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A review by katherinareads
In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
4.0
i went into this book blind, as i usually do with my reads, and let me tell you, i have a knack for picking books based solely on their cover. i mean, just look at it – it's gorgeous! and the story lives up to it. it's dark and compelling, drawing me in right from the beginning. blood manipulation, a fascination of mine, was woven into the narrative, along with an exquisite magic system including blood and death magic, and a sinister underworld infiltrating the living.
when i say this book is action-packed, i mean it. there's never a dull moment in its 400 pages. you'd think with that length, there'd be some stalling, but nope. once you start, you simply can't stop. the main character never seems to catch her breath, but that's mostly by choice. what i mean is, unlike most main characters who tend to be boring, easily pushed around, and play it safe, rovan is unhinged. she acts on all her impulses, even if it lands her in trouble. you can never predict what she'll do next, and honestly, it's captivating. i lost count of how many times i wrote down 'you go girl.' she's a rebel, and a funny one at that. i laughed out loud multiple times at her jokes, which were usually poorly-timed and unhinged.
i thoroughly enjoyed the romantic aspect of the book. the main character's proud and open embrace of her pansexuality was refreshing. she confidently acknowledged her feelings without hesitation, and the support she received from those around her was heartening. speaking of which, the FOUND FAMILY in this one is PHENOMENAL.
the downside: this could have been a duology. the world was incredibly rich, filled with numerous captivating characters begging for deeper exploration. the ending felt rushed, as if the goal was simply to wrap things up hastily. plus, certain character decisions seemed abrupt, leaving me puzzled as to why they suddenly endangered themselves.
when i say this book is action-packed, i mean it. there's never a dull moment in its 400 pages. you'd think with that length, there'd be some stalling, but nope. once you start, you simply can't stop. the main character never seems to catch her breath, but that's mostly by choice. what i mean is, unlike most main characters who tend to be boring, easily pushed around, and play it safe, rovan is unhinged. she acts on all her impulses, even if it lands her in trouble. you can never predict what she'll do next, and honestly, it's captivating. i lost count of how many times i wrote down 'you go girl.' she's a rebel, and a funny one at that. i laughed out loud multiple times at her jokes, which were usually poorly-timed and unhinged.
i thoroughly enjoyed the romantic aspect of the book. the main character's proud and open embrace of her pansexuality was refreshing. she confidently acknowledged her feelings without hesitation, and the support she received from those around her was heartening. speaking of which, the FOUND FAMILY in this one is PHENOMENAL.
the downside: this could have been a duology. the world was incredibly rich, filled with numerous captivating characters begging for deeper exploration. the ending felt rushed, as if the goal was simply to wrap things up hastily. plus, certain character decisions seemed abrupt, leaving me puzzled as to why they suddenly endangered themselves.