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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The premise of this book was interesting but unfortunately the telling of the story was a bit of a let down.
Four warring, magical families in modern day London called a truce years ago and agreed to stick to their territories. However, this truce isn't as strong as it should be and the disappearance of a family member from one of the families might be just the kindling needed to blow it all up. In stumbles our private investigator, Lydia Crow. Sheltered daughter of one of the families who has been working for a PI firm in Scotland, far from the magic in London. She has no clue how the dynamic has changed between the families over the years (and neither do we but it is alluded to often). She's supposed to be in London on a break but she gets caught in the investigation pretty quickly and stumbles along trying to help find Maddie, the missing girl.
There are so many missed opportunities in this book to make it truly amazing. It feels like this book is just a set up for the rest of the series but I'm not a huge fan of Lydia. Very little happened for most of the book other than her bumbling along, drinking alcohol often, sleeping and finding a clue every now and then. The last quarter of the book was where things started moving. One thing that was very strange was The Night Raven was only mentioned near the end of the book and felt like it was just shoved in there to tie in with the name of the book.
It's an easy audiobook to listen too and I'm sure the other books in the series will be entertaining but I'm not sure if I'll continue.
Four warring, magical families in modern day London called a truce years ago and agreed to stick to their territories. However, this truce isn't as strong as it should be and the disappearance of a family member from one of the families might be just the kindling needed to blow it all up. In stumbles our private investigator, Lydia Crow. Sheltered daughter of one of the families who has been working for a PI firm in Scotland, far from the magic in London. She has no clue how the dynamic has changed between the families over the years (and neither do we but it is alluded to often). She's supposed to be in London on a break but she gets caught in the investigation pretty quickly and stumbles along trying to help find Maddie, the missing girl.
There are so many missed opportunities in this book to make it truly amazing. It feels like this book is just a set up for the rest of the series but I'm not a huge fan of Lydia. Very little happened for most of the book other than her bumbling along, drinking alcohol often, sleeping and finding a clue every now and then. The last quarter of the book was where things started moving. One thing that was very strange was The Night Raven was only mentioned near the end of the book and felt like it was just shoved in there to tie in with the name of the book.
It's an easy audiobook to listen too and I'm sure the other books in the series will be entertaining but I'm not sure if I'll continue.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(Audiobook) Bit unsure how to rate this one and how to describe it. Interesting but not massively complex story. I think this is what is called a cosy mystery (now I know from Goodreads reviews that it is urban fantasy). With added mafia-style family goings on and something of a supernatural element. The titular night raven has barely a mention so I am not sure if that is just setting up for the rest of the series. The cover and title suggests a bit more fantasy/supernatural content than there is, in my opinion. If it is meant to be YA I am not sure an awkward late 20s main character will be very appealing.
Private Investigator Lydia is on leave from her PI firm in Aberdeen, and heads home to London, where she gets tangled in a family mystery and police investigation into attempted murder.
Private Investigator Lydia is on leave from her PI firm in Aberdeen, and heads home to London, where she gets tangled in a family mystery and police investigation into attempted murder.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
This is the first book and I enjoyed it very much but the next three books get better and better. I highly recommend the series. I especially recommend the audible version. The reader is great.
It reminds me a bit of Dresden. Stormfront was the week wet in the series and like this, they get better and better.
It reminds me a bit of Dresden. Stormfront was the week wet in the series and like this, they get better and better.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lydia Crow is on a forced break from her job in Scotland at a PI firm. She's back in London and part of the notorious Crow family, although she has been raised away from the family. But her name carries weight. When her uncle (the head of the mafia-like family) gives her a place to live and asks her to investigate her missing cousin, Lydia decides to help even if she is determined to return to her job as soon as possible.
The magic in this story is more subtle than others. Lydia seems to believe she is a dud in the magic department and the crows are unable to shapeshift anymore anyway. There are other families as well, i.e. fox, silver, etc. It's a bit confusing, but I expect that is because it's the first book and it's hard to walk the balance of world-building without going overboard. Although it is a short book that could have been longer with a deeper plot and more substantial world building. I enjoyed Lydia though. Anyway, it was good, not great, but I would read the second book if I had it.
The magic in this story is more subtle than others. Lydia seems to believe she is a dud in the magic department and the crows are unable to shapeshift anymore anyway. There are other families as well, i.e. fox, silver, etc. It's a bit confusing, but I expect that is because it's the first book and it's hard to walk the balance of world-building without going overboard. Although it is a short book that could have been longer with a deeper plot and more substantial world building. I enjoyed Lydia though. Anyway, it was good, not great, but I would read the second book if I had it.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The magic, ghosts, and spirits were a lot of fun. It had an interesting dynamic with the detective angle.
It didn't really have spice and had a slight romance that didn't take over the story, which I was thankful for. The story was more interesting with the magic and ghost.
It didn't really have spice and had a slight romance that didn't take over the story, which I was thankful for. The story was more interesting with the magic and ghost.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
I really enjoyed this book the author is very clever. I love the world she creates very subtle magic wonderfully believeable. The mystery aspect is really good too. I found a new author whom I love!