The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey (book1) by Melka Stansah

     Ah the days of carrying the title, debut author or debut novel.  I remember it well.  It was a total catastrophe, but I had the love and support of all my friends.  It was the greatest inspiration and journey, but one I had to learn from.    I am happy to be participating with Melka Stansah on her first journey with her debut series, book one The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey.  I hope she enjoys her experience as much as I did, but with enormous success.

     I was gifted with a copy The First Journey during a busy time, but managed to read, take notes and offer up an pretty cool review on her book.  This tale is similar to many in that a young human is set on a mission, long before he's truly ready.  His fate was out of his control and his only clues came in the form of two very different colored irises and something called ...
(original banner from http://theraventrilogy.com)      It begins on a cold, winter night, when a warrior keeps his word and takes a baby boy as his own.  It ends with that baby boy, now a young man,  running away to unselfishly save others from an approaching war. Raven has had a rough life.  He was isolated, didn't eat or drink and barely knew how to fight, but he was unexpectedly given a mission: Revenge.  Barely a man or a fighter, he goes out into a world that hated him to kill the man who's manipulated so much of Raven's fate.  

     He's ostracized, by man and beast, because of his bloodline and his eyes; he is callous and arrogant and he's in need of a friend.  What he doesn't realize is, when he manages to find a friend, Isabel, the arrogance and the intimidation doesn't matter anymore.  There is a cost.

     The Raven Trilogy: The First Journey is a YA series  about friendship, finding ones self and how to deal with the bad things in life.  It's also about revenge, killing an emissary from another race and dimension, set in fantasy on Earth (I think).  But it's mostly about Raven learning about himself.  What he is and what he needs.  Stansah gave the background for Raven's need  to strike back at the leader of the marauders and then set him free on an unknown land.  Without much skill, he left home and began killing off the inter-dimensional pillagers, not caring who was in his way.  He went from youthful recluse to young Terminator! 

     Good story, but it was missing some B's & P's (Bits & Pieces).  The bits that weren't there, to me, made it more of a middle grade reader; simple to read and follow.  Because these B's & P's weren't included, I felt small gaps wishing the story.  There are many times when something was simply stated instead of described, (i.e. Although he was quick to avoid it, his left eye was badly injured... and Raven was tortured...)  Tell me what happened - the action is in the awesome details!  I want them; I hunger for those neglected bits and pieces!  Since this is Stansah's first book, I understand how it can happen and it happens to the best of us.  She's got some skills as a storyteller, but once those B's & P's are included- she'll become a Raconteur Elite!  I'll be looking for her too.  Great job!

     Check out Stansah's adventure while I check out another book!