Ravenfold

by Kath Middleton

Fourteen year old Romelda Bolt lives at a time when a woman is a man’s property. Her parents, promised wealth by a local lord three times her age, marry her off. A brutal and bullying relationship is born.
Romelda’s life will change the course of history in her village. Can she and her pet raven change the family’s future too?

A novella of approximately 40,000 words.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2014

About the author

Kath Middleton began her writing with drabbles (100 words stories) and contributed a number to Jonathan Hill’s second drabble collection. It wasn’t long before she moved up a size to contribute short stories to anthologies. Shortly afterwards, she progressed to writing longer pieces and her first solo work, Ravenfold, was published to much acclaim. This was followed by the novella, Message in a Bottle. Several more books are in the pipeline and her first novel, Top Banana, was published in March 2015. In March 2016 she and Jonathan Hill published Is it Her - two novellas inspired by a painting. Kath likes to put her characters in difficult situations and watch them work their way out. She believes in the indomitable nature of the human spirit (and chickens).

Kath is retired. She graduated in geology and has a certificate in archaeology. When she's in a hole, she doesn't stop digging.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kath-M...

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ravenfold is the debut novella by British author Kath Middleton. The main reason I downloaded this story was because I very much enjoyed her second novella, Message in a Bottle, which I had just finished reading. When I read the blurb, I realized Ravenfold was going to be totally different from Message in a Bottle. It was also really different from the books I normally choose to read. I like thrillers and women’s/literary fiction. Ravenfold is a medieval tale. I don’t do medieval tales. But I went ahead and dived in, mainly because I really loved Ms. Middleton’s writing style in Message. I am glad I did as I found myself engaged nonstop from the first chapter through to the very satisfying end.

The story was narrated in retrospect by a grandfather to his two grandchildren. Despite many characters and a timeframe spanning a dozen years, the tale was told cleanly and concisely with Ms. Middleton’s uncomplicated light British prose. The author was also adept at setting the time period and the mood, which was rather noir-ish. The account of life back in those days, especially the plight of the “commonfolk”, which could be quite brutal, was beautifully written. The characters were well drawn and were what drove the story.

I found Ravenfold to be an outstanding debut novella. Ms. Middleton is a very talented writer, and I look forward to reading more from her, no matter what the genre may be. I recommend Ravenfold for all readers.

[David Staniforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a widely accepted belief that in order to write well, one should read lots and read widely. Kath Middleton, to my mind, is proof that this is correct. I believe many writers would be happy to have reached the quality of writing in “Ravenfold” after several novels, never mind their first. This is story telling in its purest form: no fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just excellent writing that makes the reader want to turn the page.

I was engaged from the start, and found the use of language inspirational. The characters are allowed to grow as the story develops; layer is placed upon layer allowing the reader to genuinely feel them. The setting is medieval, and here too, the author manages to pull off something quite remarkable: It feels genuinely of that era, yet at the same time feels modern in style.

For fans of any genre, I would recommend this novella as a very worth while read.

[Heather Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and engaging tale with plenty of shocks and drama. It is presented as a grandfather telling a story to his two grandchildren over the course of a few days.
The author has a flawless writing style which drew me in from the first few pages. I also appreciated the attention to detail, which captures the customs of Medieval England as well as the terminology used. This helps to set the context of the story. However, the author strikes a fine balance. There is sufficient terminology to define the period but, at the same time, the author maintains an easy to read, light writing style.
Narration through the grandfather works well as a storytelling device as each chapter represents a daily instalment of the tale. While reading the book I could picture the avid expressions on the children's faces as they eagerly awaited the next instalment. In fact, as a reader I became so absorbed that I took on the role of avid listener.
This book is a strong four star rating for me.

[Jonathan Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already familiar with Kath Middleton’s writing before I read this, her debut novella. This is a good deal longer than her drabbles and it’s a pleasure to see her writing skills challenged over a longer project. Kath describes the book as mediaeval noir, which is a good summary. It’s a great little indie book that defies typical categorisation. In fact, I haven’t read a book quite like this one before, mainly owing to the period it is set in.

