I really enjoyed this book! Very fun and unique magic system with birds, although the plot line was a conventional fantasy book. 
I enjoyed the atmospheric writing, easygoing story and can't wait to read the next. 
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn't thought i would like it as much as i did. I loved the ingenious, unique magic system involving birds that links to how the society in this book is structure. I absolutely cannot wait to find out where the story will go in the next book. It was fairytale like and it was really well done.

This book was chosen for our next #CBCReads book club and I couldn't have been more excited! I read it in about two days - as soon as I finished work I got my kindle out. IT WAS SO GOOD! I loved all the twists and turns of the plot and I so did not see what happened coming. The ending was pretty heartbreaking but I am holding onto the hope that it will all turn out okay in the next instalment (fingers crossed)!

Loved this book. Gorgeous storytelling, a beautifully described landscape and compelling characters. The writing was addictive and I couldn’t stop moving on to the next chapter. Can’t wait to see where this story goes next.

I absolutely could not wait to read this book. There was so much political intrigue in this book, it was fantastic. The characters were easy to follow and you could relate to them. Also, the plot was very intense and had many twists and turns. I will definitely be re reading this book as I could not put it down.  A five star read from me.

When Aderyn’s father dies she inherits the role of Protector of Atratys, a dominion in a kingdom where nobles are able to transform at will into the bird that represents their family bloodline. Aderyn's ancestral bird is a swan. But she has not transformed for years, not since witnessing the death of her mother. 
Whe Aderyn ventures to court for the first time in her life, she is unprepared for what awaits her, court backstabbing and politics and a plot to kill the king.  How will Aderyn survive and keep her dominion safe?

This book is full of rich world building and the character are full of character. I was immersed in the story from the beginning, I could not read it fast enough but I also didn’t want it to end! Packed full of suspense, intrigue and love. A wonderful start to this series and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Loosely based on Swan Lake the story is centered around the Young unprepared protagonist Aderyn, who becomes Protector of her Kingdom "Atratys" when her father dies unexpectedly.

Aderyn decides she must now be seen at her uncle's court, of which her Father had kept her hidden away from, for good reason.

After the tragic murder of her Mother when she was of a very young age, she was left physically and emotionally scarred. This in turn caused her to lose the ability to shift into a Swan and therefore is flightless, which has been hidden from the court. In a world where the flightless are ruled by those that can fly, Aderyn could lose Atratys to her Uncle the King.

Beautifully written I was captivated from the start. The plot is well thought out and the world building is superb.

You cant help but fall in love with the characters and enjoy their political power struggles and underlying love story.

I can't wait for the next installment and highly recommend this to anyone with a love for the Fantasy Genre.

NB I received my ARC from Netgalley and Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Katharine and Elizabeth Corr and Bonnier Zaffre / Hot Key Books for my arc of A Throne of Swans in exchange for an honest review. 

Synopsis: A dark retelling of The Swan Princess, in a world where the flightless are ruled by an elite class of humans who can turn into birds, flying means everything. But since witnessing the death of her mother when she was little Aderyn has not transformed into her swan shape for many years. Now 17 after her father's death Aderyn has become protector of her homeland of Atratys and has come to the decision its time to make her way in the world and spend some time at court. Soon she is roped into the cut throat world of the court and the plots and back stabbing within. But will it be worth it if she can finally find out the truth behind her mother's death?

I LOVED THIS BOOOK!!!! Seriously I'm so regretful that illness at the back end of 2019 has meant I had to postpone reading my netgalley arcs until now because it's delayed me getting to this one which is hands down the best book I've read in a long while!!
This story is wonderfully dark, a lot more dark than some people expected I think but perfect in my humble opinion. I loved the idea of this hierarchy of flightless and those who could fly and the perfect twist on the original story of The Swan Princess or Swan Lake I never know if they're two different things or one and the same... anyways, I always think that a good retelling is one which finds inspiration from the original but makes it wholly their own story and A Throne of Swans does this perfectly. Definitely up there as my favourite read of the year and one of my favourite reads ever!

