Gorgeous and magical, A Throne of Swans transports the reader to a world of shape-shifting and intrigue.

Best read when you want to go on a flight of fantasy and imagination.

I rarely read high fantasy books, but the beautiful cover and premise of A Throne of Swans, appealed to me immediately. Swan Lake is a favourite of mine, it’s beautiful and theatrical. Though a completely different story, this book has transforming swans and is engrossing and lyrical.

While reading this book, I had flashes from memory of a film from my childhood, Ladyhawke. In Ladyhawke, a curse is placed on a woman and her lover, she is transformed into a hawk each day. This book had the same sense of adventure, sweet romance and people transforming into birds.

The reader is introduced to Aderyn, Protector of Atratys, after the death of her father. The nobility of Atratys transform into their ancestral birds – including hawks, ravens and rooks. But Aderyn is the only swan and since the horrific incident that killed her mother, she is unable to transform. This already makes her seem weak and puts her at the mercy of the brutal King, her uncle.

Aderyn goes to King’s court in Citadel to protect the land and people of Atratys, and in the process, she tries to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. For her journey, she is accompanied by Lucien Rookwood, her advisor on all matters of the court, a feisty and handsome companion and maid and childhood friend, Letya. At court, she is unsure who she can trust – flightless cousin Prince Aron, Princess Odette or Odette’s betrothed, Siegfried Redwing?

Court is full of politics and hidden dangers, with little disregard for the flightless people of the Kingdom. Aderyn has to do everything within her power to protect herself and the Kingdom.

The reader is drawn into the fictional world immediately and the lively, colourful and flawed characters allow us to see the rich landscape of the Kingdom through their eyes and experiences. There is adventure, danger, romance and distrust at every turn of the story. Aderyn is not always the best judge of character and is impulsive, making it very fun for the reader. The complex strands of Aderyn and the Kingdom’s past are woven together in a beautiful and exciting story.

I loved A Throne of Swans and I can’t wait to see what happens to Aderyn and the cast of characters in the next instalment of the fantasy trilogy.

To conclude, Elizabeth and Katherine have once again come together to create a spellbinding story with lovable characters that entertain and enthrall the reader, just like they did with The Witch’s Kiss trilogy.

4 stars

I was so excited about this book and although it didn't quite hit my expectations, I still really really enjoyed it.
I am a massive lover of birds and merging with my love of YA fantasy, this book was always going to appeal to me. I wish I could transform into a bird!
The worldbuilding was really interesting and the inclusion of the map and family tree was helpful. The elite having the powers and the poor not having any is not a new idea, however the different houses and the ideas behind the transformation into birds was wonderful. As a bird lover, I also loved the use of bird names and latin names.
The storyline was really good and held my attention. The book was well written and didn't have the feeling of two voices which the books of dual authors often do. It was seamless.
The characters are sadly where I lost my way a little. Aderyn was naive, flighty and childish and I wanted to physically shake her! And yes, this is part of her character's journey but I think her naivety was taken a little too far. Siegfried was an obvious villain, too obvious for my liking with his threats and manipulation. I however really liked Lucien and Aron who had good depth and interesting features about them. I am hoping the next book has a slightly more grown up Aderyn which the prologue at the end seemed to suggest.
It was a good start to the series and I look forward to reading the sequel and learning more about this world.

Thank you to Darkroom tours, netgalley and Readers First for gifting this book to me in exchange for an honest review.

A thrilling read, I enjoyed the new take on fantasy here. I thought the world building was really good, the characters were well developed and relatable, the story was fast paced and lots of twists to keep you guessing. A Throne of Swans feels really fresh, interesting and is a breath of fresh air in YA fantasy. Looking for something new to devour , jump in here , I wasn’t disappointed at all, I loved it and I can’t wait for the sequel

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A Throne of Swans follows the story of Aderyn, who is left alone at the mercy of her uncle following the death of her father the king. This is a world where the elite can transform into the birds of their ancestors, each family taking the form of a different bird. Except Aderyn hasn’t transformed into her bird, a swan, since she saw her mother murdered by hawks thought long extinct. Aderyn must overcome her fears to discover the truth about what happened to her mother and face the dark underworld of her kingdom in order to protect her home.

