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The Shadow #2
Conspiracy of Ravens
Monsters, magic and the supernatural combine in this sequel to Wake of Vultures, in which a young woman must defeat the evil hiding beneath the surface.
Nettie Lonesome made a leap - not knowing what she'd become. But now the destiny of the Shadow is calling.
A powerful alchemist is leaving a trail of dead across the prairie. And the Shadow must face the ultimate challenge: side with her friends and the badge on her chest or take off alone on the dangerous mission pulling her inexorably toward the fight of her life.
When it comes to monsters and men, the world isn't black and white. What good are two wings and a gun when your enemy can command a conspiracy of ravens?
Conspiracy of Ravens continues the exciting journey begun in Wake of Vultures as Nettie Lonesome discovers that she, and the world, are more than what they seem.
Nettie Lonesome made a leap - not knowing what she'd become. But now the destiny of the Shadow is calling.
A powerful alchemist is leaving a trail of dead across the prairie. And the Shadow must face the ultimate challenge: side with her friends and the badge on her chest or take off alone on the dangerous mission pulling her inexorably toward the fight of her life.
When it comes to monsters and men, the world isn't black and white. What good are two wings and a gun when your enemy can command a conspiracy of ravens?
Conspiracy of Ravens continues the exciting journey begun in Wake of Vultures as Nettie Lonesome discovers that she, and the world, are more than what they seem.
359 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
159 people are currently reading
1759 people want to read
About the author
Lila Bowen
10 books287 followersLila Bowen is the writer of Wake of Vultures and its sequel, Horde of Crows. As Delilah S. Dawson, she writes the Blud series, the Hit series, Servants of the Storm, and a variety of short stories and comics.
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March 21, 2024
Conspiracy of Ravens
By Lila Bowen
I really like the wild west background with the supernatural and mythology creatures weaved throughout the story. The main character, Nettie, who changes her name to fit her roles, is part Indian and part black and had been treated like a slave until she ran away. That was in book one. Now, dressed as a boy, she is a Ranger who hunts creatures that harm people. She has earned a badge. She has pride in herself. She is also confused about her sexual orientation.
Lots of creatures, strangeness, and unique fantasy.
By Lila Bowen
I really like the wild west background with the supernatural and mythology creatures weaved throughout the story. The main character, Nettie, who changes her name to fit her roles, is part Indian and part black and had been treated like a slave until she ran away. That was in book one. Now, dressed as a boy, she is a Ranger who hunts creatures that harm people. She has earned a badge. She has pride in herself. She is also confused about her sexual orientation.
Lots of creatures, strangeness, and unique fantasy.
March 21, 2017
I would like to start this review off by saying that this was written by one of my most favorite authors and despite the following review, I still feel that way.
This book was written well. It has a good general story going on and a great description/feel of the book. 99% of the characters and interesting and complex. My mind is completely, 100% in 1800's Texas when reading and I love it.
But I strongly dislike the main character. There may be slight spoilers going forward.
I really liked Nettie. She had a tough life, worked hard, and despite being confused and not simply knowing a lot of things, she had a good idea of what she was and what she wasn't. As Wake of Vultures progressed, Nettie went back and forth about what it meant to her to be a girl. She had been dressing as a boy for some time, but still physically felt a girl (that we could tell, for the most part), and even had a crush on a boy. What she wasn't was a girly girl; no dresses, no clean and proper, no weakness. She was a strong person and I think it would have been awesome to explore what it would have been like to be a strong-willed bi female who dressed like a boy and liked to break horses in the Wild West.
But instead we had to jump on the trans bandwagon and turn Nettie into Rhett, who is not a very nice guy.
Leading to the decision to become Rhett, Nettie toyed with the idea of maybe females don't have to be what she thought they did all her life, even maybe making peace a little with the idea of being female. I don't feel like she actually felt like she was born in the wrong body, and if she did then this really should have been made more clear in Wake of Vultures and Conspiracy of Ravens leading up to the switch. I read it as Nettie not wanting to put in the effort to explore what it means to her to be a girl and push or break boundaries, but as a scapegoat of not wanting to put in that effort and instead just switching teams because it's easier. It really seemed like the easy way out.
Once Nettie became Rhett, Rhett turned into the jackass kind of guy I think would be running around on a horse out west in the 1800's. He ends up sleeping with three different people, keeping each one a secret from the others and setting himself up to really hurt people who care about him, and this really bothered me. It's like he turned into all the men who treated him like shit is whole life. He started thinking with his imaginary penis instead of staying focused on his quest to save people's lives and stop all the bad guys.
I also feel that the fact of Rhett being "The Shadow" should have been discussed more leading up to the end of this book, because it actually plays a decent part in this story. I re-listened to Wake of Vultures before reading Conspiracy of Ravens and I don't recall it being mentioned much there either. It seemed to be a suddenly important part of the story.
I gave this book two stars because I still feel like it is a good story and has all-but-one great characters. If you're looking to read a book specifically with a trans element, I suppose this would be as good as any other and it certainly is unique. I am sad to say that I probably won't be reading any more books in this series, but I strongly recommend any other books by Delilah S. Dawson (Lila Bowen is her pen name), especially the Blud series.
This book was written well. It has a good general story going on and a great description/feel of the book. 99% of the characters and interesting and complex. My mind is completely, 100% in 1800's Texas when reading and I love it.
But I strongly dislike the main character. There may be slight spoilers going forward.
I really liked Nettie. She had a tough life, worked hard, and despite being confused and not simply knowing a lot of things, she had a good idea of what she was and what she wasn't. As Wake of Vultures progressed, Nettie went back and forth about what it meant to her to be a girl. She had been dressing as a boy for some time, but still physically felt a girl (that we could tell, for the most part), and even had a crush on a boy. What she wasn't was a girly girl; no dresses, no clean and proper, no weakness. She was a strong person and I think it would have been awesome to explore what it would have been like to be a strong-willed bi female who dressed like a boy and liked to break horses in the Wild West.
But instead we had to jump on the trans bandwagon and turn Nettie into Rhett, who is not a very nice guy.
Leading to the decision to become Rhett, Nettie toyed with the idea of maybe females don't have to be what she thought they did all her life, even maybe making peace a little with the idea of being female. I don't feel like she actually felt like she was born in the wrong body, and if she did then this really should have been made more clear in Wake of Vultures and Conspiracy of Ravens leading up to the switch. I read it as Nettie not wanting to put in the effort to explore what it means to her to be a girl and push or break boundaries, but as a scapegoat of not wanting to put in that effort and instead just switching teams because it's easier. It really seemed like the easy way out.
Once Nettie became Rhett, Rhett turned into the jackass kind of guy I think would be running around on a horse out west in the 1800's. He ends up sleeping with three different people, keeping each one a secret from the others and setting himself up to really hurt people who care about him, and this really bothered me. It's like he turned into all the men who treated him like shit is whole life. He started thinking with his imaginary penis instead of staying focused on his quest to save people's lives and stop all the bad guys.
I also feel that the fact of Rhett being "The Shadow" should have been discussed more leading up to the end of this book, because it actually plays a decent part in this story. I re-listened to Wake of Vultures before reading Conspiracy of Ravens and I don't recall it being mentioned much there either. It seemed to be a suddenly important part of the story.
I gave this book two stars because I still feel like it is a good story and has all-but-one great characters. If you're looking to read a book specifically with a trans element, I suppose this would be as good as any other and it certainly is unique. I am sad to say that I probably won't be reading any more books in this series, but I strongly recommend any other books by Delilah S. Dawson (Lila Bowen is her pen name), especially the Blud series.
January 13, 2025
Excellent continuation of Nettie (and) Rhett's journey.
After the doozy of the cliffhanger from the previous installment, I, like many readers, was unsure how these new events would play out. Through the course of the first book, it was becoming clear that Nettie Rhett was the Shadow. What the Shadow is is still a work in progress, as are the powers that come along with being such an entity. Nettie Rhett is still working out all the kinks of being the Shadow, and while many questions have been answered, there's still much left to be discovered.
Also in this installment, Rhett is still wrangling with gender and sexual identity issues. Just when he thinks he's got it figured out, circumstances change and he's left once again questioning if this choice is the right one. He feels most comfortable wearing his Rhett persona, but still wonders how it would feel to embrace his feminine side. His sexual preference is also unclear to him and while he's got several suitors available in both sexes, his confusion is still very apparent. All this, and he still has to fight the bad guys alongside the Rangers.
The first installment of this series was so utterly charming and such a breath of fresh air. Not only was the setting so unique, but the inclusion of diversity and real-life issues really made such a fantastic impression on me. This second book still builds on all of the aforementioned uniqueness, but things got a bit muddled for me when a little romance was introduced. I know it's not easy to pick a mate, and it's even more difficult when you don't know which sex you want, and I felt Rhett's turmoil through the entire story. My only wish is that the romantic side of the equation were a little simplified -- too many love interests is never a good thing. For me, at least, because it always comes off as a cheap plot device in order to create tension on behalf of the reader. Personal choice, others may love it, so don't be dissuaded because this really is a fantastic series.
Bottom line - excellent continuation of Rhett's journey in figuring out who he is, and slowly learning to embrace himself and his choices. The backdrop of the Wild West and supernatural creatures and magic is the icing on the fantastic Shadow cake, and I highly recommend this series. It's so unique and so fun, and I'm hoping it's a series that eventually turns into a longer one. I don't see myself tiring of Rhett and his phenomenal world any time soon, so hopefully there's much more to come.
*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
After the doozy of the cliffhanger from the previous installment, I, like many readers, was unsure how these new events would play out. Through the course of the first book, it was becoming clear that Nettie Rhett was the Shadow. What the Shadow is is still a work in progress, as are the powers that come along with being such an entity. Nettie Rhett is still working out all the kinks of being the Shadow, and while many questions have been answered, there's still much left to be discovered.
Also in this installment, Rhett is still wrangling with gender and sexual identity issues. Just when he thinks he's got it figured out, circumstances change and he's left once again questioning if this choice is the right one. He feels most comfortable wearing his Rhett persona, but still wonders how it would feel to embrace his feminine side. His sexual preference is also unclear to him and while he's got several suitors available in both sexes, his confusion is still very apparent. All this, and he still has to fight the bad guys alongside the Rangers.
The first installment of this series was so utterly charming and such a breath of fresh air. Not only was the setting so unique, but the inclusion of diversity and real-life issues really made such a fantastic impression on me. This second book still builds on all of the aforementioned uniqueness, but things got a bit muddled for me when a little romance was introduced. I know it's not easy to pick a mate, and it's even more difficult when you don't know which sex you want, and I felt Rhett's turmoil through the entire story. My only wish is that the romantic side of the equation were a little simplified -- too many love interests is never a good thing. For me, at least, because it always comes off as a cheap plot device in order to create tension on behalf of the reader. Personal choice, others may love it, so don't be dissuaded because this really is a fantastic series.
Bottom line - excellent continuation of Rhett's journey in figuring out who he is, and slowly learning to embrace himself and his choices. The backdrop of the Wild West and supernatural creatures and magic is the icing on the fantastic Shadow cake, and I highly recommend this series. It's so unique and so fun, and I'm hoping it's a series that eventually turns into a longer one. I don't see myself tiring of Rhett and his phenomenal world any time soon, so hopefully there's much more to come.
*eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 19, 2016
2.5 stars. It was okay with elements of good.
My problem with this was Rhett/ Nettie. Her whole 'I'm a man and I'm in love with some and hate the rest' attitude.
My problem with this was Rhett/ Nettie. Her whole 'I'm a man and I'm in love with some and hate the rest' attitude.
November 22, 2016
As you may know from my review, I *LOVED* Wake of Vultures, book one in this series about the Shadow. This installment, Conspiracy of Ravens, hit me in a lot of the same feels, but this time, it felt a little less polished. The plot took longer to spool up to where the action would really start -- the first 50-60% of the book was strictly traveling to the location where the main plot would actually begin to create the real action. This book had a lot more setup, creating some new threads for future books, and adding some new characters into the mix, so I understand why the plot had to take a back seat for part of the book, but I feel like it could have been done more seamlessly, rather than taking a long meandering approach to getting where they needed to go so they could do what they needed to do.
Nettie finally helps clear up my confusion of which pronoun to use, accepts herself as a himself (and an itself, but no spoilers from me on that one!), and begins to live as Rhett, and his life gets infinitely more interesting in this "episode" of The Shadow. He starts to discover the joys of intimacy, and a love tangle appears. Yes, I say tangle, because there are just too many potential threads to lay out into a shape that makes sense LOL. Oh, and
The urban fantasy/historical fiction blend still really works for me, making the west into the Wild West, and being easy on brain's imagination gears.
Now begins the long wait for book three, some time in 2017 *hopefully*...
Final verdict? Great book, one less star than book one because of the slow plot advancement for the first 50-60% of the book, so four feathers, err, stars. :)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nettie finally helps clear up my confusion of which pronoun to use, accepts herself as a himself (and an itself, but no spoilers from me on that one!), and begins to live as Rhett, and his life gets infinitely more interesting in this "episode" of The Shadow. He starts to discover the joys of intimacy, and a love tangle appears. Yes, I say tangle, because there are just too many potential threads to lay out into a shape that makes sense LOL. Oh, and
The urban fantasy/historical fiction blend still really works for me, making the west into the Wild West, and being easy on brain's imagination gears.
Now begins the long wait for book three, some time in 2017 *hopefully*...
Final verdict? Great book, one less star than book one because of the slow plot advancement for the first 50-60% of the book, so four feathers, err, stars. :)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2017
Gender and sexual awakenings in a fantasy version of the old west as we continue the story of Nettie Lonesome, now Rhett Hennessey and the Shadow.
Nettie comes back to herself after discovering she can shift into a huge vulture-like bird to find that she has a new mission. And a new identity, as she finally realizes that Rhett isn't just a disguise, but the identity that she wishes going forward. If nothing else, Rhett is a stubborn man. After reuniting with old friends he heads out of his part of Durango to deal with the proprietor of a railway construction company that uses enslaved-monster labor and stands to learn a lot more about himself along the way.
If Wake of Vultures was about the world of Durango and Nettie's beginning, this one is about establishing Rhett's place in the world as the Shadow. He's strong, stubborn and sure of himself, even though he still discovers much throughout the course of the book.
Unfortunately the ending is a little rushed, and the story left fairly unresolved at the end of this book. It's not a cliffhanger, but it's definitely part one. Looking forward to the next one.
Nettie comes back to herself after discovering she can shift into a huge vulture-like bird to find that she has a new mission. And a new identity, as she finally realizes that Rhett isn't just a disguise, but the identity that she wishes going forward. If nothing else, Rhett is a stubborn man. After reuniting with old friends he heads out of his part of Durango to deal with the proprietor of a railway construction company that uses enslaved-monster labor and stands to learn a lot more about himself along the way.
If Wake of Vultures was about the world of Durango and Nettie's beginning, this one is about establishing Rhett's place in the world as the Shadow. He's strong, stubborn and sure of himself, even though he still discovers much throughout the course of the book.
Unfortunately the ending is a little rushed, and the story left fairly unresolved at the end of this book. It's not a cliffhanger, but it's definitely part one. Looking forward to the next one.
December 3, 2016
Full Review at Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2016/1...
2.5/5 stars
DISCLAIMER: I normally write spoiler free reviews. In this case I really wanted to talk about some of the diversity features of Conspiracy of Ravens. There may be spoilers in regard to that aspect of the book.
Unfortunately, Conspiracy of Ravens just did not work as well for me as Wake of Vultures (which was an unexpected hit for me last year). I felt the over all pace of the story was slower. In the first book, I loved getting to know and understand Nettie/Rhett, learning about the magic and creatures. I loved reading about Nettie’s fight for survival. I never once felt like the book was slow. And the ending of the first book! It was exciting, and promised so much more story to come.
That is part of the reason I was so surprised to struggle to engage as much with the second one. The first quarter, or maybe even third of the book, I honestly fought to find anything interesting happening. There was a good amount of recap. There was a good amount of walking (with a donkey). And I have to say, the next largest component was Nettie/Rhett’s personality. Which unfortunately I found less fun and more whiney in this one.
Now, gender identity is a huge part of who Rhett is and his life. The problem for me I think is that I almost felt like that conflict was too big to serve as a subplot. I feel like the gender identity struggle would be better represented in a book that was dedicated to the character and their internal (and external) struggles surrounding that. I feel like that could make a very engaging, thought provoking and emotional read. Maybe that is a fault with me, but I almost felt like I would prefer more focus on this part of the character, or less. The level it was at almost made it feel more like it was just there, but not enough to do it justice. I mean, I get that this is who Rhett is and of course it will be a major component, but pairing that within the other plot, I just never felt as emotionally connected to the character as I wanted to be or felt like I should be to really understand and appreciate this inner conflict.
So, when it comes down to it the book started very slow for me. I also had issues connecting with the protagonist, which surprised me as I did not have that issue in Wake of Vultures. I could see enough merit in this book that I an appreciate others may still enjoy it. But for me? Ultimately, I think I am likely done with the series unless I hear rave reviews for book 3 to convince me to read on.
2.5/5 stars
DISCLAIMER: I normally write spoiler free reviews. In this case I really wanted to talk about some of the diversity features of Conspiracy of Ravens. There may be spoilers in regard to that aspect of the book.
Unfortunately, Conspiracy of Ravens just did not work as well for me as Wake of Vultures (which was an unexpected hit for me last year). I felt the over all pace of the story was slower. In the first book, I loved getting to know and understand Nettie/Rhett, learning about the magic and creatures. I loved reading about Nettie’s fight for survival. I never once felt like the book was slow. And the ending of the first book! It was exciting, and promised so much more story to come.
That is part of the reason I was so surprised to struggle to engage as much with the second one. The first quarter, or maybe even third of the book, I honestly fought to find anything interesting happening. There was a good amount of recap. There was a good amount of walking (with a donkey). And I have to say, the next largest component was Nettie/Rhett’s personality. Which unfortunately I found less fun and more whiney in this one.
Now, gender identity is a huge part of who Rhett is and his life. The problem for me I think is that I almost felt like that conflict was too big to serve as a subplot. I feel like the gender identity struggle would be better represented in a book that was dedicated to the character and their internal (and external) struggles surrounding that. I feel like that could make a very engaging, thought provoking and emotional read. Maybe that is a fault with me, but I almost felt like I would prefer more focus on this part of the character, or less. The level it was at almost made it feel more like it was just there, but not enough to do it justice. I mean, I get that this is who Rhett is and of course it will be a major component, but pairing that within the other plot, I just never felt as emotionally connected to the character as I wanted to be or felt like I should be to really understand and appreciate this inner conflict.
So, when it comes down to it the book started very slow for me. I also had issues connecting with the protagonist, which surprised me as I did not have that issue in Wake of Vultures. I could see enough merit in this book that I an appreciate others may still enjoy it. But for me? Ultimately, I think I am likely done with the series unless I hear rave reviews for book 3 to convince me to read on.
April 3, 2018
My review of Wake of Vultures.
Rhett Walker is the Shadow. What that means is still a bit of a mystery to him. What he does know is that he follows his gut feeling into the monster den and kills what needs killin'. This time around Rhett and his friends are begged to take care of a railroad boss that cuts off pieces of his monster workers to fuel building the railroad. A monster that scares and controls other monsters makes quite the villain.
The most important part of this story really isn't the plot line even though that's enjoyable. It's more the journey of self discovery of the main character Rhett, who was previously Nettie Lonesome. You see, Rhett is not only half black, half Native American, he's also transgender in an era/world where such a thing is not heard of. I cannot give the author Lila Bowen enough credit in how well they portray what that life looks like from the inside.
This is both the tale of the struggle against hate of various forms, and also the love and acceptance of the person. The compassion of Rhett's friends is so important and moving. I recommend that if you have someone in your life that is LGBTQ you gift them this book series. Let it share hope in their darkest days when the world is being a right evil place. Hell, gift it to everyone. Everyone could use more compassion in their life. Nettie/Rhett is a very likable character, and maybe that relation may help someone who's close-minded, open up a little.
Rhett Walker is the Shadow. What that means is still a bit of a mystery to him. What he does know is that he follows his gut feeling into the monster den and kills what needs killin'. This time around Rhett and his friends are begged to take care of a railroad boss that cuts off pieces of his monster workers to fuel building the railroad. A monster that scares and controls other monsters makes quite the villain.
The most important part of this story really isn't the plot line even though that's enjoyable. It's more the journey of self discovery of the main character Rhett, who was previously Nettie Lonesome. You see, Rhett is not only half black, half Native American, he's also transgender in an era/world where such a thing is not heard of. I cannot give the author Lila Bowen enough credit in how well they portray what that life looks like from the inside.
This is both the tale of the struggle against hate of various forms, and also the love and acceptance of the person. The compassion of Rhett's friends is so important and moving. I recommend that if you have someone in your life that is LGBTQ you gift them this book series. Let it share hope in their darkest days when the world is being a right evil place. Hell, gift it to everyone. Everyone could use more compassion in their life. Nettie/Rhett is a very likable character, and maybe that relation may help someone who's close-minded, open up a little.
November 2, 2016
Received an ARC copy for review.
Holy heck this pretty damn good. A great sequel for sure. The western writing was still about difficult and annoying to read at times. The lingo just bores me, but the overall story was just phenomenal. Paranormal beings, alchemists, humans, magic, sexism, racism...just full of so much that builds this story up.
Nettie is still working hard as a Ranger, but she has finally embraced being the Shadow. She know goes by a new name -- Rhett Hennessy Walker. She is still struggling with her identity and sexuality. She's a black girl wanting to be a man, but she's in love with a boy while having relations with two woman and having a crush on man. Sounds completely insane, however it all adds to her growth. Rhett is bold, daring sarcastic and doesn't take mess from anyone. I totally love that about him. I get confused at times when Rhett doesn't know if he wants to be Nettie or Rhett, but just watching him figure his life out is amazing. I loved that he embraced his ability to shift. I just wish he would open his heart to others and have the patience to learn new things. Nettie aka Rhett is badass. I just still never really know whether to say he or she because he keeps flip flopping.
Coyote Dan is still an awesome guy. I think he has some type of feeling for Nettie, but because she prances around as a boy he stays far away from any kind of emotional connection. The friendship they have is pretty awesome. As for Winifred she is a handful of hot mess. That girl wants to do what she wants, when she wants and doesn't really care for consequences or drama. Sam is amazing
As for the new characters, Earl and Cora, they were pretty interesting. Earl was a major ass in every sense because he was rude, talked to damn much and he literally turned into a donkey. Cora was freaking amazing. I loved her and I hated her because of how she setup Rhett, but in the end it was all apart of the plan which I thought was awesome. She was also a cool ass dragon with powers to heal people. Amazing!
As for the evil man, Trevisan the alchemist, I don't know much about him since not much was revealed, but taking over Meimei like that is ruthless. Killing Grandpa Z was insane. I hope Rhett finds him and kills him again.
That ending was insane! I hope the next books don't get muddy with the romance and sex -- I think it's just too much. The first book was fine because the love interest was mainly Sam, but now with 2 females being involved and Rhett not knowing what he wants it just takes away from the story as a whole. I hope he figures out his life soon. I can't wait for more action as they chase after Trevisan.
Holy heck this pretty damn good. A great sequel for sure. The western writing was still about difficult and annoying to read at times. The lingo just bores me, but the overall story was just phenomenal. Paranormal beings, alchemists, humans, magic, sexism, racism...just full of so much that builds this story up.
Nettie is still working hard as a Ranger, but she has finally embraced being the Shadow. She know goes by a new name -- Rhett Hennessy Walker. She is still struggling with her identity and sexuality. She's a black girl wanting to be a man, but she's in love with a boy while having relations with two woman and having a crush on man. Sounds completely insane, however it all adds to her growth. Rhett is bold, daring sarcastic and doesn't take mess from anyone. I totally love that about him. I get confused at times when Rhett doesn't know if he wants to be Nettie or Rhett, but just watching him figure his life out is amazing. I loved that he embraced his ability to shift. I just wish he would open his heart to others and have the patience to learn new things. Nettie aka Rhett is badass. I just still never really know whether to say he or she because he keeps flip flopping.
Coyote Dan is still an awesome guy. I think he has some type of feeling for Nettie, but because she prances around as a boy he stays far away from any kind of emotional connection. The friendship they have is pretty awesome. As for Winifred she is a handful of hot mess. That girl wants to do what she wants, when she wants and doesn't really care for consequences or drama. Sam is amazing
As for the new characters, Earl and Cora, they were pretty interesting. Earl was a major ass in every sense because he was rude, talked to damn much and he literally turned into a donkey. Cora was freaking amazing. I loved her and I hated her because of how she setup Rhett, but in the end it was all apart of the plan which I thought was awesome. She was also a cool ass dragon with powers to heal people. Amazing!
As for the evil man, Trevisan the alchemist, I don't know much about him since not much was revealed, but taking over Meimei like that is ruthless. Killing Grandpa Z was insane. I hope Rhett finds him and kills him again.
That ending was insane! I hope the next books don't get muddy with the romance and sex -- I think it's just too much. The first book was fine because the love interest was mainly Sam, but now with 2 females being involved and Rhett not knowing what he wants it just takes away from the story as a whole. I hope he figures out his life soon. I can't wait for more action as they chase after Trevisan.
October 23, 2016
Every book from Lila Bowen (Delilah Dawson) is a gift. Each is full of flawed, raw, beautiful characters and lots of glorious violence. Conspiracy of Ravens is the second book to feature Rhett's continued adventures as the Shadow, and this was one hell of a ride. The thing I love most about Rhett is that he's stubborn, decisive when he ought to be a little more thoughtful, hot-headed, amd he refuses to live his life by anyone's terms but his own. He's not your typical hero, and that makes him mighty damn special.
November 25, 2016
It was nice to Rhett finally discovering himself. I don't like the guy half the time, because he's an ass, but that could be just me.
I still love Winifred so much, tho.
I still love Winifred so much, tho.
February 25, 2017
3.5 stars
March 22, 2021
Conspiracy of Ravens (The Shadow #2) by Lila Bowen is a fantastic sequel to Wake of Vultures. This is exactly the kind of historical fantasy western that I needed in my life. Sure, it's a little rough around the edges but to be honest that really worked in its favor for me. I can't wait to read the third book in the series, Malice of Crows.
February 9, 2018
I really, really wanted to love this book, and I guess that's when things started going down hill. I went in with high expectations, and in many ways, Lila Bowen succeeded.
My one gripe, my biggest one that cost this book two stars, was quite simply: Rhett.
This is a spoilery review so if you haven't read it, back out now.
At first, Rhett was extremely interesting as a character. A bit grouchy and understandably so, but then this just didn't abate for the entire book. His attitudes towards people were skewed straight from the start - most notably in regards to Winifred. I thought he liked her, kind of. Then right at the end of the book it says he didn't like her, though likes her body.
That attitude, throughout the whole book, is just infuriating to read. It was as though once I noticed it, I couldn't not notice it. Rhett, after finally embodying Rhett, suddenly looks down on all women. There's these little things he feels or says that makes him come across as misogynistic as the rest of the men - the very men who'd treated him like shit when he was referred to as Nettie. Anything feminine is immediately dismissed as beneath him, as horrifying or gross, or whatever. There's even a moment when he's facing the antagonist of the book - who is dressed in a fancy suit - and he is disgusted by the apparent feminine tastes.
He sleeps with three people in the book, and at one point the narrative refers to his nights with a woman as 'whoremongering'. The last time she calls him to her wagon, he flatly tells her he isn't interested, or doesn't care, and it felt very much like a 'shut up, Meg,' moment. He had two people he preferred next to him and he was out of his quota to pretend to care for her feelings at all.
'He didn't have much knowledge of women with grief, as from Regina and Mam, both of whom he considered soft in the head and foolish.' - by all accounts, he treated every woman in the book that way (which was few and far between), even the ones that should have tested their mettle. He wanted to protect one that was grieving because she was dainty - despite being a mother-loving dragon.
When two women finally do talk to one another it is late into the book, and Rhett immediately assumes they're gossiping about him.
I found it mildly amusing that Rhett kept calling Earl cantankerous when it was Rhett who was the most consistently insufferable. Earl had every reason to be impatient and distressed and terrified, and he was repeatedly snapped at for it, and treated as lesser. And, strangely, when Dan called Earl rude, I liked Dan less for it.
That being said, I couldn't possibly imagine how hard it is for someone to be Black-Indian in the Wild West, nor could I imagine how hard it is for Rhett to try to finally trust people, but he had the whole damn book and most of the people in his posse should have proven themselves by now. Also, I imagine, you'd want your main character to soften at least a little, without these little back-handed compliments or take-backs that happened every time he had something positive to think about someone.
I feel like I'm ranting, and I probably am, but this is the second book I've read (quite popular books too) that seem to have this weird thing about women, they're either non-existent or killed off - or the main characters treat feminine things like poison and try their hardest to the most masculine things to walk the earth... and it bothers me. There's nothing wrong with being feminine. Sure, Rhett is a man, in a woman's body, but surely he remembers the way people thought of him just by default of having a vagina, so you'd expect him to be a little bit more sympathetic... he isn't. He's amused that Winifred is interested in sowing something up, like she's a soft-minded flower child.
I don't know. I loved Wake of Vultures, but then, Nettie felt nicer. The change to Rhett was important - if a little abrupt - but that's the way it is (though I do prefer the name Nettie Lonesome over any in the book). This book is Rhett's story, it's just a shame I felt like he'd look down on me if we were to somehow magically meet, just by way of me being a woman, and that's not what I want to feel when reading.
My one gripe, my biggest one that cost this book two stars, was quite simply: Rhett.
This is a spoilery review so if you haven't read it, back out now.
At first, Rhett was extremely interesting as a character. A bit grouchy and understandably so, but then this just didn't abate for the entire book. His attitudes towards people were skewed straight from the start - most notably in regards to Winifred. I thought he liked her, kind of. Then right at the end of the book it says he didn't like her, though likes her body.
That attitude, throughout the whole book, is just infuriating to read. It was as though once I noticed it, I couldn't not notice it. Rhett, after finally embodying Rhett, suddenly looks down on all women. There's these little things he feels or says that makes him come across as misogynistic as the rest of the men - the very men who'd treated him like shit when he was referred to as Nettie. Anything feminine is immediately dismissed as beneath him, as horrifying or gross, or whatever. There's even a moment when he's facing the antagonist of the book - who is dressed in a fancy suit - and he is disgusted by the apparent feminine tastes.
He sleeps with three people in the book, and at one point the narrative refers to his nights with a woman as 'whoremongering'. The last time she calls him to her wagon, he flatly tells her he isn't interested, or doesn't care, and it felt very much like a 'shut up, Meg,' moment. He had two people he preferred next to him and he was out of his quota to pretend to care for her feelings at all.
'He didn't have much knowledge of women with grief, as from Regina and Mam, both of whom he considered soft in the head and foolish.' - by all accounts, he treated every woman in the book that way (which was few and far between), even the ones that should have tested their mettle. He wanted to protect one that was grieving because she was dainty - despite being a mother-loving dragon.
When two women finally do talk to one another it is late into the book, and Rhett immediately assumes they're gossiping about him.
I found it mildly amusing that Rhett kept calling Earl cantankerous when it was Rhett who was the most consistently insufferable. Earl had every reason to be impatient and distressed and terrified, and he was repeatedly snapped at for it, and treated as lesser. And, strangely, when Dan called Earl rude, I liked Dan less for it.
That being said, I couldn't possibly imagine how hard it is for someone to be Black-Indian in the Wild West, nor could I imagine how hard it is for Rhett to try to finally trust people, but he had the whole damn book and most of the people in his posse should have proven themselves by now. Also, I imagine, you'd want your main character to soften at least a little, without these little back-handed compliments or take-backs that happened every time he had something positive to think about someone.
I feel like I'm ranting, and I probably am, but this is the second book I've read (quite popular books too) that seem to have this weird thing about women, they're either non-existent or killed off - or the main characters treat feminine things like poison and try their hardest to the most masculine things to walk the earth... and it bothers me. There's nothing wrong with being feminine. Sure, Rhett is a man, in a woman's body, but surely he remembers the way people thought of him just by default of having a vagina, so you'd expect him to be a little bit more sympathetic... he isn't. He's amused that Winifred is interested in sowing something up, like she's a soft-minded flower child.
I don't know. I loved Wake of Vultures, but then, Nettie felt nicer. The change to Rhett was important - if a little abrupt - but that's the way it is (though I do prefer the name Nettie Lonesome over any in the book). This book is Rhett's story, it's just a shame I felt like he'd look down on me if we were to somehow magically meet, just by way of me being a woman, and that's not what I want to feel when reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
So happy I FINALLY got my hands on this book!!! I had been waiting for it to appear in my local library for ages. It was worth the wait, eeeeven though I think I liked the first book more...
Again, that is not to say I didn't like the second installment!! It's just I think because the first book was so different to anything I've read before, and so fun and engaging that I just had hoped that the second would leave me feeling the same way. But since I've 'been' to this world before, I obviously didn't feel the same way.
I think it's safe to say that most of this book is about Nettie becoming Rhett and fully becoming comfortable with who he is as a man and The Shadow, as well as becoming more in control with his powers. I will say that it's really nice whenever I get to read a character properly represented as bisxeual and with the struggles of a baby bisexual over trying to figure out which 'gender/sex' they prefer, until they realise that shouldn't be an issue. Because it's not.
Anyway the best part of this book is 100% the bits about Rhett and his development with himself and his friends. I also enjoyed the concept of using magical immigrant folk to build a railway, since that was a nice nod to real history, but I think because it was introduced like halfway through the book, the pacing of that story was a bit rushed. And the ending was so ??? "That's it???" At least that's how I felt.
TLDR I need to read the next book because I am protective over my baby Rhett and want to see him finally be happy and safe.
https://hercommonplaceblog.wordpress....
Again, that is not to say I didn't like the second installment!! It's just I think because the first book was so different to anything I've read before, and so fun and engaging that I just had hoped that the second would leave me feeling the same way. But since I've 'been' to this world before, I obviously didn't feel the same way.
I think it's safe to say that most of this book is about Nettie becoming Rhett and fully becoming comfortable with who he is as a man and The Shadow, as well as becoming more in control with his powers. I will say that it's really nice whenever I get to read a character properly represented as bisxeual and with the struggles of a baby bisexual over trying to figure out which 'gender/sex' they prefer, until they realise that shouldn't be an issue. Because it's not.
Anyway the best part of this book is 100% the bits about Rhett and his development with himself and his friends. I also enjoyed the concept of using magical immigrant folk to build a railway, since that was a nice nod to real history, but I think because it was introduced like halfway through the book, the pacing of that story was a bit rushed. And the ending was so ??? "That's it???" At least that's how I felt.
TLDR I need to read the next book because I am protective over my baby Rhett and want to see him finally be happy and safe.
https://hercommonplaceblog.wordpress....
March 18, 2018
Another fantastic instalment in this series. Completely loved it and can't wait to read the next one (which I plan to start as soon as I've finished typing this). Highly recommended. (The synopsis is wrong by the way, previously genderfluid Nettie is now male Rhett and uses he/his pronouns. So he is not a woman.)
October 19, 2016
Esta segunda parte no me ha llamado tanto la atención como el primero.
Me ha faltado acción y el malo malísimo me ha dejado indiferente.
Y en vez de cazar monstruos se ha centrado más en la vida amorosa o parecido. De repente le salen rollos nocturnos de la nada.
=_=
Seguiré leyendo pero espero que cambie la dinámica.
Me ha faltado acción y el malo malísimo me ha dejado indiferente.
Y en vez de cazar monstruos se ha centrado más en la vida amorosa o parecido. De repente le salen rollos nocturnos de la nada.
=_=
Seguiré leyendo pero espero que cambie la dinámica.
May 8, 2017
I liked this even more than the prequel.
Such a diverse cast of characters with basic human motivations and weaknesses. Fantastical and historical (in its way) all at once. Smart.
I can't wait for the sequel.
Such a diverse cast of characters with basic human motivations and weaknesses. Fantastical and historical (in its way) all at once. Smart.
I can't wait for the sequel.
June 4, 2020
A good entertaining story , chock full of many colorful , fantastical/supernatural creatures. Looking forward to the next one....
March 23, 2017
Full review here: http://chellywrites.blogspot.com/2017...
December 25, 2017
I lost interest in the series after this book. Maybe because the plot started to feel convoluted and the character development suffered as a result. For some reason I rarely have patience for books where the main character has multiple love interests. They often don’t feel organic and instead seem like a way of generating plot to write about.
I also agree with other reviewers that the transgender plot line was underserved. It felt like we lost the character we started the series with rather than see them develop into Rhett and that was a shame.
I also agree with other reviewers that the transgender plot line was underserved. It felt like we lost the character we started the series with rather than see them develop into Rhett and that was a shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2020
Such a well written story full of hardship, friendship and great characters and monsters. An epic tale of sorrow and revenge. Still there are quiet beautiful moments in this book and a smile here and there. It is a tough story, full of scars and pain, yet beautiful and filled with hope.
On with the next one.
On with the next one.
February 8, 2018
if you wanna read about transmale bisexual murderous cowboys.... this book is for you
October 20, 2016
As always this review can also be found on my blog: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Conspiracy of Ravens starts directly after the events at the end of Wake of Vultures. Continuing Nettie/Rhett’s story. And, you can find my review for the first book !!HERE!!
As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, along with the story being told it was also about Nettie/Rhett’s journey and the ending of the book itself fitted perfectly with that. With Nettie now knowing who she really was when she jumped off the cliff. She realised that she can be who she wants to be and that it’s her choice. Her choice is to be Rhett Hennessy, a he who is both a Texas Ranger and a Monster.
Rhett is a shifter and is able to transform, like Dan and Winifred both change into coyotes, Rhett transforms into a large bird, larger than a Vulture and when we finally learn the name of the bird later on it gives us a glimpse into where one of his parents was from as it’s a rare creature to change into.
At the start of the book, after the conclusion of Wake of Vultures, Rhett has lost himself in his transformed bird state, leaving behind the pain and suffering of his human life for the simple life of a bird, eating carrion and flying around. In essence he has lost his humanity until he finds another shifter, a donkey who is an annoying, talkative and irritating young Irish man by name of Earl O’Bannon whose story about Bernard Trevisan and his rail road intrigues the part of Rhett that is The Shadow.
Thinking Earl’s story worth investigating Rhett agrees to take Earl to the Durango Rangers. On the trip to the Rangers outpost Earl helps Rhett with learning about his transformation and how to remember things he’s seen in bird form when he reverts back to being a man. We pass back the same way as the journey The Durango Rangers first took in Wake of Vultures, seeing and stopping at the same places along the way. I liked this in the book as it was nice to revisit the places from the first book even if only for a short time. It also made the journey back more personal for Rhett as he was repeating the journey he took to find himself only in reverse and, until he arrived back at the Ranger outpost you weren’t sure what sort of welcome he would get.
After Rhett finally returns to the Ranger outpost with Earl in tow, we get to see and catch-up with more characters from the first book, The Captain, Sam and the Coyote siblings Dan and Winifred. We learn that the Rangers have a commission to go and deal with Sand Wyrms which conveniently happens to be in the opposite direction to where Earl’s story will take them. With The Captain unable to refuse the already accepted commission, Rhett has to choose, stay with the Rangers or follow his destiny as The Shadow and due to that destiny, Rhett has to go where the pull takes him and it’s telling him that he needs to stop the Evil that Earl has spoken of.
Even though it was only a brief glimpse, it was great seeing the grizzled old Ranger Captain again and that Bowen found a way to both keep and incorporate the Las Moras Ranger outpost into the story – The Captain was one of my favourite secondary characters in Wake of Vultures. (If you read this Lila, you mentioned Sand Wyrms, I can’t be the only reader who wants to actually see them in a future book!)
Rhett isn’t left on his own though and he is still a Durango Ranger, Sam, Dan and Winifred all accompany him along with Earl and the best way to describe the group is as a ragtag posse.
Without writing too much and spoiling the story further. From here the story really picks up, don’t get me wrong, it isn’t slow to begin with but after leaving the Ranger outpost the group start making their way to the rail road that Trevisan is building and that actual story arc really picks up. On the way to the railroad camp we travel through a couple of very different places enlarging the world and meeting some rather eclectic characters to. With one place and character in particular showing the discrimination that Injuns and half-breeds suffered at the hands of the white man.
Being a moving encampment, Rhett can’t just go blindly into the fray, find out what is going on and how he as The Shadow can put a stop to it. We have the planning stages to include this time around as the group themselves have to formulate a plan to infiltrate Trevisan’s railroad and the banter, interplay and relationships between the group is one of the places where the book really shines and comes to life with Bowen creating a top quality group dynamic between them all with complex relationships and the occasional secret hidden just beneath the surface. It’s not just the planning on how to get into the camp either, throughout the book the group dynamic is a highlight.
The railroad camp itself is a horrible place, segregation and discrimination run rife in it with the more diverse groups being treated as animals and worthless, just labour to build and the whites being allowed freedom and money to spend. Colour and ethnic division again bringing diversity to the book, showing you how different colours are treated this time including the Irish and Chinese to. Which adds abit of reality into the fantasy novel as it really happened with both groups, where like immigrants they went in search of a better life and instead found cruelty and oppression.
When you first come across him, Bernard Trevisan himself isn’t what you expect from the main villain, with the clothes he wears he comes across as a dandy but while he wears brightly coloured suits his intentions themselves are pure dark and evil and he is a good choice to show that evil can wear any guise.
The various groups in the camp are all well realised, if slightly stereotypical – the Irish for one and as I mentioned the camp itself is a horrid place with a dark sense of doom hanging over it. And Rhett’s time spent there shows you how hard it is.
When Rhett finally manages to hatch a plan to stop Trevisan with the help of Cora, a Chinese doctor your glad that he is finally going to stop the terribleness that is the railroad and what Trevisan is creating and doing to the work force.
The story then builds to the inevitable conclusion, which ends the book nicely while leaving things open for the third book in the series.
The characters are all really good and ably support Rhett in the book. With the new characters adding a nice touch to, Earl is annoying and talkative and manages to near constantly antagonise Rhett which makes for you the reader having a chuckle at the pair of them and the addition of Cora later on is a nice touch to bringing a Chinese feel to the group and a different perspective and she is an interesting character that we will hopefully see more of in future books. And, Rhett’s relationships within the group are very interesting, especially his feelings towards certain group members and the trysts that take place.
Rhett himself having come to terms with who he is in the previous book is free to develop as the character and person that he chooses to be. I really like Rhett as a main character but did feel that at times he sometimes overstepped the mark in the book with some of his actions and anger but it’s a minor point and he is still an engaging character for the series to revolve around.
The world building is also top quality, we get to see more locations this time and hear little snippets about other areas of the world to, giving you a complex and richly detailed setting, hopefully with other areas to be explored in the future. And, the addition of alchemy is also another good touch adding some science into the supernatural and furthering the depths of the world to go alongside the monsters.
The writing is fast paced and Bowen pulls you into the story and unlike the first book where I lamented the fact that it could have been 50 pages or so longer this time around the book feels the perfect length.
Again, just like with the first book, Wake of Vultures, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading Conspiracy of Ravens and would highly recommend that you pick the series up. The series has everything that you could want in a book of this genre, an awesome blend of fantasy and western, great characters and the diverse aspect adds extra to it rather than detracting from the series with the lead character Rhett being a very complex and interesting character.
A top quality sequel that is recommended and deserves to be read.
4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Conspiracy of Ravens starts directly after the events at the end of Wake of Vultures. Continuing Nettie/Rhett’s story. And, you can find my review for the first book !!HERE!!
As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, along with the story being told it was also about Nettie/Rhett’s journey and the ending of the book itself fitted perfectly with that. With Nettie now knowing who she really was when she jumped off the cliff. She realised that she can be who she wants to be and that it’s her choice. Her choice is to be Rhett Hennessy, a he who is both a Texas Ranger and a Monster.
Rhett is a shifter and is able to transform, like Dan and Winifred both change into coyotes, Rhett transforms into a large bird, larger than a Vulture and when we finally learn the name of the bird later on it gives us a glimpse into where one of his parents was from as it’s a rare creature to change into.
At the start of the book, after the conclusion of Wake of Vultures, Rhett has lost himself in his transformed bird state, leaving behind the pain and suffering of his human life for the simple life of a bird, eating carrion and flying around. In essence he has lost his humanity until he finds another shifter, a donkey who is an annoying, talkative and irritating young Irish man by name of Earl O’Bannon whose story about Bernard Trevisan and his rail road intrigues the part of Rhett that is The Shadow.
Thinking Earl’s story worth investigating Rhett agrees to take Earl to the Durango Rangers. On the trip to the Rangers outpost Earl helps Rhett with learning about his transformation and how to remember things he’s seen in bird form when he reverts back to being a man. We pass back the same way as the journey The Durango Rangers first took in Wake of Vultures, seeing and stopping at the same places along the way. I liked this in the book as it was nice to revisit the places from the first book even if only for a short time. It also made the journey back more personal for Rhett as he was repeating the journey he took to find himself only in reverse and, until he arrived back at the Ranger outpost you weren’t sure what sort of welcome he would get.
After Rhett finally returns to the Ranger outpost with Earl in tow, we get to see and catch-up with more characters from the first book, The Captain, Sam and the Coyote siblings Dan and Winifred. We learn that the Rangers have a commission to go and deal with Sand Wyrms which conveniently happens to be in the opposite direction to where Earl’s story will take them. With The Captain unable to refuse the already accepted commission, Rhett has to choose, stay with the Rangers or follow his destiny as The Shadow and due to that destiny, Rhett has to go where the pull takes him and it’s telling him that he needs to stop the Evil that Earl has spoken of.
Even though it was only a brief glimpse, it was great seeing the grizzled old Ranger Captain again and that Bowen found a way to both keep and incorporate the Las Moras Ranger outpost into the story – The Captain was one of my favourite secondary characters in Wake of Vultures. (If you read this Lila, you mentioned Sand Wyrms, I can’t be the only reader who wants to actually see them in a future book!)
Rhett isn’t left on his own though and he is still a Durango Ranger, Sam, Dan and Winifred all accompany him along with Earl and the best way to describe the group is as a ragtag posse.
Without writing too much and spoiling the story further. From here the story really picks up, don’t get me wrong, it isn’t slow to begin with but after leaving the Ranger outpost the group start making their way to the rail road that Trevisan is building and that actual story arc really picks up. On the way to the railroad camp we travel through a couple of very different places enlarging the world and meeting some rather eclectic characters to. With one place and character in particular showing the discrimination that Injuns and half-breeds suffered at the hands of the white man.
Being a moving encampment, Rhett can’t just go blindly into the fray, find out what is going on and how he as The Shadow can put a stop to it. We have the planning stages to include this time around as the group themselves have to formulate a plan to infiltrate Trevisan’s railroad and the banter, interplay and relationships between the group is one of the places where the book really shines and comes to life with Bowen creating a top quality group dynamic between them all with complex relationships and the occasional secret hidden just beneath the surface. It’s not just the planning on how to get into the camp either, throughout the book the group dynamic is a highlight.
The railroad camp itself is a horrible place, segregation and discrimination run rife in it with the more diverse groups being treated as animals and worthless, just labour to build and the whites being allowed freedom and money to spend. Colour and ethnic division again bringing diversity to the book, showing you how different colours are treated this time including the Irish and Chinese to. Which adds abit of reality into the fantasy novel as it really happened with both groups, where like immigrants they went in search of a better life and instead found cruelty and oppression.
When you first come across him, Bernard Trevisan himself isn’t what you expect from the main villain, with the clothes he wears he comes across as a dandy but while he wears brightly coloured suits his intentions themselves are pure dark and evil and he is a good choice to show that evil can wear any guise.
The various groups in the camp are all well realised, if slightly stereotypical – the Irish for one and as I mentioned the camp itself is a horrid place with a dark sense of doom hanging over it. And Rhett’s time spent there shows you how hard it is.
When Rhett finally manages to hatch a plan to stop Trevisan with the help of Cora, a Chinese doctor your glad that he is finally going to stop the terribleness that is the railroad and what Trevisan is creating and doing to the work force.
The story then builds to the inevitable conclusion, which ends the book nicely while leaving things open for the third book in the series.
The characters are all really good and ably support Rhett in the book. With the new characters adding a nice touch to, Earl is annoying and talkative and manages to near constantly antagonise Rhett which makes for you the reader having a chuckle at the pair of them and the addition of Cora later on is a nice touch to bringing a Chinese feel to the group and a different perspective and she is an interesting character that we will hopefully see more of in future books. And, Rhett’s relationships within the group are very interesting, especially his feelings towards certain group members and the trysts that take place.
Rhett himself having come to terms with who he is in the previous book is free to develop as the character and person that he chooses to be. I really like Rhett as a main character but did feel that at times he sometimes overstepped the mark in the book with some of his actions and anger but it’s a minor point and he is still an engaging character for the series to revolve around.
The world building is also top quality, we get to see more locations this time and hear little snippets about other areas of the world to, giving you a complex and richly detailed setting, hopefully with other areas to be explored in the future. And, the addition of alchemy is also another good touch adding some science into the supernatural and furthering the depths of the world to go alongside the monsters.
The writing is fast paced and Bowen pulls you into the story and unlike the first book where I lamented the fact that it could have been 50 pages or so longer this time around the book feels the perfect length.
Again, just like with the first book, Wake of Vultures, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading Conspiracy of Ravens and would highly recommend that you pick the series up. The series has everything that you could want in a book of this genre, an awesome blend of fantasy and western, great characters and the diverse aspect adds extra to it rather than detracting from the series with the lead character Rhett being a very complex and interesting character.
A top quality sequel that is recommended and deserves to be read.
February 2, 2017
This book gives me mixed feelings. So I'm going to break down my likes and dislikes and try to formulate something coherent along the way. Lila Bowen does an excellent job creating the world in which these characters exist and it's precisely this reason that when I encounter things I'm not a huge fan of I can move past them. Because I understand the world, I get a strong sense of why the characters act the way they do.
So the world, it's a crazy tangle of wild west, meets, vampires, and culture based monsters of legends. On top of that, it's a gritty realistic portrayal of what it's like to be mixed race, to be Black, White, Irish, Chinese, Indian, Male, Female, or somewhere in between them all and to exist in the Wild West that got turned on it's head. The rules of the West we all know apply: white men rule, slavery is abound and being a woman might just get you killed. Lila Bowen has set the stage for everyone, she's laid the groundwork, and then throws us characters that are so thoroughly ensconced in this landscape, that separating them out seems almost impossible. The world drives the characters and the characters have life because of it. In this sense I give this book (and the series) an A+.
So lets take a look at Lettie Lonesome. Are main Heroine/Hero. A half Black/ half Indian, all slave girl, growing up with abusive parents/owners, who's just yearning to be free. If you've read book 1 you learn she's more than she seems, she's the mysterious Shadow, with a destiny as big as the sky, trusted with undoing the bad in the world. Given what we know about her and the world it should come of no surprise to anyone that she's ashamed of herself. She's ashamed of being a woman, with body parts and feelings she finds useless given the world she's grown up in. Her color/features say she's ugly, her lady parts are a hindrance. Her general make up suggests she shouldn't be able to do the things she loves; ride and break broncs, and shoot things when she's mad. So she does the one thing she feels she needs to do: she dresses as a man. She talks, and eats, and farts, and tames broncs, and shoots, like a man. Because this is what she needs to do to survive. But she takes it a further than that, she truly believes that she is a man, that she was born wrong. She thinks of herself as 'He', takes a new male name Rhett Hennesey, and eventually Ms. Bowen writes her as a man, with male pronouns. We saw the beginnings of this in book 1 and he evolves further in book 2. And as he discovers himself, he also discovers his sexuality. And since he sees himself as a man it should also come as no surprise that he is interested in women. And Ms. Bowen handles this subject very well and very subtly. You can clearly see Rhett is just beginning to understand himself, he still has his crush on Sam but doesn't want to hurt that relationship anymore than he already has, and he was always attracted to Winifred even though he's never liked her much. And even by the end of the book he still doesn't really know what he wants.
Now when I started reading this book, Rhett was not the character I expected to get. I started reading because I like strong female characters, I like characters who take life by the horns and ride it. I was looking for a women undercover, who somehow engraves herself in the lives of men and comes out stronger and better than half of them. So I'm not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed with Lettie's change to Rhett, because to me it's as if Rhett himself doesn't believe in the strength of women (even though he's constantly seeing the strength in the women around him) and he's ashamed to be one and that makes me, as a woman, sad, because I know women can kick butt too. I wanted a heterosexual romance, maybe something where a friend finds out she's a woman and there friendship blossoms into something more. But what we get is very well done. Even at the end of book 2 I don't know where the author is going in terms of romance, and neither does Rhett. He just does what he wants and deals with the consequences of his action when he can. And while I don't necessarily like the way the romance is going it doesn't mean I don't understand it's purpose and understand why it came to be. I can respect it and I'm still interested to see where the author will take it.
I can say that with the second book I do wish that the ensemble cast played a bigger role. Sure they travel with Rhett, and all lend a helping hand, each one good at something that helps them all out along the road, but when it comes to dealing with the Devil train rolling into town Rhett essentially tells everyone to piss off, and goes off to solve the problem on his own. And I know he has a destiny but I really missed the character interaction between the main group. And Rhett, being a complete hothead needs more rational characters around to soften his edges, otherwise he becomes a bit overbearing. But again, I can rationalize this, because it makes sense that as a person, with so many strikes against him, his body, is face, his lot in life, that he would try his damndest to be the biggest, baddest fellow out there. He's got a chip on his shoulder but I get it and that's the difference between an annoying character who ignores outside input and just does what they want and a character driven by circumstance to do things that you may not agree with.
Now what I liked about this book is that Bowens writes with the sense that her characters don't really know what they're doing. They're new to the game of hunting monsters, Rhett's got a destiny but with very little guidance he's left to stumble his way through. His friends all have different opinions of what his response should be in situations and sometimes he listens and sometime he tells 'em to shove off and mind their own business. So they bumble there way through the devil train camp, following Rhett's stomach, and although we've accomplished some things, we also missed things and so the story doesn't end with the problem fixed, because like anyone new to something they make mistakes and miss signs, but they don't give up and it's this quality that keeps me coming back for more.
I give this book 4 stars because I respect it. I can see how it might not sit the same for everyone but it's clever and clear. It has a clear purpose and even if it's not all to my particular taste I can still support it. It's fast paced, action pack, gritty, and thought provoking and that wins it 4 stars in my book.
So the world, it's a crazy tangle of wild west, meets, vampires, and culture based monsters of legends. On top of that, it's a gritty realistic portrayal of what it's like to be mixed race, to be Black, White, Irish, Chinese, Indian, Male, Female, or somewhere in between them all and to exist in the Wild West that got turned on it's head. The rules of the West we all know apply: white men rule, slavery is abound and being a woman might just get you killed. Lila Bowen has set the stage for everyone, she's laid the groundwork, and then throws us characters that are so thoroughly ensconced in this landscape, that separating them out seems almost impossible. The world drives the characters and the characters have life because of it. In this sense I give this book (and the series) an A+.
So lets take a look at Lettie Lonesome. Are main Heroine/Hero. A half Black/ half Indian, all slave girl, growing up with abusive parents/owners, who's just yearning to be free. If you've read book 1 you learn she's more than she seems, she's the mysterious Shadow, with a destiny as big as the sky, trusted with undoing the bad in the world. Given what we know about her and the world it should come of no surprise to anyone that she's ashamed of herself. She's ashamed of being a woman, with body parts and feelings she finds useless given the world she's grown up in. Her color/features say she's ugly, her lady parts are a hindrance. Her general make up suggests she shouldn't be able to do the things she loves; ride and break broncs, and shoot things when she's mad. So she does the one thing she feels she needs to do: she dresses as a man. She talks, and eats, and farts, and tames broncs, and shoots, like a man. Because this is what she needs to do to survive. But she takes it a further than that, she truly believes that she is a man, that she was born wrong. She thinks of herself as 'He', takes a new male name Rhett Hennesey, and eventually Ms. Bowen writes her as a man, with male pronouns. We saw the beginnings of this in book 1 and he evolves further in book 2. And as he discovers himself, he also discovers his sexuality. And since he sees himself as a man it should also come as no surprise that he is interested in women. And Ms. Bowen handles this subject very well and very subtly. You can clearly see Rhett is just beginning to understand himself, he still has his crush on Sam but doesn't want to hurt that relationship anymore than he already has, and he was always attracted to Winifred even though he's never liked her much. And even by the end of the book he still doesn't really know what he wants.
Now when I started reading this book, Rhett was not the character I expected to get. I started reading because I like strong female characters, I like characters who take life by the horns and ride it. I was looking for a women undercover, who somehow engraves herself in the lives of men and comes out stronger and better than half of them. So I'm not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed with Lettie's change to Rhett, because to me it's as if Rhett himself doesn't believe in the strength of women (even though he's constantly seeing the strength in the women around him) and he's ashamed to be one and that makes me, as a woman, sad, because I know women can kick butt too. I wanted a heterosexual romance, maybe something where a friend finds out she's a woman and there friendship blossoms into something more. But what we get is very well done. Even at the end of book 2 I don't know where the author is going in terms of romance, and neither does Rhett. He just does what he wants and deals with the consequences of his action when he can. And while I don't necessarily like the way the romance is going it doesn't mean I don't understand it's purpose and understand why it came to be. I can respect it and I'm still interested to see where the author will take it.
I can say that with the second book I do wish that the ensemble cast played a bigger role. Sure they travel with Rhett, and all lend a helping hand, each one good at something that helps them all out along the road, but when it comes to dealing with the Devil train rolling into town Rhett essentially tells everyone to piss off, and goes off to solve the problem on his own. And I know he has a destiny but I really missed the character interaction between the main group. And Rhett, being a complete hothead needs more rational characters around to soften his edges, otherwise he becomes a bit overbearing. But again, I can rationalize this, because it makes sense that as a person, with so many strikes against him, his body, is face, his lot in life, that he would try his damndest to be the biggest, baddest fellow out there. He's got a chip on his shoulder but I get it and that's the difference between an annoying character who ignores outside input and just does what they want and a character driven by circumstance to do things that you may not agree with.
Now what I liked about this book is that Bowens writes with the sense that her characters don't really know what they're doing. They're new to the game of hunting monsters, Rhett's got a destiny but with very little guidance he's left to stumble his way through. His friends all have different opinions of what his response should be in situations and sometimes he listens and sometime he tells 'em to shove off and mind their own business. So they bumble there way through the devil train camp, following Rhett's stomach, and although we've accomplished some things, we also missed things and so the story doesn't end with the problem fixed, because like anyone new to something they make mistakes and miss signs, but they don't give up and it's this quality that keeps me coming back for more.
I give this book 4 stars because I respect it. I can see how it might not sit the same for everyone but it's clever and clear. It has a clear purpose and even if it's not all to my particular taste I can still support it. It's fast paced, action pack, gritty, and thought provoking and that wins it 4 stars in my book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
So, another Shadow. My thesis for the review is that I'm committed to reading the third one when it comes out.
What works for this entry is the contnued journey in this wild, vast, imaginitive setting. As with the first book, the author gives a voice to marginalized voices, and empowers the characters, and I am in full support of these people finding their humanity, and, simultaneously, supernatural abilities. Ooh, paradox! More please. The suspense and flow at the denoument were very satisfying.
I was less impressed with a good deal of the pacing, it felt fairly flat for the first 2/3 of the book. But that payoff forgives that feature. I was happy to have The Shadow develop more than previously, however, I guess I was holding out for a stealth vampire hunter. I GUESS I HAVE TO WRITE THAT BOOK.
So, read both, recommend.
IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN OLD TIMEY BALTIMORE DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT!!!
What works for this entry is the contnued journey in this wild, vast, imaginitive setting. As with the first book, the author gives a voice to marginalized voices, and empowers the characters, and I am in full support of these people finding their humanity, and, simultaneously, supernatural abilities. Ooh, paradox! More please. The suspense and flow at the denoument were very satisfying.
I was less impressed with a good deal of the pacing, it felt fairly flat for the first 2/3 of the book. But that payoff forgives that feature. I was happy to have The Shadow develop more than previously, however, I guess I was holding out for a stealth vampire hunter. I GUESS I HAVE TO WRITE THAT BOOK.
So, read both, recommend.
IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN OLD TIMEY BALTIMORE DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT!!!
November 12, 2018
I think I liked this one even more than the first in the series. Because there is less world building that needs to be done, more of the book can concentrate on exploring this alternate version of Texas and history. There are interesting characters to encounter. And although the main character still has much to learn about themselves, their personality seems more solid than in the first book. I think there was just a lot of ground to cover in the opening book of this series. Now that a certain baseline has been established, the exploration seems more nuanced and flows more naturally. I really liked the deepening of established relationships and the introduction of additional characters that round out the group. I'm looking forward to the future adventures of Rhett and his crew as they explore more if this strange, old world.
July 13, 2017
This sequel to Wake of Vultures starts where the cliffhanger of book 1 ended. Nettie/Rhett is an unusual hero- a half black/half American Indian teenage orphan, who ran away from abuse and found a home among the Rangers- a group defending people from supernatural predators. Nettie found herself more comfortable in men's clothing, working with and acting like a man (Rhett), and she/he continues as such in this book, acknowledged as a man except by a few who know his/her secret. He experiences a sexual awakening, which with the violent incidents, make this an adult read, despite the young protagonist.
November 18, 2016
*Source* Library
*Genre* YA, Western, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts
Conspiracy of Ravens is the second installment in author Lila Bowen née Delilah S. Dawson's The Shadow series. The story picks up right where Wake of Vultures left off. Rhett Hennessy née Nettie Lonesome, had just launched himself off a cliff in order to embrace his two-natured self. Rhett discovers that he can become a giant bird. After losing himself as a fearless bird who is the predator, and not the prey for what appears to be weeks, Rhett meets an Irish shape-shifter named Earl O'Bannon.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published October 11th 2016 by Orbit
*Genre* YA, Western, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts
Conspiracy of Ravens is the second installment in author Lila Bowen née Delilah S. Dawson's The Shadow series. The story picks up right where Wake of Vultures left off. Rhett Hennessy née Nettie Lonesome, had just launched himself off a cliff in order to embrace his two-natured self. Rhett discovers that he can become a giant bird. After losing himself as a fearless bird who is the predator, and not the prey for what appears to be weeks, Rhett meets an Irish shape-shifter named Earl O'Bannon.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published October 11th 2016 by Orbit
April 22, 2020
A good continuation of the story from the first book. I felt the way Rhett acknowledged his gender and changed his pronouns was done well. I also liked that we got more of the crew he has built up around him. The story with Trevesan felt a little flat for me but I am hoping that once I read the next books it will get more fleshed out. I like the world building that the author has done and I am excited to see more of Cora and the rest of the gang.
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