Story: 3 ⭐
Spice: .5 🌶 (Nudity and some risky moments but very tame)
Narration: 4⭐

I really enjoyed the narration of this story. I think she did a great job on creating the characters and showing their emotions.

I thought I would love this book in based of the synopsis but while listening to it, it was just very underwhelming. Not great, but no bad. I think this book could have been great with some good world building. You just get thrown into the story and not really understand what is going on.

It reads as a sci-fi; a woman from earth who is finishing up her degrees in Folklore leaves involuntarily with a family friend to go to a different planet. Then it moved to a more fantasy base with fairy tales integrated in. The tales are the part I really enjoyed. It has some of your favorite folk tales (not the cute Disney versions either) happening in real time on the planet. It was fun seeing the FMC be a part of the tales and her companions in aww of how she knew what was going on.

There is a barely their romance but a great friend group.

I saw a happily ever after in our future, this book and I. But sadly, I must send it kicking and screaming back into the depths from wherever it came from. A hopeful mix of fantasy and sci-fi, this story fell somewhere in the realm of nope! I should have just DNF’d it. Alas- let’s chat about what I did like…I liked the banter between Kaley, Tanic, and Soji; it was entertaining and, honestly, what held me here the longest. I liked the parade of animals Kaley acquired and even some of the world-building. But so-so much left us saying goodbye! the plot fell very far from the author's hopes, I think. I am not sure if it’s because they wanted this story to be too many things or if it was unsure of its identity from the beginning. With aliens, dragons, swans, warring governments, twisted fairytales and magical beings in helicopters, it was hard to settle on any solid footing with this story. The romance was painful, the ending was yawn-worthy, and the narrator was tolerable only on hyperspeed. I think if it was reworked it may turn out to be a really cool story, but as it sits it’s just a lot of ideas that don’t seem to flow. Not every book hits its mark, and this one definitely didn’t for me.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The premise seems absolutely beautiful, classic fairytales with a sci-fi twist! However I just couldn't connect to anyone. The mfc is from earth someone how doesn't pass her PHD dissertation and is just okay to go to an "island" she thinks is on Earth. Weird things keep happening, time is missing and she sees a dragon and has zero reaction to anything. I found this all to be to far fetched.

I DNF’d 10% in. There was no where near enough world building the premise seemed intriguing a PHD student studying folklore and fantasy transported to a fantasy world. But that wolf was an alien planet and she’s clueless. The writing was mediocre I have no idea how it made it through editing. Don’t let the pretty cover deceive you.

Several years ago I read A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux and loved the romance and fantasy.
I saw that Order of Swans was also a fantasy so I had high hopes. Sadly, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Iconic, old school historical romance author publishes a brand new fantasy out of nowhere…ummm immediately had to check it out! Order of Swans is the first book in the Blue Swan duology by Jude Deveraux (who I honestly thought stopped writing/publishing).

This is described as a spellbinding, fantasy-rich romance, where a woman is swept into a world where she has the power to alter fairy tales and change a kingdom's destiny! And I was both intrigued and confused by this book. 😂 Sure it was entertaining, but also what the heck was truly happening? I had zero expectations for this one but knew it was fantasy, so imagine my surprise when in the prologue we find out this has a sci-fi edge to it as well?! I love a sci-fi twist so I was even more intrigued and kept going.

We have different planets, space travel, and Kaley a PhD student from Florida who is an expert in folklore and fairy tales. To work on her dissertation on folklore she ends up having to space travel (makes perfect sense) and ends up getting a chip placed in her arm to communicate/understand new languages (giving IPB vibes). She ends up on a new planet and realizes it’s filled with actual fairy tales happening around her in real time. The planet also has extinct animals and things that no longer exist on earth but were spirited away to this planet for protection/safe keeping? And it kinda goes from there, with Kaley going along with whatever happens (and us as the reader too). I’m still confused what she’s going to do here on this planet, what exactly this world/universe is, what these side characters are up to, and if anyone is going to help out the fairy tale characters who are on their own loops. But like I was entertained because it was sooo different and unique at the same time, so there is that. 😅 I guess sometimes we just need to be entertained and it doesn’t have to make sense.

this right here is why i NEVER DNF a book. i went from intrigued, to “this is kind of dumb” to ..wait i kinda of love this, actually. it’s such a unique story, probably the slowest of burns, and the ending makes it impossible not to be SO excited for the next book. this is one of those fairytales i will want to read to my children one day. my only red flag is the weird insinuations and intentions with gender. i feel like we were trying to combat stereotypes and sexism commonly seen in fairytales, but in a weird, roundabout way that didn’t exactly work the way i, personally hoped it would. thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook! it was a fun ride!

This was . . . a lot. It started off in pretty solidly, following a contemporary MC, Kaley, in college and then she is basically being kidnapped and taken to a different PLANET called Bellis. And not just any planet, but a planet where our fairytales are currently coming true. That part never made sense to me. How do we, and Kaley, know these stories before they happened on Bellis? I also had a major issue with Bellis being 3 light-years away and her losing 3 years of her life just getting transported. She mentioned maybe never getting to see her grandparents alive, but she seems to get over it amazingly well. I enjoyed the originality of the different orders of people and also the banter between Tanic, Sojee, and Kaley, but none of it made a lot of sense. To add insult to injury, the book ends on a horrible cliffhanger, clearly leading into a series.

Well... that was a book.
The mix of fairytale and sci-fi did not make sense and was never explained. One minute they are in a village with Hansel and Gretel, the next minute they are in a helicopter. How did we go from contemporary college to on a space ship to cellphones to implants in your arm to fairytales are real to... oh geez I just cant with this book.
I was either bored or confused the entire time. The FMC falls into the "Sexy Baby" trope and I absolutely HATE that.

I honestly don’t know what I think of this book. On the one hand, it was very original and the premise was definitely there. On the other hand, there was so much going on that some of that got lost in translation.

I can’t decide how I felt about the “fairytale land” being on a different planet. And a planet that seems to have endless technology but also limited technology. It’s definitely an interesting concept, but it didn’t quite land.

I appreciated the inclusion of many different fairytales, but again, I think it took away from the overall plot. I was constantly trying to remember what exactly Kaley, Sojee and Tanek were trying to accomplish.

It was a good book if you want something inventive and unique. It’s not the most cohesive story, but hopefully the second book ties up some of the loose ends.

I am 37% in and fortunately I am deciding to dnf this book. I thought the idea of having a planet where all Fairy Tales come from was interesting and unique, but I don't think it was well executed. I found the World building lacking and confusing at times. I also felt the characters were very strangely written and how they interacted. I want to keep my Instagram account positive so I will not be posted a public review. Thank you for the opportunity

This fantasy adventure is a different voice from the usual Deveraux. Kaley finds herself on a planet where gruesome fairytales are playing out and magical creatures live. Kaley, Sojee and Tanek are engaging characters, but Kaley and I both found the mix of technology - spaceships, chips in arms - and a medieval magical lifestyle puzzling. The narrator came into her own partway through the novel and characters were differentiated. I will be interested to see if the next book is less chaotic.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Order of Swans” by Jude Deveraux is a captivating tale of romance, mystery, and self-discovery, and the audiobook version, narrated by Alexandra Hunter, brings this enchanting story to life in a way that only enhances its magic.

Hunter’s narration is pitch-perfect, skillfully capturing the nuances of each character and the emotional depth of the plot. Her voice is both soothing and expressive, making it easy to immerse yourself in the world Deveraux has created. She brings a dynamic energy to the dialogue, subtly shifting tone and pace to fit the drama or tenderness of each scene. Whether it's the poignant moments of personal revelation or the suspense-filled twists, Hunter's narration keeps the listener fully engaged from start to finish.

Deveraux’s storytelling shines through in this audiobook as well, with her signature blend of romance and rich character development. The plot is intricate and compelling, full of surprises that keep you eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Fans of historical fiction with a touch of mystery and heartwarming romance will find “Order of Swans” to be an absolute delight.

If you're a fan of Jude Deveraux’s writing, you won't be disappointed by this audiobook. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable listen, and Alexandra Hunter’s narration elevates the experience, making it an audiobook that is hard to put down. Highly recommended for anyone looking to escape into a world full of romance, intrigue, and unforgettable characters.

I found this story fascinating. The concept of being transported to another place with the intention of researching fairytales and meeting your own destiny was inspiring. The connection the characters were making with each other was very well detailed and it made me feel for them. I like how it ended and can't wait to see if there will be a second book. The author did a really good job with the slow burn and build up to the end. I truly want to see where that storyline goes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read this book.

I'm going to start off by saying that I don't think was so much of a romance. which as a romance reader I'll be hyper focused on this when a book as categorized as such. Did I enjoy the story? Absolutely and am looking forward to the next one to see how everything unfolds with Kaley, Tanek and the whole crew.

It was a little unbelievable that Kaley just transitioned into all these out of the world things with ease, but I went along with it because why not! But being the Earth person, brought an interesting and fun element to the fantasy world she's in. I wasn't sure how I felt about the mix of fantasy and science-fiction. It felt slightly off at times, but overall, it made for a unique read.

As for the romance, it was very low and the tension was almost getting there. It wasn't until the end where we really start to feeling anything emotionally between the MCs. And with the way it ended, I'm stressed!

Overall, I enjoyed this one and will be picking up the audio for book 2. I was expecting more romance, but we didn't get it, so hopefully we'll see more in the next book.

Narration was amazing, bravo to the casting! Alexandra Hunter did a phenomenal job with bringing out the voices to Order of Swans.

