Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person’s dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.As she discovers her family’s dark secret, Selene is torn between … between upholding her family’s legacy–a legacy that supports her people–or seeking the true reason behind her family’s gift.
Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.
One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?
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I. Am. Impressed.
The Mark of The Raven is hands down one of the most solid novels I’ve ever read.
I’m not much a fan of fantasy, but I was hooked from page one. Descriptive writing has you immersed in the world of powerful Houses, intrigue and the beginning of the discovery of true self and gift.
I need the second book urgently!!
“She has a searching heart” – and therefore she holds a threat, unbeknownst to many.
Selene Ravenwood feels like her life is not her own; her destiny is written as the next leader of her House.
But, when the truth of the Ravenwood secrets come to her knowledge and she finds there all that is at stake, will she do it? Will she sacrifice her heart for her people? Or is it only for her name that they are really fighting for?
In the tug between Light and Darkness, where does Selene’s destiny stand?
Selene Ravenwood is the heir to her Great House, and to a gift believed by outsiders to be lost, she trains under her mother as a dreamwalker fanning the flames of other’s nightmares. Selene tries to deaden herself to the pain that she is inflicting, but continues her training in hopes of sparing her sister a similar fate. Her father encourages Selene to discover other uses for her gift, and believes that she has the power to help bring the fractious houses together, if she can get out from her mother’s influence.
Will Selene follow in her mother’s footsteps, or choose the less sure path, risking it all and trusting a stranger with her life to bring the Great Houses together against the oncoming invasion?
I didn’t know what to expect with this new series, and honestly I was on the fence as to whether I wanted to read this series or not, but I’m sure glad I did! Morgan L. Busse is a previous Christy award finalist, and I’d heard of her books before, but had never read one until now. Ms. Busse is a masterful storyteller, her world-building felt seamless and flowed effortlessly with the story.
I was instantly drawn to Selene, she is brave, compassionate, and a loving sister, though she must hide many of her feelings behind a mask. She is good at holding the cards close to her chest, and is justifiably reluctant to trust. Selene is self-aware, protective of her sister, bound by duty, she shows the world a cold detachment while locking away her deepest feelings as if afraid to hope. Selene is the kind of heroine that I could cheer for, vulnerable, with an untapped inner strength and longing for more, for purpose.
Damian is the youngest Grand Duke, and he doesn’t take his responsibilities lightly. He is a natural ruler, with a heart for the people, bearing the duty of his people’s safety. He has a vision of unity amongst the Great Houses. Selene intrigues him, he sees past her mask of coldness, and can’t help but be drawn to her and the secrets that she keeps.
An excellent start to a new series, I was instantly drawn into the masterfully crafted world of powerful gifts, nobility, politics, and intrigue. Selene is a brave young woman, mentally strong, with a desire to break the chains of past generations. One of my favorite characters is Caiaphas, he is a wise man who has sacrificed much in hopes of working towards peace and unity. A gripping read, from beginning to end, I liked the way that Ms. Busse brought the chill of Ravenwood’s atmosphere to life, with a strong sense of urgency and intrigue. One of the best Christian fantasy books that I have read in a long time, I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising.”
I must say, I haven’t been a big fan of fantasy in the past, but Morgan made me consider trying it again.
One of the major things that made Mark of the Raven stand out to me out of all the books I’ve read this year was the themes running throughout the whole story. I love books that experiment with good and evil, dark and light, and I absolutely loved the way Morgan incorporated those themes throughout this book. Honestly, it gave the book a lot of depth and made the characters so much more relateable. And I always enjoy books more when there’s something I can take away from it and when I can relate with the characters.
I have to admit that I’ve been a bit off the fantasy genre lately, given how samey everything has begun to feel. That’s why I was delighted to discover that Morgan Busse’s new book Mark of the Raven delivers all the fantasy goodness you hope for with a few twists thrown in to make it new. See what else I have to say below in this week’s #2MinBookReview.
https://youtu.be/1cCYYHK3rAs
This is book number one in Morgan L. Busse’s newest fantasy series, but don’t let the category deter you—this book will appeal to a variety of readers. Action, mystery, and the possible beginnings of romance are included in this read.
Selene is a dreamwalker—she can enter people’s dreams and discover their secrets and fears. Her mother wants Selene to use her power to manipulate others to the will of their house, but Selene fights it—or tries to—by telling herself not to feel.
All of houses in the land (each lord or lady of said houses has their own power) come to Rook Castle to discuss a treaty. Getting to know the players in this story through there houses adds great layers to Mark of the Raven.
Lord Damien is intrigued by Selene. She is a fighter and there’s a coldness to her but not quite like what he sees in her mother and sister.
While the setup of the book (and series) takes a little while, once readers meet Damien, the story progresses. With twists, turns, a moral dilemma for Selene, house secrets, and unexplained deaths, Busse gives readers intrigue, action, and depth.
And the ending? Oh, this ending will have you clamoring for book two.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Mark of the Raven is a thought provoking fantasy. Seven Great Houses are each uniquely gifted and designed to work together. One House goes rogue after being betrayed and sacrificed to Dominia Empire. Can these houses ever be united?
The parallels to life are uncanny. The subtle whisper of spiritual truth is masterfully woven throughout the pages. I’m excited to read the next installment in this series.
Recommend to readers who enjoy clean fantasy.
I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I absolutely loved this series. Book one starts out a little slow but its picks up quickly and it just gets better. I read all three of these books back to back and couldn’t put them down. I highly recommend this series.
Based on the cover, I think I was expecting something a little different than what I got, but I still very much enjoyed it. Loved the characters in the series and their journeys throughout.
