A Raven in the Storm

by Alida Miranda-Wolff

How far will one woman go to save a dying goddess?

The natural world is unraveling as the tyrant king of Tellus drains the Earth Mother’s magic for his own political gain.

Lady Lyanna Tempestas is fated to rule the Stormlands—until the night she commits a desperate act of violence and discovers the half-eaten Earth Mother. Vowing to stop the king at any cost, Lyanna takes refuge in the Sunlands, the kingdom’s richest and most politically-treacherous court.

Under the protection of the powerful Coronis family, Lyanna secretly joins the Resistance to overthrow the king. As she grows closer to the scholarly and vengeful Cassius Coronis—rumored to wield blood magic—she becomes entangled in a web of revolution, divine power, and forbidden love.

A Raven in the Storm is an epic fantasy debut featuring a complex magic system, a sharp-minded and emotionally scarred heroine, and a slow-burn romance set against ecological collapse and class revolution.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fiction, Fantasy Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Alida Miranda-Wolff is the Amazon-bestselling author of two nonfiction books with HarperCollins Leadership and the debut fantasy novel A Raven in the Storm, the first in the Gods of Tellus quartet. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Writer’s Digest, Books by Women, and Hippocampus. A diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practitioner and worker’s rights activist, Alida also hosts Care Work, a podcast about what it means to offer care for a living. She received the University of Chicago’s Early Career Achievement Award in 2021 and holds a degree in creative writing from the same institution. She lives in Chicago with her husband, their threenager, and a literal animal menagerie.

Reviews

[Lotta Z (Not active due to sickness) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Rainflower Publishing for this ARC!

Well … this book had trigger warnings but I feel like they were nowhere near comprehensive enough. This book is INCREDIBLY DARK and at times frankly quite EVIL and therefore I cannot give this book a higher rating.

⚠️ Content Warnings From The Book⚠️
╰➤ Whipping
╰➤ Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts
╰➤ Threats of sexual violence
╰➤ Sexual assault
╰➤ Self-harm with a knife
╰➤ Dismemberment
╰➤ Beheadings
╰➤ Fat-Shaming
╰➤ Multiple instances of vomiting

⚠️ Additional Ones That Should Be In The Book⚠️
╰➤ Witchcraft
╰➤ References to child brides/paedophilia
╰➤ Domestic violence/abuse
╰➤ Patricide
╰➤ Idolatry
╰➤ Demonic blood sacrifices
╰➤ Adult language
╰➤ Sexually explicit scenes/language
╰➤ Pacts with ‘gods’
╰➤ Self mutilation
╰➤ Homosexual relationships
╰➤ Drowning
╰➤ Death of a parent/family member

I mean this book was DARK!!!!

It started with the abuse of Lady Opis (Benefactor of the FMC) and it pretty much ended with the FMC being in danger of serious bodily harm once again.

“... Lady Opis whipped in front of the same river where my mother had drowned herself …”

This sentence is in chapter one! This poor FMC! Seriously, I’m so disturbed by the plot points in this book.

GUYS! This is just not ok. This book should NOT have been written like this. The author clearly has talent as a writer but she needs a therapist or a priest or something... I have never read a book like this one. I just don’t know why the author thought it was a good idea to bring such a dark book into existence? I am deeply concerned. This is just such a shame as the characters are interesting at times and the writing itself is quite good but it is the subject matter that is the problem.

I have a tonne of notes on this book, but I don’t really want to discuss this any further.

The subject matter of this book was just not okay.

To be honest, I think this story needs to be re-written without the gods completely and about 3/4 less gruesome content. If it were just a rebellion story against the king it would have been a thousand times better in my opinion.

It had so many elements that I enjoy but it was just BLACK AS NIGHT DARK.

Safe to say I will never be reading another book from this author or continuing this series.

PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!

Thank you!

P.S.
ALSO, why is it Earth Mother and Moon Mother used? But then Sun God and Star God? Why is the term Father not being used? If you are using Mother then you should be able to say Father as well. Or are we excluding fathers for some reason????I don’t want to overly consider why this creative decision was made but I think it is a revealing choice of words on the author’s behalf and the agenda behind the sub-text in this book is clear as day to me.

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut fantasy novel! While I occasionally found myself a little bored at times (I think the pace in the beginning was quite slow), I thought this was well-written and given a lot of thought. I enjoyed the premise. The romance didn’t always pull me, but I enjoyed the characters, and I would read a book written by this author again.

