Review by [MagicDragonInc] -- Apollo's Raven

[[MagicDragonInc]]

[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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Catrin is a young woman, right on the edge of adolescence. Even at an early age she must learn about loyalty, love and sacrifice. Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner is the first book in a series called Curse of the Clansmen and Kings. Set in 24 AD, Celtic Britannia, Catrin is the youngest daughter of King Amren and Queen Rhiannon. Their family works hard to keep the peace between themselves and surrounding tribes. Conflict arises when a Roman Senator, Lucius Antonius, and his son, Marcellus, visit Catrin’s castle to confront King Amren about seedy negotiations that occurred behind Amren’s back. The king has a son who was banished from the kingdom seven years ago for unknown reasons. Lucius stirs the pot by notifying Amren that his son, Marrock, is making promises to overthrow his father with the support of Rome and a rival tribe. The situation becomes increasingly complicated when Catrin discovers she has god-like magical powers. A forbidden love story also develops between Catrin and Marcellus. Events unfold as she learns dark secrets about her family and Marcellus that could change her life forever. Will we find out what happens between the Romans and King Amren? Will Catrin be able to protect everyone she loves at the time when they need her the most?

Tanner writes this fantasy novel from multiple points of view in order to set up dramatic irony: where the audience knows more information than the characters. In a complex story with multiple characters, this technique keeps the reader hooked and interested in various plot twists and explanations of mystical events. This book is also filled to the brim with magical events, fantasy elements, spiritual connections and unexpected mysteries. Catrin learns she has powers of a Druidess and she ultimately takes on responsibilities that others cannot. Secondary characters must place their trust in her to make the right decisions, which is especially difficult when these characters do not fully understand magic and the will of the gods.

Another interesting piece that is beautifully illustrated in this book is the internal strength that Catrin has. She was betrayed many times by people she trusted; she developed new and frightening powers that she did not understand, let alone know how to use them. She was tortured, abandoned and cheated. There were many times she doubted herself, but she pursued impressively. With some help from her Druidic powers, she never gave up despite all odds. This was refreshing and powerful to read, especially from Catrin’s perspective. In comparison, secondary characters often seemed hesitant, selfish and immature, even if they meant well.

A warning for sensitive readers: there is minimal use of curse words throughout the book. There are some erotic scenes, although they happen quickly and are not central to the plot. There are some events that can be considered gruesome and difficult to read. If you are sensitive to any of these things it would be wise to read some reviews and stop there. However, if your stomach is a little stronger this might be a great book to help pass the time. There are two more books in the series so the story doesn’t end here!

One note I must also remark on is the fantastic vocabulary that Tanner has in her arsenal. Fantasy books tend to require a lot of explanations because the reader must be able to picture the environment, magical events that take place, different smells, sounds and especially feelings. Fantasy books are only as good as their descriptions, and the language and research Tanner has done really made this story what it is today. With all of this taken into consideration, I can’t give anything less than a 4 out of 4.

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Apollo's Raven
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[Moray_001]

Sounds like an amazing story. Thanks for your review.