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Raven: A Gothic Thriller
Raven. Spawned by pagan magic, she's been a warrior, a mercenary, an assassin, a whore. With a dagger on her thigh she roams the world, down the centuries, looking for bloody revenge.
In modern London, Raven tangles with an ordinary young couple and their lives are brutally changed. But the huntress becomes the hunted climaxing in a violent showdown within an ancient Gothic mansion.
Flashbacks of her former life both illuminate and complicate her unnatural character.
The pace is fast, the action furious and deadly.
In modern London, Raven tangles with an ordinary young couple and their lives are brutally changed. But the huntress becomes the hunted climaxing in a violent showdown within an ancient Gothic mansion.
Flashbacks of her former life both illuminate and complicate her unnatural character.
The pace is fast, the action furious and deadly.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 3, 2021
6 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Tim Pearsall
23 books21 followersTimothy Pearsall (also known as Tim Pea) was born in England and grew up in the industrial West Midlands known as 'the black country'. As a young man he moved to London where he began to write fiction as a hobby. The hobby was largely shelved for several years when he married and had children. He now lives in Norwich, England, and works in local government. Now that his children are grown up and he is widowed, he is able to spend more time writing, he has updated and renamed his Domina Mortis/Evelina books and released Raven as the first in a dark paranormal series.
He describes Raven as a "dirty and Stabby" supernatural soap heroine.
He describes himself from the Desiderata poem as an off-the-peg person 'going placidly amid the noise and haste'.
He describes Raven as a "dirty and Stabby" supernatural soap heroine.
He describes himself from the Desiderata poem as an off-the-peg person 'going placidly amid the noise and haste'.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 24, 2023
Raven is amazing! I’m so happy to have read this dark and twisted book. You’ll be rooting for Raven before you know it. The action is fast paced and the story does jump around a bit, but pay attention and it’s well worth the ride. I can’t wait to read the next installation.
March 24, 2024
I received a copy for a review! So its an interesting story, the layout was a little strange and jumped around alot between many characters, took a while to get use to. The main character Raven, her flash backs were the most interesting points of the story for me, all in all not a bad read, kind of unique in its way, beware the ending leaves you with wanting more!
October 16, 2019
*2-2.5
Review to come on www.scifiandscary.com
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review consideration
Review to come on www.scifiandscary.com
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review consideration
November 14, 2023
Review posted on my blog The Writer's Library.
I was introduced to Tim Pearsall’s work some time ago when I read and reviewed a short story collection he wrote. While I didn’t love everything about the book, there were some concepts that I found intriguing in the work.
Similarly, here, I like the idea Pearsall is working with in this longer narrative form. While I do see problems with the execution of the story, I must admit that I really like the premise and some of the characters are very interesting!
Before I go into it further, let’s get a summary for the story.
Summary
Raven has spent her life committing many crimes. In present-day London, however, she learns that a young couple, Richard and Susan, are out for revenge because she committed crimes that affected their lives directly. As time goes on, with Richard and Susan both closing in on her, Raven finds that there are also people out there looking to aid her in surviving being hunted.
Will Richard and Susan be able to avenge the victims of Raven’s crimes?
Thoughts
There is something about the concepts presented in the story that are very interesting! Seeing Richard and Susan get tied up in this hunt for Raven, only for the stakes to become very personal as time goes on, is amazing to see! On the other side, seeing people be sympathetic toward Raven and wanting to aid her in whatever she does suggests that there is more to her than just a clear-cut antagonistic character. I’ll discuss that further in the character section.
Despite the interesting characters and plot, however, I do see some issues with how the story is executed. The narrative can be a bit difficult to follow at times and, while the goals of the main characters are clear-cut, the prose wasn’t always easy to follow. I’ll discuss this further in the writing section.
That said, let’s dive in and discuss some of the characters!
Characters
Richard and Susan Bryant
I have mixed feelings about Susan. While I understand her personal motives, I admit to having felt overwhelmed by how far she took the hunt. Both she and Richard have legitimate reasons to hate Raven, but Susan takes her animosity so far that it is difficult to watch. She is not keeping a clear head in her quest for revenge and seeing her continue this way became both disturbing and annoying after a while.
As for Richard, I found myself feeling bad for him because of all of this. The way he became enmeshed in this conflict with Raven also gave him a clear motive, but he reacted to it differently than Susan. I feel like, compared to Susan, he is much calmer. This made it easier for me to sympathize with his motives more. That said, seeing his dreams and how he reacts to them makes it clear that he is just as affected by this as Susan is – he just responds to it differently.
Raven
I admit, I do not fully understand what Raven is. There is something about her that I cannot quite put my finger on. Going in, I expected her to be a specific supernatural creature, but I feel I have no evidence that my assumption was correct even after finishing the story. I know more about her past and present relationships than I do about Raven herself, and I wish her story had been clearer. What is she? We do see a situation that suggests what she is, but is that situation the truth?
Besides that, the way her personality is presented is as clear as day. I love how seductive she is on the surface, lulling targets into a false sense of security before striking. She is presented as dangerous, but alluring, and I like that she has people out there firmly on her side as well as those that want her to pay for her crimes. While on the topic of her personality, I also find her relationship with her daughter Cairo to be interesting, and it shows another side to her that I did not expect to see. There is an interesting dynamic between the two of them that I enjoyed seeing unfold.
Walther Von Vohberg
Walther is probably one of my favorite characters in this. I love that, despite his goals, he shows clear care and concern for Richard and Susan to the point where he worries about their safety. His motives for getting involved are incredibly sympathetic as well, making it easy to understand where he is coming from and what exactly he will get out of his quest in the story.
I also like that he is not entirely confident in his decisions. This shows a degree of care for Richard and Susan that was nice to see. Despite how much he wants revenge for what happened, he is aware of what that may mean for the people he brings in to help him, even when those people are after Raven as well.
Structure
The structure of this story is interesting. The narrative is built from multiple points of view, often focusing on characters’ perspectives in more intimate detail. This works in painting Raven as more than just a one-note antagonist, but it also helps in presenting her benefactor’s home as even more dangerous than it first appears. On the other side, we have the stories of Richard, Susan, and Walther. The structure aids Susan’s arc really well, as Richard watches from a distance and only becomes more concerned for her as their relationship begins to be affected by everything happening.
However, I do see some issues with the structure as well. Unfortunately, going through so many different points of view does not entirely work in fleshing out all the characters’ stories, and I feel like I often forgot where one plotline left off after reading from other viewpoints. This suggests to me that there may be too many points of view to keep track of. For example, early in the story it is revealed that Richard’s workplace is in possession of a book that Raven is after for her benefactor, but all the different stories we see from other characters buried this plot line. As a result, it was easy to forget why Raven got tangled up with Richard.
Writing
Unfortunately, I do see issues with the writing that affected how I experienced the story. Pearsall has enjoyable prose and interesting ideas, but the sentence structure needs work for the messages of the writing to be completely clear. For example, I noticed that when a character would speak, there sometimes weren’t tags to signify that they were speaking, or when a conversation had moved on to another character. This made dialogue particularly difficult to follow because it did not flow smoothly.
Another thing I want to discuss is setup and payoff. I have talked about this many times before and it needs to be touched upon here. Unfortunately, I see issues with how situations are set up and then resolved. A lot of the situations in this story are set up beautifully, but the payoff that ideally should follow doesn’t land the way I was hoping for. One of the best examples of this is the situation with Raven’s benefactor. I feel like the story did not deliver on the payoff of his arc, and it was underwhelming as a result. It felt like the story was suggesting something different was going to occur and then that did not happen, leaving me feeling disappointed, as I felt the plot line being hinted at had significant potential.
Conclusion
I hate when I have mixed feelings about a story. I see a very interesting idea being played with in this narrative and the Gothic backdrop makes for a highly intriguing setting, but unfortunately, I think there are too many aspects of the story that didn’t deliver the experience I was hoping for. For this reason, I must admit that this story just didn’t work for me.
I was introduced to Tim Pearsall’s work some time ago when I read and reviewed a short story collection he wrote. While I didn’t love everything about the book, there were some concepts that I found intriguing in the work.
Similarly, here, I like the idea Pearsall is working with in this longer narrative form. While I do see problems with the execution of the story, I must admit that I really like the premise and some of the characters are very interesting!
Before I go into it further, let’s get a summary for the story.
Summary
Raven has spent her life committing many crimes. In present-day London, however, she learns that a young couple, Richard and Susan, are out for revenge because she committed crimes that affected their lives directly. As time goes on, with Richard and Susan both closing in on her, Raven finds that there are also people out there looking to aid her in surviving being hunted.
Will Richard and Susan be able to avenge the victims of Raven’s crimes?
Thoughts
There is something about the concepts presented in the story that are very interesting! Seeing Richard and Susan get tied up in this hunt for Raven, only for the stakes to become very personal as time goes on, is amazing to see! On the other side, seeing people be sympathetic toward Raven and wanting to aid her in whatever she does suggests that there is more to her than just a clear-cut antagonistic character. I’ll discuss that further in the character section.
Despite the interesting characters and plot, however, I do see some issues with how the story is executed. The narrative can be a bit difficult to follow at times and, while the goals of the main characters are clear-cut, the prose wasn’t always easy to follow. I’ll discuss this further in the writing section.
That said, let’s dive in and discuss some of the characters!
Characters
Richard and Susan Bryant
I have mixed feelings about Susan. While I understand her personal motives, I admit to having felt overwhelmed by how far she took the hunt. Both she and Richard have legitimate reasons to hate Raven, but Susan takes her animosity so far that it is difficult to watch. She is not keeping a clear head in her quest for revenge and seeing her continue this way became both disturbing and annoying after a while.
As for Richard, I found myself feeling bad for him because of all of this. The way he became enmeshed in this conflict with Raven also gave him a clear motive, but he reacted to it differently than Susan. I feel like, compared to Susan, he is much calmer. This made it easier for me to sympathize with his motives more. That said, seeing his dreams and how he reacts to them makes it clear that he is just as affected by this as Susan is – he just responds to it differently.
Raven
I admit, I do not fully understand what Raven is. There is something about her that I cannot quite put my finger on. Going in, I expected her to be a specific supernatural creature, but I feel I have no evidence that my assumption was correct even after finishing the story. I know more about her past and present relationships than I do about Raven herself, and I wish her story had been clearer. What is she? We do see a situation that suggests what she is, but is that situation the truth?
Besides that, the way her personality is presented is as clear as day. I love how seductive she is on the surface, lulling targets into a false sense of security before striking. She is presented as dangerous, but alluring, and I like that she has people out there firmly on her side as well as those that want her to pay for her crimes. While on the topic of her personality, I also find her relationship with her daughter Cairo to be interesting, and it shows another side to her that I did not expect to see. There is an interesting dynamic between the two of them that I enjoyed seeing unfold.
Walther Von Vohberg
Walther is probably one of my favorite characters in this. I love that, despite his goals, he shows clear care and concern for Richard and Susan to the point where he worries about their safety. His motives for getting involved are incredibly sympathetic as well, making it easy to understand where he is coming from and what exactly he will get out of his quest in the story.