3.5, rounding up to 4 for Goodreads. ❤️

[Carla Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this Title in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest opinion. At first I didn't think this would be a favorite read but after getting into it I was amazed at the writer's ability to pull a reader in and hold their attention. It is very well written and turns into a real page turner quickly. Though it starts out slow it speeds up like a locomotive and makes up for it. The characters and their individual story lines are captivating. Lots of defiance to the king, who is destroying the Earth mother and the world around him and his subjects. Magic is all around and the outlawed blood magic especially. A demure Lady in Waiting who helps the resistance, an Enforcer who has a blood pact with a God make for an exciting tale. When they combine their strengths to help end a tyrannical rule the story gets even more amazing. I highly recommend you give this book a try and see for yourself.

[Marson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful read, from the vivid world building, interesting characters, and some lovely writing to go along with it. I did notice a few instances where it felt as though parts of the plot just happened without particularly being told how they happened as well as instances where the story seemed to stray a tad bit from the main goal. But these were minor and didn’t majority take away from my enjoyment. The writing was beautiful and kept me hooked, I absolutely loved how the characters interacted with their world and gods, and the way it all worked together to create a truly unique world. The characters felt complex and interesting, and I think this book had a strong message about taking care of our world and the people in it. I got this book as an arc on Booksirens and I couldn’t be happier or more excited to continue the series!

[charlene ✿]

The top review for this book is really something. As soon as I saw one of the 'trigger warnings' this reviewer gave was Idolatry and Homosexual relationships I knew exactly the type of person they were. American Christians are crazy (degrogratry). Hilarious review though I got to admit. She really ate with the This book is INCREDIBLY DARK and at times frankly quite EVIL and it was just BLACK AS NIGHT DARK.

Anyways i saw this on Netgalley and added it to my tbr and I am excited to pick this up! Who knew a dark romantasy had dark themes!

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[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book! A Raven in the Storm was certainly a unique story as different gods like Mother Earth and The Raven were key figures throughout. The magic system was fun and included magic reliant on the earth as well as blood magic. I really liked our main character Lyanna because she was truly an empathetic character that also stood up for herself and others. I do think that the romance was a bit rushed. I don't really understand why our MMC Cassius was immediately friendly to Lyanna because he was notoriously a brutal and scary man. I think the romance was rushed, and I wish it was dragged out more into the next book. There was also a lot of info dumping, which was warranted because of the unique magic system. Now that I understand the world, I think the second book will have less of this negative aspect. The ending of the book definitely piqued my interest, and I might just have to pick up the second book! I loved the friendships, magic system, and twists, and I hope that some of my issues with the book are resolved in book 2!

[Rallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Fans Of: And the Sky Bled, Faebound, Kushiel's Dart, A Memory Called Empire, The Conquest of Bread, Jineologî

Reading this while the rain is pouring, all I could think of was Standing Rock and the NoDAPL protests. The highly political climate fantasy Miranda-Wolff is writing might not appeal to everyone; there are definitely some places where the pacing gets weird or transitions become disjointed but for me that didn't spoil the book because there was enough otherwise in it for me to enjoy.

One of my favorite things about this book can be summed up in a quote from the Acknowledgements: "without them, I would never have had the courage to write sex scenes into a book about climate terrorism". Because it is ultimately a book about climate terrorism - the terrorism of unchecked extractivism and the cheapening of the world (somebody tell Jason Moore to add an eighth cheap, Magic) against guerilla climate warriors.

"To me, King Tellus was no unifier, but a mass murderer whose sole purpose was to dominate— dominate the kingdom and its people, the earth and its creatures— through unconscionable, if shrouded, violence."

Lyanna is an anarchist princess - something of a Kropotkin informed by the feminism of Jineologî. She is a love-starved woman with a heart full of compassion willing to sacrifice everything to stop the destruction of the earth.

Also Miranda-Wolff did not have to go as hard as she did with the names, it was like reading Jacqueline Carey + Tamsin Muir. Lady Lyanna Tempestas and her bestie Lady Nemesis Nox (with three sisters, Discordia and the twins Mania and Morta)? Lady Proserpina Autumnus, Lord Cassius Coronis, Gaius Aquila, Lady Venelia Salacia? Honestly. It would've been cool to have a "cast of characters" to keep track, I ended up making a list for myself because they are all just so juicy.

[sam (nesta's version)]

dnf

Man, I did not want to dnf another book so close to the beginning of the year, but I could not get through this one. To me, a high fantasy where you are building a whole new world just needs to be a longer book. There was just so much plot and lore dump at the beginning of this book that I was just lost on how the gods and goddesses worked and how the world as a whole behaved. This also made the book really boring and I felt like I was reading for a long time, but not progressing in the book.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the cover and description and was so glad I got to read this book. It had that element that I wanted in a fantasy novel, it was engaging and how the characters were used in this world. I thought it worked well in telling the story and creating the characters that I was wanting from this type of book. It was a strong start to the Gods of Tellus series and was glad I got to read this, Alida Miranda-Wolff wrote this so well and was glad I got to read this.

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Rainflower publishing for sending me this early! This story has really rich world building while working in some pretty raw real life issues (power in the wrong hands, the effects of using natural resources on the planet etc) My only complaint keeping this from four stars is that some of the characters just feel too one dimensional. Lots of political intrigue and plot it make up for it though.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times the story did a lot of explaining. At other times the story moved fast. All in all everything kept the story going and making me want to know more. I enjoyed the mix of all that happened. but that dang cliff hanger lol

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read this book thanks to NetGalley which graciously provided me with an ARC.

An incredibly ambitious debut for a 4-part series tackling issues of eco-terrorism and class struggle set against the backdrop of a grief-stricken fantasy world. As someone who does not typically read the romantasy genre, this was a pleasant surprise and a very enjoyable experience.

The strong points:

The theme of grief is ever-present throughout the novel, and the characters and events exhibit a very strong cohesion relative to said theme. Almost every main character has experienced loss of some kind, or experiences it throughout the story. Far from making the characters annoying and whiney, it adds depth to their relationships and reinforces the overall tone of the world and story.

The final chapters are full of hype moments. The culmination of Lyanna’s magical ability – her use of other characters’ grief that has been taking on in attempts to comfort them, as fuel for her storm magic felt not only like an appropriate climax for the events of the story, but also like a thematic peak for the overall messaging of the novel.

A solid cast of secondary characters keeps the story interesting even at times when the main couple began to wear a bit thin. The relationship between Lady Opis and Lady Selene is a highlight, not only because it constitutes solid and well-written representation, but also because it is a compelling story of two lovers forced to take actions that have real consequences for the book’s plot – at times more so than the main couple.

The relationship between the two protagonists is probably the best one I’ve read during my limited explorations of the romantasy genre. The romance is believable, and the introduction of the love interest does not coincide with significant change in the quality of the writing. I liked the book before his introduction, and I liked it still after his arrival.

The weak points:

The story tends to suffer for its ambition. While its themes and issues are incredibly relevant, the frequent switching between A and B plots had an overall negative effect on the pacing, and a few times, prevented the author from fully addressing that which she clearly wanted to address.

The author does a lot more telling than showing. While it never threatens to bring down the novel as a whole, it does feel at times like the author doesn’t trust the reader to make the correct inferences about something as simple as the decor of the current room. Later, Lyanna’s power of divination feels like a plot-sanctioned “telling power”.

The protagonist rarely faces the consequences of her own actions. Aside from the story’s inciting event, Lyanna finds herself in many predicaments during the story’s first half – never because of incompetence or personal failings, but because she cannot act upon information that she does not possess.

The protagonist always gets to have her cake and eat it too. A big part of the story’s intrigue, at least for me, was wondering how Lyanna would reconcile her relationship with Lord Cassius Coronis with her commitment to the environmentalist and socialist cause of the terrorist cell she joins early in the story. It later turns out that her beloved is funding the cell, and she is not forced choose.

Lastly, the plot is deathly afraid of its characters experiencing any sort of moral decay. Lyanna’s character does not significantly change over the course of the story because even when she decides to abandon the pacifism she has clung to for 200 pages, the plot doesn’t allow her to change in any remotely negative way. She is forced to reevaluate her desire to appear morally good as well as the shame she feels for wanting to increase her own power, but her symbolic sacrifice of her left hand is undone in the very next paragraph, making it, and her crafty workaround to avoid having to make blood sacrifices to the Storm God, much less meaningful.

Overall, I found reading A Raven in the Storm to be a very enjoyable experience. The characters are interesting, the themes are engaging, and the issues are very relevant. If given the opportunity, I would happily read the next volume in the series not only based on the merit of this one, but also to see where that cliffhanger ending leads.

[Michelle]

A romantasy novel about ecoterrorists.

To give some context on my biases, I do not read much romantasy, and even less do I read straight romantasy. I found A Raven in the Storm to be competently written and fairly engaging, but difficult to emotionally connect to. Overall a decently put together book, but one I didn't feel I got terribly much out of. I read this book happily enough (and I'll pick up the sequel), but I suspect I won't think much about the book in a month.

The good:

- Miranda-Wolff is a solid prose writer. There was a little bit of over description in the beginning of the novel for my taste, but this settled down fairly quickly

- Ecoterrorism is cool

- Clearly the book has feelings about misogyny and climate justice, and I respect the choice to include those feelings. Art is cool because it's about things that humans feel and want to tell each other!

