Review by CatlynnHighlights -- Apollo's Raven

[CatlynnHighlights]

[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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A princess.

A warrior.

A raven.

Catrin is a Celtic princess, the youngest of three. She is often overlooked by the rest of her family until her powers come to light. Catrin can see through the eyes of a raven, controlling it as the bird shares its sight and emotions with her.

Her mother believes that Catrin’s raven is an omen, and her father believes that it is part of a prophecy made by the traitorous ex-queen. Neither have time to argue as enemies from Rome arrive. The Romans have allied themselves with Marrock, the king’s son and Catrin’s evil half brother.

Catrin finds herself captivated by Marcellus, the senator’s son. In the midst of danger, can love between these two enemies blossom?

Written by Linnea Tanner, Apollo’s Raven is the first book in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Its 394 pages describe a tale of fantasy, romance, and war.

There were a lot of positive aspects to this book. Historical fiction is a difficult genre, and Tanner executed it very well. The book was well researched, with small details everywhere that added to the accuracy. It was educational and entertaining, a hard combination to accomplish. The main characters felt multi-faceted, so I was fully engaged in their story. The secondary characters weren’t unnecessary, as they are in so many books. Tanner balanced the action-packed elements of the plot well with the romantic elements, making an engaging read. I found myself unable to put the novel down, and I was genuinely disappointed when it ended. I’m yearning to buy the sequel and finish the series.

I personally found only one thing that I disliked in this book. The main relationship between Marcellus and Catrin feels a little off to me, as Marcellus is older and more experienced than the young girl. It almost feels as though he is taking advantage of her, which I find distasteful.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It’s rare for me to find so little in a book to criticize, so I have to commend this book for that. I found minimal errors, which shows that the book was professionally edited. I recommend it to almost all groups of people. There are a few types of readers that I would advise to steer clear. There are a few sexual scenes and violent depictions of war, so I would recommend that squeamish and/or younger readers refrain from reading this book.

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Apollo's Raven
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