Review by Gabby S14 -- Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner

[Gabby S14]

[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 courageous warrior princess whose kingdom dwells on the coast of Britannia. Born with a raven spirit, she can harness the forbidden power of the ancient Druids, but a dark secret from her past restrains her true power. A curse of vengeance foretells the destruction of Catrin’s family at the hands of her half-brother Marrock, a fearsome sorcerer with a wolf spirit. When Marrock returns from his exile allied with an opposing tribal king and a Roman army, Catrin’s kingdom is pushed to the brink of war.

Hoping to avoid conflict, a hostage trade is arranged to secure a peaceful negotiation between the two Celtic tribes and Rome. Marcellus Antonius, great-grandson to Marcus Antonius, volunteers himself as a hostage to strike a bargain. Seeking an advantage, Senator Lucius Antonius tasks his son to spy on the Celtic kingdom from the inside. Marcellus must extract critical information from the young princess by any means necessary. Catrin is secretly tasked to do the same while Marcellus is left in her charge. Each on a mission, both Catrin and Marcellus slip past each other’s defenses and fall into something deeper. Spellbound, Catrin and Marcellus begin to doubt their parents' plans for their fates as they long to determine their own futures. Is it wise to trust an enemy? Can either of them be certain that their relationship is real, or is it all an elaborate political ruse?

Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner is the first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Within the rambunctious romance, Tanner explores the depths of love, destiny, and spirituality. Admittedly, I did not expect much from this book, thinking the magic would burden the believability of a historical fiction piece. Amazingly, Tanner wove a magical romance into a story that is grounded in reality by its political turmoil—both on a national scale and on a domestic level. For example, I admire the author’s presentation of friction in Catrin’s relationship with her mother. The Queen tried to fulfill her duties as a mother and as a ruler to the best of her abilities, and the reader got to see how much of a toll it took on her to make hard decisions that impacted her daughter and her kingdom.

There were many aspects of this book that I liked. Above all, I was really impressed by how this book explored personal trauma. Each and every character was given clear objectives and driving motivations—their end goals either served the greater good or satisfied selfish ambitions. Personal histories of forced marriage, exile, and/or sexual abuse weighed on the emotions and logic of their present actions. Interconnected backstories also served to create tension and keep me invested. I was so surprised with how certain revelations of character led me to sympathize with even the most villainous individuals.

I don’t have much to say about disliking the book. The only thing that upset me initially was the thought that the book ended too soon with too many loose ends. However, I remembered that this is the introductory book to Tanner’s Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. I immediately knew this would be my next literary rollercoaster as I plan to read the next books.

I absolutely adored this book! I highly recommended reading it, and I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. There are tough subjects tackled in this book such as gaslighting, sexual trauma, gore, and rape. Due to swearing and sexual content, I recommend this book to mature audience members only. However, with the wonder of mystical elements tied to the backdrop of a historical era, Apollo’s Raven will excite the imagination of anyone interested in early European history, magic, and adventures of the heart.

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Apollo's Raven
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[Josephe-Anne]

I recognize the Celtic mythology in this historical fiction book, and I find it fascinating.

Thank you for a well-written review.

[Gabby S14]

I recognize the Celtic mythology in this historical fiction book, and I find it fascinating.

Thank you for a well-written review.

It's a wonderful read. Definitely takes you away from your worries for a bit (while replacing them with worries for the characters ). And thanks for the compliment!