There was a lot of political intrigue and long games here, with Aderyn becoming embroiled in her families ulterior motives, learning who she can and can’t trust. This built a strong relationship between Aderyn, Lucien and Letya that felt believable. Their personalities blend together well, each supporting the other when needed. Aderyn in particular feels well developed, and her past is detailed and woven into the story well. She’s clearly traumatised by what happened to her mother, and as a result has a lot of issues to work through. Lucien and Letya help her with this, while also giving her the space to develop independently. I liked that. I thought the romantic elements were also well done, if a little obvious, but felt natural to the character progression without taking over the plot. I also liked the other secondary characters Odette and Siegfried, who added another dimension and tone to the plot that I appreciated.

The writing is also well done. It feels like a fairy story, with a whimsical quality that lends itself well to the overall tension filled yet whimsical atmosphere of the book. The pacing is also good too, with plenty of action to keep me engaged while also providing a lot of world building and descriptions that make the world come alive. At times it does feel predictable and full of the usual YA fantasy tropes however, and you can easily guess where the story is going.

That said, this is a relatively unique YA fantasy that feels magical and fun. The characters are well developed, and the plot kept me engaged to the end. It’s a good introduction to this world, that I hope will be expanded on in further novels.

Do you like:
Shapeshifters?
Court intrigue?
Strong characters?
Magical worlds?
Then you should pick up a throne of swans because it has all of that and more!

I went into this book with low expectations, mostly because it has the word swan in the title, and I do NOT like swans! Whenever a book mentions or shows a swan on the cover I’m just instantly like yuck...
I got over the swan thing though and read this and I am so glad I did! I absolutely loved this. It had all the things I like in fantasy, from the complex world building to a character navigating life at court and trying to stay out of danger. It also had an element of mystery and it kept me up way to late because I couldn’t put it down! In other words if you like fantasy you should definitely give this one a read!

I requested a copy of A Throne of Swans to review because I'm deeply shallow and the cover is stunning. Luckily, the story was amazing and proved my shallowest instincts were absolutely correct.

Taking inspiration from Swan Lake, but not so close as to be a retelling, A Throne of Swans has incredible and original world-building and is chock full of political, royal intrigue.

I loved Aderyn. She's such a compelling character, moving from sheltered and slight stroppy teen to a dynamic and thoughtful ruler willing to make all sorts of sacrifices to uncover the truth about her mother's death and to protect her new subjects. I love stories that force the protagonists to make tough choices, rather than a convenient, happy solution presenting itself in the nick of time. I really loved watching Aderyn build relationships, grow and become ensconced in the politics of the corrupt royal court.

The court itself was fascinating. In terms of writing, it had a real sense of aesthetic and imagery. I always felt like I could actually see the architecture and landscapes with the action playing out in front of me. I loved the details worked into the world-building: fashion, justice systems and the way each noble family had the ability to transform into a different bird. It all feels really well-thought-out and immersive.

The plot is fast-paced with several mysteries to keep you guessing throughout. This was one of those books that kept me up late, promising myself: just one more chapter, just one more chapter. My heart was in my throat the whole time.

A Throne of Swans is such a unique and compelling fantasy story. It's a breath of fresh air and had me completely hooked. The only thing I want to complain about is that I NEED to read the sequel, A Crown of Talons, immediately, and I've no idea how I'll wait until it comes out...

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

In a world where the flightless are ruled by those who can fly...

Inspiration taken from one of my favorite composers
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a Russian composer of the romantic period.
A Throne of Swans, is a vivid fantasy, full of drama and mystery, The first book in an irresistible, soaring duology.