Romelda, the heroine, is effectively sold off in a deal that turns out to be not what it seems. Tragedy ensues, but from that, the author skilfully builds hope and resolution. The writing is precise, technically excellent and seems to me as authentic for the period. The author can certainly tell a story and isn't afraid to shy away from painting gruesome details. She bravely writes objectively and without ever coming close to sentimentality. This could have fallen flat, but it does work and she still manages to make several passages heartbreaking without overdoing it.

Full of shades of dark and light, this book was a pleasure to read and it establishes the author as a fully competent indie writer. The story contains plenty of hard-hitting description that is offset by more tender moments and even humour. Recommended.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll confess from the start that this isn't ny usual type of read, however I'm a fan of the author's drabbles so I was curious to read her debut novel to see if her longer work matched her ability for the shorter form. I'm pleased to say that it did and while it might not have been my usual genre I enjoyed reading it a lot.

The story tells of a young girl whose parents arrnage a marriage for with the local lord, a tyrant and generally not a pleasant person. The tale unfolds at a reasonable pace in the form of a grandfather telling his granchildren about her life. It's a historical drama, but the focus is very much on the characters involved, rather than being a strictly period piece.

It's a testament to the author's skill that I was drawn into the story and cared for Romelda and her family. In places it is brutal, but there's also some light amidst the darkness and the balance made for a fun read.

The author has a talent for writing and the book is very impressive for a debut novel, I'm already looking forward to her next work.

[Simon Jenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not typically a fan of historical tales, however, this novella had me glued from foreboding start to deliciously satisfying end.

The story, of a decent young girl forced to marry a sadistically evil tyrant during medieval times, drags you in until you are hooked. Even though you know that things must get far worse before they get better, you find yourself longing for justice to be done and so when it finally comes it is not a moment too soon. I love my villains rotten to the core and Oswald de Sutton is a disgusting, low-life antagonist.

The situation described has echoes of Angela Carter's Bloody Chamber, and the writing, while not convoluted - as I feel Ms Carter's had a tendency to be - is rich and vibrant. Kath Middleton's use of language, especially her selection of now lesser used words, adds a wonderful ageing to the tale, taking you back in time and plonking you firmly in Middle Age England.

The book is descriptively intoxicating, superbly written, and will hold your attention to the very end.

I highly recommend this book.

[Michelle (Spiderg1rl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This I felt was a wonderful story. I loved Romilda and was devastated at the misery she and her family endured due to her new husband. Romilda, her mother, Guy and Meggie were incredibly brave people especially for the time period, and part of me wishes I had them in my life.

I think the best thing about the way this book is written is it is a story told by a grandfather to his two grandchildren and you can't help but feel like it's a real story being recounted to possibly your family line, after all these times did exist as did such cruelty.

Overall I loved the main point of the story, it is one I truly believe. A child chooses who they become, be it bad parenting they wish to not repeat, cruelty, or choices that burn away and ruin a person. Every person on this planet takes what they see in childhood and at some point make a choice to be who they want to be, good or bad this book sends home the message you alone choose your own life path, sure things come along to test your choices but you are the master of your own destiny, but more so once you are presented with the past and knowledge that you can shape your future.

This was a wonderful debut and I will happily read more of Kath's books.

[M.T. McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the kind of book I usually read but I really enjoyed it. Ms Middleton definitely knows what she's doing, both in the way she writes and in the she presents her work. Full marks there. It also showed up one of the things I really love about good independent fiction, which is that it's not so hidebound by rules. So, in absolutely classic Neville Shute era style this is presented as a story within a story, a book within a book. The character recounting the tale is connected but we don't learn how until right at the end. You might guess but that's still a nice touch. I enjoyed that and somehow I'm not sure it's something publishers 'allow' writers to do any more.

It feels incredibly churlish giving this book four stars because it is excellent, and it was probably my mood, but I just didn't quite connect with the characters enough to give it five. Even so, that's me rather than it I reckon. So if anyone's havering, I'd highly recommend you give it a go.

[mountainmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale unfolds as a man tells his two young grandchildren a bedtime story of a 14-year-old girl who was married to a brutal and violent monster – a lord of the realm. Set in medieval England during an era when wives were considered property, Romelda is cruelly abused by her new husband.

A melancholy and wretched account of real life during that age, the story is nevertheless beautifully written and extremely well-crafted. The characters are strong and believable, the dialog flows expertly, and the descriptions are amazing. The author has obviously studied the time period and has not struck a single false note. Highly recommended – historical fiction at its best. Brilliant job, Ms. Middleton!

[Joo · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first look this seems to be a story about a young girl called Romelda, however this book turns into a lot more.

Set in ye olden days where women are nobodies, Romelda is married off to the Lord of the land and her life as a happy child is over.

This story is quite sad and miserable, but is very well written. There's not much happiness, so the few happy moments stand out.

I liked the way the story was written. I've not read the book of Princess Bride, but I "heard" the grandfather's voice telling the story as Peter Falk's voice in that film.

[Nigel Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

On International Women’s Day, I was lucky enough to have a few hours to myself as I waited for my children to complete various tasks and functions. My choice of book was Ravenfold by Kath Middleton. It had me so involved that by the time I had a few hours free in the evening, it was the book that became my focus.
To my mind, this was the perfect read for a day set aside for reflecting about the rights of women. Not only that, it’s so well written that the journey was a pleasure to take.
The ravens alluded to in the title are birds that have become close to their human friends, a group of teenagers who hang around together enjoying the things that only children can. Life’s an adventure of sorts for all of them, but the fact that they’re growing up means that there’s a dark cloud hanging over them, especially the girls.
Ravenfold is set in medieval times. Things were very different then and those differences are woven into the detail of the story rather skilfully. Above all, the role of girls and women is so limited and rigid as to make the framework tense and charged in itself.
Romelda Bolt is almost fourteen and has caught the
attention of a brute of a man who rules the area,
Oswald. He has the power to crush people or to raise
their status at his whim. It’s not long before Romelda is
learning to sew and is then chained in marriage to her
drunken lord.
Marriage doesn’t make life any easier for Romelda or
her family. Oswald is no noble man and lacks any of the
qualities that a decent human being might possess.
There’s a sense of claustrophobia about the whole tale
as Oswald tightens his fist and we get to see what
powders crumble from between his fingers.
I’m loath to give away too much. Suffice to say, things
don’t go well and Romelda and her family are deeply
damaged by what occurs. It’s this damage that leads to
thoughts of taking revenge and for me, that’s exactly
what I wanted.
This is a really interesting story. It has a haunting
atmosphere right from the off when a young man
slaughters a pig and takes away a vial of its blood
before leaving. It has the feel of a really strong, dark
fairytale where the cruelty and chill have the power to
enclose and suffocate. This creates a real drive to find
what is about to happen and a real need to reach some
kind of escape. I was at the author’s mercy from an
early point; whether she was generous or barbaric, I’ll
not say.
Back to Women’s Day. A read like this is a strong
reminder of how much things have changed over the
years and had me reflecting over how much more
change is needed. As I sat in my own bubble in a world
full of bubbles, I had to remind myself that the shifts
that have come through processes of evolution or
revolution have not been uniform across the globe. The
reminder is not enough unless it causes a shift in
thinking in some way; reading a book like this is one
way to get the cogs moving. One small cog can
sometimes make a big difference. Here’s hoping.

[Philip (sarah) Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel described as medieval noir held me captive alongside it’s young heroine Romelda. Rarely have I enjoyed a book so much.
The depth of historical detail, underpinning wisdom and down to earth speech tinged at times with humour brought both the story and characters to life, and as it transported me back in time I lost myself in the way only the reader of a ‘ripping good yarn’ can.
The book starts with a grand-father in the role of storyteller narrating a tale to keen young ears but as the story develops we learn that he speaks of their family’s own history , by this point I felt that I was sat alongside the children eagerly anticipating the next chapter.
I raged at injustices as they were revealed and openly groaned as death inevitably followed. As revenge was justly delivered I gave an inward cheer and then slowed my reading pace as the story reached it’s memorable conclusion so reluctant was I to have it end.
The ravens brought a fabled quality to the book and the hint of supernatural forces at play was truly inspired. I enjoyed every page!

[Ken Magee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written and drew me into the story from the start. I particularly liked the use of some old fashioned words & phrases… they added to the historical atmosphere but weren't overdone so didn't interfere with the modern reader. Having said that, I had to look up some… ‘you silly chit’, surcoat and sneck, to name but a few of the great words. I also enjoyed some lovely turns of phrase e.g. 'The plot was thickening nicely'.

