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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
I received a free digital copy of this from Booktasters and the author on twitter for an honest review. I’ll be honest, this review is months overdue. I started it, and I immediately loved it. I was gripped into this new world right from the start, but then life got in the way, and I didn’t get the chance to finish it for a long while, but I would regularly think on this book and how eager I was to get the chance to finish it. Now here we are.
It’s amazing to me that if it weren’t for Booktasters, I would have probably never heard of this book. It is wildly underrated, and it deserves so much more recognition, which is why I’m forcing time to finally make this review.
There are so many elements to this story: magic, wonderful world building, mysterious characters, action, love, and soo much more. First, I should give an idea of what it’s about. There’s a world with four vastly different lands. Fulmer is the land our main character calls home. Here, women are valued and given higher places of power. This is a startling contrast to Chem. There, men hold power, and women are sold and traded. Our primary main character, Kesta, is one who extremely values her freedom, but she is willing to tame her wildness and sacrifice so much to save her people and her home from the same enslavement.
The book’s blurb drew me in, but everything about this book kept me there. When I say the world building is chef’s kiss, I do mean it. I’m also extremely picky when it comes to romances, but the love we see in The Raven Tower is not one to be missed. One reason I don’t particularly like romance in fantasy is because authors can struggle with balancing it with the rest of the story, but Emma Miles seemed to effortlessly create the perfect balance between the romance and action and magic. Even more, she managed to wonderfully balance the different points of view without anything feeling lost from it. If anything, it further enhanced our understanding of the story and its characters. This book deserves sooo much more recognition, and I’d recommend you giving it the chance.
I’m excited to eventually read the sequel. I’m hoping it’ll be just as amazing. Now, I need to go write a few other reviews I’ve fallen behind on this year.
It’s amazing to me that if it weren’t for Booktasters, I would have probably never heard of this book. It is wildly underrated, and it deserves so much more recognition, which is why I’m forcing time to finally make this review.
There are so many elements to this story: magic, wonderful world building, mysterious characters, action, love, and soo much more. First, I should give an idea of what it’s about. There’s a world with four vastly different lands. Fulmer is the land our main character calls home. Here, women are valued and given higher places of power. This is a startling contrast to Chem. There, men hold power, and women are sold and traded. Our primary main character, Kesta, is one who extremely values her freedom, but she is willing to tame her wildness and sacrifice so much to save her people and her home from the same enslavement.
The book’s blurb drew me in, but everything about this book kept me there. When I say the world building is chef’s kiss, I do mean it. I’m also extremely picky when it comes to romances, but the love we see in The Raven Tower is not one to be missed. One reason I don’t particularly like romance in fantasy is because authors can struggle with balancing it with the rest of the story, but Emma Miles seemed to effortlessly create the perfect balance between the romance and action and magic. Even more, she managed to wonderfully balance the different points of view without anything feeling lost from it. If anything, it further enhanced our understanding of the story and its characters. This book deserves sooo much more recognition, and I’d recommend you giving it the chance.
I’m excited to eventually read the sequel. I’m hoping it’ll be just as amazing. Now, I need to go write a few other reviews I’ve fallen behind on this year.
An interesting take on magic!
I really enjoyed the magic systems in this book. They were unique enough to stand out. The main characters were very strong and the way the story developed was quite well done. If you like fantasy and tales of grand battles between sorcerers check this one out.
I really enjoyed the magic systems in this book. They were unique enough to stand out. The main characters were very strong and the way the story developed was quite well done. If you like fantasy and tales of grand battles between sorcerers check this one out.
I loved this book. The start had me very confused for a moment, given the nature of the characters, and it took a little bit of time to get the feel for Miles writing. Once I did I couldn't put it down. Kesta and Jorrun's romance was interwoven through a greater story of an evil empire threatening the borders of both their homelands. When they are married right at the start you could feel Kesta's dislike. This wasn't some princess swooning over a handsome sorcerer of the land, this was downright unpleasant. I began to fear that this was going to be another story entirely. But just like we judge people prematurely on reputation so too had Kesta not given Jorrun enough credit. It was a slow waltz done over time, where each one were relatable human beings, not stereotypes shoved in your face. While the invading necromancers made their plans Kesta and Jorrun put aside their differences for their countries, to protect them from a empire that would enslave them, and far more awful things. This was a long read, but I enjoyed every viewpoint and minute of the story, and most of all, I wanted to climb the stairs of the Raven Tower myself...
When Kesta and her father seek help from the King against raiders, she is not expecting to be forced into a marriage with the country's dark and dangerous sorcerer.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Miles, although she's been on my reading list for years (obviously, she does have a book called 'The Shadow Rises').
I really enjoyed this epic story of fire-walkers and necromancers, and different countries preparing for war.
The opening chapter was a bit confusing, as you are thrown into the middle of Kesta and her father seeking an audience with the King. There's a lot of information to pick up, and quite a few names to follow. I felt that the political marriage between Kesta and the Jorren, the King's sorcerer, was all a bit of a hasty arrangement.
After the initial scenes, everything settled down and I enjoyed it immensely.
Kesta is from an island nation, where women are rulers and magic-wielders, and have the freedom to chose their partners. She doesn't take being forced into a political marriage well, and even though she agrees to it, it was entertaining to see Kesta expressing her feelings.
The story follows Kesta, as she settles into her new home, taking on the challenge of the neglected fort, and getting it ready for the war she knows is coming. Thanks to her fire-walker abilities, she has caught glimpses of the threat that is going to overwhelm them all.
The Chem are a power-hungry nation, that has been taken over by necromancers. They use blood magic - a dark and unnatural source of power, that goes against the spirit magic that exists elsewhere. They bring the dead back to life, and use the corpses as an (almost-)invincible army.
Everything: the magic, the history, the nations and the battles: it is all wonderfully original. Miles writes with a creative flair, building a depth to her world, that you just accept it, and get carried away with the story.
The narrative is split between several different characters: Kesta; Osun (a spy in Chem); and the Icante (Kesta's mother).
After reading quite a few epics recently that couldn't handle multi-pov's, I was wary when I saw this book was also split. But I'm happy to say that Miles pulls it off.
I felt connected to each narrator, and easily fell back into their storyline, and the dangers that were particular to them.
As you might have noticed, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Miles, although she's been on my reading list for years (obviously, she does have a book called 'The Shadow Rises').
I really enjoyed this epic story of fire-walkers and necromancers, and different countries preparing for war.
The opening chapter was a bit confusing, as you are thrown into the middle of Kesta and her father seeking an audience with the King. There's a lot of information to pick up, and quite a few names to follow. I felt that the political marriage between Kesta and the Jorren, the King's sorcerer, was all a bit of a hasty arrangement.
After the initial scenes, everything settled down and I enjoyed it immensely.
Kesta is from an island nation, where women are rulers and magic-wielders, and have the freedom to chose their partners. She doesn't take being forced into a political marriage well, and even though she agrees to it, it was entertaining to see Kesta expressing her feelings.
The story follows Kesta, as she settles into her new home, taking on the challenge of the neglected fort, and getting it ready for the war she knows is coming. Thanks to her fire-walker abilities, she has caught glimpses of the threat that is going to overwhelm them all.
The Chem are a power-hungry nation, that has been taken over by necromancers. They use blood magic - a dark and unnatural source of power, that goes against the spirit magic that exists elsewhere. They bring the dead back to life, and use the corpses as an (almost-)invincible army.
Everything: the magic, the history, the nations and the battles: it is all wonderfully original. Miles writes with a creative flair, building a depth to her world, that you just accept it, and get carried away with the story.
The narrative is split between several different characters: Kesta; Osun (a spy in Chem); and the Icante (Kesta's mother).
After reading quite a few epics recently that couldn't handle multi-pov's, I was wary when I saw this book was also split. But I'm happy to say that Miles pulls it off.
I felt connected to each narrator, and easily fell back into their storyline, and the dangers that were particular to them.
As you might have noticed, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more!
I want to thank the Fiction Cafe for gifting me with a copy to review!
This book is why I have a 50-page reading rule. The book seemed very interesting at first glance, but then the story suddenly became a cliche. We all know the story of princes that loved her people so much that she was willing to sacrifice her happiness to save them and the rest of the world. That was where I thought the story was going, but I was pleasantly surprised. It still went there. The difference is how we got there and the destination that kept changing.
Kesta
I loved Kesta strong will, intelligence, and independence. However, at times her self righteous attitude and prejudge got annoying. One would have thought that she would have known better since she has experienced this first in Elden.
The Dark Man
I am, like most people, not immune to male characters with tragic backstories. The Dark Man just like Jughead Jones is both a lover and a fighter. He's got layers. A lot of them.
The characters that shall not be named
I loved that Emma's characters weren't black and white. I couldn't place them in one category or the other. They were fifty shades of grey. There is one particular character whose actions are vile, but you can't help to wonder if he is aware that what he is doing is wrong. Throughout the book, I had the urge to hug some of the characters and whisper that everything is going to be alright. I also wanted to apologize for the horrible hand life dealt them. I couldn't help but think that Carry On, Wayward Son would have fitted these characters almost as perfect as Sam and Dean.
There is one particular character I hated with all of my being. There are two types of villains in the world: The kind that's evil and everyone knows that they are evil and then there's this horrible person that disguise his evil as caring and being concerned for the other person's well being.
This book also had one of the kindest characters I have had the privilege of reading about.
The World
I cannot say this enough! I truly loved this universe. It had all the things you wanted in a fantasy novel and so much more.
The conclusion:
I cannot wait for book 2 and everyone should read it.
This book is why I have a 50-page reading rule. The book seemed very interesting at first glance, but then the story suddenly became a cliche. We all know the story of princes that loved her people so much that she was willing to sacrifice her happiness to save them and the rest of the world. That was where I thought the story was going, but I was pleasantly surprised. It still went there. The difference is how we got there and the destination that kept changing.
Kesta
I loved Kesta strong will, intelligence, and independence. However, at times her self righteous attitude and prejudge got annoying. One would have thought that she would have known better since she has experienced this first in Elden.
The Dark Man
I am, like most people, not immune to male characters with tragic backstories. The Dark Man just like Jughead Jones is both a lover and a fighter. He's got layers. A lot of them.
The characters that shall not be named
I loved that Emma's characters weren't black and white. I couldn't place them in one category or the other. They were fifty shades of grey. There is one particular character whose actions are vile, but you can't help to wonder if he is aware that what he is doing is wrong. Throughout the book, I had the urge to hug some of the characters and whisper that everything is going to be alright. I also wanted to apologize for the horrible hand life dealt them. I couldn't help but think that Carry On, Wayward Son would have fitted these characters almost as perfect as Sam and Dean.
There is one particular character I hated with all of my being. There are two types of villains in the world: The kind that's evil and everyone knows that they are evil and then there's this horrible person that disguise his evil as caring and being concerned for the other person's well being.
This book also had one of the kindest characters I have had the privilege of reading about.
The World
I cannot say this enough! I truly loved this universe. It had all the things you wanted in a fantasy novel and so much more.
The conclusion:
I cannot wait for book 2 and everyone should read it.