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The Famirian Chronicles #1
The Raven Key
Something is wrong with Seth. At least, that’s what his mother believed the night she tried to murder him when he was six. Almost twelve years later, Seth still struggles to reclaim a sense of normalcy after that trauma, an endeavor that isn’t helped by his father’s alcoholism or the ever-present void of his mother’s absence.
It’s an emptiness Seth isn’t sure how to fill until a romance sparks with Gabriel, a kindhearted college senior who offers Seth the support and intimacy he craves. But Gabriel is more than what he seems—and Seth might be as well.
When he wakes one night to the metallic tang of blood in his mouth and a menacing voice in his head, Seth is forced to confront the very evil his mother had feared. Now, more than one war is being waged inside Seth, and even with Gabriel’s help, he isn’t sure he’s strong enough to win.
It’s an emptiness Seth isn’t sure how to fill until a romance sparks with Gabriel, a kindhearted college senior who offers Seth the support and intimacy he craves. But Gabriel is more than what he seems—and Seth might be as well.
When he wakes one night to the metallic tang of blood in his mouth and a menacing voice in his head, Seth is forced to confront the very evil his mother had feared. Now, more than one war is being waged inside Seth, and even with Gabriel’s help, he isn’t sure he’s strong enough to win.
360 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2022
5 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Harper L. Carnes
1 book17 followersHarper L. Carnes has been writing ever since she figured out she could escape into worlds of fantasy by typing on a keyboard.
As a survivor of trauma and PTSD her stories tend towards an exploration of darker themes, though there’s typically light and hope at the end of her tales.
Outside of writing Harper enjoys traveling to places near and far, spending time getting lost in a good book or TV show, and having spirited conversations with friends.
She currently resides in Michigan with her pampered pooch Minnie and various exotic pets.
As a survivor of trauma and PTSD her stories tend towards an exploration of darker themes, though there’s typically light and hope at the end of her tales.
Outside of writing Harper enjoys traveling to places near and far, spending time getting lost in a good book or TV show, and having spirited conversations with friends.
She currently resides in Michigan with her pampered pooch Minnie and various exotic pets.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 11, 2023
Unexpected! I love going in without knowing the background information of a book or series. I enjoyed the author's explanation of the background of each character and the romantic connection of the main characters. Although this is fantasy based, the "horror" aspects were not overdone and the scenes were short enough for the reader to understand but not too long to where I was bored. I also loved that the author incorporated scenes and conversation in Spanish and delved a little bit into our culture. The only aspect of this book that I did not like was the age gap between the main love interests. I'm not a fan of underage people having relationships with older individuals. In this case one person was 17 and the other in their early 20's. I do appreciate that the author provided a trigger warning in the synopsis of the book, briefly at the beginning of the book and in a section in the back of the book for topics related to abuse, mental illness, etc. I wish more books provided that to the reader! Overall, this was a quick read but one where I was able to get lost for a bit. I look forward to reading the other books in the series!
November 20, 2022
Won this book via goodreads - if you like teen romance probably for you
So to start ill say normally I'd give a book like this less than three stars. I realize for this that wouldn't be fair though. So instead I will share the things I liked and that I didnt. Lets start with liked, the world building is fairly captivating and does make you wonder what will happen next. The next thing I liked was that the main character kept to his nature, even if I hated his nature. Now things I didn't like. I hated how 75% of the book felt like sex or romance. I was not expecting that from the summary. I didn't like the main character at all, I found myself liking most of the side characters more. Lastly I felt certain things were rushed and made things not make so much sense.
So to start ill say normally I'd give a book like this less than three stars. I realize for this that wouldn't be fair though. So instead I will share the things I liked and that I didnt. Lets start with liked, the world building is fairly captivating and does make you wonder what will happen next. The next thing I liked was that the main character kept to his nature, even if I hated his nature. Now things I didn't like. I hated how 75% of the book felt like sex or romance. I was not expecting that from the summary. I didn't like the main character at all, I found myself liking most of the side characters more. Lastly I felt certain things were rushed and made things not make so much sense.
