ruth_miranda's review against another edition
3.0
I'm really bummed I wasn't the right reader for this book, I so wanted to have loved it! It's a Swan Lake re-tell, and I'm a former ballet student, so I dove at the chance of reading this, hoping to find the same eery, otherworldy magical ambiance of the ballet libretto here in this book. Alas, it was not to be. The only thing in common is that some girl has been hexed by an evil wizzard into bird form, only retrieving her human form at night. This book has a steampunk vibe to it, and honestly, I0m not a huge fan of steampunk novels, so it didn't help my liking either. The plot was also very predictable, and I was unsurprised by the plot twists, as I had seen them coming from afar, but maybe that's just me - maybe I would have written them the exact same way and this is why I was not taken by surprise! But I can see that fans of this subgenre will absolutely love reading this book, I am just not one of them. The writing style is not for me, sadly, and the voice didn't resonate with me, nor did the characters or the story. Still, it is a well written piece, that will deliver to the right reader.
beverleyleeauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I've already read Dana Fraedrich's Out of the Shadows and Into the Fire (the first two books in the Broken Gears series) so I was eager to dive into this prequel exploring the same universe. I absolutely love the author's world building, so to discover how it all began was a very nerdy book high!
Even though this is a prequel I think it can be read at any time, because you've already been drip fed little snippets in the first two books.
Raven's Cry is a fresh and unique retelling of Swan Lake with many twists and turns, and I really had no idea where it was heading, which always pleases me. Calandra is a strong protagonist who experiences some pretty traumatic events (no spoilers!) I particularly enjoyed her relationships with Jones and her two young charges later in the book.
The first part of the story was a little slow for me, but it's all worth it as it suddenly punches into gear, and Calandra's future unfolds.
The author delivers a compelling narrative in a stand out steampunk world. Add this to your reading list now (and the first two books!)
Even though this is a prequel I think it can be read at any time, because you've already been drip fed little snippets in the first two books.
Raven's Cry is a fresh and unique retelling of Swan Lake with many twists and turns, and I really had no idea where it was heading, which always pleases me. Calandra is a strong protagonist who experiences some pretty traumatic events (no spoilers!) I particularly enjoyed her relationships with Jones and her two young charges later in the book.
The first part of the story was a little slow for me, but it's all worth it as it suddenly punches into gear, and Calandra's future unfolds.
The author delivers a compelling narrative in a stand out steampunk world. Add this to your reading list now (and the first two books!)
niseag's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
2 AM
the fact I am still awake to write a review of Raven's Cry by Dana Fraedich speaks of this books quality.
It started off as what seemed to become a fantasy novel, which surprised me as it was marketed as steampunk. But hey, I like fantasy too, so I stuck with it.
I am not sure how much I can tell without it being spoilers. According to the text in the book description it's a retelling of Swan Lake, But I am not familiar with the story of that ballet.
As said, the book starts as a fantasy novel but starts to drastically change tone halfway through. It quickly gets gaslamp fantasy vibes and eventually starts falling into the category of steampunk even if magic remains prevalent. This book is grafic and unapologetic. The main character gets tortured in every possible way and as the reader you are their for every bit of it. The tone and perspective chosen for this book make it feel oddly intimate and this book has torn my heart out.
I have downloaded the next part immediately. Though Raven's Cry works well as a standalone book as well.
the fact I am still awake to write a review of Raven's Cry by Dana Fraedich speaks of this books quality.
It started off as what seemed to become a fantasy novel, which surprised me as it was marketed as steampunk. But hey, I like fantasy too, so I stuck with it.
I am not sure how much I can tell without it being spoilers. According to the text in the book description it's a retelling of Swan Lake, But I am not familiar with the story of that ballet.
As said, the book starts as a fantasy novel but starts to drastically change tone halfway through. It quickly gets gaslamp fantasy vibes and eventually starts falling into the category of steampunk even if magic remains prevalent. This book is grafic and unapologetic. The main character gets tortured in every possible way and as the reader you are their for every bit of it. The tone and perspective chosen for this book make it feel oddly intimate and this book has torn my heart out.
I have downloaded the next part immediately. Though Raven's Cry works well as a standalone book as well.
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