The main characters were truly engaging and I definitely cared about all of them, so I was disappointed when the story ended. And that's my only complaint about the book... it was too short, so left me wanting more. I guess that's the problem with novellas.

[George Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kath Middleton’s is an accomplished and distinctive voice in literature. I find it hard to believe this is her first fuller length book, as it read like someone who has been writing this form of fiction for years.

We follow a young Lady Romelda, given in marriage by her parents—who are briefly but tragically blinded by greed—to a despicable Lord, who makes their lives hell. But as with the best of baddies, he will get his just deserts in an innovative way.

With its medieval setting, the book has just the right amount of historical detailing to give it great authenticity without getting in the way. Sad in places, but by the end I found myself grinning at the outcome, and having had a thoroughly satisfying experience. I highly recommend this book.

[Anna Faversham · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was not sure that I liked the author's style of telling a dark tale to children, then I settled in and enjoyed being told a story. I was surprised at the grandfather being so explicit but then maybe things were different then.

It wasn't too long though before I was carrying my Kindle around with me trying to snatch moments to continue this captivating tale. The professional standard of writing makes it a pleasure to read and gave me confidence that this story would be worth the telling.

It certainly was.

I really liked it and will recommend it.

[✿Claire✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story, it was compelling and difficult to put down. I connected with the characters immediately and thought that Maude's plan was inspired, even if it did have unintended consequences. I particularly liked the idea of the Red Raven, William was definitely my favourite character :)

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative and gripping novella set in mediaeval England. Interesting characters and convincing setting, and a couple of gory bits! Well-rounded plot, too. Looking forward to this writer's first full length novel!

[Mark Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The style of writing flows brilliantly and the reader finds themselves absorbed in the horrors and injustice of Feudal England. Highly recommended

[Lynn Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drew me in and kept my interest. The story of Romelda's life had me reading this book straight through. I just did not want to put it down.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in medieval times ,Ravenfold is a mystical ,beautiful story that takes you back to a time where men were the overlords of forest , land and water.Harold and Maude Bolt live in a holding ruled over by Lord Oswald de Sutton, a cruel and vicious man.When Lord Sutton makes promises of wealth for the hand of their only child Romelda 14, a gentle girl with a free spirit , Harold agrees to the marriage and Maude has just months to prepare for her daughter's wedding day. Romelda has tamed a beautiful black raven that is apart from her family and her two friends Meggie and Guy ,the thing she treasures above all else. When Romelda makes the journey to the house of Sutton after her marriage to a man who has no goodness in his soul, she feels saddened by her childhood cut short and by what awaits her there. ..It's the year that follows and the years beyond that will change everything and everyone...Feathery ravens , a cold dark heart...Ravenfold is a sweeping, gently beautifully moving story that will capture your heart ..❤

[David Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tale from this author.

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Kath Middleton. A family history told as a bedtime story over ten nights, and what a great story it is.

[Andrew Lawston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kath Middleton's eagerly awaited debut does not disappoint, but at the same time it is clearly a debut work, and points the way to greater things!

Ravenfold is a medieval family saga, framed as a fireside story for children. The spirited young Romelda Bolt is sold off as a child bride to the tyrannical local lord Oswald de Sutton. Abuse happens. Ravens get involved. Trying to avoid spoilers.

As a reviewer, Middleton has long been a champion of indie and self-published authors, and her writing shows that she practises what she preaches. The characters are all believable, and loads of stuff happens over the dozen years or so of the book. The writing is tight, and it never feels as though there is any padding here, the story is as long as it needs to be. No punches are pulled in the depiction of Oswald de Sutton's brutal nature, and the tone often shifts between light historical fantasy and a much more gruesome tale with fantastic efficiency.

And yet, the small problem that rankled with me was the lack of a clearly defined setting. It's a medieval setting, and presumably in England. A king is mentioned. It's clearly set after the Norman Conquest, but that still leaves a lot of room. I felt most of the book could really have been set at any time between Henry I and Henry VII's reigns (that covers about 400 years, though I suspect the setting might be significantly earlier rather than later within that period).

The slight vagueness about the setting is an anomaly in a story which has clearly been researched thoroughly. And it does keep niggling. Because of the level of realism on display elsewhere in the book, the lack of any broader historical context is jarring. If it was just a fairytale, you could handwave this, but the framing narrative of the fireside chat puts the story firmly in our world, and highlights the lack of a setting for that as well. Look, it's only a small gripe, hence the 4 stars, but, well, it's there.

