I went into A Snake Among Swans completely blind, and this is also my first time reading anything by this author. I’m very glad I did.

This is a political fantasy that begins with the promise of vengeance but quickly expands into something much more layered, exploring identity, survival, and the cost of challenging systems that were never built for you.

Content warnings for this book include sexual assault, extreme violence (including graphic deaths of children), misogyny, homophobia, and parental and spousal abuse.

What stood out most to me was the dual POV structure and how it highlights two very different relationships to powerlessness and agency. One character is actively learning how to reclaim control over her life after loss, while the other begins to question the beliefs, conditioning, and expectations that have shaped her entire identity. Watching those arcs develop in parallel was one of the most compelling parts of the book.

The women in this story are its heart. They are ambitious, intelligent, angry, compassionate, and deeply complicated. The narrative never flattens them into archetypes, instead allowing them to exist in their contradictions, which makes their choices feel consistently impactful. This complexity feeds into one of the book’s strongest themes: the many forms of power—political, social, religious, and personal—and who is allowed to hold it, who is denied it, and what it costs to resist those systems.

The political intrigue is dense at times, and there were moments where I felt slightly weighed down by the detail, but it ultimately builds a world that feels intentional and layered, with consequences that accumulate meaningfully as the story progresses.

Despite that complexity, I became deeply emotionally invested in the characters and their journeys. I didn’t expect to finish this in one sitting, but once the momentum picked up, I couldn’t put it down. So, if you enjoy political fantasy with morally complex characters, intricate worldbuilding, and a strong focus on ambitious women navigating systems of power, this is an easy recommendation.

This was a strong introduction to the author for me, and I’m very curious to read more from them. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

yearning, vibes, beautiful prose with well rounded characters and a love so strong they’d be willing to die and kill for each other, what more could a girl ask for

I went into Hazelthorn because I loved Don’t Let the Forest In, and somehow C.G. Drews managed to sink the claws in even deeper. This book wrapped its vines around me, pulled me under, and didn’t let go until the final page.

This is a story about grief, identity, abuse, autonomy, longing, and the desperate need to be loved for exactly who you are. It is also about a deeply suspicious garden that may or may not be everyone’s problem.

What struck me most was the writing. C.G. Drews writes with an almost obsessive lushness that turns every emotion into something tangible. Hunger becomes love. Love becomes grief. Fear becomes devotion. The prose is gorgeous, decadent, and just a little rotten around the edges. There were entire passages I had to stop and reread because they were that good.

The relationship at the heart of this story completely consumed me. Every interaction feels charged with loneliness, fear, tenderness, and longing. Drews creates a connection that feels both fragile and intense, making it impossible not to become invested in these characters and their journey.

The book’s handling of abuse and conditioning was especially powerful. Some of the most heartbreaking moments come from seeing the lasting impact of control and cruelty, and the ways people learn to survive within impossible circumstances.

And then there’s Hazelthorn itself. The house and garden create an atmosphere so immersive that they feel inseparable from the story being told. Every hallway, locked door, and overgrown corner contributes to the sense that something is always waiting just beneath the surface.

One of my favorite things about this book was how much it trusted the reader. It doesn’t rush to explain everything immediately, instead allowing questions, mysteries, and emotions to build naturally over the course of the story. As someone who spent the entire book theorizing, I had an incredible time.

This book made me question everything, trust nothing, and happily scream my theories into the void for days. Even when I was wrong, I was having an incredible time. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