September 19, 2022
Seventeen-year-old Seth’s haunted past shapes his brooding present and feeds the nightmares that still trouble him almost nightly. But when he meets Gabriel, a beautiful man several years his senior, things start looking up. Seth finally believes he can trust, love, and be happy. Until strangeness begins to follow him, like the ravens that suddenly seem to shadow his every move and begin showing very un-raven-like behaviors. When Gabriel catches Seth in a lie and walks away, Seth’s happiness—and his reality—spiral down into a dark aether that brings changes too bizarre to be anything but a nightmare from which he can’t awaken. If he is to save himself, and Gabriel, Seth will have to face the truth and surrender to his biggest fear.
This book is excellent from the start. Its prologue sets the tone for everything that happens to Seth throughout the story and offers a reasonable explanation for what might otherwise seem to be the usual teen angst taken up a few notches. Anyone who survives the sort of trauma he experiences in those first few pages would be forgiven their idiosyncrasies. Seth’s world is, at first, surprisingly “normal” in flavor. Oddities appear slowly, grow in number and magnitude until they explode Seth’s life in a no-turning-back way, blowing me away right along with Seth and holding me enraptured right up to the very last word.
The author’s choice to show us that early trauma in Seth’s childhood not only informs the storyline and sets the stage; it made it easy for me to connect to Seth on a deep, emotional level. I was completely invested in his storyline early on, so that everything that happens to him after that just bonded me to him that much more. I wanted his denial to be truth. I wanted the oddities to be coincidences. I wanted Gabriel to stay, despite Seth’s lie. But of course, it’s watching a beloved character undergo tragedy and hardship that makes for a great story. The Raven Key has this in spades.
Carnes’s writing style is quite accessible, making it easy to forget you’re safe on your sofa, and truly get swept up in the story. Seth’s thoughts and actions felt authentic, as did dialogue between characters. Chapters flow easily one into the other, making it really hard to put the book down. While the main character is a teenager, which might make a reader think this is a YA story, I would suggest that this is not for YA audiences. The author includes a detailed list of trigger warnings in the back of the book, so I don’t feel like I’m spoiling anything to tell you here that there is some graphic—but not gratuitous—violence on the page, which is part and parcel of Seth’s story. There are also some very explicit love scenes, and other elements that make it far more suited to adult readers.
That said, I highly recommend this book, which is expected to be released September 13, 2022. The Raven Key is dark urban fantasy at its finest.
This book is excellent from the start. Its prologue sets the tone for everything that happens to Seth throughout the story and offers a reasonable explanation for what might otherwise seem to be the usual teen angst taken up a few notches. Anyone who survives the sort of trauma he experiences in those first few pages would be forgiven their idiosyncrasies. Seth’s world is, at first, surprisingly “normal” in flavor. Oddities appear slowly, grow in number and magnitude until they explode Seth’s life in a no-turning-back way, blowing me away right along with Seth and holding me enraptured right up to the very last word.
The author’s choice to show us that early trauma in Seth’s childhood not only informs the storyline and sets the stage; it made it easy for me to connect to Seth on a deep, emotional level. I was completely invested in his storyline early on, so that everything that happens to him after that just bonded me to him that much more. I wanted his denial to be truth. I wanted the oddities to be coincidences. I wanted Gabriel to stay, despite Seth’s lie. But of course, it’s watching a beloved character undergo tragedy and hardship that makes for a great story. The Raven Key has this in spades.
Carnes’s writing style is quite accessible, making it easy to forget you’re safe on your sofa, and truly get swept up in the story. Seth’s thoughts and actions felt authentic, as did dialogue between characters. Chapters flow easily one into the other, making it really hard to put the book down. While the main character is a teenager, which might make a reader think this is a YA story, I would suggest that this is not for YA audiences. The author includes a detailed list of trigger warnings in the back of the book, so I don’t feel like I’m spoiling anything to tell you here that there is some graphic—but not gratuitous—violence on the page, which is part and parcel of Seth’s story. There are also some very explicit love scenes, and other elements that make it far more suited to adult readers.
That said, I highly recommend this book, which is expected to be released September 13, 2022. The Raven Key is dark urban fantasy at its finest.
October 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
November 7, 2023
In "The Raven Key: The Famirian Chronicles" by Harper L. Carnes treats us to an imaginative world of fantasy and romance that sweeps you off your feet and carries you to a world where secrets and supernatural powers entwine.
Seth Cunningham's life has been anything but ordinary, plagued by a traumatic childhood event that left deep scars. As he navigates the intricacies of life, Carnes' paints a picture of his journey to find love, redemption, and self-discovery. While the horrors of Seth's past loom large, a budding romance with Gabriel provides a ray of hope in his otherwise turbulent world.
