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Crawford Investigations #1
Conspiracy of Ravens
Raven Crawford knows better than to venture into the seductive world of the dark fae or agree to any of their salacious promises. She plans to pay off her debts so she can get on with her life and stay far away from the denizens of the Underworld.
Unfortunately, her numbskull twin steals from the most tempting and lethal fae of them all. Now, Raven must help the Lord of Shadows get back what her idiot brother stole. Her only weapons? Just a little ingenuity and a whole lot of snark. It's suicide for sure, but she'll do anything to protect her twin.
CURATOR'S NOTE (The Kickass Heroines Bundle)
«J.C. McKenzie and I started out as authors published with The Wild Rose Press, and we finally met in person at an InD'Scribe conference. Having read her urban fantasy novel, Shift Happens, I had the mental vision of J.C. as a woman who was as badass as Lara Croft and as sassy as Mercy Thompson. (And that is EXACTLY what J.C. is like in real life.) We are fortunate to have the urban fantasy novel, Conspiracy of Ravens, in our bundle. Raven Crawford has had a run of hard luck, but this ingenious heroine has more than one trick up her sleeve. That Lord of Shadows had better watch his back!» – Melissa Snark
Unfortunately, her numbskull twin steals from the most tempting and lethal fae of them all. Now, Raven must help the Lord of Shadows get back what her idiot brother stole. Her only weapons? Just a little ingenuity and a whole lot of snark. It's suicide for sure, but she'll do anything to protect her twin.
CURATOR'S NOTE (The Kickass Heroines Bundle)
«J.C. McKenzie and I started out as authors published with The Wild Rose Press, and we finally met in person at an InD'Scribe conference. Having read her urban fantasy novel, Shift Happens, I had the mental vision of J.C. as a woman who was as badass as Lara Croft and as sassy as Mercy Thompson. (And that is EXACTLY what J.C. is like in real life.) We are fortunate to have the urban fantasy novel, Conspiracy of Ravens, in our bundle. Raven Crawford has had a run of hard luck, but this ingenious heroine has more than one trick up her sleeve. That Lord of Shadows had better watch his back!» – Melissa Snark
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2019
261 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
About the author
J.C. McKenzie
39 books459 followersJ. C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and fantasy romance. When she’s not spinning tales, she’s in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
September 9, 2020
Can we just stop and admire that cover artwork because it's truly beautiful and definitely caught my eye. This world the author has created has outed the paranormals in it due to the fae going to war and as this story begins its only because to the powers of Odin that an uneasy accord has been reached. Most humans quite rightly fear the fae but there appears to even be hatred for witches and shifters too. Raven is something special although most believe her to be a Fox shifter like her family. She's actually half Fae so when she does shift it's not into what you might expect. She's struggling to make ends meet due to her scumbag ex boyfriend but too proud to admit it. What she doesn't need is two scary powerful dark Fae lords tracking her down believing she knows where her twin brother Bear is. Turns out light fingered Bear has taken something valuable and Raven makes a deal that will change her life !
I loved the ideas in play here but sadly the execution let it down. The first half was so slow with superfluous, drawn out scenes that felt clunky and just didn't move the plot along. Happily the second half was much better and we finally got more information about Bear and what he had supposedly stolen. There is romance here but you have to wade through Raven making googlie eyes at Cole for an awfully long time before anything happens. The author clearly wanted to make Raven cool and the dialogue reflects this but for me at times it just felt like too much unfortunately but I did enjoy this and I'm glad I persevered and would be interested in reading more about Raven .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I loved the ideas in play here but sadly the execution let it down. The first half was so slow with superfluous, drawn out scenes that felt clunky and just didn't move the plot along. Happily the second half was much better and we finally got more information about Bear and what he had supposedly stolen. There is romance here but you have to wade through Raven making googlie eyes at Cole for an awfully long time before anything happens. The author clearly wanted to make Raven cool and the dialogue reflects this but for me at times it just felt like too much unfortunately but I did enjoy this and I'm glad I persevered and would be interested in reading more about Raven .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
July 7, 2022
Conspiracy of Ravens is book one in the Raven Crawford series by J.C. McKenzie.
First let me mention the cover. It is something to admire and it sucked me in. Next let me say I feel conflicted on this one. I wanted to like this novel, but it didn’t hit the mark.
Raven and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped hide their true nature, but things are about to change.
I liked the ideas in play, but the execution was a let down. The first half was slow and didn’t move the plot along. The second have was a bit better giving us information on Bear (twin brother) and what he stole. There is a romance, but its muddled up with Raven’s thought process which is all over the place. It was like she couldn’t keep her thoughts together and the first 40% off the book was her fantasizing/dreaming about Cole, the Dark Fae Lord’s body. It was too distracting and took away from the story.
As for Raven you can feel the author wanted to make her cool, but the implementation was lacking. As for her twin bother, Bear, he’s a selfish prick. I don’t understand how she can have such loyalty to him when he is bad to her and the family.
Some other things that bothered me where the consistency issues, the author didn’t fact-check, and raven practiced self-hatred.
Conspiracy of Raven was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Rated: 2 Stars
First let me mention the cover. It is something to admire and it sucked me in. Next let me say I feel conflicted on this one. I wanted to like this novel, but it didn’t hit the mark.
Raven and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped hide their true nature, but things are about to change.
