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The Whittam Chronicles #1
The Black Crow Flies
Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now, they stand on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war.
All Catrice Aetos knows is life on the run. The daughter of a Prophet murdered by the king, she has spent her time hiding her identity and protecting her people—the Creator’s Followers—from the throne’s persecution. But when she’s discovered by the king’s soldiers, her only hope to survive and save the Followers seems to be a familiar face she thought died long ago.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier of the king, but after an assignment goes horribly wrong, he finds himself face-to-face with the daughter of the most wanted family in the country. His only choice is to remain undercover, convince her to trust him, and hunt down the last of the Followers.
Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties while their hearts and minds war against the other. All the while, something else is lurking in the shadows… someone else is watching who could change the future of Whittam forever.
All Catrice Aetos knows is life on the run. The daughter of a Prophet murdered by the king, she has spent her time hiding her identity and protecting her people—the Creator’s Followers—from the throne’s persecution. But when she’s discovered by the king’s soldiers, her only hope to survive and save the Followers seems to be a familiar face she thought died long ago.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier of the king, but after an assignment goes horribly wrong, he finds himself face-to-face with the daughter of the most wanted family in the country. His only choice is to remain undercover, convince her to trust him, and hunt down the last of the Followers.
Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties while their hearts and minds war against the other. All the while, something else is lurking in the shadows… someone else is watching who could change the future of Whittam forever.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2023
69 people are currently reading
1530 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Perdan
3 books88 followersWriting, reading, crafting, world-building, character-loving, average twenty-something-year-old: that’s L. B. Perdan. In her free time, (when she’s not writing) you can find her rock climbing, studying languages, and staring at the clouds while she sits in her freshly tilled garden. She’s been writing since she was 12 years old, and holds a BA in Intercultural Studies with double minors in English and Deaf Culture, as well as a MA in Organizational Leadership. She strives to bring diverse and multi-dimensional characters, Christian themes, and storylines to every tale she spins. Please join her on the journey as you discover new worlds together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 20, 2024
I may be a little bias, but I think it's pretty great :)
May 19, 2024
4 Stars ✨
“The black crow flies, and all fear its cry.”
“The Creator speaks. Who will listen?”
Testimony of the unknown first prophet
Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war.
Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.
Clean Christian Fantasy
I stumbled across this by accident, the cover and blurb caught my attention. So glad I gave it a go, I ended up really enjoying it. The book flowed effortlessly at a quick pace, never really a dull moment. I liked the main characters. Blaze was your typical loyal soldier but I felt like Catrice was a little naïve and way too trusting but, I guess without that the book wouldn’t have worked as well as it did. The faith elements were unique and I thought the use of “testimonies” and “havens” was really neat. The romance was a super slow burn and not the focus of the book which made the plot and action more compelling. It also had a dystopian feel to it, which I also really liked. Can’t wait to read the next in the series. Would recommend.
“The black crow flies, and all fear its cry.”
“The Creator speaks. Who will listen?”
Testimony of the unknown first prophet
Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war.
Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.
Clean Christian Fantasy
I stumbled across this by accident, the cover and blurb caught my attention. So glad I gave it a go, I ended up really enjoying it. The book flowed effortlessly at a quick pace, never really a dull moment. I liked the main characters. Blaze was your typical loyal soldier but I felt like Catrice was a little naïve and way too trusting but, I guess without that the book wouldn’t have worked as well as it did. The faith elements were unique and I thought the use of “testimonies” and “havens” was really neat. The romance was a super slow burn and not the focus of the book which made the plot and action more compelling. It also had a dystopian feel to it, which I also really liked. Can’t wait to read the next in the series. Would recommend.
November 24, 2022
3.75/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: ebook ARC
Description:
Ten years ago, their lives changed when a usurper tore their world apart. The self-appointed king outlawed the scripture of the Followers, forcing them to worship in secret. Now, Catrice Aetos and Blaze Laskaris are on opposite sides, both believing they are fighting for justice.
Catrice has been in hiding since her father, Prophet of the Followers, was killed by the usurper. She turns to the rising rebellion, hoping to find a purpose and fight for religious freedom.
