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Ravenhearth
In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion from Ash's village every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned.
Ash is a young orphan who dreams of learning magic. When the newest request for a companion is posted, he volunteers. Upon his arrival, he finds the Keeper's home is nothing like the fearful whispers shared around the village. Instead, he slowly grows to be a part of the close-knit family of the Keeper's castle—and falls for Giles, the butler of Ravenhearth, rather than the man he's been sent there to attend.
Ash is a young orphan who dreams of learning magic. When the newest request for a companion is posted, he volunteers. Upon his arrival, he finds the Keeper's home is nothing like the fearful whispers shared around the village. Instead, he slowly grows to be a part of the close-knit family of the Keeper's castle—and falls for Giles, the butler of Ravenhearth, rather than the man he's been sent there to attend.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2016
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61 people want to read
About the author
Lotus Oakes
15 books4 followersThe secret writing identity of someone doing her best to play the role of a Responsible Dayjob Adult in the offline world. Everything she writes wants to be a fairytale when it grows up.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 18, 2016
An homage to Beauty and the Beast.
Ash, a young man who willing sacrifices himself to the mage that protects the city of Ravenhearth from the plague of miasma. On the castle that overlooks the town, Ash meets the Keeper and his servants.
As a companion to the Keeper, Ash is given luxurious accommodations, clothing, and all the food he can eat. The Keeper is solicitous, but distant and busy. Ash uses his free time to pursue his dream of learning magic. The steward, Giles, sets him down a path when Ash asks. Still, Ash waits for the Keeper to call for him.
There's a naiveté and sweetness to Ash that comes through. The whole household of people are interesting and diverse, but seemed underutilized in the story. The real focus revolves around Ash, Giles, and the Keeper.
Overall, a sweet fairy tale.
Ash, a young man who willing sacrifices himself to the mage that protects the city of Ravenhearth from the plague of miasma. On the castle that overlooks the town, Ash meets the Keeper and his servants.
As a companion to the Keeper, Ash is given luxurious accommodations, clothing, and all the food he can eat. The Keeper is solicitous, but distant and busy. Ash uses his free time to pursue his dream of learning magic. The steward, Giles, sets him down a path when Ash asks. Still, Ash waits for the Keeper to call for him.
There's a naiveté and sweetness to Ash that comes through. The whole household of people are interesting and diverse, but seemed underutilized in the story. The real focus revolves around Ash, Giles, and the Keeper.
Overall, a sweet fairy tale.
January 12, 2016
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
My Tags: #fantasy #magic #slow-burn
Publisher: Less Than Three Press - Publication: Feb 17, 2016
My thoughts on Ravenhearth Lotus Oakes:
What is is about?
In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion from the village every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned…
The story begins with the arrival of a letter, one that keeps coming every ten years, asking the village to pick a volunteer who is willing to start a new life as the Keeper’s companion. Determined to be send to Ravenhearth Castle, Ash, twenty-one year old orphan, makes his way to the church to convince the village elders to let him go.
Ash and his mother arrived in the small village sixteen years ago and kept on moving around within the boundaries for years and years, never settling down.
Ever since his mother’s death a few years ago, Ash has been dreaming of learning magic. Sadly she passed away before she could pass on her knowledge. With the newest request for a companion he finally sees his chance for possibly such education, because every Keeper is a master of magic and he hopes there might be a way for him to finally learn it too!
What did I like the most? ->
Ash is one of those characters I totally adore and instantly click with; he’s charming and guileless, a little naive and shy but positive and very determined. I liked his voice a lot :)
What about….
The world-building was nicely done, although very compact. There is little info on most things mentioned:
The clockwork automatons - besides a horse, what else is there? Does every Keeper have those? Who makes them/invented them? Why are they there?
The miasma - Where does it come from? Why is it deadly? (I only learned it was in fact deadly near the end of the book), Is it covering the whole planet?
The magic - seems like it’s not a common thing in this world to have any knowledge of magic. I still wonder why his mom could do it so well and why she died of an illness? I got the impression that the more you learn magic the lesser and lesser food, drink and sleep you need until eventually you become immortal? No? Why then is the Keeper immortal? Huh. So many questions.
Besides being told about the Keepers’s knowledge of magic and abilities to keep the miasma at bay, we don’t really learn anything about the world’s history or why only a few know magic. There is also the mention of mimic of all sorts, but again, there’s no background information on it.
What stopped me from really enjoying this book?
Giles. As the Keeper’s butler and housekeeper (basically) he’s there all the time. He takes care of the servants ( the cook, garden keeper and young (how young?) twins who were orphaned by the Keeper). He’s also taken Ash under his wings, since the Keeper doesn’t have time for him.
We never get Gile’s POV so really, I had no idea what went on in his head even until the end. I didn’t particularly like him, although he was a nice character and obviously did care for Ash. I didn’t really see why he loved him though, even until the end. He was just so stony all the time…
What was his relationship with the twins? (Those annoying little brats…)
One more thing:
The writing is solid, fun for the most part and well engaging.
My main complaint here is obviously the story pace and how everything unfolded. The story spans a good year - Everything was a tad too slow at times and yet the year seemed rushed! The magic part wasn’t what I expected (There’s only studying no actual magic happening….) and overall the story just had too little exciting things happening to be really fun.
I also found Ash’s sex dreams a bit odd - don’t ask me why, and yet they were the most exciting thing that happened for a good 80% - heh.
Where did Ash and his mom come from, btw? Did I miss the info?
I really loved Ash, but I kinda wanted a different live for him if that makes sense.
I would still like to recommend if you enjoy something light, fantasy-ish with not too much background story going on.
****
Many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
April 8, 2016
3.25 stars
Lovely fantasy/fairy-tale.
I loved Ash's determination with going to the Castle and learned magic. BUT I thought it was dragging at some parts while was Ash navigating his new life in the Castle, trying to get a grasp on what was expected from being a Keeper's companion, and getting closer to Giles. I wasn't particularly a fan of those sex-fantasy moments, it didn't do anything for me.
The secondary characters felt like they came and went, and I'd prefer for them to have more interaction with Ash.
Lovely fantasy/fairy-tale.
I loved Ash's determination with going to the Castle and learned magic. BUT I thought it was dragging at some parts while was Ash navigating his new life in the Castle, trying to get a grasp on what was expected from being a Keeper's companion, and getting closer to Giles. I wasn't particularly a fan of those sex-fantasy moments, it didn't do anything for me.