The bad:

- I found the female lead's relationships quite difficult to understand, including her relationship with the male lead. At various points of the book, I found myself realizing that I was seeing other characters in seemingly very different ways than the FL, and therefore felt somewhat blindsided by her choices in those relationships (friendships and romance alike).

- As an addendum to the above, the FL was also a character I felt I didn't really see in the same light as the author. Overall I felt Miranda-Wolff's character writing could use some work, as I felt like we were often told things about characters but not necessarily shown them, and that could make it feel like their characterizations were somewhat shallow. The ML in particular came off as somewhat Mary Sue-ish to me (conveniently one of the only non-misogynists in a deeply misogynistic world, for example)

The extremely personal opinions that probably reflect more on me as a reader than on the writing:

- I just didn't ship it. Unfortunately, if I'm reading a romance, my enjoyment of the book is hinging quite a lot on shipping it, and I simply did not understand why these people were attracted to each other, especially the FL to the ML. It seemed to me like there were some fundamentally massive value mismatches, and maybe this reveals something of my opinions on romantic relationships, but I find it incredibly difficult to imagine a healthy long term relationship with someone whose core values are opposite from my own. Of course, sometimes a book isn't about a healthy relationship, but I also didn't feel like the appeal of this ship was meant to be toxicity.

- I said earlier that I liked that the book was unafraid to include serious themes, and I do. However, my feelings are more mixed on the execution on those themes. The society depicted in this book is brutally misogynistic, but I didn't feel the book went deeper than depicting that misogyny. Similarly, the book centers on ecoterrorism conducted by a group of climate and labor organizers, but I didn't find their organization tactics realistic or compelling. This may be an issue of my point of view -- I am a labor and housing justice organizer, and of course every organization is different, but the resistance in this book felt super theoretical to me in a way that I found unbelievable. The actual mechanics of their plan were fine as far as I could tell, but the depictions of how they formulated plans, reached agreement, and interacted with each other generally was really alien to me. Specifically, the resistance's focus on foundational texts and adherence to them through debate felt like something out of a Marxist reading group. That said, this may be a place in which I am simply too biased by my own experiences and having difficulty looking past them.

For me, the biggest areas of potential improvement in this book would be stronger delivery on its themes and better character writing. It's a cliche, but a little more showing and a little less telling.For me, the ideal book is one that gives me something to chew on. As it is the book is snack food -- read it, enjoy it fine, forget about it. There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't get the sense that that's what the author was aiming for.

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

[Veronika Cizkova · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to netgalley and the author for the eARC!

I was very conflicted on this book mostly and intended to rate it a 3-3.5*. However, the ending although I anticipated parts of it, blew it out of the water.

This book was very easy to read, once I was reading I only noticed once I was like 50 pages later.

It was odd to me how much the main character got fatshamed despite tbh from the things said she just seemed slightly more curvy? I think that was a bit overdone at the start.

Another thing about Lyanna is, she's lowkey a little bit crazy, in a way that ig can be relatable but it's also a bit creepy how obsessive she is, but I also kind of liked how flawed that made her. As much as it weirded me out at points, I also felt like that was the whole point of it.

I liked the plot and all aside from the romance. Cassius and Lyanna make a lot of sense together, however I think that the process of them falling for each other and eventually getting together foul have been dragged out a bit more and I wish more details had been shown. As it is, it felt more like oh they had 2 interactions and suddenly they're absolutely obsessed with each other which of course is possible but idk

Raven boy supremacy. I've said it before and I'll say it again, raven boys are the best. Cassius was slightly mixed but generally a likeable character, he was funny right off the bat with the hating on his own council and all but yk I really don't mind morally grey men.

Lady Juno was very mixed and I like that mc eventually realised that. I love Nemesis smmm she was great. I also like how dispite their years old grievances eventually Lyanna and Gaius became friends again. Another trope I apparently like is when two girls are at each other's throats bit eventually become friends like Lyanna and Diana, though girlll why the hell would you trust her at the maze??

！！！Spoilers ahead！！！



I fucking jinxed it. I was like yk girl have Cassius all you want I'll just take Marius cause he was such a sweetheart, obviously 2 pages later he is life threateningly injured, now it's unclear if he's alive or not so uh yeah. That.

The thingy with Remus revealing the location of the safe house and Aurelius coming there was VERY predictable but somehow I still really enjoyed the execution of that. Side note: Romulus and Remus, really? Really?

Also I actually don't hate Lyannas dad, it kind of made sense despite the crap he pulled.

