Unfortunately this didn’t feel YA but more middle grade to me. Perhaps in the later books that will change but for this book I struggled to hold interest. I just didn’t care for any of the characters and felt they could use more life. I think the premise is great but the pacing needs work. I think marketing could do better as to not compare to authors like Holly Black and SJM as I think that’s misleading.

Can I start for how happy I am to read this book as an ARC??? This exactly one of the reasons my love for fantasies exists. I grew up being a Swan Princess lover and the movie was one of my favorites but this Swan Princess I've read would been at the time my guide because Kiar was such a strong and well developed character that I'm beyond words after I finished this book.
First it was the fact that she was the "I don't fit here" and "If I'm not good at this I need something else to prove myself" and this is not a book where the romance is the main thing, but yes her relationship with the world and family and also her as a girl and a future queen.
I don't want to spoiler because I myself hardly read or I am convinced with reviews normally covers are more than enough and this one really got into me, this is definitly a book that I'm going to buy for my daughter. Wonderful job.

I honestly picked this ARC solely for the cover (yes, ik! Don’t come at me for that!) but overall, i liked the story! Just the small point is, i felt like some of the characters building was missing.

A swan-human was an introduction element to the book, the story plot is quite catchy and interesting. There is a kingdom politics and a strong FMC. Strong FMCs are just my thing for real now. Plus the dark magic part of it, i was reallyyy spooked out at one point!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I do not think this book was for me. The premise was great, but it was a bit underwhelming.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book as an ARC.

The idea of swan shifters is a new one to me and I really enjoyed the concept. Given that this book is intended to be the first in a trilogy there was a lot of scene setting in the first 60% of the book and the next 40% really picked up the pace. I'd hope that the next 2 in the trilogy could be action packed as the scene is already set.

Good, clean YA fantasy.

This is the first book in a new trilogy and aimed right at my sweet spot of fantasy favorites! The first half is a bit slow, but does pick up around the end and makes us intrigued for more. It's definitely YA and "clean." I could've dealt with a little more action and pacing in the first half but have fingers crossed that the series will continue to improve. Gorgeous cover and very intriguing blurb, so it may depend on the reader's most recent read and current mood as to how greatly they'll enjoy it.

This one was so hard to get through. The writing style is not for telling interesting stories. Everything fell flat. It started out so well, with a very nice premise, but there was no love for writing involved. It felt written just so someone could say "there, I wrote the damn thing". Nothing happens, everyone is boring, i did not care about any chatacter whatsoever, and I dont know how this is supposed to be a series. It read very middlegrade. I wont be reading more of this series.

The Swan Harp weaves a tale of 3 sisters, love, magic, and betrayal.

Summary: Adana, the first and pledged to the Swan Court, Kiar, the middle and heir to Valenia, and Orla, the youngest and first black swan in ages, all must come to terms with what being a swan shifter means to them, while also battling personal wants vs the good of the kingdom. Will jealousy ruin them all?


Here is what you can expect
✔️ Swan shifting
✔️magic
✔️betrayal
✔️friends to lovers

Kiar, who takes after her father, has to watch both her older and younger sister shift into swans before she does. When it's finally her turn, Kiar has to weight the pros and cons. She is next in line to the Valencia throne, and cannot risk losing herself to her swan side. Will the thrill and her love for flight win over in the end?

Orla, the youngest sister and first black swan in ages has incredible magic, but she's also overlooked time and time again when it comes to love. She harbors almost a decades worth of secret longing for her older sister's, Adana, betrothed. Will Orla be able to use her magic for the good of others, or will she take what she wants in the end?

The Kingdom of Noermark has numerous princes, two of which come calling for a betrothal in Valencia. Are their intentions true or will they scheme to take Valenia once and for all?


Overall this story is a 2 star. It felt as if two different stories were being told, starting with Kiar but ending with Orla. While I truly enjoyed the ending of the story, the book as a whole felt disjointed.

Thank you to Netgallery for this Arc!!

The swan harp, inspired by the the song "three bonny swans" is about three swan sisters, Kiar, Adana,and Orla, set in a medieval inspired kingdom.

I liked the writing style, though it did feel a bit too modern at times. The characters were.....ok at best. Kiar, despite being the heir, has nothing to suggest that she's suited for that position. She's really really naive and pretty stubborn and just makes a ton of bad decisions. The romance felt pretty underwhelming too. Ngl I was kinda shipping her and Willow tbh.

Overall if you liked Swan Lake, you'll enjoy this one.

This book has swan shifters! Something totally original and new. It’s an interesting story, that might have needed some fine tuning prior to release…

There are posts that could be left out, especially early on in the book. I don’t need to know day to day what they are all doing. Especially the parts where she is trying to keep something off her mind. It’s useless and could be easily summed up by instead having her crash on her bed after a hard days work or doing… blah blah to keep her mind clear to no avail… I know I’m not an author, and I know sometimes these comments are seen as annoying to authors. But if it’s not pertinent to the story, it makes me like it less, therefore the review goes down..

However, after the 50% mark, it did start to pick up pace and actually have things happen. Kair made a mistake and could have put their country in danger, Kair fought a prince and won, drama between the other two sisters, then the final battle with the random villain of the story. Seriously, you do not see it coming, the villain is a total secret for most of the book.

It has a good storyline, it has good visualization, grammar is good (a couple spelling mistakes, but I was reading an ARC.. it happens), just needed some fine tuning.

Thank you to Net Galley, Elizabeth Creith and Type Eighteen Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

King Tir, a human, and Queen Tianis of the Swanfolk are married to form an alliance between the Kingdom of Valenia and the Swanfolk. As their three daughters reach adulthood, they are hoping to be able to transform into swans like their mother and the other Swanfolk. Kair, the eldest is devastated when her younger sisters are able to transform before her. The story tells of the politics and alliances that form as a result of each daughters’ magic, as well as the conflicts that they also cause.

I really liked the premise of this book. The idea of the Swanfolk was an intriguing and unique concept. Each character had their own unique voice and interesting plot line. The politics and family relationships were complex, but readable and the world building constructed a unique setting around them.

The pacing felt a little inconsistent. The first 60% of the book felt slow and the world was constructed around the characters and I felt like I was waiting for the plot to happen. But the ending was fast paced and worth the patience.

It was a great YA fantasy, with an interesting concept, shapeshifting magic, interesting politics and likeable characters.

I feel fairly middle of the road with this book. It was okay: nothing horrendous but nothing special. I do think the blurb and the comps are a little misleading and fans of the authors listed may not agree that this book was 'perfect for them'. The Swan Harp feels more like reading Grimm's Fairy Tales or Hans Christian Andersen.
The book felt a little detached; the prose wasn't written in a particularly emotionally evocative way. Sad things happen, but I did not feel sad about them. It was mostly action with not very much time given to exploring the character's inner thoughts, and the characters didn't particularly have individual voices, so they didn't feel like they crossed the boundary from character into person. All this can be fine, since it does fall more in with a traditional fairy tale composition and can give a dreamy cozy feel to the book (as if you're listening to someone tell you a bedtime story, you know?), but it isn't a style that everyone will like. It can also have draw backs, most notably on the emotional impact of the story.
The plot was a slight letdown, for me. That may be because the motivation of the the main antagonist is a little thin and it wasn't built up in a way that felt satisfying. It felt a little like it came out of nowhere; not the actions on a base level, because I could have bought in on a "I did this impulsively and am now in too deep" sort of thing, but the vitriol that comes out in the confrontations had me raising my eyebrows thinking "woah where'd that come from". I think this may have been a failing of having such an emotionally distanced narrative voice. I didn't get the feel that there were big emotions at play until suddenly there was murder and blood magic happening.
Again, over all, a middling experience for me.

"Everything comes with time and work and patience. Or at least most things."


3.5✩
➸YA Clean Fantasy

Short Summary:
I was Father's heir now, and one day I'd be queen. But when I looked at Mother, Adana, and Orla and imagined flying, somehow the thought of being queen didn't comfort me.

As next in line to the throne, Kiar will be responsible for protecting the human kingdom of Valenia. The middle of three daughters of King Tir and Queen Tianis, a woman of the swanfolk, Kiar is devastated when her sisters are able to take swan form and she is not.

When three young swanfolk arrive to be fostered in the royal family, her friendship with spirited Willow and growing feelings for tall, thoughtful Tuan make her feel even more different. Her inability to change shape is not the only problem Kiar faces; the king of neighboring Noermark is determined to bring Valenia under his rule, either by force or by guile. He send his son to ask for her hand in marriage.

Facing down a human enemy is one thing, but when dark magic threatens the kingdom and tragedy pulls the family apart, it's up to Kiar and her swanfolk friends to defeat the supernatural forces before Valenia falls.

My thoughts:

This was a pretty good book! I would have given this a higher rating, but literally nothing interesting happened until like 65% in and the pacing was super confusing. Anyways, the last 35% of the book were super enjoyable and very very intriguing! I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a lot of patience :) But don't get me wrong, the wait was worth it!

✨Thank you to NetGalley, Elizabeth Creith, and the Type Eighteen Books for proving me with an ARC!✨

Blending themes of identity, loyalty and bravery with a background of political intrigue and family relations. I really enjoyed the first novel in Elizabeth Creith's upcoming trilogy. I found the characters interesting with each one having their own unique personalities and voices that make them feel three-dimensional. I also loved the world-building and I hope the next two books will expand more on the Kingdoms of Valenia and Noermark. My only issue with The Swan Harp is that the pacing is a bit uneven at points.

Overall, The Swan Harp was an interesting read that melds its themes and plot very well. I can't wait to read the rest of The Wings of Valenia Trilogy. Highly recommend if you love a fantasy series on par with Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Ross or Holly Black.