The secondary characters felt like they came and went, and I'd prefer for them to have more interaction with Ash.
January 12, 2016
Ash was a orphan after his mother dies leaving him in a new town all alone. He has been dreaming about volunteering to be a companion to the keeper for awhile now and as soon as the opportunity comes he jumps on the chance. He is so nervous and shy so when he gets there he has a hard time with some of the people at the castle. But then there was Giles who is the steward of the castle who takes him under his wing.
Okay I have to be honest a say I figured out who was who pretty early on in this story but I think that the way Ash really had no clue made this this story so much sweeter! I really loved some of the characters in this story, well everyone but the twins because they were really mean and I was not a huge fan of theirs. But my favorite character was Ash because he was so sweet and shy but at the same time strong at the end when he went after who he loved and cared for.
I loved this world this author created and this story! Also loved the way this author wrote these characters. You get so much sweet with this story and a little bit of angst and steam. I really loved the way everything came together in this book and I honestly did not want this story to end.
All together I loved this story!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
Okay I have to be honest a say I figured out who was who pretty early on in this story but I think that the way Ash really had no clue made this this story so much sweeter! I really loved some of the characters in this story, well everyone but the twins because they were really mean and I was not a huge fan of theirs. But my favorite character was Ash because he was so sweet and shy but at the same time strong at the end when he went after who he loved and cared for.
I loved this world this author created and this story! Also loved the way this author wrote these characters. You get so much sweet with this story and a little bit of angst and steam. I really loved the way everything came together in this book and I honestly did not want this story to end.
All together I loved this story!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
December 14, 2017
I really wanted to like this. The concept was so intriguing, I really wanted it to live up to what I was hoping for. Unfortunately, even while I was reading it, I still kept hoping it would be more.
The intriguing concept wasn't sufficiently fleshed-out. The world never quite solidified and even at the end, I was left with so many questions about how things work.
The concept and the glimpses of a solid fantasy world were worth a good 2 stars.
Some Favorite Quotes:
"Still yes?"
"I think all of the happiest moments of my life have been with or because of you."
The intriguing concept wasn't sufficiently fleshed-out. The world never quite solidified and even at the end, I was left with so many questions about how things work.
The concept and the glimpses of a solid fantasy world were worth a good 2 stars.
Some Favorite Quotes:
"Still yes?"
"I think all of the happiest moments of my life have been with or because of you."
May 29, 2016
ARC provided by Netgalley.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this. I really like sweet romance novels. This one was an interesting mix of MM romance contemporary-fiction and fantasy. There aren't too many stories that also have a fairy-tale feel to it. I like stories that you can visualize being told by an old-world story teller. This has that feel to it.
It is a slow paced story. For me, I have to be in the mood for slow stories. I tend to prefer stories with a more moderate pace just because it has an easier flow for me. If it's too slow I lose interest real fast. The characters in this one were likable enough. I wish there was a little bit more in how the character plot advanced the story plot because the story plot was a bit predictable. I also wish more of the world was incorporated into the story rather than reading like side-notes or a hindsight.
Overall this is a really sweet story, one of those you'd curl up and read on a rainy day where you're not looking to rush through a story. 3-3.5 stars.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this. I really like sweet romance novels. This one was an interesting mix of MM romance contemporary-fiction and fantasy. There aren't too many stories that also have a fairy-tale feel to it. I like stories that you can visualize being told by an old-world story teller. This has that feel to it.
It is a slow paced story. For me, I have to be in the mood for slow stories. I tend to prefer stories with a more moderate pace just because it has an easier flow for me. If it's too slow I lose interest real fast. The characters in this one were likable enough. I wish there was a little bit more in how the character plot advanced the story plot because the story plot was a bit predictable. I also wish more of the world was incorporated into the story rather than reading like side-notes or a hindsight.
Overall this is a really sweet story, one of those you'd curl up and read on a rainy day where you're not looking to rush through a story. 3-3.5 stars.
January 9, 2016
This fantasy was delightful, very well written and had so much potential. I'm hovering between 3 and 4 stars. I'm leaving at three for now but I would say it's likely closer to 3.5, I have to note that most of the issues I had with the book are me being me and my rating shouldn't put you off if the description draws you in.
First up, the good, Ash. He was charming, guileless, and so cutely naïve. He's been orphaned since he was a child but hasn't let his situation grind him down in life yet. Perhaps that would have come with time but the person he is now is a delight. His descriptions of his past, his mother, and what he was hoping for the future were just so open-hearted you can't help but root for him, even when he's being blind as a proverbial bat.
The world-building was very well done. I loved the descriptions of the town, the clockwork automatons especially and the miasma that seemingly covers the world. You never really get the full story of where it came from but it worked as far as setting the scene.
Now, the quibbles I had. I think the biggest issue I have with the book is the inherent conflict between Ash being a street orphan who is apparently untouched (just a few kisses), who comes to a castle to be, I've inferred, a sex companion for Giles (who is also so obviously the Keeper that it's not funny). Of course in the end the Keeper allows him to choose, and he declines, actually he says he does not know what exactly he wants and the Keeper therefore allows him to leave untouched once again. That was odd, but it got odder with the introduction of the twins. Their comments and actions (waiting for Ash in his bedroom, naked) suggest they have had a long and tawdry sexual history with Giles and want to prove to him he's no match for them. And this, most inexplicably, seems to contradict the fatherly way Giles treated them. Very, very unnerving. I have to say, much of the charm that I found in this book was just tarnished by that realization.
We never really see inside Giles head so I had a really hard time connecting with him. Why did he care for Ash? (Other than the obvious.) Did he really continue to carry out an affair with the sex twins? Did that continue even after Ash's return? *Cringes* I simply did not get him and that was an obstacle for me.
I had liked Lilah in the beginning, but then, after her actions, encouraging Ash to leave Giles without talking or revealing the truth just smacked as wrong to me. Someone who cared about Giles would *not* have done that. In the end I didn't trust a single person in that castle other than Verity. I guess they redeemed themselves for caring for Ash after he was ill but at that point the damage had been done.
