Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Duality of Swans
AUTHOR: Lilly Atlas
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 307 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2024
BLURB:
A male ballet dancer walks into a rural small town…
Liam, a professional ballet dancer from New York City, moves to the tiny town of Swan, Oklahoma, with a mission. Haunted by what he endured as a teenager, he returns as an adult to conquer his fears and challenge the town’s outdated prejudices. He plans to modernize Swan by opening a dance studio and showing its residents that there’s a place for everyone and all should be accepted.
Tate has never traveled beyond the Oklahoma border and knows little of life beyond his small rural town and blue-collar job. Deeply entrenched in secrecy and surrounded by people who’d never accept him if they knew what he hid beneath the surface, he’s resigned to a life of lies and loneliness.
Liam and Tate’s worlds collide a safe distance from Swan, where they form an instant connection but plan to walk away after one night, no matter how much more their encounter leaves them yearning for. Fate, however, has other plans. When Tate shows up for a renovation job at Liam’s new studio, their initial shock gives way to a tentative friendship with complicated emotions.
The pressures of small-town life, narrow-minded family members, and Tate’s insecurities threaten their budding connection from day one. Liam is determined to show Tate the beauty of living as his true self, but Tate has seen the consequences of such a life firsthand, and they’ve imprinted on his mind.
As they grapple with their feelings and the harsh realities of Swan, Liam and Tate must decide if love is worth the risk. Can they find a way to be together in a world that seems set against them?
REVIEW:
TW: Incidents of homophobic beating/violence.
While still a teenager, Tate Sutton realizes that he is gay – the last thing he wants to be in his poor homophobic town and especially the trailer park where he lives with his addict mother and his not too bright older brother. He witnesses a gay bashing, but he’s terrified so he runs away after trying to stop it and getting walloped himself.
A decade later, Liam Brady returns to the scene of the crime and opens a dance studio in Swan, Oklahoma. He and Tate hook up at a gay bar and then Tate shows up to do a reno job on the dance studio that Liam is opening. His brother Randy is with him and Liam almost let’s the cat out of the bag. It’s clear Tate isn’t out and the longer Liam is in town, the more he understands why. Unfortunately he and Tate can’t seem to stay away from each other.
Despite the danger of discovery, Tate is the happiest he’s ever been. He’s never been in any type of relationship before so he’s not sure what the hell he’s doing. Liam is certainly not in the closet and while he’s had some issues, his studio seems to be a welcome addition to the town if the enrollments are anything to go by. He also finds another set of possible friends in the next town over.
Tate and Liam take some chance that could cause big trouble. When a despicable ne’er do well returns to town after spending time in prison for another assault, well things get even more difficult and dangerous for them. But Tate is getting tired of trying to live a lie and when push comes to shove, he will choose Liam every time.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. There are a few niggles and a couple of continuity issues. Also Oklahoma is in no way part of the Midwest 😉 There isn’t new ground covered here really, but some nice character growth by Tate and his brother Liam. The whole trailer park thing is not necessarily inaccurate but it does rely on some stereotypes. There is quite a bit of violence and criminal behavior. I believe whole-heartedly that the attention of the police to solve cases can be affected by how “deserving” the investigating offices might feel the “victim” is of their time. I loved Liam and I wanted him to be OK in the end with Tate. There are some nice supporting characters – the senior talent show ladies, Jonah and Trevor and the Friday Morning coffee group. Even Tate’s mother was sadly realistic. Too bad there isn’t a test to be a parent – you at least have to pass one to drive a car 🙂 She would have failed miserably. It’s an interesting story and I think if you’re looking for a story of overcoming the past and the odds in a rural environment, you will like this book. Recommended.
RATING: 
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