I liked the ideas in play, but the execution was a let down. The first half was slow and didn’t move the plot along. The second have was a bit better giving us information on Bear (twin brother) and what he stole. There is a romance, but its muddled up with Raven’s thought process which is all over the place. It was like she couldn’t keep her thoughts together and the first 40% off the book was her fantasizing/dreaming about Cole, the Dark Fae Lord’s body. It was too distracting and took away from the story.
As for Raven you can feel the author wanted to make her cool, but the implementation was lacking. As for her twin bother, Bear, he’s a selfish prick. I don’t understand how she can have such loyalty to him when he is bad to her and the family.
Some other things that bothered me where the consistency issues, the author didn’t fact-check, and raven practiced self-hatred.
Conspiracy of Raven was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.
Rated: 2 Stars
November 8, 2025
What's not to enjoy in Conspiracy of Ravens. It had everything I love to read about. Magic, mystery and mayhem with fae, mythology and lots of steamy chemistry.
Ravin and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped both Ravin and her brother hide their true nature, they are actually 1/2 fae. There mother has had them hid their heritage their entire lives.
Raven's twin goes missing and very powerful fae come to Raven and her family to entice, threaten and/or even force them to find him and the treasure he stole.
Strong storytelling, undeniable chemistry and a great family dynamic makes Conspiracy of Ravens another urban fantasy series I will have to follow.
I received this ARC copy of Conspiracy of Ravens from J. C. McKenzie. This is my honest and voluntary review. Conspiracy of Ravens is set for publication October 21, 2019.
Ravin and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped both Ravin and her brother hide their true nature, they are actually 1/2 fae. There mother has had them hid their heritage their entire lives.
Raven's twin goes missing and very powerful fae come to Raven and her family to entice, threaten and/or even force them to find him and the treasure he stole.
Strong storytelling, undeniable chemistry and a great family dynamic makes Conspiracy of Ravens another urban fantasy series I will have to follow.
I received this ARC copy of Conspiracy of Ravens from J. C. McKenzie. This is my honest and voluntary review. Conspiracy of Ravens is set for publication October 21, 2019.
August 2, 2020
An intriguing and entertaining start to a series. I really liked the characters, the plot and world building were pretty solid for a first book. Of course we are still left with many questions and curiosities left to explore but that really amps up the draw of jumping right into the sequel.
Raven is a pretty great leading lady. She manages to be down-to-earth and relatable on a human level even though she's also Other. TDD (Tall, dark and dangerous) was aptly applied to Cole in this story and I couldnt agree more with Raven's initial assessment. I enjoyed their kind of tenuous relationship/team up. The insta attraction was on the heavy side for sure but I liked how it all played out none the less.
I'm really curious to see what happens next and I immediately went out and purchased the rest of the books in the series so that alone makes this one a winner in my book! Also, that cover art is ON POINT.
Raven is a pretty great leading lady. She manages to be down-to-earth and relatable on a human level even though she's also Other. TDD (Tall, dark and dangerous) was aptly applied to Cole in this story and I couldnt agree more with Raven's initial assessment. I enjoyed their kind of tenuous relationship/team up. The insta attraction was on the heavy side for sure but I liked how it all played out none the less.
I'm really curious to see what happens next and I immediately went out and purchased the rest of the books in the series so that alone makes this one a winner in my book! Also, that cover art is ON POINT.
January 30, 2021
Raven and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped both Raven and her brother Bear hide their true nature, they are actually half Fae. When Raven's brother finds in big trouble Raven finds herself waist deep in danger as she tries to save his life.
Honestly this read was a let down, it didn't have the action, energy and sharpness in writing I was hoping for.
The first half of the book was so slow and then the second half well it got messy and not in a good way. The romance didn't intrigue me or draw me in.
I won't be reading book two.
99p on amazon.
Honestly this read was a let down, it didn't have the action, energy and sharpness in writing I was hoping for.
The first half of the book was so slow and then the second half well it got messy and not in a good way. The romance didn't intrigue me or draw me in.
I won't be reading book two.
99p on amazon.
January 23, 2020
I found book two on Netgalley and it sounded like something I enjoy, and when I got approved I went ahead and bought book one on kindle.
I was a bit in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of it. It was just what I needed. A light, funny, paranormal romance. In a world of shifters and fae and humans.
I really enjoyed the writing, it is fast paced story and super easy and fast to read and follow. I also was a big fan of Raven, I liked that she had her real -life struggles as well as her paranormal struggles. It just made her so much more relatable. She was super down to earth and funny as all get out. I actually enjoyed her entire family and wish we would have gotten more of them and dinners. I actually was hoping that one thing for sure will be brought up and see how that went, but maybe that will be in future book(s). Her brother Mike was also one of my favorites.
Cole I also enjoyed very much, but I think we should get to know him better, we know some if him and of course that he is smoking hot but not much as far as what makes him tick. Im looking forward to hopefully learn more about him.
The only thing I was at odds about was the whole Insta lust thing and that she lusted after him sometime in the oddest situations, which she herself even acknowledges. But that is just my personal opinion and I’m sure many people don’t even mind
Overall it was a funny, steamy, fast paced paranormal romance with plenty of shocking plot twists. I’m super happy I picked it up and looking very much forward to book two.
I rate it 4 ★
I was a bit in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of it. It was just what I needed. A light, funny, paranormal romance. In a world of shifters and fae and humans.