I think in the end, I so loved Ash and I wanted more for him than this life with bat-shit crazy tenants in an empty castle. I do think the ending was happy and was a successful conclusion, I especially enjoyed the note on the town board, it was a nice way to bring the story full circle.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
First up, the good, Ash. He was charming, guileless, and so cutely naïve. He's been orphaned since he was a child but hasn't let his situation grind him down in life yet. Perhaps that would have come with time but the person he is now is a delight. His descriptions of his past, his mother, and what he was hoping for the future were just so open-hearted you can't help but root for him, even when he's being blind as a proverbial bat.
The world-building was very well done. I loved the descriptions of the town, the clockwork automatons especially and the miasma that seemingly covers the world. You never really get the full story of where it came from but it worked as far as setting the scene.
Now, the quibbles I had. I think the biggest issue I have with the book is the inherent conflict between Ash being a street orphan who is apparently untouched (just a few kisses), who comes to a castle to be, I've inferred, a sex companion for Giles (who is also so obviously the Keeper that it's not funny). Of course in the end the Keeper allows him to choose, and he declines, actually he says he does not know what exactly he wants and the Keeper therefore allows him to leave untouched once again. That was odd, but it got odder with the introduction of the twins. Their comments and actions (waiting for Ash in his bedroom, naked) suggest they have had a long and tawdry sexual history with Giles and want to prove to him he's no match for them. And this, most inexplicably, seems to contradict the fatherly way Giles treated them. Very, very unnerving. I have to say, much of the charm that I found in this book was just tarnished by that realization.
We never really see inside Giles head so I had a really hard time connecting with him. Why did he care for Ash? (Other than the obvious.) Did he really continue to carry out an affair with the sex twins? Did that continue even after Ash's return? *Cringes* I simply did not get him and that was an obstacle for me.
I had liked Lilah in the beginning, but then, after her actions, encouraging Ash to leave Giles without talking or revealing the truth just smacked as wrong to me. Someone who cared about Giles would *not* have done that. In the end I didn't trust a single person in that castle other than Verity. I guess they redeemed themselves for caring for Ash after he was ill but at that point the damage had been done.
I think in the end, I so loved Ash and I wanted more for him than this life with bat-shit crazy tenants in an empty castle. I do think the ending was happy and was a successful conclusion, I especially enjoyed the note on the town board, it was a nice way to bring the story full circle.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2016
Rating C
Ravenhearth is a fantasy set in the fairy tale town from which the book takes its name, and indeed, the novel gives more than a nod toward the fairy tale genre. This is a world covered in a magic, fog-like poison called the ‘miasma’. However, towns and settlements exist in clear patches, created by the magic of the ‘Keeper’ one for each town and its environs.
Every ten years, Ravenhearth’s Keeper sends a messenger to the town who pins a notice on the town’s board requesting a ‘companion’. The position pays a very good wage, and the only stipulation is that the candidate must come to the Keeper of his/her own volition. The town is given two weeks to decide who they send. After this period, a carriage takes the ‘companion’ up to the huge, black Ravenhearth castle that dominates the horizon.
Although, the pay is very tempting, there are a couple of reasons why the notice is viewed with trepidation. Apart from the fact that no one has ever seen the Keeper, no candidate has ever returned to the town at the end of the ten-year period. Additionally, the town fears repercussions should they not send someone, making being selected for the post a gloomy proposition. Enter, Ash the town charity case. An orphan since the age of sixteen, he sleeps in alleys, or the pews and doorway of the church. Generally liked or ignored, Ash dreams about being able to use magic, as his mother was supposedly able to do.
So Ash volunteers to be this decade’s companion. Taken to the astonishing castle he meets the inhabitants, including the rather handsome butler/general factotum, Giles. Ash is given a huge bedroom suite, clothes, comforts beyond his wildest dreams, and a tour around the castle that is now his home. The other residents are a genial cook called Lilah, a magical gardener called Verity, and twin sister and brother, Whitney and Courtney who we are told look after the steampunk clockwork horses.
On his first night, Ash meets The Keeper, a slightly strange but kind and exciting individual, who hides his face beneath a cloak all through their meal together. The meal takes place in the Keeper’s bedroom, and it is obvious that if he wishes, Ash is dessert! The Keeper makes it clear he will in no way force him. Ash indicates he needs time to think, not realising this means he will not see The Keeper again until close to the end of the story. During his time at the castle Ash asks to be taught magic, and enters upon lessons with Giles.
Whilst Lilah, Verity and Giles are all pleasant characters and have clear roles in the castle and the story, Whitney and Courtney are not and do not. They are a strange inclusion, and one that left an unpleasant, possibly very dark, tone in an otherwise straightforward New Adult fantasy romance. They are very jealous of Giles’ time spent with Ash, and show this in strange ways - including the brother and sister waiting in bed, naked, for Ash to return to his bedroom...
Full review at All About Romance www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview...
Ravenhearth is a fantasy set in the fairy tale town from which the book takes its name, and indeed, the novel gives more than a nod toward the fairy tale genre. This is a world covered in a magic, fog-like poison called the ‘miasma’. However, towns and settlements exist in clear patches, created by the magic of the ‘Keeper’ one for each town and its environs.
Every ten years, Ravenhearth’s Keeper sends a messenger to the town who pins a notice on the town’s board requesting a ‘companion’. The position pays a very good wage, and the only stipulation is that the candidate must come to the Keeper of his/her own volition. The town is given two weeks to decide who they send. After this period, a carriage takes the ‘companion’ up to the huge, black Ravenhearth castle that dominates the horizon.
Although, the pay is very tempting, there are a couple of reasons why the notice is viewed with trepidation. Apart from the fact that no one has ever seen the Keeper, no candidate has ever returned to the town at the end of the ten-year period. Additionally, the town fears repercussions should they not send someone, making being selected for the post a gloomy proposition. Enter, Ash the town charity case. An orphan since the age of sixteen, he sleeps in alleys, or the pews and doorway of the church. Generally liked or ignored, Ash dreams about being able to use magic, as his mother was supposedly able to do.
So Ash volunteers to be this decade’s companion. Taken to the astonishing castle he meets the inhabitants, including the rather handsome butler/general factotum, Giles. Ash is given a huge bedroom suite, clothes, comforts beyond his wildest dreams, and a tour around the castle that is now his home. The other residents are a genial cook called Lilah, a magical gardener called Verity, and twin sister and brother, Whitney and Courtney who we are told look after the steampunk clockwork horses.
