I read and loved my first Katy Regnery book in 2014, and I'm happy to find that her storytelling and writing skills have only improved over time. Swan Song is numbered among her "Modern Fairy tale" series, and while it certainly has fairy tale aspects, it's a thoroughly modern story that deals with contemporary issues. Vaughn works hard at a menial job and barely makes enough to get by, and Sasha's family has sacrificed for her to pursue her ballet career, where the threat of injury lurks constantly in the wings. Two people from entirely different worlds fall in love, but then the precarious balance they've found together is torn apart when Vaughn finds himself returned to the opulent existence he'd been kidnapped from as a young child. The evil villain in this modern day fairy tale turns out to the head-turning decadent lifestyle Vaughn, now renamed Ivan, loses himself in, and it's only a chance re-encounter with Sasha that helps him wake from his wealth-mare. Replete with snatches of poetry, music, and ballet, Swan Song is a beautiful book that delivers the same joy a lovely bedtime story with a happily-ever-after brought us as children.

I haven't read a book by Katy Regnery in awhile. I will definitely be going back to pick up what I've missed. She writes with heart. I absolutely loved this book. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all rolled together. So many emotions were pulled from me as I read. I didn't want to put it down. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

2⭐️

The writing and the story are there! I just couldn’t connect with the characters (but that’s MY experience).

Swan Song is a beautiful story. I loved how our main characters first connected through poetry and books. The love story aspect of the book was greatly executed. I wish we could’ve seen how Vaughn went from the Vaughn we meet in the first half of the book to the Vaughn 5 years later. I think that would’ve hit harder and knowing his thoughts and how he dealt with everything INTERNALLY would’ve made me feel more for him or maybe I would’ve understood him better.

Overall, this book kept me entertained and I would recommend it because every experience is different.

Having read Katy Regnery's other modern fairytales, I was excited to see she had written another one. I was immediately pulled in with the story of 4-year-old Ivan but then I must admit there were times I didn't like grown-up Ivan! This retelling of the story of the Ugly Duckling was great way to bring the fairy tale into modern times. Sasha and Vaughn were just one of those couples that you really wanted for them to get a Happily Ever After, and they did!

This is book nine in A Modern Fairytale ( The Ugly Duckling) and it is Vaughn and Sasha’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. When Vaughn ( Ivan ) was four years old he was kidnapped and taken from his wealthy family only to be sold, neglected, abandoned and abused he later left the foster system and lived with people that had been really good to him but he never knew love of any kind so he was a loner without any friends and just carried on with his life alone feeling that he was unlovable so now he works ats a janitor at the Kennedy centre where he kept his head down and just did his job but the first time that he saw Sasha he felt something for the first time in his life. Sasha had worked hard all her life for her position of a ballet dancer in washington DC and she rehearsed and danced at The Kennedy Centre hoping to make her life better while moving up in the ranks. Vaughn and Sasha meet and become friends and the more time that they spend together and encourage each other they eventually fall in love but then Vaughn’s past catches up with him which separates them and breaks the future that they were both hoping for but will there love be strong enough so that they can find there way back to each other or is it already too late for them because of Vaughn living a totally different life and becoming a different person. This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of so many emotions and you will feel everything that they are going through as if you were there living through it all with them and there are twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting because it was so addictive and the storyline pulled you in and had you turning the pages to see what would happen next and also what the outcome would be for Vaughn and Sasha in the end. This book is so inspirational with a love that stood the test of time and even with all the ups and downs that Vaughn and Sasha had to go through I am really happy they got the future that they both wanted and deserved. I definitely recommend you read this book and you will not be disappointed.

wow the level of emotional depth to both the stories and the characters in it was breathtaking. i love the retelling side to this, stunning. i cant believe i have missed these books. how have i possibly missed these books!? this book is tough on the heart and tough on our characters story. there journey to one another and for one another is a strength, its a hope, its love in all its beautiful hopeful self.
the unshed tears i have for this book was all you need to know at just where you will find yourself when reading. but my my my you wont regret doing so.
this book is a retelling of the ugly duckling. Sasha and Vaughns story is brought to life with such delicate and tender detail it feels like them and their lives is throwing you through the pages with your heart in your throat. their love is often put to the test but their love is never ending and never ceases to show what true love can do. the power of it, the hope of it, the ability it has to see you through anything. and when you find it you find a strength in yourself that is all encompassing and often is the thing that can get you through everything life puts in your path.
for this telling we have Vaughn who is a janitor working in a theatre. hes had such a hard time of it, bless him. his childhood was nothing but traumatic and hes now living a life that feels empty. his life now feels worthless, he feels worthless. what is the point in being on the planet anymore? but when he sees Sasha there is something in her that starts to light the glimmer in him. its starts to shine again. its starts to give him hope again.
Sasha is a beautiful soul. shes up for the part of lead ballet dancer and its all she ever wanted. when she meets Vaughn something shifts in her soul. something lights up. her connection to this man is one of boldness that she has never felt before.
but these two journeys are not easy. there are times when they are both going to have to search inside themselves to see if what they are doing is what they both truly want and need. this is very apparent when the Vaughns birth family come back into his life. its takes him far away from his current life and away from this new light in his life. away from Sasha. as time goes on they keep coming and crossing eachother and each time there is something, something there, something like an anchor in each of them for one another and to one another.
this book is so so so full of every emotional possible. its held my heart in its grip and didnt let go.
this story is a beautiful one. i cant believe how Katy managed to get this book so very very right. its hitting every note perfectly.

Swan Song is the first book I've read in "A Modern Fairytale" retelling series, and it definitely won't be my last. After reading this book, I'm determined to read the previous books in this series. This one however, did not disappoint at all. I absolutely loved Ivan/Vaughn and Sasha's story. I don't want to give anything away, but this is a story that had me hooked from the very beginning and I loved every page of it. This one took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride because although there were parts that were frustrating this story was also beautiful. It was an epic love story filled with heartbreaking, hopeful, loving, swoon worthy, angst filled, forgiveness and so much more. It's a story I think all romance readers can appreciate and it's one I'll be recommending to all of my romance book loving friends.

Swan Song by Katy Regnery kind of broke me—in the best way. It’s not your typical love story. It’s quiet, emotional, and a little haunting. The kind of book that sneaks up on you and makes you feel things you didn’t expect.

The main girl, Swan, doesn’t speak, and honestly, her silence is powerful. You feel everything through her eyes and actions, and it just hits different. Then there’s Callahan—he’s rough around the edges but has this gentle way about him when it comes to her. Their connection feels so earned, like it wasn’t rushed or cheesy—it just builds and you find yourself rooting for them hard.

This book isn’t all sunshine, though. There’s a lot of pain in their pasts, and some of it is pretty heavy. But it never feels hopeless. It’s more like watching two people slowly find light again.

It’s not a fast-paced read, but I honestly didn’t mind. The vibe is super emotional and atmospheric—kind of like curling up with a sad song that still comforts you. If you like deep, slow-burn, emotional reads with characters that feel real, you’ll probably love this.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Beautifully written modernized version of the classic story. But don’t let the cover fool you, it’s not the ballerina as the duckling but a young man. He had an unfortunate childhood that shaped into him into a thoughtful caring man. It’s only when his true family shows up that he realizes his identity. He goes through a lot as he evolves, mostly with help from Sasha the ballerina. Their story is sweet, tragic, and beautiful. My review has been provided voluntarily after reading an early copy.

Swoon! I fell in love with this book! It truly felt like reading a modern day fairytale.

The characters were so good and I loved the romance here. It was so sweet and romantic!

The plot was interesting from the start and kept me intrigued until the end.

The writing drew me in too. I highlighted many quotes and descriptions.

A wonderful romance! Will need to check out the other books in the series. Highly recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings.

What an absolutely breathtaking story! And wow, did it deliver all the feels. I usually steer clear of angsty reads, so it’s been a while since I’ve experienced a romance with this level of emotional depth.

From the very first pages, I was captivated by the richly developed characters. I fell in love with them almost instantly and quickly became deeply invested in their lives and futures. I had no idea where the author was going to take me, and every twist along the way was unexpected, each one pulling at my heartstrings in a new way. The character development continues beautifully throughout the story, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

While the steam level is low, the romance is tender and compelling. Watching this couple fall in love, through all the struggles and imperfections, was both moving and addictive. Their journey toward a happily ever after was anything but easy. There are definitely moments that feel dark or hint at questionable moral choices, but they add to the intensity of the story rather than taking away from the romance.

The ending, though, one of the most satisfying I’ve read in a long time. It reminded me just how powerful an emotionally rich, slightly angsty romance can be. I didn’t realize how much I missed this kind of story until now.

I love an enjoyable fairytale retelling and when I saw this 😍

When you catch sight of someone and just know that they’re going to be in your life - the immediate connection between Sasha and Vaughn/Ivan is intense and enduring, despite a long separation due to Vaughn being reunited with his family, losing himself briefly, and finding what he values again.

Longing, passion, redemption, and love, *Swan Song* has these in spades (a necessary fyi interjection - the spice is nonexistent - there is a sex scene but there’s zero spice to it, imo). Lack of spice aside, this kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed my reading of this and would read Ms Regnery’s other works.



Thank you to Katharine Gilliam Regnery and NetGalley for the DRC

Holy smokes this book was so good. The emotions are off the charts and I’m pretty sure I cried a few times. Sasha and Vaughn are what forever looks like when you’ve found the one!

Sasha and Vaughn’s friendship grew in a not so normal way. They started out as unlikely friends but that friendship turned into more, but the world had other plans and they were soon separated. A speration that spanded years and when Sasha sees her Vaughn again he’s a changed man and her heart fears it’ll never be the same.

I loved that the book is sperated into 3 parts and how each part shows us who the characters are now because you can really get a feel for their growth. I loved this fairytale rendition and it did an amazing job balancing out the emotional with some light and funny moments.