Raven Marked

Raven Marked #1

by Morgan Quaid, Josh Gersh

For Raven, thieving comes easy.

Get in quick and quiet, grab the loot, and get out before they know you were there.

Simple, right?

Super simple, until the night Raven and her half-fae offsider Mia hit the wrong house, interrupted a demonic summoning ritual, and ended up strapped to an altar ready to be sacrificed to a demon god.

Now, life has become a tad more complicated.

Marked by an infernal deity, hunted by a crazed religious order, not to mention the cops, the bureau, and half the gangs in the lower city…

Raven Marked is an urban fantasy adventure series which forms part of the larger Seven Hungers universe. Set in a twin city divided between perpetual daybreak and twilight, the series follows the exploits of an expert thief named Raven and her thrilling journey of discovery as she navigates local disasters and world-ending threats all while slowly uncovering the truth of her identity and how she came to be orphaned in the harsh streets of Dusk.

Genres: Fantasy

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2024

About the author

Morgan Quaid is an Australian writer of urban fantasy and horror, specializing in fast-paced page turners set against expansive fantasy backdrops. When Morgan isn’t writing novels, comics, graphic novels, or short stories, he’s usually composing or producing music, or staring with longing and regret at a bar of chocolate.

Published works include: Whiplash Book 1 (Markosia), The Script Rebellion (Markosia), Shadow’s Daughter (Markosia), Idle Thuggery (Markosia).
Upcoming works include: Rust Chronicles (Markosia 2022), The Blood Below (Markosia 2022), A Blade in the Dark (Black Caravan/Scout 2022).

Reviews

[Susete Kunkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this confused, I had a quick revelation in between and finished it once again confused. Not for me.

[Isirla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Morgan Quaid's 'Raven Marked', the first book in the 'Beyond Seven Hungers' series, certainly left its mark on me. From the get-go, the lively banter between Raven and Mia captivated me and the opening scene instantly hooked me, setting a high bar for the rest of the story. The storyline was engaging and the pacing was just right, fast enough to keep me turning pages but not too fast as to rush the plot. A standout feature was the world-building, which was intriguing and well-crafted. I found myself immersed in the world that Quaid has created and it left me eager to explore more in the upcoming books of the series. In all, 'Raven Marked' was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a thief, breaking in and interrupting a demonic summoning ritual is not the best way to start the night. But it is a great way to start a book! The story of Raven and her life had action enough to keep me turning the pages, but it also had well done character development and the world building left me wanting more from this series. As book one in the new Beyond Seven Hungers series from Morgan Quaid and Josh Gersh, this starts us off on a great adventure I can't wait to continue.
I received this book free as an eARC, but will definitely be buying the next book!

[MaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, the writers did not disappoint! From well developing characterization and fantastic world building to vivid description and wonderfully choreographed plot this start to the "Beyond Seven Hungers" series had me engrossed from the first scene. (Misspellings and grammatical errors were minimal and easily dismissed).

I thoroughly enjoyed the "Seven Hungers" and have started other offshoots of this mystical landscape (or should I say ether) which have enthralled my senses.

Our heroine, Raven, is and orphan who made her way thieving on the streets using her usual magical gift. Caleb, head of the Underwood King gang ultimately saved her, became like a father figure… but not….and she became thief for his gang. And thus, our story begins and her life/future is changed in the initial scene involving a knife, an altar, and a blood sacrifice!

The banter between Raven and her friend (sis) Mia is believably natural. You can feel how close and connected they are… whether they are in danger, watching tv, or just having a laugh… it's hard not to join them.

When a hint was given about Raven's origins, I had begun to suspect. I became so immersed in the story that when I got to the end, I kept trying to turn to the next page. No! It can't end there!

Cannot wait to see where this goes!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

really doesn't feel like Raven does anything. she'll just begin an activity (burgling, getting interviewed, etc) then reflect on the dynamic between dusk and dawn for a few pages, she'll remember her deadline and mentally comment on that... finally she'll engage with someone in a scene, where she quickly ends up unconscious to end the scene. Queue next scene where she wakes up and tries to remember what happened and can only hypothesize- to which we are then subjected before someone else fills her in.

I started skimming the meanderings and still felt Raven was getting spoon fed her own life.

The finale was *weak.* I would say more there but I'm avoiding spoilers.

There were some editing issues, particularly using apostrophe-"s" to make names plural (it is "Malachis" not "Malachi's").

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Raven Marked. The characters are well developed, and Raven is such a fun protagonist. The world building is great, immersive without being excessive. The story is engrossing from the very beginning (Mia's less than ideal sprites had me laughing) and kept me turning pages to the end of the book. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series. I highly recommend Raven Marked for fans of urban fantasy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story that begins with Raven and her accomplice trying to rob a house but of course the job goes south and a demon summoning causes complications. Lots of drama, intrigue, lots of running, and a lot more. I enjoyed the characters, story, world and everything else. Had to see what happened next and was entertained.

[Doris Scales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that’s one way to get tattoos. I think I’ll pass, but I absolutely love this book. It’s totally be an attitude to my favorites list. The characters are fantastic. This book drew me in and didn’t let me go, and I hated to see the last page of this book because I wanted to read more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book to read and I loved the worldbuilding. The story was action packed, fast paced and had great banter between the characters.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I liked the twists and turns
. In a few places I would have liked more explaination but it was still good

[Walter Critz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fast-paced novel has an unforgettable protagonist, interesting sidekick, and a host of fascinating and well-described and believable associates and villains! The author does a great job in creating the version of Earth that the story is centered on. At the onset, a burglary gone wrong results in disturbing changes to the main character and sets in motion a plot that will grab your attention and keep you reading straight through right to the end!