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Raven #1
Raven's Shadow
For many years, the city of Colossae was a haven of magical study. As generations of wizards pushed the limits of their abilities, an evil entity was unleashed that could only be contained by the sacrifice of their city. From the ashes of Colossae, the Travelers emerged--roaming the world to ensure that the Stalker would remain imprisoned forever...
Seraph is a Raven mage and among the last of the Travelers. Unwelcome among those who fear magic, the wizard clans have been decimated by the very people they've sworn to protect. But Seraph is spared a similar fate by the ex-soldier Tier--and together they build a life where she is no longer burdened by her people's responsibility.
But now Tier is missing--or dead--and Seraph's reprieve from her duty is over. Using her magic to discover her husband's fate, Seraph realizes the Stalker's prison is weakening--and only Seraph can fulfill her ancestors' oath to protect humanity from destruction...
Seraph is a Raven mage and among the last of the Travelers. Unwelcome among those who fear magic, the wizard clans have been decimated by the very people they've sworn to protect. But Seraph is spared a similar fate by the ex-soldier Tier--and together they build a life where she is no longer burdened by her people's responsibility.
But now Tier is missing--or dead--and Seraph's reprieve from her duty is over. Using her magic to discover her husband's fate, Seraph realizes the Stalker's prison is weakening--and only Seraph can fulfill her ancestors' oath to protect humanity from destruction...
334 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 27, 2004
522 people are currently reading
5792 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Briggs
168 books30.1k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana, to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.
Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana, to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 507 reviews
March 6, 2019
Thank you to my wonderful friends at Fantasy Buddy Reads for reminding me that Patricia Briggs had a few books before Mercy! I was not expecting this at all!! I loved it so much and reading a high fantasy book from Patricia was amazing!! The characters were freaking awesome! Now I have to buy this one and the next one to add to my collection. I’m excited to read the next book but scared at the same time!!
Happy Reading!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Happy Reading!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 5, 2010
It's clear that Patricia Briggs can work the same magic for traditional fantasy that she does with her urban fantasy and werewolf stories for this reader. I loved this story. I must admit that there were parts that were slower and harder to read, and that's due to the intricacies of the worldbuilding (keep in mind, I don't read a lot of heavy-duty, traditional heroic fantasy--so keep the urge to sneer under wraps if you've read a lot of that and consider this book child's play). Having said that, I thought the idea of the different orders of magic really interesting. I loved how it all tied together and related very personally to Seraph, and the family she had with Tier. And, I like that she kept the story focused on the characters and their journey, and not on the actual magical aspects. The magic was part of who they were, and it affected the non-magic people who lived in the world of this book. I liked the messages about prejudice, and how some people are dismissed and marginalized, but they are the people who are capable of really doing something worthwhile in the world.
Seraph is not the type of heroine who's in touch with her feelings and bright and bouncy, emotionally open. I didn't mind that. I liked that she was a to-the-point, contained, composed, but deeply feeling person. Because of the dangerous nature of her magic, she had to keep her composure. And it was clear that she did care about others, and loved her children and her husband, Tier, very deeply.
Tier was a great hero. I loved him from the first page. He's so humane. Even years as a soldier, seeing the worst, didn't change that about him. He's a born leader, not through brute force, but an intrinsic charisma and his being a good person that you wanted to like. For all that, he's formidable and strong. He's the kind of hero I go ga-ga over.
Tier and Seraph had good chemistry. Even though this isn't a romance novel, they have a great love, and I was hoping that things would work out for each other. After twenty years, there was still passion, and they knew each other so well, and cared for each other. Their love was a steadfast thing that empowered them, even if they didn't say the words to each other.
Tier and Seraph's kids: Jes, Lehr, and Rinnie, all play important roles. I loved all of them. But my favorite, hands down, was Jes. He managed to be menacing and dangerous (in a very appealing way), but sweet, at the same time. His gift (also could be a curse) was very fascinating to me. I was hoping that we'd see a lot of him. And I liked the fact that he found a connection with a woman who wasn't scared of him, like so many others were. Jes, Lehr and Rinnie's gifts really came in handy in this story. It was interesting to see how they came to realize what they were, and how they embraced them. Although, they struggled with their natures as magically-gifted people.
Raven's Shadow may not appeal to some fans of the Mercy Thompson books. It's pure fantasy. But, the things that I love about Patricia Briggs' writing are there for me to enjoy. Her writing has a simple, yet elegant beauty. She tells a story that is full of the human element. When I read her stories, I get so captivated in seeing how her characters unfold, and how they meet the issues that life gives them. This book was no different. I like how she gives you characters that have flaws and troubles, and you end up getting heavily invested in their stories, hoping for the best for them. And, she's so good at writing about magic, and a good adventure yarn, to go with it.
When I was a kid, I devoured all the fantasy I could find in the library. But I fell out of reading fantasy for a long time. I've recently gotten back into reading it. This was a good start. It's focused on the characters, but it has the traditional heroic fantasy elements. And in Patricia Briggs' hands, it's very successful. I'd say give it a try, if you like the Mercy Thompson books. If things seem to move slowly at times, hang in there. I think you'll enjoy the end efforts. Or, at least I did. I look forward to reading Raven's Strike, the next book in this set.
Seraph is not the type of heroine who's in touch with her feelings and bright and bouncy, emotionally open. I didn't mind that. I liked that she was a to-the-point, contained, composed, but deeply feeling person. Because of the dangerous nature of her magic, she had to keep her composure. And it was clear that she did care about others, and loved her children and her husband, Tier, very deeply.
Tier was a great hero. I loved him from the first page. He's so humane. Even years as a soldier, seeing the worst, didn't change that about him. He's a born leader, not through brute force, but an intrinsic charisma and his being a good person that you wanted to like. For all that, he's formidable and strong. He's the kind of hero I go ga-ga over.
