Book Review: An Enchantment of Ravens

The Book:

Title: An Enchantment of Ravens

Author: Margaret Rogerson

Published September 26th 2017 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance

Pages: 300

Every enchantment has a price.

With a flick of her paintbrush, Isobel creates stunning portraits for a dangerous set of clients: the fair folk. These immortal creatures cannot bake bread or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and they trade valuable enchantments for Isobel’s paintings. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—Isobel makes a deadly mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes, a weakness that could cost him his throne, and even his life.

Furious, Rook spirits Isobel away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime. But something is seriously amiss in his world, and they are attacked from every side. With Isobel and Rook depending upon each other for survival, their alliance blossoms into trust, perhaps even love . . . a forbidden emotion that would violate the fair folks’ ruthless laws, rendering both their lives forfeit. What force could Isobel’s paintings conjure that is powerful enough to defy the ancient malice of the fairy courts?

Isobel and Rook journey along a knife-edge in a lush world where beauty masks corruption and the cost of survival might be more frightening than death itself.” – Goodreads

My Review:

After reading Sorcery of Thorns, I decided to go on a little shopping spree and buy every single one of this author’s books.

This is one of those books.

I devoured this book within two days of buying it. It is short and adventurous, but not as great as the first book I read.

These two books are unrelated, but they are similar in many ways. They both take place in a new world. They both deal with magical beings that the main character thinks are evil. They both deal with a kidnapping.

An Enchantment of Ravens’ word-building was a little underdeveloped. I felt like sometimes I was questioning what was happening. A lot of things were said as dialogue or thoughts to give background, but did not explain why things why they were. Each new land the main character visited was a bit confusing. I did not understand where Whimsy, her homeland, existed near all the fairylands.

It was a bit confusing.

This book lacked some of the Sorcery of Thorns’ wittiness. It seemed like a cheap imitation of the writing. The characters fell in love too quickly and they didn’t have the same quips as the other couple.

Everything else was great though. We had an interesting couple of twists and turns. I think we met some interesting characters.

The main character was charming. The love interest was a nice guy, but not necessarily anyone who peaked my interest.

This book was good but did have some downfalls. I am not sure if I would have felt the same about reading this book before reading Rogerson’s other book. I wonder if my expectations were too high. I mean if you did read my other review, I clearly said that Sorcery of Thorns is my new favorite book ever.

Anyways, I suggest you check out Rogerson’s works. I think they are beautiful. I am glad they are standalones. I do not have many fantasy books that don’t have sequels.

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Star Rating: 3.8

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Read This Book: Sorcery of Thorns

The Book:

Title: Sorcery of Thorns

Author: Margaret Rogerson

Published June 4th 2019 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Pages: 456

“All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.” –Goodreads

My Review:

This is my new favorite book.

I kid you not. I am obsessed. I just finished listening to the audiobook and I was appalled.

back when I swore that Harry Potter and Throne of Glass were forever going to be my favorite books. Yeah, apparently I lied and have demoted both of them to my favorite series of books.

This standalone was seriously the best.

I am at a loss for words. I am writing this right after finishing because wow I need to process.

I seriously am at a loss for words. No book could compare to this.

How do I review a book this good?

I have never read a book with such vivid details and such a stunning plot. The characters were lovable and attractive. The entire time I was at a loss for words.

Elisabeth is a kind and cunning young lady who lives in a library, which has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. She goes on this crazy adventure all to protect the most sacred thing to her heart, books.

She is the best character I have ever read. She cares about each person she meets but never forgets where she came from. She loves to read and feels at home wherever books exist.

Nathaniel, her dashing sorcerer companion, is my new favorite book boyfriend. The romance is a slow burn that had me aching for them to realize what they meant to each other.

Silas is a strikingly beautiful demon with a heart for his companions. He is my favorite character, not just in this book but of all of them. He surprised me so many times and made me fall in love with him.

The plot was so amazing. I have not read a book similar to it before. It was so refreshing. A lot of the fantasy books I have been reading lately have felt like endless copies of the same book. This one was so different it shocked me.

The book had twists and turns. My mind was changed many times. I was sitting there piecing clues along with Elisabeth.

UGH I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH

I love this book so much. I don’t think I have ever given a book five stars on here, or if so I have not given very many. This book deserves more than five stars, but my rating system doesn’t allow for any more.

Seriously, check this book out!

As always, thanks for reading,

A Bookie

Star Rating: 5

Rating: 5 out of 5.