[PRE-ORDER] A Snake Among Swans (The Wing and the Ways, #1) by Hannah Kaner

Release Date: 9/08/2026

sapphic fantasy • political intrigue • enemies-to-lovers tension • forbidden magic • revenge

A conquered kingdom. A dangerous royal court. A woman determined to reclaim what was taken from her. In A Snake Among Swans, Hannah Kaner reimagines the dark fairy tale of The Wild Swans through the eyes of the woman at its center, weaving together forbidden magic, political intrigue, sapphic yearning, and a fierce hunger for revenge.

The Vibe

Tilde is the last surviving heir to a conquered kingdom, carrying the whispers of her ancestors and the mysterious kithwood with her. To unite two nations and end the bloodshed, she enters a marriage with the aging King Liran, stepping directly into a court where her very presence threatens the established order.

The Swan King's court is a nest of competing loyalties. Liran's older sons see Tilde as a threat, his daughter Elise has spent her life devoted to her family, and powerful priests hold influence over them all. As Tilde navigates this treacherous world, her own ambitions and alliances remain close to the surface.

Dark, atmospheric, and richly political, this is a fantasy of wild magic, female rage, vengeance, and power. The romance brings a simmering sapphic tension to a story where love and loyalty can be just as dangerous as magic. Readers who love intricate court politics, morally complicated characters, fairy-tale retellings, and epic fantasy with a romantic edge will find plenty to devour.

Tropes & Tags

• Sapphic fantasy
• Political fantasy
• Fairy-tale retelling
• Dark fantasy
• Court intrigue
• Forbidden magic
• Revenge
• Warring kingdoms
• Wild magic
• Female rage
• Royal marriage
• Competing loyalties
• Complex family dynamics
• Sapphic yearning
• Morally complicated characters
• Power and ambition
• Inspired by The Wild Swans

Books in Series (In Order)

• A Snake Among Swans, #1

The Wing and the Ways is an announced fantasy trilogy, and A Snake Among Swans is officially identified as Book One. No additional installments have been officially titled, so they are not listed here.