melaniebopp's review
4.0
A play on Beauty and the Beast, Ravenhearth's greatest strength is the unique world-building involved. I love Beauty and the Beast and thought this was an interesting rendition. I'd love to see more in this world, with the magic and the miasma. There were a few things that didn't work for me - the twins were...strange, uncomfortably so, and Ash, while sweet, was kind of an idiot. That said, it was still an enjoyable read, and I'm interested in seeing what else the author decides to put out.
nyphren's review
4.0
Angry Elves.
Ravenhearth is a good book that suffers a little due to not so well developed secondary characters and a not so strong middle.
But first the good: the main character, Ash, is fantastic. It’s so rare for me to read a book with a protagonist I can actually understand and sympathize with that being in Ash’s head was a delight. He’s a character I can like, and better, one I can identify with (seriously, every time he embarrassed himself – or just got embarrassed – I was nodding to my tablet and thinking, yeah, Ash, same). There aren’t enough genuine shy, awkward characters out there, but Ash is thankfully one of them.
The writing is also really nice, and the first few pages are really well written (well, the whole book is, but I loved Ravenhearth‘s beginning).
The other characters, though, didn’t convince me much. They are nice, but we never get to know them more – this also happens with Giles, Ash’s main love interest (which is kind of alarming, because, you know, he is the love interest). I feel like the book barely scratched the surface of their personalities, which is a pity, since every single one of them seemed to be really interesting.
The middle also dragged a bit, mainly because there isn’t any sense of urgency. Ash wants to learn magic, and then he starts to learn magic, but there isn’t much tension. In the end, I think the book lacked in momentum; it starts really well and then slows down too much before the final act, where it speeds up again.
The worldbuilding could’ve been better, but this didn’t bother me much since it’s a book focused on romance. So…
Notes on diversity: Well, it’s a M/M book. Ash is bisexual and Giles seems to be too (and he’s described as having “olive skin”), but it’s not clear. One of the side (male) characters seems to be queer too.
In conclusion, I liked Ravenhearth. It’s a really nice, really, I don’t know, “feel good” kind of read, and I loved the main character. I wished there were more books about him, but Ravenhearth is, as far as I know, a standalone. 3.5 stars.
Ravenhearth is a good book that suffers a little due to not so well developed secondary characters and a not so strong middle.
But first the good: the main character, Ash, is fantastic. It’s so rare for me to read a book with a protagonist I can actually understand and sympathize with that being in Ash’s head was a delight. He’s a character I can like, and better, one I can identify with (seriously, every time he embarrassed himself – or just got embarrassed – I was nodding to my tablet and thinking, yeah, Ash, same). There aren’t enough genuine shy, awkward characters out there, but Ash is thankfully one of them.
The writing is also really nice, and the first few pages are really well written (well, the whole book is, but I loved Ravenhearth‘s beginning).
The other characters, though, didn’t convince me much. They are nice, but we never get to know them more – this also happens with Giles, Ash’s main love interest (which is kind of alarming, because, you know, he is the love interest). I feel like the book barely scratched the surface of their personalities, which is a pity, since every single one of them seemed to be really interesting.
The middle also dragged a bit, mainly because there isn’t any sense of urgency. Ash wants to learn magic, and then he starts to learn magic, but there isn’t much tension. In the end, I think the book lacked in momentum; it starts really well and then slows down too much before the final act, where it speeds up again.
The worldbuilding could’ve been better, but this didn’t bother me much since it’s a book focused on romance. So…
Notes on diversity: Well, it’s a M/M book. Ash is bisexual and Giles seems to be too (and he’s described as having “olive skin”), but it’s not clear. One of the side (male) characters seems to be queer too.
In conclusion, I liked Ravenhearth. It’s a really nice, really, I don’t know, “feel good” kind of read, and I loved the main character. I wished there were more books about him, but Ravenhearth is, as far as I know, a standalone. 3.5 stars.
lillian_francis's review
4.0
Enchanting fairy tale.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were a few things that bothered me.
There were moments when it was obvious that everyone at the castle knew something Ash didn't and since we were solely in Ash's pov that was slightly unnerving. I hated the weird, slightly incestuous twins, and thought their relationship with Giles was never fully explained. Ash's role with the Master was never really explained. Does the companion become immortal if he choses to stay with the Master?
But despite the unanswered questions I enjoyed the story (And yes I guessed what was going on long before Ash realised)
I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were a few things that bothered me.
There were moments when it was obvious that everyone at the castle knew something Ash didn't and since we were solely in Ash's pov that was slightly unnerving. I hated the weird, slightly incestuous twins, and thought their relationship with Giles was never fully explained. Ash's role with the Master was never really explained. Does the companion become immortal if he choses to stay with the Master?
But despite the unanswered questions I enjoyed the story (And yes I guessed what was going on long before Ash realised)
hartd's review
4.0
A slow, quiet, and lovely story. Ash is a very sweet character, innocent and eager, and he charmed me from the very beginning. The story focuses on his inner life and his deepening feelings for Giles. The setting and plot aren't all that important, so there isn't much world-building or anything like that. Giles trains Ash in magic, but it was only vaguely described. I have no idea what Ash can actually do, or what Giles does.
I also don't know what the miasma is or why it arose, or if the miasma will plague this world eternally. None of that matters, though, because the love story is an especially nice one, and it was the focus of the book, along with Ash finding a place in life. I got the idea this was a post-apocalyptic Earth, but I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There's a conflict between Ash and two of the other inhabitants of the house. Giles' reaction to that incident was really great, I thought. However, I was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop afterwards, but nothing else happened. I think there could've been something near the end to wrap up that plot point,
Overall this was a pleasant read, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I also don't know what the miasma is or why it arose, or if the miasma will plague this world eternally. None of that matters, though, because the love story is an especially nice one, and it was the focus of the book, along with Ash finding a place in life. I got the idea this was a post-apocalyptic Earth, but I don't know if that was intentional or not.
There's a conflict between Ash and two of the other inhabitants of the house. Giles' reaction to that incident was really great, I thought. However, I was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop afterwards, but nothing else happened. I think there could've been something near the end to wrap up that plot point,
Spoiler
aside from the twins looking in on Ash while he's convalescing. How do they feel about everything that happens?Overall this was a pleasant read, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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