A haunting voice within Seth echoes from the depths of his soul. It's a voice shared only with the ravens who appear to serve a dark, insatiable hunger. As Seth grapples with his inner demons and the unearthly forces at play, we are thrust into an intricate dance between the ordinary and the supernatural.
Carnes has contrived a story that blends the romantic with the supernatural, painting a world where love and darkness coexist. The descriptions and well-drawn characters envelope you in the story, making you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat. It's a tale that tantalizes with intrigue and mystique, leaving you yearning for the next turn of the page.
"The Raven Key" is a unique and imaginative experience. Carnes has crafted a story that probes the human psyche and explores the resilience of the human spirit against the forces of darkness. This book will leave you yearning for more.
"A spellbinding blend of romance and the supernatural that will leave you breathless."
"Harper L. Carnes weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, redemption, and the unknown."
"An enchanting journey into a world where secrets and supernatural forces collide."
"Immerse yourself in a story that explores the resilience of the human spirit against darkness."
"A unique and imaginative experience that will leave you yearning for more."
"A mix of the ordinary and the supernatural, where love and darkness coexist."
"Prepare to be transported to a world where the mysteries of the heart meet unearthly forces."
"A vivid tale that will make you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat."
Seth Cunningham's life has been anything but ordinary, plagued by a traumatic childhood event that left deep scars. As he navigates the intricacies of life, Carnes' paints a picture of his journey to find love, redemption, and self-discovery. While the horrors of Seth's past loom large, a budding romance with Gabriel provides a ray of hope in his otherwise turbulent world.
A haunting voice within Seth echoes from the depths of his soul. It's a voice shared only with the ravens who appear to serve a dark, insatiable hunger. As Seth grapples with his inner demons and the unearthly forces at play, we are thrust into an intricate dance between the ordinary and the supernatural.
Carnes has contrived a story that blends the romantic with the supernatural, painting a world where love and darkness coexist. The descriptions and well-drawn characters envelope you in the story, making you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat. It's a tale that tantalizes with intrigue and mystique, leaving you yearning for the next turn of the page.
"The Raven Key" is a unique and imaginative experience. Carnes has crafted a story that probes the human psyche and explores the resilience of the human spirit against the forces of darkness. This book will leave you yearning for more.
"A spellbinding blend of romance and the supernatural that will leave you breathless."
"Harper L. Carnes weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, redemption, and the unknown."
"An enchanting journey into a world where secrets and supernatural forces collide."
"Immerse yourself in a story that explores the resilience of the human spirit against darkness."
"A unique and imaginative experience that will leave you yearning for more."
"A mix of the ordinary and the supernatural, where love and darkness coexist."
"Prepare to be transported to a world where the mysteries of the heart meet unearthly forces."
"A vivid tale that will make you feel every emotion and sense every heartbeat."
October 1, 2023
3/5 stars
I picked The Raven Key up off of NetGalley as the start to my October spooky/thriller reading marathon, and it delivered with that goal!
I’ll start by saying I appreciated the trigger warnings given by the author. I implore those who pick this book up to note them before beginning.
I think this book is a good new adult read when it comes to the romance portion. It is LGBTQIA+ and there is good representation throughout the story.
While this writing style isn’t my usual cup of tea, I did enjoy many elements of the story. I believe this is the author’s first novel, so I commend her, however, this book left me wanting. I found myself at times wanting to skip over paragraphs to get back to the plot. The pacing wasn’t great, but once the action picked up, I found myself enjoying it much more.
I sympathized with the MC, Seth, and could relate to a lot of the things he dealt with throughout the story. My only critique would be that he seemed inconsistent at times.
This was a good October, spooky season read that I would recommend to new adults who enjoy steamy romance scenes. The spice was there for sure!
I picked The Raven Key up off of NetGalley as the start to my October spooky/thriller reading marathon, and it delivered with that goal!
I’ll start by saying I appreciated the trigger warnings given by the author. I implore those who pick this book up to note them before beginning.
I think this book is a good new adult read when it comes to the romance portion. It is LGBTQIA+ and there is good representation throughout the story.
While this writing style isn’t my usual cup of tea, I did enjoy many elements of the story. I believe this is the author’s first novel, so I commend her, however, this book left me wanting. I found myself at times wanting to skip over paragraphs to get back to the plot. The pacing wasn’t great, but once the action picked up, I found myself enjoying it much more.