On his first night, Ash meets The Keeper, a slightly strange but kind and exciting individual, who hides his face beneath a cloak all through their meal together. The meal takes place in the Keeper’s bedroom, and it is obvious that if he wishes, Ash is dessert! The Keeper makes it clear he will in no way force him. Ash indicates he needs time to think, not realising this means he will not see The Keeper again until close to the end of the story. During his time at the castle Ash asks to be taught magic, and enters upon lessons with Giles.
Whilst Lilah, Verity and Giles are all pleasant characters and have clear roles in the castle and the story, Whitney and Courtney are not and do not. They are a strange inclusion, and one that left an unpleasant, possibly very dark, tone in an otherwise straightforward New Adult fantasy romance. They are very jealous of Giles’ time spent with Ash, and show this in strange ways - including the brother and sister waiting in bed, naked, for Ash to return to his bedroom...
Full review at All About Romance www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview...
January 13, 2016
Orphaned and homeless, Ash ekes out a living doing odd jobs around the town of Ravenhearth for a pittance in coins and scraps of food. His clothes are ragged and worn and the rest of the townfolk give him a wide berth, for they always felt there was something strange about him.
Like all inhabited towns, Ravenhearth is protected by a Keeper, who lives in a castle not far from the town. Every ten years the Keeper sends a letter asking for a companion from the village. Ash is old enough to remember the last letter and the sting of magic from it. His mother had been a mage, not as powerful as a Keeper and Ash too wishes to learn magic.
And maybe, if he volunteers this time, then the Keeper might be able to teach him. And leaving the town where his mother died would certainly be no hardship, it's not as if he'd be leaving lots of friends behind. And so begins Ash's adventure in the castle of the Keeper.
The book had a little bit of a fairy tale feel to it, and reminded me a little of the Cinderella story, although this one was a gay story.
Ash is the point of view character for the whole book and while that helped you get into Ash's head, you only reall got to know the other character's through Ashs's eyes. It has excellent characterisation, even some you love to hate. I couldn't stand the twins, Whitney and Courtney. They came across as petulant, whining brats, although they were adults and older than Ash. Lilah and Verity became surrogate mothers of a sort to Ash and it was good to see him let go of some of the grief he was still carrying around after his own mother's death.
Romance between Ash and Giles is slow to take off, it's mainly one-sided for most of the book, with Giles not even being aware that Ash has fallen in love with him. When they do get together, you feel like them cheering them on, finally!
The book was about 60,000 words and unusually for a book of that length, there weren't really any chapters, just scene breaks. Chapters would have helped it flow more easily.
There were some questions I would have loved to have been answered in the book, but they weren't. What was this strange fog? Why was it toxic to humans? Was it some sort of industrial accident? A magic experiment gone wrong? We don't find out. The author gave a tantaslising taste of world-building but not enough. I wanted to know more about Ash's world, more about how magic worked here but we barely see any magic at all. Mostly Ash reading about it and doing meditation to clear his mind.
So, although I had some problems with the world-building, the story itself is good, well-written and populated with interesting characters. There are a couple of explitict scenes, but I'd say this romance falls more on the sweet side, with a lot of tension and build-up between our two main characters.
If you want a romantic read that's light on the angst, give this one a try.
Review copy from Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher
Like all inhabited towns, Ravenhearth is protected by a Keeper, who lives in a castle not far from the town. Every ten years the Keeper sends a letter asking for a companion from the village. Ash is old enough to remember the last letter and the sting of magic from it. His mother had been a mage, not as powerful as a Keeper and Ash too wishes to learn magic.
And maybe, if he volunteers this time, then the Keeper might be able to teach him. And leaving the town where his mother died would certainly be no hardship, it's not as if he'd be leaving lots of friends behind. And so begins Ash's adventure in the castle of the Keeper.
The book had a little bit of a fairy tale feel to it, and reminded me a little of the Cinderella story, although this one was a gay story.
Ash is the point of view character for the whole book and while that helped you get into Ash's head, you only reall got to know the other character's through Ashs's eyes. It has excellent characterisation, even some you love to hate. I couldn't stand the twins, Whitney and Courtney. They came across as petulant, whining brats, although they were adults and older than Ash. Lilah and Verity became surrogate mothers of a sort to Ash and it was good to see him let go of some of the grief he was still carrying around after his own mother's death.
Romance between Ash and Giles is slow to take off, it's mainly one-sided for most of the book, with Giles not even being aware that Ash has fallen in love with him. When they do get together, you feel like them cheering them on, finally!
The book was about 60,000 words and unusually for a book of that length, there weren't really any chapters, just scene breaks. Chapters would have helped it flow more easily.
There were some questions I would have loved to have been answered in the book, but they weren't. What was this strange fog? Why was it toxic to humans? Was it some sort of industrial accident? A magic experiment gone wrong? We don't find out. The author gave a tantaslising taste of world-building but not enough. I wanted to know more about Ash's world, more about how magic worked here but we barely see any magic at all. Mostly Ash reading about it and doing meditation to clear his mind.
So, although I had some problems with the world-building, the story itself is good, well-written and populated with interesting characters. There are a couple of explitict scenes, but I'd say this romance falls more on the sweet side, with a lot of tension and build-up between our two main characters.
If you want a romantic read that's light on the angst, give this one a try.
Review copy from Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher
February 17, 2016
2.5 stars.
This is a sweet, easy read that treads familiar Beauty and the Beast ground, with a young innocent willingly walking into an enchanted castle to become a companion to a magical being, in return for the continued safety of – in this case – the local town. On top of that Ash is an orphan, and though he’s twenty-one, he frequently acts and is treated much younger. In fact, for the most part I would rate this a YA read, except for the occasional sex-related scene here and there that doesn’t really fit in with the tone of everything else and pushes it firmly into New Adult.
The story itself is pretty straight forward, as is the world-building. I would have liked a bit more depth to both, if I’m honest. There’s so much left mysterious and unexplored that I found myself a touch frustrated at times. For a large part of the novel I thought the miasma kept all the towns isolated from each other, but Ash and his mother seem to have travelled in from afar, so apparently not. And what was Ash’s history? The hints that were dropped made it seem like it might have been important, but it’s never explored, nor is Ash even curious about it. What kind of magic can the Keeper do? What kind of things come out of the miasma? Why didn’t anyone kill those awful twins, and just what is their relationship with Giles anyway? I had so many questions throughout, and none of them were answered.