On her father’s death, Alderyn becomes Protector of Atratys. In a land where the ruling elite can transform into the bird which represents their house, this role brings the added danger of exposure as Alderyn has been unable to transform since she witnessed the brutal death of her mother, murdered by hawks that are no longer supposed to exist. Determined to discover her mother’s murderers and bring them to justice, Alderyn decides to leave the protection of her homeland and venture to the Citadel where her malevolent uncle rules. Thrust directly into the corruption and politics of his court, Alderyn’s inability to transform becomes increasingly dangerous to her and in desperation, she is drawn to her cousin Odette’s fiance, Siegfried, who offers her a solution to her problem. Dangerous alliance and intrigue lie in every corner and no one can be trusted. The plot is well developed with many delightful twists to keep your eyes glued to the pages, waiting to see what happens next.
Impressive spellbinding world building, that captivated me in this stunning world of shape shifting monarchs, dragons...

Initially I was drawn to this book because of the cover but the story and characters quickly dragged me into the story. I love it, couldn’t put it down for long. Can’t wait for the next installment.

This was an amazing piece of High Fantasy fiction based on the fantastic ballet Swan Lake written by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr. I've always been fascinated by the means of transformation and the idea of the characters in A Throne of Swans being able to become birds was incredible. To me, there is nothing freer than a bird and these amazing authors managed to describe the feelings of flight, freedom and peace associated with the transformation using amazing sensory imagery.

The premise of usurpation or even the attempt to do so is quite a common trope within Young Adult fiction but here, in the world of Solanum, mainly due to the uniqueness of the character's abilities it works well. It gives an element of drama, suspense and encourages you to keep reading in order to discover just what will happen to Aderyn and the fate of Atratys.

I would have liked for Katharine and Elizabeth Corr to dig deeper into the world of the flightless, to discover more about Letya and the others, how the decrees have altered their lives, and what they had been like prior to Cygnus I's ascension to the throne.

These authors also briefly touched on characters with homosexual and bisexual tendencies but it would have been wonderful to have actually witnessed this kind of relationship between some the characters presented to the reader in this novel. This is the first in a new series for these authors, and so I hope that this is taken into account in the next in the series especially for Prince Aron despite his necessary marriage to Aderyn.

I especially liked the fact that the authors highlighted the flaws in their characters rather than have them as perfectly, shiny people who can do no wrong, especially the parents of the characters themselves.

I am intrigued to know just what will happen as a result of Aderyn's coronation, her relationship with both Aron and Lucien and whether Siegried and the former Queen will be brought to justice without the need for war, as it is obvious to me that the flightless population will end up as pawns in the noble's battle for power.

I wait with anticipation for the next book in the series to be released and cannot wait to see what awaits Aderyn as she adjusts to her new position as Queen.

A very enjoyable read. Court politics, scandal, intrigue, murder and romance. This book has it all! Very much looking forward to the second book.

I’ve enjoyed Throne of Swans and whilst I thought it would be predictable there are a few really good twists.

One thing I was disappoint about was that I was hoping to see Our Protector fight. But maybe in the next book??

This book was just what I needed to finish the year off! I loved it!
I loved the setting, the characters and the premise – all of it! It’s a beautifully easy read and is loosely inspired by Swan Lake which just reminds me of The Swan Princess so I had all the nostalgia feels while I was reading this 
In the novel the world is split into a class system of those who can transform - the nobles; and those who cannot – the flightless ‘normal’ people. The world is governed by rules which state that the flightless cannot rule or have a position of power. The families that can transform take the form of a specific bird (Swans, Owls, Ravens) and they even keep some of their characteristics in human form for example the colours in their hair  this is a detail I loved to read about – it really made the novel for me!
After being kept away from court after her mother is brutally murdered and herself left so disfigured she is unable to transform into a swan – Aderyn is thrust into a position of power when her father dies, leaving her in the position of Protector of Atratys. To protect her home she must visit her uncle, the King and learn all she can without giving away her inability to transform.
Leaving Atratys with just her advisor Lucien and her friend Letya, Aderyn finds herself in a world of people she cannot trust and in the middle of secrets which just keep coming and coming, I was shocked at every revelation and it only made me more determined to finish the story, the connections were cleverly done and the plot unravelled nicely throughout. This novel drew me in quickly with its clear narrative, I was genuinely sad to finish it and leave the world behind. Aderyn is headstrong but sensitive of her position since she cannot fly and she finds herself drawn to discover who murdered her mother. Her intentions are honourable and her lack of living knowledge of the land she lives in and the connections of other characters at court worked well as the reader learns at the same pace Aderyn does and empathises with her from the beginning.
I am actually devastated the next novel isn’t released until 2021 but I have procured myself copies of the other books written by these fabulous sisters! I’d love to know their writing processes!

In a world where the flightless are ruled by those who can fly...

When her father dies just before her birthday harboring a family secret, seventeen year old Aderyn's not only finds herself the Protector of the domain of Atratys, where your bloodline determines the type of bird you can transform into. Aderyn whose ancestral bird is the swan has not been able to transform since a tragic accident many years ago, when she witnessed the cruel death of her mother, torn apart by hawks which have long since become extinct.

With her parents gone Aderyn finds herself at the mercy of an Uncle she has never met, a history she does not know, in a Court she has never attended.

Seeking revenge for the murder of her mother and the love she has for her, Aderyn heads to the heart of the Citadel ruled by her Uncle to seek answers to the truth of her mothers attack which also nearly destroyed her.

She will fight for to protect her domain, those she loves and her reputation but will she be able to fly again,

This is a strong start to a new YA fantasy series that has left me eagerly anticipating the second book in the series, sneakily added as a teaser at the end of this arc copy kindly provided by Netgalley and Hot Key Books. This contains delightfully described world building, dastardly political machinations and a hint of Royal drama, what more could you want other than a love interest who both rubs you up the wrong way and pulls you closer in the same breath.

Amazing loved every minute of it and hope to read the second in this series soon.

I love this story so much. Its full of love, secrets and betrayal. The world building was incredible and really brings you in to the story. Its dramatic with a flair of brilliance and i cant believe I have to wait another year for the next book.

The Corr Sisters return with A Throne of Swans, a rich and imaginative fantasy about a world where nobles can transform into birds. Aderyn's ancestral bird is a swan, but she has not been able to transform since the death of her mother left her harrowed many years ago. But when her father dies and she inherits his dominion, Aderyn must travel to the heart of the kingdom to prove herself to the king, where she begins to uncover secrets long hidden that could change her life forever.
I loved this book! It is loosely inspired by Swan Lake, a story I've always loved. However, it didn't reflect the original tale as much as I expected! Aderyn can turn into a swan, and there is a secondary character named Odette as well as political intrigue, but little past that. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the storyline and found it to be riveting and dark!
Aderyn is an interesting heroine. She is ambitious and political, ready to do whatever it takes to protect her dominion and keep her power, with a strong sense of justice, a thirst for knowledge and a brave mind. She is also loyal and loving to those closest to her, which made her likeable! However, there were times when I was deeply frustrated with her, such as when she made decisions that I could see were bad! It definitely added to the tension and intrigue of the story, but it also kind of made me want to shout at her to pay a bit more attention.
I liked the secondary characters, though I would have liked to get to know them more. I especially loved Aron and Odette and I hope in the second book we might get to delve more into their personalities as they were both interesting and unique characters!
I can't give away my thoughts on the romance without spoilers, so I'll try to be vague. Both romance storylines were rather predictable, but I did enjoy them to an extent. The main one seemed to be building up wonderfully throughout the book and I was rooting for the characters, but when it did happen it seemed a very sudden transition from slow burn maybe to "true love", but I suppose this isn't the first book that's done this. As for the second romance, someone made some mistakes and I saw it coming, I won't say anything else.
Aspects of the plotline were riveting and kept me guessing and hungry for more, but the overall story was relatively predictable. I really enjoyed it and it's carefully woven intricacies were what made it wonderful, but I was hoping to be a little more surprised.
The writing was simplistic but still very beautiful, so the book was easy to read and follow but still lyrical and glittering.
A Throne of Swans was an enjoyable and intriguing YA fantasy about royal politics, revenge and romance that I would describe as Throne of Glass meets The Storm Crow!

