Dear’s review of The Raven Queen (The Nightborn Prophecies Book 1) > Likes and Comments

Hi! Thanks so much for your review and taking the time give some feedback. It means a lot :)

I'm so glad you enjoyed the read (and especially Dorian) and I did want to let you know that you are totally spot on with the Cruel Prince. It is one of my favourite series and I was inspired by it somewhat. The name Blackbriar is intentionally a nod to this (I call this out in my author's note which you won't have received in your ARC version). There's also a small nod to Fitz and The Fool from Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings—IYKYK.

Dorian's character isn't intentionally meant to draw from Cardan's but I can see from what you wrote how you might come to that conclusion. He does want to be king but he's more reticent about the arranged marriage part of the whole affair. I think Cardan is a lot more cynical than Dorian (or at least, I intended Dorian to come across as someone hopeful, maybe even a touch naive).

Thanks for your notes on the world-building and the Dawn Court. Its helpful to know where I am not communicating stuff clearly (because its all locked in my head, haha)—and your notes about Morrigan's character. I'll take your feedback on board while I finish the second book!

I hope you'll be interested in reading the next book (which should be done by the end of the year). I promise it features a lot more Dorian and also Morrigan's POV :).

Thanks again!

Honestly I didn't see the Cruel Prince parallel until you mentioned it, and even then I feel like it only has like, themes and ideas in common. The actual story being told is completely different really, especially if you think past book one of that series. Like cruel prince did not invent kings dying or reluctant princes (and he's not the love interest, or really as flawed imo), or spying and assassins, even if it does those things very well. I don't think this book takes anything that isn't surface level but that's just my two cents.