Official Review: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner

[Queening]

This book is very educative and has so much history in it

[Primroseaddict]

Appollo’S Raven by Linnea Tanner
This looks exciting. Can hardly wait to read it! Primroseadict

[Farmgurl1]

I have always loved mythology so this sounds like a solid book. Based on the review and the sample, it seems like a complex story with well-developed characters. I really like the piece with the raven. I will have to add this one to my to read shelf. Thanks.

[Britty01]

Thanks for the excellent review on this book. An historic tale of Celts and Romans certainly piques my interest. I am looking forward to finding out what happens with Princess Catrin and Marcellus. It will be interesting to read about the life of the Celtic people before the Roman invasion. I have not read an entire book that involves a person with the ability to 'shape-shift' so this will be a new experience.

[ObsessedBookNerd]

I’m currently reading the book & I like how the book is a historical fantasy novel. I’m having a hard time getting through the book though & it seems like it’s not for me. Catrin & Marcellus have a Romeo & Juliet romance going on which is what keeps me reading the book to see what happens with their relationship.

[MsTri]

Thanks for the thorough review, but as much as I like the idea of all the strong female characters, I'm just not into historical fantasy, especially with forbidden love involved.

[khandzz09]

The myths and legends concepts of the book make it more interesting to read and I like the historical fantasy genre because it contains character's different adventures. Thanks for this review.

[edith38]

Thank you for the review. The sample and cover communicate the epic, historic, pretty people, tough choices, star-crossed lovers. Your review adds a feeling that the story has managed to go beyond yet-an-other soap-opera in a historic setting. It makes me hopeful of the Apollo's Raven being well researched for the actual customs, traditions, and beliefs of the times. Always a promising sign.

[chelhack]

Judging from the review Septembers book of the months sounds like it will be an interesting novel to read. With mythological creatures, forbidden love affairs and shapeshifting I'm already sold. Though, I hope that it is written a well as it sounds.

[kcalc72510]

Ok I will definitely be adding this to my must read list. First, love that it sounds like female characters are strong and central to the story. I love books with strong female characters that don’t “need a man” to fulfill their lives. And while it sounds like she does fall in love, it also sounds like she chooses who to fall in love with and then has to decide what she wants to do with her life. It isn’t decided for her. Also super excited to read something set so far in the past. Most historical fiction is set in the fairly recent past, within a few hundred years. But to go back so far and explore that culture sounds fascinating!

[Catbilou]

It did not appeal to me but after reading that
Little part of the book it kind of intreaged
Me to want to read more.

[FictionLover]

Multiple narrative threads are used to shed new light on the beautifully woven story. Women characters have a strong presence in the novel. Queen Rhiannon, Amren’s wife, has the same rights as her husband and enjoys the same respect from the common people. In a conversation with Catrin, the queen patiently compares the Roman and Celtic attitude toward women. For the Romans, the paterfamilias has complete control over his family. In her father’s kingdom, Catrin can own property and be a ruler, a warrior, a Druidess or a mother. As the author herself confesses, Catrin might be shaped after the model of the famous warrior queen Boudica who united the Britons in 61 BC and almost expelled the Romans. In the text, she has a complex personality; she is a soul traveler being able to connect with Marcellus on a spiritual level. She reminds him of the alluring Sirens who almost entrapped the Greek hero Odysseus. The star-crossed lovers reiterate the tragic destinies of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Tristan and Isolde or Romeo and Juliet.

Last but not least, this epic tale of forbidden love and mystical adventure is skillfully strewn with both Roman and Celtic myths and legends. The Romans worship Apollo, the almighty god of the sun and divination, while the Celts try to appease their own sun god, Bel, and his consort, Belissama, goddess of fire and light. They all believe in omens, premonitory dreams and the power of magic. The story on the whole portrays a vivid and realistic image of the people’s beliefs as well as ordinary activities.

Wow! This must be one long narrative to warrant such an extensive review. Thanks for your hard work writing this up.

I love the idea of strong women with equal rights in a fantasy. So many times women in fantasy are arm candy or used as pawns while being beaten or raped by the bad guys. I also like the connection with mythology.

However am not a big fan of this kind of medieval fantasy and don't really like romance, so I will be skipping this one, but from reading the sample, it does seem well written!

[Gmdiamzon 2]

Historical fiction with adventure and romance this can be an award winning book and can become a movie someday. They have very strong characters which makes the story makes it even more interesting.

[Helen_Combe]

I’m not a fan if historical function of romance, but this sounds like a complex, well-written book with multiple threads and a complex plot.

[Sirajuddin A]

Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner is a historical fantasy and the plot of this novel based on ancient history and mythology. The novel tells the love story of Princess Catrin of the Celtic Kingdom and Marcellus a Roman and son of Lucius Antonius a Roman senator. Catrin is a powerful woman who can predict the future and empowered by nature's forces to destroy her enemies.

Mythological figures and mystical powers have a lot of space in this novel. The interesting part is the passionate love affair between Marcellus and Catrin, and in a time they have to choose between their love and loyalty to their people.