Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!A princess longing to be free…On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final … to the open sky at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.
A bastard aching to belong…
Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart…
Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.
Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you’ll never see coming, don’t miss The Raven and the Dove!
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This wonderfully complex world featuring different birds (humans with wings) was beautifully detailed and reminded me of Sarah J Maas in the different houses and beautiful descriptions. It’s time for the young princes and princess of the kingdoms to be matched and mated, for the first-borns to get to stay in their kingdoms and choose partners from other kingdoms, and for the second- and third-borns to be picked and leave home forever.
This tale follows the story of several young royals, a second-born princess with a rebellious streak and a secret, dangerous gift. A first-born son who loves someone he shouldn’t. A spy. A king with two sons—one who is legitimate and has a disability his people might see as a weakness, the other illegitimate and unable to claim the throne. It’s a delightfully twisty setup, and as everyone comes together for the matching, and things get complicated by dragons (because, of course), things get even more fun! I was completely entranced by this book, the forbidden love story, loved the complicated arcs of so many characters. I reached the end and was so glad there would be a book two!
This book was fascinating! I was drawn in by the cover. And the blurb was undeniably tempting, I just had to read it! And boy it did not disappoint! This author created a world of magic and mayhem. A fantasy read full of action and excitement. This world was intense and phenomenal. I absolutely loved the characters. I can not wait to read the next addition to this series!
From Lala’s Book Reviews
If you like:
• POC MC
• Royal Politics
• Strong FMC
• Magic and fantasy
• Deception
Then this is the book for you!
I’ll be honest the cover was the first thing that drew me in because hello… the wings. I want to thank ACOTAR, An Enchantment of Ravens, Spin the Dawn, and let’s not forget, Damon for The Vampire Diaries for making me fall in love with characters with wings or can shift into birds (tbh I blame Rhys for the whole obsession of characters with wings). Then I had read the synopsis and found out that the that there’s a guy who an outcast among his people but important to the Raven’s society in the long run making this a story that I had to read.
Lyana is the princess of the doves and is old enough to enter the competition of all royal children of age to marry other royals to build bonds with different kingdoms. Lyana wants nothing more than to be able to find someone who she can trust with a life or death secret of her magic in a land where magic is seen as sorcery and punishable by death. Lyana also yearns to see the different places of the world and travel. So, when she helps saves who she assumes to be the prince of the ravens, she realizes that he has magic of his own and sees her opportunity of possibly being able to settle down with someone who she can confine in and have a relationship where she doesn’t have to hid a huge part of her life.
She does what she wants and isn’t afraid of speaking out and bending the rules when needed. She sneaks out with her friend Cassi who is an owl and sees the lands close to the dove’s area.
Rafe is the half brother of the actual prince of the ravens, Xander, and is blamed for the king’s death years ago. The ravens despise him, while Xander is his only friend. Because Xander was born without an arm, Rafe is the one who is representing the ravens in the competition since the other kingdoms are unaware of the prince’s disability and to give the raven’s a chance of finding a mate for their future king. Rafe is against the idea from the beginning but goes along with it for the sake of his half-brother.
Rafe is the quiet brother who has the ability to fight and protect; while Xander is the one who is good with the people of his kingdom and cares for their wellbeing.
Fate brings Rafe and Lyana together before the competition and they are drawn to each other. Lyana sees freedom in Rafe, and he sees someone who captivates his attention like no other.
When it comes time in the competition where the people pick their mates, Lyana chooses Rafe and is one step closer to some of her biggest dreams coming true, but at the end of the ceremony she realizes that Rafe isn’t the real prince. She meets Xander and can see a repeat of her current life of not telling anyone about her magic, but she (along with Cassi as her protector) still goes with the ravens because she agreed to be their future queen.
As time gets closer to Lyana and Xander’s mating ceremony and wedding, she starts to see some semblance of a peaceful life, but she can’t get Rafe out of her mind despite him giving her the cold shoulder and pushing her away, so Xander can be happy.
While all of this is going on, Cassi is working on something of her own helping someone who is faraway with a situation that could be bigger than the four of them combined.
With things continuing to happen, secretes are exposed and trust is broken. Will the four of them be able to work things out or will things be messed up beyond repair? In this book following in switching POVs of Lyana, Xander, Rafe, and Cassi, relationships are pushed to the limits and could cause years or heartache if it’s not handled carefully.
WOW!!!! Amazing story. I love the world that is created in this read. A world in the sky with bird people of 7 houses and a world below they know nothing about. In this story you will find drama, romance, magic, twist and turns and betrayal. It is a wonderful story that will keep you turning pages.
