Destined to become Queen of Scotland.
Bound by blood to the Celtic gods.
Scotland, 1026–Descendant of the line of MacAlpin, Gruoch should have been born into a life of ease. But fate is fickle. Her father’s untimely death, rumored to have been plotted by King Malcolm, leaves her future uncertain and stained by the prophecy that she will avenge her family line.
Escaping to one of the last … that she will avenge her family line.
Escaping to one of the last strongholds of the old Celtic gods, Gruoch becomes an adept in arcane craft. Her encounters with the otherworld, however, suggest that magic runs stronger in Scotland than she ever imagined.
Haunted by dreams of a raven-haired man she’s never met, Gruoch soon feels her fate is not her own. She is duty-bound to wed a powerful lord, if not the Prince himself; however, she’s not sure she can stop her heart when she meets Banquo, a gallant highlander and druid.
Fans of Outlander and the Mists of Avalon will relish this sweeping Scottish Historical Fantasy that tells the tale of Gruoch, a woman struggling to escape her fate without blood on her hands. Dive into this thrilling historical scottish fantasy romance by New York Times best-selling author Melanie Karsak.
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Highland Raven has everything I love in a book; magic, a little romance, action, and a very likeable leading lady. I love seeing character development, how they change throughout the story based on what they’ve been through. This was a very well written book and I’m excited that it is part of a series!
Highland Raven is a book rich in fantasy with bits of Celtic history and folklore woven in. Given that the story is fantasy it was easy to suspend judgment about any perceived discrepancies and just enjoy the story for what it is.
I really quit liked Gruoch’s story.
She’s a young lady that’s a bit naive about some things but she gradually grows and learns along the way.
Gruoch’s destiny has been pre-determined but she is determined it would seem to defy the fates and create a destiny of her own choosing. Willing to fight to overcome whatever hardships she must to be with those she loves. First she must learn about the past and remember things long forgotten because the past and future are intertwined. With each secret she discovers another riddle most be solved.
I loved the narrator. She has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.
I’m looking forward to jumping into the second part of Gruoch’s journey and finding out what happens next.
*Just a note: there are some things to do with abuse, sex and religious beliefs that some might not be okay with reading. If you have triggers or are easily offended then this book may not be for you.
Having been introduced to Melanie Karnak writing, I realized that she has a whole Serie on Celtic legends and I’m fascinated by it. Cordie, Gruoch, or Cerridwen, you choose, leads us to different scenarios, from colorful to dark ones, to the struggle of finding herself, and the beauty of ancient rituals, only possible due to Melanie’s extraordinary narrative. Definetely, it is a serie worth reading!
Highland Raven by Melanie Karsak is an incredible story of a fate derailed, a betrayal to be avenged, and a young woman caught squarely in the middle.
With few exceptions, historical books are not among my favorites. This rapidly made my short list! Ms. Karsak writes with a descriptive style and detail that is hard to find sometimes. But don’t forget the tissues!
Full 4 stars!
Highland Raven by Melanie Karsak is the first in a series.
Love this tale of Scotland, Celtic myth, druids and magic!! The characters were amazing and I became swept up in the story and the time!! Cant wait to see how Gruoch’s story unfolds!
Historically, very little is known of the early life of Gruoch, later known as Lady Macbeth. Immortalised by Shakespeare as a conniving, power-hungry shrew, audiences have been fascinated by her for centuries.
Karsak weaves a kinder tale of the young Gruoch in this excellent work of historical fantasy. History, magic and fantasy combine to tell a story of a young woman searching to discover her destiny and calling in life, while still learning who she is and the power she holds over men.
This story is so powerfully and beautifully written that it is easy to forget that this is fiction, and to believe that this really is Gruoch’s story. We see Gruoch’s strengths and vulnerability, her loyalty and hatred, her past and glimpses of her future. As readers, we love those she loves and despise those she hates, and we become deeply invested in her hopes and dreams.
The author has also incorporated some lovely nods to Shakespeare’s play, littering quotes and references to the text throughout the narrative. This very cleverly lends credibility and legitimacy to Karsak’s story, reinforcing that sense of reality and closeness to Gruoch that the reader feels from almost the first page onwards.
The story delivers a fascinating blend of mystery, fantasy, romance, and adventure in an expertly crafted package that is almost impossible to put down once started.
I read the first installment and could not stop until I had finished all of this series .. Please write more like this.
LOVED the characters in this book and the Celtic feel of the storytelling and world. Highly recommended.
I really loved this book! An original story with characters full of substance! More fantasy than historical. Which is even better!
Sometimes I often wonder if I will encounter words as strong and as beautifully crafted the ones in Melanie Karsak novel Highland Raven. She had me in a book coma for much of December of last year and it took me months to write a review. I didn’t think I could truly give her the justice she deserves.
Fantasy fans will weep as I did while reading this historical rendition of a story long past. Karsak’s interpretation of Lady Macbeth was written in a way that offers a backstory to the literature we know so well. The novel is shrouded in Celtic and Norse Mythology and takes you to so many different directions your head will spin.
Karsak’s story begins at the birth of Gruoch, a descendant of the line of MacAlpin. At the beginning of the book, Gruoch’s father tells the infant, “These men are of your blood. I set the mark of the old gods upon you”… “Avenge your kinsman. I call upon the Morrigu, the ancient and dead Goddess of these lands and ask her to claim you”… “Let her rise up and take you. Let her whisper battle cries for lullabies. Avenge with the magic of the old gods”… ” Remember that you are a child of Kenneth MacAlpin’s line and bring vengeance”… That is the strength right there! That is a prophecy of old and of new.
AND THAT UP THERE ALONE SHOWS YOU THE STRENGTH OF THE AUTHORS WRITING. I knew from reading the first few pages that I would fall in love with this series (and love this author)
If you enjoy historical fantasy and love STRONG female heroines, this is the book for you! The novel captures and illustrates a magical world of witches and fairies, warrior women and uncivilized men, druids and a path of a young royal with many trials in her way.
Download the eBook. Buy the book. Do whatever you need to do to be able to enjoy what I have three times over! 5 Stars Melanie Karsak! I cannot wait to re-read the next installment!
*This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
This is a historical fantasy set in ancient Scotland. I was a bit disappointed in this read. The writing wasn’t bad, there just wasn’t much of a story and no closure to any of the story lines. It’s all emotions, sensations, visions and mysticism with almost no progression in the story line. It seems like this book was meant only as a long introduction to the series. None of the conflicts or mysteries were resolved by the end of the book and when I finished reading it I still had no idea where the story was going. It definitely was not a “stand-alone” read. In a series it is okay to have characters and storylines that stretch through multiple volumes, but each book should have a main focus with a beginning, middle, and end. This book never seemed to get past the “beginning” with introduction of the setting and characters.