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Ravenwild

by Peter Plasse, Michael Longenecker (Editor)

3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 · rating details · 10 ratings · 9 reviews

Returning home from another grueling shift of E.R. work, Dr. Blake Lee Strong comes across a downed motorcyclist and stops to help, but little does he know that his world and that of his family will soon be turned upside down. Duped into being transported to another planet called Inam'Ra, Dr. Strong and his family are thrust into a medieval world populated by Trolls, Gnome...more

Kindle Edition, 496 pages

Published March 12th 2011 (first published December 15th 2010)

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Nov 17, 2012 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ravenwild is the story of a modern day family suddenly thrust by a not-so-trustworthy wizard into a fantasy world at war, inhabited by Humans, Dwarfs, Elves, Trolls and Gnomes - among other weird and wonderful creatures. The family finds themselves lost and split up in the unpredictable and dangerous world of Inam'Ra, and each must fight to survive in order to be reunited with each other once more.

One of the things I loved most about this book, was the fact that it was a family that we were jour...more Ravenwild is the story of a modern day family suddenly thrust by a not-so-trustworthy wizard into a fantasy world at war, inhabited by Humans, Dwarfs, Elves, Trolls and Gnomes - among other weird and wonderful creatures. The family finds themselves lost and split up in the unpredictable and dangerous world of Inam'Ra, and each must fight to survive in order to be reunited with each other once more.

One of the things I loved most about this book, was the fact that it was a family that we were journeying with. Not just the usual one teenage lead and their love interest. Each member of the family was unique and clever with their own personality and off on their own adventure. There was Blake and Jessica; the determined parents, Stephanie; their teenage daughter who is believed to be vital to the future of Ravenwild, Orie; the teenage son who first travels there with his friends (Ryan and Gracie) and Jacqueline; the youngest daughter who is transported there with her cat, Cinnamon. I also think that having all these characters better enabled the reader to explore the far reaches of the fantasy world of Inam'Ra.

This book was definitely one of those books that got better and better as it went along. The story starts off with just the Strong family. But as we get farther in and the Strong family are broken up, the branches of the story start to split off into this complex but exciting tale. But it is not only the Strong family that we learn about. We are also introduced many other characters like Jared, the kind and lonely human who lived out in the woods of Ravenwild for years, and also the evil troll Emporer Malance, who cares nothing of the creatures of Ravenwild, and would probably rather have them for dinner!

It was great to see a perspective from not only the 'good' side, but the 'bad' side as well. I also loved that even the enemy species of the book (the Trolls), had a good variety of individuals in them. These ranging from the most evil Emperor to the kind and helpful Daria and Forrester who do everything they can to help the Strong family. I thought it made characters a lot more believable in that sense.

About half way through, the story turns, and we are taken even more in depth into the world and histories of the Trolls and Gnomes. I found it extremely interesting to learn about all these different characters that were so well though-out. There could almost be a separate book alone about the Troll and Gnome civilizations! As interesting as it was to learn about these different aspects of the world, I did find it quite hard to follow at times. There were a lot of characters with a lot of their own situations to learn about, and sometimes I would have to go back and remind myself of who certain people were and what was going on with them.

But this being said, I thought that the characters were one of the strong points of the story. They were so well thought-out and complex with their own traits and histories to them, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens to them. Characters in particular that I liked being; Daria, Uri Gall, Orie and Cinnamon.

The story was brilliantly written, and flowed smoothly from page to page. The descriptions were vivid and colorful, but not too long that they took away from the pace of the book. I found the illustrations spaced throughout the book to be a real treat, especially the wonderfully drawn character sketches that really bring out the personality of the character they represent.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ravenwild. The characters were endearing, even if they did become a bit hard to follow and the writing flowed well. It was a great change to go back to the creative medieval fantasy, with so much of this Urban Fantasy around these days. I really recommend this book. It would especially be a real treat for any fantasy fans!(less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Connie Jasperson rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the most beautifully illustrated books I have read in a long time is Ravenwild by Dr. Peter J. Plasse. The gorgeous illustrations are by the incredibly talented Michael Longenecker. Even if the book were a dud, I would recommend it just for Longenecker's richly detailed paintings and drawings which are sprinkled thoughout the book! However, this book is a very good read. I spent a snowy day in March reading this tale, and I am now a confirmed fan.

Ravenwild is a fast-paced story, with a la...more One of the most beautifully illustrated books I have read in a long time is Ravenwild by Dr. Peter J. Plasse. The gorgeous illustrations are by the incredibly talented Michael Longenecker. Even if the book were a dud, I would recommend it just for Longenecker's richly detailed paintings and drawings which are sprinkled thoughout the book! However, this book is a very good read. I spent a snowy day in March reading this tale, and I am now a confirmed fan.

Ravenwild is a fast-paced story, with a large cast of characters. In the first chapter we meet King Rolan Fairman and his second in command, Thargen. He the king of Ravenwild, a small country in the world of Inam'Ra and has been at war all his life against both the gnomes and the trolls. He is once again under attack. His infant son is endangered, but he saves him, sending the boy and the queen to safety with his wizard, Taber.

