This is a beautifully written YA fantasy inspired by Swan Lake. I was drawn to the book by the intriguing title and stunning cover ❤️ I love Matthew Bourne's ballet of Swan Lake, and so decided to give this story a try.

The narrative voice is great - superbly confident, and with a touch of humour. The opening chapter is beguiling. As a reader, I felt in safe hands. I liked the echo of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes in the opening salvo: "They will tell the story, later, of the white swan and the black, but they will tell it wrong" ("I bet you think you know this story, you don't...").

This is a substantial book and unfortunately I didn't feel emotionally invested enough for it to sustain interest for 400 pages - even though it was very good quality writing, I found myself skimming. The ballet performances that I've seen of Swan Lake are sometimes confusing in terms of plot, but there is an exquisite emotional atmosphere which keeps me hooked. 'A Treachery of Swans' has its own story to tell, and is beautifully written, but somehow - despite all the components being there - I wasn't enchanted. This might just be me though - the reviews show that many readers have really loved it.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

3*
I enjoyed this book enough but ultimately decided not to finish at 42% because I just didn't feel like the intended audience. It didn't have the depth I prefer. I think this would be a great read for the teen/YA market and I'm sure it will do well.

Did someone say dark fantasy, sapphic swan lake retelling?

This was an absolute MASTERPIECE. The plot? The tension? The characters? The yearning? All absolutely impeccable.

After reading "Where The Dark Stands Still", I knew A.B. Poranek would be a firm favourite author of mine and let me tell you, this only strengthened that.

A.B. Poranek did a fantastic job of keeping a gothic, tense and dark atmosphere. I was really sucked into the world in such a way that i could almost feel the environment around by the way it is described and framed.

The premise was amazing and it was executed so brilliantly. I really didn't want to put this down but when i did, I found myself unable to stop thinking about this book and I had the insatiable urge to be back in the story(especially when I was meant to be sleeping.).

I found the pacing to be unusual but in a way that actually added a layer to the story. Overall, i felt the pacing reflected a crescendo, beginning slower, there was less "action" and more build up before it reaches a peak where tension is high and a chain of events are set of rapidly. It added excitement and adrenaline into my reading experience With the book being Swan Lake themed, this really felt like it added depth due to it's musical connotations. I'm unsure if this was intentionsl on the authors part but it worked so incredibly well and I adored it.

The characters were completely fleshed out with so much depth and backstory. I found them loveable (or hateable, in the best way), frustrating, flawed and real. Many times within my reading experience, i found myself on edge and unsure of who i could trust and it really added to the experience. I also loved how the story was told via one POV, it added to the story a lot and I think this is a book that benefits hugely from not using many points of view.

I felt connected to the world and the characters in ways I can't quite explain. Almost as though i had known them for years and was seeing them for the first time in a long time. It felt like coming home, in a sense. The underlying romantic elements were also a big plus in my books, it was filled with complexity, history, yearning, denial and soft love - even if the characters didn't know what to do with those feelings.

This book ripped me to shreds and built me back up multiple times. I absolutely cannot recommend this enough and I am so excited for release so I can get my hands on a physical copy of this masterpiece.

If you’ve ever wanted Swan Lake retold with high-stakes palace intrigue, forbidden magic, and a sapphic slow-burn romance you can really root for then A Treachery of Swans will be your next favorite escape.

From the very first page, A.B. Poranek drops you into a world where magic has been silenced and survival means playing a dangerous game. You’re following Odile, a sharp, clever girl raised by a sorcerer and trained to impersonate royalty and pull off an impossible heist. The plan? Steal a crown, bring back magic, change the world.

Sounds straightforward, right? It absolutely isn’t.

When the King is suddenly murdered, everything goes off the rails. The tension spikes. Odile ends up teaming up with Princess Marie d'Odette - who was supposed to be her mark, not her ally and the story pivots from a solo mission into a tangled web of secrets, shifting loyalties, and very real feelings. Watching Odile navigate love and purpose in equal measure is honestly one of the best parts of this book.

What I personally loved is how layered the characters are. Odile isn’t just some brooding anti-heroine on a redemption arc. She’s vulnerable, messy, determined. Marie isn’t just a soft, naive royal either, there’s depth to her resilience and her kindness. Together, they carry a dynamic that’s as emotionally gripping as it is romantic.

Whether you’re here for the magic, the romance, or just a really good character-driven fantasy, A Treachery of Swans delivers.

💭 #QOTD If you could change into an animal, what would it be?

Title: A treachery of swans
Author: A.B. Poranek
Pages: 400
Rating: 3/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷🩷 sensual FTB moments

#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 26th June 2025

Odile is on a mission from Papa to bring back magic. The task involves undercover espionage, heartless decisions, cruel tactics and betrayal.

This was so beautifully, sensually written and had me guessing all the way through.. I've not much knowledge of Swan lake, so I'm unsure how close to the retelling this is.

I adored the tender interactions between all the characters. This had so much going on but it was easy to follow and understand. It was one hell of a gothic, enchanting fairytale ride.

If you liked a dark and drowning tide you'll love this!!


You'll love this book if you like
- gothic fairytale
- sapphic love story
- Swan lake
- young adult fantasy
- found family
- retelling fairytale
- standalone fantasy

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy.

This is a sapphic swanlake retelling where sorcerer Odile tricks the swan princess Marie and takes her place to marry the Dauphin to fulfill her adoptive fathers plans to bring back magic. The book is filled with twists, betrayals, magic and is a standalone set in France.

So I've just finished this book and am trying to sort my thoughts. I really enjoyed the beginning and the last 5-10 pages they were everything I wanted the story to be. I struggled with the middle/end. I did debate stopping reading at one point but I love AB Poranek and powered through- which I am glad of.

I loved the couples in this book. Marie and Odile were so cute together and obviously I shipped them from the beginning. The other couple (who I won't name for spoiler reasons) I also loved. They had such bashful chemistry it was hard not to root for them. The story was interesting and I really enjoyed the premise and the lore created for the book. The twists were fun if a little predictable at times and the story definitely read like the YA it is.

Overall this is a comfortable 4 stars for me and I'm excited to read even more by AB Poranek in the future.

Oh my goodness I ATE THIS UP!

I absolutely loved Where the Dark Stands Still (still not over that ending) so I have been hyped for the authors next release and then finding out it’s a Swan Lake retelling?! A match made in heaven.

This book is EVERYTHING. The gothic vibes are absolutely immaculate. The mystery had me hooked and the romance had me on my knees I tell you.

I cannot tell you how much I’m obsessed with these two twisted love swans!! Just gonna reread immediately so I can highlight and annotate because this is a new favourite for sure!

I love Swan Lake and the moment a sapphic retelling of this story was announced I could not hold back my excitement. And honestly this story was beautiful and everything I could have wanted. It had a unique magical system and world building while still being deeply rooted in the story of the swan princess.

The main character of this book is Odile, an actress, a thief and a wannabe sorceress who is set to impersonate Marie d'Odette to get the access to the royal crown and through it restore magic to the world.

I loved Odile as a character, she loves so strongly and she so badly wants to have people in her life for whom she matters that it makes her push away everyone who tries to show her true kindness. Honestly, all the characters in this book are well developed and so easy to love (in case of our main four) or hate. With Marie we get a brilliant take on Swan Princess and how her transformation into a swan changes her and makes her realise what's truly important to her. And Aime and Damien complete this delightful quarter by being a set of charming side characters with their own depth.

The story comes with plenty of twists and turns that I think aren't particularly shocking if you know the story of Swan Lake, but nevertheless they are still extremely enjoyable if you let the story take you on this adventure.