I await Kath Middleton's next book with pleasure!

[David Wailing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darkly entertaining tale of medieval times!

This is an engaging and confident first book from a natural storyteller. Kath Middleton was already well-known as a reviewer of fiction and a champion of indie authors everywhere, but now it seems she’s going to successfully carve a new career as an author herself!

Ravenfold is a tale of families, power and revenge, set in medieval England. This is portrayed with just enough detail to feel authentic, although the focus is less on history and more on the characters. When young Romelda is forcibly married to the monstrous Lord Oswald, her life and those of her parents and friends are twisted out of shape forever. The story takes some surprising dramatic turns along the way, incorporating what may even be shades of the supernatural.

The structure resembles a children’s fable, with a framing story of a man relating Romelda’s tale as a bedtime story to his grandchildren. But this is actually a very adult book, including some strong scenes that do not shy away from depicting the brutality of medieval life. Kath handles these with a light touch but paints some gruesome pictures in the imagination. There is also plenty of gallows humour that had me chuckling aloud, but is most definitely not for young readers!

Ravenfold is a darkly entertaining tale that promises even greater stories from this author in the future.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravenfold is an historical novel set in the Middle Ages which tells the story of a beautiful young girl, Romelda Bolt, who is forced into an arranged marriage with the Lord of the Manor for family advantage. When Sir Oswald turns out to be a duplicitous brute who gives little advantage to the family and none at all to Romelda, the stage is set for an intriguing tale of Mediaeval brutality, lust and murder.
The construction of the story is fascinating as it evolves as a bed-time story for the grand-children of a later Lord of the Manor in the absence of their parents. The reader shares with the two young children the highs and lows of Romelda's life and times and comes to an understanding, as they do, of the significance of the tale.
The contrast between childhood then and childhood now couldn't be starker and Grandfather pulls no punches in telling the tale in all its gory details. At times you can smell the odours of animals and unwashed humans; see the blood; hear the cries of pain and the juvenile audience is spared none of it. Indeed, some of the principal characters are little more than children before they are pushed into the adult world of power, greed, lust and violence.
I enjoyed reading Ravenfold and particularly liked the way author Kath Middleton created a sense of the era so well. An unusual and gripping historical novel; highly recommended.

[B J Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often don’t enjoy books of novella length, but I enjoyed this one – possibly because it has the feel of a big book. We find big characters, convincing locations and a strong storyline taking place in a medieval period that feels historically authentic.
It’s a classic tale of injustice arising from the brutal abuse of power, with a few shocks along the way. The ingredients are sufficient to form the basis of a full-length novel, so at novella length we have a taut piece of writing with scarcely a word wasted and an original approach to the narration style. Recommended.

[D.M. Andrews (author) Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-written tale, yet a simple one. I enjoyed the writing and the story. Historical things do appeal to me. I'm not entirely sure what I got out of it: I think it was that good can come out of bad situations. One thing that threw me was the somewhat explicit/descriptive narrative around the event of the heroine's wedding night with her abusive husband. Although not erotic, it did seem at odds with the framing of the story - a grandfather telling his young grandchildren a true story. Other than that, I think it was a superb first novel for any author. Well done.

[Nav Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle tale with dark undertones…

Ravenfold is a gentle tale with dark undertones, and is captivating. The characters are three dimensional, and cleverly portrayed and the storyline is set at a good pace.
Without realising it, you become drawn into an earlier era. A time in which the Lord of the manor held sway over all and his word was low. Ravenfold is a tale of tragedy and of adversity. It is a triumph of good over evil and it has a wonderful twist at the end. A great first full length novel from a gifted writer. I look forward to reading more.

[A.K. Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book last night - or early hours this morning - I was totally caught up in the story of Romelda, Guy and Meggie. I resumed reading last night and ended up continuing til the end - I so wanted to know what happened to every one of the characters. I don't do spoilers in a review but I was very sad at some points, glad at others and downright happy at still others! A really good read and I will be looking for some more from Ms Middleton - great work and thoroughly enjoyed!

[Karen Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well constructed and well plotted, I particularly liked the 'folk story' feel of the book. I was kept intrigued to know how Sir Oswald would get his comeuppance, and wasn't disappointed!