This book centres around young Aderyn, who when her father dies unexpectedly she becomes the Protector of the Kingdom of Atratys, Aside from this devastating news, Aderyn must now be seen at her uncle's court - something that her father forbid her to do - indeed for her ever to leave the Castle.

Aderyn didn't understand why her father was so protective of her, until the facts of court life and politics are explained to her - you see....Aderyn has lost the ability to turn into a swan - she is flightless, but nobody knows.... and in a world where the flightless are ruled by those that can fly, this is a problem......

This is a wonderful book, I liked the character Aderyn from the start, as well as all of the other characters to be honest, the plot is really well written, and I found myself completely immersed in the plotline.

I look forward to the next installment!

My thanks to Netgalley and Hot Key Books for the advance copy.

This book was well crafted and interesting. I could tell the author had taken great pains to make sure everything was perfectly in tune with each other, and that is definitely an achievement. I like the story, the mechanics, and the settings. I'm listing all these great things because it truly is a good book, but I don't think it was for me. I didn't get sucked in like I usually would, and it wasn't particulary 'unputdownable'. I didn't feel very connected to the main character, possibly because we don’t tend to spend much time with her on her own, but really I couldn't really tell you why. I hope someone else will enjoy this book!

At first I really didn’t think I would like this book. It defiantly wasn’t something I would pick up and read of a shelf. As I got through the book however I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. I loved the plot line and the characters, the twists and turns in the book made it more enjoyable to read.

A Throne of Swans is an enjoyable young adult romance. I could tell it was young adult because some of the characters are just that little bit too nice when I was expecting deceit and betrayal from them.

That said, it is a fun, light-hearted read, and my only real complaint is that it's not a standalone novel.

I have previously read Katharine and Elizabeth Corr's other series, The Witches' Kiss and while I enjoyed that one I wouldn't say I loved it. This book however had me gripped from the beginning. When I started reading this I was in a bit of a slump and not much was holding my attention. Turns out. what I needed was this.
This book takes places in a world where the ruling class are able to shape shift into birds, our main character, Aderyn's form is a swan but since an attack on her and her late mother she is no longer able to transform. When her father dies she comes to the kingdom and is thrown into plots and relationships she must navigate in order to keep her secret and protect Atratys.

First of all, the writing style in this felt a lot more mature to me than the Corr's other series which was nice to see. I immediately felt drawn in and although this book begins with a lot of necessary history and world building I didn't feel bored or like it was dragging. The characters to me also were well thought out and were believable, their reactions and actions to things were realistic and had me groaning and laughing at decisions I knew were coming but had hoped would be different in a work of fiction so that was great.
I will say some plot points were predictable but I don't necessarily think in a bad way and there were definitely some twists that I didn't see coming. One thing that made me beyond happy was this isn't just a 'solve the problem and everyone lives happily ever after' type novel. I believe this to be part of a series and the 'cliffhanger' was one that makes sense and I can see it leading to a sequel nicely without it being forced or too over the top next time.
There does seem to be some good representation in this book, some of the flightless characters are flightless due to disabilities and loss of limbs but are still functioning and not shunned out. There is also a Bisexual character in this book. While this representation is used as a plot device, it wasn't a negative one I don't think but I cant answer for disability rep.

Overall this book was exciting and beautiful, I could picture the castle and the landscapes. The intrigue and drama felt real and I'm so glad I decided to pick this up at the end of 2019.

4.5/5 Stars