The ending had me conflicted I'll admit, because while the epilogue beautifully wraps this story up I SO badly want the sequel to this book that will fill in the gaps between the last chapter and the epilogue. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this beautiful and charming world.

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Treachery of Swans is a creative retelling of Swan Lake where Odile, a sorciere orphan is taken in by her adoptive father, Regnault, who exploits Odile into a life of disguise, thievery, and exploitation.

When Odile is faced with her biggest challenge yet, impersonating Marie d'Odette d'Auvigny and stealing the Couronne du Roi while manipulating the Dmzauphin, Amié, she must choose between her heart, her loyalty and her conscience, and find a way of working together to prevent her father from reawakening and imprisoning the Good Mothers.

I enjoyed the retelling of Swan Lake, and the strong bonds of loyalty and wanting to belong that ran through this book. However, I felt the ending was a little rushed, and thought that there could have easily been a sequel to change the ending, rather than rushing the epilogue when the book ended on a cliffhanger.

A Treachery of Swans is a captivating sapphic YA fantasy full of magic and mystery. It is a retelling of Swan Lake, but I know almost nothing of the original tale and it was still very easy to fall into this story. Despite there being frequent high stakes, there was an almost cosy vibe that I loved.

We follow the protagonist Odile who impersonates noblesse Marie to get close to the heir to the throne and attempt to return magic to the land. Of course it doesn't all go quite to plan and secrets start to be unravelled. Odile is a brilliant, complex protagonist, and I liked all the relationships that are explored in this book; romantic, familial and platonic.

Recommended to all YA Fantasy fans, including adults! There's a lot to love about this story for all.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

A poetic sapphic retelling of Swan Lake. A delicious slow burn

This book had me at "sapphic retelling of Swan Lake", quite frankly.

I loved the way it took elements from the original story and made them something new and fresh but still with the same magic and longing. The world building and magic system worked perfectly with the element taken from Swan Lake, letting me see elements of a story I love in a story that stands on its own.

I also thoroughly enjoyed that the story was told from the perspective of "the villain" rather than Marie d'Odette. Odille is a great character, the black swan to Marie's white. And while the ending was largely what I expected (with a few twists), seeing the development of Odille's character was great.

A. B. Poranek is now secured as one of my favourite authors. A Treachery of Swans and Where The Dark Stands Still are both stunning books that perfectly encapsulate everything I love about folklore, fairy tales and magic.

A Treachery of Swans is a stunningly poetic retelling, with prose so lyrical it feels almost like reading a beautifully woven ballad. The language is rich and evocative, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that adds to the novel’s charm. The setting is beautifully crafted, and the dynamics between the characters are compelling, offering moments of intrigue and emotion.

However, while the writing itself is captivating, the plot doesn’t quite live up to the same standard. It felt somewhat underdeveloped and overly predictable—I had hoped for twists and turns that would keep me on edge, but instead, the narrative unfolded in a way that lacked genuine surprises. The sense of mystery and suspense I was anticipating never truly materialised, leaving the story feeling flatter than it should have.

I also struggled to connect with the protagonist. Despite wanting to root for her, I found there was little to hold onto—her personality lacked depth, making it difficult to feel invested in her journey. Without that emotional pull, it was hard to truly care about her fate, which ultimately left me feeling detached from the overall experience.

A beautifully written book with an enchanting atmosphere, but one that fell short in delivering a compelling plot or an unforgettable lead.

A sapphic Swan Lake retelling with delicious slow burn and a trickster, witty villainess (who just wants to be loved, someone hug her).

<b>I’m not the delicate, white-feathered bird they believe me to be. I’m the darkness of cold gutters and merciless nights, the bruised shadows beneath a thief’s desperate eyes. I’m nothing but a lie, a twisted reflection, a black swan.
</b>
Odile aims to bring magic back by gaining the
trust of Marie d’Odette, taking her place, seducing the Dauphin of Auréal, and fool him long enough to steal the Crown.
Odile has a past with Marie and it is easy to trick her and magic the beatific swan into an actual white swan. It is easy to become Marie and win her way into the Prince’s trust.

It is not so easy when Odile starts to realise maybe she starts to trust them too.

<b>If the Théâtre is a gluttonous creature, the Château is a violent one, bleak and lifeless against the pit of night. Its towers are sharp as wolf’s teeth, the few lit windows slit like a snake’s pupils. There’s something vigilant about it, something prowling–as though it is grinning, lips pulled back, a predator anticipating a kill.</b>

This reminded me of The Little Thieves waaay too much. Both a positive and negative thing. To be compared to one of my favourite YA fantasy series, but also I couldn’t look past the similarities at times.
Take the main character energy.
The camaraderie Odile views as ridiculous (but she finds herself enjoying too much).
The whole swapping places and coming to see things aren’t always brighter on the other side.

Everyone in this story longs for freedom. The character work and emotions were spectacular.
There is yearning throughout - for more, for love, for difference.

<b>She laughs, and it sounds like spring rain, pure and sweet. I want to gather it up in my palms, feel it trickle between my fingers. I want to forget I ever heard it.
</b>
If you want absolutely no SPOILERS whatsoever, don’t read on. They are not explicit, just general feelings about the ending.

What I didn’t like:
This had an emotionally wrung ending, then suddenly changed pace to make it seem like it wasn’t going to be a standalone, and then…
Well, I’ll let you find out.

I just didn’t like it, and in the author’s note, it seems this was a decision made coming off responses from her previous standalone; Where The Dark Stands Still.

Gorgeous arc gifted by Penguin Random House UK Children’s.

Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me an e-ARC via NetGalley! That in no way influenced this review, and all opinions are my own.

When I tell you I SCREAMED when I saw that I got accepted for this book. I’d heard so many incredible things about this book, and I have been waiting for a sapphic fantasy book and my god did this deliver.

The slow burn was incredible; the timing of everything was absolutely perfect. The pacing was great throughout and I really did not want to put this book down to go to sleep. I felt every single emotion so strongly throughout the book. I found myself relating to Odile and everything she was feeling - wanting to be accepted, always seeking approval, not wanting to disappoint others, muting yourself for the benefit of others. I would absolutely go to war for this woman, and there is not a single thing she has done wrong.
As for Marie, she was just impeccable. Initially we think she’s a spoiled brainless heiress swimming in wealth and luxury, but the truth we get about her upbringing throughout the book just shattered my heart. My beautiful swan queen, I would die for her a thousand times over. Marie was such a loving character, and she was so empathetic and kind and I just love her so much.
They both deserve the absolute best in life.

This book had so many important messages within it; don’t judge someone by the mask they wear, the only approval you need is your own, the truth will set you free, and ultimately accepting yourself for who you are and knowing your own limits.

I cried, laughed, and gasped during this book so many different times, and for a book to evoke that from me tells me it’s a great book. The queer representation is so important to me. Having a WLW retelling of Swan Lake/various other ‘drama pieces’ has really helped to heal my little queer heart.

5/5 stars does not feel like enough of a rating for this book. I’d love to give it 100 stars, along with a 10,000 essay on how incredible it is and why I would recommend it to so many people.

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

For my failings I’m not familiar with the original tale of swan lake, so cannot speak to the original inspiration. However, what I can speak to is the wonder of this book. What a true delight it was - the portrayal of conflict, control, and final freedom was beautiful. The elements of control were so well (and horrifyingly) portrayed - those subtle ways that people are isolated so they are solely reliant on their controller were excellently incorporated. It was a true tale of love and making decisions to free yourself physically and emotionally. Loved it!

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a DNF at 33% and I’m so mad about that because I wanted to love this book. I was really looking forward to this one! I loved the idea of a sapphic swan lake retelling. I loved the idea of this being set in 17th century France. I was so excited to read this one.

However, this book unfortunately fell short of my expectations. This book just did not hook me in. The main character had no personality traits that stood out. By 33% of a book I should be hooked, I should want to know more about our characters and the plot, but I just feel it was rather flat? I didn’t feel invested in the characters at all, and by 33% I SHOULD be.

Odile just felt so flat to me as a character. There was no substance to her in the 33% I read so far. It was very much tell, not show.

I also couldn’t get a firm grasp on the ages of these characters. The discussion of marriage made me think they were at least 16-18+, but the way Odile was written made me think she was 14.

I know this is a YA book, but I felt the writing was extremely juvenile even for YA.

I did enjoy some of the descriptions of the court and the outfits. I liked those parts, and I found them interesting.

Overall, this one was a miss for me. I can see the potential here and I’m still mad I didn’t like this.

A. B. Poranek queen of making me shit tears at the endings

this book was marvellous, so atmospheric and fairytale like and also momentarily scary, I was feeling every emotion possible

Odile, I love her and her scheming, she can do no wrong and Marie, my swan princess made me cry on two separate occasions and that sloooow burn was perfect

this sapphic Swan lake retelling was everything I was hoping it'll be and much more, there were twists I did not seen coming, that left my jaw on the floor and it was so dreamy, it pulled me right into the story and didn't let go until I finished it

and what was that ending??? left me in shambles just like Where the dark stands still did

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

A Treachery of Swans is a beautiful gothic sapphic reimagining of Swan Lake - with a little mystery thrown into the pot for good measure 🦢✨

This book also contains the most heart-wrenching and soul shattering dedication I fear.

This was atmospheric and vivid and AH it was beautiful. I adored Odile and Marie’s relationship and I wish we would’ve seen more of them together in the first half of the book (but only because I’m greedy and they’re precious and I absolutely love them).

Thank you endlessly to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A Treachery of Swans is a hauntingly beautiful reimagining of Swan Lake, woven with threads of magic, longing, and rebellion. A.B. Poranek delivers a story that is as sharp and precise as it is dreamlike—where every deception feels like a dance, and every moment of connection carries the weight of a kingdom.

At the center of the story is Odile, a girl raised in the shadows of a magicless world, trained by a sorcerer to pull off a high-stakes heist that could reshape her country’s fate. Her mission? Steal a crown, restore magic, and do it all from within the heart of the enemy: the royal court. But nothing goes to plan. A sudden murder shatters her careful strategy, and Odile is forced into an uneasy alliance with Marie—the very princess she was meant to deceive. What follows is a slow-burning unraveling of secrets, shifting loyalties, and a romance that defies everything Odile thought she stood for.

Poranek’s writing is captivating from the very first page. The world of Auréal—steeped in French-inspired opulence and cloaked in fear of forbidden magic—feels both richly textured and deeply atmospheric. It’s rare to find a standalone fantasy that builds such a layered setting without ever losing momentum, but this one manages it with elegance and precision.

What truly elevates A Treachery of Swans, though, is the emotional core. Odile is fierce and flawed, guided as much by grief and guilt as by purpose. Her relationship with Marie unfolds slowly and organically, never rushed, and brimming with quiet intensity. Their dynamic is tender, complicated, and beautifully written—the kind of queer romance that feels both revolutionary and deeply personal. As the plot deepens and their bond grows, readers are asked to consider the cost of change, the nature of trust, and the meaning of sacrifice.

While there are political intrigues and plot twists (including a murder mystery that adds urgency and stakes), the heart of this novel lies in its characters. Even the side figures, like Odile’s enigmatic brother or the charming but troubled prince, are rendered with nuance, hinting at fuller lives beyond the page. And though the central conflict builds to a satisfying climax, the emotional resolution lingers even longer.

A Treachery of Swans is a masterful blend of romance, rebellion, and gothic fantasy—a story about finding yourself in the very place you were told you didn’t belong. It's perfect for fans of lush prose, high-stakes heists, and love stories that bloom against all odds.