Mostly because this book is about Ash and Giles. Ash only meets the Keeper once, and the rest of the time he spends with Giles – is it any wonder he falls in love with him? I actually found everything with the Keeper kind of annoying. Why is there a new companion every ten years? Why not more often, or less often, since it clearly isn’t working out too well? Is there really supposed to be a sexual element to it all, or did Ash jump to the wrong conclusions? Why doesn’t Ash see him more than once? It just irritated me. Yes, I put all the various pieces together very early on, but Ash doesn’t. In fact Ash rarely makes any connections. He is very naive and a little dim, despite his talent for magic. I found him a bit too ingenuous for my tastes. He’s a bit dull and because of that the story itself drags along across a year in the castle.
So overall this is a sweet, easy fantasy which spends half of its time bumbling along in an innocent way, and the rest seething with dark sexual undertones that didn’t really fit. The fantastical setting is painted with broad brush strokes that seem good at first, but don’t hold up to deeper scrutiny and there are just too many questions left unanswered. Fine for a bit of light reading, but if you think too hard about it, things start to fall apart.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
This is a sweet, easy read that treads familiar Beauty and the Beast ground, with a young innocent willingly walking into an enchanted castle to become a companion to a magical being, in return for the continued safety of – in this case – the local town. On top of that Ash is an orphan, and though he’s twenty-one, he frequently acts and is treated much younger. In fact, for the most part I would rate this a YA read, except for the occasional sex-related scene here and there that doesn’t really fit in with the tone of everything else and pushes it firmly into New Adult.
The story itself is pretty straight forward, as is the world-building. I would have liked a bit more depth to both, if I’m honest. There’s so much left mysterious and unexplored that I found myself a touch frustrated at times. For a large part of the novel I thought the miasma kept all the towns isolated from each other, but Ash and his mother seem to have travelled in from afar, so apparently not. And what was Ash’s history? The hints that were dropped made it seem like it might have been important, but it’s never explored, nor is Ash even curious about it. What kind of magic can the Keeper do? What kind of things come out of the miasma? Why didn’t anyone kill those awful twins, and just what is their relationship with Giles anyway? I had so many questions throughout, and none of them were answered.
Mostly because this book is about Ash and Giles. Ash only meets the Keeper once, and the rest of the time he spends with Giles – is it any wonder he falls in love with him? I actually found everything with the Keeper kind of annoying. Why is there a new companion every ten years? Why not more often, or less often, since it clearly isn’t working out too well? Is there really supposed to be a sexual element to it all, or did Ash jump to the wrong conclusions? Why doesn’t Ash see him more than once? It just irritated me. Yes, I put all the various pieces together very early on, but Ash doesn’t. In fact Ash rarely makes any connections. He is very naive and a little dim, despite his talent for magic. I found him a bit too ingenuous for my tastes. He’s a bit dull and because of that the story itself drags along across a year in the castle.
So overall this is a sweet, easy fantasy which spends half of its time bumbling along in an innocent way, and the rest seething with dark sexual undertones that didn’t really fit. The fantastical setting is painted with broad brush strokes that seem good at first, but don’t hold up to deeper scrutiny and there are just too many questions left unanswered. Fine for a bit of light reading, but if you think too hard about it, things start to fall apart.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
January 28, 2016
Angry Elves.
Ravenhearth is a good book that suffers a little due to not so well developed secondary characters and a not so strong middle.
But first the good: the main character, Ash, is fantastic. It’s so rare for me to read a book with a protagonist I can actually understand and sympathize with that being in Ash’s head was a delight. He’s a character I can like, and better, one I can identify with (seriously, every time he embarrassed himself – or just got embarrassed – I was nodding to my tablet and thinking, yeah, Ash, same). There aren’t enough genuine shy, awkward characters out there, but Ash is thankfully one of them.
The writing is also really nice, and the first few pages are really well written (well, the whole book is, but I loved Ravenhearth‘s beginning).
The other characters, though, didn’t convince me much. They are nice, but we never get to know them more – this also happens with Giles, Ash’s main love interest (which is kind of alarming, because, you know, he is the love interest). I feel like the book barely scratched the surface of their personalities, which is a pity, since every single one of them seemed to be really interesting.
The middle also dragged a bit, mainly because there isn’t any sense of urgency. Ash wants to learn magic, and then he starts to learn magic, but there isn’t much tension. In the end, I think the book lacked in momentum; it starts really well and then slows down too much before the final act, where it speeds up again.
The worldbuilding could’ve been better, but this didn’t bother me much since it’s a book focused on romance. So…
Notes on diversity: Well, it’s a M/M book. Ash is bisexual and Giles seems to be too (and he’s described as having “olive skin”), but it’s not clear. One of the side (male) characters seems to be queer too.
In conclusion, I liked Ravenhearth. It’s a really nice, really, I don’t know, “feel good” kind of read, and I loved the main character. I wished there were more books about him, but Ravenhearth is, as far as I know, a standalone. 3.5 stars.
Ravenhearth is a good book that suffers a little due to not so well developed secondary characters and a not so strong middle.
But first the good: the main character, Ash, is fantastic. It’s so rare for me to read a book with a protagonist I can actually understand and sympathize with that being in Ash’s head was a delight. He’s a character I can like, and better, one I can identify with (seriously, every time he embarrassed himself – or just got embarrassed – I was nodding to my tablet and thinking, yeah, Ash, same). There aren’t enough genuine shy, awkward characters out there, but Ash is thankfully one of them.
The writing is also really nice, and the first few pages are really well written (well, the whole book is, but I loved Ravenhearth‘s beginning).
The other characters, though, didn’t convince me much. They are nice, but we never get to know them more – this also happens with Giles, Ash’s main love interest (which is kind of alarming, because, you know, he is the love interest). I feel like the book barely scratched the surface of their personalities, which is a pity, since every single one of them seemed to be really interesting.
The middle also dragged a bit, mainly because there isn’t any sense of urgency. Ash wants to learn magic, and then he starts to learn magic, but there isn’t much tension. In the end, I think the book lacked in momentum; it starts really well and then slows down too much before the final act, where it speeds up again.
The worldbuilding could’ve been better, but this didn’t bother me much since it’s a book focused on romance. So…
Notes on diversity: Well, it’s a M/M book. Ash is bisexual and Giles seems to be too (and he’s described as having “olive skin”), but it’s not clear. One of the side (male) characters seems to be queer too.