I really enjoyed the writing, it is fast paced story and super easy and fast to read and follow. I also was a big fan of Raven, I liked that she had her real -life struggles as well as her paranormal struggles. It just made her so much more relatable. She was super down to earth and funny as all get out. I actually enjoyed her entire family and wish we would have gotten more of them and dinners. I actually was hoping that one thing for sure will be brought up and see how that went, but maybe that will be in future book(s). Her brother Mike was also one of my favorites.
Cole I also enjoyed very much, but I think we should get to know him better, we know some if him and of course that he is smoking hot but not much as far as what makes him tick. Im looking forward to hopefully learn more about him.
The only thing I was at odds about was the whole Insta lust thing and that she lusted after him sometime in the oddest situations, which she herself even acknowledges. But that is just my personal opinion and I’m sure many people don’t even mind
Overall it was a funny, steamy, fast paced paranormal romance with plenty of shocking plot twists. I’m super happy I picked it up and looking very much forward to book two.
I rate it 4 ★
November 18, 2019
CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is the first book in the Raven Crawford series, and we meet Raven who is half-Fae and half-shifter. She is living on a knife's edge financially due to her ex-boyfriend and is too proud to ask for help. Instead, she gives up on her dreams and works at a dead-end job.
Her life changes when her twin disappears and two dark Fae Lords enter her life. Her mother has always warned her away from the Underworld, although she doesn't really know why. This means she has a woeful lack of knowledge where this is concerned, which doesn't help when she figures out her brother's disappearance and the appearance of those two are linked.
This was a great fantasy book with plenty of detail given. I will admit to finding the first half of the book a bit slower than the second half. Some parts of it seem to be repeated, but so long as you don't mind that, it's all good. The attraction between Cole and Raven is intense and instantaneous, but Raven doesn't trust it. This book concludes nicely for this part, but also leaves it wide open for the next book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more. Most definitely recommended by me.
Her life changes when her twin disappears and two dark Fae Lords enter her life. Her mother has always warned her away from the Underworld, although she doesn't really know why. This means she has a woeful lack of knowledge where this is concerned, which doesn't help when she figures out her brother's disappearance and the appearance of those two are linked.
This was a great fantasy book with plenty of detail given. I will admit to finding the first half of the book a bit slower than the second half. Some parts of it seem to be repeated, but so long as you don't mind that, it's all good. The attraction between Cole and Raven is intense and instantaneous, but Raven doesn't trust it. This book concludes nicely for this part, but also leaves it wide open for the next book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more. Most definitely recommended by me.
September 24, 2024
4.5 stars
This was SUCH a good book. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I laughed, I swooned (a lot), and kept wanting to find out what happened next. It was a great world created here with an interesting combination of dark realms, shifters, normals, and Nordic myths. What I really liked, that we definitely do not get enough of, was just how realistic and believable Raven was. She knew her limits and had no illusions of her being a one woman army. She had spunk, but knew when to bite her tongue. Her internal battle of wills between her head and her body were too funny. She didn't constantly run off doing stupid shit just to prove that she could. Needless to say, I liked her.
Raven was just a normal girl, working two jobs and living in a shitty apartment thanks to her ex who left her with $50k in debt. Just because she's part Other and can shift into a bunch of ravens doesn't make her that special. Or does it? She's had a rough couple years now, but she has a family she loves and who will always be there for her. Unfortunately, her twin has disappeared. And there are a lot of dangerous people looking for him.
Cole is one such person. Patron fae of assassins, Lord of Shadows...he can kidnap me any day. Raven called it to a T when she said he was 'Tall, Dark, and Dangerous'. He's not a man to mess with with his violent personality that was just so damn hot. Add to that his quick wit, superior attitude, and volatile treatment of Raven and I'm a goner. Cole knows it was Raven's brother (Bear) that stole something from him, something very powerful, and he'll use any means to get it back before anyone else.
So the two of them sort of work together in order figure out where Bear disappeared to. During which time, Raven is constantly attacked by another Dark Fae Lord and Cole is always trying to save or protect her. Who cares if a few people have to die in order for him to do so. Something Raven thinks she should feel bad about, but in Cole's presence it only turns her on. I hear ya sister. During this time Raven is also constantly fighting her body's reaction to Cole because her body wants him bad. Man, did it take long enough for them to finally get together!
The more they find out, the more questions Raven ends up having. Her search for her brother leads her to, arguably, the most powerful person around...and her learning of her real father. Something she has a lot of trouble wrapping her head around. After Raven gets kidnapped (for the third time) we learn who was behind everything and why. It was a good end with some interesting fighting and lots of bloodshed. The only thing that could be considered urk-some is her brother's declaration because it was sooooo predictable.
The very end annoyed me, but only because I would have done the opposite of Raven. And I have a feeling what she did is going to have a Riddick kind of affect . If my theory is correct, this is going to be awesome going forward and would give her and Cole no reason to be apart. I really hope I remember to keep my eye out for the next one.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
This was SUCH a good book. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I laughed, I swooned (a lot), and kept wanting to find out what happened next. It was a great world created here with an interesting combination of dark realms, shifters, normals, and Nordic myths. What I really liked, that we definitely do not get enough of, was just how realistic and believable Raven was. She knew her limits and had no illusions of her being a one woman army. She had spunk, but knew when to bite her tongue. Her internal battle of wills between her head and her body were too funny. She didn't constantly run off doing stupid shit just to prove that she could. Needless to say, I liked her.
Raven was just a normal girl, working two jobs and living in a shitty apartment thanks to her ex who left her with $50k in debt. Just because she's part Other and can shift into a bunch of ravens doesn't make her that special. Or does it? She's had a rough couple years now, but she has a family she loves and who will always be there for her. Unfortunately, her twin has disappeared. And there are a lot of dangerous people looking for him.
Cole is one such person. Patron fae of assassins, Lord of Shadows...he can kidnap me any day. Raven called it to a T when she said he was 'Tall, Dark, and Dangerous'. He's not a man to mess with with his violent personality that was just so damn hot. Add to that his quick wit, superior attitude, and volatile treatment of Raven and I'm a goner. Cole knows it was Raven's brother (Bear) that stole something from him, something very powerful, and he'll use any means to get it back before anyone else.
So the two of them sort of work together in order figure out where Bear disappeared to. During which time, Raven is constantly attacked by another Dark Fae Lord and Cole is always trying to save or protect her. Who cares if a few people have to die in order for him to do so. Something Raven thinks she should feel bad about, but in Cole's presence it only turns her on. I hear ya sister. During this time Raven is also constantly fighting her body's reaction to Cole because her body wants him bad. Man, did it take long enough for them to finally get together!
The more they find out, the more questions Raven ends up having. Her search for her brother leads her to, arguably, the most powerful person around...and her learning of her real father. Something she has a lot of trouble wrapping her head around. After Raven gets kidnapped (for the third time) we learn who was behind everything and why. It was a good end with some interesting fighting and lots of bloodshed. The only thing that could be considered urk-some is her brother's declaration because it was sooooo predictable.
The very end annoyed me, but only because I would have done the opposite of Raven. And I have a feeling what she did is going to have a Riddick kind of affect . If my theory is correct, this is going to be awesome going forward and would give her and Cole no reason to be apart. I really hope I remember to keep my eye out for the next one.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
November 12, 2019
4 out of 5 stars!
Let me start off by saying that this book was so darn funny. I had to laugh out loud a couple of times, even though we read Raven's inner monologue from a third person point of view (kudos to the author J.C. Mckenzie for pulling that off!)
Raven is a snarky young woman, working her ass off at a lousy waitress job while trying to pay off the debts her loser ex left her with. Even though this sounds pretty sad, Raven keeps on going with a positive attitude and gets through her day with the help of her loving family and a healthy dose of sarcasm. I absolutely loved the close-knit family scenes, especially the ones with her younger brother Mike were both heart-warming, funny and most of all very relatable.
When Raven's twin brother Bear goes missing, her life gets a little more complicated. She gets involved with TDD - Tall, Dark and Handsome, who we later find out is the dark fae lord Cole. Raven herself has some Otherworldy powers herself too, which you will read more about later on in the story.
Raven fights tooth and nail to find out where her brother went, what he did, and most importantly how to get him back. I really admired her strength, without her becoming the typical (and slightly unbelievable) badass heroine who can physically take on big bad guys.
There were two things that kind of rubbed me the wrong way, and also the reason why I deducted one star from my final rating. The first one was that sometimes, the world building was a bit incoherent and vague. Of course, paranormal romance stories usually put the plot and the world-building a bit on the back burner, and I get that. I don't blame the author for this in any way, it just sometimes jarred me while reading and took me out of the story. The second thing is that Raven said some things that rubbed me the wrong way, and almost came across as if the author kind of wanted to vent her opinion. There are two examples of this; one where she compared someone looking rough with looking like a cancer patient, which I frankly think is quite shocking and just not done. However, this is of course my personal opinion and did not take away from my enjoyment while reading the book. The second example is a weird run-in Raven has during working her job as a waitress with a woman who is a vegan. Raven absolutely hates vegans apparently and ridicules them, which also felt weird and uncomfortable to me (although I can see why some people would find this funny!)
To end on a positive note though, I would like to highlight the amazing details that were put into this book. Not only is the cover gorgeous, the chapter headings are really pretty too and every chapter starts of with a small quote. These always relate to what we are reading in the chapter, and are sometimes hilarious too. I really liked this extra effort put into the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this book and am very much looking forward to reading the sequel. I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review!
Let me start off by saying that this book was so darn funny. I had to laugh out loud a couple of times, even though we read Raven's inner monologue from a third person point of view (kudos to the author J.C. Mckenzie for pulling that off!)
Raven is a snarky young woman, working her ass off at a lousy waitress job while trying to pay off the debts her loser ex left her with. Even though this sounds pretty sad, Raven keeps on going with a positive attitude and gets through her day with the help of her loving family and a healthy dose of sarcasm. I absolutely loved the close-knit family scenes, especially the ones with her younger brother Mike were both heart-warming, funny and most of all very relatable.
When Raven's twin brother Bear goes missing, her life gets a little more complicated. She gets involved with TDD - Tall, Dark and Handsome, who we later find out is the dark fae lord Cole. Raven herself has some Otherworldy powers herself too, which you will read more about later on in the story.
Raven fights tooth and nail to find out where her brother went, what he did, and most importantly how to get him back. I really admired her strength, without her becoming the typical (and slightly unbelievable) badass heroine who can physically take on big bad guys.
