A.B. Poranek’s sapphic retelling of Swan Lake had me twirling through pages like a lovesick ballerina, but also occasionally tripping over my own pointe shoes. This book is a lush, moody fantasy that’s  enchanting AND exasperating. 

Odile, our leading lady. She’s a firecracker wrapped in a velvet cloak, torn between her loyalty to her shady dad and her swoon-worthy feelings for Marie. Odile’s inner turmoil is delicious—she’s scheming, vulnerable, and just the right amount of chaotic. I was rooting for her like I root for my Roomba when it gets stuck under the couch. Her chemistry with Marie is like watching two stars collide in a glittery, sapphic supernova.

The world-building is where Poranek really spreads her wings. The atmosphere is so vivid, I could practically smell the damp moss and hear the swans honking (or is that hissing? Swans are mean, y’all). The kingdom feels alive, dripping with intrigue and fairy-tale vibes that make you want to slip into a corset and join the drama. I could see myself sipping tea in a castle, eavesdropping on all the treachery.

Now, the ploy is a mystery wrapped in a riddle tied with a ribbon of deceit, which sounds fabulous but sometimes feels like a tangled ball of yarn. There were moments where I was like, “Wait, who’s betraying who now?” The pacing wobbles like a toddler in heels—thrilling one minute, slogging the next. I found myself skimming some of the denser bits, muttering, “Get to the kissing already!” And while the Swan Lake retelling is clever, it leans so hard into the fairy-tale aesthetic that it occasionally feels like it’s trying to win a cosplay contest rather than tell a cohesive story.

The sapphic romance is the heart of this book, and it’s where Poranek shines. Marie and Odile’s dynamic is like a perfectly baked macaron. It’s delicate, sweet, and just a little crunchy around the edges.

A Treachery of Swans is a beautiful, messy, swan-filled fever dream. It’s got heart, it’s got drama, and it’s got enough sapphic yearning to make your toes curl. Buttttttttttt, the pacing hiccups and the occasionally overwrought prose keep it from soaring to a full four stars. Still, I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a good fairy-tale retelling with a side of romance and treachery. Grab a cozy blanket, channel your inner Odile, and dive in. Just maybe don’t read it near swans. They’re judgy.