I also like that he is not entirely confident in his decisions. This shows a degree of care for Richard and Susan that was nice to see. Despite how much he wants revenge for what happened, he is aware of what that may mean for the people he brings in to help him, even when those people are after Raven as well.
Structure
The structure of this story is interesting. The narrative is built from multiple points of view, often focusing on characters’ perspectives in more intimate detail. This works in painting Raven as more than just a one-note antagonist, but it also helps in presenting her benefactor’s home as even more dangerous than it first appears. On the other side, we have the stories of Richard, Susan, and Walther. The structure aids Susan’s arc really well, as Richard watches from a distance and only becomes more concerned for her as their relationship begins to be affected by everything happening.
However, I do see some issues with the structure as well. Unfortunately, going through so many different points of view does not entirely work in fleshing out all the characters’ stories, and I feel like I often forgot where one plotline left off after reading from other viewpoints. This suggests to me that there may be too many points of view to keep track of. For example, early in the story it is revealed that Richard’s workplace is in possession of a book that Raven is after for her benefactor, but all the different stories we see from other characters buried this plot line. As a result, it was easy to forget why Raven got tangled up with Richard.
Writing
Unfortunately, I do see issues with the writing that affected how I experienced the story. Pearsall has enjoyable prose and interesting ideas, but the sentence structure needs work for the messages of the writing to be completely clear. For example, I noticed that when a character would speak, there sometimes weren’t tags to signify that they were speaking, or when a conversation had moved on to another character. This made dialogue particularly difficult to follow because it did not flow smoothly.
Another thing I want to discuss is setup and payoff. I have talked about this many times before and it needs to be touched upon here. Unfortunately, I see issues with how situations are set up and then resolved. A lot of the situations in this story are set up beautifully, but the payoff that ideally should follow doesn’t land the way I was hoping for. One of the best examples of this is the situation with Raven’s benefactor. I feel like the story did not deliver on the payoff of his arc, and it was underwhelming as a result. It felt like the story was suggesting something different was going to occur and then that did not happen, leaving me feeling disappointed, as I felt the plot line being hinted at had significant potential.
Conclusion
I hate when I have mixed feelings about a story. I see a very interesting idea being played with in this narrative and the Gothic backdrop makes for a highly intriguing setting, but unfortunately, I think there are too many aspects of the story that didn’t deliver the experience I was hoping for. For this reason, I must admit that this story just didn’t work for me.
June 10, 2021
After taking a long break from reading thrillers and murder mysteries, Raven was the perfect start to delve back into the genre.
The plot had me hooked from page 1 and the way the author connected seemingly unrelated people from different walks of life and wove a story around them was surprising and enjoyable. I especially liked the author's innovative idea of using 'Enjambment' to construct the chapters' titles. The thought of using such a technique impressed me and I feel compelled to quote it here: (Spoilers)
I find this way of naming chapters new and different.
Another thing I liked was the antagonist. Instead of the traditional male antagonist setting, A strong, independent and powerful female villain was a welcome thought. Despite being flawed and lawless, Raven is an impressive and admirable woman. She reminds me of 'Elsa', the female anti-hero of the movie 'Frozen'.
At the start of the story, I was confused with the names and characters. I kept mixing up people and names. But I caught up eventually and I found the story to very interesting. It was a new story from a new point of view.
Firstly, we have the antagonist-Raven, a woman who is virtually immortal and feeds on other people's 'brain waves' to replenish her immortality.
Then we have a couple- Richards and Susan who help Walther, son of one of Raven's enemies who is keen on avenging the innocent people Raven has murdered. Besides them, we have plenty of other characters like Franco, Sir Clive, Erik, Phil, Cairo and Tsuba who play a vital role in the plot.
What we read in Raven 1 , I assume, is just an intro to the story. The real action might unfold from book 2 which I'm eager to read.
Had it not been for a few spelling mistakes, I would have given a five star rating for Raven 1.
If you prefer murder mysteries , thrillers, female antagonists, brain eating scientists and stories set in mysterious gothic mansions, this book is for you. Even if you don't, give Raven a try. I'm sure she wouldn't fail to surprise you.
The plot had me hooked from page 1 and the way the author connected seemingly unrelated people from different walks of life and wove a story around them was surprising and enjoyable. I especially liked the author's innovative idea of using 'Enjambment' to construct the chapters' titles. The thought of using such a technique impressed me and I feel compelled to quote it here: (Spoilers)
I find this way of naming chapters new and different.
Another thing I liked was the antagonist. Instead of the traditional male antagonist setting, A strong, independent and powerful female villain was a welcome thought. Despite being flawed and lawless, Raven is an impressive and admirable woman. She reminds me of 'Elsa', the female anti-hero of the movie 'Frozen'.
At the start of the story, I was confused with the names and characters. I kept mixing up people and names. But I caught up eventually and I found the story to very interesting. It was a new story from a new point of view.
Firstly, we have the antagonist-Raven, a woman who is virtually immortal and feeds on other people's 'brain waves' to replenish her immortality.
Then we have a couple- Richards and Susan who help Walther, son of one of Raven's enemies who is keen on avenging the innocent people Raven has murdered. Besides them, we have plenty of other characters like Franco, Sir Clive, Erik, Phil, Cairo and Tsuba who play a vital role in the plot.
What we read in Raven 1 , I assume, is just an intro to the story. The real action might unfold from book 2 which I'm eager to read.
Had it not been for a few spelling mistakes, I would have given a five star rating for Raven 1.
If you prefer murder mysteries , thrillers, female antagonists, brain eating scientists and stories set in mysterious gothic mansions, this book is for you. Even if you don't, give Raven a try. I'm sure she wouldn't fail to surprise you.
