The swan song starts out real slow but glad I gave it a chance. Shape shifting into a swan is an interesting concept. Liked the magic system and world building in this one. I liked that it takes the place in a time similar to the Middle Ages. Was a fun read.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I like the premise if this book although it was a but slow at times. It would like an easy read this is for you.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the chance to read THR SWAN HARP in exchange for an unbiased review.
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THE SWAN HARP is about Kiar, the eldest princess and heir to Valenia. She is the eldest of three sisters, and this is her story. Told in her voice, it goes through several years of her life as she learns what it is to come from a unique heritage, and how she is meant to go forward as the future queen.
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I wanted to like this book more. I really did. I found the premise to be really exciting— swanfolk as humans, magic, mystery, honour and strife— all things that should contribute to an amazing story… but I found that 3/4 of this book to be slow and meandering… that’s why it took me a month and a half to read it. The last quarter of the book was super exciting, which is what saves this book from being a two star read, but the excitement was at too quick a pace.

Fantasy with a dose of romance,

You get the magical element as the Swan Folk can shift their form between a swan and a person. The romance comes as the three princesses in the kingdom both learn to embrace their Swan Folk heritage and find mates.

I can't say this is an exceptional fantasy story, but I made it through the book without it dragging or having me want to quit.

I enjoyed it enough, that I would give the second book a chance when it comes out.

The Swan Harp has a slow build and yet I loved its unrushed pace. The author gives you time to see and understand the characters before the culminating action. I love that the parents are present and are loving, attentive people. This is not an ordinary story of an orphan or abused child overcoming odds. You watch the twisting of the villain and understand why but it is still heartbreaking. This is a masterfully told story if you can be patient through the slower sections.

This was such an enjoyable young adult fantasy. I really liked the world the author created in Valenia and I loved the swan shifter aspects of the story.

It is an interesting concept to take the Swan princess and expand the story beyond what happened and put a spin on it.

Here is the story of the three daughters of the Swan Princess/queen now. One shall be queen of the Swan folk, Kaiden, our hero, shall be queen of the humans, and one shall be the most powerful source in history.

From their story, unfolds, and various straight and obvious paths. I didn’t find any real twists or turns in the story and if there were, they were made so obvious that they weren’t surprising at all.

DNF at 56%.

I tried really hard and although I have been enjoying the characters and plot, the book is just moving at too slow a pace for me to be invested at where it's going to lead. It doesn't feel like there is any direction or goal that we are working towards. I am at the point where I don't want to pick it up anymore.

I just couldn't get into this at all and had to slog through it. The cover however is beautiful and it had an interesting premise.

i went into this book with my hopes up a little too high i think. i read the intriguing description, saw the small blurb about it being geared toward fans of holly black, and saw the beautiful cover.

I really wanted to like this book as it was my first ARC but I have to admit it wasn't for me at all... I felt it was too slow. The idea of the Swan people was interesting, and something i hadn't seen before why I requested it. But I felt that we didn't learn enough there. I had hoped to see more of them, and more politicking among them and the royals. But that didn't happen in the part I read. I think it is a good cute book if you look for some light fantasy in some middle age like setting with rather small world build. And that just wasn't what I had hoped for. Best luck to the author though.

This was a quick and very easy read. It's very simplistic in its writing style and feels like it's much more for middle grade readers or very early YA.

The pacing can be a bit slow at times, with quite short chapters, and the plot is quite predictable.

The characters are somewhat interesting, but there's nothing really that standout about any of them.

Overall, it's an average read.

"The Swan Harp" by Elizabeth Creith is a captivating tale set in the kingdom of Valenia, where the protagonist, Kiar, finds herself grappling with her identity and responsibilities as the next in line to the throne. Kiar, the middle daughter of King Tir and Queen Tianis, is marked by her inability to transform into a swan like her sisters, Adana and Orla, who share their mother's swanfolk heritage.

As Kiar navigates the pressures of impending queenship and the looming threat of Noermark's ambitions, she forms a bond with three young swanfolk fostered within the royal family. Among them, Willow's spirited nature and Tuan's thoughtful demeanor provide solace to Kiar amidst her feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

Creith weaves a compelling narrative that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy, intrigue, and familial conflict. The plot is driven by both external threats, such as the encroaching forces of Noermark and dark magic endangering Valenia, and internal struggles, as Kiar grapples with her sense of belonging and the weight of her duty.

The characters in "The Swan Harp" are well-developed and multi-dimensional. Kiar's journey of self-discovery is sensitively portrayed, and her relationships with Willow, Tuan, and her family members are nuanced and richly drawn. The dynamics between the characters add depth to the story, enriching the reader's immersion in the world of Valenia.

Creith's writing style is elegant and evocative, effectively capturing the beauty and tension of the story's setting. However, there are moments where the pacing could have been tightened, particularly during exposition-heavy sections, to maintain momentum and enhance the overall flow of the narrative.

Despite this minor critique, "The Swan Harp" is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and coming-of-age stories alike. Creith skillfully balances elements of magic and political intrigue with themes of identity, friendship, and courage, resulting in a memorable and engaging tale.

In summary, "The Swan Harp" offers a captivating blend of fantasy and adventure, anchored by well-drawn characters and a richly imagined world.

thanks to netgalley for provided me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review.

this one fell flat for me unfortunately. it was fine, but no character or plot point really grabbed me. this book also has a bad case of slow start that had me bored with a race to the finish at the end. an entertaining race to the finish, but pacing problems nonetheless. at the end of the day, the first two thirds bored me and the last third was quite good but not enough to save this one for me.

The first four chapters basically explain what is said in the book's description, and the story really doesn't really move forward until around 40%, which however does not mean that from that point the plot is interesting (I would say it doesn't up until 70%). I would have preferred the story to start around 40-50% of the story, and the protagonist's background develop little by little as the story progressed.

In general, the book is written in a simplistic way, with short chapters (which can sometimes be as short as THREE PAGES) that can interrupt the fluidity of reading (which was the case for me, although I suppose there will be those who prefer this to long chapters).

This one was a surprising easy and quick read for me whilst it was a slow first part of the story it definitely picks up around the half way point. I did find the pacing to be off in several parts of the book too. The plot was fairly predictable from the start but that was ok with me. I felt it did need to have a few more of the twists spread earlier in the book instead of all together near the end.
The book is interesting enough to keep your attention with learning all about each of the sisters and their shifting into Swans. The world building was beautiful and I especially loved the descriptions and learning of the Swanfolks. The writing was kept fairy simply throughout the book and it was easy to follow along with.
The characters could have done with a little more development as I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them nor did I find myself rooting for any of them either.

I do feel like this book falls into the lower end of the Ya genre. It’s something I think a younger person maybe 9 plus would really enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The pacing was quite slow at first, but it picks up in the second half.

The story is quite sad and I really feel it shows how letting kids do whatever they want without consequences can lead to villains. It is not a super complex story with many subplots, but I found it easy to read and entertaining (I finished the story in one day)

I really liked the fact that sisterhood is a big theme in this book, as well as how responsibilities shape each individual.

I would have liked to learn more about the swanfolk and I enjoyed reading about Willow and Tuan and their friendship with Kiar

All in all, a pleasant and well written book

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion

The Swan Harp is definitely worth a read. While the pace was slow initially, it's one of those tales that picks up momentum with time. Although I wasn't fond of some characters, witnessing Kiar's growth was enjoyable. I won't delve into specific critiques, as reading preferences vary, and this is an ARC, not the final version, LOL. Overall, it's a solid read, and I'd recommend it.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher, for the early access.

First of all this book felt more as if was directed to middle aged teens because of the writing. Maybe it’s just me.
Secondly, a lot of the characters fell flat for me.

There were some thing that were repetitive to me. Too detailed but I just couldn’t get into it. Took me a week just to finish it.
Low 3 stars from me.

Thank you Type Eighteen books and NetGalley for this copy of eARC. All opinions are of my own.

This novel centers around three sisters: Adana, Kiar, and Orla, with the story unfolding solely from Kiar's perspective. Kiar finds herself on the path to becoming queen, a role initially designated for her older sister, while her younger sister prepares to serve as a wise-woman. The narrative delves into political intrigue, charting Kiar's evolution from being the middle child to embracing her destiny as the future queen, despite her initial reluctance.

I appreciated how the book handled the intricacies of political maneuvering, and witnessing Kiar's growth and readiness for her impending role was compelling. Initially, what I perceived as "filler" content proved to be integral when the villain's machinations are unveiled, showcasing the complexity of the plot's development. Although the identity of the villain may have been somewhat predictable, I found the multifaceted strategy required to thwart them engaging.

Overall, the story offers a decent narrative, though I believe it could benefit from further exploration of secondary characters such as Willow and Taun, who seem to exist primarily in relation to Kiar. Regarding the synopsis, I found it slightly misleading, particularly in its emphasis on Kiar's romantic struggles with Taun. Their relationship, while significant, lacks romantic overtones until the story's conclusion, challenging the perception of the novel as a romantasy. Additionally, certain elements highlighted in the synopsis, such as Kiar's supposed "inability to change shape," feel inconsequential to the overarching plot.

Despite indications of a sequel, the story felt self-contained to me, with most loose ends neatly tied up. While I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the novel, I remain uncertain about the necessity of a sequel.