Review of ‘The Raven and the Dove’ (The Raven and the Dove #1)
The Raven and the Dove is a unique retelling filled with compelling characters and a well-written story.
Synopsis
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 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!
Review
Published by Kaitlyn Davis Mosca, The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis is the first in her YA fantasy series that retells the tale of Tristan and Isolde.
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. (★★★★☆)
BUY ON BOOKSHOP
Like this review?
Don’t forget to follow Cyn’s Workshop on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads | LinkedIn to stay tuned for future reviews.
About the Author
Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Cyn's Workshop and writers in Geeks and other communities.
Review of ‘Red Hood’
Synopsis A dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power--and one girl's journey to regain it. Five starred reviews greeted this powerful story from Elana K. Arnold, author of the Printz Honor winner Damsel. You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked. And the wolf is angry. Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She's kept mostly to herself. She's been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou's past, and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods--frightened, but not alone.
By Cyn's Workshop4 years ago in Geeks
5 Feelgood Stories Of Kids In The Entertainment Industry
Viewers everywhere are still reeling from the horrifying revelations in the recent documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids' TV. The depth of Producer Dan Schneider's inappropriate behaviour around the sets of his Nickelodeon TV shows is apalling, even more so the series of missed warnings and adult failures that led to then-child star Drake Bell's sexual abuse at the hands of his acting coach, Brian Peck.
By Kristy Anderson20 days ago in Geeks
Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout Review
Guys, usually movies are released either on Friday or Thursday, but this time ZEE5 did the trick and released their new movie Silence 2 on Tuesday itself. But the point is, should you people give your time to it or not? Stay connected to know.
By Ayush Vermaabout 17 hours ago in Geeks
Disarmament
They say there's no atheism in the foxhole. While I wasn't currently neck-deep in a river of soft sediment, I was still praying to whoever would listen. Why am I doing this again? I would ponder while staring at the device that in no less than a minute could be my undoing. I scanned each and every variable panel and commonplace button as I watched the bright red L.E.D ticker countdown. No wires to cut, no code to put in, there was only one way to stop this infernal machine, and that incurred perfect timing.
By James U. Rizzi2 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.