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A review by rowena_m_andrews
A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden
This was one that I had seen mentioned here and there, but I hadn’t looked at anything more than the synopsis when adding it to my TBR – and while that was more than enough to catch my attention, it did not prepare me for how incredible this book actually was.
Firstly I have to say that I adored the blending of Norse and Celtic mythology, in a world and narrative that was epic in every sense of the world. The sheer amount of worldbuilding and detail in this book are breathtaking, and speak to both Oden’s research as well as his ability to take that and create a rich, realistic world without losing the magic of epic fantasy beneath that historical detail, a delicate task that is done to perfection here. The world is as alive as the creatures and characters that inhabit it, and feels like it could be an alternate history – were it not for the fantastical elements, which only add to the world.
The prose is striking, a unique blend of classic fantasy and modern, relatable language, with that blend of depth, detail and action-packed pacing that you want from epic fantasy. A deeply atmospheric book, A Gathering of Ravens is a book that you experience far more than you read it, and I will be diving into the second bok – Twilight of the Gods asap because I need more of this world, this writing, this everything.
Firstly I have to say that I adored the blending of Norse and Celtic mythology, in a world and narrative that was epic in every sense of the world. The sheer amount of worldbuilding and detail in this book are breathtaking, and speak to both Oden’s research as well as his ability to take that and create a rich, realistic world without losing the magic of epic fantasy beneath that historical detail, a delicate task that is done to perfection here. The world is as alive as the creatures and characters that inhabit it, and feels like it could be an alternate history – were it not for the fantastical elements, which only add to the world.
The prose is striking, a unique blend of classic fantasy and modern, relatable language, with that blend of depth, detail and action-packed pacing that you want from epic fantasy. A deeply atmospheric book, A Gathering of Ravens is a book that you experience far more than you read it, and I will be diving into the second bok – Twilight of the Gods asap because I need more of this world, this writing, this everything.