Combining the tales of Aladdin, Anastasia and The Swan Princess...
Once upon a time, there was a perfect prince.Polished. Proper. Every inch the golden heir. Until the night his parents were murdered, his crown nearly stolen, and he vanished into the dark.
Cursed to wear feathers by moonlight, Prince Zephyr hides his secret while the kingdom fractures. His family insists there’s only one way to break the he must marry. But Zephyr refuses to be forced—he’ll only wed if he gets to choose his bride.
So he issues a royal every eligible maiden who survives a series of trials will earn a place at the royal ball… where he will choose one woman to stand at his side.
Enter Aria, street-raised and steel-hearted. The only woman among the kingdom’s forty thieves, she knows survival better than any court-bred princess. When word spreads that the prince intends to gift his bride a legendary amulet with the power to grant one wish, her king of thieves sees the opportunity of a lifetime—and sends her undercover to claim it.
She doesn’t believe in crowns. She doesn’t believe in curses. And she sure as hell doesn’t believe in love.
But the closer she dances to the prince, the more dangerous her mission becomes. Because stealing his heart might be the one thing she can’t survive.
Magic is treacherous. Desire is worse. And in this kingdom, happily-ever-after is written in blood.
A thief in disguise. A cursed prince. One chance to survive the game.
Prince Zephyr was born to rule, perfect on paper and suffocating in practice. When his parents are murdered and he’s cursed to wear feathers under moonlight, everything shifts. Now he hides behind court masks and quiet control, offering one chance at freedom: a royal decree where survivors of deadly trials earn a spot at the ball. The prize? A single wish from a legendary amulet.
Aria doesn’t believe in magic or crowns. Raised in the shadows by the Forty Thieves, she enters the game to steal the amulet and walk away clean. Pretending to be nobility, she dances with liars, spars with rivals, and clashes with a prince who is far more than a polished heir. She is here for the job, but the longer she stays, the harder it gets to remember which side she is on.
As secrets rise and bloodlines twist, the court turns dangerous. Aria finds herself at the center of a storm she never meant to trigger, while Zephyr stands on the edge of duty and desire. The kingdom teeters, magic stirs, and trust becomes the one thing neither of them knows how to give.
Aria grows from a sharp-edged thief into a leader who finally lets herself be seen. Zephyr sheds the weight of expectation to fight for something real. Their bond starts with tension and guarded glances, then slowly becomes a partnership built on trust, fire, and choice.
A slow burn, enemies to lovers, royal romantasy with hidden identities, magic curses, dangerous trials, rooftop rescues, and stolen kisses. It’s about survival, power, loyalty, and becoming who you are when no one else gets to decide. At its heart, it’s about two people choosing each other in a world that never gave them the chance.
The Elevator Pitch: A cursed prince. A thief in disguise. One stolen kiss away from unraveling the kingdom. Magic, betrayal, and slow burn longing collide in a fairytale where nothing is as it seems and love might be the most dangerous choice of all.
This book was everything I could want in a fairytale retelling. This story was like a mash up of Aladdin and The Swan Princess with gender role swap.
Zephyr, the Swan Prince, is in need of finding a wife so he can take the crown over from his aunt and uncle. He’s infatuated with Aria (one of the Forty Thieves), she’s fiery and unlike anyone he’s ever met.
Aria finds herself in a a series of trials to demonstrate who could take the hand of the prince. During this time we get EVERYTHING in a slow burn romance. The longing, the yearning, the stolen moments, the banter.
She pushes his buttons and he bites back.
Among all this, secrets are revealed, promises made, battles are coming, allies and formed and broken.
This is perfect for anyone who loves fairytale retellings, slow burn, fantasy, magic, secrets, and trials.
It was incredibly well written, there were plenty of hilarious moments, as well as many that left me on the edge of my seat.
Aria and Zephyr were brilliant characters and both were thoroughly complex, I enjoyed seeing the story progress surrounding them but also enjoyed seeing some of the side characters as well, who definitely added to the story!