Tier and Seraph had good chemistry. Even though this isn't a romance novel, they have a great love, and I was hoping that things would work out for each other. After twenty years, there was still passion, and they knew each other so well, and cared for each other. Their love was a steadfast thing that empowered them, even if they didn't say the words to each other.
Tier and Seraph's kids: Jes, Lehr, and Rinnie, all play important roles. I loved all of them. But my favorite, hands down, was Jes. He managed to be menacing and dangerous (in a very appealing way), but sweet, at the same time. His gift (also could be a curse) was very fascinating to me. I was hoping that we'd see a lot of him. And I liked the fact that he found a connection with a woman who wasn't scared of him, like so many others were. Jes, Lehr and Rinnie's gifts really came in handy in this story. It was interesting to see how they came to realize what they were, and how they embraced them. Although, they struggled with their natures as magically-gifted people.
Raven's Shadow may not appeal to some fans of the Mercy Thompson books. It's pure fantasy. But, the things that I love about Patricia Briggs' writing are there for me to enjoy. Her writing has a simple, yet elegant beauty. She tells a story that is full of the human element. When I read her stories, I get so captivated in seeing how her characters unfold, and how they meet the issues that life gives them. This book was no different. I like how she gives you characters that have flaws and troubles, and you end up getting heavily invested in their stories, hoping for the best for them. And, she's so good at writing about magic, and a good adventure yarn, to go with it.
When I was a kid, I devoured all the fantasy I could find in the library. But I fell out of reading fantasy for a long time. I've recently gotten back into reading it. This was a good start. It's focused on the characters, but it has the traditional heroic fantasy elements. And in Patricia Briggs' hands, it's very successful. I'd say give it a try, if you like the Mercy Thompson books. If things seem to move slowly at times, hang in there. I think you'll enjoy the end efforts. Or, at least I did. I look forward to reading Raven's Strike, the next book in this set.
January 30, 2023
Actual rating: 3.323512 stars.
No, this isn't breathtakingly groundbreaking but hey, at least it isn't Mercy Thompson so I guess I can't complain 😬.
The story isn't bad, to be honest, and the male character's POV is pretty entertaining. A shame some of themany plot holes go deeper than the Mariana Trench. It sure doesn't help that the female character has about as much charisma as a newborn dinoflagellate, either. And that her POV is boring as fish.
Somechickens people would let that 👆 deter them but I'm young and bold, audacious, and slightly delusional know no fear, so I'll be reading the next one. Wish me luck and stuff.
· Book 2: Raven's Strike · to be read
No, this isn't breathtakingly groundbreaking but hey, at least it isn't Mercy Thompson so I guess I can't complain 😬.
The story isn't bad, to be honest, and the male character's POV is pretty entertaining. A shame some of the
Some
· Book 2: Raven's Strike · to be read
February 24, 2022
Fabulous audiobook duology. The sequel and finale is Raven's Strike. It's told in 3rd person, and beautifully narrated by Jennifer James Bradshaw.
Quite a heartwarming fantasy with adventure and some romance. Main characters are married farmers Seraph and Tier, plus their three adorable "gifted" kids. These books are character-driven fantasy. Not urban fantasy. More like old-world fantasy. This heroic heartwarming family of farmers and a few friends take on The Path and destroy The Shadowed.
Main protagonists: A family of farmers with secret magical gifts. They are the bird-named Travelers (gifted with special abilities by the two gods, the destroying Stalker and the creating Weaver).
Family members and other key characters:
Seraph, a mage (bird-designation is raven) is married to Tier, a bard (bird-designation is owl). He’s fabulous. I’ll take him any day. He’s about ten years older than Seraph, having served 9 years in the imperial army before settling down to farm. As for his magical gifts, he's a lie-detector bard with gifts of music, memory, and charisma.
Their eldest son Jes, age 20, the guardian (bird eagle. He’s an empathic warrior who shape-shifts into a wolf, jaguar, etc.). He plays a key role and gets his own little romance.
Their second son Lehr, age 17, the falcon, a gifted hunter and tracker. Great character development for him.
Their youngest, 10-year-old daughter Rinnie, bird-designation is cormorant. She’s a weather-witch.
Others: Another Raven (mage) joins the family to defeat the enemy. Her name is Henayah (sp?). Her story unfolds across both books with a big reveal at the end. There is also an emperor, young, spoiled, and bored, but growing in courage and wisdom every day (I loved how Briggs developed Phoran, the 27th emperor). An old healer named Brewydd, a courageous prostitute, a horse named Skew, a dog named Gurrah, and a few good men, young and old. Good gender and age range.
Contents: No sex scenes. Little or no swearing, if any. Some violence and black magic, but not excessive, and it didn't feel too scary or too realistically painful. It's mostly wizardly fantasy, but there are two sweet romantic relationships. Nothing graphic or explicit.
My only quibbles are minor and spoilers, so I will just say the beginning was a bit choppy in terms of POV shift, and it felt slow whenever Briggs stopped the presses by explaining how the magic system worked or how to see spirits.
I think this series is one of Briggs's best. What a happy surprise. It beats the Mercy series in terms of plot cohesion, characterization, and originality, even though I love Mercy, Adam, et al.
And may I again recommend the sequel, Raven's Strike. So good! I love these characters! How about writing another, please! Same characters!
It’s true, there are plot inconsistencies— like why Tier the bard couldn’t detect that a certain character was constantly deceiving everyone? And why would Jes be unwilling to kill in book 2 —for fear of hurting his empathic side— when he seemed very willing to do so in the final battle of book 1?
Superb narration by Jennifer James Bradshaw. I place her in my top tier of narrators. Wow!
