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[Following is a volunteer review of "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.]

Marriage was not about love; it was about assuring the family line.

To what extent do you agree with this statement? If you ask me, my answer will be I don't know until I'm placed in that situation.

Apollo's Raven is the first book in the Apollo's Raven series. It is based on a blend of history and mythology of Southeast Celtic tribes in Britain before the invasion of the Roman Emperor Claudius in 43 AD. Kudos to the author for masterfully weaves a fictional tale out of her historical research on Ancient Rome and Brittania. The descriptive language used by the author is the cherry on the cake.

This book is written from the multiple points of the characters' view which enables me to know their reasoning behind a character's decision hence improves my enjoyment in reading this book.

I enjoyed reading Catrin's and Marcellus' point of views. To each of them are ordered by their own father to seduce another to obtain information. Regardless of their doubts raised by their fathers, their bonding gradually caused the unstoppable connection toward each other which eventually blooming into forbidden love.

Do Catrin and Marcellus are selfish enough to forsake their family and people just to run to each other's arms? or do they be an obedient child to do what is expected out of them by their parents for assuring the family line and for political alliance? You will find out more by reading this book.

The best thing I have learned from reading this book is people are not usually on what they claimed to be. A person may appear to be helping you out of your misery and give 'sound advice' to you which in the end will be proven to be the greatest affliction in your utmost time of need; helping you is meant to slowly break you down and advising you is meant to your greatest adversary. This is a good point to be emphasised in order for us to be aware of the wolf in a sheep's clothing.

Throughout my reading of this book, I find the errors in punctuation, grammar, and the format of this book is nonexistent. So, I figured this book to be professionally edited.

I am rating this book 4 out of 4 stars for the descriptive language used, written from multiple points of view, for the unpredictability, and for the professional editing of this book. Aside from what I loved about this book, I also feel obligated to point out my dislike of this book which is regarding the child raping and children sacrifice. However, I felt relief that the author kept this at minimal which is why I don't remove 1 star from my rating. Plus, what I like about this book is greater than my dislike.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading historical fiction when Roman was the dominant empire, fantasy, enjoy reading about forbidden love, and to those who are into mythology. Be aware that if you can't stomach reading about children abuse though at minimal, then this book is not for you.

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Apollo's Raven
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Your review contains a few grammatical errors. However, your review is able to put its point across that this is a historical fiction about the Southeast Celtic tribes in Britain. I am unfamiliar with their significance in history. I would have liked to read about Catrin's and Marcellus' forbidden love but I will be uncomfortable with the historical setting. SO, I will give it a pass. Thanks for the review!

Debjani Ghosh wrote: ↑24 Sep 2018, 22:58 Your review contains a few grammatical errors. However, your review is able to put its point across that this is a historical fiction about the Southeast Celtic tribes in Britain. I am unfamiliar with their significance in history. I would have liked to read about Catrin's and Marcellus' forbidden love but I will be uncomfortable with the historical setting. SO, I will give it a pass. Thanks for the review!

Thanks for commenting!

Great review. It’s not a genre that I usually read, but it sounds well written and complex.

Helen_Combe wrote: ↑25 Sep 2018, 03:36 Great review. It’s not a genre that I usually read, but it sounds well written and complex.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

I have heard a lot about this read. It's really great to see a fellow reviewer appreciate this read. Thank you for your review!

Sahani Nimandra wrote: ↑25 Sep 2018, 04:03 I have heard a lot about this read. It's really great to see a fellow reviewer appreciate this read. Thank you for your review!

Thanks for reading and commenting, Sahani

Quite notable is your helpful warning about some parts of the review. Thank you for your concise review.

I like your opening. It engaged me - though the book does not appeal to me. Thanks for the thought-provoking review.

Oooooh, this is an engaging review! I didn’t realize that this was

It is based on a blend of history and mythology of Southeast Celtic tribes in Britain before the invasion of the Roman Emperor Claudius in 43 AD

. That and the way you’ve described the dynamics between characters and the questions/choices they face make it much more interesting to me. Thanks for the review!

For some people, marriage is heaven but it's also hell for some people. Whatever it is, it worths a try.

I never thought I could be interested in this time period until I read this book and now I'm totally hooked with the series. I agree with you that the multiple points of view enrich the story very much and the twists are amazing.
Thank you for your thorough and honest review.

I agree with you that the author did a great job of writing a descriptive tale of Catrin and Marcellus after researching ancient Rome and Brittania. It seemed very authentic and possible. The multiple viewpoints helped to see things from different perspectives. I also disliked the parts that you mentioned. There were some evil-acting people in the story.

I have seen a couple of other reviews on this same book and I like that this review seems to try to cut to the core of the story. Though there are a few grammatical errors, I was able to get the drift of the review. The historical aspect (the author must have done a fair amount) of this book seems compelling. I was somewhat undecided after the other reviews I had seen as they all harped on the fantasy and magic aspect, but this review reveals the informational aspect of this book.
Thanks for the review and I hope I find this read worthwhile went I go for it.

This is a lovely review of what sounds like an excellent book! I do enjoy books about Ancient Rome so I may have to check this one out based on your review. However, I sometimes have problems reading about child abuse, so I would have to read this when I am feeling confident to make it through that part