I received a copy for a honest review.
Let me start off by saying the blurb makes me want to one click this book in a heartbeat and once I started reading, I was hooked. I loved how the author took me on an unexpected adventure with flawed characters who really bring out my emotions. I want to see where this series leads and what will happened next so I’m looking forward to the second book. This book has many characters which is a hit for me. I’d recommend it!
The Raven and the Dove is the first book in a new series.
I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Final Rating: 5 Stars
It is always amazing when an author nails a retelling, and that is what happened here with Davis’s work. Lyana and Rafe are both great characters and it is evident from the setting that this is a Tristan and Iseult retelling. The fantastical element that has gone into writing this novel gives the novel a fresh new take on the story.
The beginning is a little jarring because it does not connect with the idea behind the novel or with the synopsis in any clear way. It is still a compelling opening, and the way the story alludes to the beginning before the reveal keeps readers on their toes.
The mythology in the story makes the characters and their dynamics fresh. Anyone familiar with the story already knows the characters and the parts they play, but in order to keep the story from feeling like a dull retelling, the fantasy gives it that edge to remain fresh. The added element of the opening sequence also allows the story to be different enough so that it does not feel repetitive. It flows at an incredible pace and keeps the story from losing its edge.
While this is an imaginative story, the characters are also engaging. There is much tension to the roles that they play, and the added aspect of magic and espionage, they make the characters rise to the challenge. Lyana is adventurous and spunky, and flawed in that respect. There are times, admittedly where she seems to perfect, but her need to be spontaneous, to be adventurous, it makes her more relatable. She is the living embodiment of a caged bird, trapped in her power, secrets, and desires. As for Rafe, he is the typical brooding character, but as the story goes along, revealing his past, the pain and turmoil he always feels makes him more than a cliche.
The Raven and the Dove is a unique retelling filled with compelling characters and a well-written story.
This book was all kinds of intense! If I had known that this is not a standalone but the first of a four-book series not due to be finished until next spring, I probably would not have begun reading it. For sure, if I had known how much angst and sorrow would be involved, I definitely would not have started the series. I am just way too tender-hearted for this much sorrow. Seriously, just about every time you turn around there is something that is even MORE sad for one of the main characters. Such was the power of the author’s tale here that I thought about and brooded over this story for several days afterwards.
There was an incredible amount of world-building done throughout this volume, especially in the beginning. But it all flowed naturally and didn’t impede the action or distract from the story. The entire world and the characters’ very existence, not to mention the rather odd societies in which they found themselves, were very unique and required an exceptional amount of back-story. All was well thought out and described, such that I could clearly envision things in my minds eye.
From the main foursome of Lyana, Rafe, Xander, and Cassi – to the more minor players in this volume of Luka, Helen, the Captain, the King, and others – the characters were so full of life as to make them totally authentic. I just immediately felt for them in the myriad difficult situations that they faced. There were multiple times throughout the course of the book that I found myself in tears for the circumstances of one or the other of the players. And not only were these totally fictional characters, but fantasy ones as well, not even really human. I mean, seriously, they were nearly all half-bird people with giant wings! And yet the author managed to make them not only believable but also extremely sympathetic.
While the next volume seems as though it could be even more tragic (so I can’t exactly say that I’ll be looking forward to reading it), I am very much interested to see what the future holds for this complex cast of characters. I just hope I can survive the continued turmoil. But I swear, if this ends like the Tristan and Isolde tale after which it is apparently fashioned, or something similar like the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, I will be SO upset!
What attracted me first in this book was the amazing cover and then I read the synopsis and I knew I had to read it. I’m happy I did but I have to admit even though I do love retellings I am not familiar with Tristan and Isolde’s story, so I can’t say much about that.
What I can tell you is that the world building is AMAZING. At times I struggled to keep up with so much information. This is the first book in a 4 book series so there’s a lot of details and information to remember but the mysterious world and the atmosphere are breathtaking.
Lyana, Cassi, Rafe and Xander are an interesting group of characters. I really liked Rafe’s and Xander backstory, they definitely felt the most developed characters of the book. Rafe’s story is something else, I loved it and his actions made sense considering his past. Also, it didn’t hurt that he was a broody sarcastic cute guy. Lyana is a likable character, I liked how feisty and determined she was but she wasn’t my favorite character, sometimes some of her actions were a little childish but still understandable. Cassi… well I liked her, hated her, pitied her, it was a roller coaster which means the character was well developed and I’m very, very, very intrigued about her character’s future. She’s definitely the wildcard in the story.