August 8, 2021
A unique Gothic thriller
Thanks to Booktasters I received a free copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Raven is a unique character, at times terrifying at others sympathetic. Followed by history, plagued with guilts and unapologetic for her needs she travels across the world to feed. She's beautiful, deadly and at times even evil. Will the main characters become corrupted themselves in their quest for vengeance?
There's magic, mystery, horror and suspense. Overall the prose is strong, the pacing fast and the horror spine-chilling.
Sometimes serious topics like rape and pedophilia were thrown into the story almost as afterthoughts, brief one sentence mentions that it happened and then no further fallout or discussion which at times felt gratuitous. Some scenes almost felt rushed and overly explained (first they did this, then that, and now this). Overall it was a decent book with some standout moments and an interesting dive into history.
Raven becomes the target of the main character, Richard and his wife Susan. Seeking vengeance more than justice they meet allies along the way, those affected by the lady of death called Raven.
Thanks to Booktasters I received a free copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Raven is a unique character, at times terrifying at others sympathetic. Followed by history, plagued with guilts and unapologetic for her needs she travels across the world to feed. She's beautiful, deadly and at times even evil. Will the main characters become corrupted themselves in their quest for vengeance?
There's magic, mystery, horror and suspense. Overall the prose is strong, the pacing fast and the horror spine-chilling.
Sometimes serious topics like rape and pedophilia were thrown into the story almost as afterthoughts, brief one sentence mentions that it happened and then no further fallout or discussion which at times felt gratuitous. Some scenes almost felt rushed and overly explained (first they did this, then that, and now this). Overall it was a decent book with some standout moments and an interesting dive into history.
Raven becomes the target of the main character, Richard and his wife Susan. Seeking vengeance more than justice they meet allies along the way, those affected by the lady of death called Raven.
October 28, 2023
Al inicio de esta historia conocemos a Richard y Susan una pareja feliz que por diferentes situaciones que pasan con el socio de Richard terminan sin ninguna prueba percibiendo a una mujer llamada Raven, una inmortal peligrosa y sin escrúpulos que ha dejado un rastro de muerte y destrucción durante mucho tiempo y no se da cuenta la cantidad de enemigos que ha acumulado.
Esta historia tiene un ritmo bastante ágil, el autor logra sumergirte en la historia por completo, si bien las descripciones aveces se sienten un poco pesadas y repetitivas puedes imaginarte lo que el autor quiere transmitir, el desarrollo de la historia va manteniéndose constante por lo que no quieres detenerte hasta saber que es lo que sigue en la historia.
En cuanto a los personajes están bien definidos y tienen un desarrollo interesante, sobre todo la antagonista que seria Raven pues se muestran todas las capas que conforman a una persona así, ademas que es bastante interesante conocer a los personajes que van apareciendo durante la historia.
En general un thriller sobrenatural muy interesante, fácil y rápido de leer que te engancha y no quieres soltar hasta saber como terminará.
Agradezco mucho al autor y a Booktasters por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración me gusto mucho.
---------------------------------------------------------------
At the beginning of this story we meet Richard and Susan, a happy couple who, due to different situations they go through with Richard's partner, end up without any proof perceiving a woman called Raven, a dangerous and unscrupulous immortal who has left a trail of death and destruction. for a long time and he doesn't realize how many enemies he has accumulated.
This story has a fairly agile pace, the author manages to immerse you in the story completely, although the descriptions sometimes feel a little heavy and repetitive, you can imagine what the author wants to convey, the development of the story remains constant so You don't want to stop until you know what's next in the story.
As for the characters, they are well defined and have an interesting development, especially the antagonist who would be Raven because all the layers that make up such a person are shown, and it is also quite interesting to know the characters that appear during the story.
Overall, a very interesting supernatural thriller, easy and quick to read that hooks you and you don't want to let go until you know how it will end.
I am very grateful to the author and Booktasters for sending the digital book for this collaboration, I really liked it.
Esta historia tiene un ritmo bastante ágil, el autor logra sumergirte en la historia por completo, si bien las descripciones aveces se sienten un poco pesadas y repetitivas puedes imaginarte lo que el autor quiere transmitir, el desarrollo de la historia va manteniéndose constante por lo que no quieres detenerte hasta saber que es lo que sigue en la historia.
En cuanto a los personajes están bien definidos y tienen un desarrollo interesante, sobre todo la antagonista que seria Raven pues se muestran todas las capas que conforman a una persona así, ademas que es bastante interesante conocer a los personajes que van apareciendo durante la historia.
En general un thriller sobrenatural muy interesante, fácil y rápido de leer que te engancha y no quieres soltar hasta saber como terminará.
Agradezco mucho al autor y a Booktasters por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración me gusto mucho.
---------------------------------------------------------------
At the beginning of this story we meet Richard and Susan, a happy couple who, due to different situations they go through with Richard's partner, end up without any proof perceiving a woman called Raven, a dangerous and unscrupulous immortal who has left a trail of death and destruction. for a long time and he doesn't realize how many enemies he has accumulated.
This story has a fairly agile pace, the author manages to immerse you in the story completely, although the descriptions sometimes feel a little heavy and repetitive, you can imagine what the author wants to convey, the development of the story remains constant so You don't want to stop until you know what's next in the story.
As for the characters, they are well defined and have an interesting development, especially the antagonist who would be Raven because all the layers that make up such a person are shown, and it is also quite interesting to know the characters that appear during the story.
Overall, a very interesting supernatural thriller, easy and quick to read that hooks you and you don't want to let go until you know how it will end.
I am very grateful to the author and Booktasters for sending the digital book for this collaboration, I really liked it.
February 11, 2022
Raven, the titular character of this novel is fueled by human emotions and has been feeding on them for hundreds of years. While we don’t spend much time with her initially, the book does clearly revolve around her and the murders she commits. The structure of the book can create some confusion at the outset as it jumps between main characters and between times. Although this strategy was used throughout and added tension as you progressed, it was a bit off putting to me at first. This book is the first in a series about Raven and in this novel she is in England. She goes about town when needing an emotional rush, seduces a man, and then kills him in a torturous way. The sexual tension is implied, but not expressed and so is the gruesomeness of each kill. I am thankful the author did not feel the need for gratuitous gore or raunch.
In the beginning we met Richard and Susan, a happily married couple whose lives are just average and yet they love each other and are very content. Raven comes into Richard’s publishing house and seduces his best friend and partner Phil. She has a printing job she needs done in a short time and pays a great deal of cash. Phil becomes enamored with Raven and she appears to control his mind. When Richard sees what is being copied, he is appalled and alarmed. He tells his wife about the books being copied and he takes them to the son of the local bookseller. This son has been searching for Raven since WWII with his father. Needless to say, bad things ensue and you will have to read it for yourself to see what happens.
I can assure you that much of what happens in the story was interesting and the ending very different than I anticipated. The pace of progression is high and you never really wanted to stop as the flow between characters kept the story moving. I was surprised by some of the relationships and how certain character arcs moved. The author does not follow the usual tropes, but gives new and creative twists. It is well written and certainly leaves you wanting to read the next novel.
In the beginning we met Richard and Susan, a happily married couple whose lives are just average and yet they love each other and are very content. Raven comes into Richard’s publishing house and seduces his best friend and partner Phil. She has a printing job she needs done in a short time and pays a great deal of cash. Phil becomes enamored with Raven and she appears to control his mind. When Richard sees what is being copied, he is appalled and alarmed. He tells his wife about the books being copied and he takes them to the son of the local bookseller. This son has been searching for Raven since WWII with his father. Needless to say, bad things ensue and you will have to read it for yourself to see what happens.
I can assure you that much of what happens in the story was interesting and the ending very different than I anticipated. The pace of progression is high and you never really wanted to stop as the flow between characters kept the story moving. I was surprised by some of the relationships and how certain character arcs moved. The author does not follow the usual tropes, but gives new and creative twists. It is well written and certainly leaves you wanting to read the next novel.
March 18, 2024
Admittedly, when I first picked up Raven a few years ago I didn’t manage to finish the book. However, upon learning it has been re-worked I picked up another copy which I have read in just two days. One of my main critiques from the original version was I struggled with the jumps from past/future/present and the different character stories. However, the new addition flows elegantly and makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience.
The story itself is centered around Raven, who is a very complex individual (to say the least). On the surface she appears as an evil, self-serving and heartless savage. Whilst, for the most-part that remains true, it is clear that hiding somewhere deep within her is a small spark of life. Hope even. Raven has experienced the worst side of humanity and she chooses to live a very closed-off life solely feeding her desires and rejuvenating herself as a result. This spark seems to appear around Franco, and her daughter, Cairo who is this beautifully innocent child who you can’t help but feel sorry for. In the beginning I found myself taking the good vs. evil stance and supporting Walther, Richard and Susan who were fighting the ‘good fight’, however, as the story progressed and the author allowed us to get to know Raven a little more, I began to develop a soft spot for her and quite frankly just wanted to give her a hug.
All in all it’s a very well written gore and action-packed story that I personally found very difficult to put down due to the many twists and turns - I kept needing to 'just find out' then another twist appeared, and another, and here we are... Anyway, I’m excited to move onto Raven 2. I'm very curious about how Cairo's story will develop.
The story itself is centered around Raven, who is a very complex individual (to say the least). On the surface she appears as an evil, self-serving and heartless savage. Whilst, for the most-part that remains true, it is clear that hiding somewhere deep within her is a small spark of life. Hope even. Raven has experienced the worst side of humanity and she chooses to live a very closed-off life solely feeding her desires and rejuvenating herself as a result. This spark seems to appear around Franco, and her daughter, Cairo who is this beautifully innocent child who you can’t help but feel sorry for. In the beginning I found myself taking the good vs. evil stance and supporting Walther, Richard and Susan who were fighting the ‘good fight’, however, as the story progressed and the author allowed us to get to know Raven a little more, I began to develop a soft spot for her and quite frankly just wanted to give her a hug.
All in all it’s a very well written gore and action-packed story that I personally found very difficult to put down due to the many twists and turns - I kept needing to 'just find out' then another twist appeared, and another, and here we are... Anyway, I’m excited to move onto Raven 2. I'm very curious about how Cairo's story will develop.
September 6, 2023
This paranormal suspense story takes readers on a mesmerizing journey into the enigmatic realm of Raven, an enchanting immortal woman who derives pleasure from pain. Her enigmatic presence disrupts the existence of married man Richard, only to unveil unforeseen connections to his spouse Susan and a nearby shop proprietor. The fates of Susan and Richard become intricately entwined with Raven's due to circumstances beyond their control. Their odyssey commences when Richard's closest friend and business associate, Philipe, becomes ensnared in Raven's web, leading to an astonishing sequence of events. Richard is resolute in seeking justice, even in the absence of tangible proof, and Susan, his steadfast supporter, remains by his side as they navigate a world rife with mystery and retribution. The narrative showcases a diverse ensemble of characters, each seemingly autonomous yet intricately linked to Raven.
In summation, this supernatural thriller provides a captivating departure from reality, offering an exhilarating roller-coaster of suspense and intrigue. For those yearning for an immersive and thrilling literary experience, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this book.
In summation, this supernatural thriller provides a captivating departure from reality, offering an exhilarating roller-coaster of suspense and intrigue. For those yearning for an immersive and thrilling literary experience, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this book.
January 28, 2023
I connected with the author via BookTasters community & received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book Raven is filled with horror, crime, mystery, romance, action & drama.
When you start reading you get the feeling that the end is nearing but it turns out that it's just the beginning with long way to go.
There are mini climaxes that'll increase your adrenaline rush. Just when you start thinking why is it ending so fast you'll be surprised with the sudden twists that will keep you looped into the plot.
The antagonist Raven is a mysterious character who has got a dark past. Though Raven has history of crimes and is a despicable character her past and present situation makes it difficult for readers to decide her fate.
Raven's victims desire for swift justice but destiny has a different path set for them.
By the time you reach the end of the book you'll figure out that the story opens a new door in the the form of part two.
The author wants to use the proverb 'Revenge is a dish best served cold ' as an example. Therefore, a second part.
I've enjoyed reading the book and awaiting for the next part.
The book Raven is filled with horror, crime, mystery, romance, action & drama.
When you start reading you get the feeling that the end is nearing but it turns out that it's just the beginning with long way to go.
There are mini climaxes that'll increase your adrenaline rush. Just when you start thinking why is it ending so fast you'll be surprised with the sudden twists that will keep you looped into the plot.
The antagonist Raven is a mysterious character who has got a dark past. Though Raven has history of crimes and is a despicable character her past and present situation makes it difficult for readers to decide her fate.
Raven's victims desire for swift justice but destiny has a different path set for them.
By the time you reach the end of the book you'll figure out that the story opens a new door in the the form of part two.
The author wants to use the proverb 'Revenge is a dish best served cold ' as an example. Therefore, a second part.
I've enjoyed reading the book and awaiting for the next part.
June 15, 2022
So far I haven’t really been very pleased with the choice of books I’ve been offered from booktasters (even if they have been overall good reads) because they weren’t really my style but this one actually was. Lol I was very pleased with this book and I definitely can’t wait for Raven 2! I am not a fan of the unknown (cliffhanger endings/ to be continued’s) but they’re a part of the literary world so I’ve learned to accept them. Lol. But this was overall a good read and it kept me coming back each night to find out more about the lady Raven. I gave 4 stars because some stuff was mentioned that was very off putting and then no more details were really given which sort of left of knot in my stomach. Mentioned forms of sexual abuse and then didn’t seem to give any resolve. It just was thrown in and left at my feet which can be disturbing. Especially to some people who have been thru that. But otherwise it was a very good read IMPO and when and if a part 2 does come out I’ll be reading that one too. :)
December 4, 2022
This is a great supernatural thriller that revolves around a mysterious character - Raven - a beautiful woman who is immortal, derives pleasure from pain, yet at the same time - remains mysterious and compelling. She enters the life of a married man, Richard, only to find out Raven's life is intertwined with the wife of Richard, Susan, as well as the owner of a shop next to where Richard's work is. There are numerous characters in the novel - all seemingly independent - but all intertwined with Raven. the characters range from the quirky to the utterly insane, and you never know what is going to happen next. The plot is fast-paced and dynamic - with scenes juxtaposed one after the other. Ultimately the threads of these character's lives weave together in the end - taking the reader all the way to Paris, France and Africa. There are still questions to be answered - ultimately who this mysterious Raven is. If you want an escape from reality and a thrilling ride, I highly recommend this book.
July 15, 2021
I got a copy of the book for review, but I was sincerely glad I read this, as someone who likes thrillers and murder mysteries.
This novel had the perfect mixture of intrigue, thriller, and a whirlwind of interconnected characters. However, what hooked me the most is...
Another thing I appreciated, albeit a little bit later, was the peculiar names of the chapters. It was a bit difficult to follow at first. It's very easy to get lost with the different characters and stories, but soon enough, you will be able to see how they connect to each other. This is another beauty of Raven - unrelated people from different walks of life, being tangled into a web of mystery.
It definitely is a page-turner for me! Hope you can give it a try.
This novel had the perfect mixture of intrigue, thriller, and a whirlwind of interconnected characters. However, what hooked me the most is...
Another thing I appreciated, albeit a little bit later, was the peculiar names of the chapters. It was a bit difficult to follow at first. It's very easy to get lost with the different characters and stories, but soon enough, you will be able to see how they connect to each other. This is another beauty of Raven - unrelated people from different walks of life, being tangled into a web of mystery.
It definitely is a page-turner for me! Hope you can give it a try.
September 16, 2022
We follow a beautiful and deadly immortal, Raven... who feeds on others to replenish her immortality. Traveling around the world hunting, not caring about the enemies she'd create for herself.
