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The Raven's Tale
Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2019
95 people are currently reading
7779 people want to read
About the author
Cat Winters
9 books1,557 followersCat Winters is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author of five novels for teens: IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY, ODD & TRUE, and THE RAVEN'S TALE. She has been named a Morris Award finalist, a Bram Stoker Award nominee, and an Oregon Spirit Book Award winner, and her young adult novels have appeared on Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist best-of-the-year lists, as well as numerous state lists. She is also the author of two novels for adults, THE UNINVITED and YESTERNIGHT, and she contributed to the young adult horror anthology SLASHER GIRLS & MONSTER BOYS. Her debut picture book, CUT!: HOW LOTTE REINIGER AND A PAIR OF SCISSORS REVOLUTIONIZED ANIMATION, written as C.E. Winters, will release from Greenwillow Books in Winter 2023.
Winters lives in Oregon. Visit her online at www.catwinters.com.
Winters lives in Oregon. Visit her online at www.catwinters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
November 26, 2022
4.5 Stars - REREAD
What a lovely tale...
Wow, I think Cat Winters did a great job on this book!
I was reading through her author's notes, etc and she was telling how she went about finding out as much history as she could before writing this book. I think she made a remarkable book on fiction and fact to create a young Poe.
I loved reading about Lenore! The book is written in two POV's; Edgar and Lenore. I must say it's bloody brilliant. I loved the creepiness to the book and the way the author incorporated a muse for different people. It was so freaking gothic and awesome and like I said a bit creepy. If you accept what you have created then the creepiness goes away and you find that you have a friend for life.
That's all I'm going to say before I sit right here and type a spoiler before the book is even out yet. This is February and this fine book will be out in April; I'm putting it on my birthday book buying list for myself.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for review.*
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
MY BLOG
What a lovely tale...
Once upon a dark December, in a year we
must
remember,
Morbid mounds of ash and ember told a
gruesome tale of gore--
Wow, I think Cat Winters did a great job on this book!
I was reading through her author's notes, etc and she was telling how she went about finding out as much history as she could before writing this book. I think she made a remarkable book on fiction and fact to create a young Poe.
I loved reading about Lenore! The book is written in two POV's; Edgar and Lenore. I must say it's bloody brilliant. I loved the creepiness to the book and the way the author incorporated a muse for different people. It was so freaking gothic and awesome and like I said a bit creepy. If you accept what you have created then the creepiness goes away and you find that you have a friend for life.
That's all I'm going to say before I sit right here and type a spoiler before the book is even out yet. This is February and this fine book will be out in April; I'm putting it on my birthday book buying list for myself.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for review.*
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
MY BLOG
July 18, 2019
“The kindest thing you can do for the dead... is to weave their names into art”.
Creo que este es el perfecto ejemplo de un libro que tiene una idea con un potencial increíble y se desperdicia terriblemente. Ay...
Aquí nos encontramos con Edgar A. Poe viviendo aún en casa de sus padres adoptivos y a pocos días de partir hacia la universidad, hacia ese lugar que para él significa creatividad y libertad. Pero no todo es poesía y relatos en la vida del joven Poe, pues su padre detesta su lado creativo y dice que se convertirá en un vagabundo si no deja de lado esos sueños blandos que tiene. Todo se pone peor cuando, en una noche de intensa inspiración, Poe invoca a su musa, que resulta ser una mujer tremendamente grotesca, gótica y la encarnación de todo lo retorcido. Ella lo impulsa a seguir el camino de su alma, el de convertirse en un escritor que plasma con palabras todo lo oscuro y gótico de las emociones, pero su padre lo descubre y le dice que o mata a su musa o no lo envía a la universidad.
Así que aquí nos encontramos con una historia en la que Poe se debate eternamente entre seguir su sueño y a su musa o sacrificar todo y buscar un futuro dictado por la universidad y su padre. Y creo que mi problema con el libro radica, precisamente, en ese "eternamente". Durante páginas y páginas sentía que la trama se repetía una y otra vez. Que lo único que describían era un círculo vicioso que no le permitía avanzar en absolutamente nada.
Creo que el concepto de las musas como manifestaciones físicas, como seres reales, es increíble, pero siento que la autora echó por la borda ese potencial. Quizá fue que escoger un período tan temprano de la vida de Poe fue un desacierto. Sí, su padre era terrible; sí, fue tremenda su entrada a la universidad... Pero, si te pones a pensar, en esos primeros años de carrera Poe no hizo nada memorable, así que, en mi opinión, el libro se hubiera enriquecido muchísimo si nos hubiéramos encontrado con la etapa más prolífica de la vida de Poe o, incluso, con su misteriosa muerte.
En fin, que para mí esto fue una decepción total.
Creo que este es el perfecto ejemplo de un libro que tiene una idea con un potencial increíble y se desperdicia terriblemente. Ay...
Aquí nos encontramos con Edgar A. Poe viviendo aún en casa de sus padres adoptivos y a pocos días de partir hacia la universidad, hacia ese lugar que para él significa creatividad y libertad. Pero no todo es poesía y relatos en la vida del joven Poe, pues su padre detesta su lado creativo y dice que se convertirá en un vagabundo si no deja de lado esos sueños blandos que tiene. Todo se pone peor cuando, en una noche de intensa inspiración, Poe invoca a su musa, que resulta ser una mujer tremendamente grotesca, gótica y la encarnación de todo lo retorcido. Ella lo impulsa a seguir el camino de su alma, el de convertirse en un escritor que plasma con palabras todo lo oscuro y gótico de las emociones, pero su padre lo descubre y le dice que o mata a su musa o no lo envía a la universidad.
Así que aquí nos encontramos con una historia en la que Poe se debate eternamente entre seguir su sueño y a su musa o sacrificar todo y buscar un futuro dictado por la universidad y su padre. Y creo que mi problema con el libro radica, precisamente, en ese "eternamente". Durante páginas y páginas sentía que la trama se repetía una y otra vez. Que lo único que describían era un círculo vicioso que no le permitía avanzar en absolutamente nada.
Creo que el concepto de las musas como manifestaciones físicas, como seres reales, es increíble, pero siento que la autora echó por la borda ese potencial. Quizá fue que escoger un período tan temprano de la vida de Poe fue un desacierto. Sí, su padre era terrible; sí, fue tremenda su entrada a la universidad... Pero, si te pones a pensar, en esos primeros años de carrera Poe no hizo nada memorable, así que, en mi opinión, el libro se hubiera enriquecido muchísimo si nos hubiéramos encontrado con la etapa más prolífica de la vida de Poe o, incluso, con su misteriosa muerte.
En fin, que para mí esto fue una decepción total.
dnf
March 5, 2019DNF - 50%
I'm sorry. I tried. I really tried. I love Winters' writing but I just cannot care about this. I guess I just don't find the life of Edgar Allan Poe anywhere near as interesting as I thought I would.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review 🦅
I'm sorry. I tried. I really tried. I love Winters' writing but I just cannot care about this. I guess I just don't find the life of Edgar Allan Poe anywhere near as interesting as I thought I would.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review 🦅
January 22, 2019
An atmospheric and inventive nod to one of literature's most memorable writers. In portraying a young Edgar Allen Poe, Winters has clearly done considerable research to achieve a sense of authenticity, and her idea to characterize Poe's muse as a "raven-haired maiden in a gown spun from threads made of cinders and soot"* is marvelous.
Chapters alternate between Edgar and his muse, Lenore, which lends itself to an unfortunate amount of repetition. The stakes are low and, by the midpoint, the narrative starts to feel stagnant. However, readers who push to the final page are rewarded with a chilling poem crafted by Winters in the style of Edgar Allen Poe.
-
*Note: All quotes taken from an Uncorrected Proof.
Chapters alternate between Edgar and his muse, Lenore, which lends itself to an unfortunate amount of repetition. The stakes are low and, by the midpoint, the narrative starts to feel stagnant. However, readers who push to the final page are rewarded with a chilling poem crafted by Winters in the style of Edgar Allen Poe.
"What are you?" he asks once again, and he gulps with a grimace, as though swallowing swill. "Why do you look so cadaverous . . . and . . . so raven - ous?"
"The word is pronounced ravenous," I say with a smile.*
-
*Note: All quotes taken from an Uncorrected Proof.
January 28, 2019
I adore Poe, and really admire how much research Ms. Winters put into this tribute to his teen years. The story almost has a "magical realism" feel to it over straight up fantasy, which gives events a very surreal and dreamlike quality at times. Also, the nods to Poe's prose and poetry throughout are beautiful!
June 11, 2019
Sad DNF at 42%. After a really interesting and excellent beginning, I think this has stagnated pretty hard – the stakes feel a bit low for the story being told. Edgar's romance with Sarah Elmira Royster and desire to stay at UVA are just not high enough stakes; knowing the history, I'm really struggling to get invested. I think this spends too much time introducing the characters, and the horror just isn’t terrifying enough to hold up the book.
The Raven's Tale plays with the idea of art as a rebellion something others attempt to suppress; one of the narrators is Lenore, Edgar Allan Poe's muse. The characterization of this book holds that the father has pushed his muse, Cassandra, into a fire, which is fascinating. The first 15% was really fantastic; I just think the ideas haven’t gone any further. Maybe those who like flat-out horror will find this one more compelling.
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The Raven's Tale plays with the idea of art as a rebellion something others attempt to suppress; one of the narrators is Lenore, Edgar Allan Poe's muse. The characterization of this book holds that the father has pushed his muse, Cassandra, into a fire, which is fascinating. The first 15% was really fantastic; I just think the ideas haven’t gone any further. Maybe those who like flat-out horror will find this one more compelling.
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Want to read
June 19, 2019What a delightful surprise!
A finished copy of this gorgeous book just showed up in my mailbox!!!
Thank you so much, Amulet Books!
Someone must have told them that ravens are my spirit animal...
I am really excited to have this and will probably start it soon.
I love it!
A finished copy of this gorgeous book just showed up in my mailbox!!!
Thank you so much, Amulet Books!
Someone must have told them that ravens are my spirit animal...
I am really excited to have this and will probably start it soon.
I love it!
March 10, 2024
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“Drink up the memories, says the wind that lures me to the hallowed grounds up another hill to the east, until they drench your heart with a deep and dreary darkness.
Drink up the memories until you can’t bear another dismal drop.”
Edgar Allan Poe and his works have played a large part in my literary journey - from school anthologies to poetry collections - it's been a huge part in my reading journey, and for good reason. From the macabre to the grim, to the yearning to the mystery, he really has a way with words that just speaks to my soul - '“I’m the best part of you, Edgar Poe.' So, with its mystifying cover and the interest of depicting a fictional take of Edgar Allan Poe when he was just a seventeen-year-old college student, The Raven's Tale drew me towards it. 🐦⬛
“I’m lonely. I’m terrified. I’m penniless. I’m haunted.
And I could take down every single one of them with a few swift strokes of my pen, for I see the ugliness inside us all.”
Cat Winters' Gothic interpretation is a slightly twisted and magical take that was subtly captivating and well-thought out. It essentially became a battle of dominance between two opposing forces, heightened by the supernatural trying to win over the realistic side of EAP's lifestyle - one which would deviate him from bringing out his true love for writing. 🪶 It was a sharp contrast to the theatrics and dramatic insight of how she described his muses that had to 'evolve directly into spiritual beings, immune to harm and death, whirring with creative energies' and venture to take over his sanity and mind - in order to preserve their own existence. It was a sharp contrast to the theatrics and dramatic insight of how she described his muses that had to 'evolve directly into spiritual beings, immune to harm and death, whirring with creative energies' and venture to take over his sanity and mind - in order to preserve their own existence.
I'd always known about the impoverished state EAP had been in as a struggling writer - not only in his financial state, but how dependent he was upon alcohol and how you know what future is in store for Edgar and how her own future hung in the balance due to his own despairing condition. 😟 It was interesting here was how the author combined the macabre with reality - how these two opposing forces were clashing to dominate what path of genre EAP would take - as a writer.
“Give me a name that means ‘light,’ not shadow,” she says, “and we may be able to show them there’s beauty in horror.”
And it wasn't only the inspiration behind the muses that played a part - it also was a battle of dominance of control that his foster father, John Allan, had implemented upon him. It was that fierce and fearful challenge of protecting his inspiration from being a target of scorn for his father, while also nurturing his own ambitious desires, all while trying to keep at bay his financial struggles. 😥 It was hard to see Edgar in such a pitiful and morose state - the man behind so many phrases and stories at the brink of destruction. ' “Your type of art is fine for a brief laugh, Mr. O’Peale, but I offer sumptuous feasts of words that the world shall savor for centuries.'
I've only ever been a fan of his solemn poetry and macabre short stories, so I was surprised to learn how he had also dabbled in satire and comedy, as well. I enjoyed seeing how the author would tie the pieces together and while I wasn't too fond of Lenore's point of view - -'I’m bound to a soul who doesn’t even want to live' - but I appreciated the tragedy behind her presences; how she's not so much his inspiration, but his motivation to draw upon the squalor of his life and breathe to life something meaningful out of it - a double entendre, if there ever was one.
“I dare you to show me to the rest of the world. I dare you to show them your morbid fancies, Eddy Poe.”
I appreciated the Author's Note because it showed how much attention to detail the author put in the effort to stay historically accurate. She did not shy away from incorporating real life people - even in the smallest parts - which I think brought the story to life even more. 👏🏻 👏🏻 The writing was a solid effort to stay convincingly true to match his own style of writing and it was mirrored in how she was able to incorporate at various intervals actual parts of his own writing into the story. It felt authentic to the time, without going overboard in the flowery grandiose of that time, and was easy to follow, which I was also grateful for.
It was not the only homage the author paid to Edgar Allan Poe's life and his contribution to literature that made it a unique, but that she chose select moments in his life to show how they would later inspire him to write some of his most memorable short stories that still are very dear to my heart - 'but I imagine all the diabolical details and evocative phrases I would use were I to write about a lifeless human heart quickening back to life—shuddering, shaking, resuscitating with a low, dull thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump . . .' 💫
“Drink up the memories, says the wind that lures me to the hallowed grounds up another hill to the east, until they drench your heart with a deep and dreary darkness.
Drink up the memories until you can’t bear another dismal drop.”
Edgar Allan Poe and his works have played a large part in my literary journey - from school anthologies to poetry collections - it's been a huge part in my reading journey, and for good reason. From the macabre to the grim, to the yearning to the mystery, he really has a way with words that just speaks to my soul - '“I’m the best part of you, Edgar Poe.' So, with its mystifying cover and the interest of depicting a fictional take of Edgar Allan Poe when he was just a seventeen-year-old college student, The Raven's Tale drew me towards it. 🐦⬛
“I’m lonely. I’m terrified. I’m penniless. I’m haunted.
And I could take down every single one of them with a few swift strokes of my pen, for I see the ugliness inside us all.”
Cat Winters' Gothic interpretation is a slightly twisted and magical take that was subtly captivating and well-thought out. It essentially became a battle of dominance between two opposing forces, heightened by the supernatural trying to win over the realistic side of EAP's lifestyle - one which would deviate him from bringing out his true love for writing. 🪶 It was a sharp contrast to the theatrics and dramatic insight of how she described his muses that had to 'evolve directly into spiritual beings, immune to harm and death, whirring with creative energies' and venture to take over his sanity and mind - in order to preserve their own existence. It was a sharp contrast to the theatrics and dramatic insight of how she described his muses that had to 'evolve directly into spiritual beings, immune to harm and death, whirring with creative energies' and venture to take over his sanity and mind - in order to preserve their own existence.
I'd always known about the impoverished state EAP had been in as a struggling writer - not only in his financial state, but how dependent he was upon alcohol and how you know what future is in store for Edgar and how her own future hung in the balance due to his own despairing condition. 😟 It was interesting here was how the author combined the macabre with reality - how these two opposing forces were clashing to dominate what path of genre EAP would take - as a writer.
“Give me a name that means ‘light,’ not shadow,” she says, “and we may be able to show them there’s beauty in horror.”
And it wasn't only the inspiration behind the muses that played a part - it also was a battle of dominance of control that his foster father, John Allan, had implemented upon him. It was that fierce and fearful challenge of protecting his inspiration from being a target of scorn for his father, while also nurturing his own ambitious desires, all while trying to keep at bay his financial struggles. 😥 It was hard to see Edgar in such a pitiful and morose state - the man behind so many phrases and stories at the brink of destruction. ' “Your type of art is fine for a brief laugh, Mr. O’Peale, but I offer sumptuous feasts of words that the world shall savor for centuries.'
I've only ever been a fan of his solemn poetry and macabre short stories, so I was surprised to learn how he had also dabbled in satire and comedy, as well. I enjoyed seeing how the author would tie the pieces together and while I wasn't too fond of Lenore's point of view - -'I’m bound to a soul who doesn’t even want to live' - but I appreciated the tragedy behind her presences; how she's not so much his inspiration, but his motivation to draw upon the squalor of his life and breathe to life something meaningful out of it - a double entendre, if there ever was one.
“I dare you to show me to the rest of the world. I dare you to show them your morbid fancies, Eddy Poe.”
I appreciated the Author's Note because it showed how much attention to detail the author put in the effort to stay historically accurate. She did not shy away from incorporating real life people - even in the smallest parts - which I think brought the story to life even more. 👏🏻 👏🏻 The writing was a solid effort to stay convincingly true to match his own style of writing and it was mirrored in how she was able to incorporate at various intervals actual parts of his own writing into the story. It felt authentic to the time, without going overboard in the flowery grandiose of that time, and was easy to follow, which I was also grateful for.
It was not the only homage the author paid to Edgar Allan Poe's life and his contribution to literature that made it a unique, but that she chose select moments in his life to show how they would later inspire him to write some of his most memorable short stories that still are very dear to my heart - 'but I imagine all the diabolical details and evocative phrases I would use were I to write about a lifeless human heart quickening back to life—shuddering, shaking, resuscitating with a low, dull thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump . . .' 💫
May 8, 2019
3.75 Stars → THE RAVEN'S TALE is a fictionalized account of 17-year old Edgar Allan Poe and his turbulent relationship with Lenore, his muse. In this world, muses are real, physical beings, and they're considered corrupt and dangerous by polite society. Lenore comes to Edgar at a particularly vulnerable time in his life, at odds with his foster father and leaving for university. Edgar's passion for poetry and dreams of making a living as a writer are in sharp contrast to the wishes of his practical and cruel foster father. Will Lenore save Edgar's creative spark, or will she be snuffed out forever(more)?
I enjoyed that this book imagined what a teenage Poe would have been like, and how his "muse" buried the seeds in his mind for many of his greatest works. The plot struggled in parts, moving slowly especially during his time at university, though the writing was lovely and atmospheric. I was also hoping for more explanation of what the muses actually were. Living spirits, maybe? As a fan of Poe, there was much to appreciate in this well-researched novel. ♥
I enjoyed that this book imagined what a teenage Poe would have been like, and how his "muse" buried the seeds in his mind for many of his greatest works. The plot struggled in parts, moving slowly especially during his time at university, though the writing was lovely and atmospheric. I was also hoping for more explanation of what the muses actually were. Living spirits, maybe? As a fan of Poe, there was much to appreciate in this well-researched novel. ♥
November 7, 2019
Thank you Amulet Books for the free (gifted) review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Cat Winters weaves together a creative and melancholy story in this Edgar Allan Poe retelling.
The Raven’s Tale takes us on a journey following Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar struggles between writing his poetry and putting up with all the pressure that he receives from his father. Edgar’s writing soon turns into a muse named Lenore. A muse that is frowned upon by the inhabitants of Richmond.
If you’re a fan of Edgar Allan Poe’s work than you will definitely appreciate this retelling. Edgar has a lot to put up with in this story from following his dreams of becoming a poet, to sticking to his father’s demands. A story where Edgar has to either hold onto his muse or to banish her completely along with his poetry. This story is filled with beautiful pieces of poetry as well as some pretty macabre stories of Edgar’s making.
The language and writing style that Cat Winters uses is amazing and very fitting for the setting of the book and events. Although there were some parts that felt a bit slow, the writing was easy to follow and was entertaining most of the time. The story is also told from both Edgar and Lenore’s points of view, but this retelling is to honor Edgar Allan Poe as stated by the author. Cat Winters truly put in so much love when writing this story and I found myself loving every second of it.
The story is whimsical and gothic all at once, and you could see the difference between the world from Edgar and Lenore’s eyes. The prose is breathtaking and seeing Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry written and weaved through the story was perfect. Cat Winters included Poe’s deepest fears as well as a look into his love for writing deep and dark stories. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy and historical fiction.
--------
Got an ARC!! One of my most anticipated! 😍 Can’t wait to start it!
Cat Winters weaves together a creative and melancholy story in this Edgar Allan Poe retelling.
The Raven’s Tale takes us on a journey following Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar struggles between writing his poetry and putting up with all the pressure that he receives from his father. Edgar’s writing soon turns into a muse named Lenore. A muse that is frowned upon by the inhabitants of Richmond.
If you’re a fan of Edgar Allan Poe’s work than you will definitely appreciate this retelling. Edgar has a lot to put up with in this story from following his dreams of becoming a poet, to sticking to his father’s demands. A story where Edgar has to either hold onto his muse or to banish her completely along with his poetry. This story is filled with beautiful pieces of poetry as well as some pretty macabre stories of Edgar’s making.
The language and writing style that Cat Winters uses is amazing and very fitting for the setting of the book and events. Although there were some parts that felt a bit slow, the writing was easy to follow and was entertaining most of the time. The story is also told from both Edgar and Lenore’s points of view, but this retelling is to honor Edgar Allan Poe as stated by the author. Cat Winters truly put in so much love when writing this story and I found myself loving every second of it.
The story is whimsical and gothic all at once, and you could see the difference between the world from Edgar and Lenore’s eyes. The prose is breathtaking and seeing Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry written and weaved through the story was perfect. Cat Winters included Poe’s deepest fears as well as a look into his love for writing deep and dark stories. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy and historical fiction.
--------
Got an ARC!! One of my most anticipated! 😍 Can’t wait to start it!
August 20, 2019
This is written in such a way as to leave me wondering if the ghost of Poe came to this author as her Muse for this book.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" I imagine myself saying from the pulpit in the pink sanctuary of our church. "My name is Edgar Poe, and today, for reasons I don't fully comprehend, I'm obsessed with with the seventy-two bodies buried beneath us."
Oh, what a tale! While I am not obsessed with Poe's works to the point I can quote them from any angle, have mused upon the differing tempos, or sat in brooding thought regarding his stories . . . I do really love the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. I feel like those weird, dark poems and stories GET me, which of course is something strange to say if the first Poe thing you think of is The Tell-Tale Heart.
Anyways.
This literally reads like something pulled from Poe's mind. Cat Winters strikes again with her literary talent, reminding me yet again why I love her books so much. Every single sentence feels like the author spent hours crafting it into mad perfection. The amount of research she puts into her books truly shows because every time I am pulled into history and I never want to leave.
But, this wasn't just historical fiction. This is a book about Poe who dreamed in dark fairytales and lost loves and beating hearts. There is magic in this story in the form of Lenore, Poe's dark muse. Now did my brain automatically go "ship them"?? Yes, of course it it did. There is just so much conflicted tension between these two artists--one of flesh and blood, the other of dreams and feathers--that I couldn't help myself!!
Yet while this book is about the magical bond between Poe and his muse, an interesting take on where this famous poet got the inspiration for his well-known works . . . it is also about the growth of a young man chained by social expectations into a man who becomes who he wants to be. There is a lot of thematic elements about this, so don't just come expecting a dark and magical tale--like Poe's works, there is great depth to the surface horror and melancholy. And that's what really sold me on this, what really made me believe it was if the muse of Poe himself came to the author and helped her write this story.
basically: read this book okay
ARC received in exchange for my honest review
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" I imagine myself saying from the pulpit in the pink sanctuary of our church. "My name is Edgar Poe, and today, for reasons I don't fully comprehend, I'm obsessed with with the seventy-two bodies buried beneath us."
Oh, what a tale! While I am not obsessed with Poe's works to the point I can quote them from any angle, have mused upon the differing tempos, or sat in brooding thought regarding his stories . . . I do really love the writing of Edgar Allan Poe. I feel like those weird, dark poems and stories GET me, which of course is something strange to say if the first Poe thing you think of is The Tell-Tale Heart.
Anyways.
This literally reads like something pulled from Poe's mind. Cat Winters strikes again with her literary talent, reminding me yet again why I love her books so much. Every single sentence feels like the author spent hours crafting it into mad perfection. The amount of research she puts into her books truly shows because every time I am pulled into history and I never want to leave.
But, this wasn't just historical fiction. This is a book about Poe who dreamed in dark fairytales and lost loves and beating hearts. There is magic in this story in the form of Lenore, Poe's dark muse. Now did my brain automatically go "ship them"?? Yes, of course it it did. There is just so much conflicted tension between these two artists--one of flesh and blood, the other of dreams and feathers--that I couldn't help myself!!
Yet while this book is about the magical bond between Poe and his muse, an interesting take on where this famous poet got the inspiration for his well-known works . . . it is also about the growth of a young man chained by social expectations into a man who becomes who he wants to be. There is a lot of thematic elements about this, so don't just come expecting a dark and magical tale--like Poe's works, there is great depth to the surface horror and melancholy. And that's what really sold me on this, what really made me believe it was if the muse of Poe himself came to the author and helped her write this story.
basically: read this book okay
ARC received in exchange for my honest review
April 25, 2019
In The Raven's Tale, muses are considered dangerous to the soul, yet at the same time, they're acknowledged to exist. The Sunday sermon exhorts the congregation to "Silence your muses!" lest they lead you into temptation and keep you from pursuing an honest, hardworking, upright life. Such is the world in which we meet young Edgar Allan Poe, a 17-year-old devoted to poetry whose foster father wants to see him settled in the family business as a clerk. It's all about respectability!
Poor Eddy! He's consumed by thoughts of a deadly Richmond theater fire from eleven years earlier, and from his obsession with the fire, his muse emerges into life. His attention makes her more and more real, a girl of smoke and ashes who assumes human form and accompanies Edgar through the streets and in his home, leading him to greater and greater devotion to his writing. Edgar's goal is to escape his awful father and begin his university studies, where he hopes to achieve greatness through his poetry -- but the dream is on the verge of slipping away as his financial situation becomes dire and he's forced into debt and out of control gambling in a futile attempt to pay for his fees.
The idea of personification of muses is an interesting one (and there's also a secondary muse, who represents Poe's forays into satire). We see how Edgar becomes consumed by his obsessions with his art, and if we didn't know that his friends and family are all able to see his muses as well, we might think he'd tumbled into madness.
The concept is unique and inventive. The author weaves together her extensive research into Poe's youth with her flights of fancy in his interactions with the muse. Sprinkled throughout are both lines from what will become his published work and other rhymes and verses that are written by Cat Winters in the style of Edgar Allan Poe. It's fun to see the use of his style, and seems credible that his great works could have started in bits and pieces, with all sorts of variations, as they do here.
Overall, I thought The Raven's Tale mostly (but not totally) successful. It's an interesting and engaging read, but the reality of the muses was not entirely believable. I'm not sure that the balance between established history and invented fantasy really works well, but as someone not previously familiar with Poe's early years, I found the parts based on real-life events especially interesting.
The writing takes on all sorts of rhythms and moods that feel true to the Poe of popular imagination, and that makes reading The Raven's Tale a treat (despite some of the plot bumps).
Don't you just love that line?
Poor Eddy! He's consumed by thoughts of a deadly Richmond theater fire from eleven years earlier, and from his obsession with the fire, his muse emerges into life. His attention makes her more and more real, a girl of smoke and ashes who assumes human form and accompanies Edgar through the streets and in his home, leading him to greater and greater devotion to his writing. Edgar's goal is to escape his awful father and begin his university studies, where he hopes to achieve greatness through his poetry -- but the dream is on the verge of slipping away as his financial situation becomes dire and he's forced into debt and out of control gambling in a futile attempt to pay for his fees.
The idea of personification of muses is an interesting one (and there's also a secondary muse, who represents Poe's forays into satire). We see how Edgar becomes consumed by his obsessions with his art, and if we didn't know that his friends and family are all able to see his muses as well, we might think he'd tumbled into madness.
The concept is unique and inventive. The author weaves together her extensive research into Poe's youth with her flights of fancy in his interactions with the muse. Sprinkled throughout are both lines from what will become his published work and other rhymes and verses that are written by Cat Winters in the style of Edgar Allan Poe. It's fun to see the use of his style, and seems credible that his great works could have started in bits and pieces, with all sorts of variations, as they do here.
Overall, I thought The Raven's Tale mostly (but not totally) successful. It's an interesting and engaging read, but the reality of the muses was not entirely believable. I'm not sure that the balance between established history and invented fantasy really works well, but as someone not previously familiar with Poe's early years, I found the parts based on real-life events especially interesting.
The writing takes on all sorts of rhythms and moods that feel true to the Poe of popular imagination, and that makes reading The Raven's Tale a treat (despite some of the plot bumps).
Whenever I'm not writing, time trudges forward with the maddening, mortifying, miserable, morose, moribund pace of a funeral procession.
Don't you just love that line?
April 23, 2019
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—"
In Cat Winters re-imagining of the life of Edgar Poe, he isn't the master of the Gothic that we know him as in the present-day. Edgar Poe is the seventeen-year-old son of a family that would see him forego his creative outlets for a respectable job in his foster-father's business. But Edgar Poe already feels the pull inside of him. The allure of the morbid and macabre is strong, and whilst he is immersed in the act of immortalising the dead with his words, he wills his muse into existence.
Lenore is a thing of dark beauty. She is moonless midnights and hidden coves in forgotten cemetries. She combines the fear of a ghostly apparition with the repulsion of the open grave. She wills dark energies into existence and consecrates the wilfully overlooked. Lenore is Edgar's muse and if he does not create then she will suffocate.
Edgar Allan Poe is a well-known and deeply-revered name today, but this fictionalised version of his upbringing casts his figure in an alternative light. Here, Edgar is just a boy learning to hone his craft and understand the world around him. This is largely focused on the coming-of-age of a boy who wills himself respectably average even as he finds himself unable to resist the allure of the dark recesses of his mind.
I adore how many of Poe's original words made their way into this retelling of his life. The reader gets to understand the basis for his satires, the lexical struggles for rhymes that evaded him, and the drawn-out events that are compounded into verse. We witness the many prior versions that existed of his poetry before the final product that sees his name as immortalised as the long-dead he seeks to do the same for, with his words.
This is such a darkly Gothic tale, focusing on Poe's creations of and adoration for the macabre, but also one of such gentleness, dealing with the hope and creativity of the spirit. Winters honours Poe's greatness and her lyrical style does homage to the master she channels as her own muse, in this tale of the darkness and light that can reside within all of us.
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—"
In Cat Winters re-imagining of the life of Edgar Poe, he isn't the master of the Gothic that we know him as in the present-day. Edgar Poe is the seventeen-year-old son of a family that would see him forego his creative outlets for a respectable job in his foster-father's business. But Edgar Poe already feels the pull inside of him. The allure of the morbid and macabre is strong, and whilst he is immersed in the act of immortalising the dead with his words, he wills his muse into existence.
Lenore is a thing of dark beauty. She is moonless midnights and hidden coves in forgotten cemetries. She combines the fear of a ghostly apparition with the repulsion of the open grave. She wills dark energies into existence and consecrates the wilfully overlooked. Lenore is Edgar's muse and if he does not create then she will suffocate.
Edgar Allan Poe is a well-known and deeply-revered name today, but this fictionalised version of his upbringing casts his figure in an alternative light. Here, Edgar is just a boy learning to hone his craft and understand the world around him. This is largely focused on the coming-of-age of a boy who wills himself respectably average even as he finds himself unable to resist the allure of the dark recesses of his mind.
I adore how many of Poe's original words made their way into this retelling of his life. The reader gets to understand the basis for his satires, the lexical struggles for rhymes that evaded him, and the drawn-out events that are compounded into verse. We witness the many prior versions that existed of his poetry before the final product that sees his name as immortalised as the long-dead he seeks to do the same for, with his words.
This is such a darkly Gothic tale, focusing on Poe's creations of and adoration for the macabre, but also one of such gentleness, dealing with the hope and creativity of the spirit. Winters honours Poe's greatness and her lyrical style does homage to the master she channels as her own muse, in this tale of the darkness and light that can reside within all of us.
April 15, 2019
With a dark almost macabre feel, The Raven's Tale is classic Poe without being classic Poe.
With nods to both Poe himself and Shakespeare, this wonderfully imaginative and lushly enchanting tale was hard not to get wrapped up in.
With all the tragedy, angst and horror one would expect from both Poe and Winters, the two combined created on heck of a story line that was everything I was expecting and hoping for.
Twisted, dark, and filled with all the things I remember from my Poe days, I loved both the lines from some of Poe's finest tales and poems right down to the twist of his muse taunting him in all the most horrific ways one can imagine for a muse to taunt and tease and torment. Truly a delightful read that had me completely captivated and wanting more.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
With nods to both Poe himself and Shakespeare, this wonderfully imaginative and lushly enchanting tale was hard not to get wrapped up in.
With all the tragedy, angst and horror one would expect from both Poe and Winters, the two combined created on heck of a story line that was everything I was expecting and hoping for.
Twisted, dark, and filled with all the things I remember from my Poe days, I loved both the lines from some of Poe's finest tales and poems right down to the twist of his muse taunting him in all the most horrific ways one can imagine for a muse to taunt and tease and torment. Truly a delightful read that had me completely captivated and wanting more.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
June 23, 2019
My favorite poet is Edgar Allan Poe. His gothic writings and tales of horror have fascinated me as long as I can remember. I enjoyed this book. I thought the research done on Poe's teenage years to be well thought out. The story was clever and I was intrigued by Lenore, Edgar's muse. She was dark, intriguing, horrifying, but strangely beautiful. I thought it connected perfectly with Poe's later works which I think was one the author's goals. I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated being swept away in the Gothic beauty of melancholy and horror.
April 12, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
I have never been so sad to not love a book. Like ever. And usually, when it's a book by an author I adore, I can find some things to like even if I don't love everything. But this was just not the book for me, I guess? Le sigh, let us break it down!
The Things I Liked:
•Young Edgar is, you know, a regular dude. I liked that he wasn't completely broody and maudlin. He was just a guy who loved to write, had fallen in love, and wanted to make something of himself on his own terms. I mean, sure he was intense and such, but that isn't a bad thing! It was a good choice to write him in a likable and relatable way.
•The time period/historical stuff was so fun to learn about! Since I didn't go to college in Virginia in the 1800s, this was a fun new adventure! I loved the look into the lives that Edgar and his contemporaries lived. Also, the author has a ton of information at the end of the book about Edgar, his family, and his friends that we meet in the book. This was probably my favorite part.
The Things I Didn't:
•Nothing... happened? Like Eddy had a beer today, cool, cool. He hugged his mom, splendid. I just kept waiting for the plot and it wasn't there. It never came. Like okay he "met" Leonore, his muse. Whatever even that is, I have no idea because it wasn't ever fully explained. Fought with his dad. Wrote some stuff. And then this whole thing repeated a few times: Muse encounter, writing, fight with Dad, lather rinse repeat as needed.
•Lenore was a bore. See what I did there? It's nice that I amuse myself, no? Anyyyyway, I had to because Lenore certainly wasn't amusing me. Like, she was pretty pissed, and I get it because hello, Edgar wasn't exactly treating her nicely. But would I treat a hallucination/bird-person nicely? NO. In part because you all know how I feel about bird people, but also I wouldn't want to be hallucinating so um of course he wanted her to vanish? Like sweetie, use some common sense. You're whatever a muse is, and that is probably scary.
•Like I mentioned, I never completely understood the muse concept. Is this something that was popular in the nineteenth century? Or was it just a thing for the sake of the story? I am fine with whichever, but try as I might I couldn't find anything specific on this "muse" business, because there are a lot of things/products named Muse. And when I searched "Poe Muse" it just kept trying to link me to a Poe Museum which is decidedly not what I wanted and this is turning into more of a story about Google than a review so I'll stop. My point is, why did everyone and their mom (literally) see this... thing? Woman? Bird? Look I don't even know, okay.
•I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything. Okay, except for Poe's adopted Mom, she's the real hero here. Maybe next we just write a book about her, but in the book she breaks up with the shitty "father" (who by the by is cheating on her while she lays in her sickbed, what a prince 🙄) and then she takes up... Idk, burlesque dancing to make a living for her and her son, and then she meets a doctor who is able to fix her health stuff but also he falls in love with her and treats her like the queen she really is. And Edgar doesn't die in a gutter, the end. (I mean technically he didn't die there, but shh. He was unconscious there and it makes my story sound much better.)
Bottom Line: Wow look I legitimately made up several of my own stories in this review that might have spiced up the actual book in which nothing happens, but it is a look into old-timey stuff and dead folks which is kinda cool?
I have never been so sad to not love a book. Like ever. And usually, when it's a book by an author I adore, I can find some things to like even if I don't love everything. But this was just not the book for me, I guess? Le sigh, let us break it down!
The Things I Liked:
•Young Edgar is, you know, a regular dude. I liked that he wasn't completely broody and maudlin. He was just a guy who loved to write, had fallen in love, and wanted to make something of himself on his own terms. I mean, sure he was intense and such, but that isn't a bad thing! It was a good choice to write him in a likable and relatable way.
•The time period/historical stuff was so fun to learn about! Since I didn't go to college in Virginia in the 1800s, this was a fun new adventure! I loved the look into the lives that Edgar and his contemporaries lived. Also, the author has a ton of information at the end of the book about Edgar, his family, and his friends that we meet in the book. This was probably my favorite part.
The Things I Didn't:
•Nothing... happened? Like Eddy had a beer today, cool, cool. He hugged his mom, splendid. I just kept waiting for the plot and it wasn't there. It never came. Like okay he "met" Leonore, his muse. Whatever even that is, I have no idea because it wasn't ever fully explained. Fought with his dad. Wrote some stuff. And then this whole thing repeated a few times: Muse encounter, writing, fight with Dad, lather rinse repeat as needed.
•Lenore was a bore. See what I did there? It's nice that I amuse myself, no? Anyyyyway, I had to because Lenore certainly wasn't amusing me. Like, she was pretty pissed, and I get it because hello, Edgar wasn't exactly treating her nicely. But would I treat a hallucination/bird-person nicely? NO. In part because you all know how I feel about bird people, but also I wouldn't want to be hallucinating so um of course he wanted her to vanish? Like sweetie, use some common sense. You're whatever a muse is, and that is probably scary.
•Like I mentioned, I never completely understood the muse concept. Is this something that was popular in the nineteenth century? Or was it just a thing for the sake of the story? I am fine with whichever, but try as I might I couldn't find anything specific on this "muse" business, because there are a lot of things/products named Muse. And when I searched "Poe Muse" it just kept trying to link me to a Poe Museum which is decidedly not what I wanted and this is turning into more of a story about Google than a review so I'll stop. My point is, why did everyone and their mom (literally) see this... thing? Woman? Bird? Look I don't even know, okay.
•I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything. Okay, except for Poe's adopted Mom, she's the real hero here. Maybe next we just write a book about her, but in the book she breaks up with the shitty "father" (who by the by is cheating on her while she lays in her sickbed, what a prince 🙄) and then she takes up... Idk, burlesque dancing to make a living for her and her son, and then she meets a doctor who is able to fix her health stuff but also he falls in love with her and treats her like the queen she really is. And Edgar doesn't die in a gutter, the end. (I mean technically he didn't die there, but shh. He was unconscious there and it makes my story sound much better.)
Bottom Line: Wow look I legitimately made up several of my own stories in this review that might have spiced up the actual book in which nothing happens, but it is a look into old-timey stuff and dead folks which is kinda cool?
March 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books/ ABRAMS Kids for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
My first and only encounter with Cat Winters was in the YA anthology Slasher Girls and Monster Boys. In her most recent work, Winters introduces us to a teenage Edgar Allen Poe and his supernatural muse, Lenore. Although I have never shied away from the poet and his works, I cannot say I am an ardent fan.
On the other hand, Cat Winters is definitely in the Poe fan club and her extensive research shines as she shows Poe's internal struggles with his Gothic style by giving him a Gothic storyline. While I felt "Eddy" was a bit hard to take for the majority of the novel, I was truly captivated by Lenore. It is her narrative voice that still haunts me and truly shows the writing depth of Cat Winters.
Because the writing is the true gem of this tale. Every sentence is so vivid in detail that I could see the whole story before me like a painting. I am glad that I gave Cat Winters my attention and now I am curious as to which of her previous works I should check out.
Feel free to leave your recommendations in the comment section below.
Goodreads review 23/03/19
Publication Date 16/04/19
Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books/ ABRAMS Kids for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
My first and only encounter with Cat Winters was in the YA anthology Slasher Girls and Monster Boys. In her most recent work, Winters introduces us to a teenage Edgar Allen Poe and his supernatural muse, Lenore. Although I have never shied away from the poet and his works, I cannot say I am an ardent fan.
On the other hand, Cat Winters is definitely in the Poe fan club and her extensive research shines as she shows Poe's internal struggles with his Gothic style by giving him a Gothic storyline. While I felt "Eddy" was a bit hard to take for the majority of the novel, I was truly captivated by Lenore. It is her narrative voice that still haunts me and truly shows the writing depth of Cat Winters.
Because the writing is the true gem of this tale. Every sentence is so vivid in detail that I could see the whole story before me like a painting. I am glad that I gave Cat Winters my attention and now I am curious as to which of her previous works I should check out.
Feel free to leave your recommendations in the comment section below.
Goodreads review 23/03/19
Publication Date 16/04/19
April 9, 2019
I was all in on a Cat Winters book about Edgar Allan Poe. I absolutely loved this idea and it’s breaking my heart to rate this so low.
Edgar was fairly captivating. He was passionate and creative and friendly. Lenore was creepy and it was interesting getting her POV. Their relationship felt toxic, even though it seemed imperative to Edgar’s writing.
Plot wise is where I really struggled. The story dragged and even though I was intrigued, I could have easily set the book down and never finished it. I will say that the writing is reminiscent of Edgar’s writing and I love that Cat was able to imitate that.
Overall, it was an amazing idea and the research behind it really shows the effort. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.
**Huge thanks to Amulet Books for providing the arc free of charge**
Edgar was fairly captivating. He was passionate and creative and friendly. Lenore was creepy and it was interesting getting her POV. Their relationship felt toxic, even though it seemed imperative to Edgar’s writing.
Plot wise is where I really struggled. The story dragged and even though I was intrigued, I could have easily set the book down and never finished it. I will say that the writing is reminiscent of Edgar’s writing and I love that Cat was able to imitate that.
Overall, it was an amazing idea and the research behind it really shows the effort. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.
**Huge thanks to Amulet Books for providing the arc free of charge**
June 1, 2019
The Raven's Tale is another book that is honestly rather difficult to give a rating to so I think I need to go by some pro's and con's:
Con's:
♦ Poor pacing and repetition. This book really was not action-driven, so don't open it expecting the adventures of Poe and his muse. There are many pretty (dark, sultry) words, but not a whole lot going on. If you are an artist of any kind, read this book. If you are an adventurer, a fast-paced reader, looking for the high stakes....search elsewhere.
♦ Mostly unengaging. The Raven's Tale is told in alternating points of view between Edgar and his personified muse, Lenore. Over and over Edgar struggles to embrace his art (through Lenore) because of his adoptive father, who killed his own muse when he was young. At the age of seventeen, Edgar has to decide if he will obey his demanding father or make his own path.
Pro's:
♦ This book was thoroughly researched (as much was allowed), and it shows in the story. In Cat's author notes in the back of the book, her references and notes are extensive. I found it fascinating how she was able to piece together a story from the scraps of what was missing from Poe's life story or what was heresay from those who didn't like him or what was published in papers about him, for better or worse.
♦ Probably some of the most beautiful writing and one of the most unique concepts I have read. To take a real and very famous literary figure and piece together fact with the beautiful fantasy concept of a muse and fully pose that that is how his writings came to life...I thought it was exquisite.
To wrap up, I wouldn't say that this was the best book that I have ever read in terms of a story, but I will say that the writing was great and it was everything I expected in terms of something Poe-ish. It was quite dark, very unique, and overall very morose in the best of ways.
Con's:
♦ Poor pacing and repetition. This book really was not action-driven, so don't open it expecting the adventures of Poe and his muse. There are many pretty (dark, sultry) words, but not a whole lot going on. If you are an artist of any kind, read this book. If you are an adventurer, a fast-paced reader, looking for the high stakes....search elsewhere.
♦ Mostly unengaging. The Raven's Tale is told in alternating points of view between Edgar and his personified muse, Lenore. Over and over Edgar struggles to embrace his art (through Lenore) because of his adoptive father, who killed his own muse when he was young. At the age of seventeen, Edgar has to decide if he will obey his demanding father or make his own path.
Pro's:
♦ This book was thoroughly researched (as much was allowed), and it shows in the story. In Cat's author notes in the back of the book, her references and notes are extensive. I found it fascinating how she was able to piece together a story from the scraps of what was missing from Poe's life story or what was heresay from those who didn't like him or what was published in papers about him, for better or worse.
♦ Probably some of the most beautiful writing and one of the most unique concepts I have read. To take a real and very famous literary figure and piece together fact with the beautiful fantasy concept of a muse and fully pose that that is how his writings came to life...I thought it was exquisite.
To wrap up, I wouldn't say that this was the best book that I have ever read in terms of a story, but I will say that the writing was great and it was everything I expected in terms of something Poe-ish. It was quite dark, very unique, and overall very morose in the best of ways.
December 11, 2022
Overall Rating : B
"The gravest dangers for a man tormented by death are constant reminders of the grave."
A macabre story of a tortured artist in a world where your muses come alive showing them their truest self. If they have the fortitude to pursue it. Very Poe inspired but the plot did tend to swerve so erratically it was giving me whiplash.
At least the author was able to accurately portray Poe's dramatic ass to a tee. Everytime he whimpered and whined about something it made me cringe and chuckle. Thumbs up to ya! XD
"The gravest dangers for a man tormented by death are constant reminders of the grave."
A macabre story of a tortured artist in a world where your muses come alive showing them their truest self. If they have the fortitude to pursue it. Very Poe inspired but the plot did tend to swerve so erratically it was giving me whiplash.
At least the author was able to accurately portray Poe's dramatic ass to a tee. Everytime he whimpered and whined about something it made me cringe and chuckle. Thumbs up to ya! XD
April 17, 2019
And I could take down every single one of them with a few strokes if my pen, for I see the ugliness inside us all."
Trigger Warnings: Parental abuse, alcohol abuse, depression, poverty.
Cat Winters doing a book inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's muse/life? I'm all here for that! I really enjoyed this one but it's ODD, no like really ODD.
Honestly, I have no idea where to even begin with this book - it's a strange one, but I'll do my best. The Raven's Tale in a very unique, haunting and beautiful tale. It centers around our main protagonist, the famous author Edgar Allan Poe and his muse, Lenore. We start off by learning that Edgar was adopted after losing his parents to a fire. His adoptive parents are well off and he has had the best of everything but is still seen as a bit of an outcast because his biological parents were into the arts and that is completely frowned upon. Edgar's adoptive mother is caring, but fairly weak and now sickly - she doesn't really stand up for Edgar but she does love him and tries to support him in her own quiet way. His adoptive father, on the other hand; is a complete bully of a man. He obviously cares very little for Edgar and lets him know it at every chance he can get. He's ashamed at Edgar's love of poetry and wants him to go into the family business. He's abusive, neglectful and just an all around horrible human being. I couldn't find one redeeming quality in this man.
Edgar is finally going to University and is very eager so he can get away from his controlling father, hopefully for good. Edgar is in love with a young woman and she seems to feel the same way about him, but her parents are not at all happy about the match, so they have to have their romance in secret until he comes back a better match for her when he's through University. Of course, nothing goes as planned. Edgar can't give up his love of poetry - it's his life force, it's what makes him who he is and lately his poetry has gotten more and more dark.
In this world, if your passion/vision is strong enough than your muse can enter this world and become part of it, eventually morphing to it's full potential when fully realized. Edgar's muse is Lenore. Yes, Lenore from the very famous poem, The Raven. I'm a huge fan of Edgar's work and I'm so happy it focused on Lenore because I don't think there is anything more iconic than her in his works. The muse, Lenore is a dark and morbid character. She feeds off creativity and needs it to live. However, Edgar is horrified that she has come to life and completely ashamed and denies her the creativity that she so desperately needs by denying himself. We see both Lenore and Edgar fall into a desperate dark depression. One that can truly only be undone by Edgar giving into his passion - his writing.
This story is very dark and deals with themes of abuse, depression, and poverty. It's a very polarizing read - it would be very easy to be confused by this one since it's such a odd concept. It's told in two POV's - Edgar's and his muse, Lenore. Lenore chapters tend to be more lyrical and dark, which I doubt will be for everyone but I loved it. The writing is stunning. Cat Winters has a wonderful talent of being able to blend historical fiction with elements of the supernatural so seamlessly. This is my third book I've read by this author and I just love her writing style.
I recommend this one to people who love a dark tale or fans of Poe. This is also a wonderful book to maybe branch out a little if you tend to stay on the straight and arrow with your reading choices. This one will definitely challenge you I think.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Trigger Warnings: Parental abuse, alcohol abuse, depression, poverty.
Cat Winters doing a book inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's muse/life? I'm all here for that! I really enjoyed this one but it's ODD, no like really ODD.
Honestly, I have no idea where to even begin with this book - it's a strange one, but I'll do my best. The Raven's Tale in a very unique, haunting and beautiful tale. It centers around our main protagonist, the famous author Edgar Allan Poe and his muse, Lenore. We start off by learning that Edgar was adopted after losing his parents to a fire. His adoptive parents are well off and he has had the best of everything but is still seen as a bit of an outcast because his biological parents were into the arts and that is completely frowned upon. Edgar's adoptive mother is caring, but fairly weak and now sickly - she doesn't really stand up for Edgar but she does love him and tries to support him in her own quiet way. His adoptive father, on the other hand; is a complete bully of a man. He obviously cares very little for Edgar and lets him know it at every chance he can get. He's ashamed at Edgar's love of poetry and wants him to go into the family business. He's abusive, neglectful and just an all around horrible human being. I couldn't find one redeeming quality in this man.
Edgar is finally going to University and is very eager so he can get away from his controlling father, hopefully for good. Edgar is in love with a young woman and she seems to feel the same way about him, but her parents are not at all happy about the match, so they have to have their romance in secret until he comes back a better match for her when he's through University. Of course, nothing goes as planned. Edgar can't give up his love of poetry - it's his life force, it's what makes him who he is and lately his poetry has gotten more and more dark.
In this world, if your passion/vision is strong enough than your muse can enter this world and become part of it, eventually morphing to it's full potential when fully realized. Edgar's muse is Lenore. Yes, Lenore from the very famous poem, The Raven. I'm a huge fan of Edgar's work and I'm so happy it focused on Lenore because I don't think there is anything more iconic than her in his works. The muse, Lenore is a dark and morbid character. She feeds off creativity and needs it to live. However, Edgar is horrified that she has come to life and completely ashamed and denies her the creativity that she so desperately needs by denying himself. We see both Lenore and Edgar fall into a desperate dark depression. One that can truly only be undone by Edgar giving into his passion - his writing.
This story is very dark and deals with themes of abuse, depression, and poverty. It's a very polarizing read - it would be very easy to be confused by this one since it's such a odd concept. It's told in two POV's - Edgar's and his muse, Lenore. Lenore chapters tend to be more lyrical and dark, which I doubt will be for everyone but I loved it. The writing is stunning. Cat Winters has a wonderful talent of being able to blend historical fiction with elements of the supernatural so seamlessly. This is my third book I've read by this author and I just love her writing style.
I recommend this one to people who love a dark tale or fans of Poe. This is also a wonderful book to maybe branch out a little if you tend to stay on the straight and arrow with your reading choices. This one will definitely challenge you I think.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
dnf
April 26, 2019Pains me to DNF this, miss Winters is one of my favorite authors but I just couldn't get into this.
The writing isn't bad at and the idea is very interesting but at almost halfway through, I just couldn't connect with this at all.
The "magic" was missing for this reader. :(
The writing isn't bad at and the idea is very interesting but at almost halfway through, I just couldn't connect with this at all.
The "magic" was missing for this reader. :(
December 1, 2020
The Gist
I absolutely love Winters’ works. I have read all of her novels without fail. Heck, I even went out in a snowstorm while on a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend retreat to Montreal so that I could purchase one of her books for the train ride home.
It’s rare for me to read, or even want to read a book twice, because I can remember most stories quite well, generally speaking. Something strange happened with The Raven’s Tale. Starting in August of this year I kept thinking about it. It was haunting. I had the indescribable urge to read it again.
After I had finished the book, I read the review I wrote in June 2019 and I’m wondering what made me write such a lackluster, yet semi-positive review.
The only thing I can come up with is the fact that during the summer of 2019 I was ridiculously stressed out writing my thesis. I remember borrowing the book from the library and having to extend the loan multiple times, because I kept running out of time, which really flustered me.
It stressed me out even more. Plus, my delicate state of being didn’t really mesh with the atmosphere of The Raven’s Tale.
Now, a year and a lifetime worth of experiences later I have to recant my rating and I am writing a new review to do this story justice.
The Details
I have to start out by saying that I loved the atmosphere the entire story had. I was in desperate need for a story that included steel grey skies in the middle of winter, with snow falling and cold temperature, but without the holiday cheer.
Winters was able to hold on to this atmosphere even as the seasons changed in the story. That’s not a small thing to achieve and it did so much for the overall feel of it.
I appreciated reading a story that brought Poe to life. I have known of him ever since my first semester at an English-speaking school back in February 2000. We were assigned to read “The Cask of Amontillado”. My English teacher did a great job explaining the story and encouraged discussions about it.
Since it was my very first experience with English literature, I did very poorly on the reading test, but the story stuck with me for 20 years.
Even though Winters’ story is a fictionalized version of Poe’s younger years, it was great to have this great author of the macabre come to life; become a person with feelings and struggles and the desire to achieve something.
Not only did the main character come to life, but also the secondary characters. The particular details that gave the characters personalities, albeit not the greatest ones morally speaking, brought them closer to home than I’m willing to admit.
The characters came alive on the page with depth and dimension.
I loved the sections that included Lenore. I felt for her. I even wanted to know more about her. She was so peculiar.
As I have mentioned before, the atmosphere was just what I was looking for: bleak, cold, dreary and just hopeless enough to inspire a creatively starved writer into producing her own story.
I don’t want to comment too much on the plot of The Raven’s Tale, except that it is centred around a young Edgar Allen Poe and his muses.
The Verdict
Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed this story tremendously and I think I’m kind of eating my own words I wrote a little over a year ago with my first review of The Raven’s Tale.
It wasn’t a negative review, but it lacked enthusiasm, to say the least. With this new review I hope to do justice to another great story written by Winters.
I would definitely recommend it.
ElliotScribbles
I absolutely love Winters’ works. I have read all of her novels without fail. Heck, I even went out in a snowstorm while on a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend retreat to Montreal so that I could purchase one of her books for the train ride home.
It’s rare for me to read, or even want to read a book twice, because I can remember most stories quite well, generally speaking. Something strange happened with The Raven’s Tale. Starting in August of this year I kept thinking about it. It was haunting. I had the indescribable urge to read it again.
After I had finished the book, I read the review I wrote in June 2019 and I’m wondering what made me write such a lackluster, yet semi-positive review.
The only thing I can come up with is the fact that during the summer of 2019 I was ridiculously stressed out writing my thesis. I remember borrowing the book from the library and having to extend the loan multiple times, because I kept running out of time, which really flustered me.
It stressed me out even more. Plus, my delicate state of being didn’t really mesh with the atmosphere of The Raven’s Tale.
Now, a year and a lifetime worth of experiences later I have to recant my rating and I am writing a new review to do this story justice.
The Details
I have to start out by saying that I loved the atmosphere the entire story had. I was in desperate need for a story that included steel grey skies in the middle of winter, with snow falling and cold temperature, but without the holiday cheer.
Winters was able to hold on to this atmosphere even as the seasons changed in the story. That’s not a small thing to achieve and it did so much for the overall feel of it.
I appreciated reading a story that brought Poe to life. I have known of him ever since my first semester at an English-speaking school back in February 2000. We were assigned to read “The Cask of Amontillado”. My English teacher did a great job explaining the story and encouraged discussions about it.
Since it was my very first experience with English literature, I did very poorly on the reading test, but the story stuck with me for 20 years.
Even though Winters’ story is a fictionalized version of Poe’s younger years, it was great to have this great author of the macabre come to life; become a person with feelings and struggles and the desire to achieve something.
Not only did the main character come to life, but also the secondary characters. The particular details that gave the characters personalities, albeit not the greatest ones morally speaking, brought them closer to home than I’m willing to admit.
The characters came alive on the page with depth and dimension.
I loved the sections that included Lenore. I felt for her. I even wanted to know more about her. She was so peculiar.
As I have mentioned before, the atmosphere was just what I was looking for: bleak, cold, dreary and just hopeless enough to inspire a creatively starved writer into producing her own story.
I don’t want to comment too much on the plot of The Raven’s Tale, except that it is centred around a young Edgar Allen Poe and his muses.
The Verdict
Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed this story tremendously and I think I’m kind of eating my own words I wrote a little over a year ago with my first review of The Raven’s Tale.
It wasn’t a negative review, but it lacked enthusiasm, to say the least. With this new review I hope to do justice to another great story written by Winters.
I would definitely recommend it.
ElliotScribbles
Read
February 15, 2020An interesting enough concept but one I unfortunately just couldn't get into.
February 28, 2019
I need to first mention this cover. It's gorgeous and fits the book so well.
Edgar Poe lives with the Allan family. His parents are dead and they took him in. John Allan is not nice to Edgar. Edgar writes poems and the arts are basically a sin. The bishop preaches that the town was punished by fire and death because of the theater there. Those people followed their muses and muses are evil. They even built the church over the bones and destruction from the theater fire. Edgar is in love with Elmira and wants to marry her. But he is going off to school and they promise to write each other.
Lenore is Edgar's muse. She finally appears to him and others. Most are terrified when they see her, but Edgar is torn. She helps him write of death and dark topics that aren't allowed. Lenore wants Edgar to pledge himself to her, but he hasn't yet. She follows him to school where he meets another muse, Garland. Garland helps Edgar with satire to entertain the other boys at school.
Edgar is doing well at school, but he is also struggling. John never paid all his fees and Edgar finds himself in great debt. He starts gambling. Some of the boys are intrigued by Lenore and want to see her. But Garland wants Lenore gone.
Throughout the book, we really see Edgar's internal struggles. Should he do what John wants? Should he find a way to finish school? Should he follow Garland or Lenore? Should he keep writing and telling tales? The book alternates between Edgar and Lenore's perspectives. We see Lenore living in the shadows, hiding, but also wanting to be seen. We see her transforming. She gets feathers and will be a raven when Edgar pledges to her. She wants everyone to listen to Edgar (and her) and tries everything she can to keep him close.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. Thank you to Amulet Books for sending me a physical copy for review.
Warnings for slavery, abuse, and death.
Edgar Poe lives with the Allan family. His parents are dead and they took him in. John Allan is not nice to Edgar. Edgar writes poems and the arts are basically a sin. The bishop preaches that the town was punished by fire and death because of the theater there. Those people followed their muses and muses are evil. They even built the church over the bones and destruction from the theater fire. Edgar is in love with Elmira and wants to marry her. But he is going off to school and they promise to write each other.
Lenore is Edgar's muse. She finally appears to him and others. Most are terrified when they see her, but Edgar is torn. She helps him write of death and dark topics that aren't allowed. Lenore wants Edgar to pledge himself to her, but he hasn't yet. She follows him to school where he meets another muse, Garland. Garland helps Edgar with satire to entertain the other boys at school.
Edgar is doing well at school, but he is also struggling. John never paid all his fees and Edgar finds himself in great debt. He starts gambling. Some of the boys are intrigued by Lenore and want to see her. But Garland wants Lenore gone.
Throughout the book, we really see Edgar's internal struggles. Should he do what John wants? Should he find a way to finish school? Should he follow Garland or Lenore? Should he keep writing and telling tales? The book alternates between Edgar and Lenore's perspectives. We see Lenore living in the shadows, hiding, but also wanting to be seen. We see her transforming. She gets feathers and will be a raven when Edgar pledges to her. She wants everyone to listen to Edgar (and her) and tries everything she can to keep him close.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. Thank you to Amulet Books for sending me a physical copy for review.
Warnings for slavery, abuse, and death.
March 20, 2019
The Raven's Tale blends historical fiction with gothic fantastical elements as it retells the life of a young Edgar Allen Poe. It takes a very interesting approach that is poetic and atmospheric. Ultimately I do think it works, although it took me a little while to get a feel for what the author was doing. Largely based on real historical events, this rendition weaves in Poe's muse, personified as a macabre young woman named Lenore (name taken from iconic poem The Raven). This is a dark story, following the difficulties of Poes young life with the mythology surrounding Lenore woven into the story in interesting ways.
I would particularly recommend this for fans or admirers of Poe's writing who are interested in knowing more about his life and some of the influences on his work. The orphaned son of an actress, he was fostered by a wealthy family, but has a very dysfunctional relationship with his foster father. It is an emotionally abusive relationship that is quite central to the plot of the story. His father tries to squash Poe's dreams of writing in favor of more pedestrian work.
In terms of content, be aware that there is definite emotional abuse, along with images of death and violence. Also, there are depictions of slavery in the book which are historically accurate, but might be a little uncomfortable. I think it's handled reasonably well, but it does get tricky. There is a slave woman who is thought to have been a major influence in the development of Poe's macabre imagination, and in the text, we see the major disparity between the two in terms of ability to utilize that creativity professionally. In some ways, it is tragic that his inspiration may have been a woman of color, and yet what we remember is the work of this white man.
Overall, I found this to be interesting, compelling, and creepy. Worth checking out. I received an advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I would particularly recommend this for fans or admirers of Poe's writing who are interested in knowing more about his life and some of the influences on his work. The orphaned son of an actress, he was fostered by a wealthy family, but has a very dysfunctional relationship with his foster father. It is an emotionally abusive relationship that is quite central to the plot of the story. His father tries to squash Poe's dreams of writing in favor of more pedestrian work.
In terms of content, be aware that there is definite emotional abuse, along with images of death and violence. Also, there are depictions of slavery in the book which are historically accurate, but might be a little uncomfortable. I think it's handled reasonably well, but it does get tricky. There is a slave woman who is thought to have been a major influence in the development of Poe's macabre imagination, and in the text, we see the major disparity between the two in terms of ability to utilize that creativity professionally. In some ways, it is tragic that his inspiration may have been a woman of color, and yet what we remember is the work of this white man.
Overall, I found this to be interesting, compelling, and creepy. Worth checking out. I received an advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2019
Maybe it's because I've never read anything from Poe, but I did not understand what this book was going for. Despite my love of Cat Winters, this story did not strike me as particularly well crafted overall.
May 1, 2019
The Raven's Tale
Full Review can be seen at:
www.DauntlessReading.Wordpress.com
The Raven's Tale
By: Cat Winters
What a fantastic tale of early Edgar. I adored this in such a way that I just want to go read a bunch of Poe's work and consume it all. Cat Winters has given new generations a fantastic tale to begin their love of the amazing gothic poet. Winters definitely put a lot of research and love into this novel because you can sense her adoration for this beloved poet! I enjoyed this because I have been a fan of EAP for as long as I could remember from discovering poetry. If you are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, then I truly believe you will love this fictional historical retelling of his teenage life.
Muses are said to be damaging to the soul. At least that is only what some seem to believe. Edgar has one. Or two. Or a few, who really knows, but there is one that speaks to him and craves his words. I adore Lenore, his muse. She is one tough cookie. Why can't I have a muse as determined as her?
This novel takes on a journey of Poe's struggles growing up. The struggles he endured at college, at home, and his own insecurities. It was such an eye-opening tale to the truth and personality of Edgar Poe. He was such a strong individual who only wanted to create art. He was burdened in some aspects, and still became one of the greatest poets in literary history.
Trigger Warnings:
Parental Abuse
Gambling
Alcohol Abuse
Depression
Gun Violence
Such a beautifully written book on one of my most favorite men of literature. I loved it. I will recommend it to you if we ever talk about Edgar. He is such a brilliant and talented man who deserves any and all recognition. Cat Winters delivered this novel in such a way that it is going to open up classic literature for new generations!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Amulet Books, and Abrams Kids for allowing me to review this one.
Until Next Time,
DauntlessReading!
Full Review can be seen at:
www.DauntlessReading.Wordpress.com
The Raven's Tale
By: Cat Winters
What a fantastic tale of early Edgar. I adored this in such a way that I just want to go read a bunch of Poe's work and consume it all. Cat Winters has given new generations a fantastic tale to begin their love of the amazing gothic poet. Winters definitely put a lot of research and love into this novel because you can sense her adoration for this beloved poet! I enjoyed this because I have been a fan of EAP for as long as I could remember from discovering poetry. If you are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, then I truly believe you will love this fictional historical retelling of his teenage life.
Muses are said to be damaging to the soul. At least that is only what some seem to believe. Edgar has one. Or two. Or a few, who really knows, but there is one that speaks to him and craves his words. I adore Lenore, his muse. She is one tough cookie. Why can't I have a muse as determined as her?
This novel takes on a journey of Poe's struggles growing up. The struggles he endured at college, at home, and his own insecurities. It was such an eye-opening tale to the truth and personality of Edgar Poe. He was such a strong individual who only wanted to create art. He was burdened in some aspects, and still became one of the greatest poets in literary history.
Trigger Warnings:
Parental Abuse
Gambling
Alcohol Abuse
Depression
Gun Violence
Such a beautifully written book on one of my most favorite men of literature. I loved it. I will recommend it to you if we ever talk about Edgar. He is such a brilliant and talented man who deserves any and all recognition. Cat Winters delivered this novel in such a way that it is going to open up classic literature for new generations!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Amulet Books, and Abrams Kids for allowing me to review this one.
Until Next Time,
DauntlessReading!
April 15, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters is this author's newest historical fantasy novel. As she's one of my favorite authors (this is the fifth book I've read from her), I can't believe I lucked out and got approved by NetGalley for this novel featuring Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite classic writers, and his muse. Unfortunately, it's my least favorite of everything I've already read from her. That being said, I'm still giving it three stars so there's still quite a bit that I liked even if it didn't live up to my expectations. As always, Winters' writing is lush and richly detailed. She has clearly done her research to create 1820s Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia as well as bring Edgar's early years to life. I also particularly enjoyed getting to know our young and creatively passionate Edgar Allan Poe. He's trying to come to terms with himself, his work, and his foster father's expectations for his future. Winters does a pretty fantastic job of recreating his Poe's style, by the way. The weakest points for me though were the concept of the muses and the plot itself. I felt too out of the loop when it came to how the muses work, especially when I realized some other characters have them as well. That said, I still enjoyed reading Lenore's perspective chapters. As for the plot, not a whole lot happens over the course of 368 pages - I suppose I was hoping for a little more action. Overall, though, The Raven's Tale is still definitely worth reading if you're a fan of Cat Winters' wonderful style, Edgar Allan Poe, and historical fantasy.
The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters is this author's newest historical fantasy novel. As she's one of my favorite authors (this is the fifth book I've read from her), I can't believe I lucked out and got approved by NetGalley for this novel featuring Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite classic writers, and his muse. Unfortunately, it's my least favorite of everything I've already read from her. That being said, I'm still giving it three stars so there's still quite a bit that I liked even if it didn't live up to my expectations. As always, Winters' writing is lush and richly detailed. She has clearly done her research to create 1820s Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia as well as bring Edgar's early years to life. I also particularly enjoyed getting to know our young and creatively passionate Edgar Allan Poe. He's trying to come to terms with himself, his work, and his foster father's expectations for his future. Winters does a pretty fantastic job of recreating his Poe's style, by the way. The weakest points for me though were the concept of the muses and the plot itself. I felt too out of the loop when it came to how the muses work, especially when I realized some other characters have them as well. That said, I still enjoyed reading Lenore's perspective chapters. As for the plot, not a whole lot happens over the course of 368 pages - I suppose I was hoping for a little more action. Overall, though, The Raven's Tale is still definitely worth reading if you're a fan of Cat Winters' wonderful style, Edgar Allan Poe, and historical fantasy.
December 18, 2018
So much work went into creating this novel that it makes you wonder if Winters borrowed a raven haired muse herself.
“The Raven’s Tale” follows a young Edgar Allan Poe as he struggles with his writing and the pressures of his father when his muse comes to life and wants nothing more than to feast upon his writing and to be seen by the world only she is not a creature of beauty but rather the darkness and melancholy of his soul and she will not rest until her poet recognizes his worth.
I am a huge fan of anything regarding the infamous writer since there’s so much about his life that remains a mystery given the conflicting accounts after his death and the subject matter of some of his more famous works set him apart from your average writer and Cat Winters tapped into that mindset so perfectly I had to double check to see which lines belonged to each writer.
This story is the personification of adolescence and the constraints of society when your family wants you to go in one direction but your heart or in some cases your very soul pushes you into another and that became very real as Lenora refused to lurk in the shadows and pulled on the hand of Poe encouraging him to continue to write and explore his passions regardless of what others may think.
The blending of fantasy and reality through actual quotes, critiques and reviews blend this story together into something that gives us a glimpse into the past while subtly granting us whispers of what the future held for Poe and I loved every second.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
“The Raven’s Tale” follows a young Edgar Allan Poe as he struggles with his writing and the pressures of his father when his muse comes to life and wants nothing more than to feast upon his writing and to be seen by the world only she is not a creature of beauty but rather the darkness and melancholy of his soul and she will not rest until her poet recognizes his worth.
I am a huge fan of anything regarding the infamous writer since there’s so much about his life that remains a mystery given the conflicting accounts after his death and the subject matter of some of his more famous works set him apart from your average writer and Cat Winters tapped into that mindset so perfectly I had to double check to see which lines belonged to each writer.
This story is the personification of adolescence and the constraints of society when your family wants you to go in one direction but your heart or in some cases your very soul pushes you into another and that became very real as Lenora refused to lurk in the shadows and pulled on the hand of Poe encouraging him to continue to write and explore his passions regardless of what others may think.
The blending of fantasy and reality through actual quotes, critiques and reviews blend this story together into something that gives us a glimpse into the past while subtly granting us whispers of what the future held for Poe and I loved every second.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
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