Such a great YA historical fiction book! The pacing was perfect in my opinion, and the story was well detailed! I especially love that this was a coming-of-age story set during the French Revolution. I know many readers who will love this one and I plan on recommending this to all of them.

Paris, 1792.

The French Revolution. Aristocrats are being burned out of their lavish estates, ruthlessly hung in the streets, and lined up publicly to face the bloody guillotine.

The elaborately detailed story is told by nineteen-year-old Hélène; born an aristocrat but with the heart of a revolutionary. Accused of being a spy and wrongly imprisoned, she takes us through her past as a pampered upper-class girl, through to when the timeline converges to her present as a prisoner in fear of her life.

As the National Assembly gains power, the common people rebel against the aristocrats. Hélène and her family have to run for their lives leaving behind her comforts, the only family she’s ever known and Theo, the love of her life. Displaced and unwelcomed by her mother’s long-estranged family in Grasse, Hélène begins to learn bits of her family’s past but only enough to spur her curiosity to know the entire truth.

Fleeing once more, this time on her own, Hélène runs away to Paris in search of the truth and to find Theo. When disappointment leads to heartache, Hélène finds herself needing to leave her past behind and move on, if she’s going to survive.

Set in the politically tumultuous and viciously societal time of the French Revolution, Bandy delivers a brilliantly researched tale. What I find exceptional is how it is told by a teenager. How much suffering had to be endured and survival was wrought with fear and uncertainty by one so young. These were violent, savage times with no one safe from losing their heads.

I think this is a superb read, particularly for the YA genre, because of its excellent historical detail and accuracy of what life was like for young people and the effort of women of all ages who were fighting for the right to be heard and recognized as citizens of value.

Undeniably a compelling read—highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the read of Lindsay K. Bandy’s, Nemesis and the Swan.

Opinions expressed are my own.

To start, I really dislike the cover. It’s just strange to me, and a major miss to draw good attention to this book. Now to sum up my reading experience and thoughts on the book: just okay. I’m not sure YA is really the target audience here. Age up the main character a bit and do some editing, and this would probably be better received as general fiction. The French Revolution component was well done and felt genuine. The characters were okay, but could have been more fully developed. The plot was convoluted, and would be more successful if just one component was focused on and done well.

This is a nice historical romance, set just before and during the French Revolution. The protagonist is a young noblewoman who is on the verge of escaping her suffocating family when the Revolution comes, throwing everyone's lives into turmoil and jeopardy. In hiding, she learns family secrets that explain much of the family dynamic, and gives her the information she needs to take control of her own life. The writing is lovely and detailed, although sometimes a bit jarring for the speakers' ages or the time period, and the descriptions of places and objects made me want to linger longer in the rooms that housed them. There is quite a bit of deus ex machina at the end, but it's a satisfying conclusion.

After trying to begin the book, I was unable to continue due to my lack of interest. I will try to pick it up again at a later date, and if I am able to continue reading, I will post a more detailed review here.

I am extremely sorry, but this was not what I thought it would be and it doesn't suit my reading preferences. Thank you very much for the free e-ARC.

I’m honestly a bit confused about how to feel about this one. I didn’t hate it... I also didn’t love it. I almost felt like the author was struggling to choose one main plot and therefore they both fell flat. I did enjoy the style of writing and there were parts that had me fully invested. Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book to a friend BUT I do think the author shows potential and I would like to read books that she releases in the future.

Being promoted as a YA novel, this jewel is a must for historical fiction lovers of all ages.

Amidst the French Revolution love is blooming.
Hélène has to flee her home and leave behind the prosperous life she's always known. Traveling all over France with friends and family while her heart is longing for Theo, the apprentice jeweler who made her a firm promise. Will they find their way back to each other?

At a fast pace the reader moves through chaos in the streets, raging politicians and civilians, violence in prison and a family secret on top of that. This is a story of wealth and poverty, trust and loyalty, laughter and hurt. A gripping well crafted book set in turbulent times. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.

The Nemesis of Love
Typically, World History is not my thing. So when I saw that my latest book to review was set during the French Revolution I expected to be indifferent (or maybe even bored), but soon found myself pleasantly swept along by this story of love, betrayal, and jealousy. Nemesis and the Swan is an excellent introduction to the root causes of the French Revolution and its ties to the American Revolution, while also offering up a satisfying amount of fictional mystery and romance.

The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Helene, who is noble by birth, but in love with a commoner. As the reader, you are transported back and forth between Helene’s current situation of imprisonment for unspecified crimes, and her past as a French aristocrat turned bookshop-keeper and revolutionary. It is clear from the beginning of the story that Helene finds the idea of arranged marriage due to her duties as a member of the nobility as distasteful, and that she believes (at least to some extent) in the idea of equality among the classes, and perhaps the sexes. The book does a good job of showing her increasing acceptance of these ideas as she begins to experience more of the world, and as she meets more common people who are both warm and intelligent…a combination she has not seen much of in her gilded world. One word of caution: one of the main antagonists in the story comes close to sexually assaulting Helene, and he continues to threaten and bully her for the rest of the book, which may be triggering for some readers.

The mystery of the story revolves around Helene’s true identity, making her out to be a Helen of Troy like character for her nemesis…which could be her mother, or the wife of the man who loves her. Nemesis and the Swan is full of mythological references, romantic intrigue, and perhaps even murder. See the source imageThe characters love art, music, and philosophy, focusing extensively on the themes of optimism and realism, and whether or not they can complement each other. This is a book that can easily be consumed in a day; the story flows quickly, and seamlessly weaves the historical references with the fictional story and characters. I can see it being a hit with high school students as extra credit or supplementary reading to a unit on the French Revolution, or with adults who love a good historical fiction romance.

In our current world of pandemic driven lock-downs, social distancing, and the accompanying feelings of anxiety and loneliness, Helene’s realization that she is worthy of retaining hope, and of feeling joy, is a welcome reminder that there is always a source of light to drive back the darkness. We just have to be patient enough to allow the light to find us.

I found this historical novel to be expertly crafted, paced, and detailed. A very enjoyable coming-of-age story that fans of the French Revolution will easily lose themselves in.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This book takes place at the beginning of the French Revolution, which is always a period of time that both fascinates and horrifies me. Throughout the book, characters face the challenge of choosing "the right wrong," or the lesser of two evils. This idea fits well in all situations of the book, especially against he backdrop of the revolution.

Hélène alternates between past (starting in 1789, age 16) and present (1792, age 19), gradually moving up through time until they're the same. Overall, I like her, and I think she genuinely tries to be a good person. She's in a difficult position of trying to reconcile her feelings of freedom and equality with her station and that value of the lives of everyone around her. In addition, she struggles with the truths she learns about her parents and family, as well as the loss of someone who was suddenly and viciously taken from her. But still, she tried to be good, and she was kind even throughout her grief.

For the most part, the characters were complex and believably human, mixed good and bad. Even Hélène had times when I held my breath, hoping she'd do the right thing even while understanding her temptations.

Let's talk about Jacques and Théo for a moment, without giving too much away:

One, I don't know exactly how old they are. It's implied that Jacques isn't that much older than Hélène, and we know he began working for Guy Miles at about 14, but we don't know how long ago that was; I'm going to assume he's about 2-3 years older than Hélène. We know Hélène and Théo met when she was 10 and that he had a funny mustache at the time; in 1789, he's about to take his master jewelers examination. Mostly based on the mustache info, I'm going to guess that he was probably about 14 when they met, making him about 4 years her senior; though the range for that is much wider, I don't want to put him at the upper end of it.

Two, though I tried not to wish things could work with Théo after a certain point, I could never bring myself to want her to be with Jacques. It's not that he was a bad guy--he just always felt like a rebound. And, okay, I admit I didn't much like his past, how his professional relationships with the women he painted didn't always remain professional. And, can I just say, I really hate it when characters say to their current love interests that anyone who came before "didn't matter" to them. I get that it's supposed to be their way of saying, "My feelings for you are real and true and lasting." But do you know what I see/hear? "I've chosen to spend my time on, use my effort with, and give my body to people whom I didn't actually care about." Why should that ever convince me? That's right, it doesn't. So that's my thought on Jacques. Théo, despite his feelings and the circumstances, (mostly) tried to be honorable, and I respect him for that. (I say "mostly" because there was one mild instance that I kind of excuse him for because I can't really insist that he was possessed of his faculties.) I admit I was concerned about how this aspect of the story would play out. However, it worked. Very conveniently, mind you, but I'm not sure how else it could have happened and been okay.

The significance of the book's title eluded me for quite some time, but it made sense by the end. There are still some things left unanswered (regarding Vivienne's death, mostly), but I feel like overall, there is closure for the story.

Note: I think there might have been some language. Very mild implied sex scene. French Revolution.

This YA novel is a gripping tale of a young woman's life through the French Revolution.
Helene had always lived the life of a wealthy aristocrat. At a young age, thanks to the guidance of her governess, she secretly starts thinking like a revolutionary herself. However, she soon learns that she is not the only one in her family with secrets. As the revolution progresses, her family and life completely unravel and she faces horrors she never imagined possible. While imprisoned she awaits the unknown and she can't help but wonder if this will be the end for her, as it was for so many nobles before her. Will she ever find out the truth behind her families deepest and darkest secret? Will she finally be reunited with the love of her life? Or will the guillotine be her final fate?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a little bit of everything - drama, mystery, romance, and more. I would recommend this book to fans of YA historical fiction.

Nemesis and the Swan is a fantastic introduction to the french revolution, and something rarely seen in a YA novel. It's a great read for people who want to learn more about the revolution and also covers being born in to a life of privilege. It's a relevant read full of romance, mystery and intrigue.

I was intrigued and excited to pick up Nemesis and the Swan- I've really been enjoying stories set during the French Revolution, I love mysteries, this book seemed like it would be a win. However, I really struggled with the shifting timelines that felt like they added little to the story. The main character also felt a little flat and underdeveloped. Overall, this was an okay story but not one of my favorites.

This is a YA historical fiction book that tells the story of young Helene, daughter of a Marquis on the eve and deep into the French Revolution.
I wanted to love this book, but honestly it wasn’t for me, I struggled to get on with the changing timelines, that alternated between Hélène in prison and the modern day story. I felt the prison scenes detracted from the story rather than adding to it. Preventing me from getting drawn into the story.
The book also seems confused as it what it is, is it a mystery (the plot with Vivienne was by far the most interested parts for me) a history, or a romance?
The real problem for me though lay with Hélène, as a character she was weak and flat. I could not bring myself to care about her. She declares herself a revolutionary but doesn’t actually do or believe In anything.. She also manages to avoid entirely being present at any of the interesting events of the story, they all happen whilst she is sent away/locked in her room/before she was born. Which is very frustrating. The upshot is nothing much seems to happen apart from the romance element that is just far too neat and cliched.
There are some good points, the secondary characters are well drawn and intriguing Jacque/little Adele especially. The author also writes clearly and the book is well edited.
For me however this story just didn’t work.

This book is a phenomenal pick for YA, introducing them to both the French Revolution, inspired by the American Revolution, and also to a young heroine born into privilege, torn by the revolution and inspired by women voicing their opinions and putting words into action.

Paris, 1792. From the prison cell, nineteen-year-old aristocrat Helene d’Aubign reveals her story.

1783. Ten-year-old Helene receives lessons from a female governess, who also introduces her to a world she’s being sheltered from. A world of science and reason, but this part is their secret. The governess leads Helene to socializing and formal conversation, where she meets Hugo. He talks about slavery in Saint Dominique and who “advocates for the freedom of Blacks in the Caribbean.” She is also introduced to the talks about “starving Parisian children and the Declaration of the Rights of Man.” She learns the word revolutionary and questions - could the daughter of a marquis be a revolutionary?

1789. Powers are shifting constantly. Now, the National Assembly represents the common people of France. Violence rises in the countryside. Mobs of villagers attack chateaus. Helene’s family and other aristocrats are fleeing Paris. They travel to Grasse, to her mother’s family estate. But why Helene doesn’t know this side of the family? Once there, she tries to uncover it.

At the age of ten, Helene meets Theo; her mother’s jeweler’s apprentice. At the age of sixteen, she knows she wants to be with him. Her aristocratic roots would never allow it. She can’t marry him. Or can she? Her governess planted a seed in her mind that anything was possible. With powers shifting all the time, can she get back to Paris and flee with Theo to America as they planned?

The story also has an aspect of jewelry woven into it, which I enjoyed. As the powers shift, the taste for jewelry changes as well. Now, the style is moving toward “simplicity and symmetry, away from excess and decadence. The goal is to emphasize natural beauty…”

A young heroine of this story begins her revolution with innocent heart. She wants to marry a man she loves and not the one her family “contracts” for her. She follows her revolution through family matters. It makes her think and mature. She makes her own decision. Then, comes the real revolution. Which side will she pick?

This story is interestingly written. It involves many aspects which might be eye opening for YA readers. It involves strong women making their voices heard, when they were supposed to be voiceless. It involves dreamers vs realists; words vs action. The fight for liberty and equality.

Nemesis and the Swan is a story set during the French Revolution that tells about two lovers who are separated by social status and the actions of others. Hélène, the daughter of an aristocrat, falls in love with Théo, a jeweler’s apprentice. Her family is against their relationship; so, when the revolutionaries attack their castle, Hélène is secreted away to the south of France to her grandparents’ home. She tries to escape her mother. But, family secrets and her love for Théo make her flee to Paris three years later to hopefully find the man she loves and to find out what is behind the family secrets.
The story accurately portrays life during the revolution. It gives incite into lives of the aristocracy and common people during that time. I found it enlightening and frightening. Having studied the French Revolution, I felt it added more to my understanding of it.
I enjoyed reading this book greatly. I recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Lindsay K. Bandy has a beautiful prose, but I just don't think there was enough story here for it to fill. A lot of time and love was clearly put into this book and I think that's where the problem lays. This is the type of story where you need to love an MC to get invested and its easy as a writer to mistake your love for a character that's lived in your head for so long for the feelings the readers will have towards them. Nemesis and the Swan isn't as much about its plot as it is about how MC Helene is effected by it, but she's not a gripping enough character to keep the reader invested in her plights.

This book works with two timelines, alternating between Helene's arrest and imprisonment and her life from teen years to adulthood and while starting with Helene's arrest likely does help create a sense of intrigue and causes the reader to wonder what got her there, the cuts to small blurbs of her imprisonment from larger story didn't really add anything to the story for me and often times felt out of place. The book feels hindered by these cut scenes, likely due to the fact that each new chapter is signified by an added day of incarceration so when some of the chapters reach there natural end, it feels like the prison scene used to start the next one has been added to allow the chapter break instead of to progress the story.