Nemesis and the Swan - by Lindsay K Bandy (Hardcover)

About the Book

Paris, 1792. From her prison cell, Hâeláene recalls the events that brought her there. Despite her world of privilege, Hâeláene is inspired early on by the radical ideas of her progressive governess. Her determination to find true love is as revolutionary as her attempt to unravel the truth behind a chilling set of eye-shaped brooches and the concealed murder that tore her family apart. As violence erupts, Hâeláene is forced into hiding with her estranged family, where the tangled secrets of their past become entwined with her own. On the blood-stained streets of Paris, she finds everything--and everyone--very much changed. In a city where alliances shift overnight, no one knows who to trust.--Adapted from jacket.

Book Synopsis

From her prison cell in revolutionary Paris, nineteen-year-old aristocrat Hélène d'Aubign recalls the events that led her to choose between following in her parents' unforgivable footsteps or abandoning the man she loves.

Despite her world of privilege, Hélène is inspired early on by the radical ideas of her progressive governess. Though her family tries to intervene, the seeds of revolution have already been planted in Hélène's heart, as are the seeds of love from an unlikely friendship with a young jeweler's apprentice. Hélène's determination to find true love is as revolutionary as her attempt to unravel the truth behind a concealed murder that tore her family apart.

As violence erupts in Paris, Hélène is forced into hiding with her estranged family, where the tangled secrets of their past become entwined with her own. When she finally returns to the blood-stained streets of Paris, she finds everything--and everyone--very much changed. In a city where alliances shift overnight, no one knows whom to trust.

Faced with looming war, the mystery of her family's past, and the man she loves near death, Hélène will soon find out if doing one wrong thing will make everything right, or if it will simply push her closer to the guillotine.

Review Quotes

"This book is extremely well written, keeping suspense until the end. Hélène is layered and interesting, and the story of the revolution, unfolding around her, is fascinating. Nemesis and the Swan is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys romance, historical fiction, and well-drawn settings. If you like books with complexity and high emotional stakes, this one is for you."

-- "New York Journal of Books"

"Well-written and beautifully performed...Narrator Sarah Naughton draws listeners in...The history is factual, the characters are authentic, and Sarah Naughton is superb. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."

-- "AudioFile"

"This intrigue-soaked work of historical fiction feels entirely of the past and yet also incredibly relevant...Bandy has penned a story of revolutions, both large scale and deeply personal, weaving them through the narrative in a powerful way."

-- "Booklist"

"Bandy's debut features credible historical detail, an engaging narrator, and a sweet romance...A lush portrayal of personal and national struggles."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Bandy weaves a lush tale of Parisian history, romance, and family intrigue. A stellar debut."

-- "Jennie K. Brown, award-winning author"

"Mesmerizing and poetic, this book captures the mind and the heart. It will haunt your thoughts during the day, and show up in your dreams at night. An evocative and powerful work."

-- "Linda Oatman High, award-winning author, playwright, and journalist"

"A lush tale of hope and heartbreak, Nemesis and the Swan spins a delicate web that readers will never want to escape."

-- "Sharon Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of The Forgetting"

"An expertly crafted, paced, and detailed coming-of-age novel that fans of the French Revolution will easily lose themselves in."

-- "Jenni L. Walsh, author of Becoming Bonnie"

"This stunning debut novel held me in its thrall from the first page until the last. This felt like reading Les Misérables crossed with The Bronze Horseman. What an amazing gem. I rooted for Héléne and Theo and felt their connection every second, even while the more pressing matters of war and fear of imprisonment closed in."

-- "Natasha Boyd, author of The Indigo Girl"

"An intriguing tale, full of lush historical detail and with an unforgettable heroine."

-- "Tracy Barrett, award-winning author of Anna of Byzantium and Freefall Summer"

"Lindsay Bandy's Nemesis and the Swan is a brilliantly written coming-of-age story set in Paris during the French Revolution. Readers will enter the world of the aristocratic Hélène d'Aubign, just as it crumbles into one where no one can be trusted, and love is a dangerous choice."

-- "Tracey Enerson Wood, author of The Engineer's Wife"