A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek Review: A Sapphic Swan Princess Retelling Full of Magic, Heists, and Betrayal

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek is a sapphic Swan Princess retelling packed with forbidden magic, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance in a dark YA fantasy world.

Some fairy-tale retellings remix the familiar. A Treachery of Swans reinvents it. This sapphic Swan Princess-inspired fantasy blends identity theft, forbidden magic, political intrigue, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance into a story that feels sharp, emotionally grounded, and constantly one step ahead of you. Between secret deals with sorcerers, stolen identities, and a kingdom that has outlawed magic, this is the kind of fairy tale that refuses to behave.

A Clever Twist on the Swan Princess Myth

The story opens with a stolen identity and a curse that turns a princess into a swan by day and a girl by night. What follows is part fairy-tale retelling, part murder mystery, and part heist story. Odile must impersonate the princess she once loved in order to solve a crime that could condemn her estranged brother—and to steal a powerful relic for the sorcerer who raised her. The setup immediately creates tension between duty and desire, loyalty and betrayal, truth and performance.

This isn’t a soft, romantic fairy tale. It leans into Grimm-style darkness while still keeping the emotional core front and center.

Sapphic Tension, Complicated History, and Slow-Burn Romance

The relationship between Odile and Marie is loaded with shared history, betrayal, longing, and unresolved hurt. They were once friends. Then something broke between them long before the curse ever happened. That emotional fracture shapes every interaction between them, and the romance builds from friction and distrust into something vulnerable and genuine.

The slow burn works because it’s grounded in character growth. Both girls are trying to decide who they are outside the roles forced on them—princess, servant, weapon, daughter. Their connection grows as they reclaim agency over their own identities.

Magic, Subterfuge, and Moral Grayness

The political intrigue and layered deception are where this book really shines. Odile is a morally gray protagonist, and the story leans into that ambiguity. Her inner conflict—between protecting the people she loves and serving the sorcerer who raised her—keeps you questioning every choice she makes. The narrative constantly plays with misdirection, double-crosses, and carefully staged performances, creating real tension about who is lying, who is telling the truth, and who is being manipulated.

The magic system, forbidden by the kingdom, adds stakes to every decision. When magic is criminalized, every spell becomes an act of rebellion.

Themes of Identity, Freedom, and Choosing Yourself

Both Odile and Marie are wrestling with the weight of their upbringing. Marie, bound by royal expectations, finds unexpected freedom in her curse—she can explore, wander, and exist without the rigid rules placed on her as a princess. Odile, raised by a manipulative sorcerer, must confront what loyalty really means and whether she can become someone better than the person she was shaped to be.

Their journeys are about choosing who you are when no one else is writing the rules for you anymore.

Final Thoughts

A Treachery of Swans is a smart, emotionally layered fairy-tale retelling that balances romance, political intrigue, and moral complexity. The sapphic slow-burn is deeply satisfying, the magic system adds weight to every choice, and the twists keep the tension high without sacrificing character depth. This one improves on the author’s previous work with sharper pacing, stronger character dynamics, and more confident storytelling. Easily a standout for fans of dark fairy tales, morally gray heroines, and romantic fantasy with bite.