There were two things that kind of rubbed me the wrong way, and also the reason why I deducted one star from my final rating. The first one was that sometimes, the world building was a bit incoherent and vague. Of course, paranormal romance stories usually put the plot and the world-building a bit on the back burner, and I get that. I don't blame the author for this in any way, it just sometimes jarred me while reading and took me out of the story. The second thing is that Raven said some things that rubbed me the wrong way, and almost came across as if the author kind of wanted to vent her opinion. There are two examples of this; one where she compared someone looking rough with looking like a cancer patient, which I frankly think is quite shocking and just not done. However, this is of course my personal opinion and did not take away from my enjoyment while reading the book. The second example is a weird run-in Raven has during working her job as a waitress with a woman who is a vegan. Raven absolutely hates vegans apparently and ridicules them, which also felt weird and uncomfortable to me (although I can see why some people would find this funny!)
To end on a positive note though, I would like to highlight the amazing details that were put into this book. Not only is the cover gorgeous, the chapter headings are really pretty too and every chapter starts of with a small quote. These always relate to what we are reading in the chapter, and are sometimes hilarious too. I really liked this extra effort put into the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this book and am very much looking forward to reading the sequel. I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 25, 2019
Raven Crawford plans to pay off her debts so she can get on with her life and stay far away from the denizens of the Underworld. Unfortunately, her numbskull twin steals from the most tempting and lethal fae of the all and now, Raven must help the Lord of Shadows get back what her idiot bother stole.
A compelling and refreshingly different paranormal read that combines a creative twists of elements to form a unique world with strong, bold characters that easily grab readers’ attention and holds them hostage. The heroine, Raven Crawford, is strong, that readers can easily connect to and enjoy getting to know as she uses her wits and a whole of snark to navigate the deadly peril she finds herself in, thanks to her brother. Lots of emotions flow from the pages so that readers can get a proper feel for the characters and the events taking place.
The plot of this urban dystopian fantasy is fast paced and full of edge of your seat suspense, heart pounding excitement and a whole host of characters that all seem to have a different reason for wanting to get their hands on Raven’s brother and whatever he stole. This leads to lots of surprising twists and turns that ensures readers are never quite sure what will happen next. There’s never a dull moment to be found during this fascinating story and while this part of the story ends, readers are left with an eager anticipation of the next release in this exhilarating trilogy.
A compelling and refreshingly different paranormal read that combines a creative twists of elements to form a unique world with strong, bold characters that easily grab readers’ attention and holds them hostage. The heroine, Raven Crawford, is strong, that readers can easily connect to and enjoy getting to know as she uses her wits and a whole of snark to navigate the deadly peril she finds herself in, thanks to her brother. Lots of emotions flow from the pages so that readers can get a proper feel for the characters and the events taking place.
The plot of this urban dystopian fantasy is fast paced and full of edge of your seat suspense, heart pounding excitement and a whole host of characters that all seem to have a different reason for wanting to get their hands on Raven’s brother and whatever he stole. This leads to lots of surprising twists and turns that ensures readers are never quite sure what will happen next. There’s never a dull moment to be found during this fascinating story and while this part of the story ends, readers are left with an eager anticipation of the next release in this exhilarating trilogy.
October 24, 2019
Three and a half stars.
Raven Crawford is in a bad place. Her ex-boyfriend declared bankruptcy and stiffed her with his $50,000 bank loan that she co-signed, now he's a doctor and she's had to give up college and work with her father in his detective agency to (barely) meet the bills.
There are two dark fae lords looking for her twin brother Bear, and they won't believe her when she says she doesn't know where he is. He's stolen something very valuable and both fae lords want it back.
This book has got a great world-building mythology. The fae broke into the mortal realm and started fighting over possession. Only Odin managed to stop the fae completely decimating humanity but the cat is well and truly out of the bag when it comes to the others. Raven and Bear are half-brother and sister to fox shifters but the two of them are actually half-fae, although they never knew their father.
Where I felt this fell down a bit for me, and got half a star knocked off, was that the romance overwhelmed the mystery. I wanted to find out where Bear was, and what the stolen object was, but I got a lot of shower sex and lusting after a fae lord.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this and I would like to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Raven Crawford is in a bad place. Her ex-boyfriend declared bankruptcy and stiffed her with his $50,000 bank loan that she co-signed, now he's a doctor and she's had to give up college and work with her father in his detective agency to (barely) meet the bills.
There are two dark fae lords looking for her twin brother Bear, and they won't believe her when she says she doesn't know where he is. He's stolen something very valuable and both fae lords want it back.
This book has got a great world-building mythology. The fae broke into the mortal realm and started fighting over possession. Only Odin managed to stop the fae completely decimating humanity but the cat is well and truly out of the bag when it comes to the others. Raven and Bear are half-brother and sister to fox shifters but the two of them are actually half-fae, although they never knew their father.
Where I felt this fell down a bit for me, and got half a star knocked off, was that the romance overwhelmed the mystery. I wanted to find out where Bear was, and what the stolen object was, but I got a lot of shower sex and lusting after a fae lord.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this and I would like to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
December 18, 2019
So I feel like I have to explain myself when I leave a rating of 1 or 2 stars.
I wanted to like this, I love UF and am mostly on board with PNR. But it was a little colour-by-numbers, but which I mean that it felt formulaic and therefore predictable. I had guessed most of the plot twists by the time they were revealed.
