Bullied through high school, seventeen-year-old Justice St. Michaels is grateful for the help of her best friend Moira O’Fhey. Together they’re just managing to scrape through the nightmare they call high school. Between Justice’s bizarre body changes and being involved in explosive school fights, things are going from bad to worse. Darien Raventhorn arrives on the scene only to add fuel to an … already burning question—has Justice been living a lie her whole life? Thrust into an unwanted revenge mission Justice must avenge a family death, embrace her birthright, and slay a demon before all Hell breaks loose.
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A nice thriller with lots of suspense and exciting moments. Can’t wait to start reading book 2
* I received this book for an honest review *
I loved this book! It was definitely a page-turner. There was excitement throughout that made it fun to read. I can’t wait to read the next one!
This was a really good debut paranormal story. It was on the dark side though. So not for you if you prefer a lighter paranormal romance.
Really enjoyed this new world the author created. Lots of magical creatures and an entertaining storyline.
I enjoy Paranormal books so this one fit the bill. It had a little bit of all the elements I enjoy in PNR
This is a paranormal romance book.
It has Angel’s and demons, witches, elves and vampires.
Its action packed and dark and will have tou on the edge of your seat.
This book is really intense right from the start. Loved the diversity of characters and how she really tries to do the right thing. Sometimes we’re just pushed too far.
What an interesting twist on the fantasy and paranormal genre.
Justice St. Michaels is an 18 year old girl who has recently been dealt with secrets her family has been keeping from her, her entire life. In one day her entire life changes when her parents finally inform her of what they are and what her mission will be one day soon. In the small town that Justice lives there aren’t many people who are privy to the St. Michaels secret, but those that are also have secrets of their own and interlock within the family.
However, Justice never expected to be going on her “demon slaying” mission without her parents. What was supposed to be a mission for Him turns into a revenge mission with the help of Justice’s friends Tom, Moira, Darien and Mr. Wolfjoy.
I have to admit, I’m not 100% what the point of the first few chapters of this book were towards the bigger story. Maybe if all the exploding and death had more to do with the actual story and Justice’s family secret it might be more necessary.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed it overall even if it had more violence then I normally read.
I love this story. There’s drama, tragedy, and even a little romance. Most of us know how bad high school can be and for this girl it just keeps getting worse, she has a death in the family, bullies at school, and demons like seriously demons. At least she has a great friend to have her back and a dreamy guy to fall for. This story is amazing and I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed the concept of this one but I just couldn’t get into the characters at all. I really wanted to love this story but I just couldn’t. It was just okay and a little I don’t know disappointing for me. It took awhile to really capture my attention but even then there was just something missing. The concept though was good I always enjoy a good paranormal book.
First off like others I’ll like to say great debut by this author.
Now I’ll say that the blurb is misleading as didn’t realize it was paranormal so probably wouldn’t of picked it up if I had known.
In saying that for a non paranormal reader I still enjoyed most of the story especially the beginning.
Wow that was intense! This book seriously had me hooked from the very start. The high school kids are cruel beyond measure, a vampire chase love through the centuries, half angels, witches, elves, fallen angels, demons, dragons…the list goes on, this book has it all. The non-stop action, the emotion, the detail in the world building, and the completely original storyline make this one hell of a read. Author Linda Bloodworth did a fantastic job with this and I look forward to continuing this series.
A Raven’s Touch by Linda Bloodworth is the first book in her A Raven Wing series and is her debut novel. This book introduces the reader to a teenage girl who is bullied at her school for essentially doing the right thing. So she gets labeled as “weird”, “reject”, and so on and essentially ostracized and bullied. You essentially get the feeling that the other students and quite possibly even the teachers are a bunch of sheep since they constantly turn a blind eye to what is going on. Yeah, some get in trouble, but the issues and bullies really aren’t handled as they should be.
As the author states in the blurb, this book is not one for those who have issues dealing with certain topics because there is a shocking suicide in this story. Certain scenes do provide more shock value than really contribute anything serious to the storyline. In the long run, it doesn’t add anything or comes back to have an impact on the overall story.
I’m glad that Justice has a good friend to be there for her during situations but at one point in the story, I begin to question the “trueness” of their friendship. When Justice experiences close personal loss I find it more than odd that Moira, her “best friend” is more caught up with her crush/barely minted new boyfriend instead of being there for her friend. It’s like Moira is more interested in the guy now instead of being a friend. I found this disappointing. I expected more of her. I also find the speed of the romance between Justice and Darien to be a bit too quick as well. I appreciate that the author ties things together and explains a few things, but it still seems rushed. The whole timeline for the story feels rushed as well. Then there’s Tom and his bad attitude. When he’s not being all lovey-dovey over his infant relationship with Moira, he’s giving Justice stink eye behind Darien. I honestly kept waiting on someone to burst Tom’s bubble and point out he’s just as much a danger to everyone as Darien based on a specific demon attack.
Yes, I have quite a few issues with the story, but at the end of the day, I honestly enjoyed it. It has quite a few good moments that will engage you and keep you page turning. I was disappointed that the title really doesn’t tie into the story (sorry I’m a stickler for that). For those who are looking for a YA paranormal romance novel that is by a new author, I’d say check this book out. You’ll find a family with secrets, a girl with issues and whose life is about to completely change as she comes of age.
I’m rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and I’m hopeful that the author will slow things down a bit and allow the storyline to flow a bit better.
This is my first time reading a book by this author and also this style of book im usually moreof a romance reader but decides after reading the blurb to give it a shot.
It follows the story of justice and moira to best friends who are bullied in highschool. As rhe story goes on justice finds out around her 18th birthday that her world is not as it seems, she is a halfling, her bff is a witch and their are angels, demons and vampires all around her.
For a y/a book i found it definitely was more for older teens but that it was fun and intriguing to read. The author put lots of detail into the book and kept me wanting to read it. There was some gore and suspense and a little romance as well. For a first time reader of this author/genre i will definitely read another of her books
**I was given A Raven’s Touch for free from the author to do a beta read and an honest review**
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**Graphic Warning: Detailed suicide and lots of violence**
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In A Raven’s Touch, we meet Justice. A somewhat normal teen living in a small town. Justice and her best friend Moira are in their senior year of high school when they are attacked by fellow students. What follows is one horrible tragedy after another. On top of a horrible day at school not even a full week later Justice experiences another tragedy at home. This tragedy happens after Justice learns her family secret. Suddenly she is forced into this new life and despite this and the tragedies, she remains a strong young woman. She and her friend Moira seem to handle everything thrown at them rather stoically. They do have a few moments of breaking down which felt normal for me. I loved the fact that in this story there were not one but two strong females. I absolutely loved the world building even though it was drawn out. I felt that was necessary given what the content that this story covers.
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If you are a fan of paranormal stories and can handle a lot of violence, a brutal suicide, and numerous deaths then give this book a chance you will not be disappointed.
Interesting approach to mythical creatures. Story started out looking like one thing, then transformed into another. I really liked the main characters. Justice and her best friend Moira were very relatable and made you root for them from page one. When Darien was introduced, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about his backstory. The world Linda Bloodworth created is a world I would like to know more about, so I am impatiently waiting for the next part of the story.
Angels, Demons, Vampires & Elves, Yes Please!!
This book was a bit of a mishmash for me. I started reading it then had to stop & check the blurb as I thought I was reading a YA PnR book? The story I was currently reading was about a 17yr old girl, Justice, & her best friend Moira. Justice was in a constant state of hyper awareness due to severe bullying at School, especially by 3 people in particular. It had been going on relentlessly for most of High School!! I
(It turned out this is a PnR book!)
Some rather extreme violence occurs at School. The girls are present on all occasions and at two they’re in very close proximity!! Although they do both survive! I have to say, for me personally, this whole section of the book was horrible & mostly pointless!! I was on the receiving end of bullying from 14-16 yrs old & I didn’t relate to Justice in this part of the book at all, except for maybe keeping your head down & trying not to be antagonistic! The violence written wasn’t necessary to the bigger picture of this books story arc. Unless the Author was trying to imply what happened to the bullies was deserved and God’s justice?? I’m sorry, I didn’t get it, it felt ridiculous as I read it & I didn’t relate to it at all!! I would have cut that whole part of the book down to a chapter of so on how she felt being bullied, being glad she was moving away to college soon & how much Moira’s friendship had helped get her through it all!! Also what is blithely mentioned, regarding an 8 year old girls death, further into the book I felt was gratuitous!!This book lost a star for these points alone!! I
(I hate writing negative comments in reviews unless they’re constructive, so I’m sorry Linda Bloodworth I would advise getting 1 or 2 unbiased Beta Readers for your next project, I mean that sincerely, as I think they would probably have strongly advised against those chapters & that comment! )
On to the PnR
Justice finds out, on the eve of her 18th Birthday, that her family & her personal destiny are Extraordinary!! She has had her eyes opened to the world of ‘Others’ by Moira & her amazing gifts, so to find out she is blessed too is a huge shock. Especially where their Power comes from!! Justice is glad, as well as freaked out, to see the beautiful, sexy boy she thought she’d imagined at School, again. He tells her he’s been cursed by Seliki- a demoness, by being turned into a Vampire He says that Justice can help save him from her!!
There is tragedy & shocks in store for Justice! The full extent of what she faces is forced upon her. She has more allies than she knew about, which is surprising & touching Now she needs to gather her courage & get ready for the fight of her life!!
At times I was really into this story & others I wasn’t! I wasn’t a huge fan of the all of the praying, it’s just not my thing so I found it it a bit much! I LOVED Acana, the Elven world! That imagination from this Author & the world she created there is definitely worthy of exploration I will probably read book 2 as I think this story has a lot of promise!! 3 Stars
Debbie, 1970, UK