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A review by kblincoln
Ravensblood by Shawna Reppert
4.0
3.5 stars actually.
An Urban Fantasy-esque story of mages in an alternate Portland, Oregon featuring "Guardians" trying to protect a mixed mundane and magical community from a dark mage bent on taking over the world.
Cass had the naivete and bad luck to apprentice herself to Corwyn Ravenscroft....a mage who ended up being one of William's (dark mage bent on taking over the world who tortures people for fun) right hand men. She got out in time, but now as a Guardian (magical beat cop ) responsible for keeping mundanes and magical people safe, she's mostly shunned and regarded with suspicion.
Then, her former master contacts her, bringing back all the heartbreak and pain of their former association, but Raven might be the key to keeping William from taking over. Can Cass withstand the suspicion and scrutiny of the council? Or will her past keep her from saving the present?
Lots of angst. If you like angsty, brooding mages willing to sacrifice themselves for their sins and denying their love for their naive young apprentices because they are "better off without them"...than this is your cup of tea. Most of the action revolves around Cass, Raven, and Cass' very understanding and overly compassionate-wise Aunt planning how to foil Wiliam's plans.
In fact everyone who dealt with Raven was overly wise and compassionate, including Cass' partner (in love with Cass) who becomes Raven's like best friend. This overwhelming amount of sympathy and "dont' blame yourself too much for the years of dark magery when you tortured people with William" sometimes felt a bit too much. I kind of wanted Raven to be more tortured and less understood since he had done some really dark things.
And I wished for more agency by Cass. As the heroine, I wanted less passive understanding and forgiveness and more active holding Raven to account and managing her own destiny.
Still, an enjoyable, obviously well thought-out alternate world with likeable characters. Wished for a bit more Portland landmark featuring, but the bits name-dropped were fun :)
An Urban Fantasy-esque story of mages in an alternate Portland, Oregon featuring "Guardians" trying to protect a mixed mundane and magical community from a dark mage bent on taking over the world.
Cass had the naivete and bad luck to apprentice herself to Corwyn Ravenscroft....a mage who ended up being one of William's (dark mage bent on taking over the world who tortures people for fun) right hand men. She got out in time, but now as a Guardian (magical beat cop ) responsible for keeping mundanes and magical people safe, she's mostly shunned and regarded with suspicion.
Then, her former master contacts her, bringing back all the heartbreak and pain of their former association, but Raven might be the key to keeping William from taking over. Can Cass withstand the suspicion and scrutiny of the council? Or will her past keep her from saving the present?
Lots of angst. If you like angsty, brooding mages willing to sacrifice themselves for their sins and denying their love for their naive young apprentices because they are "better off without them"...than this is your cup of tea. Most of the action revolves around Cass, Raven, and Cass' very understanding and overly compassionate-wise Aunt planning how to foil Wiliam's plans.
In fact everyone who dealt with Raven was overly wise and compassionate, including Cass' partner (in love with Cass) who becomes Raven's like best friend. This overwhelming amount of sympathy and "dont' blame yourself too much for the years of dark magery when you tortured people with William" sometimes felt a bit too much. I kind of wanted Raven to be more tortured and less understood since he had done some really dark things.
And I wished for more agency by Cass. As the heroine, I wanted less passive understanding and forgiveness and more active holding Raven to account and managing her own destiny.
Still, an enjoyable, obviously well thought-out alternate world with likeable characters. Wished for a bit more Portland landmark featuring, but the bits name-dropped were fun :)