An Enchantment of Ravens

An Enchantment of Ravens, Margaret Rogerson Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews Genre: Romance, Sci-fi and Fantasy I have a real weakness for books set in the Fae world. I spent my Xmas book tokens on fairy stories when I was about ten. Mum said then I was too old for all that, but the magic of a Fae setting has never left me, I still adore those stories. Sorry Mum ;-) So, even with free review books, even with KU I still buy the odd book, and I splashed out £5.99 on this one. Its one I loved, I know I'll reread, so its well worth it to me. Its a fascinating read, the Fae are beings to respect, to be afraid of. They may look a little like humans, with their glamour covering their true appearance, but their nature is very, very much darker, very different. Some of them see humans as mere playthings, they talk about fifty, a hundred years back as if it was last week. True to many versions of Fae Margaret's Fae cannot use Craft, they cannot create, and like anyone, what they can't do, can't have they crave. That keeps Isobel in work, they love her portraits, and in payment she bargains for protections and other things her family need. Even though she's only seventeen Isobel feels much older. She has a maturity beyond her years. This is one of those books that could be aimed at YA market, but which appeals to readers like me, far beyond that demographic. Well written books cross boundaries, IMO, to have universal appeal. I loved Isobel, her aunt, and of course her two “sisters” March and May. Theirs is a story that illustrates the caprice of the Fae.... There's a good build up, letting the reader understand the world, while still keeping interest in whats happening. I loved reading about how they managed daily life, how the village of Whimsy was set away from the World Beyond. We saw glimpses of other Fae as they came to buy craft, and of course see how carefully the villagers treat them. Isobel is content, as much as she can be, with her lot in life until it all gets turned upside down when her latest sitter, Rook, takes her back to his estate, the Autumn Lands in a fit of anger. That starts a journey where their lives are under constant threat, where they have to take care in every movement, and where they come to rely on each other to survive, and gradually trust and then love each other. Along the way I fell a bit in love with Rook too...That love between them brings its own dangers though, and there are some very real trials if they want a happy ending, or even if they just want to stay alive. As the story reaches its conclusion there are many twists and turns, and some surprises I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed this story, great characters, interesting plots and just enough of the day to day stuff to be absorbing and not boring. Stars: Five, a great read. A story that totally engrossed me, and in the midst of Covid19 I've found my usual escape in books very difficult. This story did it, took me away from today's issues and stress into another world for a couple of hours.

I have so much to say about this book. There was a lot I loved about this, so much so I could’ve seen it as a 5 star read with some tweaking. I liked that it was a short standalone, and though that length was refreshing in some ways, it was hindering in others, mostly emotional leaps to get the story where it needed to go in a shorter period of time. I adored the world, and Margaret Rogerson’s depiction of the fair folk. The writing was lush and characters well expressed. As a debut, I was so impressed, and could see unbound potential for future books. Characters A few characters weren't as strong on the page as others. Emma and the twins never felt quite right, but they possibly could've with more time on the page. Aster and the Hemlock could've been interesting characters, but they fell flat for me- even if they could've been explored more if the book had been longer. Negatives aside- I loved the main duo. I normally feel neutral about female main characters in fantasy- especially when it's in first person- but I actually liked Isobel. She wasn't whiny or naive- nor was she miss perfect. I loved Rook too, there was something sweet about him. I liked the way he and Isobel interacted, and how their vastly different lives intertwined and clashed throughout the story. However, he never quite felt like a "prince" in the way as another character does. I loved the vibe of him, and his character, and I could've read a much longer book exploring him alone and the ins and outs of his life even separate from Isobel. I enjoyed Gadfly, I thought his own manner came off very clear, and the image of him was crisp in my head. I liked Lark too, and found her a joy to read despite her eccentricities. These group of characters in particular jumped out at me and were what helped make this book compelling and engaging. (especially Rook). Romance I'm the type that struggles with romance that blooms too quickly. This is short- and half the book revolves around the consequences of a mortal and a fair folk falling for each other- and the book's only 300 pages, so yes, it felt rushed to me. I could believe that they would fall for each other- it just happened too quick. There were grand declarations of love that read as so cheesy I was afraid my eyes wouldn't return from rolling up into my brain. They'd not known each other, truly, for long at all. I would've liked a slower burn- and this is the only place the length of this book truly hindered this novel for me. This romance had potential, and if it went there for me this really could've been a 5 star book for me. However- there were two things I did like about their portrayal of their relationship- but I'll hide them in spoiler tags- but I'll let you all know it didn't feel wholly unhinged. World Okay, I am crazy for this depiction of the fair folk, or “faeries”- even more so than the world of Maas- like way more. I loved the darkness to it, that immortality isn't glorified or perfect. That there's consequence. I loved that the fair folk had attributes we're familiar with- but that was there an overall feel to it that felt original to this story. I loved that their beauty was only a glamour- how their whole world festered and rotted. It's the embodiment of its what's on the inside that matters. I was happy fair folks weren't these perfect, flawless, beautiful things- that they were so inhuman. I loved the set up, I loved that we had a full sense of the world without a 600 paged novel. I want more fair folks like this, beautiful and ugly, and inhuman without that making them wholly monstrous. It was interesting how Rogerson showed the fair folk’s world view and emotion without making each faerie cookie-cutters of one another. It's hard to articulate my love for it- but I have to say this side of it was my favourite part of this novel. Plot The plot, for me, wasn't the strongest thing about this book. I personally loved the character, set-up and world. The first half of the book was my favourite- but I could understand that if you didn't take to those elements why this book would fall flat for some people. I loved the exploration of Isobel's Craft- and how it shows the vital importance of the arts- and what our world would be reduced to without it- how we wear and use it every day- and how, a lot of the time, it's looked down upon when compared to the sciences- which are just a different kind of important. A large part of the plot later revolved around love, and though interesting, it feel short as I couldn't wholly believe their love was true considering for how little time they knew each other. After the halfway point, Rook and Isobel are around each other less, and there wasn't a lot of time of them together to actually be together in requited love. Writing The writing was sharp and crisp and gorgeous. It really brought the world and people to life without being over-descriptive. It was full of precise word choice. It's funny at times, the dialogue well written and consistent. I loved how you could tell the difference between humans and the fair folk just through the word choice of what they said and how their words were phrased. Ending Proceed this this paragraph with care if you haven’t read the book (or skip it). It doesn’t have outright spoilers, but hints to how it all ends up until the spoiler tags. I can't say I hated the ending, but I didn't love it either. Some of it felt a bit too easy, or a bit like a fairy-tale ending- but I can't lie and say I wouldn't have been pissed if it had had a depressing end. Conclusion This was a beautiful read that had undertones of some of my favourite books while remaining original in its own right. This reminded me why I had such a fascination and love for faeries when I was younger- it’s this type of faerie, or fair folk, the kind with a dark side- that’s not just plain and boring and beautiful- the kind that are disturbing and different from us with a different view of the world that I adore reading about. I had my issues, but remember this is a debut- and I will undoubtedly be looking out for whatever Rogerson puts out next as I’m sure she will only improve, and could, maybe someday, write a favourite.