Quite a heartwarming fantasy with adventure and some romance. Main characters are married farmers Seraph and Tier, plus their three adorable "gifted" kids. These books are character-driven fantasy. Not urban fantasy. More like old-world fantasy. This heroic heartwarming family of farmers and a few friends take on The Path and destroy The Shadowed.
Main protagonists: A family of farmers with secret magical gifts. They are the bird-named Travelers (gifted with special abilities by the two gods, the destroying Stalker and the creating Weaver).
Family members and other key characters:
Seraph, a mage (bird-designation is raven) is married to Tier, a bard (bird-designation is owl). He’s fabulous. I’ll take him any day. He’s about ten years older than Seraph, having served 9 years in the imperial army before settling down to farm. As for his magical gifts, he's a lie-detector bard with gifts of music, memory, and charisma.
Their eldest son Jes, age 20, the guardian (bird eagle. He’s an empathic warrior who shape-shifts into a wolf, jaguar, etc.). He plays a key role and gets his own little romance.
Their second son Lehr, age 17, the falcon, a gifted hunter and tracker. Great character development for him.
Their youngest, 10-year-old daughter Rinnie, bird-designation is cormorant. She’s a weather-witch.
Others: Another Raven (mage) joins the family to defeat the enemy. Her name is Henayah (sp?). Her story unfolds across both books with a big reveal at the end. There is also an emperor, young, spoiled, and bored, but growing in courage and wisdom every day (I loved how Briggs developed Phoran, the 27th emperor). An old healer named Brewydd, a courageous prostitute, a horse named Skew, a dog named Gurrah, and a few good men, young and old. Good gender and age range.
Contents: No sex scenes. Little or no swearing, if any. Some violence and black magic, but not excessive, and it didn't feel too scary or too realistically painful. It's mostly wizardly fantasy, but there are two sweet romantic relationships. Nothing graphic or explicit.
My only quibbles are minor and spoilers, so I will just say the beginning was a bit choppy in terms of POV shift, and it felt slow whenever Briggs stopped the presses by explaining how the magic system worked or how to see spirits.
I think this series is one of Briggs's best. What a happy surprise. It beats the Mercy series in terms of plot cohesion, characterization, and originality, even though I love Mercy, Adam, et al.
And may I again recommend the sequel, Raven's Strike. So good! I love these characters! How about writing another, please! Same characters!
It’s true, there are plot inconsistencies— like why Tier the bard couldn’t detect that a certain character was constantly deceiving everyone? And why would Jes be unwilling to kill in book 2 —for fear of hurting his empathic side— when he seemed very willing to do so in the final battle of book 1?
Superb narration by Jennifer James Bradshaw. I place her in my top tier of narrators. Wow!
January 9, 2019
Audio: Excellent narration. An enjoyable read, a bit long winded and too slow at times. The story unfolds slowly, after much character and world development. It was not like her more recent books, but there is a sense of her greatness in this book. Half way through I wasn't interested enough to even consider reading book 2, but know I feel I must. I really need to know where that dark figure went and what will become of these fabulous characters.
April 4, 2025
I loooooved it.
I loved the world, the magic system, the characters. I loved that this is a family, and how that changed the typical dynamic.
So, so good. Will definitely re-read this again and again.
Re-read April 2025
I had forgotten about this series. I saw it while reorganizing my kindle, and just had to come back for a re-read. I'm so glad I did. This is a really great sword and sorcery fantasy, with wonderful worldbuilding and magic, and a really fabulous group of characters. We're following Tier (MMC), Seraph (FMC), and their 3 gifted children through this short, two book series, and I just adore them.
The short sum up is that Seraph is one of the few remaining people that call themselves Travelers. Long, long ago their ancestors - powerful magicians in a city of wonders - experimented way across the line and brought great evil into the world. They managed to bind it, and then bound their descendants to travel the world, never settling in one place, looking for bits of that evil leaking out of its prison and eradicating it before it can do more harm. But the Travelers are few, and hated by the general world - magic is feared because it has been used to do terrible things, and some parts of the world are still blighted from it. And the Travelers are not just feared, they're also scorned - people assume they're all thieves and liars, since they have no home of their own. They're chased out of areas, and lately have been "othered" by the laws of the kingdom, which explicitly state they are no longer protected by laws, making it a free-for-all to kill them. Seraph, tired of all of it, the last survivor of her clan, settles into a normal town with a good man. Takes a husband. Farms. Raises a family.
But evil is still seeping out into the world, and has been for decades ... and seems to be behind the loosening of the protections around the Travelers. After all, how better to escape your bindings than by eliminating the descendants of those who bound you, who continue to stamp out your remnants?
Seraph is a better person than me, because I'd have a hard time fighting - and putting my family at risk - for a world that has offered me nothing but hatred. As a child, her last family member was murdered by a bunch of superstitious villagers who were then offering her (a child at the time) up for sale to whoever wanted her. I'd probably just let them all die as I sat back and ate popcorn. But I suppose that Seraph, raised with all the warnings the Travelers teach their children, knows that if that ancient evil really rises, she won't be able to keep her family safe. So she teaches her children what they are, and the family steps into the fight.
I loved the world, the magic system, the characters. I loved that this is a family, and how that changed the typical dynamic.
So, so good. Will definitely re-read this again and again.
Re-read April 2025
I had forgotten about this series. I saw it while reorganizing my kindle, and just had to come back for a re-read. I'm so glad I did. This is a really great sword and sorcery fantasy, with wonderful worldbuilding and magic, and a really fabulous group of characters. We're following Tier (MMC), Seraph (FMC), and their 3 gifted children through this short, two book series, and I just adore them.
The short sum up is that Seraph is one of the few remaining people that call themselves Travelers. Long, long ago their ancestors - powerful magicians in a city of wonders - experimented way across the line and brought great evil into the world. They managed to bind it, and then bound their descendants to travel the world, never settling in one place, looking for bits of that evil leaking out of its prison and eradicating it before it can do more harm. But the Travelers are few, and hated by the general world - magic is feared because it has been used to do terrible things, and some parts of the world are still blighted from it. And the Travelers are not just feared, they're also scorned - people assume they're all thieves and liars, since they have no home of their own. They're chased out of areas, and lately have been "othered" by the laws of the kingdom, which explicitly state they are no longer protected by laws, making it a free-for-all to kill them. Seraph, tired of all of it, the last survivor of her clan, settles into a normal town with a good man. Takes a husband. Farms. Raises a family.
But evil is still seeping out into the world, and has been for decades ... and seems to be behind the loosening of the protections around the Travelers. After all, how better to escape your bindings than by eliminating the descendants of those who bound you, who continue to stamp out your remnants?
Seraph is a better person than me, because I'd have a hard time fighting - and putting my family at risk - for a world that has offered me nothing but hatred. As a child, her last family member was murdered by a bunch of superstitious villagers who were then offering her (a child at the time) up for sale to whoever wanted her. I'd probably just let them all die as I sat back and ate popcorn. But I suppose that Seraph, raised with all the warnings the Travelers teach their children, knows that if that ancient evil really rises, she won't be able to keep her family safe. So she teaches her children what they are, and the family steps into the fight.
April 12, 2012
I had some issues with the beginning of Raven's Shadow—things that felt awkward or that frustrated me. Around the middle, though, those issues dropped away and I was able to enjoy a wonderful story about a family caught up in events much larger than themselves.
There are two problems with the beginning. First, we see Seraph and Tier before they're married and then take a 20 year jump in time where they have three kids and a struggling farm. That's a big jump and more than a little disconcerting. I would like to say that we didn't need that early part of the novel, but key parts of the story are established there and I'm not sure how those could be better communicated and they’re crucial to the story so removing them wouldn’t work, either. So I'm torn. On the one hand, it was off-putting. On the other, I don't know how it could have been done better.
Second, Tier disappears early after that 20-year jump even though he's the only viewpoint we had up to that point. So we spend a bunch of time with Seraph and the kids trying to find out what happened and dealing with local persecution (Seraph was an outsider to begin with and now that Tier is gone, she has little local support and not a little local antagonism). Tier is supposed to be dead (a body was found), but there's enough "off" about it that you just know there's more to the story. It's not only a viewpoint jump, but we stick with Seraph and kids long enough that it feels like this is where the story is headed. And then at a critically tense moment with SaK whammo we shift to a new perspective and then, finally we're back with Tier. I practically got whiplash at the shift and that took me completely out of the story.
Once past that second (third?) big jump, things settled down much more reasonably. After that point, no new perspectives were introduced and the transitions are much less brutal. From there it was smooth sailing and I was able to enjoy what turns out to be an excellent story about magic, family, leadership, and responsibility.
One reason those early jumps were so disconcerting is because I just liked Tier so much. He's a veteran looking to settle down, intimately familiar with the foibles of those around him, but willing to look at their potential as well. He's kind and forgiving and willing to work with whatever someone else is willing to give him. It was no surprise to me that he started subverting his captors almost before they'd finished locking him up. That he did so with deliberation and forethought (and was so effective at it) bore out my earlier attachment to him and was, frankly, fun to experience.
I wasn't as attached to Seraph, but then, that's part of what makes her work as an interesting character. Her honest love and devotion for Tier was enough to attach my affections and her growth as she accepted her trials and overcame them was a great part of the climax of the book. You knew from the start that she could, and would, fight for her own but it was rewarding to see that she could, and would, negotiate, compromise, wheedle and cajole for it as well. That she turned out to be a competent leader was an unlooked for, but gratifying, development.
Lastly, it was a pleasant surprise (given some of my last few books) for a book that is part of a duology to end so gracefully. There are no stupid cliff-hangers and no cheesy manipulation designed to make you impatient for the next novel. It would have been easy to end this book in a tense place and save the resolution for later. Kudos to Patricia Briggs for resisting that temptation.
There are two problems with the beginning. First, we see Seraph and Tier before they're married and then take a 20 year jump in time where they have three kids and a struggling farm. That's a big jump and more than a little disconcerting. I would like to say that we didn't need that early part of the novel, but key parts of the story are established there and I'm not sure how those could be better communicated and they’re crucial to the story so removing them wouldn’t work, either. So I'm torn. On the one hand, it was off-putting. On the other, I don't know how it could have been done better.
Second, Tier disappears early after that 20-year jump even though he's the only viewpoint we had up to that point. So we spend a bunch of time with Seraph and the kids trying to find out what happened and dealing with local persecution (Seraph was an outsider to begin with and now that Tier is gone, she has little local support and not a little local antagonism). Tier is supposed to be dead (a body was found), but there's enough "off" about it that you just know there's more to the story. It's not only a viewpoint jump, but we stick with Seraph and kids long enough that it feels like this is where the story is headed. And then at a critically tense moment with SaK whammo we shift to a new perspective and then, finally we're back with Tier. I practically got whiplash at the shift and that took me completely out of the story.
Once past that second (third?) big jump, things settled down much more reasonably. After that point, no new perspectives were introduced and the transitions are much less brutal. From there it was smooth sailing and I was able to enjoy what turns out to be an excellent story about magic, family, leadership, and responsibility.
One reason those early jumps were so disconcerting is because I just liked Tier so much. He's a veteran looking to settle down, intimately familiar with the foibles of those around him, but willing to look at their potential as well. He's kind and forgiving and willing to work with whatever someone else is willing to give him. It was no surprise to me that he started subverting his captors almost before they'd finished locking him up. That he did so with deliberation and forethought (and was so effective at it) bore out my earlier attachment to him and was, frankly, fun to experience.
I wasn't as attached to Seraph, but then, that's part of what makes her work as an interesting character. Her honest love and devotion for Tier was enough to attach my affections and her growth as she accepted her trials and overcame them was a great part of the climax of the book. You knew from the start that she could, and would, fight for her own but it was rewarding to see that she could, and would, negotiate, compromise, wheedle and cajole for it as well. That she turned out to be a competent leader was an unlooked for, but gratifying, development.
Lastly, it was a pleasant surprise (given some of my last few books) for a book that is part of a duology to end so gracefully. There are no stupid cliff-hangers and no cheesy manipulation designed to make you impatient for the next novel. It would have been easy to end this book in a tense place and save the resolution for later. Kudos to Patricia Briggs for resisting that temptation.
June 6, 2010
I loved the overall plot and the intricacies of the magic of the Travelers and the solsenti or regular humans. There were so many abilities, and various ways of doing magic. It was all extremely interesting and well thought out. I also loved Tier and the children's characters. They were all so loyal, protective, kind, and good that it was just heartwarming. Seraph took me a lot longer to like due to her coldness which was necessary to keep her magic in check, but thankfully she found a way to shoulder her magic and allow herself emotions. So in the end I just adored their entire family. Also, the character of the Emperor who started out as an annoyance proved himself and his worth by the end. I can see him becoming a great figure in their world and their history.
My issues with the book was the pacing, which is hard to understand as the plot seemed to unveil itself and it's mysteries at a continuous rate. Yet there were several times when I felt it was just moving along too slowly. My other issue with this book was the relationship between Tier and Seraph. In over 20 years of marriage they never told one another that they loved the other. And it's not as if they didn't until all of these hardships forced them to reevaluate their feelings. They both have loved one another for the majority of the marriage but it was never said. This just seems like something that should have come up much sooner than now regardless of her Travelers upbringing. His humor, teasing, and general mirth should have made it an issue.
Either way, Patricia Briggs just gives readers another reason to see how great of a writer she is. Her stories are detailed in their plots, smooth in their style, and seamless in their construction. By the end I really enjoyed the book, which is sometimes hard for me since I rarely read pure fantasy books. I truly enjoy her style and will definitely be reading the 2nd book in the duology, Raven's Strike.
My issues with the book was the pacing, which is hard to understand as the plot seemed to unveil itself and it's mysteries at a continuous rate. Yet there were several times when I felt it was just moving along too slowly. My other issue with this book was the relationship between Tier and Seraph. In over 20 years of marriage they never told one another that they loved the other. And it's not as if they didn't until all of these hardships forced them to reevaluate their feelings. They both have loved one another for the majority of the marriage but it was never said. This just seems like something that should have come up much sooner than now regardless of her Travelers upbringing. His humor, teasing, and general mirth should have made it an issue.
Either way, Patricia Briggs just gives readers another reason to see how great of a writer she is. Her stories are detailed in their plots, smooth in their style, and seamless in their construction. By the end I really enjoyed the book, which is sometimes hard for me since I rarely read pure fantasy books. I truly enjoy her style and will definitely be reading the 2nd book in the duology, Raven's Strike.
January 30, 2023
I didn't realize Briggs wrote some high fantasy novels. It looks like she wrote these before she found her place in urban fantasy.
I started out liking it. I ended up not caring for it. Patricia Briggs has definitely grown A LOT in her writing. And I have grown a lot in my reading too, I suspect.
I started out liking it. I ended up not caring for it. Patricia Briggs has definitely grown A LOT in her writing. And I have grown a lot in my reading too, I suspect.
March 5, 2019
Seraph is a Raven mage and among the last of the Travelers. Unwelcome among those who fear magic, the wizard clans have been decimated by the very people they've sworn to protect. But Seraph is spared a similar fate by the ex-soldier Tier - and together they build a life where she is no longer burdened by her people's responsibility.
But now Tier is missing - or dead - and Seraph's reprieve from her duty is over.
Several years ago I read the first book in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series and I was hooked. I immediately looked up other books by the author. I went on to read each of the Mercy Thompson books, the Alpha and Omega series, and the Hurog duology, but somehow this one got buried deep under my to-read pile. I always intended to read it, but there was always something else that I needed to read first. I am happy to say that I finally moved this book to the top of the stack and I'm so glad I did!
This is one of the few high fantasy stories that Briggs wrote and I loved it. I thought it was really refreshing that it features a whole family who works together and is devoted to each other. I did have some reservations at first. I wasn't sure about it when there was a twenty year time gap in the story. I was afraid we had missed out on a lot of character development and story, but it ended up working out just fine, and those details were woven into the story. I loved every one of the characters in this book and I'm looking forward to reading the second book soon.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
But now Tier is missing - or dead - and Seraph's reprieve from her duty is over.
Several years ago I read the first book in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series and I was hooked. I immediately looked up other books by the author. I went on to read each of the Mercy Thompson books, the Alpha and Omega series, and the Hurog duology, but somehow this one got buried deep under my to-read pile. I always intended to read it, but there was always something else that I needed to read first. I am happy to say that I finally moved this book to the top of the stack and I'm so glad I did!
This is one of the few high fantasy stories that Briggs wrote and I loved it. I thought it was really refreshing that it features a whole family who works together and is devoted to each other. I did have some reservations at first. I wasn't sure about it when there was a twenty year time gap in the story. I was afraid we had missed out on a lot of character development and story, but it ended up working out just fine, and those details were woven into the story. I loved every one of the characters in this book and I'm looking forward to reading the second book soon.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
November 30, 2015
Halfway through, I'm surprised by this book. It felt like it was going to head one direction, then it fooled me and went another direction entirely. I'm glad, since the first direction wasn't the way I wanted to head.
This is only the second series I've read by Briggs. Like her Mercy Thompson books, this has some wonderful characterization and very smooth writing. The setting is a much more traditional fantasy one, though.
