Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This is a beautiful sapphic fantasy with political intrigue, scheming and magic. There are twists in this book, some predictable and some blew my mind. The ending was not what I expected and I reallyyyyy want to know what happens next if there’s a book 2.

This is perfect for fans of an anti-heroine who’s not always likeable, but is witty and strategic keeping you on your toes wondering what she will do next. I really did end up liking our FMC though as the story went on, she’s complex and imperfect. It felt like a retelling of the swan princess and I liked that, it had some darker points than I expected, but it really is worth the read.

I really enjoyed this book, was a little slow in parts but then it quickly turned itself around and the story itself though a retelling was unique, fun and magical. The ending was a little rushed however it was never the less the perfect ending!

*I received an eARC via Netgalley*
A sapphic Swan Lake retelling? I ran to request this. As a lover of YA fantasy and retellings I knew before reading this would be a great book for me and it did not disappoint. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil anything, but it was very interesting reading 1st person pov of a character who isn't the swan. This was really unique, I loved the clear inspiration of the original story along with the new ideas. There is a lot that happens in this book it's entertaining and captivating from the first chapter. There level of mystery in this story will keep you guessing throughout. The world building and character backgrounds are interesting without being complex to the point of interrupting the flow of the story. Cannot recommend this enough.

Gosh, this was absolutely fabulous! I adored Poranek’s debut novel last year — even the ending which ripped out my heart! So I was really excited going into A Treachery of Swans because I already knew Poranek’s writing style and storytelling were wonderful, but the premise of her sophomore novel is so incredibly unique. From the very beginning, I was hooked, from the worldbuilding to the decadent writing style, but ultimately I just adored Odile, our main character. I was a bit hesitant when I realised we wouldn’t get Marie’s POV and everything was solely from Odile’s but I was quickly proved wrong when I realised just how funny, witty, dark and cunning she was. Truly, she was the star of the show for me. She broke my heart at times, I wanted to cry for her and everything she’d been through (and I eventually did lol). The romance between Odile and Marie was truly so lovely I really enjoyed it, especially the imagery of the white swan and the black, that they were each other’s foils and greatest loves.

The plot itself was perfectly paced and I was really intrigued by it. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overly complicated that I wouldn’t be able to understand it but still layered enough it didn’t feel predictable or lazy. And the ending??? Poranek really knows how to rip your heart out, huh? Kinda scared for whatever she releases next but I’m so here for it! Sign me up :)

A Treachery of Swans honestly and truly blew me away. I’m going to try to put how this book made me feel into words- so bear with me.
There is something about gothic books, especially gothic retellings that just give such an immersive atmosphere. A.B Poranek painted such a vivid and enthralling picture of the scene- that when I close my eyes tonight, I feel like I could truly be there. Be it in the palace, at the lake or at the theatre house.
One of my favourite things is when our main character is morally grey. Don’t get me wrong. I love a morally grey love interest as much as the next gal- but there’s something about watching your heroine trying to be good that is so satisfying. It’s so subversive and human. Odile was both wonderful and dreadful at the same time.
Overall the writing was exquisite, it was moody and enrapturing. The characters were engaging and dynamic. But the mood, the mood was what stole the show for me. I urge you to read this book on vibes alone- I swear it’ll leave you with a certain “je ne sais quoi.”

I absolutely loved where the dark stands still by A. B Poranek. So I was so excited to read her next book early. I must say I loved this one jsut as much. The author has such a way with words. I cant wait to read more of her books!

Not my favourite but an interesting and quick read. The writing was good and easy to follow and the characters and plot fun, but I personally didn't love them. If you are on the fence about reading this book I would suggest giving it ago.

In a Treachery of Swans, we follow Odile who has been trained by her father to undertake a mission to steal an enchanted crown to bring magic back to the lands. The plan, however, is complicated by a murder and Odile is forced to seek the help of Marie, the princess she has been impersonating.

This is a YA sapphic retelling of Swan Lake and is compulsively readable. I was immediately drawn into the world and didn’t want to put the book down. I enjoyed both the intrigue and plot twists alongside the development of the relationships between the main characters.

A wonderful mix of magic, mystery and fairytale. Magic users or sorciers in this world have gold blood and have been banished after the queen of magic cursed the world and this is the story of what happened a couple of hundred years after that. There is betrayal, royal courts, intrigue, righting of wrongs from the past, I thought it was excellent, my main complaint is that it set up for a sequel so well and then along came the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my review. All opinions are my own.

Swan Lake is my favourite ballet and I have loved all of its depictions such as Barbie of Swan Lake and The Swan Princess. When I learnt of this book I was so excited to read it!