Also actually the very start, Lyanna stabbing out her uncle's eye? Badasa, though I find it odd that nobody went looking for her or anything.

Also I'm very disappointed in Selene. Like I get it, your lovers life was threatened and shit but idk I'd figured she'd be a bit more ration like ofc it's romantic and all but pretty sure Opis had made it clear previously that was exactly what she didn't want. Idk that just pissed me off, betraying her brother like that.

Cassius, the romantic you are 😂

Ik definitely curious and excited for book 2 despite how mixed I initially felt on this book, pls let it come out soon.

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing date: 04.11.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to Netgalley and Rainflower Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.


TLDR //
A darker fantasy with a romantic side and lots of political intrigue. 4 stars, can’t wait for the next one.


Quickfire likes and gripes //
The MMC is almost exactly one of my OC’s … *drool*
Loved the intimacy and closeness of our main pairing even before they got … closer
LGBTQ+ rep!!
Didn’t know there would be this much politicking
Wish there was a little more urgency from the other characters that were involved with the main problem


Characters //
Lyanna worked just well for me as a character. I am also a more “shapely” and “homely” woman and related a lot to her. I found her just a little too much of a doormat to my liking, but I can forgive most of it considering her past.


Cassius is straight up one of my own characters. Almost. I was instantly drawn to the cover because of well … how he looked. Otherwise I wanted to see a little more from him. He was very either or. A gentle soul or your typical misunderstood shadow daddy. Maybe he gets more next entry.


I also wanted to see just a little more development from the other Ladies in waiting.


Pacing & Plot //
The plot to me only got interesting after Lyanna’s “leash” got removed and she was set free to be a little mischievous and sneaky. That’s when I was a little more interested in seeing what would happen.


Sadly, the pacing was a little slow to me. Maybe all the politicking slowed it down. And there was a loooot of info and internal thoughts from Lyanna about everything and how it all connected. I get that we need a little worldbuilding and infodumping in order to understand and care, but showing it slowly also works fine.


Genre thoughts //
Yep this is a fantasy, and also a romance. No notes.


How it was to read //
It was a little slow going for me, so I listened to half the book in my Netgalley app and found that to be more accessible considering the heavy and long writing from the author.


Audience //
The audience is definitely adult, and more so targeted on the romantasy girlies who want less insta love and romance only. A little darker, a little heavier. A little more focus on the actual problems.


Continuation & Final Verdict //
The way this book ended was diabolical. I both hate and love the author for it. Cannot WAIT for the next installment.
I liked this book a lot, all in all. I wish it moved a little faster and had more show rather than tell. Giving this 4 stars. WIll be grabbing the second book ASAP.

[Lora Durance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nature words in writing have been dying out for over a century. And no, I don't mean in Miranda-Wolff's dark and innovative debut high fantasy. I mean here, in our world. This one. We don't talk about nature the way we don't talk about child abuse. We revere the child while we look away from the lived reality of their sorrow. So we glamour ourselves on social media and travel sites with a natural world that's tipping toward a point of no return—and though we admire that bleak horizon for all its devastating beauty, we don't seem to notice how gravity is dragging us down, down, down off that violent edge.

I couldn't NOT be riveted by A Raven in the Storm because of its analogous climate crisis and eco-terrorism plot. I won't say it was a perfect book. In terms of pacing and structure and character interiority, I would have preferred a touch steadier hand. But the urgency of this world was a siren's song. The characters are at times a genuine romp. And who wouldn't be absolutely swooning over the MMC? He is chef's kiss.

In some ways, the FMC reads a bit young to me. But her impulsivity spurs the plot on, sometimes at cut-to-black breakneck speeds that I appreciated as respite after the longer, slower, more detailed scenes, which smacked of old-school high fantasy. And can we talk world-building? I'm in awe. So intricate and juicy.

I admit I'm not the most politically savvy reader, and I did find some of the denser political sections difficult to follow. This was a failing more of the reader than the author, I think.

I found myself waffling between 4 and 5 stars (at times when I was frustrated by the political scenes or sporadic backstories, I considered lower still), but the fact that I can't stop thinking about the book—and some of the scenes seem positively impaled into my brain—tipped my hand. Miranda-Wolff has done something ambitious and rich and layered and altogether different despite the familiar tropes. And like it or not, I respect the hell out of that. And I did, indeed, like it.

If you've read this far, please take a gander at the 1-star review on this forum and note that this book is indeed dark. If that is not your thing, don't bother reading. Keep looking away.

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

After protecting her mistress from an attack, young Lyanna must leave the court and finds refuge at the court of Lady Selene and her cousin, Lord Cassius. Grateful to have escaped revenge, she serves as lady-in-waiting on the lady's council, supporting her with advice and assistance. In doing so, she grows closer to the young lord, with whom she feels a certain mutual affinity. But rumors swirl around the young lord, and Lyanna must find out if he really has two faces, especially since she is part of a rebellion against him...

A Raven in the Storm is a fantasy story with gods, steampunk elements, and court strategies. The focus is on Lyanna and her refreshing position as a council member who doesn't come across as too sassy or badass. Cassius, as the male lead, is also different from currently popular male leads, with his rather calm and gentle manner.

It's a refreshing setting that offers a lot of potential. But that's my biggest criticism:
The story just plods along without anything happening or keeping you on the edge of your seat. The stakes are far too low. The rebel part in particular doesn't feel like it will have any consequences, since even Cassius seems to know about it. There wasn't enough conflict.
Unfortunately, I also didn't feel any chemistry between the two characters, as some scenes seemed a little too disjointed. The story didn't seem to be well woven together; more subplots would have been appropriate here.

All in all, it's a light fantasy story with a lot of potential. The story is part of a series, and despite my criticisms, I will check out the next volume because of its potential.

Many thanks to the team at Miranda-Wolff, Rainflower Publishing, and Netgalley for the free e-ARC.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: A Raven in the Storm

A Raven in the Storm is a gripping and ambitious fantasy debut that balances high-stakes political intrigue, environmental collapse, and a deeply personal story of resilience.

Lady Lyanna Tempestas is the kind of heroine who could have been a cliché: heir to a crumbling kingdom, burdened by prophecy, and carrying the weight of a traumatic act that changes everything. Yet Miranda-Wolff gives her depth, intelligence, and a resilience that makes her journey feel urgent and real. When she flees to the Sunlands, she becomes entangled with a resistance movement and meets Cassius, a mysterious scholar whose own secrets and moral complexities add emotional tension without turning their relationship into a predictable romance. I love a tortured soul, and Cassius delivers.

The worldbuilding is vivid and layered, with a unique magic system and political backdrop that feel alive and consequential. The novel tackles heavy themes such as abuse of power, environmental decay, and the cost of rebellion without losing sight of the intimate human moments that keep it grounded. While the pacing occasionally stumbles and some sections lean heavily on exposition, the character work and momentum more than make up for it.

I really enjoyed this book overall, and the twist at the end was both surprising and satisfying. It tied the story together in a way that left me eager to see where the series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy. A Raven in the Storm will be published on November 4, 2025.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book succeeds brilliantly in creating a world that is both vast and intimate, drawing the reader into a journey of self-discovery and courage.
Plot and Pacing
The plot is a masterclass in storytelling, with a narrative that unfolds with a perfect rhythm. The pacing is expertly handled, building a sense of mystery and wonder in the early chapters and then escalating the tension with thrilling, well-placed action sequences. The author's ability to balance quiet, character-driven moments with large-scale, world-changing events is truly impressive. Each subplot feels meaningful, contributing to a rich and cohesive narrative that leads to a satisfying and powerful climax.
The author's writing style is nothing short of breathtaking. The prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the landscapes, magic, and emotional turmoil the characters experience. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and authentic, making every interaction feel real.
Overall Verdict
"a Raven in the Storm" is a must-read for any fan of fantasy. It's a book that not only tells a great story but also explores profound themes of fate, choice, and the strength of the human spirit. With its compelling plot, unforgettable characters, and stunning prose, it's a book that you won't want to put down and will be thinking about long after you've turned the last page. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Teresa Widdowson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivated me completely. The story flows smoothly from start to finish, never a dull moment in between. Before I’d even finished the first chapter, I was swept into Lyanna’s world, already caring deeply about her and the people she loved.

At every turn, I felt transported—the descriptions so vivid and complete they made each location feel tangible and real. The sand of the Sunlands gritted between my teeth, the sun scorched my back, and the oppressive humidity and bitter cold of the Stormlands chilled me to the bone.

The secrets unveiled themselves at precisely the right moments, drawing me deeper into the webs of friendship, love, camaraderie, and betrayal. The underlying themes hit close to home, reminding me of the problems of our own world, but without making me feel like I was being educated or preached to.

I’ll admit I was worried when I saw the character list in the opening pages. So many names. Would I remember who they were as I read, or would I quickly become confused, having to check the list frequently? But the author wove in reminders so effortlessly and naturally that I never felt lost.

The ending left me reeling—both devastated and hungry for more, and I’m eager to read the next book in the series.

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

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First person pov, primarily Sunlands and Stormlands in the kingdom of Tellus. A whopper of a cliffhanger. I think just 1 pepper of spice, if that, and no kink, but quite a few triggers. It’s a fascinating fantasy story about climate change, in a very magic way, with a little romance. Lady Leanna Tempesta commits a desperate act of violence against her uncle to safe the Lady she is currently on the council of. When she escapes she discovers the half-eaten Earth Mother, the Mother Goddess of all of Tellus. She has sworn to try to help the goddess who is slowly being eaten by the humans having found a way to harvest her magic. To escape the King’s wrath, and her uncle’s demand for retribution, she escapes to the Sunlands, where she meets Lord Cassius and Lady Selene, who shelter her and give her a place on Selene’s council. The beginning was a bit on the slow side, as we were being introduced to a totally foreign world, with quite a few different societies, and a magic system that is not self explanatory. Even Lyanna is having some trouble learning about it. If you stick with it, you get to the action, which does not always seem very logical, but usually for good reasons. And at the end there are some massive twists in the story that make you question half of what you thought you knew.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks very much for the ARC but unfortunately this one’s a bit of a mixed bag for me. The writing is gorgeous, and I can absolutely see that Alida Miranda-Wolff is a seriously talented author. The world, the themes, the characters, there’s so much going on here that should’ve been my thing… but it didn’t fully land.

There were parts I genuinely enjoyed, especially the political and resistance elements woven throughout, and I loved that the story was ambitious. But at times, it felt like there was too much going on. Like it was trying to juggle too many big ideas without always connecting the dots. Some scenes were beautifully detailed, but also made me go, “okay… but why do I need to know this?”

I also found the pacing a bit chaotic, fast in some places, meandering in others, and occasionally I’d hit a moment where things just stopped making sense or felt disconnected. It wasn’t enough to make me DNF, but it definitely pulled me out of the story more than once.

Overall, this wasn’t quite the book for me, but I can see it being a hit for readers who like dense worldbuilding and layered, political fantasy. I’d be curious to see what the author does next, especially with a bit more focus and a tighter structure.

[Emily Terrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I picked up A Raven in the Storm, I felt I was in capable hands. As someone who’s long admired Alida Miranda-Wolff’s writing in the professional and non-fiction space, it was a delight to see her bring that same clarity and depth to her debut fantasy novel.

What strikes me most is how seamlessly she balances immersive world building with narrative momentum. The rules of her world—the hierarchies of power, the political landscape, and the mechanics of divine influence—are laid out with precision, yet never become a burden. I never found myself flipping back to a glossary or pausing to untangle lore; instead, every piece of world building feels relevant and alive.

Her protagonists are likewise compelling. Lyanna Tempestas is scarred, driven, sometimes reckless, yet admirably vulnerable. Cassius Coronis, with the whispered rumors of blood magic, is magnetic: brooding, haunted, and intellectually formidable. They are not perfect—at times frustrating, at times heartbreaking—but always emotionally resonant and human. Their arcs feel earned rather than contrived.

A Raven in the Storm is the perfect start to a series! If you enjoy fantasy driven by complex magic, political upheaval, character weight, and environmental stakes, this one is a must-read.

[4eyed_panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Rainflower Publishing for this ARC!

First things first, this is more of an epic dark fantasy than a romantasy. So expect a lot of world building, explanations of the magic system, and lore. Also please check for trigger warnings before diving in!

For a book being written about mainly magic, I found it interesting that it mixed a lot of political intrigue that focused on climate/eco terrorism. Now I will admit I had to reread the sections where it got political to understand, thats where it got complex for me. BUT once you take the time to understand, it worked considering the pacing of the story and it kept me intrigued.

The characters were likable for the most part. The MMC and MFC definitely had a great chemistry. I was definitely frustrated how some scenes were handled by the characters but that just proves that politics comes with questionable morals when doing things for the greater good.

Overall this does hit close to reality for me which I dont like cause im trying to escape reality lol but I will give it a 5 cause this was definitely a different reading experience and I mean that in a good way. I would definitely read book 2 just see what happens to Lyanna!

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

[NetGalley e-arc] It’s rare to find a fantasy romance that breaks out of the conventions of the genre and I can honestly say that ‘A Raven in the Storm’ does just that. Its prose is lovely; its world-building exquisite; its romance delightful. Alida Miranda-Wolff obviously takes great pleasure in exploring the governing institutions of the world they’ve built, it has a political complexity that matches the high-stakes, high-politics fantasy setting. That being said the catchphrase “Comrade, I burn with you” did take me out of it slightly - a Hunger Games vibe that felt quite clumsy (certainly I felt the term ‘Comrade’ should have been replaced by some original fictional term - the kind you usually see in italics). Anyway, that small gripe aside, this is an amazing read I would HIGHLY recommend to fans of the fantasy romance genre that want some well-developed political drama, and/or have grown tired of the same usual tropes, delivered in heavy handed and clumsy prose. All the characters have such DEPTH, I loved that you could really enjoy the side characters like Juno and Nemesis that are not just blank slate ‘best-friends’ but have clear personalities and quirks.

[Oriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has me feeling all sort of feelings, on the one hand it didn’t keep me interested enough to want to devour it in one sitting until at about 60% of the way through, and that slower pace at the beginning could’ve been good if it was building up to something amazing but I don’t feel like the payoff was as satisfying as it could’ve been.

HOWEVER, even if plot-wise I don’t think this book was anything out of this world, I absolutely adored the characters and the chemistry between the MCs, the magic system and the different Gods and acolytes was also interesting and wish we could’ve explored more of that in a way that didn’t feel like exposition.

I don’t like when a series opener feels like a set up and not like a finished project on its own and in my opinion, this was the case here, so though I’m excited for Book 2 (especially after that teaser) I wish I didn’t feel like this was left incomplete. Anyway, I can’t wait to read more about this world and see the consequences and ramifications of everything that happened in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rainflower Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal Montufar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a great read! The female main character was incredibly relatable even though she’s living in a magical world, her thoughts and feelings felt so authentic. I’ve read too many books with FMCs that make me cringe because they’re written in a way that is over the top or completely change themselves for a guy, but this one really held her own. I respected her throughout, even when I didn’t agree with her choices.

The romance was well-done without taking over the story, and the friendships felt genuine and real. The world-building really impressed me too - all the different types of magic, locations, and characters were so well thought out.

I’m usually an audiobook person, but I flew through this in less than two weeks. The writing is eloquent and sometimes quite stunning, it really encouraged my imagination take off and create this beautiful escape. You can tell the author made really thoughtful decisions throughout.

My only complaint? I wish it was longer! But I guess that just means I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next one in the series.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure what I did expect when starting this book but I did enjoy myself a lot. Before reading always check out the trigger warnings!

The story starts off very intense but it does set up the start of the story well. The world building has political intrigue with a resistance plot and a slow(er) burn romance. The gods and the magic are at the center of the story and the magic system was fascinating although it felt a bit rushed and overwhelming sometimes. This did not diminish my enjoyment of the book but I hope we get more in the rest of the series.

The romance does not over power the main plot of the book. I love how it's slow(er)-burn, emotional and filled with mutual pining. I would have liked to see a bit more of Cassius' duality as he is known as the Lord of Death.

Despite some pacing issues and plot lines that don’t fully connect, this was still a gripping read. We end on a cliffhanger and I'm excited to see where this is going.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC of this book!

[Cinnamon&Pine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A layered tale of sacrifice and resilience wrapped in a fantasy climate allegory.

Lady Lyanna, heiress to the Stormlands, moves from court to court—learning politics in the skylands, struggling with the heat and intrigue of the sunlands, and finally returning home to face impossible choices. Between visions of the earth mother, a growing attraction to Lord Cassian Coronis (who, fittingly, smells of cold, clean sea air), and her work in the resistance, she carries the weight of both personal and political struggles.

The story is ambitious and layered, weaving themes of sacrifice, healing, and resilience into an allegory of climate change and non-renewable resources. Sometimes the parallel felt a little on the nose, but it’s hard not to appreciate the attempt. What worked less well for me was the “magic as fuel” system—dispensers, caravans, machines—it blurred the line between fantasy and energy market simulation in a way that distracted me. Still, the other forms of magic (divination, god-pacts with their bloody costs) carried real weight and atmosphere.

It wasn’t always an easy or “fun” read, but it was a complex, thoughtful one that stayed with me after finishing.

Rating: 4 stars. Strong world-building, political intrigue, and moral complexity, even if the magic mechanics sometimes pulled me out of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Alisha Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Raven in the Storm is equal parts piercing and compassionate, a book that doesn’t just describe burnout and grief, but seems to sit with you in them and then gently guide you toward the light. What really struck me was how honest and clear the writing is. It never feels preachy or clinical; instead, it’s grounded in lived experience, making it both deeply personal and widely relatable. The blend of memoir and guidance is seamless. You feel the weight of what the author has endured, but also the strength in how she reframes those struggles into tools for resilience. It’s a reminder that survival isn’t just about grit, it’s about grace, community, and choosing yourself again and again, even when the world feels heavy. This isn’t just a book to read once and shelve. It’s one to return to when life feels overwhelming, when you need to be reminded that exhaustion doesn’t define you and that healing, though messy, is possible.