I am....slightly disappointed we didn't end with a setup for a second book. Which *really* says something about how much I loved these characters and this whole world. The characters were endearing, the magic system could have been a little more fleshed out, but I guess since the focus was on bringing magic back...I'll let it slide. I would love to see more of this world in the future.

All our enemies started off friends. A Treachery of Swans begins with this idea that it would be easier in someone else's skin. We can think we know what they're going through, what their life is - because it isn't ours - but we couldn't be more wrong. A Treachery of Swans has a slower start, but once it takes off it glides on the currents of the foundation it built. With an unlikely alliance at its core, A Treachery of Swans is about forgiveness and the things we have to become to survive. It's about finding someone who sees the ways we've had to lessen ourselves, and gives us a chance to unfurl.

One thing I loved about Where the Dark Stands Still was the incredible setting and this is no different, the setting is so well described and breathtaking. The premise, if you are familiar with the ballet is similar but different enough to keep you engaged to spot the differences but if you aren’t familiar I don’t think you’ll miss anything as our author is quick to fill in the gaps.

Marie Odile is tasked by her father, Regnault, to obtain the crown so they might restore magic to their world. To accomplish this Odile must become Odette, under a spell by Regnault that turns Odette into a perfectly white swan while Odile takes her place at the palace to woo the Dauphin.

I really enjoyed the gothic setting as I mentioned and while this is a retelling it’s pretty loosely based so don’t worry if you don’t know anything about Swan Lake.
I fear I am just too old for YA anymore as I couldn’t fully get into this one. I will take the blame for it but I would still recommend especially if you liked her previous work!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the arc for my honest review!

This author does it again. An easy 5 star read for me. I will read whatever they write. I loved this. It was atmospheric and a little gothic and I loved the story. I can’t wait to see what they write next.

Thank you to Netgalley and A.B. Poranek for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This was a very fun sapphic gothic retelling of Swan Lake! Even with guessing a couple of the plot twists along the way, there was plenty more that I didn’t see coming! My only confusion was that the last couple chapters really seemed like they were setting up for a second book, only to have what seemed like major plot points resolved off page in time for the epilogue. Overall though I had a really good time with this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an eARC of this title. Unfortunately for me it was a DNV at 20%. I read Poranek's debut novel, Where The Dark Stands Still, last year and I enjoyed that, I didn't find it to be anything super special but I felt a lot of potential from this author for her future works.. I found A Treachery of Swans to be written in juvenile language, while trying to cover more adult topics and the disconnect really turned me off. I wasn't especially taken with the story and was just not interested in reading any further than I already did. I may not be the target audience for this title to begin with and won't be surprised if this book does well commercially, especially after the success of Where The Dark Stands Still.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Spoilers ahead!

So as a whole, I enjoyed this book. I devoured it over the span of the weekend. It was fun YA fantasy.

What I didn’t like was the literal ending and the epilogue. I felt like Marie getting stabbed at the very end was a drama that wasn’t needed. Odile and Marie had already fought and worked so hard against Regnault, but then Odile is denied her love with Marie for a rushed epilogue for them to finally be together. I didn’t want these two women to have just a little more drama and still work so insanely hard to have one another and a happy ending after defeating the villain.

Gay ladies already have a hard enough time, I wanted them happy without that bonus drama. Could have just defeated the villain and BAM, they get their happily ever after. No stabbing needed.

And I can’t deny that I wish Marie and Odile had way more time together since it’s sapphic. I loved spending time with the other characters including Aime, but I wanted more with Marie, too.

Aside from that, I enjoyed the book and recommended it if you’re looking for a YA read.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: E-book (ALC)
Genre: Fantasy, romance

I have been feral for this book since I first saw the cover reveal, when it immediately became one of my most anticipated books of the year. It absolutely did not disappoint and I am SO excited to get my hands on a physical copy.

The magic system, the world building, the characters that feel familiar to lovers of Swan Lake, but also feel so original and unique are all phenomenal. Odile was such a sympathetic protagonist and I felt so much for her, even in moments when she was making choices I didn’t like. She perfectly walks the line of the morally gray trope that so many other books fail to execute. The main mystery of the book was compelling and came with a satisfying reveal. The cast of side characters were fleshed out and likable. I just loved almost everything about this book.

The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star read for me is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I just wanted MORE. I wanted to live in this world longer. I wanted a bit more time for things to resolve and get some more character moments after a really action-packed climax.

If you want a lush sapphic fantasy with so much yearning, a solid mystery, and an atmospheric and enchanting world, this is for you.

An amazing take on Swan Lake full of romance and atmosphere. The worldbuilding was gorgeous and I loved every bit of it!

What I Liked:
- A retelling of Swan Lake was something I didn’t know I was missing from my life. It’s such a beloved story that actually doesn’t get much attention compared to your Cinderellas and your Beauty and the Beasts.
- Morally gray characters are always my kind of characters, especially when they’re done right. Odile was certainly doing bad things, things that hurt others, but I understood why she was doing them and sympathized with her plight.
- On that note, I found this story to be a very good exploration of what it’s like having an abusive caretaker. Breaking out of an abuser’s clutches is never a linear process, and I’m glad this book didn’t shy away from that.
- The atmosphere was absolutely divine. A. B. Poranek’s writing style is as moody and lush as ever, which is the main reason I was so excited to receive this ARC! Definitely a moody Autumn read.

What didn’t work for me:
- This was remedied later in the book, but from beginning to around the 50% mark, wanted to see more of Odette. I’d actually find myself forgetting that she was even a character in the story.
- On the whole, the characters were a little bit surface-level. They were by no means boring characters, but I’d have liked to see the exploration of their motivations and personalities go a bit deeper.
- The worldbuilding was a little sparse. The differences from our own world are big and important but are hardly mentioned, and I would have enjoyed learning more.
- The twist was kind of a big leap and I’m not sure if i buy it. Also the characters came to the realization before I ever would have, but not in a way where it makes sense in retrospect.
- Odile’s actions and thoughts did not always align. She would sometimes think one thing, but behave in a way that completely contradicted it.

Where the Dark Stands Still was a surprise hit for me last year, so imagine my delight when I received an arc of this!

It's a very light retelling of Swan Lake with a sapphic romance at the heart of the story. Interesting magic system and world that I would've liked explored more, but there's only so much you can do with a standalone.

Since we stay in Odile's mind, some of the characters can fall flat but the core four are enjoyable and the villains are intriguing enough to keep the plot moving forward. If you loved the atmospheric writing of Poranek's debut then you'll be swept away again.

Perfect for those who watched Princess Tutu and wanted Ahiru and Rue to be together. That's the relationship vibe between Marie and Odlie.

SAPPHIC YEARNING DONE RIGHT!! the romance is slow to develop in the first 50%, which was great because it developed a fun and twisting plot, as well as fleshed out characters and the dynamics between each of them. the world is dark and luscious, just like a fairy tale; the writing perfectly matched that vibe. i was scared that the ending would miss the mark and drop the book's rating for me, but it was incredible. i was melancholy while also satisfied with how it closed off

OH this was SO good. This is what a YA fantasy should always give. It very much reminded me of the Enchantée by Gita Trelease (which I love so much), but much more gothic. I really liked the development of Odile’s character throughout the book, especially as she learns to trust other people and their motives. The romances between both “sets” of characters was also so well done - it very much gave romance subplot in a way that didn’t overtake the plot but also was still satisfying as a reader.

I also LOVED the way this book wrapped itself up. The ending before the epilogue very much made it seem like there would be a book two, but the epilogue wrapped everything up so nicely - like 100/10 ending. Like would I read a book two? Literally tomorrow if I could. But I love the author’s ability to notice that this stood so strongly on its own without unnecessarily stretching it out over a second book.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I ended up reading this before the author's other book which had come highly recommended and I loved this re-telling so much. You really love the characters and their dynamic, not just the main ones, but all the other people you meet throughout. The ending is heart wrenching and gives you all the feels. I love how atmospheric the writing is without feeling like it was being too descriptive. I know it's a standalone but I would read a whole other book about these characters if I could

A Treachery of Swans follows protagonist Odile as she assumes the guise of Marie d’Odette, her once childhood friend who is now her enemy, as she infiltrates the royal palace to steal an artifact that can return magic to the land, all on her father’s orders. Her father assists her in transforming Marie into a swan while Odile proceeds on her mission, but when the king is brutally slain and Odile’s brother is accused of the murder, Odile must join forces with Marie to find the true killer and clear her brother’s name. However, the true identity of the king’s murderer and the circumstances that led to it lead Marie and Odile into far more than they bargained for.

I loved this book! It was a little bit of a slow start, but the atmosphere and world-building was breathtaking. I thought the way magic was described was really interesting and nothing like anything I’ve read before. I also liked that the tone of this book was a lot darker than typical young adult novels; it was really surprising, but delightful. I thought that the tone fit the world that Poranek was building, so it only made sense that it was dark and deceitful and full of treachery.

I really loved Odile and Marie as characters and their dynamic together as well. I’m a sucker for dark/light ships, and they really satisfied my craving for that. I thought their chemistry was really well done, and their history together felt palpable and informative to their present interactions and dynamic. I love how they contrasted each other, yet fit so well together. It was really great to read. I also enjoyed that their romance was slowly built over the course of the novel. It didn’t feel too sudden or instantaneous. It really felt like the author took the time to build them up individually as characters and plant the seeds of their attraction to one another before anything actually happened. If you’re a fan of slow-burns, this one’s for you!

I also saw a lot of reviewers mention that this novel had more atmosphere than it had plot, and I couldn’t disagree more. I felt that this novel had a great mix and balance between atmosphere and plot. The atmosphere was beautiful and breathtaking and kept me on the page, for sure, but the plot really helped keep me engaged, too. I liked that there was this huge mystery at the heart of the novel that slowly unravels into more mysteries. I was really surprised by a lot of the reveals in this book, which I think can be hard to achieve for older readers, especially in YA, but I thought Poranek nailed each reveal.

I’d definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy sapphic romance/representation, slow-burns, great atmosphere, mystery, and all things magic and fantasy! This was my first A. B. Poranek novel, but this definitely won’t be my last. I’m excited to get my hands on a physical copy in a few weeks!

✧ Thank you to Netgalley, 404 Ink publishing and A. B. Poranek for providing me with an ARC of this novel and giving me the opportunity to review it honestly! ✧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars

"I'm nothing but a lie, a twisted reflection, a black swan. And my teeth are just as sharp as theirs."

summary:

A Treachery of Swans spins the tale of our black swan Odile, and the white swan Marie. Odile has prepared all of her life to please her father, and finally bring back magic to their kingdom which has gone without for 200 years. Everything is going to Odile's plan until one day she awakes and the king has been found dead, and everything she ever knew starts to spin on it's head.

A sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, you are immediately drawn into the characters lives and tied into their own emotions like they are your own. A new generation, tasked with changing the future for themselves and the kingdom, desperate to be free of the actions of their families, and hoping that they are able to do it without destroying themselves in the process.

A.B. details such an interesting magic system, the way it is so artfully described, threads weaving and unweaving together to create precisely what the creator wishes it to. Incredibly delicate and precarious to hold in your hands, yet incredibly powerful if used correctly.

Reading this book felt like watching a painting of a ballet come to life — pale pastels, and dark grays and blacks with shimmering colors in between. Everyone light on their feet, and light with how they speak. The chapters are broken into scenes, so it really feels as though you are reaching a production take place right before your eyes.

I had such a good time with this read, and wish that I could say more about it, but I guess you will just have to read it yourself to truly understand what I am thinking when it comes to this story.

Thank you again to Netgalley and 404 publishing!

Review posted to Goodreads

“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒃 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒌?”

Published: 24/06/25 (ARC)
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Page count: 400
Format read: 📱
Other books read by this author: None

A sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, 𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐬 is a story of bewitchment, blood, & betrayal. An easy (if you don’t worry too much about all the French pronunciations) & fun read, I fell for the characters much more than the plot, particularly Marie & Aimé, though there were some unexpected twists & turns that did keep me guessing. Overall, a compelling YA fantasy.

Thankyou so much to AB Poranek & @netgalley for the ARC.

First thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

GOD I'M SO SAD I HATED THIS.
This is marketed as sapphic gothic retelling of swan lake. In reality it is just a YA mess. The characters are just making wild choices that clearly are bad choices. Everyone forgives each other too easily. The relatioships are paper thin and the prose is just lacking it doesnt read as gothis, it is not nearly lush enough. Also everytime i saw anything with marketing for this book everyone leaves out this is YA and tries to market it as Adult. Overall jsut a disappointment for what was one of my most hyped books.

An eerie retelling of Swan Lake from a fresh perspective.

I absolutely loved reading this one. I immediately requested this this title because I spent 15 years training in ballet and absolutely loved the Barbie film. Swan Lake is a story that will never fade, and this rendition brought out new hues and shades.

I can look past the limited world-building because of the atmospheric prose. An unreliable narrator who goes on an emotional journey that ultimately leads to growth? Absolutely spectacular and fantastically done. The emotional conflicts felt realistic which then fed the plot in a pleasing way.

The epilogue was gorgeous, nicely wrapping everything up while still leaving room for the imagination.

i just couldnt get into this. my biggest problem is that i found the writing style to be really juvenile, even for a YA book. i also didnt like odile all that much.