I'd heard so many wonderful things about this book that I couldn't not buy it when a fae mood struck. The cover is cool, the title is awesome and - as I said - people seemed to love it so I was excited... But then, it didn't take me long to realise that my favourite part of this book is likely to forever be the title: An Enchantment of Ravens. Now, I realise that sounds quite negative and I don't mean to be! An Enchantment of Ravens isn't a bad book, it's just a very specific kind of book that I think will leave people enchanted or completely underwhelmed and I was in the underwhelmed category. It had so much potential but I felt like it just never reached it. I felt like I was being teased all the way through. Teased by a story that could sweep me away into another place but never did. Teased by a romance that could have been everything but wasn't. Teased by an opportunity that just never manifests. The world-building is pretty cool, with an interesting take on the fae, but it leaves more unexplained than shared. The characters... Well, you barely scrape the surface of them. The pacing is weird, sometimes it's super slow and other times super fast. The romance has so much potential but left me feeling unsatisfied just like the ending which leaves too much hanging! Rogerson is clearly a gifted writer able to evoke beautiful images and feelings with her words but the whole book felt like an unfulfilled promise and so it frustrated me more than it delighted me... but, just to be an awkward contraction, I enjoyed it just the same and read it cover to cover over a 24hr period. I just don't know what to tell you... Except that I'd definitely read a sequel if there was to ever be one. Especially if that sequel tied off all the loose ends and fulfilled the promise that this book made but never quite delivered.

What a delightful book! I can't think of any other word to describe it. The writing was beautiful throughout, the character's whimsical and engaging, and the fair folk as mischievous and deadly as you can ask! Honestly, reading this story gave me all the warm fuzzies I get from reading a classic fairytale, but kept me on the edge of my seat with new twists and turns. The main character, Isobel, was relatable and the kind of girl I'd want to be my friend! And Rook, oh, Rook. It's refreshing to read of a male love interest of the 'immortal' kind that is respectful and polite of the girl's wishes, even despite his background as royalty! His cluelessness at human reactions was utterly adorable and endearing from the start. And the Craft. Oh man, the way it's described, the way the fair folk yearn for it. It was beautiful. When Isobel described how painting made her feel...it was just so perfect, and I was entirely in her corner for the entire book. I'm not going to say much more to keep this review spoiler free, but all I will say is this book is going to be one that is lovingly re-read over the years.

“You are like a living rose among wax flowers. We may last forever, but you bloom brighter and smell sweeter, and draw blood with your thorns.” I had about twelve highlights from this book, but only one usable review quote, because most of them were just snippets of Rook being an adorable dorky loser that I loved. I have such a weakness for powerful idiots, I swear. I'm giving Enchantment of Ravens 4.5 stars, but it was a very close call between 4.5 and 5. I think if I hadn't read this immediately after Sorcery of Thorns, I might have gone for 5 stars, but funnily enough I was still book-hungover enough from Margaret's newest book that her older one suffered ever so slightly in my opinion. Both books are incredible, though. I would say that Thorns is a fantasy with a side of romance, while Ravens is a romance in a fantasy setting. I tend to prefer the former over the latter, so that probably accounts more for the difference in rating than any actual flaws in the text. Because tbh, Rogerson's writing is near flawless to me. An Enchantment of Ravens initially gave me huuuuuge ACOTAR vibes, with a clever human kidnapped by a beautiful fae prince, before sidestepping that in the coolest way ever. I am in love with the way the human/fae relationship is written in this book. The fae create enchantments for the humans, to keep them safe or bring them food, or whatever they would desire. In exchange, the humans create Craft. Craft is painting, writing, cooking, sewing. Things that we sometimes see as everyday skills. I love that in this world, humans have just as much magic as the fae, and it highlights that fae magic is mundane to the fae, just like our magic seems mundane to us. Even writing a letter was mystical to the fae. Humans who are particularly favoured by the fae may gain access to the Green Well, which allows them to become a fae and access fae magic, but in exchange they would lose their Craft. This totally threw me, in a really good way, because I'm always the first person to say "hell yeah I'd do whatever I needed to do to become fae/a witch/magic in some way" but here I stopped and considered it, and actually I don't think I would want to be immortal and magical if it meant I couldn't write or sew or cook. I don't want to go into specifics too much, because I don't want to spoil it, but the use of fae glamours in Ravens is very cool, and really does make you rethink the idea of beautiful changeless fae. The plot itself is fairly simple, but that's a good thing with a romance as it focuses much more on the developing relationship between Rook and Isobel, and I enjoyed the pace that it moved along at. If you want a fantastical love story this summer, Ravens is the way to go, with charming characters that weren't just stupid with love, and enough thrill and danger to keep it from getting boring. But you also better be reading Sorcery of Thorns, because that book deserves a read too...

Margaret, c'mon man, don't make me pine for autumn now, the summer's just started. Seriously though, the descriptions must be the best I've ever seen, especially of the seasons, and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Without spoiling things, Isobel's a fantastic heroine: she uses her brain even when she's scared out of her wits, and she's self-aware enough to figure out how she comes across to others. Without wishing to include spoilers, I love Rook's progression - he's set up as terrifying, and then we get to know him more. There are a few plot holes, but I don't mind the occasional one of those, so long as they're not distracting and they allow a good story to be told, which is exactly what happens. Apparently there are no plans for a sequel, which is either a shame - Gadfly definitely has an interesting story; he knew what was up, more than a fae should. What did Aster do after the story ended? Could we do a deep dive on the consequences of all those portraits? - or, perhaps the lack of sequel creates fertile grounds for fanfiction. I know I have an idea of what I'd write, if only I had the time! One final note: Margaret does a stellar job of making the fae genuinely terrifying. Even the 'friendly' ones are always so close to turning nasty, intentionally or not, that at parts of the book I found myself holding my breath on Isobel's behalf. I'll be back to buy another of Margaret's books soon!

An Enchantment of Ravens was actually an enjoyable read. As a fan of the A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J Maas, I'd heard lots of points about how this just copied the plot etc etc. Personally, I don't think that's true, and even with that in mind, it doesn't ruin the story. This book has fae and it has humans. It has seasonal courts (namely only 4 courts), with a hierarchical structure that works entirely differently. The way the fae have been written is interesting in itself, and appealing in the sense that we know they can't feel anything really, but Isobel's paintings start to change that. The fae are separate from the humans, but still find themselves integrated at times, unable to resist human 'craft' which they themselves can't perform. If you like YA fantasy books, it's worth giving a go. I felt like I enjoyed it, and it's one I think I could reread again at some point.

It arrived on time and we'll packaged and the novel itself is nice but the printing was sloppy. The cover was cut further back than the pages leaving them sticking out, some of the pages weren't cut properly leaving very messy edges, and the inside of the book had printing errors along the spine bleeding into the content of the pages. The book itself was a light-hearted read but nothing amazing. I loved the descriptive language used and the fae lore implemented in the story but didn't care much for the main characters. The plot felt very forced and dragged out a little too much. There was only one character who caught my attention and they weren't even a main character of the novel. It wasn't a terrible story and I might reread it again for a light, casual read but nothing more.

I bought this book for my sister, it is a great book for readers that are into fantasy (books like “the cruel prince”) The book is very pretty and glowy, I haven’t read the book yet, but the summary seems very interesting. I have included the summary for those of you who want to read it.

otima edicao

I loved nearly everything about this book, from the beautiful cover to the magic weaved with words through every page, I loved Rogerson's take on the fey and her main character was perfectly relatable, smart and brave. The chemistry between the two main characters had me with little heart flutters. A beautiful tale, told masterfully.

Love the book. Great characters, interesting storyline, the cover is beautiful too

As seasons and strangeness unfold in this book, wonder dawns on you : beauty and magic don't always come from where you expect... And love can blossom from understanding seemingly unsurmountable differences.