Skip to main content

Raven Flight (Book #2 of Shadowfell Trilogy) by Juliet Marillier: A Book Review

Raven Flight (Book #2 of Shadowfell Trilogy)
Author: Juliet Marillier
Genre:YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Knopf
Release Date: 2013
Pages: 418
Source: Personal Collection
Synopsis: Neryn has finally found the rebel group at Shadowfell, and now her task is to seek out the elusive Guardians, vital to her training as a Caller. These four powerful beings have been increasingly at odds with human kind, and Neryn must prove her worth to them. She desperately needs their help to use her gift without compromising herself or the cause of overthrowing the evil King Keldec.

     Neryn must journey with the tough and steadfast Tali, who looks on Neryn's love for the double agent Flint as a needless vulnerability. And perhaps it is. What Flint learns from the king will change the battlefield entirely—but in whose favor, no one knows.

      My Review: Neryn is now the secret weapon for the rebel army against King Keldec. The army plans to strike a surprise attack against the king in midsummer, and Neryn must be ready. To help the army, Neryn must find the Guardians of Alban to complete her training as a Caller. She is accompanied by a female guard named Tali. During her training, Neryn realizes the true cost of what it means to be a Caller.

     Neryn is a girl who still has little self-confidence in herself. She has not fully come to terms with her powers. They still terrify her because she has the power to do horrible things to her enemies. Over time, she realizes that not only does she learn to trust herself, but she needs to trust nature and the world around her. Neryn also becomes wise and learns much through her training. She is very concentrated and her mind is focused on her task. 

     I also like her friendship with Tali. At first, they don’t like each other, but over time, they come to an understanding. Tali is a strong fighter, and I like how stubborn she is. While Tali is caring, I also like how she is focused on her duty and does not let her emotions cloud her judgement. She is also willing to risk her life to save her friends.

     Overall, this book is about love, friendship, loss, and redemption. It is a about a woman trying to find her self-identity. There are a few drawbacks to this story. Flint, who was one of the main character in Shadowfell, made little appearances in this book. Because of this, there was very little character development. I would have liked for him to be in this book more. The other drawback is that the magical creatures have an Irish derelict, and it slowed the pace of the my reading down as I tried to decipher what they were saying. Still, this book is filled with adventure and action that kept me glued to my seat as I was reading. I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, The Caller. This book will appeal to not only long-time fans of Juliet Marillier but also J.R.R Tolkien, Terry Brooks, and Sandra Waugh.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki: A Book Review

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post Author: Allison Pataki Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Release Date: February 15, 2022 Pages: 381 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweath

Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen: A Book Review

  Iceberg Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen Genre: Children, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adventure Publisher: Scholastic Release Date: March 7, 2023 Pages: 317 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis : As disaster looms on the horizon, a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. A thrilling tale from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen!     Hazel Rothbury is traveling all alone from her home in England aboard the celebrated ship Titanic . Following the untimely death of her father, Hazel’s mother is sending her to the US to work in a factory, so that she might send money back home to help her family make ends meet.     But Hazel harbors a secret dream: She wants to be a journalist, and she just knows that if she can write and sell a story about the Titanic ’s maiden voyage, she could earn enough money to support her family and not have to go to a sweatshop. When Hazel discovers that mother didn’t send her with enough money for

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn: A Book Review

The Rose Code Author: Kate Quinn Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Harper Collins Release Date: 2021 Pages: 635 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: 1940, Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire.        Three very different women are recruited to the mysterious Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.       Vivacious debutante Osla has the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses – but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, working to translate decoded enemy secrets. Self-made Mab masters the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and the poverty of her East-End London upbringing. And shy local girl Beth is the outsider who trains as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts.       1947, London.        Seven years after they first meet, on the eve of the royal wedding between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, disaster threatens. Osla, Mab and Beth are estranged,