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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
dnf at 43%
I was so excited for this and really wanted to like it but it's been 4 months since I started the arc and 2 months since the book came out and I just can't force myself anymore.
I am not familiar with the original story of Swan Lake so I essentially went into this as an independent fantasy book and that's where the problem is I believe. The book is unable to hold itself up if the reader is not obsessed with swan lake, or willing to overlook things for the sake of sapphics. As pretentious as it sounds, it's very tell not show. There's no room for individual thinking or inference and it was so frustrating to read. Considering the backstory btw the mcs (met as young teens, had an implied falling out but liked each other then), I'm expecting there to be tension but there's nothing. Even when the stakes are revealed there's still no tension!! Not even the opening betrayal of turning her into a swan and stealing her identity moved me.
The characters are weak, especially odile which is crazy because the entire book is in her pov. The plot is boring and far too convenient for me to take it seriously. I do like the relationship between odile and her brother though, I just wish I cared enough to actually finish the book.
I was so excited for this and really wanted to like it but it's been 4 months since I started the arc and 2 months since the book came out and I just can't force myself anymore.
I am not familiar with the original story of Swan Lake so I essentially went into this as an independent fantasy book and that's where the problem is I believe. The book is unable to hold itself up if the reader is not obsessed with swan lake, or willing to overlook things for the sake of sapphics. As pretentious as it sounds, it's very tell not show. There's no room for individual thinking or inference and it was so frustrating to read. Considering the backstory btw the mcs (met as young teens, had an implied falling out but liked each other then), I'm expecting there to be tension but there's nothing. Even when the stakes are revealed there's still no tension!! Not even the opening betrayal of turning her into a swan and stealing her identity moved me.
The characters are weak, especially odile which is crazy because the entire book is in her pov. The plot is boring and far too convenient for me to take it seriously. I do like the relationship between odile and her brother though, I just wish I cared enough to actually finish the book.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
This reminded me a lot of Little Thieves, and I mean that as a positive. This was easily one of my favorite YAs of the year. I love a prickly, fucked-up heroine, especially in YA, and Odile absolutely delivered. I adored her. I adored all of the characters, in fact, and I thought the romance was really sweet. My only complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed in the sense that I wish the epilogue had been a sequel, but that may just be the greed talking because it was also a beautiful epilogue. Now I have to read A.B. Poranek's debut!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I fear I am absolutely unfamiliar with the Swan princess/Black swan stories, so I was very much flying blind reading thisš I did like the writing style though even though the pacing for this one was a little off for meš Iām also very distraught that we didnāt get to go on this expedition with Odile to find the other Mothers and see her progress as a character without outside influences from anyone elseā¹ļø But the bonus chapter with Damien and AimĆ© was really sweetš„²š«¶
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Odile, girl, you are a mess.
I really liked this book. Iām a BIG fan of Swan Lake (thank you, Barbie) and Phantom of the Opera (thank you, Gerard Butler) and therefore I think I am a big fan of this book.
Odile is as imperfect as they come. Sheās full of anger, she canāt trust anyone to save her life, and sheās a tad impulsive. She grew on me though. She is a product of her environment and Iām so happy she got her found family in the end.
Now, despite what the author said in her acknowledgments, I donāt think this was necessarily a happy ending. I suppose if you compared it to her first book (which I canāt even think about or Iāll sob) then sure. However, I think Marie would have HATED her ending. Justice for my swan princess. All she wanted was her freedom.
A. B. Poranek, Iām ready for your next book. Hand it over ASAP.
I really liked this book. Iām a BIG fan of Swan Lake (thank you, Barbie) and Phantom of the Opera (thank you, Gerard Butler) and therefore I think I am a big fan of this book.
Odile is as imperfect as they come. Sheās full of anger, she canāt trust anyone to save her life, and sheās a tad impulsive. She grew on me though. She is a product of her environment and Iām so happy she got her found family in the end.
Now, despite what the author said in her acknowledgments, I donāt think this was necessarily a happy ending. I suppose if you compared it to her first book (which I canāt even think about or Iāll sob) then sure. However, I think Marie would have HATED her ending. Justice for my swan princess. All she wanted was her freedom.
A. B. Poranek, Iām ready for your next book. Hand it over ASAP.
I was praying to get an arc of this because āwhere the dark stands stillā was one of my favorite reads of last year. However I did get it through illumicrate and I finally got around to reading this and wooooow!
Iām absolutely obsessed with this authorās writing and how she builds such dark and gothic vibes and stories. I did enjoy the characters, Odile a bit less than Marie, however I adored this story. The setting? Stunning. Plot? Super fun and dark. The love story? Amazing slow burn. This was an amazing story and I appreciate the ending. Thank you A. B. Poranek, I have slightly forgiven you for the ending of āwhere the dark stands stillā šāāļø
Iām absolutely obsessed with this authorās writing and how she builds such dark and gothic vibes and stories. I did enjoy the characters, Odile a bit less than Marie, however I adored this story. The setting? Stunning. Plot? Super fun and dark. The love story? Amazing slow burn. This was an amazing story and I appreciate the ending. Thank you A. B. Poranek, I have slightly forgiven you for the ending of āwhere the dark stands stillā šāāļø
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a good slow burn romance with more atmosphere than an air dome on the moon. There is intrigue, witty banter, and daddy issues out the wazoo. I love how the author used elements from the swan princess fairytale - I feel like this is a good modern folk tale (even if it's not written in that style). The pacing was good, I was steadily kept engaged. Narrator was also solid - excellent inflection while bantering. Just an enjoyable dark romantacy.