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The Ravenwood Saga #1
Mark of the Raven
Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
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8825 people want to read
About the author
Morgan L. Busse
21 books1,233 followersMorgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
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November 13, 2018NEED. BOOK. TWO.
February 1, 2023
With its dark, artful world and poignant spiritual themes, Mark of the Raven is a rare gem in the Christian fiction sphere.
I found Selene to be an engaging main character, split between loyalty to House Ravenwood and its leader, her mother, and loyalty to what is good and true.
Lord Damien is the embodiment of that for her, and she knows he carries a light inside him that is lacking in her.
After all, Selene is hiding a dark secret, one that will force her to choose. And no matter what choice she makes, she faces ruination for herself.
Both Selene and Damien have lots of potential for growth in the next two books (especially when it comes to being together! 😍), and I also can't wait to see how Selene's relationship develops with her rival sister, Amaya.
My favorite aspects of Mark of the Raven are its spiritual scenes and ideas and its evocative fantasy world.
If I could change one thing about this book, I would like the pacing to be a little quicker. I'm aware it's in the adult genre, so of course you can't expect it to be written like YA fantasy, but given Selene's secretive role and the intrigue and politics of the court, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for more suspense and action.
In the end, I'm left wishing so much that Bethany House would publish more Christian fantasy like Mark of the Raven! We see contemporary and historical fiction so often from the large Christian publishers, but Christian fantasy is rare compared to the masses of Christian fiction being written.
Please note that it has been multiple months since I finished reading this book, so my review may not be as detailed/accurate as it would've been had I written a review sooner.
Recommended for readers 14+.
I found Selene to be an engaging main character, split between loyalty to House Ravenwood and its leader, her mother, and loyalty to what is good and true.
Lord Damien is the embodiment of that for her, and she knows he carries a light inside him that is lacking in her.
After all, Selene is hiding a dark secret, one that will force her to choose. And no matter what choice she makes, she faces ruination for herself.
Both Selene and Damien have lots of potential for growth in the next two books (especially when it comes to being together! 😍), and I also can't wait to see how Selene's relationship develops with her rival sister, Amaya.
My favorite aspects of Mark of the Raven are its spiritual scenes and ideas and its evocative fantasy world.
If I could change one thing about this book, I would like the pacing to be a little quicker. I'm aware it's in the adult genre, so of course you can't expect it to be written like YA fantasy, but given Selene's secretive role and the intrigue and politics of the court, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for more suspense and action.
In the end, I'm left wishing so much that Bethany House would publish more Christian fantasy like Mark of the Raven! We see contemporary and historical fiction so often from the large Christian publishers, but Christian fantasy is rare compared to the masses of Christian fiction being written.
Please note that it has been multiple months since I finished reading this book, so my review may not be as detailed/accurate as it would've been had I written a review sooner.
Recommended for readers 14+.
April 14, 2023
3.5 stars, personally.
About this book:
“Dreamwalker. Nightwatcher. Lady of Ravenwood.
Lady Selene Has Come into Her Family's Power. But Has She Inherited a Gift or a Curse?
Lady Selene is heir to the House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. Soon after the gifting, however, Selene discovers that the Ravenwood women have been secretly using their gift to gather information or to assassinate those responsible for the fall of House Ravenwood to the Dominia Empire hundreds of years ago.
As she becomes more entrenched in Ravenwood's dark past, Selene longs to find out the true reason behind her family's gift, believing that its original intent could not have been for such evil purposes, but she is torn about upholding her family's legacy—a legacy that supports her people. Selene's dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations—but who is also prophesied to bring about the downfall of her own house.
One path holds glory and power and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and likely death. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?”
Series: Book #1 in “The Ravenwood Saga”.
Spiritual Content- Prayers (to “the Light” from Damien and to “the Dark Lady” from others); Selene prays for any of the gods to help her, if they’re real & later says another prayer, wondering whom it is towards; Damien believes that the gifts of each house are from the Light & prays to the Light before using his gift; Both encouraging and negative voices appear in Selene & Damien’s minds (Good vs Evil); Mentions of prayers, praying, & Thanking the Light (mentions of prayers to the Dark Lady as well); Mentions of monks, an abbey, & a Father; A few mentions of priests & a temple; A couple mentions of miraculously healing & a House being able to heal people by touching them; A mention of a House being blessed; A mention of someone looking like an angel;
*Note: Each of the seven Great Houses have a special gift (some control water, others fire or the earth, and Selene’s house is able to get into others’ dreams) and some believe in gods of some form, the “old god/god of old ways” (called “the Light”), and others believe in “the Dark Lady”; To keep people from sharing house secrets, they are “bounded” to their house (and consort as well) and if they go to speak of the secrets with someone else, now words will come out of their mouths; Selene slips into others’ dreams, talking on the form of a raven (she is told to never touch the orb in the dream as that is the person’s soul); In the opening chapter, Selene is at a sanctuary with her mother and sister praying to “the Dark Lady” (who is the patroness of their House) while a “dark priest” speaks in an old tongue; Later, Selene’s mother receives a message from the Dark Lady via the priest; Prior to getting her gift, Selene was a “doubtful—but dutiful— follower” of the Dark Lady (she picks up her string of beads to pray, but is unable to, feeling like her lips have been sealed; she starts questioning about the Dark Lady about halfway, thinking that she knows the Dark Lady exists, but wonders about the other god, “the Light”, and who actually gave them their gifts; Later, Selene prays for the Dark Lady to help her but is met with silence); After seeing a soul that is a bright light, Selene desperately wants to touch it, wonders how somehow has a blazing light, & wants to have it as well (*Spoiler* ); Selene wonders what’s after death, thinking that her soul is too dark for a good place and the Dark Lady will make her pay; It’s said that the Dark Lady exists “where she is given power”; Selene’s mother doesn’t want to think that the Dark Lady is bound “by a higher power” or inferior to the Light as her house has trusted her; Mentions of how those who are followers of the Light’s dreams are harder to manipulate; Mentions of souls & some being dark and some being light (in the dream world, Selene’s mother says the pure ones are the most dangerous to them); A mention of Selene thinking that her destiny will “paint [her] soul blacker than hell”; A mention of the Dark Lady blessing the House of Ravenwood; A mention of keeping demons away (thoughts); A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of a rumor of someone being cursed.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bah!’, an unfinished ‘what the—‘, and seven ‘dart’an!’, (used as an exclamation); Curses that go with the gods of the book: a ‘Light’ and two forms ‘Dark Lady’ (all used as the start of a sentence or could be a replacement for taking God’s name in vain); A tiny bit of sarcasm; Selene receives her “gift” of being able to walk into others’ dreams and her mother teaches her to be able to manipulate the dreams to find out the dreamer’s fears, secrets, or possible guilt or even kill them (Selene is unsettled by this and doesn’t want to do it, but believes she has to because her mother will train her sisters if she doesn’t and Selene doesn’t want that for her sisters, so Selene tries to lock away her heart and emotions); Selene’s mother orders her to kill others (some to practice her gift & another who is in the way in her plans), which Selene does not want to do, but finds herself wondering if she’s turning into a killer (up to semi-detailed on the planning); Selene’s mother puts her and her sister against each other (which Selene hates as it does nothing to help their relationship); Damien grieves his parents & brother; Causing deaths (drownings) & seeing bodies (for the protection of his people, but still feels guilt, up to semi-detailed); Fighting (barely-above-not-detailed); Almost drowning & Pain (up to semi-detailed); Seeing a fire, bandits attacking, a wolf attack, & deaths (in dreams, up to semi-detailed); Social drinking (wine at dinners, both main characters drink); A couple lies; Eavesdropping; Mentions of wars, deaths, a razing, fights, fighting, & weapons; Many mentions of murders, murderers, assassinations, assassins, & plans/orders to kill others; Many mentions of nightmares; Mentions of plans to kill others (via nightmares/dreams); Mentions of executions (including burnings at the stake) & treason; Mentions of deaths, drownings, bodies, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of fires, deaths, injuries/burns, & guilt (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a wolf attack, a death, blood, & a body (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals/bandits, bandit attacks, screams, & injuries (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of blood/bleeding, injuries, & a girl’s mind being shattered (leaving her disable *Spoiler* ; Mentions of threats & blackmail; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of rumors; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of the deaths of loved ones & grief (for parents and a brother); Mentions of drinking & wine; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of pipes & smoking; A few mentions of relieving oneself (more awkward because it’s a group of mixed genders); A mention of a suicide mission; A mention of divorce (which Damien’s House does not allow); A mention of a man being cruel to animals.
Sexual Content- A (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed) hand kiss; Touches, Dancing, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Flutters; Noticing & Smelling (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of affairs & lovers (*Spoiler* ); A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of bandits taking women away from their group & Selene being shaken to see what happened (in a dream of an actual event, all she can see and that is mentioned is her seeing their legs; implied assault); A mention of seeing a couple in bed together (Selene looks away, not wanting to see an intimate moment, but realizes it’s not); A mention of a man staring at Selene and her thinking that she knows what’s in his mind without going into his dreams (implied suggestive); A mention of hand holding; Some attraction & interest;
*Note: Selene wonders how her youngest sister came to be as her parents detest each other; A couple mentions of a girls dress with a deep neckline.
-Selene Ravenwood
-Damien Maris, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them & Lady Ragna (x2)
341 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add a ½ star to a full star for older fantasy fans}
I’ve heard about this trilogy for years and since I was craving a fantasy series, I decided to finally pick this one up.
At first, I was a bit concerned about what I was getting myself into with that opening chapter. Selene is at a sanctuary praying to “The Dark Lady” which is said to have given her ancestors their powers. Needless to say, I was concerned on this darker element, but it’s quickly was revealed to be a book of Good vs Evil (or in this case, Light vs Dark) and have a moral dilemma for our main character (which I love reading those!).
This was a really interesting plot, I have to say. The fantasy elements worked well and made sense even to my not-a-big-fantasy-fan brain. Though I did struggle a bit with all the characters, thankfully there was a character guide at the beginning of the book. I was quickly invested into the story and was curious how things would go.
I would probably mark this series as more NA (new adult) than YA (young adult) based on a few hints in this book and different things I’ve heard about the rest of the books, but we’ll see how the rest of the trilogy continues. I think major fantasy fans would probably really like this one.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Dreamwalker. Nightwatcher. Lady of Ravenwood.
Lady Selene Has Come into Her Family's Power. But Has She Inherited a Gift or a Curse?
Lady Selene is heir to the House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. Soon after the gifting, however, Selene discovers that the Ravenwood women have been secretly using their gift to gather information or to assassinate those responsible for the fall of House Ravenwood to the Dominia Empire hundreds of years ago.
As she becomes more entrenched in Ravenwood's dark past, Selene longs to find out the true reason behind her family's gift, believing that its original intent could not have been for such evil purposes, but she is torn about upholding her family's legacy—a legacy that supports her people. Selene's dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations—but who is also prophesied to bring about the downfall of her own house.
One path holds glory and power and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and likely death. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?”
Series: Book #1 in “The Ravenwood Saga”.
Spiritual Content- Prayers (to “the Light” from Damien and to “the Dark Lady” from others); Selene prays for any of the gods to help her, if they’re real & later says another prayer, wondering whom it is towards; Damien believes that the gifts of each house are from the Light & prays to the Light before using his gift; Both encouraging and negative voices appear in Selene & Damien’s minds (Good vs Evil); Mentions of prayers, praying, & Thanking the Light (mentions of prayers to the Dark Lady as well); Mentions of monks, an abbey, & a Father; A few mentions of priests & a temple; A couple mentions of miraculously healing & a House being able to heal people by touching them; A mention of a House being blessed; A mention of someone looking like an angel;
*Note: Each of the seven Great Houses have a special gift (some control water, others fire or the earth, and Selene’s house is able to get into others’ dreams) and some believe in gods of some form, the “old god/god of old ways” (called “the Light”), and others believe in “the Dark Lady”; To keep people from sharing house secrets, they are “bounded” to their house (and consort as well) and if they go to speak of the secrets with someone else, now words will come out of their mouths; Selene slips into others’ dreams, talking on the form of a raven (she is told to never touch the orb in the dream as that is the person’s soul); In the opening chapter, Selene is at a sanctuary with her mother and sister praying to “the Dark Lady” (who is the patroness of their House) while a “dark priest” speaks in an old tongue; Later, Selene’s mother receives a message from the Dark Lady via the priest; Prior to getting her gift, Selene was a “doubtful—but dutiful— follower” of the Dark Lady (she picks up her string of beads to pray, but is unable to, feeling like her lips have been sealed; she starts questioning about the Dark Lady about halfway, thinking that she knows the Dark Lady exists, but wonders about the other god, “the Light”, and who actually gave them their gifts; Later, Selene prays for the Dark Lady to help her but is met with silence); After seeing a soul that is a bright light, Selene desperately wants to touch it, wonders how somehow has a blazing light, & wants to have it as well (*Spoiler* ); Selene wonders what’s after death, thinking that her soul is too dark for a good place and the Dark Lady will make her pay; It’s said that the Dark Lady exists “where she is given power”; Selene’s mother doesn’t want to think that the Dark Lady is bound “by a higher power” or inferior to the Light as her house has trusted her; Mentions of how those who are followers of the Light’s dreams are harder to manipulate; Mentions of souls & some being dark and some being light (in the dream world, Selene’s mother says the pure ones are the most dangerous to them); A mention of Selene thinking that her destiny will “paint [her] soul blacker than hell”; A mention of the Dark Lady blessing the House of Ravenwood; A mention of keeping demons away (thoughts); A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of a rumor of someone being cursed.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bah!’, an unfinished ‘what the—‘, and seven ‘dart’an!’, (used as an exclamation); Curses that go with the gods of the book: a ‘Light’ and two forms ‘Dark Lady’ (all used as the start of a sentence or could be a replacement for taking God’s name in vain); A tiny bit of sarcasm; Selene receives her “gift” of being able to walk into others’ dreams and her mother teaches her to be able to manipulate the dreams to find out the dreamer’s fears, secrets, or possible guilt or even kill them (Selene is unsettled by this and doesn’t want to do it, but believes she has to because her mother will train her sisters if she doesn’t and Selene doesn’t want that for her sisters, so Selene tries to lock away her heart and emotions); Selene’s mother orders her to kill others (some to practice her gift & another who is in the way in her plans), which Selene does not want to do, but finds herself wondering if she’s turning into a killer (up to semi-detailed on the planning); Selene’s mother puts her and her sister against each other (which Selene hates as it does nothing to help their relationship); Damien grieves his parents & brother; Causing deaths (drownings) & seeing bodies (for the protection of his people, but still feels guilt, up to semi-detailed); Fighting (barely-above-not-detailed); Almost drowning & Pain (up to semi-detailed); Seeing a fire, bandits attacking, a wolf attack, & deaths (in dreams, up to semi-detailed); Social drinking (wine at dinners, both main characters drink); A couple lies; Eavesdropping; Mentions of wars, deaths, a razing, fights, fighting, & weapons; Many mentions of murders, murderers, assassinations, assassins, & plans/orders to kill others; Many mentions of nightmares; Mentions of plans to kill others (via nightmares/dreams); Mentions of executions (including burnings at the stake) & treason; Mentions of deaths, drownings, bodies, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of fires, deaths, injuries/burns, & guilt (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a wolf attack, a death, blood, & a body (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of criminals/bandits, bandit attacks, screams, & injuries (in a dream, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of blood/bleeding, injuries, & a girl’s mind being shattered (leaving her disable *Spoiler* ; Mentions of threats & blackmail; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of rumors; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of the deaths of loved ones & grief (for parents and a brother); Mentions of drinking & wine; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of pipes & smoking; A few mentions of relieving oneself (more awkward because it’s a group of mixed genders); A mention of a suicide mission; A mention of divorce (which Damien’s House does not allow); A mention of a man being cruel to animals.
Sexual Content- A (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed) hand kiss; Touches, Dancing, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Flutters; Noticing & Smelling (including muscles, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of affairs & lovers (*Spoiler* ); A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of bandits taking women away from their group & Selene being shaken to see what happened (in a dream of an actual event, all she can see and that is mentioned is her seeing their legs; implied assault); A mention of seeing a couple in bed together (Selene looks away, not wanting to see an intimate moment, but realizes it’s not); A mention of a man staring at Selene and her thinking that she knows what’s in his mind without going into his dreams (implied suggestive); A mention of hand holding; Some attraction & interest;
*Note: Selene wonders how her youngest sister came to be as her parents detest each other; A couple mentions of a girls dress with a deep neckline.
-Selene Ravenwood
-Damien Maris, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them & Lady Ragna (x2)
341 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add a ½ star to a full star for older fantasy fans}
I’ve heard about this trilogy for years and since I was craving a fantasy series, I decided to finally pick this one up.
At first, I was a bit concerned about what I was getting myself into with that opening chapter. Selene is at a sanctuary praying to “The Dark Lady” which is said to have given her ancestors their powers. Needless to say, I was concerned on this darker element, but it’s quickly was revealed to be a book of Good vs Evil (or in this case, Light vs Dark) and have a moral dilemma for our main character (which I love reading those!).
This was a really interesting plot, I have to say. The fantasy elements worked well and made sense even to my not-a-big-fantasy-fan brain. Though I did struggle a bit with all the characters, thankfully there was a character guide at the beginning of the book. I was quickly invested into the story and was curious how things would go.
I would probably mark this series as more NA (new adult) than YA (young adult) based on a few hints in this book and different things I’ve heard about the rest of the books, but we’ll see how the rest of the trilogy continues. I think major fantasy fans would probably really like this one.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
July 2, 2024
Surprisedddddd.
A Christian allegory fantasy story. Not my typical read.
(You’ll see a reading vlog for it soon).
This is young adult but does have some dark descriptions that I would caution younger readers about.
I liked the set up and how it got right into the plot - this Princess of a kingdom gets her dream walking power. Her mom is her mentor and has sinister plans for her daughter’s power.
This is where the dark comes in. Dream walkers can kill people and the way it was described was a little unsettling.
There’s some messy politics between other kingdoms that we follow while also watching the princess practice her power on people.
Guess what part I liked best though?😏
Oh, there’s a Prince she meets. He follows the Light. They are drawn to each other. He is so kind to her when no one else is. His dreams are full of Light. Big fan.
The ending was cray cray and a cliffhanger no doubt.
Too bad my library doesn’t have the rest of the books 😭
Recommend! No language, no spice or kissing, some dark descriptions of using fear to kill someone in their dreams. I’d say 15 and up are safe to read it.
A Christian allegory fantasy story. Not my typical read.
(You’ll see a reading vlog for it soon).
This is young adult but does have some dark descriptions that I would caution younger readers about.
I liked the set up and how it got right into the plot - this Princess of a kingdom gets her dream walking power. Her mom is her mentor and has sinister plans for her daughter’s power.
This is where the dark comes in. Dream walkers can kill people and the way it was described was a little unsettling.
There’s some messy politics between other kingdoms that we follow while also watching the princess practice her power on people.
Guess what part I liked best though?😏
Oh, there’s a Prince she meets. He follows the Light. They are drawn to each other. He is so kind to her when no one else is. His dreams are full of Light. Big fan.
The ending was cray cray and a cliffhanger no doubt.
Too bad my library doesn’t have the rest of the books 😭
Recommend! No language, no spice or kissing, some dark descriptions of using fear to kill someone in their dreams. I’d say 15 and up are safe to read it.
November 12, 2018
Fantasy readers, be of good cheer! Another phenomenal fantasy novel has hit the Christian fiction market! Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse was an engrossing read that kept me turning pages. I've been captured by this world and these characters, and am dying to see how this intriguing story continues! Book Two in THE RAVENWOOD SAGA can't come soon enough.
Morgan L. Busse does an exceptional job with world-building in this new series of hers. I was fascinated by all the different Houses and their histories. Their gifts, cultures, and landscapes. The House with a "How to Train Your Dragon" flavor was especially epic! *grins* And so many great characters! Despite the dark destiny of dreamwalking that calls her, I definitely loved Lady Selene and was rooting for her throughout this intense, exciting book. I also really enjoyed Damien's character. And so many others! Each one lends wonderfully to the story.
Mark of the Raven is a dark, tangled tale of kingdoms clashing, danger, drama, and secrets. But it is also sprinkled through with hope and heroic characters who exude kindness, courage, and goodwill. It was interesting learning of each of the House's gifts, and heart-wrenching watching Selene living out her own "gift". This battle between light and darkness is breathtaking. Though hard, I loved Damien's story and Selene's journey. I loved how this book ended. I'm absolutely hooked. Give me more of this strong, faithful hero and wounded, ice-cold, sword-wielding lady. I can't wait to see how the light illuminates their souls and changes their kingdom.
I received a copy of Mark of the Raven from the author/Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Morgan L. Busse does an exceptional job with world-building in this new series of hers. I was fascinated by all the different Houses and their histories. Their gifts, cultures, and landscapes. The House with a "How to Train Your Dragon" flavor was especially epic! *grins* And so many great characters! Despite the dark destiny of dreamwalking that calls her, I definitely loved Lady Selene and was rooting for her throughout this intense, exciting book. I also really enjoyed Damien's character. And so many others! Each one lends wonderfully to the story.
Mark of the Raven is a dark, tangled tale of kingdoms clashing, danger, drama, and secrets. But it is also sprinkled through with hope and heroic characters who exude kindness, courage, and goodwill. It was interesting learning of each of the House's gifts, and heart-wrenching watching Selene living out her own "gift". This battle between light and darkness is breathtaking. Though hard, I loved Damien's story and Selene's journey. I loved how this book ended. I'm absolutely hooked. Give me more of this strong, faithful hero and wounded, ice-cold, sword-wielding lady. I can't wait to see how the light illuminates their souls and changes their kingdom.
I received a copy of Mark of the Raven from the author/Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
November 29, 2025
~2019 review~
Ahhhh, this book was amazing! I can't wait to read the next one!
~~~~~~~~~~
~2023~
I'm so happy to have finally read this, one of my favorite books, again. I don't have much to say, other than I just love these characters, and this book, and this whole series ❤️
~~~~~~~~~~
~2025~
This will always be 5 stars
Ahhhh, this book was amazing! I can't wait to read the next one!
~~~~~~~~~~
~2023~
I'm so happy to have finally read this, one of my favorite books, again. I don't have much to say, other than I just love these characters, and this book, and this whole series ❤️
~~~~~~~~~~
~2025~
This will always be 5 stars
January 23, 2024
"She heard a whisper in her mind. Soft, yet powerful. Quiet, and yet like a shout for all to hear.
A dreamer has been born."
Danng that book was d e e p .
🐦⬛ General thoughts: Mark of the Raven pulled on my heart strings on so many levels. For the first few chapters were so macabre and depressing; like I literally felt the gloominess myself and thought it was just so dark XD. But as we move on to the chapters about Damien, the Light was slowly revealed, and it started to change Selene and make her question her dark motives. This book had really great Christian elements, and a few similar phrases from the Bible as well. I loved how their was a Light that the followers of the Truth followed, which represented God, and the Dark Lady, a mysterious, dark being that House Ravenwood followed, which represented Satan. Their was a bunch of that in this book- forces of light and darkness, but Busse depicted Selene's deep yearn for the Light very well.
I think this is the... what, second?, Christian fantasy book I've read, and so far this genre is just pulling me in deeper and deeper.
I loved the relationship between Selene and Damien as well! I wouldn't really call it romance, since they're still iFfY around each other, but there was definitely a small, growing attraction there.
💙 The Characters: I loved how Selene just felt so real and so... human. The way her thoughts ricocheted around her mind and her contemplation of if what she was doing was morally right, was so relatable; this book shows how we should not care about just our own families and people, but those around us as well. We should care and fight for the greater good, and put others before ourselves, even it may be in a humble matter.
And Damien... where to start?! He was so full of Light, and was SO DANG CARING AND AMAZINGG that it swept me off my feet, XD. The way he genuinetly wanted to unite the 7 Great Houses and make his dad proud, and the way he wanted to protect everyone, even Selene, was just adorable *melts*
🤍 Content-Wise: This book was very clean. There was, once again, mentions of a "Dark Lady," who was sort of representing the Satanic forces of the world, and how people followed it. It was portrayed in a very mysterious, ghastly way, and sent shivers down my spine. But in the end, both the Dark Lady and the Light were intertwined in an unusual but really cool way :)
🩵 In a Nutshell: This Christian fiction book truly is a hidden gem in this genre, and I highly recommend it to those of you who love seeing people turn from bad to good, and how certain characters come to find the Light of the world. NOW GO READ IT BECAUSE THE ENDING WAS SOO WORTH IT 😁
♱ Fan Art I Saved:
*Note: the following images are NOT mine. I found them all online.
A dreamer has been born."
Danng that book was d e e p .
🐦⬛ General thoughts: Mark of the Raven pulled on my heart strings on so many levels. For the first few chapters were so macabre and depressing; like I literally felt the gloominess myself and thought it was just so dark XD. But as we move on to the chapters about Damien, the Light was slowly revealed, and it started to change Selene and make her question her dark motives. This book had really great Christian elements, and a few similar phrases from the Bible as well. I loved how their was a Light that the followers of the Truth followed, which represented God, and the Dark Lady, a mysterious, dark being that House Ravenwood followed, which represented Satan. Their was a bunch of that in this book- forces of light and darkness, but Busse depicted Selene's deep yearn for the Light very well.
I think this is the... what, second?, Christian fantasy book I've read, and so far this genre is just pulling me in deeper and deeper.
I loved the relationship between Selene and Damien as well! I wouldn't really call it romance, since they're still iFfY around each other, but there was definitely a small, growing attraction there.
💙 The Characters: I loved how Selene just felt so real and so... human. The way her thoughts ricocheted around her mind and her contemplation of if what she was doing was morally right, was so relatable; this book shows how we should not care about just our own families and people, but those around us as well. We should care and fight for the greater good, and put others before ourselves, even it may be in a humble matter.
And Damien... where to start?! He was so full of Light, and was SO DANG CARING AND AMAZINGG that it swept me off my feet, XD. The way he genuinetly wanted to unite the 7 Great Houses and make his dad proud, and the way he wanted to protect everyone, even Selene, was just adorable *melts*
🤍 Content-Wise: This book was very clean. There was, once again, mentions of a "Dark Lady," who was sort of representing the Satanic forces of the world, and how people followed it. It was portrayed in a very mysterious, ghastly way, and sent shivers down my spine. But in the end, both the Dark Lady and the Light were intertwined in an unusual but really cool way :)
🩵 In a Nutshell: This Christian fiction book truly is a hidden gem in this genre, and I highly recommend it to those of you who love seeing people turn from bad to good, and how certain characters come to find the Light of the world. NOW GO READ IT BECAUSE THE ENDING WAS SOO WORTH IT 😁
♱ Fan Art I Saved:
*Note: the following images are NOT mine. I found them all online.
May 29, 2019
*4.5 stars*
A little slow for the first half, but the description was beautiful and the world immersive.
And that ending...
Well...
Oh my.
A little slow for the first half, but the description was beautiful and the world immersive.
And that ending...
Well...
Oh my.
February 21, 2019
I am struggling for words right now. I'm serious. This book was F I R E. In all of its burning brilliance.
Content:
-Language: n/a
-Romance: a male and female seemed to be 'drawn' to each other and couldn't stop thinking about each other, but this was not in a romantic way. You'll see when you read it. ;)
-Violence: please use caution if you are a sensitive reader. This book features something called 'dreamkilling'. A dreamwalker enters someone's dream and *clears throat* kills them. While this is not graphic, there are potentially disturbing details for younger/more sensitive readers. However, this didn't really bother me. There is also some angry yelling, swords being pointed at people, and a character dreams of nearly drowning, but very minor besides the dreamkilling.
-Blood/Gore: n/a
Still. Shaking. *takes deep breath* First off, let's take a sec to admire the L O V E L Y cover featuring my favorite character, Selene! MAN those swords look sHaRp!!
-Lady Selene: man oh man. the details about her were so cool! I mean, come on, hair with a BLUE TINT to it? I want hair like hers! Her character captured me from the start, and I feel for her so much after reaching the end of the book. ARGH I can't say much without spoiling it! But let's just say she's been through a lot, but I'm hoping Damien can bring her out of her shell in book 2. :)
-Lord Damien : I have to admit, I'm still at a loss for words for this guy. LIke Selene, he's been through so much (as you'll find out) yet is still fighting on. His personality and how he wants to protect Selene.. well.. it won me over. :P I need more Damien and his entourage ASAP. XD
The only issue I had was with the LACK OF ROMANCE. This book was so. full. of tension that it needed something to ease it up a bit. At least towards the end, maybe a noticable attraction and a kiss? I did enjoy the scenes where they were together, though!
Overall, this book did NOT disappoint. Only downfall is that I now have to wait for book 2 to come out. XD
Five stars because this book (and that lovely cover) deserve no less.
reccomended for ages 13+ for violence mentioned above.
Bravo Mrs. Busse!!! *applauds* You oughta be proud. ;)
Content:
-Language: n/a
-Romance: a male and female seemed to be 'drawn' to each other and couldn't stop thinking about each other, but this was not in a romantic way. You'll see when you read it. ;)
-Violence: please use caution if you are a sensitive reader. This book features something called 'dreamkilling'. A dreamwalker enters someone's dream and *clears throat* kills them. While this is not graphic, there are potentially disturbing details for younger/more sensitive readers. However, this didn't really bother me. There is also some angry yelling, swords being pointed at people, and a character dreams of nearly drowning, but very minor besides the dreamkilling.
-Blood/Gore: n/a
Still. Shaking. *takes deep breath* First off, let's take a sec to admire the L O V E L Y cover featuring my favorite character, Selene! MAN those swords look sHaRp!!
-Lady Selene: man oh man. the details about her were so cool! I mean, come on, hair with a BLUE TINT to it? I want hair like hers! Her character captured me from the start, and I feel for her so much after reaching the end of the book. ARGH I can't say much without spoiling it! But let's just say she's been through a lot, but I'm hoping Damien can bring her out of her shell in book 2. :)
-Lord Damien : I have to admit, I'm still at a loss for words for this guy. LIke Selene, he's been through so much (as you'll find out) yet is still fighting on. His personality and how he wants to protect Selene.. well.. it won me over. :P I need more Damien and his entourage ASAP. XD
The only issue I had was with the LACK OF ROMANCE. This book was so. full. of tension that it needed something to ease it up a bit. At least towards the end, maybe a noticable attraction and a kiss? I did enjoy the scenes where they were together, though!
Overall, this book did NOT disappoint. Only downfall is that I now have to wait for book 2 to come out. XD
Five stars because this book (and that lovely cover) deserve no less.
reccomended for ages 13+ for violence mentioned above.
Bravo Mrs. Busse!!! *applauds* You oughta be proud. ;)
October 15, 2018
Some books are amazing, others spellbinding and just a rare few are perfect.
Mark of the Raven is all those things and more.
In a fast paced plot, Busse tells a story of gifted nobles houses, treacherous plots, family secrets and murders at midnight.
I love dual POVs and Selene and Damien became instant favorites (I mean, it takes talent to make me cheer and ship a twosome who might become a onesome if one party follows through with their mission off RIPing the other).
But there's something else that has me reaching for this book again and again - something unique. Sure, the story is exciting, the characters engaging and the stakes are high. But we've all read that formula before. Mark of the Raven stands a rare breed with another layer and level beyond plot and drama. This is a story with soul, one that reaches into the raw, vulnerable places of the human makeup. Busse doesn't shy away from hard questions, kicks to the conscience and a deep laying bare of the desperate search and need we all have for something Other.
" Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."
I look forward to more from this series ... like seriously, I need the next book now!! *cue pacing*
Mark of the Raven is all those things and more.
In a fast paced plot, Busse tells a story of gifted nobles houses, treacherous plots, family secrets and murders at midnight.
I love dual POVs and Selene and Damien became instant favorites (I mean, it takes talent to make me cheer and ship a twosome who might become a onesome if one party follows through with their mission off RIPing the other).
But there's something else that has me reaching for this book again and again - something unique. Sure, the story is exciting, the characters engaging and the stakes are high. But we've all read that formula before. Mark of the Raven stands a rare breed with another layer and level beyond plot and drama. This is a story with soul, one that reaches into the raw, vulnerable places of the human makeup. Busse doesn't shy away from hard questions, kicks to the conscience and a deep laying bare of the desperate search and need we all have for something Other.
" Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."
I look forward to more from this series ... like seriously, I need the next book now!! *cue pacing*
November 8, 2024
5⭐️
Christian Fantasy at its FINEST!!
This is my second time reading this book and both times, it has been a 5⭐️!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥳
Selene is the daughter of the Ravenwoods, a powerful matriarchy among the seven houses in the land. Long ago, each house was given a gift, and through the centuries the truths and myths of these gifts have become distorted and sometimes lost.
As Selene is groomed to become the new head of House Ravenwood, she learns more about her dreamwalking gift and how her family has used their gift in the past….however, Selene becomes conflicted with the morality of this and must make some impossibly hard decisions.
Christian Fantasy at its FINEST!!
This is my second time reading this book and both times, it has been a 5⭐️!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥳
Selene is the daughter of the Ravenwoods, a powerful matriarchy among the seven houses in the land. Long ago, each house was given a gift, and through the centuries the truths and myths of these gifts have become distorted and sometimes lost.
As Selene is groomed to become the new head of House Ravenwood, she learns more about her dreamwalking gift and how her family has used their gift in the past….however, Selene becomes conflicted with the morality of this and must make some impossibly hard decisions.
October 20, 2019
(First of all - YES I AM ALIVE. Second of all - YES THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND BOOK IN TWO MONTHS THAT I HAVE READ. *cries softly*)
I was hoping to enjoy this book, but however gorgeous the cover, the story inside it failed to deliver.
I am but a weary college student with lots of homework calling my name, so here goes a rapid-fire review:
L I K E S:
- Okay, let's talk about the cOVER again because it's a work of art.
- The Seven Houses! Such epic fantasy vibes!
- Damien + Selene?? I didn't hate them as a couple?
- It has such a distinctly moody fall atmosphere, which was perfect for this season.
- The Scene when Selene encountered the Light was rather nice.
- One of the houses made me think of the Elves from LotR and I FULLY SUPPORT
D I S L I K E S:
- The dialogue felt extremely textbook-ish to me. There was no personality to it. It just felt wooden and awkward.
- Where's the conflict?? Everything was resolved so easily, and I never cared that much for the characters because I felt like there weren't any stakes. The only conflict that occurred was either a) in the characters' heads as they waffled back and forth about what to do or b) quickly resolved and therefore not really conflict at all.
- Selene was frustrating as heck. I don't hate her, and I think there is promise for her development in later books, but she just kept making dumb decisions and felt like she didn't have much personality/motivation.
- It was so B O R I N G. Yikes. I felt like this whole book could have been cut down to like 50-100 pages because not much actually happens. The plot basically consists of political meetings, Selene dreamwalking, and constant, annoying inner reflection. There's no real point to it all. It's too bad because the story holds promise; it really does. i just don't think the story was effectively engaging in terms of the plot OR emotional impact.
- Damien's whole personality = nice guy. Eh. He was fine, I guess, but I don't think he dealt with circumstances in a realistically human way. He was just "nice" all the time, almost to the point of (for lack of better word) stupidity.
Was this book bad? No. I just think it lacked the engagement + emotion that good stories should have. I love the author as a person, but sadly, her books just aren't my thing. :/
2.5 stars
I was hoping to enjoy this book, but however gorgeous the cover, the story inside it failed to deliver.
I am but a weary college student with lots of homework calling my name, so here goes a rapid-fire review:
L I K E S:
- Okay, let's talk about the cOVER again because it's a work of art.
- The Seven Houses! Such epic fantasy vibes!
- Damien + Selene?? I didn't hate them as a couple?
- It has such a distinctly moody fall atmosphere, which was perfect for this season.
- The Scene when Selene encountered the Light was rather nice.
- One of the houses made me think of the Elves from LotR and I FULLY SUPPORT
D I S L I K E S:
- The dialogue felt extremely textbook-ish to me. There was no personality to it. It just felt wooden and awkward.
- Where's the conflict?? Everything was resolved so easily, and I never cared that much for the characters because I felt like there weren't any stakes. The only conflict that occurred was either a) in the characters' heads as they waffled back and forth about what to do or b) quickly resolved and therefore not really conflict at all.
- Selene was frustrating as heck. I don't hate her, and I think there is promise for her development in later books, but she just kept making dumb decisions and felt like she didn't have much personality/motivation.
- It was so B O R I N G. Yikes. I felt like this whole book could have been cut down to like 50-100 pages because not much actually happens. The plot basically consists of political meetings, Selene dreamwalking, and constant, annoying inner reflection. There's no real point to it all. It's too bad because the story holds promise; it really does. i just don't think the story was effectively engaging in terms of the plot OR emotional impact.
- Damien's whole personality = nice guy. Eh. He was fine, I guess, but I don't think he dealt with circumstances in a realistically human way. He was just "nice" all the time, almost to the point of (for lack of better word) stupidity.
Was this book bad? No. I just think it lacked the engagement + emotion that good stories should have. I love the author as a person, but sadly, her books just aren't my thing. :/
2.5 stars
December 27, 2018
Loved it as much as I hoped I would! The plot was great, the characters compelling, and the worldbuilding pretty easy to follow. I can't wait for the next book!
Okay, so don't read the next bit if you haven't read the book.
Okay, so don't read the next bit if you haven't read the book.
June 19, 2022
Selene is the oldest daughter of Grand Lady Ragna, the leader of House Ravenwood, a mountainous country and one of seven houses trying to maintain its autonomy from the Dominia Empire … Selene, like her mother and other female ancestors, possesses the ability to enter the dreams of people and manipulate their fears and desires within the dream … this gift is kept secret from the other six houses, and Lady Ragna is training Selene to use this power to blackmail and murder people as have previous Grand Ladies for the past two centuries …
Leaders of the seven Houses will be convening at the castle in House Ravenwood to discuss a possible treaty to unite against the Dominia Empire … Lady Ragna has received a prophecy that one of the two Houses from the North pose a threat to House Ravenwood … so while all the leaders are gathered at her house, Lady Ragna plans to assassinate the twin leaders of House Vivek, and Selene is assigned to assassinate Lord Damien of House Maris …
Damien is the youngest leader of the seven Houses … his parents and brother died suddenly a couple of years ago, and Lord Damien is trying to fulfill his father’s desire to unite the seven Houses and fight as one against the Dominia Empire … he is fascinated by Selene, who appears to be the consummate ice queen but he sees chinks in her armor … Selene is in turn fascinated with Damien … his soul burns bright and warm when she visits his dreams, and she’s torn between obeying her mother in assassinating Lord Damien and refusing to commit murder …
The author does a wonderful job in portraying the dilemma Selene feels between killing Lord Damien or disobeying her mother … I also liked how the author slowly formed the relationship between Damien and Selene … and there are so many interesting plot twists at the end of the book that left me slobbering for the next book …
I’m new to the fantasy genre … I don’t have a lot of experience studying world building and sword fighting and the like … but this book definitely piqued my interest in the genre, and I look forward to finding other fantasy series to read …
Leaders of the seven Houses will be convening at the castle in House Ravenwood to discuss a possible treaty to unite against the Dominia Empire … Lady Ragna has received a prophecy that one of the two Houses from the North pose a threat to House Ravenwood … so while all the leaders are gathered at her house, Lady Ragna plans to assassinate the twin leaders of House Vivek, and Selene is assigned to assassinate Lord Damien of House Maris …
Damien is the youngest leader of the seven Houses … his parents and brother died suddenly a couple of years ago, and Lord Damien is trying to fulfill his father’s desire to unite the seven Houses and fight as one against the Dominia Empire … he is fascinated by Selene, who appears to be the consummate ice queen but he sees chinks in her armor … Selene is in turn fascinated with Damien … his soul burns bright and warm when she visits his dreams, and she’s torn between obeying her mother in assassinating Lord Damien and refusing to commit murder …
The author does a wonderful job in portraying the dilemma Selene feels between killing Lord Damien or disobeying her mother … I also liked how the author slowly formed the relationship between Damien and Selene … and there are so many interesting plot twists at the end of the book that left me slobbering for the next book …
I’m new to the fantasy genre … I don’t have a lot of experience studying world building and sword fighting and the like … but this book definitely piqued my interest in the genre, and I look forward to finding other fantasy series to read …
August 27, 2021
5 Stars!!
“Our gift came from the Light. And so we give thanks for our gift, always remembering that we were given this power not to lord over our people, but to serve and protect them.”
Ravenwood-
The Great House that carries the secret gift of Dreamwalking. The Heir to the house is our Main Character, Selene. She has the ability to enter into dreamscapes, peoples dreams and can manipulate a persons greatest Fear.
For the last Century House Ravenwood has used their gift of Dreamwalking to gain power or to assassinate anyone standing in the way of Ravenwood. Selene seems to have trouble carrying out that task, as she gains more power, and learns of her family's dark secret. She struggles with finding the darkness within her to carry out the tasks required of her.
Soon she meets Damien, the man that has the ability to bring peace to the nations and she has a choice to make, will she follow the Light or fall into the Darkness that awaits her.
I loved this so much. It wasn't your typical Fantasy. It has all the elements that make a great one for sure and the world building was excellent but something about it hits you in your soul. It rings true with so much that happens in the real world. The tug of war we as humans face with battling the light and the darkness. It makes you think and it makes you question your own thoughts and desires within. If a book can do that
I live for these types of books. Make me question myself- make me a better person. Im all in.
Highly Recommend!!
Looking forward to the rest of the series!!
January 22, 2024
3.5⭐ rounded up.
It took me several chapters to decide that I would choose not to mind two things because the book was good enough to warrant that. I really appreciate Christian fantasy in general, and the plot in this story was intriguing. While it may not be the best-written fantasy I have ever read, it certainly holds great value for me.
The first aspect I had to set aside was my belief that Selene was not developed very well before I was asked to feel for her and her tragic situation. I needed to know more about her and be invested in her before I cared that she was in an awful situation. The author reveals more of her character as the book goes on, but I felt that this was backwards. Something that would have helped was more world-building around Selene, so I could understand her people's needs and her part in providing for them as the next Lady Ravenwood.
I also felt that the writer's style was a bit too "tell" and not enough "show". We spent a lot of time in Selene's head which seemed too passive. Damien had his advisor to dialogue with, which helped, but if Selene was going to spend so much time in her head, which does fit the storyline, then I felt that the writing needed to compensate for that in some way.
All in all, it was an intriguing story, and I will be continuing on with the series. Now that Selene has been developed more, and she will have people to dialogue with in the next books, I expect books 2 and 3 to be better than the first.
It took me several chapters to decide that I would choose not to mind two things because the book was good enough to warrant that. I really appreciate Christian fantasy in general, and the plot in this story was intriguing. While it may not be the best-written fantasy I have ever read, it certainly holds great value for me.
The first aspect I had to set aside was my belief that Selene was not developed very well before I was asked to feel for her and her tragic situation. I needed to know more about her and be invested in her before I cared that she was in an awful situation. The author reveals more of her character as the book goes on, but I felt that this was backwards. Something that would have helped was more world-building around Selene, so I could understand her people's needs and her part in providing for them as the next Lady Ravenwood.
I also felt that the writer's style was a bit too "tell" and not enough "show". We spent a lot of time in Selene's head which seemed too passive. Damien had his advisor to dialogue with, which helped, but if Selene was going to spend so much time in her head, which does fit the storyline, then I felt that the writing needed to compensate for that in some way.
All in all, it was an intriguing story, and I will be continuing on with the series. Now that Selene has been developed more, and she will have people to dialogue with in the next books, I expect books 2 and 3 to be better than the first.
November 9, 2018
This book is amazing! Of course, I knew it would be since I've adored every single novel this author has ever written!
This one started off slow. But the sort of slow where the plot and worldbuilding are unfolding like a flower, one petal at a time. Just at the moment when I wasn't sure where this was going, stuff started happening, deceptions upon deceptions and betrayals and plots and planned assassinations, and everything just got tense and crazy.
The worldbuilding is well done. Each of the Houses had their own personalities, and the author does a great job of writing clearly during the scenes where multiple houses are together and a great number of characters are introduced so that even someone like me who struggles with names didn't get confused.
Damien was my favorite character from the moment he stepped on the page. His introduction in this book is simply epic. Gave me chills. I still think one scene with him early on is my favorite in the whole book for how spine-chillingly awesome it is.
Selene was also a really, well-done character. It would've been too easy for her to feel whiny or too passive, but the author does a great job of making the reader root for her.
This is a great start to this new series, and now I am even more eager for book two!
Also, I read most of this book via audiobook, and the audiobook version is well done. The narrator does a really good job!
This one started off slow. But the sort of slow where the plot and worldbuilding are unfolding like a flower, one petal at a time. Just at the moment when I wasn't sure where this was going, stuff started happening, deceptions upon deceptions and betrayals and plots and planned assassinations, and everything just got tense and crazy.
The worldbuilding is well done. Each of the Houses had their own personalities, and the author does a great job of writing clearly during the scenes where multiple houses are together and a great number of characters are introduced so that even someone like me who struggles with names didn't get confused.
Damien was my favorite character from the moment he stepped on the page. His introduction in this book is simply epic. Gave me chills. I still think one scene with him early on is my favorite in the whole book for how spine-chillingly awesome it is.
Selene was also a really, well-done character. It would've been too easy for her to feel whiny or too passive, but the author does a great job of making the reader root for her.
This is a great start to this new series, and now I am even more eager for book two!
Also, I read most of this book via audiobook, and the audiobook version is well done. The narrator does a really good job!
February 10, 2020
As I mentioned in my updates: This felt very, very much like Strange the Dreamer! However, I felt that Strange was better executed. As a result of that, and the fact that I had a few quibbles and inconveniences, I'm docking a star from this one.
However! the plot was twisty and turny, the story did things I was NOT expecting, and the characters, while nothing particularly unique, still grew in very enjoyable ways to watch. The ending knocked my socks off, and I can't WAIT for book 2!
However! the plot was twisty and turny, the story did things I was NOT expecting, and the characters, while nothing particularly unique, still grew in very enjoyable ways to watch. The ending knocked my socks off, and I can't WAIT for book 2!
August 23, 2023
Oh my goodness...what did I just read? That was sooo good! I was hesitant to try this series for a long time because of the dream walking and being afraid that it would get weird, but it was super cool! I'm so glad I finally snagged a library copy!
Characters:
Silene was so complex, with her questions, heart, and cold demeanor. I really enjoyed her character and the journey she is on and so many questions and so much intrigue!
Damien was my personal favorite! I know, if you know me you know I generally like the male MC or Side Characters more than the female, which is largely in part to being a tomboy and just relating more with them. Though I am still very girly I just don't get other girls...lol...most of the time. *shrugs*
And there are so many nice side characters and just so much awesome stuff and yeah!
Themes:
Doing what is right, but not just because someone else says that is what's right but finding the truth. Not giving in to the demands of others or conforming to what they want from you.
Just some of the theme there is more.
Langauge:
N/A
Magic:
Each house was given a gift by the Light, but it's always been there so I wouldn't call it magic, but some might. *shrugs*
Romance:
Not really anything. No, just some characters being intrigued by each other and that's it.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the story. It did start off slow, like pretty slow...but that was okay because there was enough to keep me going and it built into the next book that I feel will move at a faster pace. (started book 2 this morning)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
Recommend ages 13+
Characters:
Silene was so complex, with her questions, heart, and cold demeanor. I really enjoyed her character and the journey she is on and so many questions and so much intrigue!
Damien was my personal favorite! I know, if you know me you know I generally like the male MC or Side Characters more than the female, which is largely in part to being a tomboy and just relating more with them. Though I am still very girly I just don't get other girls...lol...most of the time. *shrugs*
And there are so many nice side characters and just so much awesome stuff and yeah!
Themes:
Doing what is right, but not just because someone else says that is what's right but finding the truth. Not giving in to the demands of others or conforming to what they want from you.
Just some of the theme there is more.
Langauge:
N/A
Magic:
Each house was given a gift by the Light, but it's always been there so I wouldn't call it magic, but some might. *shrugs*
Romance:
Not really anything. No, just some characters being intrigued by each other and that's it.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the story. It did start off slow, like pretty slow...but that was okay because there was enough to keep me going and it built into the next book that I feel will move at a faster pace. (started book 2 this morning)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!
Recommend ages 13+
May 28, 2019
I had seen Morgan L. Busse’s books around for several years but had not yet gotten around to trying to read one, partially because it sounded like her style might lean toward being a little darker than what I normally gravitate towards. I decided I might give “Mark of the Raven” a chance when I entered a giveaway for it last year while following a “Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt” that happens across several author’s blogs every year. The synopsis (which, at the time, I glanced at more briefly than I should have) sounded interesting enough and it was one of the few fantasy works on the scavenger hunt that year, so I thought to myself, “Why not enter? It’s a chance at a free book and what are the chances I’ll win, anyway?” Ha. Hahahaha. This would now be the SECOND time I’ve entered a giveaway for a book I was only vaguely interested in, thought I had little chance of winning, and then won anyway.
By the time I got the email saying I’d won, I’d forgotten what Mark of the Raven was about and also realized I’d never done the usual research on it that I do when deciding if a book will be right for me or not, so I went to Goodreads to check out the synopsis again and read my friend’s reviews. See, at one point I’d looked at getting Busse’s “Follower of the Word” series but found that a friend with tastes similar to mine had found the violence sometimes gorier than she prefers. Gory violence can cause me feelings of anxiety, so I made the choice to skip that series. Had it turned out that Mark of the Raven had similar violence, I guess I would have just given the book to someone else once I received it. Thankfully though, a GR friend was able to give me a heads up about the content and I decided it would be something I could read.
Overall, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. It is darker than what I normally gravitate towards, enough so that, had I been in a place emotionally where I was already experiencing anxious feelings about something unrelated to the book (or possibly had an illness, such as a stomach virus, that made me more sensitive because I already didn’t feel well), I might have needed to put this book off for a better time because the concept of characters using people’s nightmares to assassinate them in their sleep, combined with the fact that we see some of those people’s nightmares, and the fact that Selene is struggling with the lack of morality of the actions her mother is pressuring her to take, causes a heavy feeling to hang over much of the book. However, I’ve been in a good place emotionally lately and was able to handle it. I also felt that the author handled the darkness with enough sensitivity and restraint that while you did feel the heaviness of it, you also saw the glimmer of hope in the distance. This was even truer in the second half of the book when things lightened up a bit because it stopped focusing solely on Selene’s training and Ravenwood house’s issues, and started weaving in more of what was going on in the world at large, as well as brining in a second character, Damien, who was a much more positive person. (By positive, I mean he had good, solid morals, and was an overall kind and decent human being whom I liked reading about and cheering for.)
The Christian elements were lovely as well. I really liked what is being done with The Light and the concept of people being given “gifts” that they must choose to use for selfish purposes or to serve The Light. On the same topic, I especially liked Selene’s character arc of going from feeling she (and the Ravenwood house in general) has no hope for a better future, to realizing she does indeed have hope and running towards that hope with arms outstretched, even though it’s not the easiest or safest choice she could make.
I don’t feel like I can talk much about what I liked about the happenings of the story itself after the halfway point because that starts getting into spoiler territory, but I can at least say that I really liked the complex character dynamics, especially between members of different houses. Plus, I liked the political intrigue and GAAAAAH THE ENDING!!! *flails* Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is how you wrap up the first book in a series in a way that is satisfying, but also exciting and lets the reader know there’s more to come, without necessarily using a major cliffhanger. That last line. *more flailing* I may need to get the next book like, NOW.
The reasons I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is, for one thing, it’s the first book in a trilogy and I do hope the second and third book will be even better. Second, because this is the first time I’ve read a book by Busse, I don’t have the same level of trust in her that I have in authors I’m more familiar with, so I hesitate to give out my top rating just yet. Third, as stated earlier, it was darker than things I typically read and enjoy to the fullest. And fourth, there were some (in my opinion) minor technical issues with the writing that made my inner editor turn on from time to time. It wasn’t anything too bad, frequent, or even distracting, mostly just some unnecessary repetitions of information we already knew. For example, while I love that Busse was able to describe the characters in a way that gave each one a very unique, vivid image in my mind, there was a time or two when she then described the same character AGAIN, in the same amount of detail, using the same terms, a second time, almost as if she’d forgotten that she already described the character, or in other cases, already gave the reader a certain piece of information.
Content Advisory for those who want to know:
As stated in the review, the things the main character, Selene, is being asked to do during her dream walking training could be disturbing to some readers. People like Selene, who have the dream walking gift are sometimes paid by others to go inside various people's dreams and find their fears, guilts, and darkest secrets. Sometimes dream walkers are also asked to use the fear or guilt to create a nightmare that scares the dreaming person so badly they die of heart failure in their sleep. Selene struggles with the obvious lack of morality behind this legacy of murder, while also feeling forced by her mother and her circumstances to harden herself and participate in it anyway. It should be noted that no one is ever murdered on the page and Selene . However, the mere concept of this creates a rather heavy and dark atmosphere for the first half of the books which may bother more sensitive readers. This atmosphere lightens up somewhat in the second half, but Selene’s moral struggle is still present until nearly the end.
Violence:
The reader reads about (and Selene experiences) four people's worst nightmares, which always involving a tragic memory from the individual’s past. In one nightmare a child is seen escaping a housefire in which his parents died. A burn on the child’s cheek is mildly described and the smell of burning flesh is mentioned. Selene's mother manipulates this dream to make the child's dead parents come out of the house in zombie-like form to cause him extreme guilt that there was nothing he could do to save them. Their burned bodies are briefly described in terms of red skin, burnt clothes, and patches of missing hair.
Another nightmare involves the memory of a woman's father being attacked by a wolf. Her father killed the wolf, but the wolf killed him. There is brief mention of blood here but nothing graphic.
A third nightmare shows the memory of a servant girl whose traveling companions were attacked on the road by ruffians. There is mention of someone having an arrow in his shoulder, a brief mention of blood, and several mentions of the chaos, screams, and distress of those being attacked. From a distance Selene sees a ruffian drag the servant girl behind a tree, the implication being that the girl was raped. The rape is not described at all (the word "rape" isn't even used) but just knowing that’s what happened sickens Selene so much she retches.
A character with the ability to manipulate water unintentionally destroys enemy ships while trying to protect the coast of his country. The debris from the ships is thrown into the air and some of it, including the bodies of the enemy soldiers, falls from the sky, landing on this character’s own ship. The dead bodies are mostly not described, but there is one exception when the character sees a dead soldier with a fatal wound. The wound is described in moderate detail including some mention of blood. This incident upsets the character deeply and he later has a nightmare in which he and the reader see it a second time.
Some antagonists are swept away by a river and their screams of terror are mentioned.
Spiritual:
Sometimes, a dreamwalker sees a visual manifestation of the dreaming individual's soul. How a soul looks varies between individuals: sometimes souls are dark, pulsating blobs, sometimes they look like the person bound in chains, and on rare occasion they shine with a light so bright it's painful to look at.
Different houses have different beliefs. Some worship "The Light" which seems to be this story world's equivalent of the Christian God, whereas other houses worship other deities.
It becomes apparent during the story that "The Light" is real and active, answering the righteous prayers of those who follow it. Those that follow its ways have souls that appear in the "dreamscape" as balls of fiery white light, (both piercing and attractive to a dreamwalker who sees one). One character is a monk from an order that follows The Light. Some characters believe that The Light gave the houses their “gifts” and intends them to use the gifts in The Light’s service and for the protection of their people.
Meanwhile, the only other "god" we explicitly hear about by name is the "Dark Lady" whom House Ravenwood worships. Ravenwood has a temple and priests dedicated to this god. At the beginning of the book we learn the Ravenwoods believe the Dark Lady gave their house the gift of dreamwalking. The head priest several times conveys messages he says are from the Dark Lady, however, when Selene tries praying to the Dark Lady for direction in a time of emotional turmoil, she receives no response from the deity or the priest and eventually questions if the Dark Lady truly gave her house their gift or even exists at all.
Sexual:
There’s one brief mention that the captain of the guard of House Ravenwood often looks at Selene in a way that makes her uncomfortable.
Damien notes that Lady Ragna (Selene's mother) pays more attention to another man at a banquet than she does her own husband. It’s noted earlier in the story that Ragna and her husband married to create an alliance between houses, not for love. It is mentioned at one point that this couple’s third daughter (who is around 20-ish years younger than Selene) was a surprise because no one thought they’d have another child given how much they dislike each other.
There's mention of a married couple who loves each other looking at each other lovingly and holding hands.
Many mentions of marriage between the greater and lesser houses for the sake of creating alliances or for love.
Mention of a young woman wearing a dress with a “daring” neckline.
A male member of another house informs Selene that the head women of House Ravenwood and the head men of his house have a history of extra-marital affairs with each other. He also tells Selene that she will continue the tradition with him eventually. (Selene is disgusted by this and makes it clear she's not interested in him in any way.)
Magic:
While it is never called magic, members of all the Great Houses have special abilities that some believe were given to them by The Light thousands of years ago. These abilities are able to be passed on genetically from one generation to the next. The House of Dreamers can enter people’s dreams and manipulate those dreams. In this book, this ability is generally used for bad/murderous purposes, but Selene questions if it could be used for some better purpose. The House of Waters can manipulate water. In this book, water is used to create a wall to block attackers from entering the country. The gift of the House of Fire and Earth is only hinted at, but it seems these people can, at the very least, generate fire from their bodies. (We read of a man’s hands glowing with heat during an argument.) The House of Wisdom has great wisdom, The House of Healing is said to be able to heal others with just a touch. The House of Light can generate glowing shields and weapons using light, and the House of Courage apparently is very brave and also ride wyverns.
By the time I got the email saying I’d won, I’d forgotten what Mark of the Raven was about and also realized I’d never done the usual research on it that I do when deciding if a book will be right for me or not, so I went to Goodreads to check out the synopsis again and read my friend’s reviews. See, at one point I’d looked at getting Busse’s “Follower of the Word” series but found that a friend with tastes similar to mine had found the violence sometimes gorier than she prefers. Gory violence can cause me feelings of anxiety, so I made the choice to skip that series. Had it turned out that Mark of the Raven had similar violence, I guess I would have just given the book to someone else once I received it. Thankfully though, a GR friend was able to give me a heads up about the content and I decided it would be something I could read.
Overall, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. It is darker than what I normally gravitate towards, enough so that, had I been in a place emotionally where I was already experiencing anxious feelings about something unrelated to the book (or possibly had an illness, such as a stomach virus, that made me more sensitive because I already didn’t feel well), I might have needed to put this book off for a better time because the concept of characters using people’s nightmares to assassinate them in their sleep, combined with the fact that we see some of those people’s nightmares, and the fact that Selene is struggling with the lack of morality of the actions her mother is pressuring her to take, causes a heavy feeling to hang over much of the book. However, I’ve been in a good place emotionally lately and was able to handle it. I also felt that the author handled the darkness with enough sensitivity and restraint that while you did feel the heaviness of it, you also saw the glimmer of hope in the distance. This was even truer in the second half of the book when things lightened up a bit because it stopped focusing solely on Selene’s training and Ravenwood house’s issues, and started weaving in more of what was going on in the world at large, as well as brining in a second character, Damien, who was a much more positive person. (By positive, I mean he had good, solid morals, and was an overall kind and decent human being whom I liked reading about and cheering for.)
The Christian elements were lovely as well. I really liked what is being done with The Light and the concept of people being given “gifts” that they must choose to use for selfish purposes or to serve The Light. On the same topic, I especially liked Selene’s character arc of going from feeling she (and the Ravenwood house in general) has no hope for a better future, to realizing she does indeed have hope and running towards that hope with arms outstretched, even though it’s not the easiest or safest choice she could make.
I don’t feel like I can talk much about what I liked about the happenings of the story itself after the halfway point because that starts getting into spoiler territory, but I can at least say that I really liked the complex character dynamics, especially between members of different houses. Plus, I liked the political intrigue and GAAAAAH THE ENDING!!! *flails* Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is how you wrap up the first book in a series in a way that is satisfying, but also exciting and lets the reader know there’s more to come, without necessarily using a major cliffhanger. That last line. *more flailing* I may need to get the next book like, NOW.
The reasons I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is, for one thing, it’s the first book in a trilogy and I do hope the second and third book will be even better. Second, because this is the first time I’ve read a book by Busse, I don’t have the same level of trust in her that I have in authors I’m more familiar with, so I hesitate to give out my top rating just yet. Third, as stated earlier, it was darker than things I typically read and enjoy to the fullest. And fourth, there were some (in my opinion) minor technical issues with the writing that made my inner editor turn on from time to time. It wasn’t anything too bad, frequent, or even distracting, mostly just some unnecessary repetitions of information we already knew. For example, while I love that Busse was able to describe the characters in a way that gave each one a very unique, vivid image in my mind, there was a time or two when she then described the same character AGAIN, in the same amount of detail, using the same terms, a second time, almost as if she’d forgotten that she already described the character, or in other cases, already gave the reader a certain piece of information.
Content Advisory for those who want to know:
As stated in the review, the things the main character, Selene, is being asked to do during her dream walking training could be disturbing to some readers. People like Selene, who have the dream walking gift are sometimes paid by others to go inside various people's dreams and find their fears, guilts, and darkest secrets. Sometimes dream walkers are also asked to use the fear or guilt to create a nightmare that scares the dreaming person so badly they die of heart failure in their sleep. Selene struggles with the obvious lack of morality behind this legacy of murder, while also feeling forced by her mother and her circumstances to harden herself and participate in it anyway. It should be noted that no one is ever murdered on the page and Selene . However, the mere concept of this creates a rather heavy and dark atmosphere for the first half of the books which may bother more sensitive readers. This atmosphere lightens up somewhat in the second half, but Selene’s moral struggle is still present until nearly the end.
Violence:
The reader reads about (and Selene experiences) four people's worst nightmares, which always involving a tragic memory from the individual’s past. In one nightmare a child is seen escaping a housefire in which his parents died. A burn on the child’s cheek is mildly described and the smell of burning flesh is mentioned. Selene's mother manipulates this dream to make the child's dead parents come out of the house in zombie-like form to cause him extreme guilt that there was nothing he could do to save them. Their burned bodies are briefly described in terms of red skin, burnt clothes, and patches of missing hair.
Another nightmare involves the memory of a woman's father being attacked by a wolf. Her father killed the wolf, but the wolf killed him. There is brief mention of blood here but nothing graphic.
A third nightmare shows the memory of a servant girl whose traveling companions were attacked on the road by ruffians. There is mention of someone having an arrow in his shoulder, a brief mention of blood, and several mentions of the chaos, screams, and distress of those being attacked. From a distance Selene sees a ruffian drag the servant girl behind a tree, the implication being that the girl was raped. The rape is not described at all (the word "rape" isn't even used) but just knowing that’s what happened sickens Selene so much she retches.
A character with the ability to manipulate water unintentionally destroys enemy ships while trying to protect the coast of his country. The debris from the ships is thrown into the air and some of it, including the bodies of the enemy soldiers, falls from the sky, landing on this character’s own ship. The dead bodies are mostly not described, but there is one exception when the character sees a dead soldier with a fatal wound. The wound is described in moderate detail including some mention of blood. This incident upsets the character deeply and he later has a nightmare in which he and the reader see it a second time.
Some antagonists are swept away by a river and their screams of terror are mentioned.
Spiritual:
Sometimes, a dreamwalker sees a visual manifestation of the dreaming individual's soul. How a soul looks varies between individuals: sometimes souls are dark, pulsating blobs, sometimes they look like the person bound in chains, and on rare occasion they shine with a light so bright it's painful to look at.
Different houses have different beliefs. Some worship "The Light" which seems to be this story world's equivalent of the Christian God, whereas other houses worship other deities.
It becomes apparent during the story that "The Light" is real and active, answering the righteous prayers of those who follow it. Those that follow its ways have souls that appear in the "dreamscape" as balls of fiery white light, (both piercing and attractive to a dreamwalker who sees one). One character is a monk from an order that follows The Light. Some characters believe that The Light gave the houses their “gifts” and intends them to use the gifts in The Light’s service and for the protection of their people.
Meanwhile, the only other "god" we explicitly hear about by name is the "Dark Lady" whom House Ravenwood worships. Ravenwood has a temple and priests dedicated to this god. At the beginning of the book we learn the Ravenwoods believe the Dark Lady gave their house the gift of dreamwalking. The head priest several times conveys messages he says are from the Dark Lady, however, when Selene tries praying to the Dark Lady for direction in a time of emotional turmoil, she receives no response from the deity or the priest and eventually questions if the Dark Lady truly gave her house their gift or even exists at all.
Sexual:
There’s one brief mention that the captain of the guard of House Ravenwood often looks at Selene in a way that makes her uncomfortable.
Damien notes that Lady Ragna (Selene's mother) pays more attention to another man at a banquet than she does her own husband. It’s noted earlier in the story that Ragna and her husband married to create an alliance between houses, not for love. It is mentioned at one point that this couple’s third daughter (who is around 20-ish years younger than Selene) was a surprise because no one thought they’d have another child given how much they dislike each other.
There's mention of a married couple who loves each other looking at each other lovingly and holding hands.
Many mentions of marriage between the greater and lesser houses for the sake of creating alliances or for love.
Mention of a young woman wearing a dress with a “daring” neckline.
A male member of another house informs Selene that the head women of House Ravenwood and the head men of his house have a history of extra-marital affairs with each other. He also tells Selene that she will continue the tradition with him eventually. (Selene is disgusted by this and makes it clear she's not interested in him in any way.)
Magic:
While it is never called magic, members of all the Great Houses have special abilities that some believe were given to them by The Light thousands of years ago. These abilities are able to be passed on genetically from one generation to the next. The House of Dreamers can enter people’s dreams and manipulate those dreams. In this book, this ability is generally used for bad/murderous purposes, but Selene questions if it could be used for some better purpose. The House of Waters can manipulate water. In this book, water is used to create a wall to block attackers from entering the country. The gift of the House of Fire and Earth is only hinted at, but it seems these people can, at the very least, generate fire from their bodies. (We read of a man’s hands glowing with heat during an argument.) The House of Wisdom has great wisdom, The House of Healing is said to be able to heal others with just a touch. The House of Light can generate glowing shields and weapons using light, and the House of Courage apparently is very brave and also ride wyverns.
April 26, 2023
Yep, I needed another new fantasy series to suck me in and never let me go 😄. I'll be heading straight into the second book tonight.
February 3, 2024
If I had to pick one thing that this story absolutely nailed, it would be the hopelessness that comes from living in darkness, and the beauty that comes with the first glimpse of light.
I felt so bad for Selene as she struggled under the cruelty and manipulation of her mother! She didn't always make the choices I wanted her to make, but because of the way she'd been raised, I really couldn't blame her.
Despite how invested I was in Selene's storyline, Damien's POV wasn't quite as heavy and felt like a breath of fresh air. (Probably why I liked him a teeny bit more, honestly. 😆) Watching him and Selene interact and seeing the differences between the two of them was so interesting!
All the dreamscape scenes...I just loved the strange, otherworldly vibes that the author captured there!
l enjoyed what I got from the worldbuilding...but at the same time, I didn't feel like I got enough. So many details about the Great Houses and the Empire were vague or unexplained. The side characters, too, could have been more fleshed out.
Mark of the Raven felt like a good setup for the rest of the series, so I'm hopeful that I'll learn more about the world and the characters in the next book.
Oh, yeah, and more dreamwalking, please!
I felt so bad for Selene as she struggled under the cruelty and manipulation of her mother! She didn't always make the choices I wanted her to make, but because of the way she'd been raised, I really couldn't blame her.
Despite how invested I was in Selene's storyline, Damien's POV wasn't quite as heavy and felt like a breath of fresh air. (Probably why I liked him a teeny bit more, honestly. 😆) Watching him and Selene interact and seeing the differences between the two of them was so interesting!
All the dreamscape scenes...I just loved the strange, otherworldly vibes that the author captured there!
l enjoyed what I got from the worldbuilding...but at the same time, I didn't feel like I got enough. So many details about the Great Houses and the Empire were vague or unexplained. The side characters, too, could have been more fleshed out.
Mark of the Raven felt like a good setup for the rest of the series, so I'm hopeful that I'll learn more about the world and the characters in the next book.
Oh, yeah, and more dreamwalking, please!
August 29, 2024
Everything about this book was simply amazing! Fantasy is not my favorite genre so I didn't expect to like this book all too much but I wanted to try it regardless. However, I did not expect to love it as thoroughly as I did!
The characters were all so relatable and wonderfully done. I think I loved every one of them, even the bad ones. 😂 It wasn't necessarily packed full of action but yet it kept me reading more and more with a desperate need to know what happens.
This is a book that I most definitely see myself reading again and, let me just say, it ended with an awful cliff hanger and I'll be getting to the second one a lot sooner than I thought I would!
The characters were all so relatable and wonderfully done. I think I loved every one of them, even the bad ones. 😂 It wasn't necessarily packed full of action but yet it kept me reading more and more with a desperate need to know what happens.
This is a book that I most definitely see myself reading again and, let me just say, it ended with an awful cliff hanger and I'll be getting to the second one a lot sooner than I thought I would!
January 28, 2023
This...
This book...
*hands shake*
WHY IS THIS BOOK SO GOOD
I actually cannot get over how spectacular this book is. I have been de-reading-slumped!
This book...
*hands shake*
WHY IS THIS BOOK SO GOOD
I actually cannot get over how spectacular this book is. I have been de-reading-slumped!
November 26, 2018
Aaah, that was so cool! Now where’s the next book?
I love a good epic fantasy and this one was awesome! The world was so rich and the characters were fantastic. The plot was a slow-burn kind of one, full of mystery and politics but enough spice of danger and adventure to keep you on the edge of your seat—the rest of it did that actually as well!
I love anything involving dreams in fiction so I was really excited to try this one. Like Inception in a fantasy world. :P The Dreamwalking was a cool aspect to the book. I particularly liked the soul aspect of it. I think I thought there would be more time spent in the actual dreamscapes, but at the same time I don’t really mind because the rest of the book was so cool too!
I was so intrigued by this setting and loved the world-building. The idea of the seven nations and the Great Houses and their secrets and gifts was so intriguing. The political intrigue aspect of it was interesting instead of boring. It made me think a little of Jill Williamson’s fantasy, which is high praise from me. ;) I was pulled into this story and loved visiting these mountains, castles, secret passages, and seaside—and the different Houses were really neat. Everything had a distinct feeling and vibrant color to it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can’t wait to return to this world and find out what happens next, as well as learn more about the gifts—and spend more time with these characters.
The characters were all well-drawn and I loved them. ^_^ Selene was an interesting heroine and I felt bad for her and was always curious what she’d do next. I can’t wait to see where her story goes from here. No spoilers but... it should be interesting! ;) Damien was my absolute favorite! I loved how the story alternated between his point of view and Selene’s. It was so neat getting to see each of them from the other’s perspective. But yes, Damien was a high point of the book—I loved his passion for helping people and how he had such a good heart and tried so hard and... he was just awesome. :D
I loved many of the side characters, too! Selene’s father was so great. Taegis, Damien’s mentor, who I also loved. Lady Bryren! Man, I LOVED her and the other wyvern riders and hope we’ll see more of them! (And I don’t love them, but the villains stood out too. Lady Ragna was sooo chilling.)
The atmosphere of the book was just really neat—with the rich colors, the harsh beauty of the mountains, the shadows and mysteries of Rook Castle, the autumnal feel, the meetings and gala and dances, the passages and secrets, and all shot through with so many questions and interesting thoughts, a thread of faith in a unique way, and the many varied people and cultures inhabiting this world.
It took me a little while to get invested in the story (maybe until meeting Damien?) but once I got into it, I lived and breathed it, and now I’m sad it’s over. There were some pretty neat twists at the end which make me super curious to read the next book! I NEED IT.
MARK OF THE RAVEN was gorgeous and a little ominous and I was so intrigued the whole time, and I’m attached to these characters. It’s a touch scary a few times but is a basically clean read which I think older teens and adults alike would enjoy, and I highly recommend it to fantasy fans! :)
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of MARK OF THE RAVEN. I was not required to write a positive review. These opinions are entirely my own.
Review originally posted HERE.
I love a good epic fantasy and this one was awesome! The world was so rich and the characters were fantastic. The plot was a slow-burn kind of one, full of mystery and politics but enough spice of danger and adventure to keep you on the edge of your seat—the rest of it did that actually as well!
I love anything involving dreams in fiction so I was really excited to try this one. Like Inception in a fantasy world. :P The Dreamwalking was a cool aspect to the book. I particularly liked the soul aspect of it. I think I thought there would be more time spent in the actual dreamscapes, but at the same time I don’t really mind because the rest of the book was so cool too!
I was so intrigued by this setting and loved the world-building. The idea of the seven nations and the Great Houses and their secrets and gifts was so intriguing. The political intrigue aspect of it was interesting instead of boring. It made me think a little of Jill Williamson’s fantasy, which is high praise from me. ;) I was pulled into this story and loved visiting these mountains, castles, secret passages, and seaside—and the different Houses were really neat. Everything had a distinct feeling and vibrant color to it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can’t wait to return to this world and find out what happens next, as well as learn more about the gifts—and spend more time with these characters.
The characters were all well-drawn and I loved them. ^_^ Selene was an interesting heroine and I felt bad for her and was always curious what she’d do next. I can’t wait to see where her story goes from here. No spoilers but... it should be interesting! ;) Damien was my absolute favorite! I loved how the story alternated between his point of view and Selene’s. It was so neat getting to see each of them from the other’s perspective. But yes, Damien was a high point of the book—I loved his passion for helping people and how he had such a good heart and tried so hard and... he was just awesome. :D
I loved many of the side characters, too! Selene’s father was so great. Taegis, Damien’s mentor, who I also loved. Lady Bryren! Man, I LOVED her and the other wyvern riders and hope we’ll see more of them! (And I don’t love them, but the villains stood out too. Lady Ragna was sooo chilling.)
The atmosphere of the book was just really neat—with the rich colors, the harsh beauty of the mountains, the shadows and mysteries of Rook Castle, the autumnal feel, the meetings and gala and dances, the passages and secrets, and all shot through with so many questions and interesting thoughts, a thread of faith in a unique way, and the many varied people and cultures inhabiting this world.
It took me a little while to get invested in the story (maybe until meeting Damien?) but once I got into it, I lived and breathed it, and now I’m sad it’s over. There were some pretty neat twists at the end which make me super curious to read the next book! I NEED IT.
MARK OF THE RAVEN was gorgeous and a little ominous and I was so intrigued the whole time, and I’m attached to these characters. It’s a touch scary a few times but is a basically clean read which I think older teens and adults alike would enjoy, and I highly recommend it to fantasy fans! :)
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of MARK OF THE RAVEN. I was not required to write a positive review. These opinions are entirely my own.
Review originally posted HERE.
February 5, 2019
So, when is the next book going to be published? This one wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger, but it definitely left me longing to read #2!
September 9, 2019
OH MY WORD.
This book is so gripping and chilling and unique. I like Busse’s writing style and the way she’s crafted these main characters. Definitely cannot wait to read book two!
This book is so gripping and chilling and unique. I like Busse’s writing style and the way she’s crafted these main characters. Definitely cannot wait to read book two!
January 15, 2023
“If your birthmark is any indication, your gift is powerful, Selene. A gift we need if House Ravenwood is to survive. And survive we will. We will never fail again. And you will make sure of that.”
“Mark of the Raven” is the first entry in the Ravenwood Saga, a christian young adult trilogy. Across the Great Nations rules the seven Great Houses. Each of the Houses were given special gifts. The Great House of Waters, House Maris. The Great House of Fire and Earth, House Friere. The Great House of Wisdom, House Vivek. The Great House of Healing, House Rafel. The Great House of Light, House Luceras. The Great House of Courage, House Merek. And finally the Great House of Dreamers, House Ravenwood. Then tragedy strikes. The Dominia Empire has set its gaze on them and House Ravenwood is betrayed.
Years later, the once united Houses have a strained relationship. House Secrets are magically kept between members of the family and marriage alliances between the Grand Lords and Ladies (that would involve sharing House secrets) are not done. To prevent this, Grand Lord and Ladies would marry from the minor houses.
“House Ravenwood was once called the House of Dreamers. While the other Great Houses were given gifts to guard their people, instruct them, or fight to protect them, the Dreamers were different. They were given the gift of inspiration, the ability to enter the very hearts and minds of their people and encourage them. It is written that they could reach beyond the mountain nation and inspire all the nations.”
Towards the mountains and its peoples, stands Rook Castle–home to the House Ravenwood. Grand Lady Ragna reigns as Matriarch with her consort, Caiaphas and her daughters, Amara and Selene. Since the razing, the Ravenwood women have kept their people safe much to the confusion of the other houses for the house lost their gifts to the Dominia massacre. But that is what they want them to believe.
Selene Ravenwood, heir to the House Ravenwood has received a message from the Dark Lady that she would be receiving her family gifts. This adds another strain to her already strained relationship with her sister but as heir to the House, it is her duty. Dreamwalking is the family gift. The ability to travel into people’s dreams and manipulate them but her family uses the gift to kill people. Selene finds this disturbing but she is determined to do anything to keep her people safe. Even if it means causing them harm.
I was initially confused about Selene as a character. She has a lot of inner monologue and she knows what she’s doing is wrong but for like 90% of the book, she continues to do her mother’s bidding. I understand she was confused but it felt cowardly after the tenth time she had to harden her heart to do what she was instructed to do. She also slightly fits into the ‘not like other girls’ trope but it wasn’t as unbearable as other books I’ve read.
For as long as he could remember, he was always trying to save things: birds with broken wings, his little brother’s toy boat, even a bat that had once gotten caught in a chimney. When he couldn’t save them, he would become crestfallen and ask his father why it hurt inside.
“Because you want to save everyone, my son. You have a big heart. And it hurts to see the pain in this world. But that’s not a weakness. It is your hidden strength. Never forget that.”
Towards the Northern Shores lives House Maris. Grand Lord Damien Maris is the last surviving member of his family after the death of his parents and brother. As he lives near the sea, he is one of the main defences of the nations. When the Dominia Empire starts its attack at sea, he uses his gifts to hold them back. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the youngest grand lord calls for a conference of all the Houses.
Damien was a sweetheart. He simply loved his people and wanted to do everything possible to keep them and the other houses safe.
The relationships in this book were the highlights. Selene has a complicated relationship with her sister and mother but she loves them and wants to do right by them. Her father used to be her closest friend but years of house secrets have strained it, though she never doubts that he loves her.
Damien’s relationship with his people and some of the next generation of Grand Lords and Ladies portrayed what type of person he was. He’s young, the youngest of the leaders but still finds a way to rule strictly and compassionately.
Now, what I’m really impressed with is what the author did for Damien and Selene. Despite this connection they have that is yet to be explained, they don’t like each other romantically. There’s respect and admiration but not necessarily romantic interest. I’m actually excited to see where their relationship goes because the author made some excellent parallels between them.
Selene’s house symbol is a raven and she worships the Dark Lady while Damien’s house symbols are waves and he worships the Light. Before they even met, we have Selene thinking: [Selene fled the faux sitting room and hurried along the hall. She needed to get out of here, somewhere open, somewhere where there was light.] and we have Damien’s observations when sending out a message by bird: [Damien watched as she disappeared in the distance. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to be a bird, with no responsibilities other than to hunt and fly. In his mind, birds represented freedom.] I see what you did there author. I see you.
This book felt more like a set-up for the overall plot. The beginning was slow and it only started to pick up when the conference started but with what’s been hinted at, the next books are going to be explosive.
The christian themes are there and seen. With the worship of the Light, handling of grief and the importance of letting go of hatred and learning to forgive. Damien already practises all this, so I’m excited to see Selene learning to let go of all the anger in her heart.
Our gift came from the Light. And so we give thanks for our gift, always remembering that we were given this power not to lord over our people, but to serve and protect them.
November 7, 2018
After just finishing this incredible book, here are the reasons why you must read Mark of the Raven:
1. Assassins
Who doesn't like a good assassins story? Darkly clad individuals quietly moving through the shadows to do stabby things. YES!
Well get this.
Selene has inherited the family ability to enter people's dreams and kill them, making people believe they die in their sleep. 😱 WHAT?! Such a dark and twisted way to kill someone. Dreams are supposed to be about ancient libraries filled with books; rivers made out of delicious coffee; amazing beasts that let you fly on their backs like dragons and griffins; and trees that grow donuts. But to go in and pull someone's ultimate fears and expand then until they have a heartattack and die is so evil! I like it. 😏😁😉
2. The female lead
As always, Morgan's female leads are not the typical females asking "Who is going to take me to the ball?" Or "Will the prince fall in love with me?" Or "Will I be excepted among society?" Or "Am I beautiful? Smart? Enough?" (Don't get me wrong these are valid things.) Morgan's female characters ask "Am I a human anymore? Or am I monster? Can I be saved? Or am I too far gone?"
Personally, these were the questions I struggled with as a teen and I love how Morgan addresses them in all her books.
3. The character development
Mark of the Raven follows the story of Selene and Damien. Both struggle with questions about their positions as rulers over their houses and about how to use their powers in leadership roles. How do they want to define themselves with the authority and power they've inherited? And, how do they want power and authority to define them? It is so organic how these questions come and follow one after the other that it makes the characters so believable.
4. GET READY TO SHIP DALENE SO HARD!
Speaking of Selene and Damien, OH MY FREAK! I SHIP THEM! Through the whole book, I was hanging on every interact they had. Just waiting to see when and how this was going to happen. I won't say anything but HOLY COFFEE BEANS!
5. RAVENCLAWS...RAVENS! It's in the title!
Represent! Even the author is a fellow Ravenclaw.
6. Elemental powers
Now, admittedly, we don't get to see much action in this book. We did get two crazy-powerful water scenes from Damien and that was it. But this book is part of a trilogy and there is a war coming, sooooo...I'm excited to see some elemental power smash in the future!
7. The grief
This isn't a spoiler. I promise. Damien loses his family two years before the book begins. I appreciated how Morgan handled the grief. As someone that has recently lost a family member, I was able to relate to what he was feeling and experiencing.
8. Everybody was clearly defined
So, I don't know what magic Morgan used to perform this amazing act but I was able to follow and keep track of who was who, what power they possessed, and where they came. There were so many people and countries and powers but I did it. I remembered every single person. I think a cake must have been sacrificed for this to have come to pass.
9. The build-up
Morgan does an amazing job of slowly building up the story until the last 150 pages you just want to marathon your way to the end.
10. THE ENDING!!!
OH. MY. FLIPPING. FREAKING. BLAZING. STARS!!!! THAT ENDING!!! I WANT MORE SO BADLY! GAH! Luckily book 2 comes out in April 2019. Which means NOT WAITING FOR A WHOLE YEAR!
But still, I HAVE TO WAIT!!! NO!
11. Basically: READ THIS!
1. Assassins
Who doesn't like a good assassins story? Darkly clad individuals quietly moving through the shadows to do stabby things. YES!
Well get this.
Selene has inherited the family ability to enter people's dreams and kill them, making people believe they die in their sleep. 😱 WHAT?! Such a dark and twisted way to kill someone. Dreams are supposed to be about ancient libraries filled with books; rivers made out of delicious coffee; amazing beasts that let you fly on their backs like dragons and griffins; and trees that grow donuts. But to go in and pull someone's ultimate fears and expand then until they have a heartattack and die is so evil! I like it. 😏😁😉
2. The female lead
As always, Morgan's female leads are not the typical females asking "Who is going to take me to the ball?" Or "Will the prince fall in love with me?" Or "Will I be excepted among society?" Or "Am I beautiful? Smart? Enough?" (Don't get me wrong these are valid things.) Morgan's female characters ask "Am I a human anymore? Or am I monster? Can I be saved? Or am I too far gone?"
Personally, these were the questions I struggled with as a teen and I love how Morgan addresses them in all her books.
3. The character development
Mark of the Raven follows the story of Selene and Damien. Both struggle with questions about their positions as rulers over their houses and about how to use their powers in leadership roles. How do they want to define themselves with the authority and power they've inherited? And, how do they want power and authority to define them? It is so organic how these questions come and follow one after the other that it makes the characters so believable.
4. GET READY TO SHIP DALENE SO HARD!
Speaking of Selene and Damien, OH MY FREAK! I SHIP THEM! Through the whole book, I was hanging on every interact they had. Just waiting to see when and how this was going to happen. I won't say anything but HOLY COFFEE BEANS!
5. RAVENCLAWS...RAVENS! It's in the title!
Represent! Even the author is a fellow Ravenclaw.
6. Elemental powers
Now, admittedly, we don't get to see much action in this book. We did get two crazy-powerful water scenes from Damien and that was it. But this book is part of a trilogy and there is a war coming, sooooo...I'm excited to see some elemental power smash in the future!
7. The grief
This isn't a spoiler. I promise. Damien loses his family two years before the book begins. I appreciated how Morgan handled the grief. As someone that has recently lost a family member, I was able to relate to what he was feeling and experiencing.
8. Everybody was clearly defined
So, I don't know what magic Morgan used to perform this amazing act but I was able to follow and keep track of who was who, what power they possessed, and where they came. There were so many people and countries and powers but I did it. I remembered every single person. I think a cake must have been sacrificed for this to have come to pass.
9. The build-up
Morgan does an amazing job of slowly building up the story until the last 150 pages you just want to marathon your way to the end.
10. THE ENDING!!!
OH. MY. FLIPPING. FREAKING. BLAZING. STARS!!!! THAT ENDING!!! I WANT MORE SO BADLY! GAH! Luckily book 2 comes out in April 2019. Which means NOT WAITING FOR A WHOLE YEAR!
But still, I HAVE TO WAIT!!! NO!
11. Basically: READ THIS!
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