BOOK REVIEW for "The Raven and the Dove" by Kaitlyn Davis

The Raven and the Dove
(The Raven and the Dove, #1)

by Kaitlyn Davis

SUMMARY:

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 waiting 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!

~ BOOK REVIEW for The Raven and the Dove ~

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

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!

(I received a free eBook copy of this title from NetGalley,

and have willingly provided an honest review.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publishers Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her -- about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general -- you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com.

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To learn more about her contemporary romance novels, 
visit her Goodreads author page for Kay Marie at: https://www.goodreads.com/Kay_Marie.