The Swan Prince by Ari Roper is a dark, dazzling fairytale retelling that enchanted me from the first page to the last. Once, Prince Zephyr was the kingdom’s perfect heir: golden, refined, and destined for greatness. Then his parents were murdered, his crown nearly stolen, and he disappeared into the shadows, cursed to grow feathers under the moonlight. With his kingdom fracturing, his family pushes marriage as the key to breaking the curse. Determined not to be forced into anything, Zephyr and his family each choose a potential bride and create a set of trials, promising that whoever survives will earn a place at the royal ball… where he will choose his bride. Enter Aria: street-raised, steel-willed, and the only woman among the kingdom’s infamous forty thieves. She doesn’t believe in crowns, or love, but when word spreads that the prince intends to gift his bride a legendary wish-granting amulet, she goes on a mission: get into the ball, win the trials, and steal the prize. But the closer she gets to Zephyr, the more dangerous her mission becomes, because falling for him might be the one thing she can’t survive. Ari Roper delivers everything. The banter is the sassiest of sass (I laughed out loud more than once), the twists and turns do not let up, and the slow-burn chemistry between Zephyr and Aria absolutely gave me life. The spice is there, the tension is delicious, and the characters are beautifully written: complex, wounded, fierce, and unforgettable. The villains made me angry enough to throw things, and don’t even get me started on the side romance. OMG. I need a Fenric in my life…and a Jax. Truly. A breathtaking blend of danger, desire, magic, and mayhem, The Swan Prince is a sassy, spicy, romantic fairytale you’ll want to reread the moment you finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I chapter by chapter read this book! it is amazing. thats all i can say.. like.. just wow.
the imagination ari has as a writer is amazing. it is why she is my top favourite author. You give her ideas - she takes those ideas or hints of them - twists and morfs them into a story beyond your wildest dreams!!!!
this one in particular. follows Zephyr the mmc - a prince - hiding a secret curse. & follows Aria the fmc - a raider
world's collide - can a raider really love a royal?
Also the side characters Fenric & Jax - A MAZING banter! loved it.
the chapters just kept me wanting more and more. the characters were amazing - there was nothing simple about the mmc and fmc - they themselves were so complex and their lives, you just had to keep reading to find out more!
the world building was done so beautifully, you really could visualise what you read and felt as if you were part of the book. it made it even more enjoyable than it already was! -
I loved seeing the story unfold and the twists and turns were not what I expected! I was on the edge of my seat and gasping so much! There is also alot of halerious moments and halerious one liners that had me laughing my head of. if i wasn't laughing with this book, I was crying. if that doesnt make a good book, what does?!
I can 1000% say i WILL be buying the physical of this to add to the rest of my Ari Roper collection. I cannot recommend not just this, but all of Ari's books enough!
The Swan Prince is an amazing retelling with a twist. This book is about gentleness, belonging, chosen family, and learning to embrace who you truly are ... even when the world tells you not to.
The world building is absolutely phenomenal. Every place feels alive, detailed, and magical without ever feeling overwhelming. I slipped into this world effortlessly, and before I knew it, the story was over.
The characters are where this story really shines. They’re beautifully written, deeply human, and incredibly easy to get attached to. Every interaction feels sincere, every emotion earned. I cared so much about them that I found myself smiling constantly while reading. (Ch 19 made me giggle)
And the story itself? Sweet. Soft. Comforting. But also full of action. The kind of book that wraps around your heart and makes you feel safe while still delivering real emotional depth.
Reading an Ari Roper book is never just reading a book. It’s an experience. She has this rare gift of turning words into emotions and stories into something deeply personal.
Once again, Ari Roper proves that she knows exactly how to create magic on the page
A twist on The Swan Princess meets My Fair Lady, with a dash of Aladdin.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The angst and yearning are deliciously torturous and I couldn’t put it down. A slow burn with a perfectly timed “fuck it” moment always works for me 😜 Aria is a queen of thieves who finds herself at the palace, competing with noble ladies for Prince Zephyr’s heart… though she definitely has an ulterior motive.
There are a few minor gripes, like the repetition of certain phrases (such as, “mismatched eyes”), but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I did wish the elemental magic had been explored more, and I would’ve loved more page time for Aria and Sylvenne’s friendship, their dynamic seemed fun.
The ending felt a little rushed and briefly confused me, with reveals happening very quickly, though I loved that some twists genuinely surprised me. The writing itself is strong, Jax was a great side character, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author, especially if there’s a sequel.
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
A hauntingly beautiful fairytale romance with rich world building and swoon-worthy tension
The Swan Prince by Ari Roper is the kind of story that feels like stepping into a moonlit fairytale—soft, eerie, and threaded with longing. Roper blends folklore, magic, and slow-burn desire into a spellbinding tale that lingers long after the final page.
