I can’t find the words to express how grateful I am for the opportunity to read this book ahead of its release. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I enjoyed it more than I could have imagined.

The atmosphere in this story is unparalleled. The reader is immediately thrust into a crumbling kingdom, where the court is filled with scheming and political intrigue. Throughout the narrative you’re never quite sure who you can trust and that constant uncertainty made for such an entertaining experience.

The characters are all incredibly well crafted, but I have to admit, I’m Marie’s biggest fan. My swan princess was written so beautifully, I felt so connected to her character. And Odile, oh! she was the perfect mischievous MC. Their dynamic was masterfully executed, with a slow burn tension that built beautifully throughout the book. The way their relationship evolved had me in tears by the end and I couldn’t stop crying for over an hour.

The author’s decision to include time and space as "subtitles" for each chapter was perfect. It kept me grounded and aware of the shifts in the narrative without causing confusion, allowing me to stay fully immersed in the story.

The writing itself was exquisite. The narration flowed effortlessly, and the descriptions were so vivid that I was constantly visualizing the scenes in my mind, which rarely happens to me.

In conclusion, this book is a masterpiece that I can’t recommend enough. It combines rich world-building, deeply emotional character arcs and an engaging plot that will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page. I’ll make sure my girlfriend reads this the moment it is out (and I will re-read it with her).

A big thank you to Simon Teen for the galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. It was a great swan lake retelling, the prose flowed easily. I loved the romance aspect and the atmosphere.

A Treachery of Swans is going on a list of my all time favorites books, it was just that good. I am obsessed with every aspect of this story– from the world building, the writing, and the characters themselves. I’m OBSESSED. The world is rich and atmospheric and it feels like you’re there with Odile as she navigates her mission/s. Odile is such a great character and honestly a really bad villain, but you love her for it anyways. Even as we navigate this story with Odile as our heroine, she honestly wasn’t even my favorite character. I absolutely adored Marie and Aime and I could and would willingly read 6,000 pages of them just solving puzzles and quipping back and forth. The relationship between Odile and Marie was just toooo good… Like you’re kidding me!? I highlighted so many of their interactions while reading it was a little crazy.

Overall this was a mega fantastic read and I can’t wait to reread this in the future.

This was OK! I loved the cover but the story is slow and feels that the writing was really rushed. The book could use a lot more excitement.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC.

This was one of my most anticipated reads! And the cover is gorgeous. However, I am disappointed.

The good:
The character development was steady, the plot was maintained, and the ending was satisfying enough, though it would have been interesting to know more.

The bad:
The cover was so misleading. It was giving beautifully gothic swan lake, but no. What I got was cliched and juvenile writing. This read like it should have been for middle schoolers by the way the characters easily told their past and motives which were cliched. Another part of my issue with the writing was that the characters would state something is important and they need it but not explain why until chapters later. Everything was very predictable, where I was hoping the author would make things more mysterious. It just took the fun out of the story as there wasn’t anything keeping me from continuing and I wanted to DNF it a few times.
I also felt that the romance was underdeveloped and it was all based off past attraction.
And the magic system and world building could have been developed more.

I was expecting more since the author’s first book is over 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t think I was going to cry, yet here I am wiping tears away at the end. Poranek has once again graced us with a lovely and haunting tale.

This is an incredibly atmospheric and tense story. A sense of dread permeates every chapter. It’s not just the terrifying dark figure of Rothbarte in the background either. It’s the knife’s edge of deceit and betrayal that Odile dances upon. It’s the mysterious and brutal monster ready to kill. And it’s the crumbling kingdom barely still held together.

Marie is almost too perfect, but she’s so sweet, and it’s so easy to see how Odile is both drawn to her and resentful of her. But Marie and Aimé are both so nice despite everything. Odile has been so abused her whole life, and her naivety and how easily Rothbarte manipulates her are painful to watch.

The ending was really beautiful. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a darker fairytale or a villainous main character.

To be 100% honest, I thought Where the Dark Stands Still was the better book (and I swear there’s a blink and you’ll miss it cameo by the Leszy in this book!). But I still enjoyed this and will be eager to see what Poranek writes next!

I had the honor of reading this YA sapphic Swan Lake retelling. This is the second book written by A. B. Poranek, the author of Where the Dark Stands Still. WTDSS is one of my absolute favorites, so I knew this was going to be a treat.

First, look at that beautiful cover! It perfectly captures the mood of this book. I was so impressed with this art, I did some quick digging and found the artist has illustrated a handful of other books as well.

True to the author’s writing style, this book was lyrical, poetic, but never overdone. Moody, atmospheric, with a touch of humor, the story had hooked me from the first page. It takes place in 17th century France and the chapters nod to Swan Lake, titled like scenes of a play or ballet. The relationships are nicely fleshed out, the plot is steady and quick, and the characters are complex and easy to love. The FMC’s character arc is one of the most satisfying arcs I’ve read to date.

I thought it was so brilliant how the FMC is actually the morally gray villain, and we learn why she is the way she is from her perspective. All while the sweet, seemingly docile second FMC is showing us why first FMC is not so villainous after all. It’s such a cool flip in perspective from what we see in most fantasy romances. It’s a sapphic story, so do not expect M and F romance.

Added bonus: I found a tiny clever reference to Where the Dark Stands Still! I actually squealed, I loved that so much.

Overall, this book is an exceptional read, and further proof that this author is truly a talent! Bravo!

How do I begin to review A Treachery of Swans when I loved every single second of it? Well I guess we’ll start there. This book is great.

The atmosphere is to die for. A.B. Poranek has such a gorgeous way of writing the settings and describing every last detail without it being boring. I truly loved getting immersed in the world and could almost imagine myself there alongside the characters.

Speaking of characters: I loved every single last one. Odile was such a great protagonist (antagonist?). She fumbles and lies and makes decisions that she later regrets, but that’s what makes her so great! She felt so realistic, especially paired with her unfortunate upbringing.

Odile and Marie’s relationship is also so fun and I love the slow burn. They make a great pairing, and loved the teasing between them. Marie is truly a knight in shining armor (white wings) and I love her for that.

But wait: there’s more! Odile’s relationships don’t just end with Marie. She has amazing platonic ones with The Dauphin (Aime) and her brother (Damien). Her and Aime are hilarious together, and her relationship slowly mending at the end with Damien made me tear up a bit. I loved seeing all four of them grow as characters throughout the book, and would easily devour a whole other books worth about them all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cool take on swan lake!!!! Whimsical and dark. Romantic and vengeful. Beautifully done.

3⭐️
the premise was so promising and the start was strong, but it went downhill from there...

the author was trying to do so much in this that everything felt stretched too thin and flat
-the characters inner monologue felt like it was going in circles, and their motivations were rudimentary
-the world was described as this vast place with rivaling countries but readers were kept to only two locations
this could have benefited from either better planning, or being turned into a duology

on a better note- LOVE the sapphic representation and hinted at romance between our two male characters

thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

3.5 ⭐️ 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 is a dark, gothic, and sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, and it’s a book filled with rich imagery, unique magic, and beautiful prose. I fell in love with Poranek’s writing in 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, and she does not fail to deliver all of the lush and atmospheric writing I was hoping for.

This story, at its core, is about love, grief, and about self discovery in a world where you’re seen as the villain, and sometimes you actually 𝘢𝘳𝘦 the villain. It’s about accepting the parts of yourself that you were convinced were dead and gone, when in reality, you only needed a spark to remember. Our two main characters, Odile and Odette, are opposites who are consistently drawn to each other. This book follows their love story, all while weaving in elements of the original swan lake tale. At times it was subtle, but still present.

While the writing was undeniably beautiful, I did find myself with lingering questions surrounding the mechanics of the magic system. This is the primary reason that I gave it a 3.5 rather than a 4 star.

If you’re looking for a gothic and atmospheric novel, this book is for you. While it may be YA, the writing is sophisticated enough that I know it will appeal to adult readers as well, just like 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

I didn't know I was waiting for a Swan Lake retelling until it happened. This was magical and romantic and thrilling and I could not be more obsessed with Odile and Marie's relationship. The worldbuilding was 10/10 and I've never rooted so hard for an enemies to lovers to come to fruition. Filled with secrets, betrayal, and all of the magic, this is a must for fans of the ballet or queer romances.

A Treachery of Swans is a beautifully written, sapphic spin on Swan Lake that mixes magic, court intrigue, and a touch of romance in just the right way. Odile, raised by a sorcerer and determined to restore outlawed magic to the kingdom, is a sharp and determined lead. Her plan to steal the king’s enchanted crown kicks off a high-stakes story that takes a big turn when the king is murdered and she’s forced to team up with the real princess, Marie d’Odette. Their uneasy alliance slowly grows into something more, and watching them go from wary partners to something deeper is one of the book’s biggest strengths.

The romance is quiet but emotionally charged, and it blends nicely with the political tension and magical mystery unraveling around them. While the middle does slow down a bit, the strong writing and emotional core carry it through, and the ending delivers a satisfying mix of twists and heart. This isn’t a flashy, action-packed fantasy—it’s more about character, connection, and the cost of big choices. If you like your fantasy with a little romance, a little rebellion, and a lot of heart, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

This book starts off with a lot of world-building, which I will admit had me a bit skeptical until the plot hit. Once it did? Hooked. Instantly. Magical, dark, twisted, with a bit of slow-burn romance as a treat. A few of the more suspenseful moments had me gasping aloud. I will agree with a few previous reviewers that the ending felt a bit rushed, and left some things to be desired. That being said, I feel that it did not affect my enjoyment of the book at all! I would love to perhaps see a second book about what happens between the final chapter and the epilogue that would fill in a lot of the gaps.

Thank you so much to A.B. Poranek, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek was exactly the kind of yearning, sapphic, gothic chaos I crave. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Swan Lake retelling, but it completely won me over. You don’t need to be super familiar with the original—just a general idea is enough to appreciate both the parallels and the ways it diverges.

Magic has been outlawed in Auréal, but Odile has always known it’s her destiny to bring it back. Raised by a sorcerer, she’s been prepping for the heist of a lifetime: impersonate a princess, sneak into the palace, steal the enchanted crown, and restore magic. Easy, right? Until the king turns up murdered. Suddenly, Odile finds herself reluctantly teaming up with the real princess, Marie d’Odette, and the two begin to uncover a web of secrets that could change everything. But as feelings start to bloom, Odile must choose: the mission, or the girl she’s falling for?

There’s so much pining, gorgeous gothic vibes, and truly poetic prose—I was highlighting lines just to come back to them later. Odile is chaotic in the best way, and Marie Odette makes the perfect grounded foil and love interest. The pacing felt uneven in spots, and I wish we got a deeper dive into the magic system, but overall, I was enchanted. I’d happily read a spinoff about Odile wrangling the mothers next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The atmosphere in this book was phenomenal. I loved Barbie Swan Lake as a kid so reading this retelling was thoroughly enjoyable. I really liked the characters in this book, I think my personal favorite was Aimé. I would be very interested if he were the a focus of a book in the future. I appreciated that the beginning of each chapter had the place and time of day, it helped keep me oriented in the story. I loved the twists, there were several I wasn't able to predict! I was fine with the pacing until the end. I would have LOVED to see this as a duology! I was really interested in what happened in that gap of time. I would've loved more information and development involving Morgane's sisters as well. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I don't normally enjoy retellings but I would recommend this one! This was my first book by AB Poranek and I can't wait to check out her other books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending an ARC 🦢

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my early copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

A Sapphic, gothic swan lake retelling!!!

Call me numerical because I ATE this book up. Strangers to friends to enemies to lovers, yes please!

I enjoyed this book so much and didn’t want it to end. I will say the ending did feel a little rushed and I kind of wish this was duology but nonetheless, I think a lot of people will enjoy this read.

The storytelling was enjoyable, the main characters and side characters were fun. The writing style and plot was easy to understand and follow. Just all around a great book!

4 stars!