- a female antagonist, an independent, powerful female lead is always refreshing to read
- the characters in this book including the main character are just creatively well thought out which is intriguing seeing as how some of them unfold
- a thrilling horror, suspenseful read, compelling highly paced and spine chilling gruesome scenes
- the chapters have names instead of numbers which was also another lovely part
... we also meet a happily married couple (Susan and Richard) who help a son of one of Ravens victims (Walter) in seeking revenge. Raven the hunter becomes the hunted. A writing style different from the one I'm used to but lovely either way.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, thank you to the author and BookTasters
- a female antagonist, an independent, powerful female lead is always refreshing to read
- the characters in this book including the main character are just creatively well thought out which is intriguing seeing as how some of them unfold
- a thrilling horror, suspenseful read, compelling highly paced and spine chilling gruesome scenes
- the chapters have names instead of numbers which was also another lovely part
... we also meet a happily married couple (Susan and Richard) who help a son of one of Ravens victims (Walter) in seeking revenge. Raven the hunter becomes the hunted. A writing style different from the one I'm used to but lovely either way.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, thank you to the author and BookTasters
November 17, 2023
I find this way of naming chapters new and different. Another thing I liked was the antagonist. Instead of the traditional male antagonist setting, A strong, independent and powerful female villain was a welcome thought. Despite being flawed and lawless, Raven is an impressive and admirable woman. At the beginning of the story, I was confused by the names and characters. But at some point I caught up with it and found the story quite interesting. It was a new story seen from a new perspective. First, the antagonist, Raven, is a woman who is effectively immortal and regains her immortality by eating other people's "brainwaves". Then there's a couple named Richards and Susan who help Walther, the son of one of Raven's enemies. Walther wants revenge on the innocent people Raven killed. In addition to them, there are many other characters who play an important role in the plot, such as Franco, Sir Clive, Eric, Phil, Kylo, Tuba. What we read in Raven 1 is, in my opinion, just an introduction to the story. The actual plot may develop from volume 2, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading it. He would have given Raven 1 5 stars if it weren't for a few spelling mistakes. If you like mysteries, thrillers, stories with female antagonists, brain-eating scientists, and stories set in mysterious Gothic mansions, this is the book for you. If not, give Raven a try, I think you'll be surprised.
August 1, 2021
Raven starts with gore and places you firmly in its grip. Tim Pearsall does not tread carefully in exploring her motives. Yes, she is a twisted woman. Yet, I found her fascinating. And then we meet Susan and Richard. They are tangled into her world by circumstance. Richard's best friend and business partner Philipe have her for a client. He is bewitched and then tortured to death. Richard does not want her to get away with murder. There is no evidence of this crime. Susan, his supportive wife joins in his mission. But their best-laid plans go awry. Richard is abducted by her minions. In a surprising move, Susans get in a fight with Raven. She scars her face and the psychopath escapes. So Susan has her mind on revenge and fighting Richard. It's terribly exciting and delightfully wicked. Nothing will stop me from reading the next book.
April 23, 2022
⭐⭐⭐½
Did someone just say "is made of human skin"? 😏 Hello, Gein.
At the beginning i struggled to engage with the story, felt like i was missing something. I thought it was going too fast, but wasn't, i mean it is fast-paced, but more like a movie, as if i was reading the scripts of fast scenes, showing a minute of each character's life.
When i start reading a book, i must finish it. And i'm glad i did. I read the first ⅓ in what it feels like a long month, but i completed the next ⅓ in just one day, and reaching the last part, I tried to make it last longer.
Action takes some time to arrive, and it was tedious at parts. Then the action gets really good, but fades again soon. In a 1-10 scale, the pace gets a 3, but with short bursts that take you to 8 all of a sudden.
Now, in my reading list: Raven's 2nd part.
Did someone just say "is made of human skin"? 😏 Hello, Gein.
At the beginning i struggled to engage with the story, felt like i was missing something. I thought it was going too fast, but wasn't, i mean it is fast-paced, but more like a movie, as if i was reading the scripts of fast scenes, showing a minute of each character's life.
When i start reading a book, i must finish it. And i'm glad i did. I read the first ⅓ in what it feels like a long month, but i completed the next ⅓ in just one day, and reaching the last part, I tried to make it last longer.
Action takes some time to arrive, and it was tedious at parts. Then the action gets really good, but fades again soon. In a 1-10 scale, the pace gets a 3, but with short bursts that take you to 8 all of a sudden.
Now, in my reading list: Raven's 2nd part.
November 6, 2021
The type of serial killing book that left me satisfied!
I'm glad this book is written in third person narrative and I can read everyone's point of view.
My favourite POVs of all is Raven, the murderer. Her glimpses of past life making me rooting for her. Her choice of victims are mostly the bad guys which I think they deserve them. I even looking forward for her next kill.
I do admit at first I kinda confused when I first started reading this book but I still continue anyway and my patience was rewarded.
If you are the type of reader who prefers chronological writing, then I suggest you to be patient in reading this book.
Thank you Booktaster for reaching out to me on Twitter. You can get this book on Amazon.
I'm glad this book is written in third person narrative and I can read everyone's point of view.
My favourite POVs of all is Raven, the murderer. Her glimpses of past life making me rooting for her. Her choice of victims are mostly the bad guys which I think they deserve them. I even looking forward for her next kill.
I do admit at first I kinda confused when I first started reading this book but I still continue anyway and my patience was rewarded.
If you are the type of reader who prefers chronological writing, then I suggest you to be patient in reading this book.
Thank you Booktaster for reaching out to me on Twitter. You can get this book on Amazon.
July 13, 2022
I need a Raven 2.
I haven’t been able to read for leisure for years due to the nature of my job. Every book opened has been left half read because of the lack of time or the sheer exhaustion from work but this one was different.
Raven was a tale so familiar yet so different. Without giving out spoilers I have to say it’s a blend of many themes and without overdoing it like most authors tend to do, I appreciate the time taken here to lay out the story in a way that it’s conclusive and not overwhelming.
Personally I’m tired of books like hunger games and the likes so Raven was indeed a page turner. It kept me coming back so shout out to the author!
My personal favorite is definitely the way each chapter is name because that to me marked the uniqueness of this book.
I haven’t been able to read for leisure for years due to the nature of my job. Every book opened has been left half read because of the lack of time or the sheer exhaustion from work but this one was different.
Raven was a tale so familiar yet so different. Without giving out spoilers I have to say it’s a blend of many themes and without overdoing it like most authors tend to do, I appreciate the time taken here to lay out the story in a way that it’s conclusive and not overwhelming.
Personally I’m tired of books like hunger games and the likes so Raven was indeed a page turner. It kept me coming back so shout out to the author!