If you enjoy speculative fiction, you’re going to love Morgan Busse and the Ravenwood Saga. The author does an amazing job creating a world the reader can completely immerse themselves in. The characters’ abilities are equally intriguing and unnerving. The parallels between the body of Christ and the ways the people use their own gifts and react to the gifts of others can be seen by those who know scripture. However, the story is told in such a beautiful way, those parallels would not be a turn off to someone who is not of the same faith or has no faith.
I really enjoyed this book, although it did take me a little while to get into. Loved the worldbuildling and the challenges the main character faced as she gradually found out more and more about her gifting and what it truly meant. Great for Young Adults, but like most YA books, also fantastic reading for adults of any age who love fantasy.
I immediately loved the premise of the main character in this story, although admittedly it took me a while to get into the details of the story. The details were well written, but there are a ton of things to keep straight. Interesting and relevant things, but lots of them. I can’t wait to read what happens next, but I think I might wait until all the books are out (or I may not, this book was amazing) so that it will be easier to remember the details. I really enjoyed how the story played out. I also absolutely fell in love with Selene and Damien.
It is a rare and wonderful thing where a book can have sound Christian principals while being true high fantasy. If you have faced a lot of disappointing fiction since you discovered The Chronicles of Narnia, this is your series! Though it had a few slow spots that bogged down, that ending was SO SO GOOD!!! The world building is detailed and original. The cast of characters is interesting and varied. The scale of conflict from enemies within and without are setting the reader up for an amazing series! And I love the cover!!!
I don’t really read fantasy. In fact, this may be the first fantasy that I have ever read. I really loved this story and it’s definitely in my top reads of 2019.
I had no idea what to expect when starting this story. It was so different than anything I’ve ever read before. I was sucked in from the beginning and as the story progressed, I could not flip the pages fast enough. I loved the world building and the different gifts each house was given. This was story is so creative!
I loved the ending and the choice Lady Selene finally makes. And there was a twist, one I totally did not see coming, at the end of the story and it was just perfect! I cannot wait to start book 2 to see how things play out! What an awesome start to a series!!
Lords, Ladies, Castles, Kings, Queens…I loved this world so much, and Salene’s journey is captivating to read. Beautiful descriptions in every scene. Hard to put down!
Wow! This book was SO good! It’s been awhile since I read a good fantasy and this one was just the thing to re-awaken my desire to start in on them again!
“Mark of the Raven” had everything a good fantasy could have: a fresh, creative idea, amazing world-building, believable and relatable characters (along with some larger-than-life ones!), attention-arresting fantasy elements, an incredible landscape and the beginnings of what promises to be an enticing romance!
This is the first book that I’ve read by Ms. Busse, but she’s certainly piqued my interest in such a way that it, most assuredly, will not be my last! I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series, “Flight of the Raven”, and will also be on the lookout for other series’ and future works by this author!
Lady Selene, oldest daughter of House Ravenwood, lives in a world where the seven major houses are blessed with magical gifts bestowed by the gods. Originally intended to be used together for the overall benefit of the people, the houses have isolated their gifts, instead, and shrouded them in magically-bound mystery. When Selene’s family power of dreamwalkng awakens within her, she discovers dark truths about her parents that force her to reconsider who she thought she was and who she wants to be. Her decision may save her world, but it could also tear her away from the family she loves.
There is so much about this story that I enjoyed. The setting was vividly drawn, the magic system was uniquely developed, and the characters were relatable and complex. What I enjoyed the most, however, was the dark feel Busse gave the story without depriving the characters of goodness or hope. I thoroughly enjoyed Selene, and I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.
Power, intrigue, and danger! The characters will draw you into a tangled web of secrets, betrayal, and murder. But the ending will leave with a sense of hope for their future.
3.5/4 stars
Wow! What a compelling ending!
I have to admit that I thought the beginning was rather slow and just couldn’t seem to get hooked. *hides* I’m not sure if it’s because I was fairly sick when I started or not, but I also found some repetitive places that I began to found irksome.
However, regardless of how I felt in the beginning and my unsureness if I would come to really like Selene, the dream walking was a unique reading experience. I haven’t read anything about dreamwalking and was very very engaged during Selene’s discovery of her new gift. Her Mother makes an interesting teacher and one that leaves you just as on edge as Selene.
Damien on the other hand is a character I very strongly related to! Though I liked Selene, he was the one who really pulled my heart strings something fierce. I loved his dedication and his heart for others and just felt a strong connection with his struggles.
I’m definitely intrigued to see what happens next. Selene has more discovering to do and really want to see Damien’s mission fulfilled. Hoping that good things are in store for them as well as the Seven Great Houses!
Recommended to fantasy readers who want a clean read with solid characters and fascinating gifts.
*(Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an ARC. I was not required to write a review or positive one. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
I loved the adventure of this story, and I immediately connected with the characters. My biggest problem is that upon finishing the story, I didn’t have book two already in hand!
Mark of the Raven is the first in the Ravenwood Saga and it sucked me right in.
Lady Selene is heiress to House Ravenwood. Each of the great houses possesses a gift and secrets. Selene’s gift is dreamwalking–a gift the other houses thought had died out long ago. Her secret is that she posses the gift and uses it for evil–but for the good of those who depend on her great house–or so her mother says. This doesn’t sit well with Selene, so she sacrifices herself, burying her feelings deep within to protect herself for the good of her people.
But an outside threat is encroaching and the houses are called together in hopes of uniting. But Selene’s mother has other plans.
Then Selene visits the dreams of a guest and finds a bright soul–something she didn’t know exists, something she doesn’t understand, something she desires.
Mark of the Raven is a unique story with characters who tug on your heartstrings as you learn their hopes, dreams, and fears and keep you turning the pages, hoping that they’ll make the right choices. This masterfully written story is dark and hopeful in all the right ways. If you enjoy original stories with intrigue, incredible world building, and characters you’ll love, dig into Mark of the Raven.