The story switches to modern day Connecticut and Dr. Blake Strong. On his way home from the hospital one night he is tricked into a meeting with one 'Hemlock Simpleton, wizard extraordinaire' who tells him that a great many lives depend on him and on Jessica, his wife, and insists that they come to Ravenwild with him, even though it is 'interplanetary travel', or rather, 'interdimensional travel'.

This is not a popular notion with their children, 16 yr old Orrie (son), and 10 yr old Jaqueline (daughter). However, through a series of events, their 15 yr old daughter, Stephanie, ends up going to Ravenwild with 16 yr old Erik, the young Crown Prince. The rest of the Strong family follow her, but they become separated.

In many books about teenaged heroes the parents are conveniently absent. In Ravenwild they were an important presence. The whole family has a sharp, sarcastic sense humour which had me chuckling along with them at times. The three children and their friends are each quite likable and are drawn with their own distinct personalities. They do share certain familial traits with their parents, which is common in a close family.

This book was definitely one of those books that began slowly, but got better as it went along. As you read further and the Strong family is broken up and scattered, the branches of the story start to split off into this complex but exciting tale.

As the story progressess, we are introduced many other characters like Jared, the kind and lonely human who lived out in the woods of Ravenwild for years, and the deliciously evil troll Emporer Malance.

The tale is told from a variety of perspectives, from not only the 'good' side, but the 'bad' side as well. All of the different species, elves, dwarves and gnomes have distinct personality traits and mannerisms within their societies, and they are really well portrayed. Even the enemy species of the book (the Trolls), have a wide range of good and bad in their society. There are the nasty Emperor Malance who despises humans, and the caring and helpful Daria and Forrester who do everything they can to help the Strong family.

This is an excellent first novel, and as I said at the beginning, the book is worth it for the artwork. If you stick with it you will find a wonderful tale that is slated to be a trilogy.
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May 10, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good book that I held on to for way to long before jumping into. Admittedly, fantasy is not my usual fare, but when I was contacted to review this book I decided to give it a go. I'm really glad I did. It took me a little bit to get into the world and find my groove, but once I did I found myself really enjoying both the characters and the story that Plasse presents. It's fast paced and has a huge cast of characters, although it is easy to follow, and each characters is there f...more This was a really good book that I held on to for way to long before jumping into. Admittedly, fantasy is not my usual fare, but when I was contacted to review this book I decided to give it a go. I'm really glad I did. It took me a little bit to get into the world and find my groove, but once I did I found myself really enjoying both the characters and the story that Plasse presents. It's fast paced and has a huge cast of characters, although it is easy to follow, and each characters is there for a reason. Plasse weaves the story together and manages to pack in fantasy, romance, mystery and action without it seeming overly complicated. At 494 pages it is a bit long, so this won't be your one-nighter, but it's worth taking the time and giving it a read.

One of my least favorite things that happens in MG and YA is the trend towards having main characters without parents or with dead beat parents. I was really excited to read a book that was about the whole family! This was such a change from so many other books I've read recently and I thought that it was really well done. Each member of the family had a purpose for being there and they functioned well seperately, but it was always clear that they were a close knit group and even when apart they were a united front of sorts.

Lastly, I want to point out the great drawings that are included in this book. Done by Mike Longenecker they are spread out through the book and add in a little something extra to the story. Part of the fun of reading is to imagine the world that the author creates, here we get a little peak into how they envision it. Done as black and white sketches, they are simple, which is perfect for this story. They add to the story without distracting from it. My favorite illustration comes from fairly early on in the book and is of the trolls breaching the wall- there is so much detail in the drawing that it really brings the story to life!

Overall this is a good book and if you are a fan of fantasy, then this is a great one to pick up!
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Apr 15, 2011 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads

As soon as you turn the first page of Ravenwild you are immediately transported into the medieval fantasy world of Inam'Ra and introduced to the danger that the citizens of Ravenwild face from the encroaching Trolls and Gnomes. Unfortunately for the Strong family they are tricked into leaving the safety of their world by an unnerving wizard and end up separated and stranded amongst dangerous creatures in Ravenwild and its surrounding countries. What ensues is an epic adventure as Blake and Jessi...more As soon as you turn the first page of Ravenwild you are immediately transported into the medieval fantasy world of Inam'Ra and introduced to the danger that the citizens of Ravenwild face from the encroaching Trolls and Gnomes. Unfortunately for the Strong family they are tricked into leaving the safety of their world by an unnerving wizard and end up separated and stranded amongst dangerous creatures in Ravenwild and its surrounding countries. What ensues is an epic adventure as Blake and Jessica Strong try to battle their way through Ravenwild to find their children. I'm a big fan of medieval fantasy stories including the works of Trudi Canavan, Terry Brooks and J.R.R. Tolkien and now Peter Plasse. Inam'Ra is a diverse and exciting new world that I really enjoyed exploring.

I loved the way the whole family was involved in the story instead of just one of the children. In a lot of novels the parents are usually conveniently absent but in Ravenwild they were an important presence. The whole family have a really sarcastic humour which had me chuckling along with them at times. The three children Orie (16), Stephanie (15) and Jacqueline (10) are all likable with their own distinct personalities but with traits inherited from their parents, which shows how close they are as a family.