My personal favorite is definitely the way each chapter is name because that to me marked the uniqueness of this book.
January 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book to an extent. My dislikes were that it read more like a movie script than a book. It also felt rushed, like the author swapped between different viewpoints way too quickly in my opinion. Sometimes it would go to a character for a paragraph or two then back to a different character, and it felt very rushed. What I really liked about the book was Raven. Her whole personality and her thought process really intrigued me so every time it came up to her viewpoint I was invested. Same goes for Walther. Another thing I liked was how he described what Raven was and how creatures like her functioned. It's a unique take on vampires and I really liked that bit. This book was a decent read, aimed moreso at adults for the mature themes, and I enjoyed myself for the most part.
March 17, 2022
Thanks to the author and Booktasters for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book is a compelling horror-thriller following an strong, independent and immortal female protagonist. Raven is an interesting character to follow and is written so brilliantly that, despite her being grey and something of an antihero, you find yourself drawn to her. The other characters are well written and fleshed out and they are just as easy to follow. The story is not written in a chronological way, so be prepared for the story to jump around a bit. A must read for those who like thrillers, horror and fantasy genres.
The book is a compelling horror-thriller following an strong, independent and immortal female protagonist. Raven is an interesting character to follow and is written so brilliantly that, despite her being grey and something of an antihero, you find yourself drawn to her. The other characters are well written and fleshed out and they are just as easy to follow. The story is not written in a chronological way, so be prepared for the story to jump around a bit. A must read for those who like thrillers, horror and fantasy genres.
November 30, 2023
For someone who doesn’t like mumbo jumbo and super power / magic , I surprisingly enjoyed this book !! We start in England and end up in Turkey and South Africa .. it’s not boring it is a book full of lively events , as you read you will picture the events in your mind .. just one simple thing that baffled me : why Susan changed suddenly like that towards Richard .. also Richard was told he is special by Raven in the beginning, but throughout the whole book we don’t see Richard being extraordinary in anyway .. maybe in the next book that will be covered
I am happy I came across this book and i ended up loving raven no matter the bad things she did/is doing
I am happy I came across this book and i ended up loving raven no matter the bad things she did/is doing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2021
All thanks to booktasters and the author for the free copy for an honest review. Raven is a fascinating character that you will love to hate and hate to love, the is different shades of evil.if you like thrillers with a little gory, horror and supernatural then this is the book for you. The book is quiet interesting and will keep you on edge. I got lost a little and it lost it climax but it is a good read.
October 2, 2022
Full review available in my blog: https://betweenpageswithmary.blogspot...
Thanks to Booktasters and Tim for giving me the opportunity to read this book
This book is full of twists and unexpected changes and you can't get for trusted was the characters will do or how they will end.
I though that it was getting to fast and sometimes even forgetting Raven at all but no... it's part of the story and knowing now that it's not a standalone Im more happy to get them
Thanks to Booktasters and Tim for giving me the opportunity to read this book
This book is full of twists and unexpected changes and you can't get for trusted was the characters will do or how they will end.
I though that it was getting to fast and sometimes even forgetting Raven at all but no... it's part of the story and knowing now that it's not a standalone Im more happy to get them
October 24, 2022
My honest Review
I loved it, but I didn't fall in love with it. The story line is great. It's got everything I love and live for magic, vengeance and the cherry on top fast paced book.
At first it was difficult for me to get into it but by the third chapter I was in like an addict.
I read this super slow, to keep myself sane. Little bit day in and day out. I would recommend this one.
I'm not spoiling it, but worth the read.
I loved it, but I didn't fall in love with it. The story line is great. It's got everything I love and live for magic, vengeance and the cherry on top fast paced book.
At first it was difficult for me to get into it but by the third chapter I was in like an addict.
I read this super slow, to keep myself sane. Little bit day in and day out. I would recommend this one.
I'm not spoiling it, but worth the read.
January 23, 2024
The author definitely has put in a lot of efforts into the book, however I was lost at a lot of points. The character introductions got me a bit confused and often times I was wondering who's who, For the efforts and the writing a 3. The author should have sent the work for proof reading. Too much too early. Though the book is beautiful, it got a bit excruciatingly long, or maybe it's the way it was written. Could be better.
June 27, 2021
If you like you thrillers slightly gory and supernatural then this is for you!
Raven is an easy-going and enjoyable read although the jumping around between characters, times and places takes a bit of getting used to.
The dialogue and scenarios are a little clunky at times with a few characters seeming a stretch too far. But the adrenaline and suspense keep the pages turning.
Raven is an easy-going and enjoyable read although the jumping around between characters, times and places takes a bit of getting used to.
The dialogue and scenarios are a little clunky at times with a few characters seeming a stretch too far. But the adrenaline and suspense keep the pages turning.
March 25, 2022
Thanks booktasters for the recommendation and Tim for sending me a copy of this amazing book!!!
This book had me booked from start to finished. I hadn’t read a thriller in so long and this book has made me want to read more. The story was well fleshed out and the characters were written in so much depth I can’t wait to reread this book.
This book had me booked from start to finished. I hadn’t read a thriller in so long and this book has made me want to read more. The story was well fleshed out and the characters were written in so much depth I can’t wait to reread this book.
January 8, 2023
I was lucky enough to win an Kindle edition of Raven from Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you :)
Vidhya's review was so succinct I can't help but steer you in Vidhya's direction for her review, I couldn't of said it better myself. I tried messaging her to get her OK but she wasn't accepting messages. :(
Vidhya's review was so succinct I can't help but steer you in Vidhya's direction for her review, I couldn't of said it better myself. I tried messaging her to get her OK but she wasn't accepting messages. :(
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