3.75/5

The premise of this story drew me in. You’ve got Kaley who has always been drawn to folklore and fairytales visiting her lifelong friend Jobi’s hometown. Except Jobi doesn’t just live in another state or country, Jobi lives on a different planet. Bellis, a land where fairytales are real. Kaley then gets tasked with finding the lost prince and travels thru Bellis accompanied by Tanek and Sojee.

I have to admit, I was pretty lost for a vast majority of this book. It all happens pretty quickly. I will say that I felt for Kaley, the moment she realized that the other planet jokes were in fact not jokes, yeah that was rough. Bellis is three light years away from Earth and when she realizes there’s a chance she may never make it back in time to see her grandparents again, it was rough. All in all, I was a fan of the twists on fairytales, the adventure and the love story. I was not however, a fan of that cliffhanger.

As always, thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for this ALC!

I think this book is being miscategorized as a romantasy/fantasy romance when I think it sways closer to adventure fantasy with romance. I know this is semantics sometimes but I think it's best to set the expectations here. There is romance, I don't believe it's the driving part of the story at all. If you're seeking a swoony, ACOTAR replacement, this ain't it.

I did, however, love this book. Sure, the FMC is conveniently very easy going about a lot of bizarre things a human should be concerned with ...like IRL dragons and witches...but we can look past these things, right?

It does start off with a heavy sci-fi vibe and that theme weaves through the book occasionally but it makes for a unique and fresh fantasy. I loved the found family and the folklore/fairytale vibes. I'm very much looking forward to the final book. I do wish there had been more tension and build up for the romance but I think how it approaches the slow burn resolves itself and makes sense later.

Thank you so much to the author, Harlequin and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

3.5 ⭐️

Order of Swans by Jude Deveraux is a creative mix of romantic fantasy and sci-fi with a fresh twist on fairy tales. The story follows Kaley, a graduate student whose love for folklore and fairytales drives her PhD dissertation. After her advisor rejects her work for being too derivative, she jumps at the chance to visit her family friend Jobi’s home island, hoping to discover new stories. But it turns out Jobi isn’t taking her to just any island—he’s whisking her off to another planet, Bellis, where magic and science collide in fascinating and sometimes chaotic ways.

Kaley ends up on a journey across Bellis with two unexpected companions: Tanek, a Swanherder with some mysterious swan DNA that gives him subtle animal traits, and Sojee, a playful but skilled warrior who never misses a chance to tease Tanek or push him closer to Kaley. Together, they’re tasked with helping a prince avoid an arranged marriage, but along the way, Kaley realizes something strange: the fairy tales she’s loved since childhood—like Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel—are actually happening in front of her eyes. Why this is happening remains a mystery (for now), but it’s clear that Bellis holds more secrets than Kaley ever imagined.

The world-building here is really interesting, blending Kaley’s human perspective with the unique culture of Bellis. The author does a great job showing how Kaley’s lack of understanding creates cultural missteps and misunderstandings, which adds humor and depth to her interactions. And the swan-like features of Tanek, while subtle, hint at some fun possibilities for the future of his and Kaley’s relationship.

That said, the book isn’t perfect. The pacing is uneven—some parts feel a bit rushed, while others linger on details. And the ending? It’s very abrupt. I didn’t even realize it was the first in a series until I finished it, which made it feel like the story cut off midstream. Still, if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, slow-burn romance, or fantasy with a touch of sci-fi, this is a promising start to what could be a really fun series. Just be prepared to want the next book right away!

I was really excited to pick this book up based on the blurb — the ability to alter fairytales sounded right up my alley. I did really enjoy that element of the story. It placed interesting twists on the classics we already knew. I also appreciated the academia elements to the story. I enjoyed the FMC as a whole and could easily relate to her love of fairytales and folklore. The main issue I had was struggling to connect with the author’s writing style and overall execution of the plot. I read this via audiobook and thought the narration was good. Hunter was able to keep my focus on the story. I thought there was an appropriate amount of emotion added to the performance.

Kaley is obsessed with folklore and fairy tales, so much so that she is studying this topic for her PhD. She goes on an adventure with lifelong friend, Jobi, who jokes about living on another planet with aliens. She laughs this off and is inspired by the talk of going to a country with kings, royalty, and a totally different way of living.

When they arrive, she finds herself in a mysterious world where the fairy tales she loves seem to come to life. Arriving in Bellis, still thinks herself roaming islands of her world and not a totally different universe. She’s tasked with finding a missing prince hiding away to avoid his arranged marriage. Joining her are some strong side characters, who I really loved, Tanek and Sojer !

She navigates this new world through her journey as she tries to understand more about the people and life her and how she is connected to it all.

This book was very unique and I loved the fairytales embedded into the world and story. Loved adding the sci-fi element to this fantasy and some academia feel as well. The spice was spicing !! This is book 1 of 2, would read the next book also!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/28/25