A Treachery of Swans presents a sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, set in a world that magic has deserted. The treacherous Odile is our central character in this telling of the story - she is boyish and charming, easily able to manipulate Marie D'Odette. This version of Odile has the golden blood of a sorciere, marking her as an outcast. She was taken from the gutters and raised by a conniving theater master who has orchestrated a scheme to "free" magic - but he'll need Odile's help to do it.

Treachery works best when it luxuriates in its storytelling -- I found the central conflict too quickly resolved for my taste. The ending seems too set itself up for a sequel, but then changes course and presents us with an epilogue instead.

A Treachery of Swans was one of my most antipcated reads of 2025, thank you NetGalley for making my dream come true!
Odile and Marie were perfect there was so much longing and love and darkness and A.B. Poranek is a master at immersing readers. Moody and fairy tale are my favorite combo and this did not disappoint!

This book was beautifully written I will say. I just wish I felt more attached to the characters, and more interested in the plot.

I know this books is a “Swan Princess” retelling, but also at the same time it was incredibly cliched. No twist in the story had me audibly gasping or shocked.

I think if you like dark and atmospheric storytelling, you will eat this up! Unfortunately, that’s just not what I look for in my novels. It’s incredibly vibing, and I was expecting the romance to be more of a plot point than it was. I didn’t feel drawn to the characters and I was more reading this to finish it rather than caring to know how the story ends.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the EARC!

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Margaret K. McElderry Books!

I must have been the only person alive that didn't know the Swan Princess movie was based on Swan Lake the ballet, but this gave me Swan Princess vibes and I ate it up. I know it's a retelling of Swan Lake, but because my baseline was the movie, I enjoyed this because it went deeper than the film and gave us a little bit of back lore.

This is definitely one of the better retellings I've read because I felt like I could recognize the source material but it also held it's own took the story somewhere different which I appreciate.

I enjoyed this author's last book, Where the Dark Stands Still because the vibe was immaculate and this followed suit. I enjoyed the world, and the world building overall. I also enjoyed the characters and I think for the most part, they were all likeable and all felt fully fleshed out. I was able to understand why they all made the decisions they were making even if I didn't like the decisions lol.

The romance aspect to this was also great because it was a slow burn and showed just enough that it made sense with the character motivations. It didn't feel out of place within the story or like, shoehorned in. I appreciate that the story didn't go off the rails for the romance, but instead incorporated it in as a product of their circumstances (if that makes sense).

While the story didn't feel too long, for me personally it started to drag near the end. I was sort of able to see where it was going in terms of the final battle, and I wanted it to get there sooner. I think last quarter starts slowing down in terms of Odile and Marie figuring out the mystery and I think they could've gotten there quicker.

Overall though, I liked this and I would definitely tell my friends to read it. It was a good balance of plot and vibes. AB Poranek is definitely becoming an auto-read author for me!

After reading "Where the Dark Stands Still", when I saw something new from A. B. Poranek, I hoped it would be something just as special. I was not disappointed. "A Treachery of Swans" is a queer retelling of Swan Lake. It took elements from that story and mixed them with historical settings and a magic system that was fascinating, if a little undeveloped. I enjoyed the characters and their journey through the story. I thought that the ending was slightly anti-climactic. It felt like it should have been the set up for a second book, but instead had an unsatisfying epilogue that attempted to wrap everything up in a neat bow. If not for that ending, I would have been incredibly excited to learn more about the magic and wider world in a sequel. As it is however, I was still engaged throughout the entire story. It was a story that had enough twists and turns to keep my interest. I hope to see more from Poranek in the future.

I'll admit I didn't know too much about Swan Lake before going into this, but I'm always down for a gothic sapphic romance, and omg that cover really solidified me needing this.

A.B. Poranek wrote the most perfect atmospheric fairytale retelling. This was everything I could want. The character development is superb, and the writing is stunning and atmospheric, it's even funny at moments! Even though this is YA, it reads mature and the characters never feel juvenile.

I always prefer a slow burn romance to build up tension, and this definitely is a slow burn that's burns perfectly delicious.

A romantic and fantastical tale that will grip that niche group of teens simply obsessed with Phantom of the Opera and gothic literature! Some twists were expected, while others came totally out of left field. Another excellent and atmospheric offering from AB Poranek

I really enjoyed Where the Dark Stands Still, but A Treachery of Swans missed the mark for me. While the premise is rich with promise—a sapphic retelling full of magic, intrigue, and betrayal—the characters felt a bit frustrating, and their motivations sometimes muddled the emotional stakes. The romance didn’t feel fully developed, which made it hard to invest in the connection between Odile and Marie. Still, Poranek’s writing is immersive and the story was certainly engaging—I just wanted more depth from the characters and their relationships.

I already know I would love A Treachery of Swans because I loved this authors first book, but my already high expectations were blown out of the water. I truly loved this book and will be making everyone I know read it.

The Swan Princess was one of my favorite movies growing up. This book reminded me of that movie, except if it was a darker fantasy and sapphic.

I really love Odile’s and Marie’s relationship with each other. They are both such complex, well written characters who compliment each other really well. I loved the slow burn enemies to lovers romance and think it was well done.

The plot twists were really good and some I didn’t see coming. The plot twists, and the whole overall story, truly blew me away.

2.75⭐️ Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book. This book is a Swan Lake Retelling in which our main character, Odile, tries to restore magic to the kingdom but is interrupted when a murder occurs. This book was very different from anything I’ve read. The writing was so beautiful, and I think the author did a really great job of describing things. My problems were that it was confusing in some parts, and it felt very slow, so not only did it take me longer, but I wasn’t inclined to pick it up. I definitely recommend that people pick this book up for themselves because the plot was very interesting and the mystery did keep me engaged, especially during the last 30%. The twists were so good and caught me off guard. Overall, I had some trouble with this book, but it was very interesting, and I do recommend people pick it up for themselves because that cover is gorgeous. Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Dark Stands Still comes an atmospheric fantasy based on Swan Lake, following Odile as her plan to restore magic to her kingdom gets disrupted by a murder - forcing her to beg for help from the young woman whose identity she stole.

Can two girls - one enchanted, one the enchantress - save their kingdom and each other?

Two hundred years ago, a slighted deity stole the magic from Auréal and vanished without a trace. But seventeen-year-old Odile has a plan. All her life, her father, a vengeful sorcerer, has raised her for one singular task: infiltrate the royal palace and steal the king's crown, an artefact with enough power to restore magic. But to enter the palace, she must assume the identity of a noblewoman. She chooses Marie d'Odette: famed for her beauty, a rumored candidate for future queen…and Odile's childhood-friend-turned-sworn-enemy.

With her father's help, Odile transforms Marie into a swan and takes her place at court. But when the king is brutally murdered and her own brother is accused, her plans are thrown into chaos. Desperate to free her brother, Odile is forced to team up with none other than elegant, infuriating Marie, the girl she has cursed…and the girl she can't seem to stop thinking about despite her best efforts.

To make matters worse, there are whispers that the king's murder was not at the hands of man, but beast. Torn between loyalty to her father and her growing feelings for Marie, Odile becomes tangled in a web of treachery and deceit. To save her kingdom, she must find the true path to magic...and find the real killer before they - or it - strikes again."

Very Black Swan vibes here.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC. I was excited to read A Treachery of Swans ahead of its release. A.B. Poranek’s debut, Where the Dark Stands Still, was one of my favorite YA reads last year. It fit perfectly into my 9th grade book group unit centered on fairytale retellings, and I look forward to including A Treachery of Swans in my classroom library next fall.

Like Where the Dark Stands Still, A Treachery of Swans is beautifully written. Poranek’s descriptions, particularly those that develop setting and build atmosphere are lush, striking and emotive.

I loved Odile’s narrative voice and character (she’s mischievous, she’s unapologetic, and she’s very much a teenager!). Marie was also a well-developed character and even though she was “good,” she still felt complex. In contrast, I found the villains in this story to be static. Though, perhaps that was part of Poranek’s purpose— after all, Odile has to reckon with the villain within before she can overcome other evils.

For the most part, the plot developed at a good pace and there was enough tension to keep me invested in the story. There were some moments that I thought were bogged down by dialogue. At times, I felt like dialogue was used to dump plot points that Odile was not around for to narrate, or to provide character backstory or motivations. While I loved Odile’s voice, I wonder if third-person narration would have worked…

The ending…I could have done without the epilogue, actually! But I think I’m in the minority when I say I thought Where the Dark Stands Still ended perfectly. As a reader, I love being trusted with interpreting the ending of a story, and I didn’t need Odile’s to be spelled out to know how her story ends.

I had fun reading this, and I look forward to A.B. Poranek’s next title!

And, did I spot the Leszy? I appreciated the Easter egg.

I spent some time as a front of house manager at a performing arts theater and while we never did Swan Lake, we did a lot of ballet. Often I would be in the box office, dreaming up stories inspired by the various performances so needless to say, I was hyped when I saw this book. I'm not sure I got what I was hoping for though.

In the Acknowledgements, Poranek mentions her influences for this book, one of which was Holly Black. Now, I'm not knocking Black's writing, for me there is something very nostalgic about it but, you do have to be in the right mood for that brand of YA. Something I'm not sure is accurately telegraphed in the marketing of the book. That doesn't make it a bad book but if you're going in expecting a grittier and darker story, you may be in for a rough time.

Pros
- The idea is lovely. For those not in the know, the original Swan Lake is about a woman who by day is a swan, by night is a woman. We aren't really told why she is cursed in the ballet (as far as I know) but it's believed it's so Rothbart can prevent her from finding someone else. Turning the story into a heist to bring back magic is a really fun twist.

Cons
- The characters are very immature at times. Had I been a teenager again when I was reading into reading Poranek's influences and Phantom of the Opera was all the rage, I really think I would have enjoyed it more. Heck, if I was in the mood for something that hit that nestalgic note, I think I would have been all over this. But I wasn't, so I struggled with it. It won't prevent me from checking out her other works, past and future.

