Review by houligan19 -- Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner

This forum is for volunteer reviews by members of our review team. These reviews are done voluntarily by the reviewers and are published in this forum, separate from the official professional reviews. These reviews are kept separate primarily because the same book may be reviewed by many different reviewers.
Post Reply
User avatar
houligan19
Posts: 80
Joined: 16 Jun 2020, 21:09
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 40
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-houligan19.html
Latest Review: The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye

Review by houligan19 -- Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner

Post by houligan19 »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.]
Book Cover
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


Pacts and deception. Romans and Celtics. Love and war. Omens and a curse. A curse that was inscribed onto a mystical dagger long ago threatens to destroy the kingdom of the Cantiaci Celtics. Can Princess Catrin learn the powers of the ancient Druids with her raven and save her people?

Catrin has a magical connection with a raven which her father, King Amren, believes is a dangerous curse. The princess disagrees that she is in danger but she is still learning to control the raven's magic. The omens that come to her are difficult for her to decipher but she does know that her kingdom is in danger and her banished half-brother, Morrak, is involved.

A negotiation meeting between King Amren and Senator Lucius Antonius of the Romans leads to a trade of hostages until an agreement can be reached. Amren and his oldest daughter, Vala, will go with the Romans while Catrin finds herself playing host to Lucius's son Marcellus. King Amren orders his daughter to woo the Roman for information and then leaves for negotiations.

While Catrin and Marcellus are falling into a forbidden love affair negotiations turn hostile and many lives are in danger. Lies and deception begin to surface and no one can trust anyone else, not even their own families. War threatens to destroy everyone Catrin loves but her power is growing stronger. Can Catrin keep her Roman lover alive without inciting a war that could destroy her people?

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Apollo's Raven:Book One in the Curse of the Clansmen and Kings series by Linnea Tanner is just what an historic fiction novel should be. Events brought from history joined with the author's own twist to create a setting for a story of her own creation. From the moment I began reading I was pulled into Catrin's tale of making her own path in life while dealing with the responsibilities and constrictions of being a Princess.

I have always enjoyed reading stories dealing with women as heroes and the trials they overcome. Catrin's tribe is accepting of women as equals and rulers and respect Queen Rhiannon, Catrin's mother. The Romans, however, do not take the same view and make that clear to the queen and princess. “Beside me is my beloved wife, Rhiannon. As queen, she stands my equal.” King Amren makes this clear while the Roman Senator makes a dismissive sneer. This never stops the queen from exerting her authority in her kingdom and doesn't prevent Catrin from being a great warrior.

The characters have well developed back stories that add to the web of deceptions throughout the tale. Old battles, curses, banishment and love affairs take you on twists and turns, keeping you guessing along the way. Everyone has a secret connection they are hiding, some more dangerous than others. “To stop the carnage, her father had to break his promise that she could choose her own husband. She was instead awarded as a prize...” You can begin to understand why characters act as they do and why the feel how they feel.

The one issue I had with the novel was Queen Rhiannon. Although she had a heartbreaking past that continued to torment her she loyally ruled beside her King. Once the King is in negotiations some of her reactions are more like tantrums than queen-like behavior. It is like she has something to prove and will take that out on anyone in her way, including her daughter Catrin. This outburst was short-lived and important to the story but it seemed to go overboard.

I would recommend this story to anyone who would like a historical fiction love story. This is not a book for young readers due to mild cursing, graphic violence and mild sex scenes.

******
Apollo's Raven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Post Reply

Return to “Volunteer Reviews”