Just finished this beauty by the fabulous @katharinecorrwrites & @lizcorrwrites ❤️ I have been waiting for this book since I heard about it and couldn’t wait to finish my last read so I could start it! I have devoured it in my excitement, but unfortunately that means I have to wait a year to find out what happens to Aderyn, Aron and Lucien 😭

I loved every second of this story, the weaving of lies and intrigue was expertly done, and the first chapter for book two has me craving more! 😍

I encourage all of you to go pick this up immediately!!! 🖤

As a big reader of YA and fantasy fiction, I was drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and blurb. I found that neither disappointed, this was an enjoyable and suspenseful read with a wonderful mix of fairy tale fantasy and romance.
There is a good mixture of political and courtly intrigue with underlying sinister intent. There is some violence but I didn't feel that it was gratuitous - I was not put off reading by it.
Overall, an good YA fantasy read, especially for fans of fairy tales

Loved the concept and adored the execution by two debut authors. A perfect mix of high fantasy with elements of a speculative nature - a must read!

Throne of Swans 

**3.5 stars** 

This story was quite entertaining... 

When Aderyn’s father dies and she decides to visit her uncle the king right after her 18’s birthday, she is warned that life at Court is not going to be easy. 

She still decides to go, accompanied by her best friend and a reluctant counsellor, driven by the need to get some answers. That’s when the story gets complicated... 

This book started slow and a bit predictable... but kept me wanting for more. The writing was entertaining and I definitely didn’t see coming some of the surprises. Towards the middle, I really could not know where the story was going or whom I was able to trust. 

The world building was interesting for me, but on the other hand I struggled a bit with the limited depth of the characters and the story itself... would have expected more out of some of the interactions. All in all, it managed to made me read it practically in a day. 

For the sake of knowing what happens next after the unexpected ending, you can count me in for the second book... 

**Thank you to Netgalley and the authors for sharing an advanced copy...

I had such a fun time reading this book. I definitely think it was a case of ‘right book at the right time’ and I’d definitely suggest you wait until the right moment to read this one. I spent a lot of last year in a bit of a YA reading slump and I think I would have liked this book a lot less had I read it at that time. However, I read this book over Christmas, having just finished a number of rather lengthy adult fantasy books and desperately in need of something a little light and relaxed. Enter A Throne of Swans to fill that role perfectly. So if you’re either not a YA fan or you’re not in the mood, perhaps wait until you’re feeling it a little more. 

I say that because this book is arguably quite clichéd, you have the young girl with magical powers who cannot use them, some love-triangle-esque elements, courts filled with politics and lies and a governing system that appears to be ignoring the people (and of course our protagonist just didn’t realise until now how bad it had become). Personally, when I read this, that was the exact kind of familiarity and ease I was looking for.

I’ve spoken recently about characters who make poor decisions, and how that can either be frustrating in a good way or in a bad way. In this case, even though she makes absolutely awful choices throughout the book, I could nevertheless understand why Aderyn was the kind of person who would make such a choice. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating to see her make choices which (to the reader) seem inherently foolish, but it does make it work within the story.

I can’t speak to how this book handled trauma from any kind of personal perspective, but I thought it was an interesting take. I’m always a little wary of any story that presents some kind of ‘magical cure’ to the main character’s problems. I appreciated that this book at least attempted to show that actually dealing with and healing from past trauma requires more than a quick fix. I’m not sure it totally pulled it off, it still felt a little bit ‘just think your way out of it’ but it wasn’t as terrible as other depictions of ‘blocked magic’ I’ve read in the past. Inevitably when writing a book such as this where magic is prevalent in society you come up against this ‘well couldn’t magic just fix that’ problems and it’s always interesting to see how various authors handle it. 

I’ll be looking forward to seeing how the second book in this duology turns out. I think I’ll be looking out for more of an exploration of privilege - which is touched on in this book but could be developed further, and either a firm commitment to the romance (and then make the book more of a romance focussed story) or steering away from romance and focussing in on the world and the politics (I’m not sure this kind of story can handle doing both well). Either way, I’ll be reading it! 

My rating: 3/5 stars

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

A Throne of Swans is out now!

One of my bookish goals for 2020 is to read more fantasy, so what better way to start the year off then by reading the highly anticipated A Throne of Swans by writing duo Katharine and Elizabeth Corr? I had heard a lot of early hype surrounding this book, so I was very much looking forward to getting into it.

A Throne of Swans follows Aderyn, who after the death of her father is made the Protector of Atratys, a country within a kingdom, where nobles are able to transform into the species of bird that represents their family bloodline. Aderyn’s bird is a swan, but she hasn’t been able to transform since witnessing the death of her mother, who was ripped apart by hawks, thought to be extinct. Driven by revenge and the quest for truth, Aderyn must venture into the heart of the kingdom to find out what really happened in the attack on her mother and to fight for her home.

This was a real unique, interesting fantasy that had so many elements that I enjoy within this genre. I loved the idea of nobles being able to transform into birds, and just found it so magical and captivating to read about. The way it’s described is just breathtaking and so beautifully captured in writing. The world building as well, was so well done, and you found out bits about this world in little chunks instead of having a big info dump at the start. In some fantasy novels this can happen, but with A Throne of Swans I felt that you got all the right details at the right time in the story. A lot of work must have been put into creating the world of Atratys, and for that I commend the authors.

Aderyn, was a main character that took me a while to take a liking to. At first, I found her to be naive and impulsive, it was as if she did things before really taking the time to think about them. However, as the story progressed, her character did too, and by the end I found myself rooting for her. She grew from this somewhat bratty, stroppy teen, to a fully fledged heroine, willing to fight for her kingdom. Which is admirable.

The plot, I found was a little bit slow to start off and I was left wondering when the action was going to kick off. However, once it got going it was very fast-paced with lots of mystery intertwined within. The drama within the court, mixed in with the politics made for really intriguing reading and I ended up wanting to know more as I came to the end of the book. The ending, despite wrapping up nicely, left you eager to find out more about Aderyn and her journey, and I will be highly anticipating the sequel.

Overall, A Throne of Swans was an original fantasy, that was both compelling and enchanting all in one. I have a good feeling that this is going to be a highly sought after series and I cannot wait to read book two.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre/Hot Key Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Throne of Swans’ by Katharine Corr and Elizabeth Corr in exchange for an honest review. As I began reading after the publication date I bought its ebook/audiobook combination.

This is the first in a duology set in the Kingdom of Solanum. Its nobles have the ability to shape-shift at will into the bird that represents their family bloodline. After the death of her father seventeen-year-old Aderyn inherits the role of Protector of Atratys. Aderyn's ancestral bird is a swan, yet since witnessing the brutal death of her mother some years previously she hasn’t been able to transform. 

Her uncle is currently the king and as she is now closer in line of succession, Aderyn has to present herself to the royal court. It is of vital importance that she conceals her inability to transform in order to protect herself and the sovereignty of Atratys. 

She hopes to discover the truth behind the attack on her mother by hawks that were believed to be extinct since the War of the Raptors. She quickly discovers that the royal court is a dangerous place, brimming with intrigues. 

Although this was marketed as Teen & YA, I feel that it is the kind of fantasy that will appeal to lovers of the genre of all ages. I have long been fascinated by bird lore and so was intrigued by the premise of this novel.

I was very quickly swept up in Aderyn’s story. The world-building and descriptions were breathtaking. I adored it and would strongly recommend. The Prologue for its 2021 follow-up, ‘A Crown ofTalons’, is included and I can hardly wait.

Meanwhile, I have purchased the first in their ‘The Witch’s Kiss’ series.

This was my first book by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr so I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm really pleased that I ended up adoring the story. Inspired by Swan Lake, the narrative evoked a fairytale-esque atmosphere. In a country where the elite can shapeshift into ancestral birds, society is divided into those with the ability to fly and those without. Status depends purely on this one characteristic and it was thought-provoking to explore the effects of segregation and the ruthless treatment often visited upon the flightless.

I loved the political intrigue and deadly games woven throughout the story. It was never obvious who could be trusted and who was spinning a web of lies. The pacing was perfect and kept me engaged from beginning to end. In fact, I ended up reading this in almost one sitting as I found it too engrossing to put down. Aderyn is the main character, a member of the ruling elite who is unable to shapeshift due to physical and psychological trauma. Aderyn was stubborn, passionate and naïve but I loved her because of her flawed yet bold personality. Her interactions with the arrogant and handsome Lucien developed into a romantic relationship that had me fully invested (however, the ending of this book has me so worried for them!).

Aron was probably my other favourite character. As a prince who loses his ability to fly, his status is very ambiguous. I'd have loved some chapters from his point of view, simply because of his unique persepctive. I'm looking forward to seeing how his storyline progresses in the final book of this duology. A Throne of Swans conjures a story of courtly intrigue, romance, and shapeshifting, whilst also exploring issues such as segregation and trauma, all while keeping the reader engaged from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend this book unreservedly to any fantasy fan. With the scene set for the rebellion of the flightless, and the unresolved relationship of Aderyn and Lucien, A Crown of Talons looks set to be one of my most-anticipated books of 2021.

