Review of Apollo's Raven
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Christina Sheets
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- Latest Review: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
Review of Apollo's Raven
[Following is a volunteer review of "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.]
The book Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner was exactly what I hoped it would be from reading the book blurb. There was romance, Celtic and Roman historical settings, warriors, and a strong female protagonist. This story begins with Celtic Princess Catrin riding along the southeast coast of Britannia in 24 AD with her animal guide Raven. She sees ships in the distance that are not like her people’s ships. She soon discovers, using her animal guide’s vision, that they are Roman warships. The arrival of hundreds of Romans to Britannia’s shores ignites the plot that threads its way through intrigue, family betrayal, forbidden romance, and a curse. Catrin meets a Roman senator’s son named Marcellus when the Romans visit Catrin’s father King Amren. And from the first time they see each other some powerful force arouses an attraction between the two. Circumstances force them together and they must figure out how to be loyal to their own families and handle the desire growing between them. The princess also has to learn what her growing Druidess powers mean and how to use her Raven spirit to save the ones she loves.
Tanner beautifully blends the historical and the mythological throughout the book. I was drawn into the descriptions of the physical time and place because they were well researched and archaeologically factual. Yet there are fantastical elements to the story as well that draws the reader into the mythical and supernatural. The mixing of Roman and Celtic gods and goddesses was an appreciated nod to how this area of England might have religiously functioned during the time period between Julius Caesar's arrival and Claudius’s invasion in 43 AD.
One critique I would give concerns the flatness of the other characters. Catrin is the most developed character as the protagonist, and yet even Marcellus (the other character viewpoint) seems shallowly understood by the reader. His feelings and traits are described in a generic male romantic partner placeholder method, and I would have liked to understand him as a fleshed out counterpart to Catrin.
I am giving this book a 4 out of 4 stars because it was an intriguing, fun to read story that kept me wondering how the protagonist was going to save her kingdom and all the people she loves. This book was very well written and edited. I appreciated that even though there were romantic relationships creating plot points, they were not displayed as the only driving factor for the characters.
If a reader enjoys the setting and guessing where the plot is going next, then this book might be for them. I would definitely recommend it to people who like historical fiction and romance, especially Celtic or British Isles historical fiction. It could also be suggested for those who enjoy mythology and supernatural magic. Since this is the first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series, it would also be good for readers looking for a new series to get into.
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Apollo's Raven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
The book Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner was exactly what I hoped it would be from reading the book blurb. There was romance, Celtic and Roman historical settings, warriors, and a strong female protagonist. This story begins with Celtic Princess Catrin riding along the southeast coast of Britannia in 24 AD with her animal guide Raven. She sees ships in the distance that are not like her people’s ships. She soon discovers, using her animal guide’s vision, that they are Roman warships. The arrival of hundreds of Romans to Britannia’s shores ignites the plot that threads its way through intrigue, family betrayal, forbidden romance, and a curse. Catrin meets a Roman senator’s son named Marcellus when the Romans visit Catrin’s father King Amren. And from the first time they see each other some powerful force arouses an attraction between the two. Circumstances force them together and they must figure out how to be loyal to their own families and handle the desire growing between them. The princess also has to learn what her growing Druidess powers mean and how to use her Raven spirit to save the ones she loves.
Tanner beautifully blends the historical and the mythological throughout the book. I was drawn into the descriptions of the physical time and place because they were well researched and archaeologically factual. Yet there are fantastical elements to the story as well that draws the reader into the mythical and supernatural. The mixing of Roman and Celtic gods and goddesses was an appreciated nod to how this area of England might have religiously functioned during the time period between Julius Caesar's arrival and Claudius’s invasion in 43 AD.
One critique I would give concerns the flatness of the other characters. Catrin is the most developed character as the protagonist, and yet even Marcellus (the other character viewpoint) seems shallowly understood by the reader. His feelings and traits are described in a generic male romantic partner placeholder method, and I would have liked to understand him as a fleshed out counterpart to Catrin.
I am giving this book a 4 out of 4 stars because it was an intriguing, fun to read story that kept me wondering how the protagonist was going to save her kingdom and all the people she loves. This book was very well written and edited. I appreciated that even though there were romantic relationships creating plot points, they were not displayed as the only driving factor for the characters.
If a reader enjoys the setting and guessing where the plot is going next, then this book might be for them. I would definitely recommend it to people who like historical fiction and romance, especially Celtic or British Isles historical fiction. It could also be suggested for those who enjoy mythology and supernatural magic. Since this is the first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series, it would also be good for readers looking for a new series to get into.
******
Apollo's Raven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