Raised by a sorcerer, Odile has spent years preparing for the heist of a lifetime. It’s perfectly simple: impersonate a princess, infiltrate the palace, steal the enchanted crown and restore magic to the kingdom.

But when the King is unexpectedly murdered, she’s forced to recruit the help of Marie, the real princess, and the two begin to unravel a web of lies and deceit that leaves Odile uncertain of whom to trust.

Firstly, what I enjoyed about this book is that we were told the story through Odile’s eyes and not Odette’s. I liked being inside her head while she was undercover and loved all her little comments about certain characters.

Secondly, the author’s writing was so beautiful and atmospheric. I loved all of the small details, such as each chapter being a “scene” and the last page ending with “FIN”.

The only gripe I have, is about the ending… while yes I was happy with the happy ever after in the epilogue, I did think the way it was playing out was that we were working our way to a sequel and I was excited at the thought of a second book. So I was a little bit disappointed that Odette was saved and the book was a standalone!

Also, I am so glad that this is a true YA book with no sex involved, so I can truly recommend this to students at my school. Only thing worth mentioning is murder and violence.

I am definitely going to go and read Where The Dark Stands Still by this author!

Again, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for allowing me to read this arc.

A beautiful retelling of Swan Lake, centering the villain rather than the hero.

Odile is a Sorcier, a magic-user, in Auréal, where magic is outlawed. Her adoptive father, Regnault, has been preparing her for the mother of all heists for years, so they can bring back magic to the kingdom. She needs to go undercover as Marie d'Odette d'Auvigny, get the Dauphin to fall in love with her, and steal the crown. No big deal. What could possibly go wrong?

I really enjoyed this book. I don't know that I've ever read a Swan Lake retelling before, and I really enjoyed that it was something different. The vibes and setting are reminiscent of the Phantom of the Opera (and another story I won't name because it would be a spoiler). The writing is beautifully layered and atmospheric, the characters and love story felt real and nuanced, and were the highlight of the novel for me. The plot itself is good, the Swan Lake story but different, with sub-plots of court intrigue and murder, sapphic love and familial relationships. I also very much appreciate that it's a YA novel that really is for and about young adults, even if I am a tad old for it these days. The marketing for this one is spot on (which is not always the case), so honestly, if it sounds like something you'd enjoy reading, you'll probably enjoy reading it!

Many thanks to Penguin Random House for letting me read an eARC of this via Netgalley!

Having read and absolutely loved Where the Dark Stands Still, I was so excited (and scared) for this book.

This is a Swan Lake retelling in a world where magic is outlawed, but some magic users want to take their power back.

Odile is one such magic user and her adoptive father has taught her a lot of lessons, the first being don't let them see you bleed. As for a Sorcier, this will reveal you with your golden blood.

Odiles father has a plan, for her to impersonate a princess and steal the crown... simple right...

...But can Odile choose between the only family she's ever known, or the new connections she just might find....

I loved this book a lot! The setting was lush and the magic system was good. The connections between the characters and the twists kept me interested for sure!

Out on 26 June, thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the review copy. All opinions my own

A beautiful, unforgettable read

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. I loved this! I couldn’t stop reading — I was completely gripped. The characters are so interesting and intriguing; I just wanted to keep learning more about them. The world-building is captivating, and the writing is beautiful. This is definitely a book I’ll remember and recommend. It’s a different kind of fantasy — more character-driven and atmospheric than fast-paced, which I really enjoyed.

My only small issue was the epilogue — I was a bit confused by how everything was wrapped up in a single chapter, especially since the one before it felt like it was setting up a second book. That said, it didn’t take away from how much I loved the journey overall. A really special read.

A B Poranek takes the gothic classic Swan Lake and ups the magic and romance and it's just gorgeous.

In Odile and Marie, Poranek has created two exceptional characters, whose diametric opposition is the perfect foil for the story, painting them as the black and white swans of the tale. I adored the boundary blurring and the subversion of the 'delicate' white swan being the physically strong character. The sapphic romance was well-realised and had the perfect slow burn, while carefully side-stepping a lot of the tropes often seen in wlw romances in fiction.

The gleaming cherry on top of this was the writing - gloriously vivid, lush and romantic, it felt like reading something esoteric and ancient that gleams with power and atmosphere.

I adored it and can't wait to see more from the author.

A gorgeously gothic, romantic and enchanting retelling of Swan Lake. It was so immersive and the mystery had me hooked right away. Five stars.

This gothic, sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, laced with Phantom of the Opera vibes, completely enchanted me. The writing is gorgeously atmospheric, weaving a haunting, elegant tone that perfectly suits the story’s darker edges.

The worldbuilding and magic system felt seamlessly tied to the narrative and aesthetic, creating a setting that was both eerie and enchanting. The mystery kept me turning pages, with twists I definitely didn’t see coming.

The characters were compelling, and I really enjoyed their interactions - especially Odile, who had such layered complexity. Her shared history with Marie gave their present relationship such depth and tension; I was fully invested in every moment between them.

Also... I would absolutely devour a spin-off about the Dauphin and Odile’s brother. Just putting that wish out into the universe.

A TREACHERY OF SWANS - AB PORANEK

It must be said: I'm having the best reading month, and that's largely due to the amazing ARCs I've read. A Treachery of Swans is the latest, and this book is another solid five-star read for me.

This book is a combination of all my favourite things: it's a retelling, it reads like a gothic fairytale, there's forbidden magic and a cast of entirely relatable characters. I loved it.

On the retelling side, it's a twist on Swan Lake, as well as heavily theatrical touches from The Phantom of the Opera (my favourite musical). Odile has been raised by a sorcerer and tasked with a mission to steal an important artefact that will help restore magic for good. As the title suggests, deception comes into play and Odile must decide who she ultimately trusts.

I loved Odile as much as I loved Marie, who is the white swan in this retelling. I actually found all the characters completely believable, making it easy to become swept up and away with this action-filled tale. Sprinkle in some truly monstrous beasts, redemption, plot twists and a perfect ending - as you can tell, I was completely sold.

Thank you to AB Poranek, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 26 June 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: d*ath, injury detail, toxic relationships

3.5⭐️. In this Swan Lake retelling, Odile lives in a world where magic has been absent for two hundred years, leaving the land cursed and dying. Working for her adopted father, Odile plans to impersonate Marie, a young noble woman she once knew when they both were girls, infiltrate the palace by winning the affections of the prince, and steal the enchanted crown. In doing so, she and her father intend to bring magic back to the realm.

However, when the King gets killed, Odile’s mission becomes more complicated and she must rely on Marie, her one-time friend who she has recently double crossed. As her feelings for Marie grow, Odile must choose between putting her trust in her father, or having faith in Marie.

This was my first book by this author, and I think she did a really good job of creating an interesting world and a fast moving plot. However, it read just a little too YA for my personal taste and I was left wanting just a little bit more (e.g., in terms of character development and motivations etc). And while I think Odile was a good protagonist, it was hard for me to relate to her when she read as young as she did. That being said, I would definitely recommend this book for those looking for a good, YA fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

This was a fun retelling of Swan Lake with sapphic rep and lots of atmospheric writing and elaborate details.

The mystery was intriguing and had me guessing for a bit. I don't know Swan Lake very much at all myself, but I think this was probably a creative twist on it with its own lore and magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an early copy of this book, my views are my own.

As a kid I adored the film The Swan Princess - the song at the beginning where the Prince and Odette grow up together and hate each other till suddenly she’s beautiful and he falls in love with her in the most shallow way is hilarious and I still search for it on YouTube every now and then.

Hearing that this book was basically Swan Lake mashed with The Swan Princess but make it gay? It’s like they marketed it to me directly!

The romances throughout the book feel slow and realistic, without an overbearing angst side plot which was actually refreshing - I didn’t need to know how homophobic this world was to enjoy the developing attraction. There’s a theme of books usually driving home the “THIS IS WRONG” aspect of being gay that the main couple have to fight against to declare their love. It gets boring sometimes. This book just left the roadblock at differing class levels and sides of the battle, which to me was plenty.

I also really found it refreshing that this book didn’t contain another of the hundreds of sarcastic, attractive, bad boys out there. A great lead man can also have anxiety and be good to a fault, and not be remotely interested in the leading woman. Aimé was a breath of fresh air, and felt incredibly solid as a person. No characters in this book fell flat, the only one coming close was maybe the Regent, but he wasn’t on the page enough to bug me.

I didn’t know before I read this whether the book was a standalone or the beginning to a series, so when the ending came about it gave the impression that it was leading into a sequel, then turned right around and slapped me with a solid ending to a single book.

I was surprised, but also I don’t think it made me dislike the ending at all - it felt very fairytale vibes and a nice way to end the story. Though a little bit of me was disappointed that I don’t get more out of this universe and characters, but I’ll forgive it this one time!

Overall this was a lovely and tense book filled with longing and betrayal and magic - it wasn’t quite perfect for me (the ineffable vibes that make something a five star for me didn’t arrive), but I loved it.