In conclusion, I liked Ravenhearth. It’s a really nice, really, I don’t know, “feel good” kind of read, and I loved the main character. I wished there were more books about him, but Ravenhearth is, as far as I know, a standalone. 3.5 stars.
April 1, 2017
4.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
All Ash has ever wanted was to learn magic but, as an orphan, he’s never been given the opportunity to do so. When the notice goes up that the nearby Keeper is looking for a new companion, Ash is quick to volunteer as he fears this will be his only hope of fulfilling his mother’s wish for him. Life in the castle, and with the Keeper, are nothing like he’d ever imagined and as he settles into his new home, he gets his wish; Ash begins to study magic. As the months pass, however, he finds his thoughts and desires taken up with Giles, the steward of Ravenhearth, instead of with the Keeper he was sent for. When misunderstandings cause a rift between Ash and those he’s come to care for, will he be able to fix it and get what he desires most?
This was such a wonderful story! I loved watching Ash grow from the shy, scared young man he was when he first arrived to one with confidence in himself. The Keeper was, of course, an enigmatic individual and while I figured him out pretty much right away, it didn’t detract from the story in any way. Giles was interesting in that you get to see him slowly unwinding as the story progressed and it was nice to see him opening up whereas he was really reserved and kind of closed off in the beginning.
The story itself had a good pace and while most of the story deals with Ash’s training and interactions with Giles, I wasn’t bored with it at all. I found the world interesting and the other characters in the castle added a nice balance while keeping the book from feeling too one dimensional. Most of the ‘sex’ in this book takes place in the form of Ash’s daydreams, which was a nice change; I don’t think I’ve actually come across that in a book before. There is a scene near the end of the book that actually takes place outside his imagination for those that want the real thing though. By far my favorite part of the book was the very end, however; it was just a perfect little happily ever after that left me with a bunch of feel good vibes for the rest of the day. If you like fantasy and are looking for a fairly easy read without a lot of drama, you might want to give this a try.
All Ash has ever wanted was to learn magic but, as an orphan, he’s never been given the opportunity to do so. When the notice goes up that the nearby Keeper is looking for a new companion, Ash is quick to volunteer as he fears this will be his only hope of fulfilling his mother’s wish for him. Life in the castle, and with the Keeper, are nothing like he’d ever imagined and as he settles into his new home, he gets his wish; Ash begins to study magic. As the months pass, however, he finds his thoughts and desires taken up with Giles, the steward of Ravenhearth, instead of with the Keeper he was sent for. When misunderstandings cause a rift between Ash and those he’s come to care for, will he be able to fix it and get what he desires most?
This was such a wonderful story! I loved watching Ash grow from the shy, scared young man he was when he first arrived to one with confidence in himself. The Keeper was, of course, an enigmatic individual and while I figured him out pretty much right away, it didn’t detract from the story in any way. Giles was interesting in that you get to see him slowly unwinding as the story progressed and it was nice to see him opening up whereas he was really reserved and kind of closed off in the beginning.
The story itself had a good pace and while most of the story deals with Ash’s training and interactions with Giles, I wasn’t bored with it at all. I found the world interesting and the other characters in the castle added a nice balance while keeping the book from feeling too one dimensional. Most of the ‘sex’ in this book takes place in the form of Ash’s daydreams, which was a nice change; I don’t think I’ve actually come across that in a book before. There is a scene near the end of the book that actually takes place outside his imagination for those that want the real thing though. By far my favorite part of the book was the very end, however; it was just a perfect little happily ever after that left me with a bunch of feel good vibes for the rest of the day. If you like fantasy and are looking for a fairly easy read without a lot of drama, you might want to give this a try.
September 7, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Ravenhearth by Lotus Oakes
1) I enjoyed this fantasy novel a lot. The world was original and well described, likewise the characters. I felt as if I were in the castle, feeling the drafts down the long corridors and shivering at the dark stairway to the tower. I could see the plot twist coming, but it was none the worse for that - the revelation that the love interest was the master all along was satisfying. The only things that weren't quite perfect were the brief sections away from the castle, which felt like diversions and just in there to ramp up the angst prior to the happy ending. A good introduction to a new author for me, though.
2) This is a four star story. I like the character of Ash. The book had a spec fic / fantasy feel. The blurb provided: In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned. I did feel that there could have been more world building and more explanation about the system of Keepers and some backstory on the miasma. The dialogue was on point, and the story moved quickly. It was a good read and would recommend for anyone looking for an MM romance with a spec fic/fantasy story line.
3) This is the type of story that keeps you guessing 'til the end. Who is the real mage, Ravenhearth or Giles? Well, Without giving away the answer and spoiling the story, let's just say that it was quite the surprise to me. It had me fooled until near the end when the mystery unraveled itself. It was quite entertaining, although, sometimes I wanted to grab Ash, one of the main MCs, by the shoulders and shake the stupidity out of him. :D Well done, Lotus Oakes. This was my first book from this author. Might read more from them.
1) I enjoyed this fantasy novel a lot. The world was original and well described, likewise the characters. I felt as if I were in the castle, feeling the drafts down the long corridors and shivering at the dark stairway to the tower. I could see the plot twist coming, but it was none the worse for that - the revelation that the love interest was the master all along was satisfying. The only things that weren't quite perfect were the brief sections away from the castle, which felt like diversions and just in there to ramp up the angst prior to the happy ending. A good introduction to a new author for me, though.
2) This is a four star story. I like the character of Ash. The book had a spec fic / fantasy feel. The blurb provided: In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned. I did feel that there could have been more world building and more explanation about the system of Keepers and some backstory on the miasma. The dialogue was on point, and the story moved quickly. It was a good read and would recommend for anyone looking for an MM romance with a spec fic/fantasy story line.
3) This is the type of story that keeps you guessing 'til the end. Who is the real mage, Ravenhearth or Giles? Well, Without giving away the answer and spoiling the story, let's just say that it was quite the surprise to me. It had me fooled until near the end when the mystery unraveled itself. It was quite entertaining, although, sometimes I wanted to grab Ash, one of the main MCs, by the shoulders and shake the stupidity out of him. :D Well done, Lotus Oakes. This was my first book from this author. Might read more from them.
April 13, 2017
Ravenhearth’s hero Ash is a young orphan with nothing to lose. His mother is long gone, and he is alone in the world. More or less homeless, he wanders the streets and thinks about magic.