I was enthralled in this story and the entertainment level was great. There was not much happening by the middle of the story but in the end things were a bit chaotic, including the romance, and I wanted more from a certain character, Malek, but he ended up having a small role that I thought. I hope we get much more from him in book 2.
Overall, The Raven and The Dove was a very entertaining story with a unique, distinct atmosphere and world building and I enjoyed it very much. I’m excited for book 2!
I’m a big fan o retellings and I was intrigued when I read the blurb o this book. A retelling of Tristan and Isolde!? yes, count me in. So I was ecstatic when I received an arc of The Raven and The Dove, and dived right into it immediately.
The story was intricate and told in multiple POV, which most of the time I don’t like because it can become confusing, but it worked perfectly in this situation. The book opens with a dramatic scene, a battle with a dragon, and it’s fair to say it captured my attention from the start. The author introduces us to a fascinating world. There are several aviary clans and they are beautifully presented, each house with its particular traits and beauty, and I liked the association between human and bird traits. The magic system was interesting, based on nature’s elements, and though I liked the concept, I feel like it needed to be explained a bit more.
The action is fairly paced but dulls down halfway throughout the book only to pick up at the end. The plotline is intriguing, following the two star crossed lovers, Lyanna and Rafe, whose relationship is doomed to end up in tragedy. But beyond that, the story is much more complex and a greater force is at play when it comes to their destinies. The main characters are well developed, the love triangle played out well, but I needed a lot more on the romance aspect. The chemistry was there but I feel like it wasn’t enough passion in their interactions. There were some twists of events that caught me by surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed how Cassi’s presence throughout the story maintained the suspense and mystery. The book ends as it started with a dramatic and shocking scene that leaves room for a sequel and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
*I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The moment I read the synopsis for this book on Netgalley I knew I had to have it. Even though I also knew this book was totally gonna break my heart. Into a million little pieces. Or at least, I hoped the book would do so. I like it when books do that. And yet, when I started reading and felt the disaster in the air, for a long time I couldn’t get myself to read on. I already felt the pain before the heartbreaking scenes had started happening!
And I’d say that’s a huge compliment for the book. Within a few chapters I had already grown attached to these characters. They felt like old friends, as if I already knew them for years, as if they felt familiar and close to me. Watching their adventures, watching them grow and learn, watching them take charge and being strong, watching them breaking and shattering, it was as if it was all happening to me. My heart was breaking. I was shattering. I felt the triumphs and the losses. The love and the pain. The dreams and the failures.
On top of the awesome characters, who clearly carried the book, there was also this gripping plot. It stayed in the background for a long while, giving the characters the time to bond and to find their place in the story, but once the plot came into plain view the story exploded. The finale of this book was epic. So much was happening, so many elements came together, all the build up was paying off. Not that the build up was boring, far from it. The story was never boring, even though it was quite long. But the finale? The finale was breathtaking heartbreaking phenomenal.
And last but not least: The world in this story was beautiful and very well described. I could almost smell the ocean and feel the cold. Although we’ve only seen a relatively small part of the world, the part we did see came to life quite well. And considering the ending, I’m pretty sure we’re gonna see more of the world in the next book(s)!
I personally can’t wait to read them! I also can’t wait to put this book on my shelves!
Three and a half
Ok lets be honest I wanted to read this because of the beautiful cover and I’ve a feeling I won’t be the only one so yes call me fickle. However the world building ideas with winged communities living above a dense thick mist was extremely intriguing. Below the mist is what I can only describe as people desperate to fulfil a prophecy but not everything is exactly as it seems.
The story primarily settles on four main characters, there’s Lyana the spoilt princess, Rafe the bastard son, Xander the crown Prince and Cassie who has secrets of her own. Lyana if I’m blunt just didn’t resonate with me but I did applaud her determination to use her gifts. Rafe is so loyal to his brother and he was so close to being my favourite character. Xander might not be the fighter that his younger brother is but he is nevertheless a wonderful character and a lovely surprise. As for Cassie she’s an incredible force who is severely underestimated and if it wasn’t for her actions towards the end would have been my favourite. There’s magic and mystery here plus Dragons that seem to be vicious and attracted to magic. I have absolutely no idea were this storyline is going because there is an absolutely huge cliff hanger but I would be interested in finding out just why the atrocities that happen at the end were felt necessary because believe me it’s brutal !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair