What do you think?
Raven
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26An orphaned young woman in antebellum Maryland is pulled into a maelstrom of passion, pain, and occult power in this Gothic homage to the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe.
I died a fortnight ago this coming Thursday. It was a terrifically unpleasant experience—being murdered, I mean to say.
Raven Helen Allan has always been haunted by witchcraft. Since the death of her beloved mother, she has soothed herself by speaking words into spells—a proclivity enhanced by time spent with her aunt’s library of occult books. She also finds a self-destructive solace in transmuting the pain in her heart onto her flesh.
After an itinerant childhood spent first with her mother’s traveling theater troupe and then being passed around from relative to relative, Raven is relieved to finally settle down with Aunt Berenice in her Baltimore townhouse—even if her aunt spends most evenings in a laudanum haze. There she finds a long-sought sense of belonging with the family of enslaved workers in her aunt’s household, especially the brilliantly odd youngest daughter Pym. Raven’s infatuation with her friend only grows more intimate as the girls become women together. But when the household is threatened with financial ruin, Raven must set out to earn her own living.
Taking a job as a paid companion, Raven arrives at the crumbling Moldavia Manor. Her charge is a delicate young invalid named Lenore Legrand who haunts the Gothic structure like a phantom. Living with them is Lenore’s devoted older cousin Trevanion, who shares Raven’s interest in the occult and devotes his days to searching ancient texts for an Elixir of Life that might cure his cousin. Raven finds herself inexorably drawn to both cousins as well as to the secrets hidden in the shadows of Moldavia Manor. Will she find the answers she seeks in Trevanion’s alchemical texts? What is the meaning of glowing green light emitted from the tower windows? And is Raven truly narrating this story from beyond the grave—if so, who murdered her?
Gothic and atmospheric, Raven is an aching tale of loss, freedom, death, and resurrection by the celebrated author of Jane Steele and Dust and Shadow.
I died a fortnight ago this coming Thursday. It was a terrifically unpleasant experience—being murdered, I mean to say.
Raven Helen Allan has always been haunted by witchcraft. Since the death of her beloved mother, she has soothed herself by speaking words into spells—a proclivity enhanced by time spent with her aunt’s library of occult books. She also finds a self-destructive solace in transmuting the pain in her heart onto her flesh.
After an itinerant childhood spent first with her mother’s traveling theater troupe and then being passed around from relative to relative, Raven is relieved to finally settle down with Aunt Berenice in her Baltimore townhouse—even if her aunt spends most evenings in a laudanum haze. There she finds a long-sought sense of belonging with the family of enslaved workers in her aunt’s household, especially the brilliantly odd youngest daughter Pym. Raven’s infatuation with her friend only grows more intimate as the girls become women together. But when the household is threatened with financial ruin, Raven must set out to earn her own living.
Taking a job as a paid companion, Raven arrives at the crumbling Moldavia Manor. Her charge is a delicate young invalid named Lenore Legrand who haunts the Gothic structure like a phantom. Living with them is Lenore’s devoted older cousin Trevanion, who shares Raven’s interest in the occult and devotes his days to searching ancient texts for an Elixir of Life that might cure his cousin. Raven finds herself inexorably drawn to both cousins as well as to the secrets hidden in the shadows of Moldavia Manor. Will she find the answers she seeks in Trevanion’s alchemical texts? What is the meaning of glowing green light emitted from the tower windows? And is Raven truly narrating this story from beyond the grave—if so, who murdered her?
Gothic and atmospheric, Raven is an aching tale of loss, freedom, death, and resurrection by the celebrated author of Jane Steele and Dust and Shadow.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Want to Read
September 13, 2026I remember Jane Steele being a Booktube darling a decade ago, and now Lyndsay Faye is back with another creative reimagining of a literary classic. This time, she draws inspiration not just from the life of Edgar Allan Poe, but his work as well. And if you're Poe obsessed? You're in for a treat with the number of Easter eggs I've heard are in this book.
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A hauntingly atmospheric Gothic mystery that masterfully captures the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe.
Steeped in witchcraft, alchemy, and the supernatural, this novel is a beautifully crafted Gothic tale with Poe’s influence woven seamlessly throughout. Its greatest strength is undoubtedly its atmosphere. Every setting feels cloaked in shadow, and Faye’s lush, lyrical prose vividly brings the eerie landscape of antebellum Maryland to life.
What I appreciated most was the way the references to Poe’s life and writings are incorporated. They never feel like forced Easter eggs or surface-level fan service. Instead, the familiar names, imagery, and recurring motifs add depth to the story, creating something that feels unmistakably Poe-inspired while remaining entirely its own.
Readers familiar with Poe’s work will find plenty of subtle allusions and clever connections to uncover, but prior knowledge isn’t required to enjoy the novel. At its heart, this is still a compelling Gothic mystery filled with secrets, shadows, and a wonderfully unsettling sense of place.
That said, this book’s style will not appeal to everyone. Faye deliberately embraces the language and rhythms of nineteenth-century literature, resulting in prose that is rich, elaborate, and highly descriptive. For some readers, the slower pacing and ornate writing may occasionally feel heavy. While the story is accessible without any background knowledge of Poe, those familiar with his work will likely find an added layer of appreciation in the numerous references and carefully crafted callbacks.
Still, Raven stands out for its historical depth, memorable characters, and immersive Gothic atmosphere. The same qualities that make it unique ( its literary style, layered themes, and deliberate pacing) may also make it less appealing to readers looking for a faster, more plot-driven mystery.
Overall, Raven is a beautifully atmospheric Gothic novel that blends historical fiction, mystery, supernatural suspense, and queer romance into a story that feels both timeless and original. Lyndsay Faye captures the essence of Edgar Allan Poe without simply recreating his work, using literary influences to enrich the narrative while delivering a mystery filled with emotion, intrigue, and haunting beauty.
Steeped in witchcraft, alchemy, and the supernatural, this novel is a beautifully crafted Gothic tale with Poe’s influence woven seamlessly throughout. Its greatest strength is undoubtedly its atmosphere. Every setting feels cloaked in shadow, and Faye’s lush, lyrical prose vividly brings the eerie landscape of antebellum Maryland to life.
What I appreciated most was the way the references to Poe’s life and writings are incorporated. They never feel like forced Easter eggs or surface-level fan service. Instead, the familiar names, imagery, and recurring motifs add depth to the story, creating something that feels unmistakably Poe-inspired while remaining entirely its own.
Readers familiar with Poe’s work will find plenty of subtle allusions and clever connections to uncover, but prior knowledge isn’t required to enjoy the novel. At its heart, this is still a compelling Gothic mystery filled with secrets, shadows, and a wonderfully unsettling sense of place.
That said, this book’s style will not appeal to everyone. Faye deliberately embraces the language and rhythms of nineteenth-century literature, resulting in prose that is rich, elaborate, and highly descriptive. For some readers, the slower pacing and ornate writing may occasionally feel heavy. While the story is accessible without any background knowledge of Poe, those familiar with his work will likely find an added layer of appreciation in the numerous references and carefully crafted callbacks.
Still, Raven stands out for its historical depth, memorable characters, and immersive Gothic atmosphere. The same qualities that make it unique ( its literary style, layered themes, and deliberate pacing) may also make it less appealing to readers looking for a faster, more plot-driven mystery.
Overall, Raven is a beautifully atmospheric Gothic novel that blends historical fiction, mystery, supernatural suspense, and queer romance into a story that feels both timeless and original. Lyndsay Faye captures the essence of Edgar Allan Poe without simply recreating his work, using literary influences to enrich the narrative while delivering a mystery filled with emotion, intrigue, and haunting beauty.
Read
July 3, 2026i was once a very emo fourteen year old who would've DEVOURED a book that included a FMC romantically involved with characters who are a very, very thinly disguised edgar and virginia (and i very much did read the trashfire that was 'the raven's bride' back then....all in one go until 5 in the morning on a school night) but i don't think at my age the nostalgic morbid curiosity will win me over to this one.
.......bookmarking it though, just in case it does win.
EDIT: holy HELL???? by the author of Dust & Shadow????? oh yeah, fourteen year old me would be crying tears of joy right now.
.......bookmarking it though, just in case it does win.
EDIT: holy HELL???? by the author of Dust & Shadow????? oh yeah, fourteen year old me would be crying tears of joy right now.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews