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

[VitsyST]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner is historical fiction. It is set in Romano-Briton times, and is full of intrigue, greed, forbidden love and betrayal. There is also some Celtic mythology and magic.

Catrin, the youngest daughter of the king, has magical abilities. She is able to see the future, past and present through her raven’s eyes. Her father has forbidden his family to use any magic, due to a curse placed on him and his children, so she does so in secret. One day, she discovers Roman ships and decides to take her magic a step further with her raven. With the help of her abilities, she sees that her banished brother, Marrock, is with the Romans.

It quickly becomes apparent that the Romans are there to discuss who they believe should be the heir to the throne: Marrock. After some angry words and violence, Vala, the eldest daughter of the king, leaves with the Romans as their hostage while Marcellus, a Roman senator’s son, becomes a hostage of Britannia. Despite and due to the connection Marcellus and Catrin feel for one another, they are commanded to become spies and report back everything they learn from each other. They both attempt to do as they were told, but find themselves struggling as their forbidden feelings for each other grow. (There are some erotic moments, though nothing too explicit.)

What I loved most about this book was the forbidden relationship between Catrin and Marcellus. Their relationship didn’t feel rushed, was well written and it endured the strain put on it by their families and friends that didn’t approve of them as a couple. I also really loved the type of magical abilities Catrin possessed; they were just so interesting to read about. How amazing would it be to see through your spirit animal’s eyes?

The only thing I didn’t like was some of the borderline profanity. It seemed quite a bit more like todays cursing when the story is supposed to be taking place during 24 AD. It made the story feel a little less authentic, though not by too much.

I rated Apollo’s Raven 4 out of 4 stars because of how well written and addictive the plot and characters were. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and historical fiction. This is a must read and I can not wait to read the next book in the Curse of the Clansmen and Kings Series!

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Apollo's Raven
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