Tag Archives: Romance

Review: A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,
A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

A Treachery of Swans
A. B. Poranek
Margaret K. McElderry
Published June 24, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About A Treachery of Swans

An enthralling sapphic retelling of Swan Lake, for fans of Allison Saft and V.E Schwab.

Magic has long been outlawed in Auréal. Odile has always known she’d be the one to restore it.

Raised by a sorcerer, Odile has spent years preparing for the heist of a lifetime. It’s perfectly simple. Impersonate a princess, infiltrate the palace, steal the king’s enchanted crown and restore magic to the kingdom.

But when the King is unexpectedly murdered, she’s forced to recruit the help of Marie d’Odette, the real princess, and the two begin to unravel a web of lies and deceit that leaves Odile uncertain of who to trust.

Soon though Odile must decide – her mission or the girl she’s falling for?

The fate of the Kingdom depends on her making the right choice. . .

My Review

I loved Poranek’s debut novel, Where the Dark Stands Still. Switching from that kind of story to this one was almost like reading Gilded Wolves after reading The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi. It’s the same author, and technically the same genre, but the flavor of the stories is very different.

As a former dancer, I’m always interested in reimaginings of or stories inspired by the Swan Lake ballet. This one keeps a lot of the original story’s beats but changes many of the relationships between the characters and centers the story around the relationship between Odile and Odette. The story is told from Odile’s perspective, and rather than being a prop that the sorcerer uses to trick the prince, Odile is an active character who drives the story forward herself.

I liked both Odile and Marie d’Odette’s characters, and watching the relationship develop between the two was fabulous. It was easy to feel the magnetism between them, but it didn’t feel insta-lovey or forced.

The narrative revisits this idea of agency and speaking up for oneself in Odile and Marie d’Odette but also in the prince. I liked that common theme and how the author used that challenge to shape the growth of the characters over the course of the story.

If you enjoyed Gilded by Marissa Meyer and her treatment of the story of Rumpelstiltzkin, grab a copy of A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Reference to making out and falling asleep together.

Spiritual Content
Three goddesses created and ruled the world until a sorcerer overthrew them. Some characters (with golden blood) have the ability to perform magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to and some descriptions of a beast tearing up and devouring people. Some instances of toxic/manipulative/abusive behavior of a parent toward a child.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol socially. Reference to other tonics and concoctions.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: We Can Never Leave by H. E. Edgmon

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

We Can Never Leave
H. E. Edgmon
Wednesday Books
Published June 10, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About We Can Never Leave

Sweet Tooth meets The Raven Boys in this queer young adult contemporary fantasy about what it means to belong from H.E. Edgmon.

You can never go home…

Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared around them overnight.

Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white-knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.

My Review

“Haunting” is a good word to describe this book. This is the story of five people who are members of a traveling cult. The timeline is broken into three different sections: before, what happens just as the story begins, and what’s happening in the present.

The cult collects people, usually children, who have magical ability and/or unique physical traits. At first, I wondered if the layers of magic and the splintered timeline would keep the experience of growing up in a cult more distant. In some ways, especially early in the story as we’re getting oriented to what’s going on, it does. In other ways, it purposely keeps us in a fog (not unlike the cult members themselves), making the moment we emerge from that fog pack a powerful punch.

The only other young adult novel I’ve read about cult experience that I can think of at the moment is The Project by Courtney Summers. They’re very different stories, but I think both emphasize that dizzying feeling that must come with constant gaslighting and deep information control. What’s true? What’s real? Why is this really happening?

In addition to the three separate timelines, the story also alternates perspective. We get chapters from the points of view of all five main characters. It’s up to us to piece together what each one knows and figure out what’s going on and who poses the greatest threat.

Conclusion

I want to say I enjoyed the book, but I’m not sure enjoyed is the right word? Like, I couldn’t stop thinking about it anytime I stopped reading. But it’s kind of meant to be disturbing. Not in a give-you-nightmares way, but in a let’s-think-about-the-harm/trauma-cults-cause kind of way.

People who enjoy dark realistic fantasy and books that give you an idea to pick apart will find lots to think about here.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used sometimes.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
The characters belong to a traveling group whose members have some magical ability (one woman can float) and/or strange physical traits, such as snakes for hair or antlers.

Violent Content
References to cannibalism. Some scenes show snapshots or very brief, fractured memories of participating in a ritual killing. In a couple instances, children are fed meat that we understand comes from a member of the group.

Drug Content
One character drinks alcohol to numb feelings stemming from trauma.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Finding Prince Charming by Jamar J. Perry

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Finding Prince Charming
Jamar J. Perry
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published June 10, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Finding Prince Charming

In this swoonworthy YA romance, an ordinary teenage boy finds himself accidentally fake dating a crown prince.

Tyriq Howell is swearing off of love. After a fight with his cheating ex leads to missing his college scholarship interview, he vows to be done with dating for good. Until Desmond, a boy who works in the scholarship office, approaches with a curious proposal: he’ll get Tyriq another interview if he pretends to be Desmond’s date to a fancy gala in two weeks.

When Tyriq shows up to the gala, he’s shocked when photographers swarm him and Desmond. He’s even more shocked when he finds out that Desmond is Prince Desmond of Catalina. And now that the whole world knows Desmond is gay, he’s front page news.

When the King angrily summons Desmond and his new boyfriend to Catalina, Desmond begs Tyriq to play along. If his father realizes Desmond is serious about coming out, he might finally agree to let Desmond pass the crown to his sister instead. But navigating court politics and pretend relationships is harder than Tyriq imagined-especially when he realizes that he may have accidentally broken his swearing-off-of-love rule.

My Review

I read this on the heels of a really challenging book. I definitely needed a sweet, funny, adorable romance, and this book absolutely delivered those things. Tyriq is such a sweet guy. He’s got great people in his life… except where it comes to love. There, he’s struggling to figure out how to find a relationship that balances taking with giving.

There are a few moments where the plot armor pulls the story forward before we can really parse out whether something is realistic, but honestly, I didn’t look too closely that those details. It was fun getting carried away by the romance and the fun parts of the story, and I don’t think those hiccups represented anything problematic.

I liked Tyriq’s best friend and his mom a lot. His mom is smart and pragmatic. His best friend tells him exactly what she thinks, but she’s really funny, too. Tyriq also has a twin brother, and I enjoyed the ways in which they were alike and very different from one another.

I think I read a middle grade book by Jamar J. Perry last year, and honestly, I wouldn’t have realized this was the same writer. The tone is so light and fun here, whereas his middle grade fantasy was more serious and tense. That strikes me as having some great range. I’m really interested to see what he writes next.

Readers looking for a light rom com for the summer– be sure to put Finding Prince Charming on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. A couple of scenes lead up to sex. There are a couple of details that show the characters leading up to that experience before the scene cuts away.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Paparazzi follow and pester Desmond, Tyrig and Tyriq’s family. Desmond’s dad displays some homophobia.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Out of Step, Into You by Ciera Burch

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

Out of Step, Into You
Ciera Burch
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Published May 20, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Out of Step, Into You

Out of Step, into You is a sapphic contemporary romance following childhood friends turned cross-country team rivals who are forced to work together to win the state championship – for fans of She Gets the Girl.

You can’t outrun love.

Taylor and Marianna were each other’s whole world – best friends, running partners, practically sisters – until Marianna moved away and Taylor promptly ghosted her. When the former best friends turned rivals end up on the same cross-country team three years later, everything is a competition… and a reminder of past feelings, as well as blossoming new ones.

Marianna runs because she’s angry. The oldest child of a single mother, she knows all about responsibility – for her siblings, at her part-time job. She just has to stay focused and be faster than the past nipping at her heels if she wants to secure a new, brighter future. With or without Taylor.

Taylor runs to prove herself. The only child of an almost-Olympian, she’s no stranger to high expectations. With enough effort, she knows she can immortalize herself with a state record and make her parents proud. Then, she can figure out her own passion. She definitely doesn’t have time to untangle her feelings towards Mari.

Can this pair figure out a way to work together before their past catches up with them?

My Review

A long time ago I saw someone posting that their favorite trope was friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, which I hadn’t thought much about. Since then, I’ve read several books that qualify, and I tend to enjoy them (as long as the reconnection and romance don’t seem forced). While Taylor and Marianna aren’t precisely enemies, they begin the story on rival cross-country teams after an estrangement in their friendship. So, just about as close as you can get to that trope in a contemporary romance.