I'm enjoying it a lot.
Now that I've finished, I stick with the assessment of "enjoying it a lot." Briggs is quickly becoming an author I really look forward to reading.
This is only the second series I've read by Briggs. Like her Mercy Thompson books, this has some wonderful characterization and very smooth writing. The setting is a much more traditional fantasy one, though.
I'm enjoying it a lot.
Now that I've finished, I stick with the assessment of "enjoying it a lot." Briggs is quickly becoming an author I really look forward to reading.
April 2, 2019
This was a tale of thirds. Thank goodness the best third was the last. the first two thirds of this book were somewhat boring. The world building and story telling in the first two thirds left much to be desired. However, it finished reasonably strong and I will continue on with the next book. The main issue I had was a lack of connection to any of the MCs. If you don't care what happens then the story doesn't pull you in and pull you along. This was not by any means a bad book, just wasn't the best Briggs has ever written. Three stars and hoping for better in the sequel.
June 24, 2019
So thankful for my library for keeping Patricia Briggs's earlier releases around! I felt like having discovered hidden treasure! So crazy in love with this world! I was spellbound by good mages and their magics. Repulsed by wizards' evil magics!
PB has always created such strong heroines, my kind of heroins! Seraph was now one of my favorite heroines, along side Anna (the Omega) and Mercy Thompson! Tier wasn't scary like Charles (in the Alpha & Omaga) or as handsome as Adam (Mercy Thompson's mate/hasband.) He was a Bard, a retired soldier, and now a farmer, who could sing, tell captivating tales, farm, soothe, recruit, lead anyone to fight for the good and the right!
What I loved best? Seraph and Tier had three children who were born with magics needed to save their world! To defeat Evil! I couldn't read fast enough to get to the conclusion in Book #2 Raven's Strike ❣️ Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
PB has always created such strong heroines, my kind of heroins! Seraph was now one of my favorite heroines, along side Anna (the Omega) and Mercy Thompson! Tier wasn't scary like Charles (in the Alpha & Omaga) or as handsome as Adam (Mercy Thompson's mate/hasband.) He was a Bard, a retired soldier, and now a farmer, who could sing, tell captivating tales, farm, soothe, recruit, lead anyone to fight for the good and the right!
What I loved best? Seraph and Tier had three children who were born with magics needed to save their world! To defeat Evil! I couldn't read fast enough to get to the conclusion in Book #2 Raven's Strike ❣️ Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
91%
Tier yawned. Seraph frowned at him.
"How many nights do you sit up plotting? . . . Boys, can you settle yourselves to being quiet? Tier, you won't do any good if you fall over asleep. You lie down here, and the boys and I will keep watch until the Emperor comes." . . .
"My love, if you make yourself comfortable, I'll lay my head upon your lap and dream sweetly for a year."
June 25, 2016
The Travelers are a lot like gypsies although some of them have mage-like powers. They destroyed their home city to save the world from the ultimate evil and now wander the lands fighting lesser evil as they come across it. Of course, people not of their kind don't understand them. And what do humans love to do with something they don't understand? They try to destroy it. It's working. The Traveler's numbers are few and a new evil is rising.
Tier was a soldier on his way home from war when he came across a young Traveler girl being sold to the highest bidder. Not liking the looks of the men trying to buy her, Tier out bid them all.
Seraph is the last of her clan after a sickness swept through and killed all of her family. Her brother dies before her eyes and the next thing she knows, the innkeeper is selling her to cover the costs of her stay. At a time like this, all she wants to do is out run the life set before her.
Fast forward twenty years later. Tier and Seraph have been hiding in the mountains, farming, raising a family and trying to avoid the fates set before them. The thing about destiny is, it doesn't just give up when you run from it.
A new religion is rising and they are sacrificing Travelers and stealing their powers. This same new order kidnaps Tier and threatens Seraph children and you do not threaten the ones Seraph loves.
One of the things that made me love this book, besides the great world-building and characterization, is that it is a family fighting evil. It avoids the overdone troupe of the lone underdog taking on evil.
The one thing I did not like was the conveniently easy battle against their enemies, neatly wrapped up at the end. Despite this it was still a good ending and I will definitely continue with the series.
Tier was a soldier on his way home from war when he came across a young Traveler girl being sold to the highest bidder. Not liking the looks of the men trying to buy her, Tier out bid them all.
Seraph is the last of her clan after a sickness swept through and killed all of her family. Her brother dies before her eyes and the next thing she knows, the innkeeper is selling her to cover the costs of her stay. At a time like this, all she wants to do is out run the life set before her.
Fast forward twenty years later. Tier and Seraph have been hiding in the mountains, farming, raising a family and trying to avoid the fates set before them. The thing about destiny is, it doesn't just give up when you run from it.
A new religion is rising and they are sacrificing Travelers and stealing their powers. This same new order kidnaps Tier and threatens Seraph children and you do not threaten the ones Seraph loves.
One of the things that made me love this book, besides the great world-building and characterization, is that it is a family fighting evil. It avoids the overdone troupe of the lone underdog taking on evil.
The one thing I did not like was the conveniently easy battle against their enemies, neatly wrapped up at the end. Despite this it was still a good ending and I will definitely continue with the series.
January 14, 2010
This was given to me from a friend, and was my first Patricia Briggs novel. Before beginning, I had assumed that the universe that had been set up in here would be overly complicated and tied at length through several other books, but it wasn't, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to fall into the story, the characters, and the magical world of wizards, travelers, strange creatures, and the Ordered that Patrica Briggs had so believably, and creatively, embedded here in a realistic way. I was hooked from the first chapter!
"Raven's Shadow" was overall an excellent read, fairly unpredictable, with quite a few twists that I enjoyed, as they shifted the novel from where I thought it was going. Also, it was great to finally read a tale that not only fully featured a hero and heroine, but their family as well (except Alinath, she can go to hell). The kids were an important and welcoming addition to the storyline, and as interesting characters as well, which is something I'm not quite so used to seeing in many novels.
A definite, definite recommend from me to anyone else who enjoys fantasy and well written, thoughtful characters in general. Easily one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long while, and you can be sure that I'm going to be reading the next part, as well as the rest of her books. Patricia Briggs has easily become my new favourite author after "Raven's Shadow".
"Raven's Shadow" was overall an excellent read, fairly unpredictable, with quite a few twists that I enjoyed, as they shifted the novel from where I thought it was going. Also, it was great to finally read a tale that not only fully featured a hero and heroine, but their family as well (except Alinath, she can go to hell). The kids were an important and welcoming addition to the storyline, and as interesting characters as well, which is something I'm not quite so used to seeing in many novels.
A definite, definite recommend from me to anyone else who enjoys fantasy and well written, thoughtful characters in general. Easily one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long while, and you can be sure that I'm going to be reading the next part, as well as the rest of her books. Patricia Briggs has easily become my new favourite author after "Raven's Shadow".
May 18, 2016
I went into this with pretty low expectations. I just figured it would be Mercy Thompson with no electricity. I don't know why I doubted Brigg's ability to write both Paranormal and a more true Fantasy, but I did doubt. And she proved me wrong!
The world building here was very well done. Enough was explained in the beginning to satisfy me, and then more was slowly revealed. It was well written and I can't wait to read the next book.
My only complaint is something that I have noticed in the Mercy books as well. There is a lot of build up to the final conflict, but the final conflict itself is over in little more than a page. I do like a good fight scene in my SciFi/Fantasy books!
The world building here was very well done. Enough was explained in the beginning to satisfy me, and then more was slowly revealed. It was well written and I can't wait to read the next book.
My only complaint is something that I have noticed in the Mercy books as well. There is a lot of build up to the final conflict, but the final conflict itself is over in little more than a page. I do like a good fight scene in my SciFi/Fantasy books!
November 1, 2017
4/5/ 4 stars; A-
I read this book several years ago and enjoyed it so thought I'd buy the audiobook. It was worth it for this classic style fantasy written with Patricia Briggs skill in developing characters. Jennifer James Bradshaw did a good job on the narration.
I read this book several years ago and enjoyed it so thought I'd buy the audiobook. It was worth it for this classic style fantasy written with Patricia Briggs skill in developing characters. Jennifer James Bradshaw did a good job on the narration.
November 26, 2018
Gosh, it is such a nice change to read about a married couple and their children fighting the battle of good together for a change! 99.9% of the time it is a hero and a heroine (or one or the other) and that is great but what a delight to have a bit of a twist - especially from such a gifted writer as Ms. Briggs who could even make the Yellow Pages a must read.
The first half of the book was a bit slow going as the world building took center stage. But, even then we were shown it through the eyes of Seraph and her experiences, not through mindless info-dumps. Once the major conflict was introduced, however, things took off at a good clip and the story became much harder to put down.
I loved each of the children and their growth in developing and understanding their gifts. I especially loved the closeness and love that each of them displayed for each other. Overall, this is a fabulous edition to the already amazing work that this author offers.
The first half of the book was a bit slow going as the world building took center stage. But, even then we were shown it through the eyes of Seraph and her experiences, not through mindless info-dumps. Once the major conflict was introduced, however, things took off at a good clip and the story became much harder to put down.
I loved each of the children and their growth in developing and understanding their gifts. I especially loved the closeness and love that each of them displayed for each other. Overall, this is a fabulous edition to the already amazing work that this author offers.
May 13, 2010
Patricia Briggs is my hero. I am constantly amazed at her characters and the relationships they have with each other. Briggs has a great, healthy perspective on individuality, love, family, and romance. Because her characters don't fit into the traditional fantasy mold, her plots can't be predictable. Have you ever read another book where the hero/heroine takes their whole family along for the adventure and each person's skills are necessary for the resolution? The cast of fully-developed characters drive the story to places and situations no plot has gone before. This book and its sequel gave me a fresh perspective when I was jaded to the genre. I want to be like PB when I grow up.
January 14, 2016
Patricia Briggs’ novel Raven’s Shadow begins with a rescue and a romance. Tier, a Rederni ex-soldier, saves young Seraph, a Traveler girl, from murder at the hands of some ruffians in a tavern and a strange, dangerous man in the forest. Intrigued by this brave, foolhardy girl, Tier takes her home to his village to protect her from the forces that follow. Travelers are Briggs’ answer to Patrick Rothfuss’ Edema Ruh or Robert Jordan’s Tuatha’an... you know, your typical “gypsy” stereotype that seems to pop up in most high fantasy novels with lots of worldbuilding. In Raven’s Shadow, they are known for their innat... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
January 1, 2009
I was expecting another fantasy coming-of-age novel, but that's not what this is. It turned out to be quite different. There were a lot of unexpected little twists and turns. I think some aspects of the plot could have been more fully explained, but that might have slowed down the story. It was nice to have a story with a family full of characters, rather than a single main character seeking his/her fortune. The number of characters left me wanting a more focused story on each one, but overall I think they interacted well and the author balanced them against each other nicely.
January 28, 2009
I devoured this book - it was absolutely great and so much fun to read. Engaging characters, solid world building and just a good story. The kind of book that makes me excited about fantasy.
It's the first of two books, but tells a self-contained story - refreshing in this age of epic series that never end and trilogies that leave you hanging.
It's the first of two books, but tells a self-contained story - refreshing in this age of epic series that never end and trilogies that leave you hanging.
June 26, 2013
Raven’s Shadow is, in many ways, a bog-standard classic fantasy, stuffed full of common tropes: magical gypsy-equivalents (the Travellers); fantastic racism; bards; a nebulous evil ‘shadow’; a master archer; a shapeshifter; an ex-soldier riding a warhorse; squabbling nobles; and a hedonistic emperor. And yet, somehow all these old, tired pieces combine to form something just different enough to be enjoyable. Not astoundingly, brilliantly different (see: Brandon Sanderson) but comfortably individual. Like a dilapidated armchair that has been re-stuffed and re-covered: familiar, yet still with a certain newness to it.
For one thing, although the first chapter might lead you to believe this is a tale of the good-hearted hero winning the heart of the feisty ice-maiden, it’s not. The cover might also be misleading you in this direction; it looks like a paranormal romance between a richly-robed sorceress and her shape-shifting lover. This is unfortunate, as the woman on the cover is most likely the (close to 40-years-old for most of the book) mage Seraph, and the animal featured beside her is probably her adult son, Jes. Raven’s Shadow is very much a family affair, featuring Tier, ex-soldier, farmer, bard; his wife Seraph, Traveller and mage; their sons Jes and Lehr, both nearly adults; and their daughter Rinnie, still a child. When Tier goes missing, it will take all of them to help save the day.
This is a cozy little fantasy, and although it’s book one of a duology, it stands alone reasonably well. The charm of it lies not so much in the worldbuilding (uncomplicated) or plot (straightforward) or villain (underdeveloped) but in the characters: multiple, complex, all with different and often conflicting goals and motivations. It’s a relatively short read (for a fantasy novel i.e. not an unwieldy brick) and I recommend it to any fantasy lover looking for a light, pleasant read.
For one thing, although the first chapter might lead you to believe this is a tale of the good-hearted hero winning the heart of the feisty ice-maiden, it’s not. The cover might also be misleading you in this direction; it looks like a paranormal romance between a richly-robed sorceress and her shape-shifting lover. This is unfortunate, as the woman on the cover is most likely the (close to 40-years-old for most of the book) mage Seraph, and the animal featured beside her is probably her adult son, Jes. Raven’s Shadow is very much a family affair, featuring Tier, ex-soldier, farmer, bard; his wife Seraph, Traveller and mage; their sons Jes and Lehr, both nearly adults; and their daughter Rinnie, still a child. When Tier goes missing, it will take all of them to help save the day.
This is a cozy little fantasy, and although it’s book one of a duology, it stands alone reasonably well. The charm of it lies not so much in the worldbuilding (uncomplicated) or plot (straightforward) or villain (underdeveloped) but in the characters: multiple, complex, all with different and often conflicting goals and motivations. It’s a relatively short read (for a fantasy novel i.e. not an unwieldy brick) and I recommend it to any fantasy lover looking for a light, pleasant read.
December 22, 2024
This surprised me. As a big fan of the Mercy Thompson series, I still didn't expect this very early book to be very good. But I enjoy following how writers develop their skills, so I decided to give this a try; it turned out to be fun and easy to read. Briggs' greatest skill is creating characters that have flaws but the reader still can fully support and root for, and she did that here. I especially enjoyed seeing our MCs children become part of the adventure. They added a lot of interest to the story.
On the down side, slight spoiler ahead - Happily, Briggs has overcome this in her later books.
Still, if you're in the mood for a typical fantasy quest novel that you can dive into and enjoy for a few hours, this might fit the bill. It's definitely one you could hand to a young reader with no worries. I will be reading the next one, just because I want to spend more time with Tier, Sereph and their family.
On the down side, slight spoiler ahead - Happily, Briggs has overcome this in her later books.
Still, if you're in the mood for a typical fantasy quest novel that you can dive into and enjoy for a few hours, this might fit the bill. It's definitely one you could hand to a young reader with no worries. I will be reading the next one, just because I want to spend more time with Tier, Sereph and their family.
April 4, 2011
I read 90 pages of this and gave up. I went to a Patricia Briggs book signing recently and she made fun of some of her early writings, saying "They really will publish anything," and now I get what she meant. It's not that the story is bad, it's just that the writing is not one-tenth as tight as Ms. Briggs current works. I can't explain it, but somehow I just don't care much about what happens next.
This is a traditional fantasy set in a world where magic is known and sometimes feared. Seraph, of the magical Traveler race and a powerful mage, is rescued by Tier, an ex-soldier, and ends up married to him with three kids. Travelers have a sacred duty to keep the evil Stalker's powers in check by hunting down its agents, but Seraph turns from that to live a simpler life. Then it all comes down to her and her family against evil.
This is a traditional fantasy set in a world where magic is known and sometimes feared. Seraph, of the magical Traveler race and a powerful mage, is rescued by Tier, an ex-soldier, and ends up married to him with three kids. Travelers have a sacred duty to keep the evil Stalker's powers in check by hunting down its agents, but Seraph turns from that to live a simpler life. Then it all comes down to her and her family against evil.
July 1, 2014
I really struggled to connect with this story. It started off really slow, and I didn't really get into until about halfway through the book. I almost lemmed it a couple of times. I am glad I hung in through the end, because I did enjoy the second half of the book. In fact, had the first half been pared down, my rating might have been higher.
August 20, 2016
Not my cup of tea
August 11, 2022
Briggs wrote this high fantasy series prior to starting her Mercy Thompson/Mercyverse. Because I was listening to it, I found the world occasionally complex and a little difficult to comprehend (or maybe my brain is more muddled than usual right now), but I enjoyed the story and characters immensely.
November 29, 2021
While the first 100 pages really didn't do it for me, the book picked up pace after that and actually turned out as a good read with some interesting and likeable characters...
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
April 27, 2017
This is a fun fantasy novel. The magical talents that several of the characters in this book have played out like they had 3rd edition dnd classes.
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