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Swan Harp" offers a blend of political intrigue, familial dynamics, and magical elements that create a compelling narrative. Kiar's struggle with her identity and her place in the royal family adds depth to the story, as does her relationships with Tuan and Willow.

However, while the world-building and character development are good, I found the pacing of the story feels uneven at times, with certain plot points rushed while others linger unnecessarily. Additionally, some aspects of the magical elements introduced in the book could have been further explored and integrated into the narrative to enhance the overall story

Overall, "The Swan Harp" is an enjoyable read with strong themes of identity, loyalty, and bravery. While it may not reach the heights of other fantasy novels in its genre, it still offers a satisfying adventure for readers looking for a mix of magic and politics in a medieval setting.

Thank you to netgalley and Elizabeth for giving me early access to this book in exchange for a honest review.

I was originally going to give it 2 stars, maybe 3 at a push, as it was a very slow start with a lot of time jumps between festivals throughout the year, and it felt like a lot of filler with nothing really happening. However, from around the midway point, it really picks up and I couldn't put it down, which really boosted my rating for this story.

This book follows three sisters; Adana, Kiar and Orla. It's told entirely from Kiar's POV, and follows her journey in training to become queen, as her older sister is to rule the swan-folk, and younger sister to become a wise-woman.
There's a lot of political intrigue in this book, and I really liked how it was handled, and seeing Kiar's journey from the middle child to being ready to become queen of her kingdom, even if it wasn't what she initially wanted. The "filler" that I criticised from the start of the book was definitely relevant when the villain is revealed, and all that's been put in place whilst they cook up their plan. I liked the villain, even if it was a little bit predictable. I liked how many steps were needed to defeat the villain too.
Overall, it's a decent enough story, and I think it could have been fleshed out a little bit more, just to give some more character development to other characters - I feel like Willow and Taun only existed to shadow Kiar, but who are they really?

I think the synopsis is a little misleading; I don't feel Kiar was struggling with her growing feelings for Tuan - it wasn't something she thought about much other than finding comfort in him, and there's nothing romantic about their relationship until the end. I feel like it's being pushed into marketing it as a romantasy, and I do feel that's a mistake just because not every book needs romance. This book has a lot of romantic drama without looking into Kiar's and Taun's relationships. The synopsis also states Kiar's "inability to change shape", which is only an issue for a very small section of the book, so again, feels irrelevant to the whole story...

I think it's interesting that it's made clear there will be at least a sequel, as all the ends seem well tied, but ok, sure? It felt like a standalone to me.
I liked it, it felt cozy, however, I'm not sure about a sequel...

4 stars - a slow start leads to an explosive finale that kept me on the edge of my seat, The Swan Harp has the makings of a brilliant series. There are some pacing issues, with the first 70% having no real action other than world-building, relationship set up and a couple of crucial points set in, the remaining 30% was gripping. It was a book of 2 halves but I really enjoyed it. The twist was fairly obvious but I enjoyed the ride getting there, with well developed characters.

Going into this book I went in completely blind other than I knew it was a fantasy with swan shifters and kingdoms. I enjoyed the world building and history within the book, even between the sisters. That being said, it was a bit slow paced getting into the book with the bulk of the action taking a while to get to. I don’t think this book is entirely for me, but would fit well with a new reader or a young adult getting into fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC and give my honest review.

Apologies to the author as I know they worked very hard ok this book and I am giving this book a 1.75 star rating.

Things I liked:
-loved the cover and that's what drew me to the book immediately
-liked the shifters as I have not read a swan shifting book before
-liked some of the worldbuilding

What did not work:

-this is a middle grade book, not young adult.
-this book is said to be for fans of Sarah J. Maas and I think that is extremely misleading for readers
-I almost DNFd this book multiple times and started it at the end of February and only finished it today (3.31.24)
-this book was so unbelievably slow like nothing happened for the bulk of the book and there were numerous filler scenes where readers were just learning what food the characters were eating
-I felt no pull to any character in this book. They all fell flat, their descriptions were beige at best, and they had no personalities
-this I don't think can be categorized as "slow burn romance". There was no actual romance until like the last 2 chapters.
-the PLOT. This was the hardest part for me and my biggest issue with this book. The plot made literally no sense. There was so much thrown into this book necessarily that when the "twist" came it felt frivolous. I still don't fully understand the actual point of this book, I have no idea how it will be a series but I will unfortunately not be reading the rest.

I think as a debut, and it's my understand this is a debut, I can give grace which is why I rated it 1.75 stars. But I don't know that I could recommend this to other people.

This was a refreshing fantasy read that felt very unique and was able to focus on family dynamics with just a little romance thrown in. LOVED that the main characters were swan shifters (maybe because I'm a Barbie Swan Lake fan??) It's cozy yet sometimes eerie. The ending really surprised me and there's going to be a book two that hopefully expands the world into the swan kingdom.