I really loved this book! I loved that this is a Swan Lake retelling and the world building was honestly magical. I loved that characters in the story were able to transform into birds that represent different families it was intriguing and totally unique which i appreciated.

This book was also much darker than I thought it would be at first. I loved the pace and felt constantly in suspense and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
The main character was very relatable and I really enjoy her story. I will definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out because I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I honestly couldn’t reccomend this book enough guys so make sure and grab a copy.

Gorgeous and magical, A Throne of Swans transports the reader to a world of shape-shifting and intrigue.

Best read when you want to go on a flight of fantasy and imagination.

I rarely read high fantasy books, but the beautiful cover and premise of A Throne of Swans, appealed to me immediately. Swan Lake is a favourite of mine, it’s beautiful and theatrical. Though a completely different story, this book has transforming swans and is engrossing and lyrical.

While reading this book, I had flashes from memory of a film from my childhood, Ladyhawke. In Ladyhawke, a curse is placed on a woman and her lover, she is transformed into a hawk each day. This book had the same sense of adventure, sweet romance and people transforming into birds.

The reader is introduced to Aderyn, Protector of Atratys, after the death of her father. The nobility of Atratys transform into their ancestral birds – including hawks, ravens and rooks. But Aderyn is the only swan and since the horrific incident that killed her mother, she is unable to transform. This already makes her seem weak and puts her at the mercy of the brutal King, her uncle.

Aderyn goes to King’s court in Citadel to protect the land and people of Atratys, and in the process, she tries to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. For her journey, she is accompanied by Lucien Rookwood, her advisor on all matters of the court, a feisty and handsome companion and maid and childhood friend, Letya. At court, she is unsure who she can trust – flightless cousin Prince Aron, Princess Odette or Odette’s betrothed, Siegfried Redwing?

Court is full of politics and hidden dangers, with little disregard for the flightless people of the Kingdom. Aderyn has to do everything within her power to protect herself and the Kingdom.

The reader is drawn into the fictional world immediately and the lively, colourful and flawed characters allow us to see the rich landscape of the Kingdom through their eyes and experiences. There is adventure, danger, romance and distrust at every turn of the story. Aderyn is not always the best judge of character and is impulsive, making it very fun for the reader. The complex strands of Aderyn and the Kingdom’s past are woven together in a beautiful and exciting story.

I loved A Throne of Swans and I can’t wait to see what happens to Aderyn and the cast of characters in the next instalment of the fantasy trilogy.

To conclude, Elizabeth and Katherine have once again come together to create a spellbinding story with lovable characters that entertain and enthrall the reader, just like they did with The Witch’s Kiss trilogy.

4 stars 

I was so excited about this book and although it didn't quite hit my expectations, I still really really enjoyed it.
I am a massive lover of birds and merging with my love of YA fantasy, this book was always going to appeal to me. I wish I could transform into a bird!
The worldbuilding was really interesting and the inclusion of the map and family tree was helpful. The elite having the powers and the poor not having any is not a new idea, however the different houses and the ideas behind the transformation into birds was wonderful. As a bird lover, I also loved the use of bird names and latin names.
The storyline was really good and held my attention. The book was well written and didn't have the feeling of two voices which the books of dual authors often do. It was seamless.
The characters are sadly where I lost my way a little. Aderyn was naive, flighty and childish and I wanted to physically shake her! And yes, this is part of her character's journey but I think her naivety was taken a little too far. Siegfried was an obvious villain, too obvious for my liking with his threats and manipulation. I however really liked Lucien and Aron who had good depth and interesting features about them. I am hoping the next book has a slightly more grown up Aderyn which the prologue at the end seemed to suggest.
It was a good start to the series and I look forward to reading the sequel and learning more about this world. 

Thank you to Darkroom tours, netgalley and Readers First for gifting this book to me in exchange for an honest review.

A thrilling read, I enjoyed the new take on fantasy here. I thought the world building was really good, the characters were well developed and relatable, the story was fast paced and lots of twists to keep you guessing. A Throne of Swans feels really fresh, interesting and is a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy. Looking for something new to devour , jump in here , I wasn’t disappointed at all, I loved it and I can’t wait for the sequel 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion