Raven Song

Inoki's Game #1

by I.A. Ashcroft

A century ago, the world burned. Even now, though rebuilt and defiant, civilization is still choking on the ashes.

Jackson, a smuggler, lives in the shadows, once a boy with no memory, no name, and no future. Ravens followed him, long-extinct birds only he could see, and nightmares flew in their wake. Once, Jackson thought himself to be one of the lucky few touched by magic, a candidate for the Order of Mages. He is a man now, and that dream has died. But, the ravens still follow. The nightmares still whisper in his ear.

Anna’s life was under the sun, her future bright, her scientific work promising. She knew nothing of The Bombings, the poisoned world, or the occult. One day, she went to work, and the next, she awoke in a box over a hundred years in the future, screaming, fighting to breathe, and looking up into the eyes of a smuggler. Anna fears she’s gone crazy, unable to fill the massive hole in her memories, and terrified of the strange abilities she now possesses.

The Coalition government has turned its watchful eyes towards them. The secret factions of the city move to collect them first. And, old gods stir in the darkness, shifting their pawns on the playing field.

If Anna and Jackson wish to stay free, they must learn what they are and why they exist.

Unfortunately, even if they do, it may be too late.

Raven Song is the first of a four book adult-oriented dystopian fantasy series, a story of intrigue, love, violence, and the old spirits in the shadows who wait for us to notice them again. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human will enjoy this dark magic-laced tale rooted on the bones of what our world could become.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Audiobook, Paranormal

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2016

About the author

I. A. Ashcroft dwells in Phoenix, Arizona, alongside a wonderful tale-spinner and two increasingly deranged cats. The author enjoys reading and pretending to be other people while rolling dice and wearing fancy hats.

From Ashcroft's writing, you can expect dark fantasy, humor, violence, hope, flawed heroes, human villains, and more than a small dose of mythology.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when an author brings together elements from more than one genre? You are treated to a completely entertaining read like I.A. Ashcroft’s Raven Song, a little mysterious, a little magical, a little dystopian and filled with well-developed characters that share POVs in a world that is veiled in unanswered questions. The current world has been decimated by radiation, some people have gained the power of magic, others have not.

Anna is from a century prior and is tossed into a future Earth that has seen better times, but not lately. Jackson was an orphan, taken in by a successful businessman who taught him both business and honor in a world that is dark and foreboding, never mind the business involves smuggling!

They meet when Anna is discovered as the lone survivor of an attack at one of Jackson’s pick up points, and off we go! Forget receiving a complete show of the story background, prepare to receive tantalizing bits and pieces, not too different from what we really know about our own government and various groups as these two share their voices, their emotions and fears as they unveil their own layers throughout this tale. It seems both are being sought out by different groups, but what are they wanted for? Could it be Anna’s new abilities or knowledge that Jackson may have? Why is there a raven interspersed throughout? What is with the purple crayon messages?

Chaotic moments abound and near death experiences are left to the healing hands of the magical beings! Prepare to meet clever supporting characters that give a sense of humor, evil and balance that is both refreshing and magnetic. Conflict and tension run hot and is sure to peak your interest as each reader quests for answers! A great start to a new series that promises some craved for revelations.

I received this copy from I.A. Ashcroft in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Inoki's Game - Book 1
Publisher: Pronoun (March 10, 2016)
Publication Date: March 10, 2016
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy
Print Length: 290 pages
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[☆Stephanie☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tile: Raven Song (Inoki's Game #1)
Author: I.A. Ashcroft
Publisher: Lucid Dreams Publishing, 2016
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction

**I received a copy of this book free from Lucid Dreams Publishing in exchange for an honest review**

This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA's Tumblr, or my Goodreads page

My Review:

I will always be honest with you guys: it was the cover that sold me on accepting this request. I mean, c'mon...you got a spooky raven above a city. Brilliant red lettering against that black and gray color scheme. I am a huge coverlover. I am. I think we all are deep inside.

I also thought this was YA...but it's really not. However, no harm, no fowl (get it? "fowl" instead of "foul? Hilarious!).

I'm dying to discuss this book for you...and I'm going to include some extras since it is a blog tour! 

Let's start with what Raven Song is all about, shall we?

Jackson has no past. Well, he has one...he just can't really remember it. He knows he was adopted from the orphanage, dubbed "Jackson Dovetail" by his adopted father, Peter Dovetail, and became the son to a man who never got the chance to have his own.

Jackson has dreams. Bad dreams. He also sees ravens everywhere. He used to insist on their presence, but as ravens are extinct in 2147. The Barrier keeps most of the New York citizens protected, mainly from the radiation outside that killed off most of the animals and keeps life at bay. So the ravens can't be real. The hallucinations are a side-effect of magic.

Yes, magic. There are a chosen few who have it and wield it...but Jackson isn't one of them. He simply runs a semi-successful, mostly legitimate courier business, left to him by his adopted father when he passed away.

But the dreams are getting worse, and the only magical society in New York seems to care less about the shadows that haunt him. He tries what he can, attempts to get through the day, wearing a masked smile and going through the motions.

When the Coalition, the government in 2147, makes a proposition with Jackson, he's skeptical. But the money is too good to resist. Donning their protective gear, Frank and Jackson go with Agent Walker to pick up a "package" outside the barrier. What they get is something no one bargained for.

And there, behind the glass, was no gun stash, no bombs, no drugs, no illicit data chips.

It was a woman, a young woman, eyes closed as if asleep.  

Jackson blinked.

“Well, shit,” Frank said for both of them.

The young woman, Anna, claims to be from 2022. But if that's the case...then she has been asleep in a box for over a hundred years, deep in the middle of a radioactive wasteland.

Jackson seems to find a connection to Anna. But the Coalition want her. When Jackson tries to tell The Order, the group of magical people that shunned Jackson, they want Anna, too. But Anna just wants to go home. Why is she here in 2147? Who put her in a box? 

There's a lot of questions. And it seems Jackson and Anna might need to work together to figure them out...


Soo....who wants an excerpt? (You know you want on after reading that blurb!!)

Here ya go, bloggerinos!

PROLOGUE

 A boy lay on the broken sidewalk, eyes closed. He was pale and thin, looking not a day over ten years old. His half-clothed body shuddered against the chilly night air. His bony frame scraped against the grime of the street as he curled into himself, trying to keep back the cold. Overhead, the stars hung bright and lonely.

In the alley, almost invisible against the midnight darkness, a man stood tall over the boy. His well-pressed suit was as black as the shadows, as his skin, and as the raven on his shoulder. The way he hovered over the child, he seemed a strange guardian. But his eyes were turned upwards to the sky, away from the boy’s plight, as if it was no real matter. In those black eyes the stars were mirrored, impossible and brilliant. Those eyes stared back into the past, when the celestial lights were loved and revered, when each constellation had a story.

Once upon a time… this was when the world had sung to him, the dream-walker, the song-weaver, the star-stringer.

Once, before humans had forgotten his name.

Now, the starry sky was almost hidden by the glowing blue haze of the Barrier, a shield cast over what was left of the city: proud New York, ruined, rebuilt, defiant.

The stranger kept staring upwards into oblivion, even as the boy let out an unhappy whimper, chills wracking his weak frame. The raven flew from the stranger’s shoulder then, alighting onto the sidewalk, picking past the weeds and rubble. It rejoined its fellows who had settled amicably around the child, oblivious to the fact that ravens were all supposed to be dead. One hundred years ago, poison had leeched into the earth, into the grass, into the grazers, and into the corpses left behind. The blight spared little, its kind no exception. Regardless, this impossible creature affectionately brushed at the boy’s dark hair with its beak.

At the touch, the boy awoke with a start. His wide, uncomprehending eyes took in the world as he struggled to sit up, his head swinging around wildly; past awnings and high rises he had never seen, past scrawled words and graffiti he could not understand. He teetered to his feet, then fell back down again as his knees gave out, sending the birds around him into flight.

He saw no starry eyes in the darkness, no stranger standing nearby. He was halfnaked, shivering, hungry, and alone, his head aching down to his teeth. The nameless boy shook off the dreams he couldn’t remember and wondered where he was.

If there had been any passersby on that cold autumn night, they would have sworn that this boy hadn’t been there a minute ago, and no stranger or ravens had been there at all.

Intrigued yet? 

Is It Classroom-Appropriate?

While this book isn't necessarily inappropriate, I don't see much use in a classroom setting. This doesn't mean, however, that it doesn't have literary merit. I thought it was young adult, but I only seem to find that categorization on Goodreads, and Amazon has it listed under regular dystopian and science fiction categories. The age of the characters also make it too old to be YA: we meet Jackson at 10, then jump 18 years to his present, which would make Jackson 28. The YA genre usually requires its protagonists to be teens or younger. 

This isn't saying that the book couldn't be read by teens. But for the classroom, I would see this more as reading for an advanced reader. Lots of action and almost a horro aspect, so I would keep it away from those who are queasy with heavy action scenes or blood. (I'm not saying it's a Stephen King novel either...just enough to make me stare it in this section).

Age Range

This is tricky. It's obviously an adult book, but I can see why some classified it as YA. The writing is excellent and keeps he reader engaged. It's like a mystery wrapped in a thriller spun with science fiction and topped with a gob of fantasy/dystopian elements. It has everything. Definitely a good read for teen boys with a male protagonist, but also perfect for female readers with the dual POV switches with Anna. It has large appeal. I would say that it would be best to keep the age level at about 15 and up. When in doubt, go older. Advanced readers that are younger could be challenged, but unless they regularly read adult books in the fantasy genre, I would keep it to 15 and up.

End Result:

Raven Song is brilliant. I couldn't figure it out so I was kept glued to the page. For those who don't like a slower paced plot, skip this. This one takes time for the mysteries to unfold and you might get frustrated while you wait. If you like a good book that keeps you guessing, Raven Song is one to pick up. 

So I give Ashcroft's book ★★★★☆, or to my traditional rating System (which clashes slightly with the tone of the book):


This is a four book series and I look forward to the next installment! 

A little about our author:

Author Bio:

​I. A. Ashcroft has been writing fiction in many forms for almost twenty years. The author's first book, written at age seven, featured the family cat hunting an evil sorceress alongside dragons and eagles. This preoccupation with the fantastical has not changed in the slightest.

Now, the author dwells in Phoenix, AZ (my hometown!!) alongside a wonderful tale-spinner and two increasingly deranged cats. Ashcroft writes almost exclusively in the realm of darker fantasy these days, loving to entertain adults with stories of magic, wonder, despair, violence, and hope, bringing a deep love of mythology into every tale penned. The author also loves diverse and intriguing casts of characters.

When not buried in a book, one might find Ashcroft learning languages, charting road trips, and playing tabletop RPGs with clever and fun people.


So whatcha reading? Hmm? 

**Buy Raven Song on Amazon for $2.99! Check it out: Raven Song - $2.99

[Dannica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven Song is a combination of post-apocalyptic setting and urban fantasy. It has both good characters and a good plot, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Plot Summary
In a world full of radiation and people with inexplicable abilities, Jackson is a smuggler with abilities he's never been able to control. The Order, the best authority on such abilities, has denied him entry and gives him nothing to help control them except some very potent calming tea. He often sees ravens (extinct in this world), and when he gets too excited he can move shadows but cannot control what they will do. The ravens, the shadows, and his own odd dreams frighten him.

One day Jackson gets a smuggling contract with the government of all people. All seems to be going well until he reaches the pick up point, where he finds the people he was supposed to be meeting dead, and a woman lying asleep in a box. And on the box is a mysterious note, addressed to him and written in purple crayon.

The woman, Anna, claims to come from a world before the apocalypse, before the radiation poisoning or the appearance of strange abilities. She herself has some ability to project radiation, and the government is a little too interested in her. Now she and Jackson must evade those who would use or kill them, and figure out such mysteries as the source of their abilities...and the source of the notes written in purple crayon, which just keep on showing up in odd places.

Things I Liked
First of all, I really liked the characters. Jackson was my favorite, I suppose. His background intrigued me and I hope to find out more about it in a sequel to come. He faces a lot of challenges in this book, from poisoning to stabbing, and struggles with who to trust. So I thought his parts were more interesting than Anna's, but Anna was also fairly interesting and fun. She can't remember how on Earth she ended up fifty years in the future, but she's here and ready to fight. I can't say I felt any particular chemistry between Anna and Jackson, and I suspect there may be romance there in the sequel, but since there was no romance in this book I figured that was fine.

The minor characters were also well done. I particularly loved Jackson's subordinate, a man named Frank who has been working for Jackson's smuggling business, a family business, since Jackson was a kid. Jackson might want to believe he's Frank's boss and therefore in charge, but honestly I felt like they were closer to being family. Frank was protective and called Jackson out when he was being an idiot. I also like Agent Walker, one of the government agents who shows up, and the main antagonist, who's a bit of a psycho. Heh. Actually very much a psycho. A lot of fun.

I also liked the level of conflict and tension in the book. I never felt like the book was lagging, despite the POV switching between Anna and Jackson and occasional quiet moments such as one point when they're hiding in a safe house. There's always something going on, and you have to wonder whether Jackson and Anna can possibly get out of this mess of magic and manipulation okay.

Things I Didn't Like
Eh, not much. I would say that there are still a lot of mysteries that aren't cleared up by the end of the book (What is it with the magical powers? Who/what is Inoki? How did Anna end up in the future?), but the ending is still satisfying and the mysteries make for a good sequel hook.

Events in the book also seem a bit disconnected sometimes. So the government's after Anna. And the Order's after Jack. And then there's Tony, who may possibly be connected to both? And some odd godlike figure named Inoki? It's hard to see how all of the mysterious figures and antagonists in the plot relate to each other, or if they're entirely separate, and where the main characters fit in.

Still, while I would have appreciated some background on the Order, the government, Inoki and the leads being cleared up, the events of the story at least were clear enough, and I get the impression that there's some conspiring going on in the background that will be revealed later. So I don't really mind.

Overall Thoughts
A good urban fantasy with well developed characters and a grim and complex setting. I would recommend.
I was given this ebook for free in exchange for an honest review.

[D.A. Lascelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a surprising book. Not because it is well written (it is) and not just because it has an engaging plot that keeps you reading and wishing for more but rather because it is such an unusual concept.

Or, rather, it successfully mashes together two well worn concepts and makes out of them something new which is very close to originality.

From the title and a brief read of the blurb my brain instantly tagged this as 'urban fantasy' or 'fantasy'. There is talk of an Order of Mages and similar and the idea of ravens being linked to magic and spirituality. I therefore had expectations for something similar to Ilona Andrew's writing with maybe some riffs from the Harry Dresden books in there for good measure. Tropey but fun. So, to be thrown into a cyberpunk style near future world that also happened to have magic in it was a surprise and a pleasant one at that. Of course on a second read of the blurb it became more obvious so maybe I should have read that more clearly in the first place.

The story follows two characters. Jackson is a orphan in the 2200's who has grown up to be the CEO of his adopted father's delivery company (that also dabbles in some illegal smuggling) in a world that is ravaged by nuclear war and the populace living in cities that are shielded from the radiation. He has a mysterious past, is haunted by shadows and visions of ravens, and is being treated by the Order of Mages for these uncontrolled outbursts of magic.


Our other character, Anna, was a physicist working at a Las Vegas based US Military base in the 21st century. How she comes to be in suspended animation in a box that Jackson is tasked to recover by the Coalition government from the radioactive wastes and why she has the ability to emit radioactive energy when stressed is what kicks us off on our rollercoaster of a plotline.


This is an engaging read with many fascinating characters and ideas expressed in a very easy to read prose. The plot progresses at a fast pace, while giving sufficient time to take in the details of the world building - a balance that is sometimes difficult to achieve.


Overall, an excellent novel that is well worth reading if you want something different to the usual tropes.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book should be even better.

I didn't expect this book to be what it turned out to be. The cover had me thrown off. Jackson had been an orphan until he's adopted by a man and taught to be a man by him. His father leaves him a shipping business. On a run with a government agency he finds Anna in a box. The entire book ravens pop up with little explanation. Some people have magic and some dont. Anna is from the past and doesn't know how she ended up in a dystopian future more than 100 years past her time. Wielding magic. The Order is a group of mages that are trying to kill Jackson for an unknown reason. I was looking for answers that even once the book ended i never received. I would read the next book in hopes of getting answers and that book being better than this one. It had action. Now I need explanations for all that's happened.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

[taruofatlantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book from a friend who participated in the authors’ Indiegogo campaign. I contacted the author and got an early release.

Raven Song is by far the strangest book I have read in a long time, it blends low tech SCI-FI with a broken down world trying to build itself back up again after the world burned, great setting I loved the idea. The story itself is incredibly enjoyable as it shrouds itself in destiny and mysticism, funny and enthralling characters which I feel speaks to the creative side in all of us. I felt the ten year old me reading this and from early in the book until I end I believed in magic and miracles and wanted these characters to escape what fate had dealt them. The antagonists in the book are varied and interesting, I wanted to know so much more about them from the crazy one in red to the dark wizard who is amazingly intriguing.

The story itself starts out at as steady pace and builds quickly becoming more interesting the deeper you venture in, it lays out all the characters and nothing in the book is really put there for no reason, I originally thought it was going one way until BAM it brings back a minor detail you thought was unimportant. I loved the chapters from Anna’s point of view they were direct straight to the point, but the ones from Jackson’s point of view was indirect and spoke a lot in symbolism it really spoke to their characters and fascinating way of showing the change in perspectives.

I will freely admit the chapter where the book shows Anna’s past made me tear up, it was just a great chapter even now as I write this I tear up a bit thinking of it. I have always been a wimp when it comes to a great story.

I usually think endings are the worst part of most books, hard to wrap up into a logical and solid ending, this book did well at it I was satisfied but very much looking forward to the next book.
I believed these characters were real, they had substance the two major characters Jackson and Anna fit so well off each other and unlike a lot of the books the story isn’t really about them falling for each other (though you can see how they could) it seems more about how they became close through adversity and being put in difficult positions and finding a way through.

PROS:

Characters > original and intriguing I felt like I was reading a book directed by Joss Whedon. At least it won’t be cancelled by fox.
Plot > a dark yet fun adventure with a satisfying finish yet leaving me wanting more book
Villains > oh the villains, I feel villains really make a story, and these are memorable.
That raven on the cover is just so cool.

CONS:

It ended
I really wished I could see more of that nameless character from the prologue he seemed interesting, I am guessing that he might be that Inoki from the series title, I hope Ashcroft has more of him.
As I said before I would love to know more about the dark wizard he was barely in the book but so mysterious he’s got to have more to him.

Ultimately I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to see what Ashcroft has planned for the next one.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 yrs. ago, a poison had destroyed almost everything on earth.
7/21/2147, Jackson’s dreams were not always pleasant. The Ravens continue to follow him.
Jackson Dovetail (Dovetail Parcel) lives in Queens, NY.
Brooklyn, NY. He had a job as a delivery person for Dovetail Parcel’s shipping center.
His datapad had Frank (50+, boss) on the screen.
Urgent. Jackson was to go to the Red Hook & meet with Special Agent Jaden Walker (President, Coalition).

$50 million was the signing bonus. Sign on the dotted line by Richard Nakamoto.
The illegal contraband the trucks might carry could contain radioactive material.
Jackson found Dr. Anna Matthews (Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) wandering along the highway. She lived in Las Vegas, NV., & works for Dr. Appleby (Falcon).
The Geiger counter went berserk on her.
Sapphire City has a protective dome over the top of it.
The US nuclear complex was started when the Cold War had began.
Jackson “Jack” also works for The order of Pegasus. What is their role?
The Coalition was coming for Jack.

What was the Omen of the dead Ravens about?
Where would Anna ‘s (# 46, aka Glow-witch) destiny take her next?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written futuristic dystopian fantasy book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great futuristic dystopian fantasy movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. Well this was different. I really think it could be geard for MS age kids. I liked it so I will rate it at 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Ailyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson, sometimes known as Jack see Ravens. When he was a kid, he thought that he was touched by magic, so that he would be in the Order of Mages. But it is not to be, Jackson grows up still able to see ravens. The problem? Ravens are extinct when the world bombed a century ago. Jackson had no memory or name when he was a kid, and he struggles to find his past to make peace with his future.

The story started slowly. Jackson was the owner of a shipping company and he does side jobs, as long as the Coalition government does not know about it. When he was approached to do a special, under the radar assignment, he found Anna. Anna in a box, somehow a person who lived in the pre-bombed world.

Together, Anna and Jackson has to find out the mystery surrounding them, and who is this Announcer? And why is Anna immune to radiation, and Jackson can see ravens? The questions make you stay, but the action keeps you engrossed.

Raven Song is confusing for me, I had to read it slowly. Despite that, I did enjoy how Jackson and Anna managed to solve problems and get out of trouble, sort of. The first book of the series, Raven Song is set in a depressing world where people are still trying to live their lives after a devastating nuclear bomb.

A promising book for a series, Raven Song is original to me, and I do wonder a lot of things about the characters in this book. I shall have to wait and see. A book for dystopian fans not looking for Hunger Game types.

[T. Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really great story.

[AudioBookReviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My original Raven Song audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Raven Song by I.A. Ashcroft is the first novel in the series called Inoki’s Game. Jackson is a smuggler in a future world where the United States has been scorched by nuclear bombs. He has been a misfit all his life. Not only was he raised in a group home until adopted, he also has some type of mystical powers and he sees ravens that no one else sees and are supposedly extinct. On a smuggling mission for the government, Jackson finds Anna. Anna displays magical powers from the moment that he meets her. She wakes up with exuding radiation and with powers that she’s never had before. To hop it off, she is apparently displaced in time. Terrified, she must trust the people around her, rightly or wrongly, if she’s going to figure out what has happened to her. Together, Jackson and Anna fight to stay away from the clutches of the government and the magical consortium, the Order, to survive and live as normal lives as possible.

This story had a lot of potential and might still as the novels continue. The plot is an interesting mashup of dark fantasy and a dystopian world with a lot of different people and motivations interwoven. Ultimately, however, I felt that there were a lot of different parts of the plot that were introduced and continued to be hinted at, but none truly resolved. There is enough action in the story line to keep the attention of the reader as the characters were placed in bizarre and exciting situations and discovered little bits of information about the situations that they were in. I liked Jackson’s character quite a bit. He was practical, kind, and gritty. There was a lot of backstory provided about him, which really made him come alive.  But I found Anna’s insistence on sticking to her ignorance, however realistic, annoying. Her backstory was also intriguing and I like the way that it was revealed. However, none of the mysteries in the story are solved, leaving the end of the novel seeming like a pause between books. There were different organizations, the government and their special division and the Order, and characters that could have been more clear. I also really found some of the supporting characters compelling and wanted to know more about them.  Overall, I liked all the parts of the story, especially the crazy manic Tony, but the lack of resolution makes it hard for me to really love this novel.

The narration by Mikael Naramore was good. He was able to capture the voices of the characters well, especially the manic Tony. In general the characters were distinguishable and the voicing gave life to each of them. The production quality was good as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes a dystopian fantasy series and characters who fight against the establishment.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

[Jujubee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right up front, let me stat that I received a copy of this book from this author for an honest review through one of my Goodreads groups.
The blurb on this story intrigued me right away. Why? Well, there are few paranormal stories that I pass up on. Grew up on Gothic romances of the 70s. Yup. I'm that old LOL. I dig dystopian and urban fantasy; it's a nice change of pace. Also, this did not sound like a YA or NA read to me...so many authors seem to start in this age group with their first publication. It's hard to find new-to-me authors that aren't telling their stories with teenage angst as the main arch #sorrynotsorry
Raven Song really has so much more than I had expected.
Mystery. Suspense. Action...lots of non-stop action, people! Magic and mayhem.
I really was invested in Jackson and Anna's stories. The author did an excellent job of a slow build up for individual backstories told by each of them in their own POVs, which were mostly byway of repressed memories (Jackson) and missing memories (Anna). Sometimes those memories were so poignant, sometimes terrifying. It really worked for me.
I was so rooting for these two by the last eight chapters that if I was a nail bitter...well ;)
The reality of their world draws them to each other, but their relationship never feels forced. And the secondary characters? Frank ROCKS! I won't say more about the others, because of the potential for spoilers. Let's just say that that the author did a good job at keeping me confused as to who was a Good Guy. And even when I saw them more clearly at the end of the story, I hoped that I was wrong...Ahghhh! That really worked for me, too.
Note that this story has a bit of a cliffy, as it was written to be book one of a series. So the ending in this book was satisfactory for now. I will read anything else this author writes. I hope that she continues to write! I want to know what happens next....just what IS Inoki's game?
4.5 stars
Why not 5 stars? Well, to be truthful the editing/writing style got in the way with the flow of the story for me. The dialog between characters was easy to read, but in the narrative portion too many commas slowed everything down. I struggled with the first five chapters because of it. Once the overall story arch picked up I didn't notice them quite as much. It seems, that commas, are used, for emphasis, in, the future? LOL

[Kru · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: precisely 3.5 stars.

This is a dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel peppered judiciously with elements of magic and mutation. The city is New York rebuilt under a Coalition government, after an extensive nuclear war that burnt the world for 100 years.

Jackson is a full-time businessman and a part-time smuggler, struggling to make decent money, haunted by disturbing dreams and hallucinations of ravens while also is gifted (cursed?) with strange magical powers. Dr. Anna Mathews, who worked in Las Vegas for Falcon, wakes up after 100 years duly recovered from a box located at a cargo site, emitting radioactive energy at alarming rate. The circumstances in which they meet, the mystery shrouding their past and the magical journey they take together forms the rest of the plot.

The book is full of twists with guardians turning perpetrators, foes turning out to be friends lost at childhood, suspects turning to be friends, what sounds real turns out to be hallucination and vice versa. The past of Jackson is exposed a little at a time, his shared past with Tony, what happened to his memories after that, his adoption later and so on are not completely revealed, probably because this is part of the series.

I am not a great fan of Fantasy and Magic, and very few appeal to me, that way this is not my kind of book. After reading almost 15% of the book I had no clue what is happening until Anna turns up and it sort of makes the story interesting.

Jackson doesn’t come across like a strong protagonist (except at one event which I do not want to reveal in my review for fear of spoiler) and that was a big letdown, maybe he will come across as a stronger power in the books to follow. On the contrary Anna acts like she always knew she had these occult powers in her and uses them like a pro. Tony’s story that probably could have been more detailed is not given its due, and ends up a huge disappointment.

[K.S. Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson works hard to keep the family firm afloat, and he works even harder to stamp down the peculiarities that make him a freak. But when a contract takes him into the nuclear wasteland outside New York city, and drops Anna in his path, everything is set to change.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
My attention was caught from the very beginning.
Well, OK, not the very beginning, the Prologue featuring Jackson as a young boy did confuse me; but once I hit the first chapter and grown-up Jackson's life, we were on a roll.
Ashcroft has created a post-apocalyptic world, a hundred years after the bombings, New York carries on with life, underneath a dome that protects its citizens from radiation.

Since his father's death, Jackson runs the courier company that has been in the Dovecote family for generations. Fear of having to lay staff off, makes Jackson willing to take on a government contract, which leads him into the wasteland.

I loved the idea that ravens were extinct, but Jackson kept seeing them, and trying his best to ignore them. The intrigue of his magic, which is shunned by the Mage Order, and a part of him that Jackson wishes he could be without.

Then Anna gets literally dropped into his path. A woman who does not make sense. She only remembers life before the bombings, when she was a normal scientist; but she ends up in a box, a hundred years later, with the ability to create radiation when she's upset.
I liked Anna's following story, how she goes from sheer panic, to logically analysing what was happening to her, before finally embracing the fact that she had these growing powers.

The middle of the book drops of a bit; at times it threatens to be one big, crazy mess. There is a boiling pot of characters, sub-plots, betrayals, Coalition; Mage Order; The Announcer.
It was hard to follow, it may have been Jackson and Anna's confusion blurring up the narrative.

But the crazy ride gets back on track for the ending.
I will definitely be continuing with this series.

[Sandra (youmaysayimareader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For other reviews and bookish things go to http://youmaysayimareader.blogspot.com


***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.***

"Once upon a time... this was when the world had sung to him, the dream-walker, the song-weaver, the star-stringer."

Sometimes when I'm asked to review a book I feel a little bit unsure about it, I mean, I'm not one of those influential and famous bloggers, so why in hell would they want me to review their book if it's any good. So yeah, sometimes I judge a book by how famous it is. Sorry.

But this one surprised me, and in a really good way. At first I was attracted to it 'cause the title was cool, the cover looked cool and the story sounded cool. And well... It turned out to be a really cool book.

"Therapists didn't like hearing stories about dead animals following children around. They didn't like stories about shadows slithering up the walls either, or monsters in the dark. The nightmares had been enough for them to handle."

It's a blend between fantasy, sci-fi and dystopia, and whaddaya know...! Those are my favorite genres! So I was a happy little reader. And although, I think it was usually pretty well mixed together, sometimes it felt like it didn't know exactly what it wanted to be, which made it a little bit confusing at times. But that didn't take away a lot from the reading experience, honestly.

So, if you want to read an engaging book with an unusual plot, interesting characters, both main and secondary ones, and a refreshing feel to it, maybe this is the book for you.

"One bird turned and stared at Jackson, then turned away, pecking at a malformed lump. Jackson only realized what he truly was seeing as the raven took flight, tearing away an eye in its bleak."

S.

[Sydney Scrogham · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part about this story was the world around the characters. It was fresh, futuristic, dark, scary, and thrilling all at the same time. Ashcroft made a story world that is familiar, yet foreign, and that's hard to do. Even people who don't usually read sci-fi/fantasy type stories will be able to feel grounded.

Secondly, the characters were good. The strongest character, in my opinion, was definitely Anna. I wanted to see Jackson with more of a story goal. He was a little passive, to me, and that was part of the reason I couldn't give this story five stars.

Lastly, while Ashcroft's writing is easy to follow, the story/plot for me was not, which is also why this book sits at 4 stars for me. Perhaps this won't be a hiccup for other readers, but I struggled with the flashbacks in memories and stepping in and out of magical visions. 60% of the way through the book, I still didn't have a great feel of plot. All of these things were happening but not really tying together except for the one goal of DON'T DIE. I'm eager to see where this series goes in the future because I fully expect to understand more as the series goes on.

Overall, a strong first book to a debut series! If you're looking for a dark, magical twist on Hunger Games, this is your book.

[Bücherhörnchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and everyone involved.

Raven Song by I. A. Ashcroft is a book, which does not belong to any genre.

CONTENT
The year is 2147. Jack, manager of a delivery company and sometimes smuggler, gets a big (illegal) deal with the Coalition (that is the new government). While delivering, they find Anna, naked and trapped, in some sort of coffin. In this world, all cities are protected by “barriers” keeping out the radiation, and magic is real. Jackson and Anna are both connected to magic, although it is not exactly clear how. Jackson can see ravens, which are extinct, and has nightmares, that seem to have something to do with whatever abilities he has. Anna, on the other side is convinced she came from the year 2022. She gives up radiation and is able to float.
There are the Coalition, The Order (mages) and other organisations. Each has its own goal, using the characters.

SOMETHING OVERALL
The book is neither dystopian ya, not fantasy, nor anything else. Best to call it unique, because every time you think you know what it is, it changes paths.
That said, the story starts off with Jack, but as soon as Anna is introduced the perspective changes between her and him with every chapter. This is great for suspense, because I could never really say which one I liked to read more.

STYLE OF WRITING
The book is well written, not difficult, but not too easy to read either. There were minor mistakes, though, like an a missing, I think.

CHARACTERS
Both characters, Jackson and Anna, are –to be honest- not my cup of tea. They have memory issues, and don’t know what they can do with whatever powers they have. Jackson is neither strong nor does he have a lot of willpower, so he was very exchangeable for me. Additionally he does not get the clues, I think. He is a nice guy though, who helps Anna and won’t let her get left behind.
Anna was also just okay for me. I did not know enough about her, but she made huge progress in the book, and at least she is stubborn. Her way of not wanting to get the information I wanted her to get (that is most information about the world, and how it works) drove me crazy though.
There are also some minor charakters, that I liked way more than those two, like Frank and Agent Walker.

OPINION
It’s a slow start, and we don’t get a lot of answers to what feels like a million questions. Both characters don’t remember certain things from their pasts, which was not really helpful in trying to connect with them. I also had the feeling, that Jack was a bit dumb, because he never tried to actually do something magical, and really just wanted to ignore everything unusual. For me, as a curious person, that was annoying.
I also felt that everytime I knew what was coming, the style changed. When I thought this was dystopian, magic was introduced..okay it is fantasy, something else comes along. That’s fine because I like books, that do not fit anywhere, but it was also hard, because you could not expect anything.

In the end, I think I liked the book well enough, and I would read on to get to know some answers. The author definitely has a lot of potential in my opinion, but it was also too slow in the beginning, which, sorry, I hate. Was it not for this review, I would have stopped midway. That does not mean that I regret finishing it, because I don’t. I am glad I did.

[Andy Peloquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have nothing but praise for the beginning of the book! It started off with amazingly intriguing characters, great setting, and everything I could ask for in a dystopian world. I wanted to find out everything I could about Jackson and his smuggling business. His dreams: meh, but they added to the "fantasy" of the story.

Once Anna was introduced, I felt the book went a bit off the rails. With two characters living half-in, half-out of a dream world, it spent more time on the dreams and visions than the part of the story I wanted to read.

Still, this is just my preference as a reader. The book was very well-written, and while I may not have loved the story line (with its trippy dream-world stuff), I was hooked by the premise, setting, and characters. For those who can handle the more abstract and metaphysical concepts, this would be a 5-star book. For me, who loves a story grounded in reality, this was good but not great.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...

[Uma | Books.Bags.Burgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)

BLURB

A century ago, the world burned. Even now, though rebuilt and defiant, civilization is still choking on the ashes.

Jackson, a smuggler, lives in the shadows, once a boy with no memory, no name, and no future. Ravens followed him, long-extinct birds only he could see, and nightmares flew in their wake. Once, Jackson thought himself to be one of the lucky few touched by magic, a candidate for the Order of Mages. He is a man now, and that dream has died. But, the ravens still follow. The nightmares still whisper in his ear.

Anna’s life was under the sun, her future bright, her scientific work promising. She knew nothing of The Bombings, the poisoned world, or the occult. One day, she went to work, and the next, she awoke in a box over a hundred years in the future, screaming, fighting to breathe, and looking up into the eyes of a smuggler. Anna fears she’s gone crazy, unable to fill the massive hole in her memories, and terrified of the strange abilities she now possesses.

The Coalition government has turned its watchful eyes towards them. The secret factions of the city move to collect them first. And, old gods stir in the darkness, shifting their pawns on the playing field.

If Anna and Jackson wish to stay free, they must learn what they are and why they exist.

Unfortunately, even if they do, it may be too late.

Raven Song is the first of a four book adult-oriented dystopian fantasy series, a story of intrigue, love, violence, and the old spirits in the shadows who wait for us to notice them again. Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human will enjoy this dark magic-laced tale rooted on the bones of what our world could become.

CHARACTERS

I loved the main characters. I love it when I love the main characters! While Jackson is a smuggler, he has problems far pressing than 'how to get the shipment out'. He sees Ravens, birds that are said to be extinct..birds that no one else see. Jackson has a past he doesn't remember and a future that looks bleak. I liked how for once I was reading about an orphaned character who did NOT have an abusive adoptive family or abusive relatives. Jackson was such a realistic character that I could practically see him in front of me when I read about him. I could see his movements, mannerisms..feel his relief, fear and curiosity. He is a perfect character in every which way.

Anna is a character with no memories of why she is where she is. Oh and also, she may have traveled in time. Her character develops so beautifully as the story progresses. I wanted to hug her and cry out "You go girl!" at many points in the story.

PLOT

I love how the genre isn't solely fantasy but is interlaced with science. This makes the world that the author has created more believable and real. The plot is amazingly crafted and the novel ended with so many many questions popping up in my head! So many mysteries pop up during the entire read and by the end we have more questions than answers! But not in an infuriating way. Rather in a I-can't-wait-to-read-the-next-book way. Full marks for the suspenseful, intriguing plot!

WRITING

The writing was on point. It wasn't cluttered or confusing. The author puts in the right amount of descriptions without slowing down the pace of the story. I would have finished the book in one sitting had it not been for college..

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK

-The plot
-The prologue (Perfection)
-The characters
-The writing style

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK

-NOT A THING!

CONCLUSION

If you haven't read the book yet, PICK IT UP ALREADY!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique story. Jackson and Anna were good characters. The way it ends leaves me with questions, hopefully the next book will answers those.

[Rajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raven Song (Inoki's Game, #1)
by I.A. Ashcroft
Format : Epub
Review copy provided by: Author Assistant
Star Rating: 3 stars
I was provided a review copy and thanks Author Assistant for that.
The book is set into not so distant apocalyptic future. There is radiation harming humans. The Geiger counter is everywhere. The main protagonists are Jackson and Anna. The story is meandering and confusing. It reminded me of Kurt Russel movie Escape from L.A. One reason maybe that it is just part one of four part series. So the story is just building and it will pick up pace later on. It is strictly a one time read.

Some excerpts:
The men are disposable machines as explained beautifully below:
“Besides, the Coalition will need your services in the future. Sort of stupid to poison you all now.”
The argument was quite logical.
______
Anna wakes up in a daze naked:
“She noticed then, in a distant way, that her palms felt only bare skin. Anna looked down, blinking, recognizing suddenly the warm brush of wind on her thighs, the hot scrape of earth on the soles of her feet. Her clothes were completely gone. She made a raspy, shrieking noise, sinking to the ground in a ball, covering herself as best as she could with her arms, the world tipping and rocking again.”
Anna wanted to live in a trance but ultimately face reality:
“Anna didn’t know what to say. Her denial of her reality had only recently fallen away. And then, as the memories came back, as every new, impossible thing kept piling up, she’d even started to wonder if she’d gone crazy. Heck, she’d considered reincarnation. But… she was real. She still had her DNA and fingerprints. She was fundamentally Anna. And, this thought almost made her cry with the comfort it provided.”
______
“Anna had been spared that, at least. The debris had bounced from her, bruising her, but causing no serious harm—and the hurts it did cause felt as if they were healing already. She bounded ahead of the soldiers, snagging a handhold in the maimed dirt. Her arms screamed as she pulled herself up, forcing her hands into new nooks, finding purchase for her feet. She never would have been able to do this in her past life. And yet, now, it seemed like she should, and she was hardly surprised when it worked.”
_____
Love can blossom even in time of dystopia:

“And, for just a moment, he’d been wired directly into Anna’s being. What she’d done had taken that strange sense of familiarity he’d felt with her since they’d met and amplified it a hundred times over. The connection had been electrifying. And, so help him, he wanted to feel it again. He wanted to lean in close to her giggling, bright face dusted with ash and dirt, and he wanted to kiss her, wanted to run his hands through her hair, wanted to hold her to him until the militia got there and dragged them both away.”
____

[BookzBookzBookz · Rating 3 out of 5]

*An eBook & Audio Review
You know you've done well when you jump in on two giveaways and win both, on the same book! When I received one newsletter announcing a new dystopian ebook- I said "Yes!". Then I was offered, by another newsletter the audiobook, Again, I said, "Yes" and I instantly began to salivate like one of Pavlov's dogs! I entered on one day and was downloading the next. That's like music to this book reviewer- erm... well maybe not music. You know what I mean!

Raven's Song is a dystopian fantasy, written by I. A. Ashcroft and is book one in an apparent series. I don't know much about Ashcroft but from what I've seen so far, he may not be too bad. The guy can write a story, but I was a bit torn on whether I enjoyed the read or not The story is written from two POV's in third person. There's the main character, Jackson, who's backstory and development is written exceptionally well. He's got issues- like someone's poisoning him, he sees ravens everywhere and he's got people after him and he didn't do anything wrong! Then there's Anne. She was found stark naked and hasn't a clue where she is or when... Oh, and she has magical powers! In the first few chapters on her, she's tranq'd, kidnapped and imprisoned without a clue as to why! Due to they way they meet, they feel they need to stick together. They have so much in common: they have abilities that are unexplained and they are hunted...

The story is not too shabby. I liked the characters, but there was so much confusion for the two main ones; I didn't know if I was coming or going with them. From Jackson's sleep-walking and insane dreams to Ann and where she came from and when she came. The tension never stopped with the story and it kept going and going, placing the characters in tighter and tighter situations. Some of which were a bit unreal- but that's fantasy for you.

​ I didn't like how I didn't get to know about the origin of the magical powers. I can't go into much detail because that would be offering up SPOILERS, but it would have been nice to know if they stemmed from radiation poisoning or not. I also didn't get to know who Inoki was. He's supposed to be running the show, according to the subtitle, but I was just left in a state of limbo.

I did enjoy the book and I think anyone who's in to characters that put you in mind of Harry Canyon (Heavy Metal) then this book is for you! This book is available in all versions, including Audible.com. I'm on to the next read!

[Sudeepta Pradhan (booksteaandmore) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For full review please visit https://booksteaandmorecom.wordpress....

The world came to an end on 2022.There was bombing all around. The radioactivity was so intense that all cities have been shrouded by barriers to protect citizens from these radioactive waves. Jackson runs his father’s courier company Dovetail Parcel and is involved in smuggling activities. Jackson has a darkness in his life and he sees ravens all around. He sees weird scary dreams and only some special tea can soothe his soul. He leads a life in shadows. He is aware that he has some special abilities which are but not special enough to qualify him to be a part of the Mage order.

The coalition which is the government, reach out to Dovetail to carry out a secret consignment transport for them. During this they discover a naked frightened girl in a box. This girl Anna remembers nothing, she had gone to office like always but suddenly things are not what they are. She was in the year 2022 and now she has time traveled to year 2142. Suddenly she also discovers some new found abilities which she was oblivious to her in the past.

Both the coalition and the mage order seems to be behind Jackson and Anna, it looks like they can trust no one. As past emerges and truth is revealed things get scarier and the mystery increases.

This novel is a great mix of dystopian, magic with subtle hints of romance and some elements of science fiction. The plot of the book is engaging and builds up inquisitiveness in the reader.Where the author has done well is in the plot development as the new twists and turns that come in the story are deeply engaging. The pacing of the novel is apt for the story. One does not feel that the pace of the story is too fast or slow.

The novel is well structured. Where I found the novel lacking was in character building as none of the characters I could get a comprehensive picture of other than Anna to some extent. This maybe deliberate as this is the first book in the Inoki’s Game series. Also I felt that though the world building was good more could be done. I think fans of dystopian and fantasy will enjoy this one. Further you can visit the authors website . I visited this website post reading the book but wish I had gone through it earlier as the tidbits of information here really builds up your inquisitiveness and adds to the plot of the story.

[Lora Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The premise alone had hooked me when I first came across it on the Making Connections Goodreads group, and the book didn't disappoint.

Jackson, a wealthy smuggler with a mysterious past and no memory of his life before age 12 or so, has a strange ability he doesn't understand. He can see ghostly ravens that no-one else can see (they are extinct in his world) and has some creepy nightmares that may just be trying to warn him about the future.

Anna is a young scientist at the start of a promising career when she ends up suddenly in Jackson's post-apocalyptic world outside the protective dome of New York. With no memory of what happened to bring her there, hundreds of miles away from where she should be and so far into the future that everyone she knows and loves is already dead, she must learn to understand and control her crazy new radioactive powers. Jackson, who is one of the ones to find her, helps her with this. After all, he knows a thing or two about techniques to calm the mind and prevent abilities from becoming overwhelming--even if he also turns to other, more dangerous means to drive away his own abilities so they don't overwhelm him.

Anna's immunity to radiation makes her a target for the government, who wants to use her to grant the same immunity to others in this world ravaged by a long-ago nuclear war. She is also wanted by those like her and Jackson with magical abilities. As they flee from both sides and struggle to unravel who to trust, Anna slowly begins to recover memories from her last day in her own time.

I especially admired Anna's strength throughout this ordeal, as well as her ability and determination to master her new abilities in order to protect herself and her new friends. She and Jackson also become closer, and their relationship was sweet and very realistic. I loved each character separately, and I loved their blooming romance. All the while, the looming threat of the one who brought Anna to this time grows ever closer, leading to an epic showdown.

Fans of science fiction and fantasy, particularly of vividly realized post-apocalyptic worlds, will love this one!

[Brooke Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good
+This starting Arc is a complete tale with an open ending for continuation that I loved
+Anna and Jackson were well done, apart and together
+Loved finding out about their pasts and what happened to Anna in her time
+Action-packed
+Interesting worldbuilding with solid dystopian aspects incorporating paranormal/mythology

The Bad & The Other
-Took time to get into
-No diversity
-Supporting cast is typical


The prologue sets the weird what-the-fuck-ness that lasts. While I didn’t know what was going on, it was enjoyable and wasn’t nonsensical. It reminds me of The Raven Cycle in this way – you know it’ll come around and make sense eventually. It’s all connected and planned like a web. The flies we’re following just don’t see the whole picture yet.

It is dark with the recurring themes and the content. There’s plenty of violence – nuclear fallout, spontaneous combustion, and fire-fights—and ruthless groups all around. Even the healers don't sit back.

There’s scant time for Jackson to set things up, and he’s rather clueless for the local you’ll find (he wouldn't be a Ravenclaw), then it starts hopping. At the end, it’s been a week and in typical action-adventure fashion, no one can believe it.

It wasn’t always the smoothest. It’s immediately interesting and different, it wasn’t submersive at first. Around 30% or so is where I racing to pick it back up again. The plot was illuminated to show more depth and I was investing in the characters.

I love all the bits and pieces going on and around. I keep thinking about it all and wondering....

I love the ending. The first leg of the journey and level 1 boss is finished, and they’re onto the next intriguing path. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the next installment.



If you like dark reads or dystopians, you’ll enjoy Raven Song. I agree about the recs in the blurb for "Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human".

While Jackson and Anna are in the New Adult range, there’s no sexual content (for those who care) and has great cross-over appeal for all mature readers. Of course, I was reading Stephen King in middle school so my perspective is hardly the norm, fyi.

[S. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran into I.A. Ashcroft’s book Raven Song in the Goodreads group Making Connections and received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I browsed for a title extensively because I’m only interested in reading books that wrap me up and I cannot ignore. This was the end result of better than an hour’s worth of prologue/ first chapter previewing. Who wants to pick a mediocre book and leave a bad review, after all? After browsing, I was hooked.

Jackson and Anna, our point of view characters, deal with magic in post-apocalyptic New York City. He’s a local, and an heir to a struggling currier service. She’s a science nerd who magically time traveled from our future even further forward.

Like I said, the prologue peaked my interest. When I read the first couple chapters I grew a bit hesitant. Anna’s hits the scene by chapter four and I’m hooked! As Ashcroft’s first novel, yes I did a bit of fanboy lurking after I finished the novel, the writer found narrative voice very early. On my first novel, I feel I hit that stride in the dead center of the book, so I’m very impressed! Even on my third novel I went back to the drawing board in order to secure the tone of the story. If you give this book a shot, and you should, don’t you dare set it down before you meet Anna.

I’m a fan of stories with more than one point of view character. Seeing things from more than one point of view is a great way for readers to discover the world for themselves. It’s like they get to hear about someone from a couple friends, and learn things in the process that neither directly said. Ashcroft nailed the idea in the character Frank’s description.

By chapter fourteen Jackson has also won me over. In chapter fifteen Ashcroft came through with bits of foreshadowing from Jackson’s childhood that I overlooked.

Ashcroft personification of the antagonist near the novel’s climax is haunting.

With a blend of martial arts experience and as a writer, I tend to dissect fight scenes. While I suspect that Ashcroft is not a martial artist, no offence intended dear author, the final fight is riveting!

I withheld the fifth star solely on the opinion that some of the prose was wordier than I prefer.

[Gayathri Jayakumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mysterious and magical tale of the Chosen begins.... Such beauty blooms in the language and such mystery envelops the plot that the more you read, the more you fall in love with the pages. Beyond my expectations, a splendorous language that precisely, yet imaginatively constructed kept on greeting my keen heart and the plot was one with uncountable twists and turns that I believe I lost track of the refreshing push in the narrative. I was expecting a usual magical tale with the cliché symbols and images and the usual cadence of a magical mystery; the dreams giving out messages and initiation into a cult and fighting a villain or going in search of a family treasure or lineage kind of stuff. But the book threw away the usual spiralling tales of good versus evil and choosing sides and fairy Godparents. There is darkness everywhere and the world is a wasted future. Usually magic tales trace back in time, here this simply shot further into time beyond the 2140’s! The Prologue was fair enough to keep the reader searching for answers, and the little it give prodded me to read on for answers. The entire book does that; pose questions to which we have to read long into the pages to get answers, but, mystery and magic drenched plot has shrouded those answers in a thick fog that the reader never gets impatient so as to skip a paragraph or page, lest we miss some action or a sudden turn of fate! Masks fall and even under the masks, new ones grow at once. What more to do to add to the mystery than hovering Ravens that only Jackson can see and then Anna popping out of a box , floating in the air, glowing...? The Coalition, The Agents, The Barrier, The Raiders, The Order, Nyx, Gap-toothed Tony, The unsettling and persistent dreams, The Tiger-like man, but above all The Mysterious visitor with starry eyes.... The Shadow? Sometimes, reading simply seems the best way to put things in order to see the big picture rather than indulging in mind games piecing together bits from here and there to guess how things might progress; because you can never guess with books like this one. This was a magical mystery thriller in all its terms. Oh! and...Watch out for the Ravens, they are watching...!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After civilization is destroyed by nuclear war, the planet is poisoned by radiation. Survivors live inside a barrier protecting the remains of New York City. For more than 100 years, The Coalition has controlled their dark existence. Jackson is a smuggler who has strange visions, but keeps it to himself so others don't assume he's crazy. Then he meets Anna, a woman who has somehow flashed 100 years forward in time. She remembers the world before the war. Together, they discover they have strange powers and that they are both missing memories about their past. The Coalition knows about their visions and abilities, but so do other sinister forces hiding in the shadows of the ruined city. Jackson and Anna fight to regain their lost memories, to discover who and what they are. The truth will be much more shocking than they ever imagined.

I enjoyed Raven's Song. The story is interesting and the characters engaging. The villains in the story were just amazingly cool. It was a bit hard to dislike the bad guys -- they were beautifully horrific. I thought the first half of the book moved a little slowly, but the plot got more exciting mid-way through. For the last half of the book, I couldn't put it down! I had to know what happened next.

Raven's Song is the first book in the Inoki's Game series. The second book, Eclipse of the Sun, will be coming out soon. For more information on author I.A. Ashcroft and the world of Inoki's Game check out his website: http://www.ia-ashcroft.com/

**I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

[My Bookish Delights · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover: 4 out of 5 stars. I really like the cover on this book. I think it relates to the book and I like the stars inside the raven and the font for the title. I would pick up this book to try just based on the cover. [My reading copy was an ebook.]

This book was really good and I enjoyed reading it! It had action, mystery, suspense, violence, magic, and maybe a hint of romance to come. It seems to be several genres at once (science fiction, urban fantasy, and dystopia), which was interesting. I was pulled into the story easily and probably would have finished this book more quickly if it weren't an ebook (not my personal preference). There were a lot of interesting characters and I liked the character development for the most part. Some of the side characters definitely gave me the creeps! I do wish that I felt a bit more connection with the two main characters though. I'm not sure why because I felt they were well written, but I didn't feel that attached to them for some reason.

There were parts of the story and characters mentioned that left me with wanting more information about them, but since this is the first book in a 4 book series, I am hoping that any questions I have will be answered in the following books.

This first book had a sense of closure for the story at hand, which I definitely appreciate, but the ending was a promise of a new adventure in the next book. I will definitely want to read more of this series and would recommend to those who like these types of genres.

*Note: I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge

[Hannah Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received my review copy of Raven Song I expected an interesting book, but I had no idea it's going to be one that whizzes me through an intense couple of days of reading during which I absolutely cannot stop until I find out what happens to the characters I grew so quickly to care about.

Raven Song is a gripping, incredibly intense horror thriller which contains an interesting blend of urban fantasy, science fiction/dystopia and magical realism. Rather than make this into a hodge-podge of literary genres, I.A. Ashcroft delivers an expertly crafted tale which makes the reader hold his breath, bite his nails and stay awake until 2 A.M.

The concepts of Chosen ones, superhuman magical abilities, world collapse and time travel aren't new, but Ashcroft gives them a special twist to create a story that is clever, intelligent, original and utterly engrossing. The characters of Jackson, an orphaned boy with lost memories, and Anna, a woman thrown headfirst a century ahead in time, are warm, engaging, and easy to identify with.

Be warned: this is a dark book with a lot of gore, pain and death, and can be psychologically hard to read, especially the last part. I kept waiting for my favorite characters to get some respite, but there was none, not until the very end.

The ending itself leaves the reader with a lot of questions, the most intriguing of all, at least for me, was - who, really, is Inoki, and what does he want? I suppose I will have to wait for Ashcroft's next book to find out, and can only hope it comes soon.