I sympathized with the MC, Seth, and could relate to a lot of the things he dealt with throughout the story. My only critique would be that he seemed inconsistent at times.
This was a good October, spooky season read that I would recommend to new adults who enjoy steamy romance scenes. The spice was there for sure!
October 8, 2023
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this journey into an urban fantasy setting. It was accessible and well-written and contains a good amount of romance and mystery to keep you on your toes.
The characters are interesting and I found myself rooting for Seth and Gabriel. I didn’t quite understand Silas and how he manifested but he was a solid villain for the story and I found myself fearing him whenever his name was mentioned. Seth is an adorable character, I wish I could have taken him home and wrapped him in cotton wool or something… he comes across as so innocent, and with everything that had happened to him, it was surprising and endearing to see such a purely adorable character grace the page.
The plot was interesting too. We start out as a straightforward coming of age romance and somewhere along the way it seamlessly morphs into a paranormal fantasy thriller. Cleverly done. Overall a good and easy book to delve into. Worth a looksee.
The characters are interesting and I found myself rooting for Seth and Gabriel. I didn’t quite understand Silas and how he manifested but he was a solid villain for the story and I found myself fearing him whenever his name was mentioned. Seth is an adorable character, I wish I could have taken him home and wrapped him in cotton wool or something… he comes across as so innocent, and with everything that had happened to him, it was surprising and endearing to see such a purely adorable character grace the page.
The plot was interesting too. We start out as a straightforward coming of age romance and somewhere along the way it seamlessly morphs into a paranormal fantasy thriller. Cleverly done. Overall a good and easy book to delve into. Worth a looksee.
Did not finish
October 9, 2023DNF at 27%
Unfortunately, I feel like this book was misrepresented by the tags. First of all, I didn't even get halfway, but in the parts I read there is absolutely no horror, except maybe the prologue. Also, I had to check several times that this wasn't labelled as YA anywhere, because it definitely reads like a YA fantasy romance. There is nothing wrong with YA fantasy romances, but that is not what this book was advertised as, and not what I thought I was signing up for.
I'm disappointed because I really liked the concept, but the book itself just isn't holding my attention. I would have expected it to pick up more by now, or just be generally creepier for something that is tagged mainly as Horror.
One compliment: I do appreciate the inclusion of content warnings in the book, which I hope becomes common practice. This book also does it in my preferred way, with a more general note at the beginning and a detailed note at the end of the book.
Unfortunately, I feel like this book was misrepresented by the tags. First of all, I didn't even get halfway, but in the parts I read there is absolutely no horror, except maybe the prologue. Also, I had to check several times that this wasn't labelled as YA anywhere, because it definitely reads like a YA fantasy romance. There is nothing wrong with YA fantasy romances, but that is not what this book was advertised as, and not what I thought I was signing up for.
I'm disappointed because I really liked the concept, but the book itself just isn't holding my attention. I would have expected it to pick up more by now, or just be generally creepier for something that is tagged mainly as Horror.
One compliment: I do appreciate the inclusion of content warnings in the book, which I hope becomes common practice. This book also does it in my preferred way, with a more general note at the beginning and a detailed note at the end of the book.
October 26, 2023
This book is filled with heartache, tragedy, horror/terror, romance, and struggles.
It will fill you with rage, make you smile, pull at your heart strings, and make you cry all in the span of one single chapter.
As a trauma survivor and someone with PTSD, I love that Harper L. Carnes incorporates this into her writing/book and shows the struggles and darkness within this certain mental illness. It helps shine a light on a very real struggle and I think she does a beautiful job of doing so with her writing.
And speaking of writing, it was beautiful. It was well-done, and detailed to the point it wasn’t difficult to imagine the story unfolding.
I have to say, I’m impatiently waiting for book two now, because, THAT ENDING 😮💨 (I also think I read it’s from a different POV so I’m excited about that!!)
But, this was for sure an easy 5 stars for me, and I can’t wait to see more from Harper L. Carnes 👏🏻👏🏻
It will fill you with rage, make you smile, pull at your heart strings, and make you cry all in the span of one single chapter.
As a trauma survivor and someone with PTSD, I love that Harper L. Carnes incorporates this into her writing/book and shows the struggles and darkness within this certain mental illness. It helps shine a light on a very real struggle and I think she does a beautiful job of doing so with her writing.
And speaking of writing, it was beautiful. It was well-done, and detailed to the point it wasn’t difficult to imagine the story unfolding.
I have to say, I’m impatiently waiting for book two now, because, THAT ENDING 😮💨 (I also think I read it’s from a different POV so I’m excited about that!!)
But, this was for sure an easy 5 stars for me, and I can’t wait to see more from Harper L. Carnes 👏🏻👏🏻
October 11, 2023
Seth is haunted by the memories of his mother trying to drown him as a child. When he lies about his age to Gabriel that he’s interested in, they get into a sweet and caring relationship. Gabriel is compassionate about Seth’s trauma but also harbors secrets of his own. As Seth discovers newfound powers, their world is upended, and they must navigate their own secrets, truths, and the complexities of their relationship while striving to save themselves and others.
“The Raven Key” by Harper L. Carnes is a perfect queer fantasy book. I loved the unique spin on lore which reminds me a lot of Native American lore. I loved Seth and Gabriel’s sweet and complicated relationship that’s realistic despite being a fantasy book. I felt the trauma aspects of the book were good. 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait for a second book.
“The Raven Key” by Harper L. Carnes is a perfect queer fantasy book. I loved the unique spin on lore which reminds me a lot of Native American lore. I loved Seth and Gabriel’s sweet and complicated relationship that’s realistic despite being a fantasy book. I felt the trauma aspects of the book were good. 5 out of 5 stars and cannot wait for a second book.
February 8, 2023
Wow, I read this book fast.
I won this in a giveaway awhile back and am working on getting through the list of books on my kindle app.
Its definitely not for the faint of heart, but I enjoyed it. It had good pacing and the action in it is well portrayed. I really love the idea of familiars and became quite attached to the characters and their struggles and triumphs. I look forward to the next book whenever it come!
I won this in a giveaway awhile back and am working on getting through the list of books on my kindle app.
Its definitely not for the faint of heart, but I enjoyed it. It had good pacing and the action in it is well portrayed. I really love the idea of familiars and became quite attached to the characters and their struggles and triumphs. I look forward to the next book whenever it come!
November 1, 2023
This LGBT story should have been great but sadly it had so many different characters and plot lines it was hard to really care about anyone. The story did flow half way decently but with that amount of characters with an under 400 pages it was a lot. And I found myself having to reread sections over and over to really grasp the story. This one reminds me of the same issues I had with Priory with the Orange Tree.
October 15, 2023
This was definitely a good book! The writing and pacing were phenomenal!! I will say that this book is definitely for mature audiences as there are multiple s3x scenes (that were very descriptive 🙃). All and all I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and can't wait for the next part as it did leave the reader hanging.
December 7, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Not for me. I was not a fan of the age difference. In addition, I was more interested in the mc's past and the other aspects of the storyline fell flat to me.
Not for me. I was not a fan of the age difference. In addition, I was more interested in the mc's past and the other aspects of the storyline fell flat to me.
November 23, 2022
I really enjoyed it.
August 8, 2023
So bloody good! Quite original and consuming world-building, captivating plot and characters with depth.
February 22, 2026
I have rarely disliked a book so much! Very confusing reading the other reviews.
August 27, 2025
I wrote about this book for the Ignyte-winning, Hugo-winning blog Nerds of a Feather:
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/08/...
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/08/...
February 16, 2024
I found it a bit slow going at the start (after the initial attention grabbing prologue). Lots of characters were introduced but not really fleshed out - although Seth was well written. I loved his character and really felt his confusion and fear. I’m guessing/hoping the other characters might get more attention in future books. Classic first in series syndrome - lots of world building and character introductions - and so many loose ends!
The pace sped up later and it became gripping.
The final set-piece was heart in throat good.
(But also frustrating - I definitely want to read the next in the series now!)
I don’t think it is a YA book at all.
Parts were very bloody.
Kit was Silver? But out of the blue got called Kit when he reappeared near end as a guardian spirit. Did I miss a clue to this renaming?
The pace sped up later and it became gripping.
The final set-piece was heart in throat good.
(But also frustrating - I definitely want to read the next in the series now!)
I don’t think it is a YA book at all.
Parts were very bloody.
Kit was Silver? But out of the blue got called Kit when he reappeared near end as a guardian spirit. Did I miss a clue to this renaming?
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews