A Treachery of Swans
Can two girls—one enchanted, one the enchantress—save their kingdom…and each other?
The kingdom of Réveillon is under a terrible curse—flowers won’t bloom and snow falls black from the sky. Magic could change things, but all of it is said to be trapped within a golden crown ruthlessly guarded by the king. Seventeen-year-old Odile, raised by vengeful sorcerer Rothbarte, has been trained to infiltrate the palace to steal the crown back and release the power within. When it comes time to set the plot in motion, Odile uses an enchanted necklace to transform Marie, a friend of the young dauphin, into a swan—leaving Odile free to assume her identity and gain access to the royal court.
But when the king is brutally murdered, chaos ensues. Odile’s own brother gets accused of being behind the assassination, leaving Odile desperate to free him…even if it means putting her mission on hold to find the real killer. She’s forced to team up with none other than Marie, the girl who rightfully distrusts her—and who Odile might have feelings for.
As they investigate, they hear whispers that the king’s murder was not at the hands of man, but beast. Torn between loyalty to Rothbarte 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!