Regarding the writing, I had issues with what felt, to me, like an erratic, use of commas. Also, what felt like random prepositions paired with other word categories, eg "posturing with". There were many more but I am not going back through that to find them.
It annoyed me that Raven practised self-hatred.
Fact-checking issue: birds don't spit. They can't.
Consistency issue: Raven's "beak" one sentence, "mouth" the next. The two are not synonyms.
Someone else has pointed out that unrelenting money troubles make for a depressing read. I'd like to add that if I wanted to think about the cost, unpleasantness and painful after effects of going to the dentist... actually no. Just no, thank you anyway, I do not want this.
I enjoyed learning more of the collective nouns for ravens.
I wanted to like this, I love UF and am mostly on board with PNR. But it was a little colour-by-numbers, but which I mean that it felt formulaic and therefore predictable. I had guessed most of the plot twists by the time they were revealed.
Regarding the writing, I had issues with what felt, to me, like an erratic, use of commas. Also, what felt like random prepositions paired with other word categories, eg "posturing with". There were many more but I am not going back through that to find them.
It annoyed me that Raven practised self-hatred.
Fact-checking issue: birds don't spit. They can't.
Consistency issue: Raven's "beak" one sentence, "mouth" the next. The two are not synonyms.
Someone else has pointed out that unrelenting money troubles make for a depressing read. I'd like to add that if I wanted to think about the cost, unpleasantness and painful after effects of going to the dentist... actually no. Just no, thank you anyway, I do not want this.
I enjoyed learning more of the collective nouns for ravens.
November 10, 2019
I loved Raven!!!
This is such a great start to hopefully many more books of Raven and her crazy family. I loved this. If you love the Fae, get on this. The Patron Fae Lord of Assassins: enter Cole, and holy smokes, I really want one. This was a great story, good characters and there's no wimpy female, Raven is a badass and she loves her family even though her brother drags her into situations. Her Mom is kooky but you will love her. I am curious how The Lord of War Bane and Odin along with Fae Court is now going to play into her future, should give us some great stories!!!!
This is such a great start to hopefully many more books of Raven and her crazy family. I loved this. If you love the Fae, get on this. The Patron Fae Lord of Assassins: enter Cole, and holy smokes, I really want one. This was a great story, good characters and there's no wimpy female, Raven is a badass and she loves her family even though her brother drags her into situations. Her Mom is kooky but you will love her. I am curious how The Lord of War Bane and Odin along with Fae Court is now going to play into her future, should give us some great stories!!!!
October 31, 2019
Good start!
A well done UF that sets the stage for an interesting new world. There are gods, myths and legends, all placed in a universe that is struggling to make sense of them. Good characters, interesting developments.
Pros:
- Family first.
- Characters have depth and interrupt motives.
- Life still goes on.
- Her powers are incredibly unique, and I live where she gets them!
Cons:
- Needs about her mom.
- Ending feels... off?
A well done UF that sets the stage for an interesting new world. There are gods, myths and legends, all placed in a universe that is struggling to make sense of them. Good characters, interesting developments.
Pros:
- Family first.
- Characters have depth and interrupt motives.
- Life still goes on.
- Her powers are incredibly unique, and I live where she gets them!
Cons:
- Needs about her mom.
- Ending feels... off?
October 19, 2019
This book was awesome. Loved the sexual tension & steamy make out sessions. I loved the fae aspects last well. And I always love anything with supernatural characters. Raven is a tired overworked person who was taken advantage of by her ex. Now strapped down with a huge loan she spends her days working 2 jobs trying to scrape by. She is also a little ignorant at times & over thinks things! Her twin brother, Bear is an angry person. He only thinks of himself. He stole something from the fae. And no one can find him. Raven is desperate to find him before everyone else. She may be his only shot at staying alive! The following is a message for the Author/publisher only. I found some mistakes I thought you might want to correct for your readers. I read this book on my Kindle. Location 147; A shiver ran along Raven’s spine as she took in the late-night patron. (late-night should be late night). Location 1158; A black and white goat stood a few feet away, stared and them and chewed something in its mouth. (and should be at). Location 2102; She turned to Mike and he shook his head as well. She put the gum away. (Mike should be Marcus). Location 2359;“They’re guarded well. 0” (0 should be deleted). Location 2830; The woman pursed her lips ad continued to appraise Raven (ad should be and). Location 4184; Mike groaned load enough to drown out the rest of Juni’s adjectives. (load should be long).
December 19, 2019
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Author J.C. McKenzie creates an in-depth world that will satisfy the cravings of fantasy and mythology lovers alike.
Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Author J.C. McKenzie creates an in-depth world that will satisfy the cravings of fantasy and mythology lovers alike.
Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 27, 2020
Wow I'm loving the serris so far!! Great writting! Good characters and love the story line so far cannt wait for book 3?😍😮
June 18, 2020
sucked in by a pretty cover. I dont think its the books fault but it was v PNR. And I was not looking for PNR. The mythology aspect of it was definitely cool, and the family dynamic. Just too much romance when I expected none :/. We got another alpha old school male who makes the heroine lose her mind whenever he's in proximity
May 30, 2020
I really liked this first book in a series. It mixed mystery, suspense, and the paranormal all together to give a story that was very addicting and that I had to read in one sitting. The inner monologue of Raven was a hoot. A few spots made me laugh and groan. I liked the writing and the plot that just drew me in. I liked the mix of the realms and the basic world that was introduced here. Could not wait to see what happens next especially after learning what was really going on and what was at stake. The ending was great.
May 31, 2020
loved this first book in the series by J.C. McKenzie! ... well developed characters and engaging storyline
August 14, 2020
This was a fun book! I loved the banter and humour. The premise and world were both pretty original which is a real bonus these days. The characters were unique and the story was fast paced.
I'm looking forward to reading more by this author (she is Canadian like me Yay)!
I was given a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm looking forward to reading more by this author (she is Canadian like me Yay)!
I was given a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2019
I loved this, snarky and sassy Raven, ultra broody Cole, such a great story, orifomal and new twists for the paranormal genre. Great pace, lots of tension and drama, mixed with great humour. Loved it can’t wait for more.
April 3, 2020
I absolutely loved this book, and can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Raven Crawford is saddled with her ex-boyfriend's debit, works in a dead-end diner poring coffee for abysmal tippers, and finds lost things. She's just trying to keep her head down, put her weary feet up every night and focus on moving on with her life once this nightmare of drudgery she's stuck in comes to an end.
She senses the Underworld coiling around the dark fae that walks into her diner. Honestly, he's very difficult to ignore and she calls him TDD. She's disappointed when he orders a cup of coffee and nothing else. Of course he would be a Camper. Even if his voice tingles up and down her spine and he makes her wish for things she shouldn't, she cannot forgive him for hacking her delusions to bits.
But he's not there to make small-talk, or really to even drink the cup of coffee he just ordered. He wants to question her about the whereabouts of her elusive brother. She refuses to divulge any details and orders him to leave. Amazingly, he does so. She's relieved to have escaped that close encounter. And then he kidnaps her from the alley after her shift is over.
Soon, Raven is the prime piece of real estate in an elaborate tug-of-war, a pawn caught between powerful fae. She knows her brother is in trouble, and she is determined to save him from his bad decisions. But the Lord of Shadows and the Lord of War are also determined to coerce her into acting as their lead - because of course her brother used his larcenous skills to obtain something he has no business trafficking.
If you like Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson Guardian series, or Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series, you'll love the world-building and snarky heroine in this urban fantasy.
Raven Crawford is saddled with her ex-boyfriend's debit, works in a dead-end diner poring coffee for abysmal tippers, and finds lost things. She's just trying to keep her head down, put her weary feet up every night and focus on moving on with her life once this nightmare of drudgery she's stuck in comes to an end.
She senses the Underworld coiling around the dark fae that walks into her diner. Honestly, he's very difficult to ignore and she calls him TDD. She's disappointed when he orders a cup of coffee and nothing else. Of course he would be a Camper. Even if his voice tingles up and down her spine and he makes her wish for things she shouldn't, she cannot forgive him for hacking her delusions to bits.
But he's not there to make small-talk, or really to even drink the cup of coffee he just ordered. He wants to question her about the whereabouts of her elusive brother. She refuses to divulge any details and orders him to leave. Amazingly, he does so. She's relieved to have escaped that close encounter. And then he kidnaps her from the alley after her shift is over.
Soon, Raven is the prime piece of real estate in an elaborate tug-of-war, a pawn caught between powerful fae. She knows her brother is in trouble, and she is determined to save him from his bad decisions. But the Lord of Shadows and the Lord of War are also determined to coerce her into acting as their lead - because of course her brother used his larcenous skills to obtain something he has no business trafficking.
If you like Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series, Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson Guardian series, or Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series, you'll love the world-building and snarky heroine in this urban fantasy.
November 26, 2019
This novel was an enjoyable read, bringing mythology and shifters together to weave a tale where everyone has a motive. Raven Crawford has had to hide her true heritage all her life, for fear of being discovered by those in the Underworld. Her current situation in life sucks, but she is doing what she can so she can move forward. However, when her twin brother Bear gets into some unsavory business and disappears, Raven cannot sit idle. However, she is not the only one looking for Bear. When Cole, the Lord of Shadows helps Raven, they make an oath with each other. Raven has protective instincts to those in her family and does not trust Cole, but yet cannot deny the steamy attraction they have for one another. As they travel throughout the city following up potential leads, they run into more trouble. Cole is keeping secrets, which bothers Raven, for she fears for her twin. Much is at stake for both Raven and Cole, for the real danger will not reveal themselves until the right moment. Looking forward to the next novel in the series!
November 30, 2019
Conspiracy of Ravens (Raven Crawford Book 1) by J. C. McKenzie an amazing story writen to start a amazing new series that I have loved reading. I can not wait to read book number two and I highly recommend this story to everyone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
September 27, 2020
A really great book!!
I only picked this book up as I had no new books from all my favourite authors and boy, am I glad I did. Snarky heroine? Check. Hot anti hero? Check. Great story? And checkmate.
For those who love Darynda Jones and KF Breene, this is another author for you
I only picked this book up as I had no new books from all my favourite authors and boy, am I glad I did. Snarky heroine? Check. Hot anti hero? Check. Great story? And checkmate.
For those who love Darynda Jones and KF Breene, this is another author for you
October 18, 2019
From the author's note to the epilogue with a promise of more, this book captured my attention! The author has a way with words that makes you stay up to the wee hours of the morning just so you can experience the story without a single solitary break. I truly can't pinpoint an instance within this book where I wanted to put it down - I just kept reading until I was finished. This is the first book I've read by J.C. McKenzie, and it's a shame that I did not find her sooner.
Lord of Shadows, Master of Darkness, Patron Fae of Assassins...but you can just call him Cole. That's who walks into the diner and immediately sets off alarm bells in Raven Crawford's mind. He is looking for her wayward twin brother, Bear, and there is no way she is going to help him. But soon more fae appear, and each is more deadly than the last. Cole becomes the one person who seems intent on keeping Raven safe, even if it is for a selfish purpose. What started off as a battle of wills is now a race of survival, not only for Raven but for her entire family.
Cole...*sigh*...I really fell hard for this TDD man. He was hard to read at first, because he appeared as a bad guy but soon became Raven's protector instead. It was confusing, intriguing, and alluring. He drew me in with his mysterious smile and his sheltering shadows, and I found myself rooting for him to seduce Raven and for her to fall for him. Raven was a really strong character with an instinctive loyalty to her family and a desire to learn more about her past. She never knew her biological father, and when this story reveals it, it's a huge shock. I loved the mythology the author wove into the story as well, making everything appear both fantasy and realistic. You could almost believe this could happen in real life, and that makes it all the more appealing.
I can't wait for the second book! It's going to be amazing to see Cole again, and I hope we get to see more of Raven's family as well.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Lord of Shadows, Master of Darkness, Patron Fae of Assassins...but you can just call him Cole. That's who walks into the diner and immediately sets off alarm bells in Raven Crawford's mind. He is looking for her wayward twin brother, Bear, and there is no way she is going to help him. But soon more fae appear, and each is more deadly than the last. Cole becomes the one person who seems intent on keeping Raven safe, even if it is for a selfish purpose. What started off as a battle of wills is now a race of survival, not only for Raven but for her entire family.
Cole...*sigh*...I really fell hard for this TDD man. He was hard to read at first, because he appeared as a bad guy but soon became Raven's protector instead. It was confusing, intriguing, and alluring. He drew me in with his mysterious smile and his sheltering shadows, and I found myself rooting for him to seduce Raven and for her to fall for him. Raven was a really strong character with an instinctive loyalty to her family and a desire to learn more about her past. She never knew her biological father, and when this story reveals it, it's a huge shock. I loved the mythology the author wove into the story as well, making everything appear both fantasy and realistic. You could almost believe this could happen in real life, and that makes it all the more appealing.
I can't wait for the second book! It's going to be amazing to see Cole again, and I hope we get to see more of Raven's family as well.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
November 8, 2019
3.5 stars.
Conspiracy of Ravens follows our main character Raven Crawford who is adopted by a family of Fox shifters but is actually half fae herself. Her twin brother Bear steals an artefact from the fae so Raven is roped into spending time with Cole to find him and the item that’s missing.
I enjoyed this book, there were elements I liked and disliked. I liked ravens family dynamic and found the action scenes satisfying. I thought the quotes at the start of every chapter where quirky and funny. When Raven shifted I thought this was explained well in detail and it was easy to picture in your mind.
I just would have preferred the romance to be more slow burn rather than instant attraction.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for sending me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Conspiracy of Ravens follows our main character Raven Crawford who is adopted by a family of Fox shifters but is actually half fae herself. Her twin brother Bear steals an artefact from the fae so Raven is roped into spending time with Cole to find him and the item that’s missing.
I enjoyed this book, there were elements I liked and disliked. I liked ravens family dynamic and found the action scenes satisfying. I thought the quotes at the start of every chapter where quirky and funny. When Raven shifted I thought this was explained well in detail and it was easy to picture in your mind.
I just would have preferred the romance to be more slow burn rather than instant attraction.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for sending me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2020
Raven, and her brother Bear, have always been different from their fox shifter siblings. Their father was an Other which makes them half breeds who have to hide what they are. When Bear disappears, Raven knows he's in trouble but there are so many Others after him for stealing a magical object that she needs help. That is when she teams up with ends Cole, the Lord of Shadows. I love it when I read the first book in a new urban fantasy romance series and can't wait for the next one!
October 21, 2019
When I was offered the chance to read Conspiracy of Ravens, I immediately had my grabby hands going on because I loved the Carus Chronicles and I kinda-sorta have a thing for mythological ravens. I suspected this story was going to hit the spot and I wasn’t wrong. While I do love me a kick-ass heroine, one of the many things I loved about the main character (Raven) was the fact that she wasn’t all that. It was almost refreshing to have an imperfect heroine who didn’t have skills and couldn’t possibly compete with all the more powerful species, yet still found ways to be strong. Then there is Cole…Lord of Shadows, assassin, fae from the Underworld—whew! He burned up the pages. As this is the first book in a new world, there were times that the pace became slow-ish as Raven dealt with the mundane, which allowed the reader to become familiar with the world, how the barrier between humans and the Underworld came about, and the various species. But there was enough action to keep it all going, not to mention a few twists that I absolutely loved—such as who Raven’s true father is. The addition of Norse mythology and Irish language adds a richness to the world, and the chapter headings are always funny. Raven is easy to relate to and a heroine to root for, and with the Lord of Shadows near…I’m excited to see what happens in the next book as Raven undoubtedly begins to uncover her heritage and gets into more trouble with the Underworld.
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