His hometown, Ravenhearth, is protected from the deadly miasma outside by the Keeper. Every ten years, the Keeper takes a new companion from the village to his tower in exchange for continuing to protect the village. The companion has to come willingly, and who better to go along than an orphan with no one to leave behind?
The ten years are up, and it’s time for the Keeper to take his companion. When Ash volunteers, no one can think of any reason to stop him. The best anyone could offer is a halfhearted “Wait…no…stop…” Thanks villagers. You’re super supportive of sending this kid to an unknown fate. For all you know, the Keeper eats his companions.
So begins Ash’s new life.
What awaits him in the Keeper’s tower? A close-knit family and a lot of sexual frustration. Seriously, Ash needs to learn to be a little more discreet. You can’t face the person who washes your crusty sheets after you have naughty thoughts EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Have some shame, man!
Even though Ash is the Keeper’s companion, he’s only met the man once. Instead, he finds himself wanting to be the butler Giles‘ companion more and more. Giles agrees to teach him magic in his time in the tower, and so the two of them become close. Even if Giles has a stick up his ass, he’s sexy as hell and Ash’s hormonal body/mind are defenseless against the closest thing he’s had to a father figure in his life.
Does Ravenhearth sound a bit like Beauty and the Beast to you? If so, you’re not wrong, but I promise it is a new take on the old story. It’s a quick read, and I won’t claim it’s perfect, but Ravenhearth will definitely provide a few hours of fun.
http://www.booknista.com/ravenhearth-...
His hometown, Ravenhearth, is protected from the deadly miasma outside by the Keeper. Every ten years, the Keeper takes a new companion from the village to his tower in exchange for continuing to protect the village. The companion has to come willingly, and who better to go along than an orphan with no one to leave behind?
The ten years are up, and it’s time for the Keeper to take his companion. When Ash volunteers, no one can think of any reason to stop him. The best anyone could offer is a halfhearted “Wait…no…stop…” Thanks villagers. You’re super supportive of sending this kid to an unknown fate. For all you know, the Keeper eats his companions.
So begins Ash’s new life.
What awaits him in the Keeper’s tower? A close-knit family and a lot of sexual frustration. Seriously, Ash needs to learn to be a little more discreet. You can’t face the person who washes your crusty sheets after you have naughty thoughts EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Have some shame, man!
Even though Ash is the Keeper’s companion, he’s only met the man once. Instead, he finds himself wanting to be the butler Giles‘ companion more and more. Giles agrees to teach him magic in his time in the tower, and so the two of them become close. Even if Giles has a stick up his ass, he’s sexy as hell and Ash’s hormonal body/mind are defenseless against the closest thing he’s had to a father figure in his life.
Does Ravenhearth sound a bit like Beauty and the Beast to you? If so, you’re not wrong, but I promise it is a new take on the old story. It’s a quick read, and I won’t claim it’s perfect, but Ravenhearth will definitely provide a few hours of fun.
http://www.booknista.com/ravenhearth-...
March 10, 2016
Rating: 3.50 stars
Every ten years, a letter arrives at Ravenhearth’s Abby requesting a companion for the town’s Keeper– a powerful mage that keeps the town safe from a deadly miasma. His only request is that the person comes willingly into the castle.
Ten years before, Ash touched the last letter and felt the need to learn more about it. Over the years, he did nothing more than to survive in hopes to have a chance to be the next companion. When the next letter arrives, he’s the first one to volunteer to be sent to Ravenhearth’s Keeper.
He’s a twenty-one-year-old orphan, interested in learning magic, and volunteering is his only chance to achieve his dream. He loved the town he moved in with his mother sixteen years ago, but he doesn’t have anything left holding him back. After convincing the Council about his desire to be the Keeper’s companion, they agreed, and a week later, Giles, the castle’s butler comes for him.
The rest of the story takes place at the castle and expands about a year. During this time, Ash meets several characters that would play an important role in his life. He learns more about himself and the real reasons he is drawn towards magic. And he does all this under Giles’s guidance. In the end, Ash’s dreams come true, and he gets his HEA.
Complete review available at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Less Than Three Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Every ten years, a letter arrives at Ravenhearth’s Abby requesting a companion for the town’s Keeper– a powerful mage that keeps the town safe from a deadly miasma. His only request is that the person comes willingly into the castle.
Ten years before, Ash touched the last letter and felt the need to learn more about it. Over the years, he did nothing more than to survive in hopes to have a chance to be the next companion. When the next letter arrives, he’s the first one to volunteer to be sent to Ravenhearth’s Keeper.
He’s a twenty-one-year-old orphan, interested in learning magic, and volunteering is his only chance to achieve his dream. He loved the town he moved in with his mother sixteen years ago, but he doesn’t have anything left holding him back. After convincing the Council about his desire to be the Keeper’s companion, they agreed, and a week later, Giles, the castle’s butler comes for him.
The rest of the story takes place at the castle and expands about a year. During this time, Ash meets several characters that would play an important role in his life. He learns more about himself and the real reasons he is drawn towards magic. And he does all this under Giles’s guidance. In the end, Ash’s dreams come true, and he gets his HEA.
Complete review available at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by Less Than Three Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2016
A slow, quiet, and lovely story. Ash is a very sweet character, innocent and eager, and he charmed me from the very beginning. The story focuses on his inner life and his deepening feelings for Giles. The setting and plot aren't all that important, so there isn't much world-building or anything like that. Giles trains Ash in magic, but it was only vaguely described. I have no idea what Ash can actually do, or what Giles does.
I also don't know what the miasma is or why it arose, or if the miasma will plague this world eternally. None of that matters, though, because the love story is an especially nice one, and it was the focus of the book, along with Ash finding a place in life. I got the idea this was a post-apocalyptic Earth, but I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There's a conflict between Ash and two of the other inhabitants of the house. Giles' reaction to that incident was really great, I thought. However, I was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop afterwards, but nothing else happened. I think there could've been something near the end to wrap up that plot point,
Overall this was a pleasant read, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I also don't know what the miasma is or why it arose, or if the miasma will plague this world eternally. None of that matters, though, because the love story is an especially nice one, and it was the focus of the book, along with Ash finding a place in life. I got the idea this was a post-apocalyptic Earth, but I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There's a conflict between Ash and two of the other inhabitants of the house. Giles' reaction to that incident was really great, I thought. However, I was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop afterwards, but nothing else happened. I think there could've been something near the end to wrap up that plot point,
Overall this was a pleasant read, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 19, 2016
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Things I loved about this novel:
- Rooting for the underdog.
