤✨🦢 ✨ 🦢

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek ★★★★★ This book slinks in like fog and settles deep. Poranek’s language is gorgeous without being showy—sentences that slip past you and then echo hours later. The story balances myth and memory, with moments of tenderness set against a backdrop of quiet menace.

The characters aren’t there to be liked. They’re complicated, brittle, bruised. But that’s what makes them feel real. The emotional undercurrent runs strong, and every time you think you’ve found still water, it pulls you under again.

It's the kind of novel that leaves behind a strange ache—beautiful, wild, and a little bit feral.

*A Treachery of Swans* is an absolutely spellbinding retelling of *Swan Lake* that dives deep into the lore and characters behind the classic tale. A. B. Poranek reimagines the story through the eyes of Odile, a sorcerer's daughter trained to reclaim lost magic by impersonating her former friend—and now enemy—Marie d’Odette. With the real Marie transformed into a swan, Odile enters the royal court under a false identity, only to have her plans derailed when the king is murdered and her brother is accused.

What follows is a rich, twisty fantasy full of court intrigue, sapphic tension, and beautifully written magic. Odile and Marie’s forced alliance and emotional journey are the heart of this novel, and their chemistry is undeniable. The world-building is atmospheric, dark, and layered with history, myth, and mystery.

This isn’t just a tale of revenge or power—it’s about identity, redemption, and discovering who the real villains are. I loved how the book explored questions left open in the original tale and gave voice to characters usually left in the shadows.

If you love morally gray heroines, enemies-to-reluctant-allies, and lush fantasy, this is a must-read. Five glowing stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

this one didnt live up to my expecatiosn, the beginning/the concept/atmosphere were all great but fell flat for me towards the end.

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek

Rating: ⭐⭐

Spice: 0

Media Type: Audio 🎧

Snore 😴😴😴
This book wasn’t bad, per se. It just didn’t hold my interest. The writing is undeniably beautiful, and I appreciated the “princess turned into an animal” element, which gave it a classic fairytale feel. Unfortunately, the plot never truly pulled me in, and the romance felt a bit flat. I can see how someone else might really enjoy this story, but it just wasn’t for me.

4.5 stars

Thank you Simon & Schuster, Netgalley and A. B. Poranek for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who LOVES the Swan Lake ballet (and got into it through the cinematic masterpiece 'Barbie in the Swan Lake'), I can say this reimagining is hands down glorious. The lore and visuals from the ballet are alluded to, but always with a singular twist. Even the ending was kept in a way that both honored the original but solidified this version as its own thing. So, if you are a huge fan of the ballet, iI would highly recommend this because it is so satisfying to see all the little nods to it, and imagine perfect scenes as the ballet (e.g. the black swan pas de deux), whilst beiung surprised with the direction this follows.

The characters themselves also kept surprising me, especially when it came to each of their fears and the flaws they try to hide. In particular, our main character (and narrator), Odile/Black Swan has a beautiful arc and I loved how she was able to clear herself from the bitterness of another and understand that the love she thought she'd been given was not true. Because love doesn't lie, manipulate or try to isolate us from the world. It's truly something that I think a lot of people could resonate with because chances are most of us have been caught in toxic relationships.

The quiet growth of Marie Odette/White Swan was very in line with her character, who so desperately needed to stay under the radar and please everyone but herself. Her courage and strength coming through whenever she felt compelled, and her yearning for freedom relatable as a lot of the female experience is about conformity. Every now and then she would surprise me with how much she repressed inside of her and it was really fun to see her break out of her mold at the end.

The romance is slow to develop but the tension was there from the get-go. I love how they learn to trust each other over time, sharing secrets and vulnerabilities that lead to their being able to admit to each other (and themselves) that they don't wish to ignore their feelings, revealing them fully. I thought that the romantic pacing was well executed despite the slow build up, giving time for the reader to fully understand the world, stakes and these characters' flaws and the necessary growth for each.

The only reason this is not five stars is the pacing of the overall plot. I find that it started out with a bang and it became slow almost right after, only picking up closer to the end. It took me a long time to go through the middle as a result, feeling slightly that things were being dragged unnecessarily.

Finally, the ending was a banger. Very true to the source material, but with a perfect epilogue to boot.

A. B. Poranek weaves an intoxicating spell with A Treachery of Swans, a gothic reimagining of Swan Lake that glimmers with magic, betrayal, and the razor edge of romance. With court intrigue, cursed transformations, and aching emotional stakes, this is the kind of book that reads like poetry and hits like prophecy.

Odile is the kind of heroine you ache for—sharp, secretive, and burdened by the choices she never really got to make. Raised by her ruthless sorcerer father to bring magic back to a world that stole it, she’s a weapon shaped by grief and love. Her target? The royal crown. Her disguise? The identity of her former friend, Marie d’Odette.

What follows is a deliciously tangled tale of stolen names, simmering resentment, and forbidden longing. Marie is every bit the foil and match for Odile—graceful, furious, and far more than the pretty pawn she appears to be. Watching these two enemies navigate their twisted bond—while also trying not to fall for each other—makes for an emotional slow-burn romance that hurts in the best way.

And then there’s the murder.

Courtly glamour gives way to creeping dread as the story turns into a dark whodunit threaded with whispers of beasts and blood magic. With lyrical prose and masterful pacing, Poranek builds a world that feels like a dream laced with thorns—beautiful, brutal, and brimming with secrets.

🖤 A tale of monsters, magic, and the dangerous alchemy of love and betrayal, A Treachery of Swans is a haunting triumph for fans of romantic fantasy with bite.

Perfect for readers who love Margaret Rogerson, Ava Reid, or the deadly elegance of a fairytale that’s grown fangs.

Reading this book, I thought this would make a great movie. (I have not watched Swan Lake. I had somewhat of an idea of the original source, but I don't know if that hindered or amplified my experience with this book.)

The trait that strikes me the most in this book is the writing. The writing was so atmospheric; it was so rich without being too heavy, and it was addictive. Once I started this book, I could not put it down unless my heart was throbbing to the point where I had to put the book down for my sanity. I did not know worlds could be arranged in such a manner. Multiple quotes from this book will stay with me for a long time.

The characters in this book were fine. I did not particularly care about any of them, but I did feel bad for most of them. What I did care about was the relationship between the characters, the friendship between Odile and Aime, and the romance between Odile and Marie (even though it felt a little bit manufactured at times). And most of all, the relationship between Odile and her dad is one of my favorite dynamics on the show.

The overarching storyline was interesting, though some of the plot points did feel a tad bit absurd. And I wanted to know so much more about the magic system. It was so interesting. After finishing this book, I feel like the author starved me a little bit because I have so many questions.

Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a gothic sapphic romance.

A Treachery of Swans is a captivating sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, blending magic, romance, and betrayal in a queernormative world. The story follows Odile’s daring plan to steal a magical crown and the slow-burning, electric romance between her and Marie d’Odette. With thrilling twists, emotional depth, and a beautifully crafted ending, this dreamy fairy tale reinvention is a must-read for fans of magic and queer love.

I liked this book, it started off really slow for me and took me until at least 50% of the way through to feel really hooked. I wish we got a bit more of an epilogue but I thought it was going to be cliffhanger ending for a minute and I would have rioted.

very spooky and gothic with some mysteries that were pretty clear and some that genuinely surprised me. I wish there was a touch more of the romance aspect with everyone on the same side but there wasn't much time for that. very cute little found family almost lavender marriage situation happening that I found charming and I wish there had been a little more of. it definitely leaned more gothic mystery/suspense than ya romance. overall did enjoy!!

A.B. Poranek is becoming one of my favorite writers. I really loved this book and after reading her others I have so much high hopes for her next one. I think this book has some really interesting characters that throughout the book I was able to learn more and more about as the layers pulled back and alos allowed me to learn about the world they lived in. I think Poranek has a great storytelling talent and I great enjoyed this book.