The prince himself is captivating: mysterious, burdened, and irresistibly tender beneath all that enchantment. His dynamic with the protagonist glows with yearning—quiet moments, charged glances, and a simmering connection that builds toward a payoff both emotional and deliciously heated.
The atmosphere is stunning. Misty lakes, cursed wings, stolen nights, and the weight of old magic make the world feel alive and dangerous in all the right ways. The plot moves gracefully, never rushing, allowing every romantic beat and magical reveal to land with impact.
Roper’s writing is elegant and immersive, weaving a story that’s part fairytale, part fantasy romance, and entirely enchanting.
If you love soft princes with sharp edges, curses, lush settings, and slow-burn chemistry that glows like embers, The Swan Prince is a must-read.
The Swan Prince saw my expectations, plucked them, set them on fire and then stomped on them for good measure. This book was incredible! It is a classic fairytale that I felt was made specifically to bring back that whimsy you felt reading the classics as a child. The serene and nostalgic vibes were heartwarming, I spent most of the book giggling with a massive smile on my face.
The characters were perfection. The perfect mix between brave, funny, sarcastic and tortured. Even the side characters, and the ones you're meant to be betting against, make you fall in love with them. The villains really had you seething and plotting their demise. While being a classic fairy tale style story, it still had plenty of slow burn, longing and even a little spice which was written so beautifully.
The twists at the end had me in tears a couple of times, the scenes so raw and full of feeling. This is the first time this year I've cried at a book!
After reading The Swan Prince, I feel I got back a little piece of my stolen childhood, so for that, thank you! It will be a story I will always treasure!
This book is a perfect read for those who want to read a romantasy, where fmc is strong, independent has issues, but stays true to herself and her beliefs, where mmc is emotionally available, a cinnamon roll but can be badass and protect the people that matter the most, where not only the main but also the side characters have very beautiful, interesting characters, so much it makes you want to have another book solely surrounding just them.
One of the things I loved the most was the witty and funny banter between the main characters and their friends. It showed their chemistry, their characters the best and it added a little spice to the book. I adored all the scenes of that. It truly made me smile, giggle and laugh so much.
The story was interesting, though a sometimes predictable, but nonetheless I did enjoy it. Highly recommend reading it:)
My first thoughts: Fast paced, Glittery imagination medicine, Word lsd - prose and pace that blew my mind, Sings to your heart, A romantasy to take on the best, Needs to be picked up by booktokers and booktubers, Would love to see a film version of this.
And then I thought: What do you do when you don't want the story to end? When you wish that the one book was three or more? When the book hangover sets in and you know every other story will never match the spell of literary scorcery you've just experienced?
Well, I have no answers. I guess I just sit and wait for Ms Roper to release another book and hope it's as unapologetically romantic, unabashedly spicy, unaffectedly bold and as unimaginably beautiful as the Swan Prince.
5 stars is not enough for this masterpiece!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.25 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and a fast-paced, dark edged, funny, steamy, fairytale medley retelling romance between Zephyr, the male prince lead, and Aria, the female lead styled Queen of Thieves. I enjoyed the complex non-romance plot, as well as the over the top secondary characters and the banter that permeated even the darker scenes. I enjoyed Zephyr’s determination to have a real relationship with his spouse. I enjoyed Aria’s compassion for those around her and the sacrifices she made. I empathised with the historical trauma the characters carried and enjoyed the way they supported each other. I enjoyed the steamy intimate moments. I enjoyed the fairytale ending that looked a little different and the secondary background romance for Aria’s brother.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
From the first page I was hooked, this book is so full of joyous, , magical moments. It makes you smile and transports you to a whimsical world, like Naria but with a Aladdin and the Swan Princess vibes. I fell in love with the characters, Zephyr the broody Prince, and Aria one of the forty thieves. They both project insecurities, vulnerable at times but also sweet and endearing. The banter was first class, honestly I couldn't fault anything in this incredible book. I love books that transport you and this certainly did, I was living their lives, enjoying their magical world.Side characters were bountiful, all unique and fun. A slow burn romance that holds your heart and doesn't let go. Perfect to curl with in these dark winter nights.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a cleverly written retelling of a variety of well known fairytales like Shrek, The Swan Princess and Aladdin. I love a fairytale retelling so i was very excited to read this book!
I am not always a fan of slow burn romances as i can get irritated but i did actually enjoy the tension and the banter between Zephyr and Aria. The characters were well developed and i felt sucked into their lives and their heads repeatedly throughout the book.
