A Treachery of Swans
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
From the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Dark Stands Still comes an atmospheric romantasy based on Swan Lake, following Odile as her plan to restore magic to her enchanted kingdom gets disrupted by a murder mystery—forcing her to beg for help from the young woman whose identity she stole.
Can two girls—one enchanted, one the enchantress—save their kingdom and each other?
Two hundred years ago, a slighted deity stole the magic from Auréal and vanished without a trace. But seventeen-year-old Odile has a plan. All her life, her father, a vengeful sorcerer, has raised her for one singular task: infiltrate the royal palace and steal the king’s crown, an artefact with enough power to restore magic. But to enter the palace, she must assume the identity of a noblewoman. She chooses Marie d’Odette: famed for her beauty, a rumored candidate for future queen…and Odile’s childhood-friend-turned-sworn-enemy.
With her father’s help, Odile transforms Marie into a swan and takes her place at court. But when the king is brutally murdered and her own brother is accused, her plans are thrown into chaos. Desperate to free her brother, Odile is forced to team up with none other than elegant, infuriating Marie, the girl she has cursed…and the girl she can’t seem to stop thinking about despite her best efforts.
To make matters worse, there are whispers that the king’s murder was not at the hands of man, but beast. Torn between loyalty to her father and her growing feelings for Marie, Odile becomes tangled in a web of treachery and deceit. To save her kingdom, she must find the true path to magic…and find the real killer before they—or it—strikes again.
- Pages
- 352
- First published
- June 24, 2025
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 8 Litcadians
1 is currently reading
Reviews
Finished August 16, 2025
Finished October 1, 2025
I'd never read a Swan Lake retelling before and I have to say that I really enjoyed it! While it wasn't especially groundbreaking for YA fantasy, it was engaging from start to finish. The characters (especially Odile and Marie) were well thought out and interesting, the plot never felt like it was lagging (and some of those plot twists!), the romance was sweet, and the writing took me by surprise with its ability to be lyrical and evocative. Not only was the story a strength here, but the vibes were, too. You could tell the author deeply cared that she was retelling a ballet, and that she went to lengths to preserve the spirit of its origin: chapters are called scenes, there's an appropriate amount of heightened drama, and Odile is an actress and dancer whose default outfit was a black tutu. I can't really explain why, but it felt very 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie to me, which is always a win. If you're looking for an easy YA fantasy, a good sapphic romance, something with strong atmosphere, or you're an admirer of ballet, I cannot recommend this enough.
Finished June 20, 2025
I’ll be honest, the first half didn’t really rope me in. The beginning was a bit slow and I found myself struggling to stay interested. BUT having loved Where the Dark Stands Still, I was determined to keep going. I'm glad I did because once it hit the halfway point, I was hooked! The pacing picked up, the plot twists started rolling in, and I flew through the rest of it. I do wish the romance had come into play much earlier. It's definitely a slow burn, but maybe a little too slow, especially considering it ends up being a major part by the end. The worldbuilding and mystery elements really shine. The plot had some cool reveals, clever layers, and just enough dark whimsy to keep things feeling unique. I loved how certain pieces came together unexpectedly. If you're into retellings with secretive magic, extremely slow burn intrigue, and that rich folklore atmosphere, this is worth sticking with. Powering through the slow start definitely makes the later half more rewarding. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing me with this ARC for my honest review!