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feanor451's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
kailey_luminouslibro's review
Voran meets a mysterious Pilgrim while on a hunt for the white stag, and is sent on a quest to save his country. There is magic in the song of a Sirin that could heal his nation, but at a terrible cost.
I only read through page 85 of this book and then DNF'd it. I just wasn't in the mood to continue, and I've seen in other reviews that it gets really violent later on. Not my cup of tea.
The writing was very dense. Every scene had the same dramatic intensity, even if the characters were doing something simple like eating breakfast. Everything has a secret symbolism. A loaf of bread can't just be a simple loaf of bread; it has to have a deeper meaning. After awhile, that constant symbolism became oppressive. I felt like I had to remember every little detail, because it might be important later on.
I did not connect with the characters. They have interesting personalities, and it looked like there was some good setup for character development later in the story. But somehow I just didn't care about them.
The world building is very rich and imaginative. You can really feel the weight of history in Voran's country. Part of the story is about how the people have forgotten their true heritage, and the song of the Sirin should help them rediscover their national heritage again. However, it felt like too much information all at once. I couldn't keep track of all the symbolic beliefs and rituals and historic monuments. Once again, it became oppressive.
I think other people might like this book better. I just wasn't in the mood for such a dense story.
lizzillia's review against another edition
4.75
This is the first in a fantasy series which draws upon a Russian fairy tale and introduces us to fantastical creatures. We meet dragons, hags, sirins, shape-shifters. We meet spirits of nature who sometimes are helpful our hero, Voran, who is on a quest. He has adventures and battles. He seeks to protect his sister, his betrothed, the land he lives in but his way is not simple. He not only has to face monsters, he sometimes has to face his own weakness. He is a hero who is human - he makes mistakes. His city Vasyllia was once happy and prosperous because of a Covenant between the people and Adonais - but the people are forgetting their history, their culture, their religion and with the Covenant is weakening, enemies are on the march. Voran's is not the only viewpoint that we follow - there are three others who will also have a role to play in the battle against the coming Darkness and, like Voran, they also have their own weaknesses and face their own trials. There are so many twists and turns in this tale, so many 'monsters'. Ultimately I suppose this is a battle between good and evil and I appreciated the symbolism and the questions raised by the author, by Voran when he is welcomes into the poverty of the First reaches on his land - the question of what happens when there is no longer the need to strive for beauty and perfection. The description of the landscape, the portrayal of the creatures - both those for good and those for evil - everything is so vividly painted. I was invested in these four characters who are all flawed and who must battle not only the Darkness but their own selves. A series I definitely intend to read more of.
cassidylirwi27's review
5.0
Nicholas Kotar has managed to craft an intricate world with never-ending fissures of discovery and magic. I highly recommend this book for the old souled of the world, and anyone enamored by the Good, the True and the Beautiful.
bobfarg's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sfilson's review
4.0
At times the shifts lost me for a bit , going from one reality to the next. the intrepid hero really blows his tasks over and over again,Paying the price for each of his misdeeds , and Overcoming the penalties imposed upon him every time. A lot of the story line just left me wanting a direct path to the point. All in all not bad.I am an Honest ARC reviewer and give this a 4 out of 5 stars ,mostly because it jumped from one reality to another without much explanation that there were even these other planes before they are thrust into the story out of the blue.
greendragonauthor's review
4.0
This is a lovely fantasy world with an unpredictable plot, properly sprinkled backstory and intriguing characters. It explores several real-world issues, complete with messy solutions and thorny problems. The descriptions were lush and vibrant. It’s a delightful story and I look forward to more.
mikayreimann's review
5.0
This is truly one of the best books I've read in a long time. I went on a search in the kindle store for some free books, and even if I love the free book I'm too cheap to buy the next book in the series. NOT THE CASE WITH THE RAVEN SON SERIES!!!! While I am eternally grateful that it was free, since that gave me the opportunity to read this book, but this book should cost $12 even on kindle. It is just that good. The imagery with this book is astounding, and as an artist, I want to paint every single scene in this book. Nicholas Kotar, I am so thankful for your gift of words.
mithren's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, and Violence
usandrufus's review
Slow, boring, poor writing. The pacing is bizarre. Characters are one-more stereotypes for chapters, and then change in the course of a paragraph. The Russian fairy-tale elements were the best bit, but they were not tied together well. The overarching fantasy story was generic and boring. Poorly edited, too. Unfortunately confirms my suspicions about self-published fantasy.