Blaze is High Crow of the Onyx District, ordered by the Commander to find and suppress the Followers. Their missions intertwine and they begin to question their sides. Are the rebels truly good? Are the Crows just? Loyalty is called to question and they are forced to face reality.
Loved:
-Worldbuilding
-Theme of religious persecution
-Dual POV, especially Blaze
Loved Less:
-Wanting more history that led to current events
-Slow-build of the religion and Prophet development
My thoughts:
This is a well-developed world where religious persecution divides the characters. Each person in the Dual POV brings new information that moves the story along; personally, I liked Blaze’s perspective a little more. Catrice has been sheltered and has a lot of growing and learning to do, making her seem naïve. I like the religion of the Followers and the gifts they can be bestowed with; it is intriguing and I wanted more. The hook at the end is compelling, and I hope to see where the journey leads!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: ebook ARC
Description:
Ten years ago, their lives changed when a usurper tore their world apart. The self-appointed king outlawed the scripture of the Followers, forcing them to worship in secret. Now, Catrice Aetos and Blaze Laskaris are on opposite sides, both believing they are fighting for justice.
Catrice has been in hiding since her father, Prophet of the Followers, was killed by the usurper. She turns to the rising rebellion, hoping to find a purpose and fight for religious freedom.
Blaze is High Crow of the Onyx District, ordered by the Commander to find and suppress the Followers. Their missions intertwine and they begin to question their sides. Are the rebels truly good? Are the Crows just? Loyalty is called to question and they are forced to face reality.
Loved:
-Worldbuilding
-Theme of religious persecution
-Dual POV, especially Blaze
Loved Less:
-Wanting more history that led to current events
-Slow-build of the religion and Prophet development
My thoughts:
This is a well-developed world where religious persecution divides the characters. Each person in the Dual POV brings new information that moves the story along; personally, I liked Blaze’s perspective a little more. Catrice has been sheltered and has a lot of growing and learning to do, making her seem naïve. I like the religion of the Followers and the gifts they can be bestowed with; it is intriguing and I wanted more. The hook at the end is compelling, and I hope to see where the journey leads!
January 10, 2023
The Black Crow Flies by L. B. Perdan
The Whittam Chronicles Book 1
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Christian YA Fantasy
Format: ebook ARC
Loved:
*Dual POV
*Fast-paced
*Awesome character development
*Christian allegory
*Not spicy with no curse words
Loved Less:
*Almost too slow burn
Description:
Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war.
Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.
My opinion:
Great fantasy storyline with well developed characters who continue to grow. Love that it is Christian based and very clean with no curse words. Catrice seems almost too trusting, especially since her mom was so "paranoid." The cliffhanger has me impatiently waiting to see what happens in the next book. Please hurry 🤪
The Whittam Chronicles Book 1
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Christian YA Fantasy
Format: ebook ARC
Loved:
*Dual POV
*Fast-paced
*Awesome character development
*Christian allegory
*Not spicy with no curse words
Loved Less:
*Almost too slow burn
Description:
Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war.
Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground.
Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.
My opinion:
Great fantasy storyline with well developed characters who continue to grow. Love that it is Christian based and very clean with no curse words. Catrice seems almost too trusting, especially since her mom was so "paranoid." The cliffhanger has me impatiently waiting to see what happens in the next book. Please hurry 🤪
December 5, 2023
Obsessed.
April 23, 2023
The writing is excellent. If you’re looking for clean fantasy, this is a good read for you. The book is written from two POVs, but the story is easy to follow and is without complex world building. Looking forward to the next release this fall!
July 23, 2024
Nice. If you enjoy Ilyon Chronicles, or The Blades of Acktar, this book is the same genre of well written Christian fantasy not the stereotypical lame Christian fantasy. Not on the same level as The Fireborn Epic though, that trumps all Christian fantasy (that I've read).
Anyway... my favorite part of this book is the MCs, I really enjoyed the outer and inner turmoil they went through (that sounds pretty bad, doesn't it 👀). The writing was great, nothing extraordinary. The actual world it was set in was enjoyable and there were some interesting concepts.
There were a few things logically I didn't quite understand, maybe this one in particular will be cleared up in the second book. I'll put it in spoilers, but it's explained in the first chapter.