While marketed as a sapphic Swan Lake retelling, it is that and so much more. The author has introduced a unique magic system in this book, and weaves that magic system into this story. This story is for anyone and everyone who enjoys beautiful atmospheric writing, fairytale retellings, a slow-burn sapphic romance, murder mysteries, and some political intrigue.

At the heart of this story is the main character, Odile. She feels the deep and wounding pain of being unwanted and deserted. This trauma guides all the decisions she makes because all she wants is to be loved and accepted for herself, despite her secret sorcier (sorcerer) abilities. In some ways, she sees herself as the villian. Instead of feeling frustrated with her when she made poor decisions, I felt extreme empathy towards her. The author did a great characterizing Odile, which helps us weep with her, triumph with her, and support her. Odile's character arc is well-done, because we see her grow in her confidence, self-worth, and belief in the goodness of other people.

In regards to the other characters, the author gave us a great sense of who they are. While we may not know all about the other characters like we do Odile, there is a sense that they all have their own desires, personalities, agendas, and vulnerabilities. The POV is first-person limited, so it makes sense that we only know what Odile knows about the other characters, and that what we see of other characters is Odile' interpretation of those characters. But they definitely stand out in their roles, which is probably why the mystery's twists and turns in this book were difficult to guess.

As mentioned above, the writing is beautiful, detailed, and atmospheric. I could feel the night chill, see the ostentatious parties and the gilded palace, and sense the emotional upheavals. This is exactly the kind of writing that I love to see in books. It wasn't until after I read the book that I realized that the genre is YA. I do think that this is one of those books with cross-over appeal, simply because the writing would appeal to adult readers as well.

The world-building in this world is simple, but effective. There are some people who are sorciers, and they have magic and gold blood. Odile is one of these people. However, the magic in this world has been banned, locked away, and tied to a crown. Because of this, Odile doesn't really understand how to use her magic, and she fears being found out. Her desire is to bring magic back into the world will give her, and others like her, the chance to learn about their magic and use it, the opportunity to live freely and openly, and the potential to save their lands and people. I think I would have liked to see more history about the magic system and more usage of the magic.

There are multiple plots going on at the same time in this story, but I think the main plot is the murder mystery. While the heist is mentioned in the blurb for this book, I think it's important to note that there isn't a heist in the traditional sense (ie., make a plan and put it into motion). Because of all the various threads of this story, the book moves at a fast pace, and I finished the book in a few hours. My only issue regarding the plot is that there are some plot points that should have gradually been introduced. Instead, there was some info-dumping in the last act. Additionally, while I enjoyed the romantic plot, I think I would have enjoyed more emotional tension and more scenes (whether flashback or present).

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. It's listed as a standalone novel, but there is so much of this world for readers to explore, and it definitely feels like it could be the first of a duology. I would welcome a sequel if the chance ever came.

Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing me with an eARC to review.

Sapphic Swan Lake with atmospheric writing, a compelling plot and so much YEARNING!!! I thoroughly enjoyed this one and that ending was perfect 👌🏼 4.5 stars.

I was a big fan of Where the Dark Stands Still, so A Treachery of Swans was one of my most anticipated reads. While it didn’t quite reach the same heights for me, it was still a beautifully crafted, emotionally rich story that I’m so glad I picked up.

The first half of the book moved a little slowly for me, especially compared to the quick pull I felt with WTDSS. It took some time to fully settle into the court politics, the murder mystery, and Odile’s complicated position between loyalty, guilt, and survival. But once the pieces started to fall into place, I found myself completely hooked. The payoff in the second half made the slower beginning feel worth it.

Odile and Marie’s dynamic was the real heart of the story. I loved how layered and difficult their relationship was, full of resentment, betrayal, and longing all tangled together. The sapphic tension was so well done, and I appreciated how much nuance A.B. Poranek gave to both of them as individuals too. Odile especially was such a messy, fascinating protagonist to follow.

The world had that same dark, gothic feel I loved in WTDSS full of crumbling grandeur, lingering magic, and the sense that something monstrous could be waiting just out of sight. Overall, A Treachery of Swans was a dark, beautifully written fantasy that twisted Swan Lake into something entirely its own. Not quite the same magic as Where the Dark Stands Still for me, but still a standout.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.