- The world-building.
- Characters who are torn between duty and desire. Yesssssss.
Things that hovered in the middle:
- Ash's desire to learn magic.
- Glimpses of the outside world.
And the dislikes...
- The sexual attraction between Ash and the Keeper.
- Inconsistent characterizations. Certain character motivations baffled me, and were never fully explained.
- Giles.
I just felt like there was too much happening, and it detracted from the overall plot. Also, the plot was way more predictable than I would have liked.
Click here to read the review on Just Love Romance:
March 27, 2016
3.5 stars
I loved the premise of the book and it would have been worth it if the author delved a bit deeper into the world she created. The Keepers kept this mysterious deadly miasma away with their magic and each of them had a certain territory to protect. I see that the villagers were rather peaceful, but they also had an eye for expansion. The Keepers seemed to create an interesting network or roads for trade and communication, but the villagers rarely took advantage of it.
Ash was a bit too much of a scared little lamb at times, but overall he took pretty decent decisions so I couldn't hate him.
The twins were a bit scandalous. Were they really involved with Giles? Or did they just platonically like him?
Hmm... so many unanswered questions, but the story was a nice read, with the feel of a fairytale and a cute romance.
I loved the premise of the book and it would have been worth it if the author delved a bit deeper into the world she created. The Keepers kept this mysterious deadly miasma away with their magic and each of them had a certain territory to protect. I see that the villagers were rather peaceful, but they also had an eye for expansion. The Keepers seemed to create an interesting network or roads for trade and communication, but the villagers rarely took advantage of it.
Ash was a bit too much of a scared little lamb at times, but overall he took pretty decent decisions so I couldn't hate him.
The twins were a bit scandalous. Were they really involved with Giles? Or did they just platonically like him?
Hmm... so many unanswered questions, but the story was a nice read, with the feel of a fairytale and a cute romance.
April 4, 2016
This was an interesting fantasy novel which I would have rated 3.5 if GR allowed half points. While I liked the world that was built, I missed not knowing more about it - e.g. what caused the miasma, how the keepers developed and other bits of history that would have made the world building so much stronger. I also thought that Ash's mother could have been a much larger part of the plot. It would have been so much more interesting if Ash had discovered more about who she was and why she moved to Ravenhearth. It was a potential mystery that just got dropped which made me wonder about it and feel dissatisfied that it was never explored.
I quite enjoyed the authors writing style and was quite absorbed in the book despite my complaints, so I'll certainly look for more from her!
I quite enjoyed the authors writing style and was quite absorbed in the book despite my complaints, so I'll certainly look for more from her!
August 25, 2016
This is a four star story. I like the character of Ash. The book had a spec fic / fantasy feel.
The blurb provided:
In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned.
I did feel that there could have been more world building and more explanation about the system of Keepers and some backstory on the miasma. The dialogue was on point, and the story moved quickly. It was a good read and would recommend for anyone looking for an MM romance with a spec fic/fantasy storyline.
The blurb provided:
In a world covered by a deadly miasma, humans survive by way of the protection of powerful mages known as Keepers. In the town of Ravenhearth, the Keeper requests a companion every ten years. What happens to them after those ten years, no one knows, for none has ever returned.
I did feel that there could have been more world building and more explanation about the system of Keepers and some backstory on the miasma. The dialogue was on point, and the story moved quickly. It was a good read and would recommend for anyone looking for an MM romance with a spec fic/fantasy storyline.
April 4, 2023
Enchanting fairy tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were a few things that bothered me.
There were moments when it was obvious that everyone at the castle knew something Ash didn't and since we were solely in Ash's pov that was slightly unnerving. I hated the weird, slightly incestuous twins, and thought their relationship with Giles was never fully explained. Ash's role with the Master was never really explained. Does the companion become immortal if he choses to stay with the Master?
But despite the unanswered questions I enjoyed the story (And yes I guessed what was going on long before Ash realised)
I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were a few things that bothered me.
There were moments when it was obvious that everyone at the castle knew something Ash didn't and since we were solely in Ash's pov that was slightly unnerving. I hated the weird, slightly incestuous twins, and thought their relationship with Giles was never fully explained. Ash's role with the Master was never really explained. Does the companion become immortal if he choses to stay with the Master?
But despite the unanswered questions I enjoyed the story (And yes I guessed what was going on long before Ash realised)
November 8, 2016
This title was originally reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®
Ravenhearth is a love story set in a fantastic world. It is a world of magic, even if we don't get to see much in the way of that magic actually happening. It is a world where breathing the air could literally kill you. It is a world where one man holds the power of life and death in his hands. All he asks of those under his protection is a little companionship once in a while.
For complete Review see http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?p=4...
February 17, 2016
From Magnolia Reviews: Four Petals
If you're looking for a wonderful love story, I highly recommend this book. The plot was engaging and the characters were very interesting. I did miss there not being an epic magical journey to save the world, as the book implies, but the story's focus on the romantic relationship was very well done.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
If you're looking for a wonderful love story, I highly recommend this book. The plot was engaging and the characters were very interesting. I did miss there not being an epic magical journey to save the world, as the book implies, but the story's focus on the romantic relationship was very well done.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
December 18, 2016
This books is sweet, short and predictable. I was able to guess the main reveal of the book just by reading the summary which is kinda sad.
The setting is very interesting and full of potentional and secrets which... aren't really explored at all.
Sigh. This book is not bad, but it could have been so much better, I think.
The setting is very interesting and full of potentional and secrets which... aren't really explored at all.
Sigh. This book is not bad, but it could have been so much better, I think.
March 1, 2016
Review on my blog.
April 15, 2016
it was dragging and I wasn't a fan of Ash :
April 12, 2016
** 3.5 Stars **
December 24, 2017
A play on Beauty and the Beast, Ravenhearth's greatest strength is the unique world-building involved. I love Beauty and the Beast and thought this was an interesting rendition. I'd love to see more in this world, with the magic and the miasma. There were a few things that didn't work for me - the twins were...strange, uncomfortably so, and Ash, while sweet, was kind of an idiot. That said, it was still an enjoyable read, and I'm interested in seeing what else the author decides to put out.
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