There were twists and turns throughout the book to keep you right on the edge of your seat! I did guess a couple but most of them came out of the blue and had me turning the page as fast as i could to find out what happened next!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend!
The way that Ari seamlessly wove multiple well known fairytales together to create this beautiful story was like a masterclass in writing. Then add in a giant plot twist with the “Aladdin” character actually being the Female character (Aria), it was so much fun. However, it wouldn’t be an Ari Roper book without a lot of sass and sparing with words, which I adore, and you find aplenty. There is a slow burn romance, a cheeky “brother”, a manservant who never lets the prince get too high above the rest of them, and a whole cast of characters you learn to love along the way… as well as those that you grow to hate, but it wouldn’t be a fairytale without darkness and evil would it?
The writing style and storyline enchanted me! So easily drawn in, I got lost in the world of kings and thieves, trials and conspiracy, arranged marriage and betrayal… and once upon a time … a love written in blood.
This story has absolutely everything, the characters are easy to connect with and the ending of this book is such a teaser. This book is only the beginning of a wonderful series!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aria and Zephyr are the lead couple in this retelling of the fairytale. This author has created a world filled with color. It pulls the reader into the story as the world building is amazing. The storyline moves us at a very nice pace. There is so much to enjoy especially the banter and humor. This was a wonderful read and I look forward to the next book by the author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ari Roper does it AGAIN! I cannot recommend her books enough! The plots are always well thought out, have a great twist, and always have a happily ever after that is well earned and long awaited. If you liked Barbie Of Swan Lake, but want an adult romantasy twist, I highly recommend ♥️ A trigger warning to be aware of is SA and attempted SA. Nothing is super graphic, however if you are sensitive to this topic or reading content, it may be an issue.
I really liked this story. It felt like an Adult disney movie with some dark tones. I would definitely read more. I usually like more explicit content, but this world was so easy to see in my minds eye. The ending was so satisfying and I absolutely would not have guessed the path to get there. Read the trigger warnings but definitely give this story a chance.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A cursed prince, a badass Queen of thief with secrets and a sassy mouth, an old crazy and greedy witch, and of course, a good dose of banter everywhere.
This is a fairytale meeting the bachelor with lots of very entertaing challenges that I enjoyed to much reading them.
Some parts were a little predictable since the beginning but that didn't stop me from keep reading it, and found out about some revelations I didn't see them coming.
What a great mix of fairytales. I loved the originality of this one. It was such a great read. Loved the way things were twisted up in this. It was one that I read in one sitting. The tension and adventure really caught my attention and kept it throughout. I’ve loves all of Ari’s books that I’ve read so far. This was one of them. Can’t wait to read more.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was skeptical at first but the further on I read the more into I got and the more I realised how the book just SLAPPED. The fact that he turns into a swan is very out of the ordinary and I just absolutely loved it! The characters were really well written too and you could connect with them and they were really likeable! My only issue is the chapters were a bit too long for me but that’s more comes down to personal preference than anything else!
The Swan Prince is a re-imagined fairytale featuring a cursed prince, women vying for his hand in marriage, and the presence of bandits that add tension to the story. The plot remains simple and easy to follow, weaving together romance, danger, and magic. It offers a fresh take on familiar elements while remaining an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an amazing story with swan curses and adventurous thieves. I love the way Ari has woven this story. The many twists it takes has you reeling in excitement and surprise. The main characters are magnificent and magnetic. They have you drawn into the story with their banter and tension that will leave you laughing and breathless.
I picked this book up not knowing it was a modern retelling of my childhood favorite with a twist. From the characters to the unpredictable plot twists, I very much enjoyed every part of this book. I wish it was longer so I could spend more time with my favorite characters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was exactly what I was expecting, another amazing read from Ari Roper! This book follows Aria, a Queen in her own right and Zephyr the cursed prince who must choose his bride. I fell in love with these characters and their story. If you’re looking for your next read, go add this to your TBR now! I would give this 10 stars if possible!
All the feels for this 'fairytale' romance I LOVED THIS BOOK and its characters so much. And even though I thought I knew what was going to be what, there were twists (sneaky).
The tale, the humor, and spice were all appreciated also. What a blessing. Thank you!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was everything I enjoy about a fairytale retelling. But it also had a few new twists! Aria competing the trials to win Zephyr’s hand is filled with moments of longing and a slow burn romance, which I thoroughly enjoyed! Overall this book is a must read if you love longing, yearning, magic and trials!