The story alternates between each girl’s point of view, and I liked both right away. Marianna is under so much pressure at home with her mom needing her help with her younger siblings. Taylor’s dad has a serious health issue that she can’t always count on her parents to be honest with her about. They both have a lot on their plates in addition to competing on the cross-country team.

The romance develops tentatively, and it has several really sweet moments between the girls. They dance around whether they can be friends again (or even want to) while they each feel a growing warmth toward one another that is definitely more than friendship.

I’m also not super familiar with cross country as a sport, so it was cool reading something that informed me about it and helped me understand the stakes and celebrate the victories that each girl faced.

All in all, this is a fun romance read, perfect for summer.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
Characters attend a party where some of them drink alcohol. The next day, they perform poorly at cross country.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer and Joelle Murray

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

We Could Be Magic
Marissa Meyer
Art by Joelle Murray
Feiwel & Friends
Published June 3, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About We Could Be Magic

A swoon-worthy young adult graphic novel about a girl’s summer job at a theme park from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents’ marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.

There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well… thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn’t fit the park’s idea of a princess.

Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.

With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.

My Review

I was so excited to receive a finished copy of We Could Be Magic from the publisher in my mailbox a few days after I had surgery recently. It was a really nice pick-me-up at a time when I needed one!

It’s such an enthusiastic story. Tabi has the epitome of a can-do attitude. She shows up at her summer internship determined to bring the Summerland magic to every guest encounter she has. I loved that.

It was hard to watch some of her setbacks, just because she deserved so much more. But, as she finds allies and even a romance, you see the tide start to turn for her. Her hard work pays off in big and unexpected ways.

So Tabitha works at a theme park that’s been a huge part of her life. She loves the line of princess movies and the magic of the theme park experience. It’s not hard to squint and see some parallels to another popular theme park with a canon of princess stories.

I think this book would work really well as a transitional read for upper middle grade readers and those ready to transition to young adult books. The themes (summer romance, summer internship, and the importance of a positive attitude) give We Could Be Magic broad appeal.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A few instances of fat shaming.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Lady’s Knight
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Storytide
Published June 3, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Lady’s Knight

An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!

Gwen is sick of hiding—hiding the fact that she’s taken over her father’s blacksmithing duties, hiding her attraction to girls, hiding her yearning for glory as a knight.

Meanwhile, Lady Isobelle of Avington, queen bee of the castle, has never once considered hiding who she is—until now. She’s been chosen as the grand prize in the Tournament of Dragonslayers, to be given to whichever knight can claim her hand. And for the first time in her life, she can’t talk her way out of trouble.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s knightly ambitions, they hatch a scheme together—Gwen will joust in the tournament, disguised as Sir Gawain. Winning means freedom for Isobelle, and glory for Gwen. Losing means… well, let’s not go there.

One thing’s for sure: falling in love was never the plan.

But the best laid plans…are often trampled all over by dragons.

My Review

It’s been a minute since I’ve read anything by this duo, but I remember that I enjoyed the last book by Kaufman and Spooner that I read. This novel is a lot of fun, as one familiar with the authors would expect. The characters have serious moments, but they’re often punctuated by asides that highlight the irony of a situation or point out a paradox in the culture of the time.

The characters speak to one another in fairly modern language, which might be challenging for die-hard historical fiction fans, but will make the story more accessible for readers who generally read contemporary fiction.

The romance between Gwen and Isobelle is so sweet. They have very different personalities, and that made watching them fall in love such a joy. Isobelle is the kind of character that might be easy to write off as too silly or shallow at first, but as you get to know her, you see how she uses humor or frivolity to mask her true self. It’s not safe for her to be any other way.

The pragmatic and serious Gwen challenges Isobelle to speak up more, and in return, Isobelle challenges Gwen to believe in herself and take risks. They make a fabulous couple. I loved some of the side characters, especially Olivia, Isobelle’s maid (with a much more exciting history) and Madame DuPont, the swordswoman who helps Gwen prepare for the tournament.

The author acknowledgements say this is the first book in a series, and I say, bring it! I’m absolutely here for more adventures in this story world.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are hedge witches, who use healing herbs to help sick or wounded people and uplift women and marginalized people.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Some scenes show knights competing at jousting, which can be deadly. Some participants injure their opponents.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol and play a drinking game (a medieval version of Never Have I Ever).

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.