I really loved Where the Dark Stands Still and I was super excited about this book!

The writing was beautiful and the gothic vibes were on point. The world building and magic system were very interesting! The concept of gold blood was not something I have personally come across before. It also tackled manipulative and narcissistic parents, which was unexpected and although I don't have experience with that, it seemed like anyone who does would resonate with it and appreciate it. This book really put its own unique spin on Swan Lake too!

I found Odile to be a bit off-putting when it came to her playing the role of Marie, because she is described as being a great and practiced actor, yet is continuously doing and saying things that Marie would not. A lot of the plot was also predictable, but as it got closer to the end I started getting caught off-guard and was more invested.

As far as comps that I've seen: it did remind me of Little Thieves a lot, obviously Swan Lake, I see the Phantom of the Opera comp too. More A Dark and Drowning Tide than A Study in Drowning to me. Definitely a solid YA fantasy.

I loved A Treachery of Swans. This book felt catered to me, with how it is a Swan Lake retelling and sapphic.
Odile was such an amazing character. Seeing her struggle with her morals truly felt like reading a book from a villain's point of view, which I've seen many books try to do, but few succeed. The relationship between her and Marie was outstanding. I loved the consistent not only swan but general bird themeing around them. I love Aimé and Damien as well, and I will always treasure a found family.
This book was also an upgrade from Where the Drak Stands Still, since I found that book rather boring till the end, which I enjoyed.
Thank you, Simona and Schister, and NetGalley, for the eARC.

I wasn't entirely sure how much I would enjoy A Treachery of Swans when I first began reading. The premise had me by the throat and I was hooked, but the start of the book was slow. The FMC was irritating in her anger, judgement, stubbornness, and distrust and I struggled to find something to hold onto. I immediately was intrigued by Odette but she too was a character barely there before disappearing. Still, I continued on, and I'm glad I did. The story steadily gained my interest once Odile infiltrated the palace and I was locked in when Odette became a more regular character, the same as the prince. I LOVED these two characters and they helped balance my frustration with Odile.

There were numerous times where I questioned how easily Odile was sneaking out of the palace nightly to see Odette and neither getting caught. I was also a bit confused about the moving pieces, but I was thoroughly surprised by the prince being the monster. I often see that type of thing clearly but this time it was a surprise.

I adored the ending of the book, I adored the romance between the girls. I was hopeful for a moment of a second book to show Odile trying to gain the magic of the sisters but also, since she was my less favorite character, I'm glad we just time jumped for the epilogue to her saving Odette (thank goodness!).

Overall, a solid read. I'm interested in reading the other book of this author in the future as I hadn't read her first novel prior to this!

I like the premise and I did like the characters, they don’t grow much per se but their character is revealed over time for better or for worse and I enjoyed getting to know all of them.

BUT That TikTok sound “what happened to hello. How are you” but it’s what happened to setting a scene. Prolonging a vibe.

For a book so dependent on atmosphere it sure didn’t cultivate any. We got half details for so much of the story that it was hard to picture even what the gowns looked like. We’re referencing like 17/18th century France but then the main character wears a form fitting gown? And no one is shook? And in what world is a theater down the lake from a palace.. that bugged me the whole book. There’s no uniformity to the way the characters speak. It’s so informal for the setting. I don’t think Odile eats or worries about eating a single time. Just little details like that can cultivate a world without adding bulk and there was too much racing around in this.

3.25*

I went into this expecting a black forest cake but god gave me vanilla sponge instead

A Treachery of Swans is, overall, a perfectly fine YA fantasy, with an interesting world inspired by early modern France, the most animated-movie-esque characters ever, and a horribly predictable plot. The prose was also... something. Most of the time it's inoffensive but then Odile will drop a bar that is so cringe I have to close my eyes for a second, and rethink my life choices.

It's not a terrible book, and I could see promise in it, but the characters were so predictable —although the author did add some unique things to their backstories, they ultimately fell flat for me— and Odile's monologues went on for wayyy too long at times. Marie was slightly better, but she didn't have enough screen time for me to fully appreciate her. I was sorta invested in Aimé and Damien's story, but it was never resolved in the end. That was super frustrating.

I had pretty high expectations due to the marketing, which is why my rating is lower that maybe what it deserves. I was expecting a rich, dark, gothic world, with compelling, morally grey characters. The atmosphere didn't feel very gothic to me, nor were the two leads ever really enemies. Odile being considered a villain is also lowkey laughable — most she could manage is a villain's henchman, lol

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts are my own :D

About this book: Swan Lake retelling / Swan Princess vibes. Tropes: court intrigue, betrayal, greed, outlawed magic, slow burn. The story follows Odile, a girl that has had to hide and deceive so much that she sees herself as the villain, and Marie- a girl in a gilded cage that seems to have everything but freedom.
I really loved their relationship once they start working together to work through all the layers of deceit. I think the blood being an indicator of magic is really unique take. I also enjoyed that the book's chapters were referred to as Acts, so that it follows the idea of the theater. The book is told through Odile's POV, which I think the single point of view really sticks to the idea of theater and is very powerful for this story. The book overall is a very solid sapphic fantasy with a slow burn and lots of twists.
““Do you think I want any of that?” Marie’s voice trembles abruptly. I pause, taken aback. “Why wouldn’t you? You’ll have everything. Wealth, power, safety . . .” “Except one thing,” she says. “Freedom.””
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster, for an advance electronic copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was THRILLED to see a queer romance retelling of Swan Lake: I have been dying for someone to pick up this concept probably since I was 10 years old watching Barbie Swan Lake (iykwk). However, my only requirement for a swan lake retelling is that it be atmospheric!! And unfortunately this failed on that count. As much as this Rococo theatre inspired retelling tried to capture the magic of the much-loved ballet, I fear that Barbie Swan Lake still rises higher in my esteem. I didn't feel remotely captured by the atmosphere of the story. Part of this is the dreary backdrop required for this world without magic, but Poranek's brand of storytelling also isn't one that lingers much on the physical world. Seeing women reduced to mean girl stereotypes in to first 20 pages didn't help matters either. I was most let down by the romance itself: Poranek's Odile utterly lacks teeth, leaving her supposed characterization as a sly, cunning, and manipulative laughably unbelievable, and Odette is just sort of,...there? I guess? Most of her scenes are hardly memorable, not helped but the fact that Poranek has managed to suck the tension from one of the dynamics with THE most romantic tension of all.

Sapphic swan lake? Take my money. It’s so atmospheric, it’s an amazing YA read for anyone. Especially lovers of Swan Lake in general.

Poranek's lush, lyrical writing drew me in immediately, and I found myself flying through the first third of this book. I am fond of the original Swan Lake, and the elements introduced in this retelling seemed very promising both in general and in regards to my specific interests. I enjoyed the characters, though I think they all could have done with more fleshing out. And unfortunately, this book suffers from the same problem I have found in many romantasies: the author struggles to develop the fantasy elements alongside the central romance. Instead, she developed the fantasy plot for a while before realizing the romance was being neglected and then switched, and kept doing so throughout the book in a way that was a bit jarring.

I struggled to get invested with the characters. I understand that this is YA but it actually almost gave middle grade vibes, which I guess is maybe more of a me problem. I can and have read YA in the past that still tackles themes that make it seem older, I love YA, but this one just didn’t work. I was bored and frustrated constantly with Odile. She is reckless, rude, and brash, never really seeming to own up to it or come into her own. It could have been an interesting story of growth for her, but it didn’t land. She’s very much a “hurt people hurt people” kind of character, which can work, but takes a lot of effort. Zero chemistry or tension between the love interests as well.

When I found out there was going to be a sapphic retelling of Swan Lake you can bet I was THRILLED, but also so worried because my expectations were so high, and I am sososo happy that they were met because I LOVED this. The prose was gorgeous, the characters lovable, and once I started, I just couldn't stop. Absolutely perfect.

A beautifully written Swan Lake retelling with an intriguing Gothic atmosphere. I ended up enjoying Odile as an FMC. I say ended up because she's quite unlikable at the beginning, but does some significant personal growth. Being able to admit your faults and acknowledging emotional manipulation from those closest to you takes a different kind of strength. Her character development and how she handles her relationships really brought depth to the story.

I appreciated that Odile and Marie's relationship was previously established, and despite their contentious falling out, they reconciled and were able to pick up where they left off.

The pacing was well done and the magic system was easy to understand. There were a couple plot twists I had figured out, but some still surprised me. The Gothic atmosphere kept me engaged and the sprinklings of French mythology were a pleasant surprise.

This book was a welcome surprise to me. I always found myself skipping the book because I was busy. Finally got to start reading and well I definitely did not stop, here I am 14 hours later satisfied to have read that book ending.

I was very intrigued at first when I found out this was a swan lake inspired story. I liked the details and the hints in between the lines about the sean lake story. I especially enjoyed the black swan and white swan setting and how they were friends in their young age. Odele’s character was very versatile, she is a spy, a thief, adopted daughter, sorciere, and sister and still becomes more in this books. Marie’s backstory drew me in too, how she longs for freedom but must keep acting like the noble daughter she is. It also makes it even better when we see this whole opposite attracts trope, their likely alliance and how they finally open up to each other.
A very cute, and somewhat gothic story.

While I have a hard time finding a good sapphic novel to keep my interest. Swan Lake was able to provide the craving I had or so long when it came to sapphic stories.

While I enjoyed their debut novel 'Where the Dark Stands Still' just a smidge more. This novel was still enjoyable and I devoured in one sitting.

The characters were great and well written, the French-style setting was done beautifully and the ending was amazing.

The other point I enjoyed was the story didn't drag on nor was it filled with fluff to pad the pages. It was a story that was straight to the point and provided insight when needed without going on a twenty page tirade with it.

I do not know the story of Swan Lake well enough to comment on the accuracy of a retelling, however, from a first introduction, it was interesting but not amazing. The twists were expected (from someone who doesn't know the story) and I wanted more of the relationship between Odile and Marie. I also didn't really feel connected to the characters, especially Odile, she didn't feel like she had any depth, just her need for acceptance driving the story. I do think that the atmosphere was wonderfully built and overall it was an easy read to get through.

A Treachery of Swans is a delightful retelling of Swan Lake set from the point of view of Odile, traditionally a villain.

As a former dancer I enjoyed all the references to Swan Lake and this new spin on it. It's easy to sympathize with Odile in a world where sorciers are persecuted and life has not been kind to her. Odile is tasked by her adopted father to get him the Couronne du Roi by impersonating Marie d'Odette, our swan princess. This of course is not as straightforward as it seems, because underneath her villainous exterior Odile is just a girl longing for acceptance.

Though I enjoyed the majority of the twists and turns, I think the last swan "twist" was unnecessary. I'm also on the fence about the ending. In the final chapter it appears to be setting up a second book, but then this plotline is immediately resolved in the epilogue. While I do think this is fitting as a standalone, solving this so quickly felt rather rushed.

A unique sapphic retelling of Swan Lake. Political intrigue, mysterious death and betrayals with a dark gothic atmosphere that will leave you a bit wrecked emotionally. Now add to that the fact that this story is extremely well written. At times poetic and lyrical. The character development is what stood out to me. I also think the romance was done well. In a time of overdone smut, it was refreshing.

This made my little Barbie Swan Lake lover heart quite happy. Having Odile as our protagonist was a great choice and I enjoyed being in her head while she was going undercover. I'm a big fan of a scheming lesbian. I think this story is strongest during the mystery solving portions, the Odile and Marie mystery solving duo worked really well. The climax definitely has some great drama but the last minute twist felt unnecessary. If we're not going to make it another book I don't need the suggestion of an Odile self growth quest. That aside, I think this a super fun YA fantasy romance.

Also can we talk about this cover?!? Stunning! Can we please get this artist to illustrate even more sapphic books because I'm obsessed with their work.

CW: murder, child abuse

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

actual rating: 1.5. today i am feeling generous so i will start with the positives:
-the cover is incredible, i am so obsessed with it. i would spend thousands of dollars to get a print of the artwork, it is gorgeous!!
-the atmosphere of the novel is absolutely delicious!! i love the dark and mysterious vibe. i love the descriptions of how the characters dress. if there is one thing about me, it is the fact that i love elegant and mysterious settings!!

however, i also have some negatives:
-i hate Odile. she is probably the worst character in the book and she is the MAIN CHARACTER!!!! she is supposed to be parading around as Marie but she does such an awful job at it, Odile gets clocked as an imposter in fifteen minutes of being in the ballroom. baby girl lives in a THEATER and can’t act for shit!! she couldn't even try to act like Marie for a single second and that's her whole objective PLEASE 😭
-the romance was severely lacking as Marie spends a majority of the novel as a swan while being Odile’s love interest. even when Marie isn’t a swan, Odile is still treating her like absolute garbage. and yet Marie keeps accepting her half-assed apologies?? MARIE RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!!!! YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!!!

anyways i am here for the Damien x Aimé subplot and their subplot ONLY 😤

First of all, the cover on this book is absolutely stunning and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It's what drew me in at first as well as the premise saying it's a sapphic retelling of Swan Lake.
The world building throughout this book was enthralling, I loved the idea of the sorcier's and the backstory behind why people with gold blood aren't loved. I would say this world building is what kept me involved in the book as well as the magic that was fun.
I liked Odile and Marie's relationship, I do think it would've been nice to have a bit more especially in the beginning but what was provided to us towards the end almost makes up for it.
The ending is what threw me off, it almost was like it wasn't about to be a standalone book and potentially have a sequel but that isn't the case at all and I didn't enjoy that decision.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.