There were a few other minor details that had me scratching my head, but my only other complaint is a lack of substantial side characters. It's pretty much the MCs and a multitude of different side characters that enter and exit the story on and off. You never really get to know them.
Anyway, great book. I'm hoping the second book is good too, but I'm a little apprehensive.
Anyway... my favorite part of this book is the MCs, I really enjoyed the outer and inner turmoil they went through (that sounds pretty bad, doesn't it 👀). The writing was great, nothing extraordinary. The actual world it was set in was enjoyable and there were some interesting concepts.
There were a few things logically I didn't quite understand, maybe this one in particular will be cleared up in the second book. I'll put it in spoilers, but it's explained in the first chapter.
There were a few other minor details that had me scratching my head, but my only other complaint is a lack of substantial side characters. It's pretty much the MCs and a multitude of different side characters that enter and exit the story on and off. You never really get to know them.
Anyway, great book. I'm hoping the second book is good too, but I'm a little apprehensive.
January 24, 2024
3.75 rounded up | High School me would have LOVED this book! I do think this reads a bit younger—especially with the simplicity of the plot of the story, but I did enjoy it. I would totally recommend this book for young readers looking for a low fantasy read with Christian undertones, and the potential for romance (no spice).
Even if the story itself was super predictable, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I liked the characters, even if Catrice is a little over the top sometimes in her naïveté. loved Blaze and can’t wait to see him grow in the next installment. I wish we had a bit more world building because I do really like the world the author has created (yes, I’m used to sweeping epic fantasies with so many details), but for a YA read, it was a great start. I definitely hope book two is released soon—yes, it’s a cliffhanger ending!!
TW: religious persecution, loss of a parent
Many thanks to the author for sending a copy to review.
Even if the story itself was super predictable, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I liked the characters, even if Catrice is a little over the top sometimes in her naïveté. loved Blaze and can’t wait to see him grow in the next installment. I wish we had a bit more world building because I do really like the world the author has created (yes, I’m used to sweeping epic fantasies with so many details), but for a YA read, it was a great start. I definitely hope book two is released soon—yes, it’s a cliffhanger ending!!
TW: religious persecution, loss of a parent
Many thanks to the author for sending a copy to review.
August 26, 2025
This was a page-turner for me! I absolutely ate👏this👏up👏 I was engrossed from the first page to the last. This was my first time finishing a Christian allegory in the fantasy genre (I tried one before but DNF’d), and I loved how the themes were incorporated. It’s reminiscent of the Old Testament. The plot and political intrigue were fleshed out and the characters were complex. I loved how both perspectives of the MCs were nuanced, as one was a Follower and the other was hunting the Followers. The author did a great job of not making everything seem black and white and the characters had real dilemmas. This was a well-written and thought-provoking story! I CANNOT wait for the next book to read what happens next.
March 12, 2024
So fun!
Great clean enemies to lovers romance, and the world building is really interesting
Great clean enemies to lovers romance, and the world building is really interesting
December 10, 2023
I was immediately drawn in & loved it all. Amazing world building & plot. I'm not even sure who is my favorite yet but I'm guessing book 2 will help me with that. I can't wait to read the ARC for it!!
December 4, 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
I was gifted this ebook in preparation for the release of the second book after seeing the author on TikTok looking for ARC readers. I went into this book with an open mind, as I’m not huge into religion in fantasy books. But the author did a great job in tying it into the story line without over doing it. The story line started out slow for me, so it took me a couple weeks to really get into it. But once I truly sat down and got a few chapters in, I was hooked and finished it in 2 days.
“Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war. Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground. Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.”
I love the Dual POV of following both catrice and blaze. Catrice comes off a little niave for most of the book and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes. But by the end I was quite proud of her growth and tenacity to try her best to take care of her people. I truly believe she is doing her best based on the information she is given, while also learning that she can not blindly follow and must make her own choices. It would have been nice to have a stronger female lead at the start, but I’m hopeful for some more growth for her in the next book. Then there is Blaze (who from the beginning I just wanted to hate), his character growth just kept me on the edge of my seat as he learned more and more about those around him. I truly believe he thinks that what he is doing is right, but everything is not as it seems and he too is faced with trying to figure out who and what he can trust. While romance is not a main plot in this book by any means, I do appreciate the slow burn romance that is taking shape towards the end of this book and I can’t wait to see what happens!
Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
I was gifted this ebook in preparation for the release of the second book after seeing the author on TikTok looking for ARC readers. I went into this book with an open mind, as I’m not huge into religion in fantasy books. But the author did a great job in tying it into the story line without over doing it. The story line started out slow for me, so it took me a couple weeks to really get into it. But once I truly sat down and got a few chapters in, I was hooked and finished it in 2 days.
“Ten years ago, their city burned around them. Now they are on opposite sides of a country crumbling into war. Catrice Aetos, a Follower of the Creator, has been on the run since her family was wiped out and home burned to the ground. Blaze Laskaris is a High Crow, an elite soldier, and commissioned by the Commander to hunt the Followers down. Their worlds collide, each forced to question their beliefs and loyalties as their minds and hearts war against the other.”
I love the Dual POV of following both catrice and blaze. Catrice comes off a little niave for most of the book and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes. But by the end I was quite proud of her growth and tenacity to try her best to take care of her people. I truly believe she is doing her best based on the information she is given, while also learning that she can not blindly follow and must make her own choices. It would have been nice to have a stronger female lead at the start, but I’m hopeful for some more growth for her in the next book. Then there is Blaze (who from the beginning I just wanted to hate), his character growth just kept me on the edge of my seat as he learned more and more about those around him. I truly believe he thinks that what he is doing is right, but everything is not as it seems and he too is faced with trying to figure out who and what he can trust. While romance is not a main plot in this book by any means, I do appreciate the slow burn romance that is taking shape towards the end of this book and I can’t wait to see what happens!
November 27, 2023
I received this book as preparation for the ARC of the second book in this series (which I am now all the more exited about!).
In my opinion, this book is really well written, it pulled me in almost immediately. The story follows two main characters, who both have alternating POV chapters. Both POVs give their own perspective on the story, which made it very easy to dive into the next chapter, as the breakpoints almost always occured at points when I was itching to see how the other character viewed the situation.
Once the story had gripped me, it never really let go, since there was at all points this underlying tension, not only (very endearingly) between the two main characters, but also due to the general conflict in the world this takes place. I really liked how through both POVs the human side of this general conflict between political and religious ideologies is never lost.
I am really looking forward on how the nuances of the opposing sites as well as of the characters are further explored in the second book.
In my opinion, this book is really well written, it pulled me in almost immediately. The story follows two main characters, who both have alternating POV chapters. Both POVs give their own perspective on the story, which made it very easy to dive into the next chapter, as the breakpoints almost always occured at points when I was itching to see how the other character viewed the situation.
Once the story had gripped me, it never really let go, since there was at all points this underlying tension, not only (very endearingly) between the two main characters, but also due to the general conflict in the world this takes place. I really liked how through both POVs the human side of this general conflict between political and religious ideologies is never lost.
I am really looking forward on how the nuances of the opposing sites as well as of the characters are further explored in the second book.
May 19, 2023
Beautifully written. So Engaging.
Really enjoyed this story. Ive been so invested in this book. I didn’t realize I’d made it to the end when I turned the page to the Epilogue. Can’t wait to finish the story!
Really enjoyed this story. Ive been so invested in this book. I didn’t realize I’d made it to the end when I turned the page to the Epilogue. Can’t wait to finish the story!
January 3, 2023
Book Summary:
This book follows Catrice, the daughter of a denounced prophet, who is forced to live undercover with her mother in order to escape the attention of the Crows, elite soldiers charged with killing followers of the Creator. After going to a rebel meeting that goes haywire, Catrice reunites with Blaze, an old friend from childhood. As they search for a safe place, Catrice is unaware that Blaze is now a High Crow and is using all the information he gathers from their journeys together to crush her people.
My Thoughts:
Sometimes I read books and am just astounded by the creativity of the author in coming up with such an amazing idea for a book. The Black Crow Flies is one of those books. Besides being very impressed with the idea behind the book, I found this book's content to be both sophisticated and easy to read, something that is not always prevalent in a debut novel.
When it comes to the characters of this book, I really liked Catrice; she had a strong, somewhat rebellious spirit throughout the book and is a character that is good at heart. The only negative thing I have to say about Catrice is that she is very gullible, a trait that is not the best to have in a leader, but I am sure in the future books in this series we will see that addressed. When it comes to Blaze, I did not find him to be such a strong character, and while I liked him, he was a little stuck up.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book follows Catrice, the daughter of a denounced prophet, who is forced to live undercover with her mother in order to escape the attention of the Crows, elite soldiers charged with killing followers of the Creator. After going to a rebel meeting that goes haywire, Catrice reunites with Blaze, an old friend from childhood. As they search for a safe place, Catrice is unaware that Blaze is now a High Crow and is using all the information he gathers from their journeys together to crush her people.
My Thoughts:
Sometimes I read books and am just astounded by the creativity of the author in coming up with such an amazing idea for a book. The Black Crow Flies is one of those books. Besides being very impressed with the idea behind the book, I found this book's content to be both sophisticated and easy to read, something that is not always prevalent in a debut novel.
When it comes to the characters of this book, I really liked Catrice; she had a strong, somewhat rebellious spirit throughout the book and is a character that is good at heart. The only negative thing I have to say about Catrice is that she is very gullible, a trait that is not the best to have in a leader, but I am sure in the future books in this series we will see that addressed. When it comes to Blaze, I did not find him to be such a strong character, and while I liked him, he was a little stuck up.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
December 1, 2022
I received an ARC of this book.
The Black Crow Flies is a fast paced, YA fantasy told in a dual POV.
Ten years ago Catrice and Blaze's hometown burned to the ground. Catrice's father, a Prophet of the Creator, was killed by the King. Now, they are living on the run. Their religion is outlawed and they are trying to keep the Testamonies of the Creator alive by hand copying them and delivering them to thei people, the Followers, throughout the country.
Blaze is a High Crow of the region. He is part of an elite group of the king's soldiers known as The Black Crows. He has been tasked with tracking down these Followers and their Havens. After running into Catrice during a mission, he goes undercover to try and convince her to trust him and tell him the location if these Havens. He begins to doubt the validity of his mission and where his loyalties lie.
This book was a fantastic debut novel. It was well written, fast paced with detailed world building. There is religious and political intrigue and and some twists throughout. The characters in the book were also well developed throughout. I am not always a fan of books with religious themes, but this was very well done. I can't wait to see where the rest of the story leads.
The Black Crow Flies is a fast paced, YA fantasy told in a dual POV.
Ten years ago Catrice and Blaze's hometown burned to the ground. Catrice's father, a Prophet of the Creator, was killed by the King. Now, they are living on the run. Their religion is outlawed and they are trying to keep the Testamonies of the Creator alive by hand copying them and delivering them to thei people, the Followers, throughout the country.
Blaze is a High Crow of the region. He is part of an elite group of the king's soldiers known as The Black Crows. He has been tasked with tracking down these Followers and their Havens. After running into Catrice during a mission, he goes undercover to try and convince her to trust him and tell him the location if these Havens. He begins to doubt the validity of his mission and where his loyalties lie.
This book was a fantastic debut novel. It was well written, fast paced with detailed world building. There is religious and political intrigue and and some twists throughout. The characters in the book were also well developed throughout. I am not always a fan of books with religious themes, but this was very well done. I can't wait to see where the rest of the story leads.
March 13, 2023
I was honored to be sent this book by the author herself! And there are so many great things to say about this book—
First, I have to say, I greatly enjoyed this authors voice. It was simplistic and to the point and yet soooo vivid! The first page had me hooked and I knew it was going to be good 😊 this writing was a breath of fresh air to all the other books that I’ve been DNFing this year. VERY well done 🙌🏻 This week has been hectic but this book occupied my thoughts constantly and I couldn’t ever pick it back up fast enough!
The world was fleshed out very nicely, but what really intrigued me was that we got to see BOTH sides of a narrative on good and evil. Are the Crows evil? Or are the Rebels?? Not everything is so black and white and I LOVED seeing inside the heads of both of our main characters as they navigate through that issue.
I loved that this book was a dual pov with our female and male MCs—though it did take away potential shock factor for betrayal—but I still enjoyed seeing our characters interact and have their sweet moments along with the trickery and betrayal! The characters were so complex!! I loved seeing both of them struggle with their world views and their FEELINGS AHH!! I just cannot wait for the next book and see if my predictions are correct 🫣
First, I have to say, I greatly enjoyed this authors voice. It was simplistic and to the point and yet soooo vivid! The first page had me hooked and I knew it was going to be good 😊 this writing was a breath of fresh air to all the other books that I’ve been DNFing this year. VERY well done 🙌🏻 This week has been hectic but this book occupied my thoughts constantly and I couldn’t ever pick it back up fast enough!
The world was fleshed out very nicely, but what really intrigued me was that we got to see BOTH sides of a narrative on good and evil. Are the Crows evil? Or are the Rebels?? Not everything is so black and white and I LOVED seeing inside the heads of both of our main characters as they navigate through that issue.
I loved that this book was a dual pov with our female and male MCs—though it did take away potential shock factor for betrayal—but I still enjoyed seeing our characters interact and have their sweet moments along with the trickery and betrayal! The characters were so complex!! I loved seeing both of them struggle with their world views and their FEELINGS AHH!! I just cannot wait for the next book and see if my predictions are correct 🫣
January 2, 2023
What I Did Like:
+The dual POV focusing on two people with two very different philosophies was a good way to see both sides of this world. It’s well done and interesting.
+Great ending to spark interest in book 2. You got enough answers to be satisfied but you want more from these characters!
+Characters! They’re deep, flawed, and realistic. I love them all and I want the best for them, even if they aren’t always on the same sides.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans, this one is a beautiful dual POV story with excellent world building.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://tabathashipleybooks.com/2023/...
+The dual POV focusing on two people with two very different philosophies was a good way to see both sides of this world. It’s well done and interesting.
+Great ending to spark interest in book 2. You got enough answers to be satisfied but you want more from these characters!
+Characters! They’re deep, flawed, and realistic. I love them all and I want the best for them, even if they aren’t always on the same sides.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans, this one is a beautiful dual POV story with excellent world building.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://tabathashipleybooks.com/2023/...
December 11, 2022
I probably would have actually given this a 3.5 star rating if possible. This was definitely a well written YA fantasy book. The prose was engaging but it only felt like half a book. Clean, very slow burn romance. Some of the characters felt inconsistent. One moment they are hating the other and then thinking about how attractive the other is.
Not my favorite book, but definitely a good book for any young reader in the genre
Not my favorite book, but definitely a good book for any young reader in the genre
March 2, 2023
This is a very strong debut book! The dual POV really helped set up our two MCs and helped flesh out the history of the world. Pacing was fast and engaging, but not rushed. The amount of character growth was satisfying and really had you rooting for the characters by the end of the book. Now I just have to impatiently bide my time until the next book releases because that cliffhanger has me stressed!
March 8, 2023
you won’t be disappointed
I went into this with an open mind, happy to say I WASN’T disappointed…The story starts off with action that grips you and keeps you for the whole ride. A double point of view book that keeps you wondering how they’re going to traverse the bumpy road traveled
I went into this with an open mind, happy to say I WASN’T disappointed…The story starts off with action that grips you and keeps you for the whole ride. A double point of view book that keeps you wondering how they’re going to traverse the bumpy road traveled
January 25, 2023
It's a good book. I am not typically into religious books, but I likes this one. It's there without being in your face about it. I would definitely recommend, and I will definitely read the next one!
January 28, 2023
Ten years ago their city burned. Now they are on opposite sides of the country that is crumbling into war.
Catrice has been on the run for 10 years. It's all she knows, hiding and worshiping in secret. She's one of the last family members of the last known prophet.
Blake is a High Crow tasked with finding Followers and rebels to save the country from war. But how much does Blake really know?
When their worlds collide, will old friends stick together?
There's so much happening in this book. You move from chapter to chapter without slowing down. You are pulled in and you can't stop reading. You don't even realize that this is religious in nature and that it is loosely based on things that have happened in the past and that may be happening now in other countries.
The characters are well developed and they complete the story. It's told with a duel POV. There are no curse words or spice, which makes it a great YA or Christian read. There is death and gore, however it's part of Christian/Religious history to be persecuted, so I feel like you couldn't write this book without it. It's so well written I wouldn't guess this is a debut. I can't wait to read the next one to know what happens next.
Catrice has been on the run for 10 years. It's all she knows, hiding and worshiping in secret. She's one of the last family members of the last known prophet.
Blake is a High Crow tasked with finding Followers and rebels to save the country from war. But how much does Blake really know?
When their worlds collide, will old friends stick together?
There's so much happening in this book. You move from chapter to chapter without slowing down. You are pulled in and you can't stop reading. You don't even realize that this is religious in nature and that it is loosely based on things that have happened in the past and that may be happening now in other countries.
The characters are well developed and they complete the story. It's told with a duel POV. There are no curse words or spice, which makes it a great YA or Christian read. There is death and gore, however it's part of Christian/Religious history to be persecuted, so I feel like you couldn't write this book without it. It's so well written I wouldn't guess this is a debut. I can't wait to read the next one to know what happens next.
January 10, 2023
I received this book as an ARC in return for a review.
The tension in this book was fantastic, in terms of the plot and situations the characters were in, as well as between Blaze and Catrice. I finished this book in one day because I just had to find out what happened next! Some parts were a bit slow, but as a whole the plot felt well-paced. I appreciated the effort put into world building; it seemed like everything had an explanation for why it was happening, and overall felt very rich and thoroughly-done. I’m very excited for the next book!!
The tension in this book was fantastic, in terms of the plot and situations the characters were in, as well as between Blaze and Catrice. I finished this book in one day because I just had to find out what happened next! Some parts were a bit slow, but as a whole the plot felt well-paced. I appreciated the effort put into world building; it seemed like everything had an explanation for why it was happening, and overall felt very rich and thoroughly-done. I’m very excited for the next book!!
January 10, 2023
I was immediately drawn in my the story, and I was engaged from page to page. The world, character, and story building was masterful. So many fantasy books can fall into the same familiar template, The Black Crow Flies was a welcome change of pace. If you’re a fan of fantasy, enemies to lovers or slow burn, this is going to scratch all those itches in one. The book left me wanting more in the best way possible, I can’t even begin to guess where we’re going next but I know that I am desperate to find out. L.B Perdan has a new, huge fan in me!
November 24, 2023
4.8 Stars rounding up to 5 because yes. WOW loved it, so much fun! Can't wait for more!! (Pls author, pls, let my ship be happy 🙏)
November 26, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy to prep for the ARC of book 2 in the series ❤️
It took me a minute to fully get into this book but WOW once I did I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
TBCF is book 1 in a dual POV, enemies to lovers, YA romantasy with a creative, well-built world and lots of excellent morally gray characters.
I think the stage is set beautifully for the rest of the series as we see Catrice, our FMC, starting to lose some of the naïveté she began with and Blaze, the MMC, questioning what he believes in.
I’m so excited to get the next installment of the series in my hands 🙌🏼
It took me a minute to fully get into this book but WOW once I did I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
TBCF is book 1 in a dual POV, enemies to lovers, YA romantasy with a creative, well-built world and lots of excellent morally gray characters.
I think the stage is set beautifully for the rest of the series as we see Catrice, our FMC, starting to lose some of the naïveté she began with and Blaze, the MMC, questioning what he believes in.
I’m so excited to get the next installment of the series in my hands 🙌🏼
June 26, 2024
AMONG MY TOP 3 Reads for 2024!
The worldbuilding of The Black Crow Flies may feel like your typical late medieval fantasy, but the story is a captivating blend of religious oppression and moral conflict with duty to throne and God.
My only criticism:
The Christian tones of this story are nearly too-thinly veiled for my liking. (Personal Preference) Words like Followers, Havens, and Testimonies are easy synonyms for Christians, Churches, and Scriptures. However, the conflict centers around a late prophet's surviving wife and daughter who are being hunted simply because they are family of a prophet who objected to the sitting king's right to rule.
This makes it incredibly easy to love and care for Catrice, who is not only likeable, but actually compelling and interesting. She and her mother scrape by in hiding, using every spare cent they earn to purchase parchment and ink and disseminate copies of Prophet Aetos's testimonies for havens and fellowships across the lands.
The Crows are a bit like Kingsmen, or elite special forces for the throne, yet we don't see any other military or police figures represented in this world. There are lords who apparently have their own armies. But the Crows sit directly under the King over districts, with seemingly more jurisdiction than lords.
Our other POV character, Blaze, is the High Crow of the Onyx District. Initially, his motives and backstory for wanting to wipe out the Followers are pretty typical.
He got left behind. Someone died. He feels betrayed.
Yet Blaze is a very interesting, nuanced, and complex character. It's hard to watch him doing wrong and taking lives but it really makes him believable. He's not a bad boy caricature set up to be converted by the "Christian" FMC. And I loved how Perdan doesn't shy away from the story's dark moments. Even Catrice shakes in her faith at times and needs Grace. Both of these characters feel very real and alive and complimentary to each other's lack.
And where one's arc leans toward redemption, the character we'd most expect to be portrayed as the "strong Christian" seems to suffer a falling away from former spiritual strength, which is something I rarely find in inspirational/Christian reads of any genre.
Both of these characters are tried and tested and shaken so we can see their roots digging deeper in reach of life giving water.
The story is well written, the prose flowed, and it was so easy to envision everything--even the fight scenes. I chuckled. I sniffled. I clutched my chest as each chapter drove me into the next.
It drove me so hard, I went to purchase the next in series as soon as I finished and discovered it's not out yet...
I will be recommending this read as one of my top 3 for 2024! And preordering the next as soon as it's available.
The worldbuilding of The Black Crow Flies may feel like your typical late medieval fantasy, but the story is a captivating blend of religious oppression and moral conflict with duty to throne and God.
My only criticism:
The Christian tones of this story are nearly too-thinly veiled for my liking. (Personal Preference) Words like Followers, Havens, and Testimonies are easy synonyms for Christians, Churches, and Scriptures. However, the conflict centers around a late prophet's surviving wife and daughter who are being hunted simply because they are family of a prophet who objected to the sitting king's right to rule.
This makes it incredibly easy to love and care for Catrice, who is not only likeable, but actually compelling and interesting. She and her mother scrape by in hiding, using every spare cent they earn to purchase parchment and ink and disseminate copies of Prophet Aetos's testimonies for havens and fellowships across the lands.
The Crows are a bit like Kingsmen, or elite special forces for the throne, yet we don't see any other military or police figures represented in this world. There are lords who apparently have their own armies. But the Crows sit directly under the King over districts, with seemingly more jurisdiction than lords.
Our other POV character, Blaze, is the High Crow of the Onyx District. Initially, his motives and backstory for wanting to wipe out the Followers are pretty typical.
He got left behind. Someone died. He feels betrayed.
Yet Blaze is a very interesting, nuanced, and complex character. It's hard to watch him doing wrong and taking lives but it really makes him believable. He's not a bad boy caricature set up to be converted by the "Christian" FMC. And I loved how Perdan doesn't shy away from the story's dark moments. Even Catrice shakes in her faith at times and needs Grace. Both of these characters feel very real and alive and complimentary to each other's lack.
And where one's arc leans toward redemption, the character we'd most expect to be portrayed as the "strong Christian" seems to suffer a falling away from former spiritual strength, which is something I rarely find in inspirational/Christian reads of any genre.
Both of these characters are tried and tested and shaken so we can see their roots digging deeper in reach of life giving water.
The story is well written, the prose flowed, and it was so easy to envision everything--even the fight scenes. I chuckled. I sniffled. I clutched my chest as each chapter drove me into the next.
It drove me so hard, I went to purchase the next in series as soon as I finished and discovered it's not out yet...
I will be recommending this read as one of my top 3 for 2024! And preordering the next as soon as it's available.
November 22, 2023
I love the fact this has biblical parallels! As a Christian author myself, reading such a well written, captivating piece is very encouraging! Can’t wait for book 2!!
December 10, 2023
I loved this book! I got the ARC for the 2nd book (awaiting) and had to complete this book first, so I got the ebook. I found it was a slow start for me, mostly because of the way I was reading it. Other than that, this was an amazing read with a great story. I felt connected to all the characters as well, and I'm excited to see what book 2 brings!
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