Review by Jessica Ernst -- Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
-
Jessica Ernst
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 26 Jun 2020, 00:37
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 4
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jessica-ernst.html
- Latest Review: The Trafficking Murders by Brian O'Hare
Review by Jessica Ernst -- Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
[Following is a volunteer review of "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.]
Being a warrior princess is hard. Being a warrior princess and learning how to control Druidess powers during a time of war is even harder. Add forbidden love to the mix and the impossible-to-fathom somehow becomes Catrin. At a time when her people, the Cantiaci, are attempting negotiations with Rome to prevent a hostile takeover, Catrin is also learning how to become a woman and how to control powers she does not yet understand. When a young Roman prisoner, Marcellus, catches her eye, she is led down ever-more-confusing paths of love and betrayal. Who is her ally? Who is her enemy? Can she trust anyone? In Apollo’s Raven, Linnea Tanner shares a powerful coming-of-age story interwoven with mystical powers and nuggets of historical truth.
I would rate this novel a 4 out of 4 stars. The characters and story line were well-developed. There was very little evidence of editorial mistakes. There was a clear indication of a sequel, but this novel could also stand on its own. The first few chapters were appropriately confusing and fascinating, drawing me in for more information to answer the questions I had from the beginning.
I really enjoyed the character development. I thought Catrin was very relatable, though I am not a princess, a warrior nor a Druidess. I thought she was very clearly strong but young and a little naive. The way she thinks about things was very genuine. I was engaged with her right from the beginning. I also enjoyed Marcellus. I believe his character was confusing enough to wonder where his true loyalties lay and straightforward enough to know he was going to be a loyal and true man to whomever he chose. The politics of the book was fascinating. The betrayal on both sides, by men who appeared to be so good and honest, was infuriating but also rang true to real life.
The most fascinating thing about this novel is the mixture of mystical and historical. I have never read something this unique, and I loved it. The fact that it is written from the tribal perspective, a view not historically well-known, makes it captivating. Reading this novel made me want to know so much more about the interactions between Germanic tribes and Rome. In contrast, the mystical aspect seemed so fantastical that it could not possibly be real life. However, it would have been real to the Cantiaci, who believed these practices to be true. To find a novel that can use both elements so well is completely new to me, and something I look forward to seeing more of in the future.
The only thing I disliked about this book was the character of Agrona. After Catrin leaves her, she seems to disappear from everyone’s radar. I am assuming she will make another appearance in the sequels, but I felt the interaction with her was left unfinished for this particular book.
I believe this novel could be enjoyed by a large variety of readers. The coming-of-age feel would appeal to any young adult audience. There is some steamy romance, but nothing vulgar or explicit. There are very few swear words and the vocabulary is challenging but easy to follow. There are a few words that are not commonly used in young adult books, which could make this book difficult for young readers. I would not recommend this book to a pre-teenager, but for an older teenager or college-age young adult, this would be a fascinating and fun read.
This novel was one of the best books I have read this year. It captured my interest in the very beginning. It was completely unique in its mixture of fantasy and history. I will definitely be following Catrin and Marcellus on the remainder of their adventure!
******
Apollo's Raven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Being a warrior princess is hard. Being a warrior princess and learning how to control Druidess powers during a time of war is even harder. Add forbidden love to the mix and the impossible-to-fathom somehow becomes Catrin. At a time when her people, the Cantiaci, are attempting negotiations with Rome to prevent a hostile takeover, Catrin is also learning how to become a woman and how to control powers she does not yet understand. When a young Roman prisoner, Marcellus, catches her eye, she is led down ever-more-confusing paths of love and betrayal. Who is her ally? Who is her enemy? Can she trust anyone? In Apollo’s Raven, Linnea Tanner shares a powerful coming-of-age story interwoven with mystical powers and nuggets of historical truth.
I would rate this novel a 4 out of 4 stars. The characters and story line were well-developed. There was very little evidence of editorial mistakes. There was a clear indication of a sequel, but this novel could also stand on its own. The first few chapters were appropriately confusing and fascinating, drawing me in for more information to answer the questions I had from the beginning.
I really enjoyed the character development. I thought Catrin was very relatable, though I am not a princess, a warrior nor a Druidess. I thought she was very clearly strong but young and a little naive. The way she thinks about things was very genuine. I was engaged with her right from the beginning. I also enjoyed Marcellus. I believe his character was confusing enough to wonder where his true loyalties lay and straightforward enough to know he was going to be a loyal and true man to whomever he chose. The politics of the book was fascinating. The betrayal on both sides, by men who appeared to be so good and honest, was infuriating but also rang true to real life.
The most fascinating thing about this novel is the mixture of mystical and historical. I have never read something this unique, and I loved it. The fact that it is written from the tribal perspective, a view not historically well-known, makes it captivating. Reading this novel made me want to know so much more about the interactions between Germanic tribes and Rome. In contrast, the mystical aspect seemed so fantastical that it could not possibly be real life. However, it would have been real to the Cantiaci, who believed these practices to be true. To find a novel that can use both elements so well is completely new to me, and something I look forward to seeing more of in the future.
The only thing I disliked about this book was the character of Agrona. After Catrin leaves her, she seems to disappear from everyone’s radar. I am assuming she will make another appearance in the sequels, but I felt the interaction with her was left unfinished for this particular book.
I believe this novel could be enjoyed by a large variety of readers. The coming-of-age feel would appeal to any young adult audience. There is some steamy romance, but nothing vulgar or explicit. There are very few swear words and the vocabulary is challenging but easy to follow. There are a few words that are not commonly used in young adult books, which could make this book difficult for young readers. I would not recommend this book to a pre-teenager, but for an older teenager or college-age young adult, this would be a fascinating and fun read.
This novel was one of the best books I have read this year. It captured my interest in the very beginning. It was completely unique in its mixture of fantasy and history. I will definitely be following Catrin and Marcellus on the remainder of their adventure!
******
Apollo's Raven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Trafficking Murders by Brian O'Hare