This one had a lot going for it, and I’m glad I picked it up. I loved the atmosphere—very fairytale-meets-dark-fantasy—and the Swan Lake inspiration was woven in beautifully. Odile was such a layered character, and I enjoyed how morally gray she was without it ever feeling forced. Her dynamic with Marie was a highlight for me—tense, complicated, and unexpectedly emotional. I really liked the slow-burn shift from enemies to something more, and the queer rep was handled with subtlety and care.

That said, some parts dragged a bit. The writing is lovely, but it occasionally lingered too long on internal thoughts or world-building when I wanted the plot to just move already. The murder mystery didn’t totally land for me either—I guessed a few twists early on, and I was hoping for a bit more payoff there.

Still, this was a unique and engaging read overall. Not perfect, but definitely worth it for the vibes, the characters, and the magic.

A Treachery of Swans is a sapphic retelling of the Swan Princess.

The writing was very poetic and helped paint a picture for the story. 
The book was slow for me, and I didn’t feel the urge to keep reading until 80% of the way through. Und fortunately I did not like the main character and found her whiny and obnoxious. I wish there was a bit more of their relationship when they were both young. 
 Anyone who likes the story I of the swan princess, but wants to see a sapphic twist on it would enjoy this book.

I didn’t like this book as much as I had hoped I would. The writing was good, but the story didn’t keep me as engaged due to the main character.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek is a sapphic reimagining of Swan Lake, which was enough to sell me on wanting to read it. I’m a huge Swan Lake fan and I’m always interested in reading more sapphic books.

I think this works well as a retelling. It has some of the framework for the original while managing to feel like its own story. I really enjoyed the cast of characters and that the overall storytelling had an almost cinematic quality. Reading this book felt like watching a movie.

I do think some of the characters could have been expanded on a little bit and there were parts especially in the beginning and end that felt rushed so I wish this book was about 50-75 pages longer.

I think this story will work well for the target audience since it is a young adult book. The gothic vibe is fantastic-this would make a perfect addition to an autumnal TBR!

As someone not familiar with the source material (I’ve only seen the Barbie movie, okay) or French culture at all, I was worried that I’d be lost but thankfully it was never an issue. The names and titles are introduced in a way that makes it easy to remember all of them and what they mean. There wasn’t any need to know anything about Swan Lake, beforehand, the story goes off the assumption that readers don’t know the original ballet without over explaining anything. The story diverges enough anyways that I doubt it will matter any if you know the original source material.

Now, all I needed to hear to want to read this book was lesbian swan lake. So naturally, the relationship between the characters was really important to me. From the beginning, you see that despite the bad blood between them, Marie still is drawn to Odile. The push and pull between the two throughout the book was so fun to read and I loved the two of them. We slowly learned about their history, and how skewed Odile’s view of their relationship is.

From page one, it’s obvious that while Odile calls herself a villain, she isn’t as in control as she thinks. Every conversation with Regnault makes it more and more obvious she is a victim in this situation. She is certainly not blameless, of course, she is definitely causing harm to those around her, but it’s not as black and white as she thinks it is. I loved watching Odile grow, learning that things aren’t what she was taught growing up. Throughout the book, you can see how she has been raised to misconstrue every act of genuine kindness in order to keep her trapped in Regnault’s clutches. As a reader, it is painful (in the best way) to watch how badly he’s tainted her view of the world.

The magic system was fun and unique, I loved the idea that there was a way for magic to linger in the world. I always enjoy physical manifestations of magic, like in the gold threads and the way Odile could smell it. I wish we got a chance to go more in depth, but I know there was no place for it to happen in the story. For a minute at the end, I almost thought there was going to be a sequel. The ending almost led up to one, but luckily the epilogue wrapped everything up. Selfishly, I always wish books have a little more fluff at the end, I just always want to see our characters after the resolution of the plot.

Overall, 4.5 stars. This was the first book I have read by the author and now I immediately want to go back and read her other book.

Poranek's first work, Where the Dark Stands Still, had me so excited for this book that I had to do a reread quickly before diving into this sapphic retelling of Swan Lake. A Treachery of Swans, however, left me feeling pretty empty and as if I had just read what was a great idea that was simply poorly executed. It felt a bit rushed, and the character development felt as if every emotion and feeling came from a sense of moving the plot along rather than stemming from real emotion from the characters. I do not like emotions progressing as a plot device, and this book certainly took hold of that and ran with it.

I absolutely love Where The Dark Stands Still it’s a 5 star read for me and I recommend it all the time. I had high hopes for this one but it wasn’t for me. I liked the idea of it but I don’t think the characters had enough time to develop relationships for a meaningful impact. I wanted it to be more gothic than it was and it was a bit predictable.

A sapphic swan lake retelling? Sign me up!
it was set up to be amazing but at times felt a little messy like the book could’ve been thought out a bit more. The beginning was a bit confusing and the world building was complex and should’ve been flushed out a bit more since it could get info-dumpy. The ending felt both finale and not at the same time?? Is it a standalone or not? I did love the characters and think they heavily carried the book along with the vibes of the story. It’s definitely a unique and interesting YA book!