I will start from the bottom line: I loved the book very much! This was among the best fantasy books I've read in recent times, and I’ve read quite a few lately. King of Ravens by Clare Sager is the first book in a romantasy duology and a loose retelling of Hades and Persephone, inspired by Welsh mythology. I haven’t read any of the author’s previous books—a thing I now have to remedy. I fell in love with the writing as well as the weaving of the intricate plot.
Told in the first-person POV, the book follows Rhiannon, a 33-year-old heroine suffering from an incurable and unknown chronic illness. She is isolated in her family’s remote seaside cottage due to her condition, trying to find a cure without any luck. When Drystan, the Fae King of the Dead, appears one day in their home, demanding her parents honor the bargain they made with his mother Morrigan, the Goddess of War, Fate, and Death—her father’s life in return for their firstborn daughter—Rhiannon is left with no choice but to go with him to the underworld and become his bride.
Rhiannon finds herself locked in the strange world of the Fae with its unfamiliar rules, dangerous environment, and political intrigue. After her attempts to return home fail, Drystan offers her a bargain: escape his deadly labyrinth, and she can go home; fail, and she becomes his bride. Rhiannon agrees and must choose between returning to her family or staying in a world where she’s made new friends, might finally belong, and may even find love to boot.
What follows is an exciting tale of spicy enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, royal court intrigue, dangerous trials, and ancient magic. I loved the book and flew through its pages. The story is driven by both the poetic language and the action-based conflict, but it works so well because of the characters (they are all so exquisitely crafted) and the very tight plot.
I thought the descriptions of chronic illness were accurately done. Rhiannon is a heroine one can’t help but root for. I admired her inner strength, her intelligence and determination, her kindness, her selfishness, her coping with pain, and her optimism—keeping a smile despite everything. I loved that she didn’t give up, whether in trying to find a cure for her illness or escaping Mordren (the underworld).
Drystan is full of contrasts. He is what you’d call a morally gray character—cruel on one hand, kind on the other, and constantly sending mixed signals. The coming marriage was enforced on both of them, so they only had the hand they were given to play. I have to say that I wasn’t too fond of Rhiannon’s parents. They took care of her, but they were overprotective and acted from their own selfish motives.
The book explores themes of chronic illness, valor, courage, friendship, moral dilemmas, loneliness, the need for belonging, found family, gaslighting, and familial abuse. I loved the dynamics between the characters, and the combination of the trials with the everyday life of the royal court, along with the tidbits about the Fae. For instance, they can’t lie and are night creatures. I also loved the author’s version of the Hades and Persephone tale. There are ravens, a ghost cat, new friendships—what’s not to love? The book stands on its own. Even if you aren’t familiar with Fae myths, you won’t have any problems following it.
The book’s strengths lie in its magnificent prose, rich world-building, diverse cast, and convoluted plot. The dark, gritty atmosphere and the surrounding lore were fascinating. The only issue I had was the ending. The book ends in a cliffhanger, and I must have the sequel now! If you are looking for a great fantasy that will have you scrambling for more, this book fits the bill perfectly. The characters are impressive (I loved them), the plot is exciting, and the writing is superb. Full stars from me!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "King of Ravens" by Clare Sager