There is also a whole host of characters that you are introduced to, good and bad! There is the brave and loyal Forrester and even though he is a Troll he has a good heart and has banded together with Orie to help him find his family. There is also Jared, the intelligent and resourceful human that comes across Stephanie and believes she is the girl that is prophesised to change the fate of Inam'Ra in his beloved books. On the other side of the war there is the awful and downright evil Troll Emperor Malance Venomisis. So even though there was a lot of characters to keep track of I never forgot who was who and it was easy to follow becasue they all had there own personalities and none ever blended into one another.

Throughout the whole novel there is always the presence of danger and the threat is almost palpable. The Trolls are vicious and don't give a second thought about killing anybody for food or even just fun. There were times when some of the characters had just managed to escape from the Trolls only to find themselves back in their clutches almost straight away. This meant that I never knew what was going to happen next and there were also plenty of twists and turns that kept me reading and guessing.

Dotted amongst the pages of the book are great illustrations by Michael Longenecker of various characters and scenes which were an added bonus and very cool. The story ended satisfyingly, however, there are still questions to be answered and mysteries to be unraveled in the next installment and I can't wait to read it. Overall, it was a fast-paced, exciting read that transports you to a rich and amazing new world and is a great start to a promising new trilogy. (less)

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Apr 29, 2011 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-egalley-for-review

Ravenwild is the story of a magical planet called Inam’Ra, the inhabitants who live there, including the humans, trolls, dwarfs, gnomes, and elves, and a modern family from Connecticut. One day, a wizard who calls himself Hemlock Simpleton from the country of Ravenwild visits the Strong family, parents Blake and Jessica, and their children Orie, Stephanie, and Jacqueline, and explains to them how the people of Ravenwild need their help to survive. The people and creatures of Inam’Ra have been at...more Ravenwild is the story of a magical planet called Inam’Ra, the inhabitants who live there, including the humans, trolls, dwarfs, gnomes, and elves, and a modern family from Connecticut. One day, a wizard who calls himself Hemlock Simpleton from the country of Ravenwild visits the Strong family, parents Blake and Jessica, and their children Orie, Stephanie, and Jacqueline, and explains to them how the people of Ravenwild need their help to survive. The people and creatures of Inam’Ra have been at war with each other for a very long time. The wizard explains that the country is in grave danger, the fighting is getting worse, and without the Strong’s help, the citizens of Ravenwild will lose, and most likely will become extinct.

Before the Strong family can decided what they are going to, Stephanie meets Erik Fairman, the Prince of Ravenwild, who promises her that if she goes with him back to his country, no harm will come to her. Stephanie decides to trusts him and leaves with him. Her parents follow her to bring her home, followed by Orie and Jacqueline. Thus begins the epic adventure that is Ravenwild.

The Strong family is spread out throughout the country trying to survive and bring their family back together. At every turn they are faced with some sort of danger, and at the same time they need to fight to protect themselves and the country of Ravenwild.

We are introduced to so many different characters in Ravenwild and they are all interesting and each bring something to the story. First off, each member of the Strong family had a unique personality. I loved how connected they were. I also enjoyed the character of the Troll Emperor Malance Venomisis. He was so evil, that it was awesome! I also enjoyed reading the histories and backgrounds of the different species. I thought it brought something special to the story.
Since there were so many different characters and storylines, sometimes the story was a little hard to follow-and at 494 pages, you know there’s going to be a lot of information given! The story was also told in so many different points of views that we got to see both sides-the good and the bad, which was pretty cool!

The writing was very descriptive that as a reader, you really felt that you were right there in the heart of the story. Adding to the story were illustrations of the characters and scenes. Not only were the drawings beautifully done, but they brought the book to a whole new level. I hope in the second book, there are even more drawings to enjoy!

Overall, I thought this was a great start to a fantasy series. Ravenwild is an epic journey that takes the reader to a world completely different from our own.
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May 05, 2011 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Ravenwild is the first book in an epic trilogy. Follow along with Dr. Strong and his family as they encounter beings in a world they never thought would have existed. This is a wonderful action/adventure novel populated with elves, trolls, dwarves, and myriad otherworldly creatures. A powerful book in the vein of Lord of the Rings and other classic fantasy novels. Pick up Ravenwild and get lost in the world of Inam'Ra!

Originally posted at http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2...

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Jul 03, 2011 Annette rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

I really wanted to like this new fantasy trilogy. The synopsis seemed right up my alley.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get past one gaping plot hole and the author's method of introducing characters. The family has three children, but the author chooses not to tell you their ages until you've read quite a bit of their interaction. I'd already formed my mental "image" of the kids and found it VERY inconsistent with the author - when he finally decided to provide the details. Similar situation with the...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

The author has created a whole new world that will whisk you away into adventure. Exciting, fast paced adventure.

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Oct 27, 2012 Teacher 007.5 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I could not even finish it. It started of slow and very confusing. After the fourth or fifth chapter I put the book down. I kept the book for a couple weeks hoping I would go back to it but I could not. I ended up donating it to my local library in the hopes that someone else would like it.

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