Thanks very much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. Many thanks, Dave

This is the second in the series the Raven's Mark by Ed McDonald and follows on from Blackwing.

Full of dynamic characters, superb world building, action and magic it has what you want in a fantasy book. Following Ryhalt Galharrow after defeating Deep Kings and the threat that they may return this is definitely a fantasy book that is not for that is not for the faint at heart.

Ed McDonald creates the most atmospheric books with lots of characters, action and worldbuilding.

First of all, I have a confession to make. I received a copy of Blackwing; read it and loved it, yet due to a number of things, I was unable to write my review. So, when I was given the chance to read and review this book, I was more than honoured to do so.

First off, I have to say that more authors should put a “previousle on…” section in their books because it certainly refreshed my memory of what happened in book one. Even for those who haven’t read the first book, this little recap helps (though really, I recommend reading the first book because its chuffin’ awesome).

Ravencry opens up four years after the conclusion of Blackwing. Galharrow has found himself as part of those who protect the city. The threat from the Misery is still present, but it appears a new ally has come to the cities aid, by giving hope of The Bright Lady appearing to defeat the Deep Kings with her blessed light. (I am paraphrasing here).

Since I am rather familiar with religious or fanatical groups in fantasy novels or other forms of media, I instantly began to distrust their motives. Their devotion to this order has all the familiar markings of someone who wants power over a people who are looking for hope. When they somehow protect the city, when the ruling class fails to, just seemed to convenient and I began to suspect a Deep King was behind this plot to turn the people from within.

Galharrow is put in this very difficult position because he was once a part of the upper class that the people are beginning to rebel against, he is sworn to protect the city and can see the mistakes that the current ruler is making, which will hand the city to these religious zealots on a plate and yet he hopes that their prophecy of the Bright Lad returning as he is convinced that this is the woman he lost at the end of the previous book.

When the person behind the plot to take the city and the reasons behind this are revealed, the repercussions are brutal. Though it looks to lead to all out civil war, there are personal losses dealt to Galharrow which will have an impact in the next book. Where McDonald goes from here doesn’t bare thinking about because he has certainly put his leading man through the ringer so far.

Ravencry once again shows that every victory comes at a price and you can’t help wondering whether the price is worth it. Though Galharrow has lost a lot in the last two books, by the end of this one you come to see those who have become family to him. Though Galharrow has tried his best to keep his distance from those group of misfits he had collected during the last book, it become clear he will do anything to protect them and time and time again, he is as good as his word.

The words “bittersweet” perfectly sum up the conclusion to this book and where the story leaves these characters facing an unknown. The status quo has been shook to its core and those that have come out of it at the other side are changed.

Reading this book was a real roller-coaster ride. There are highs and lows throughout the book. While other books always have this glimmer of hope, this series ignores this and instead puts its faith in that bond between those who you count as family. It is this that spurns Galharrow on and not this hope that he will succeed in winning the war. It is so different and refreshing to read this and it is what makes this book and series such a great read. I defy anyone not to get a lump in their throat when they finish this book.

VERDICT:
These type of fantasy books are vert hit and miss for me. I’ve tried Game of Thrones and found the pacing to be slow, so going into anything new I am always apprehensive. I can safely say that Ravencry and the Black Mark series should hold its head because it more than stands valiantly beside this book. My only gripe is that I have to wait so long for book 3, but I can’t wait to see what is in store for Galharrow.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

Blackwing by Ed McDonald was one of the best debuts of last year that put the shine and focus right back into the grim dark genre, proving that this sub-genre still breathes life and this was done in a fairly stylistic engrossing manner ticking all the right boxes. Ed McDonald's series, Raven's Mark opens up in the best possible manner with this compelling tale of love, loss and sacrifices. There was so much to cheer about: the assured virtuoso writing, the cold black truths delivered in layers of black humour, the hard-edged but oh-so-real characters, the magic system and of course the amazing places like Valengrad and the Misery that come alive on the pages.

In Ravencry, Ed McDonald has delivered a winning sequel that takes everything that was good with the debut and then cranks it up manifold. Grim to the core, with nonstop relentless action that just ups and sweeps you along to a thundering climax, this one also feels a lot more personal. The pain and the longing of the characters are chief themes throughout the book. There are Lovecraftian monsters galore as we take a prolonged psychedelic absolutely mental trip right into the depths of Misery. And of course, our beloved characters go through an absolutely gruesome grind as new powers are rising and they are greedy.

**** Warning - spoilers for the first book here ****

Blackwing ended with the cataclysmic siege on the border city of Valengrad and Ezabeth Tanza having sacrificed herself in an explosion of the pho-light to quell the advances of the Deep King Shavada. Now four years later, there are rumours of people seeing this apparition at night in the sky, a ghost they call the Lady of the Bright Light whom some people believe, is going to liberate the city from under the yoke of the privileged high-born rulers. Ryhalt Galharrow, the Blackwing Captain in service to this ancient powerful being called Crowfoot is leading an almost 'retired' life. Chained to the desk, with an extraordinarily efficient manager Valiya, running his daily affairs and keeping the desk uncluttered and living in a mansion with an adopted orphan called Amaira who is way too curious for her own good and has ambitions to join the Blackwing. His friends from the first book, Tnota and Nenn have all accepted this life of peace within Valengrad in their own ways. Nenn has joined back into the military and when not abusing or slugging her incompetent senior officers, is actually trying to settle down to a normal domestic life. The first half of the book is relatively calmer and a bit slow with overarching events unfolding with a trundling pace that doesn't get our nerves jacked up enough. There is the curious case of a dead man revived who tries to kill Ryhalt as he investigates this piece of information that a group of men/women navigated their way into Misery only to confer with a 'darling' ( One of this magically twisted beings corrupted by the power and magic of the Deep Kings with enough power to blast a living being to smithereens) And then there is an audacious theft of a relic powerful enough to turn the tide of the war between the Nameless and the Deep Kings. And of course there is a growing unrest among the populace, whipped up into a rebellious mood by the followers of this new cult who believe that the Lady in the Bright Light will deliver them to better days.

Ryhalt, dealing with heart break and loss that he never admits even to himself, is confronted by all this in addition to the complicated feelings that he's got for Valiya. And then of course there is Maldon, the Darling from book-one, a battle-spinner who was captured by Shavada and corrupted to become this immortal man-child being who now lives inside Ryhalt's mansion as his adopted son; drinking and experimenting with explosives. Things hit a flash point when Thierro one of his old army-mates resurfaces as a devout of the new cult, demanding answers just when the Deep Kings, inactive for a while now resurface with an intense attack on the city - raining down lightning and destruction all across.

The religious sect angle is the most overt theme throughout the book - the oppressed hanging onto shreds of false hope that there is a goddess coming to save their sorry lot. Pretty much a reflection of real life and how faith gets a foothold in our hearts. Ryhalt's journey is a lot more personal this time. Having never really recovered from the loss of Ezabeth Tanza, he still nurses hope against hope, that she would come back into the mortal realm. And then there's this absolutely crazed out foray into the heart of the Misery, a place known as the Endless Void where Ryhalt goes through a painful, psychedelic transformation. His blade-edged personality that grates on your nerves actually is a cover for a deep sense of moral obligation and the need to protect and save those he loves. After having lost Tanza, he is in pain and now would go to any extent to make sure he doesn't fuck up with his close ones, Valiya and Amaira. His personal thoughts are tinged with enough humour to keep things on the boil.

I loved the new characters introduced, especially Valiya. Confident, self assured and the perfect foil to the confused, overworked mental makeup of Ryhalt. Tnota brings a brief respite to the grim proceedings with his light hearted humour but I thought the exchanges between Maldon and Ryhalt really were a hoot. I would love to see a lot more of Maldon. Nenn comes back, her usual swearing self unchecked and wild and is one of the key pieces of this story coming into its own by the second half, the pacing just gets way more urgent and the overhanging sense of doom seeps in.

Ravencry is inventive and assured in equal measure, Ed firmly establishing himself as a fantasy great with this outing. While yes this book definitely reads like a standalone, I think that would be disservice to Ed who has established this mindblowing world of grim darkness and brutality unparalleled, of a border-city teetering on the edge of a ravaged desert populated by horrors straight out of Lovecraft's imagination and in Ryhalt Galharrow, a broken hero whose courage and humour will win your hearts. This is one of the finest epics and it is building up to be a maelstrom that will sweep you away. Can't wait to get out to the Misery again with Captain Ryhalt!

There is a place in the Misery called 'Tiven's Dale' - what's not to love?

I read this a while ago and really enjoyed it. I wasn't in the best frame of mind at the time so my review wouldn't have done it justice. I will go back and re-read it early next year to review it properly. That being said, it's not quite as brilliant as Blackwing but it's still got amazing characters, intense sequences, and a mysterious religious cult. The Misery is one of my favourite places that have been created in all fantasy. So dark and grotesque. Whatever happens, I'll read Crowfall as soon as I can.

Review can be found over on Grimdark Magazine: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-ravencry-by-ed-mcdonald/

I was looking forward to getting back to Dalharrow and his Blackwings and this second book was no disappointment. Like other second instalments, the narrative here seemed really tight and more plot-focused, with less time spent on world-building. With that being said, the world here is really vibrant and well drawn and there were some interesting developments within the world that served to flesh it out without being a distraction from the plot. Similarly, there are some wonderful developments in terms of character here, particularly for Nenn and Maldon, which I found fascinating and I also really liked all of the new characters introduced here. The Bright Lady cult was fabulous, adding a lot of mystery and intrigue to the narrative and I also really enjoyed the antagonist here, although I did think some of the beats were a little bit obvious and predictable. Ed McDonald has made terrific use of foreshadowing throughout the narrative and this is a great set up for the last book in the trilogy. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and will be picking up the third book when it comes out.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Enjoyed it, but did not feel wowed about it for some reason; I don't know why it did not work that well for me.

One of my favourite debuts last year was Ed McDonald's Blackwing. This dark and brooding tale of Ryhalt Galharrow, his lost lady love, and the horrible menace of the Deep Kings was fresh and compelling. McDonald returns that world with the second book in his Raven's Mark series, Ravencry (review copy from Gollancz).

In Ravencry, we pick up Galharrow's story four years later. The Deep Kings were driven back from Valengrad, but at huge cost. Galharrow is now a hero, with his Blackwings well funded and resourced by a grateful city. He uses his knowledge and skill to root out threats to the city, including spies and creatures of the Deep Kings. The cult of the Bright Lady is taking root in the city, with people having visions of a beautiful woman they believe will save the city from its enemies, offering hope rather than the dark pragmatism of the city's normal rulers. One of Galharrow's childhood friends has come to Valengrad, and he is thick with the leaders of the Bright Lady's cult.

Second books are always tricky. They need to advance the story, provide enough self-contained pay off in their own right without over-topping the series finale, and help to set up the final book. McDonald pulls off that tricky second book in style. We learn more about Galharrow and his world, with a trip to the Misery that shows us the measure of the Blackwing Captain. The ending has real peril and high stakes. We see how the hope offered by the Bright Lady's cult is so attractive that it supplants all rational logic and sense. And we see how the unscrupulous are willing to exploit situations for their own self-interest.

Fabulous. I can't wait for the series finale.

Goodreads rating: 3*

I have to say, it did take me a little while to get into Ravencry, mostly because I was craving light, fluffy, romantic summer novels, and absolutely none of that describes Ravencry. It did, therefore, take me longer than I expected to read. Once I did get into it though, I raced through it.

I loved that it started four years after the end of Blackwing. Plot-wise, it has to, because there has to have been a significant amount of time for the events to make sense. But so often when you have a series like this, major events just pile on one after another and you get to the point that you’re wondering how the lead characters are still standing. A break of four years between potentially world-ending events makes a bit more sense, but maybe that’s just me. Anyway, the world of the Misery and Galharrow et al has moved on from where we left it, and things seem to be improving. Obviously that means everything is about to go horribly wrong.

Galharrow is, if anything, in worse shape than he was in Blackwing. He doesn’t sleep. He barely eats. He drinks a lot. He blames himself for what happened four years earlier, but can’t do anything to fix it. Pretty much all that’s keeping him going is the mystery of the Bright Lady, and who she might be, although he’s not quite sure whether she’s worth his hope yet. That, and a moral obligation to do the right thing – whatever that might be, even if it’s going deep into the Misery in search of answers. I love Galharrow. I loved him in Blackwing and I think I love him even more in Ravencry. He’s just so broken, in so many ways, yet he keeps on keeping on. The people he cares about are everything to him, so obviously that’s where his enemy hits him. Numerous times. I don’t know anyone who would be able to cope with everything that’s thrown at Galharrow. It changes him, in deep and, I suspect, as yet unseen ways, and he knows it’s going to, but he does what he has to do anyway.

The other characters (mostly) aren’t shortchanged. The events of Blackwing have had their effects on everyone, and they’re generally not good. We’re also introduced to a couple of new characters – a potential love interest, Valiya, and Galharrow’s ward/servant Amaira, who I loved with the passon of a thousand suns. She was fantastic, and I’m guessing we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in book three. There’s also a scene where we’re re-introduced to an old friend (no spoilers here!) and I actually cried at the description of them. We hadn’t seen this character for a long time, but they had been witten so well that that was how much I cared about them (gosh, it’s difficult to write this without spoilers!). And the ending nearly broke me, never mind Galharrow!

(I have issues with the ending too, but I really can’t discuss them without spoiling both Ravencry and Blackwing, so you’ve escaped the rant.)

Apart from my issues with the ending, Ravencry is an astounding book. Once it gets into its stride, it never lets up, and it’s one disaster after another. I could barely catch my breath, and I was properly living the story alongside the main characters, which is maybe the highest praise I can give a book. I highly recommend you read it, although you should really start with Blackwing. You might be able to get away with reading Ravencry as a standalone, but you’ll miss a lot of the emotional beats and completely spoil the first book, so do try to read them in order. But do read them.

So, I read Ravencry from the perspective from not having read the first one and it was a little confusing at the start but overall I got over it to enjoy the book.

I'm not certain I would have picked it up on Waterstones before reading but now I would purchase for a friend (but probably buy them the first book first!)

Another positive for me is in books with prophecies and vision I often don't enjoy them, they feel like a copout, but McDonald has converted me (well at least for his writing) they were descriptive and actually needed! Probably another benefit for me because I didn't read the first one!

This book is set four years after the first and Ryhalt Galharrow is still recovering from the trauma of the past, but Crowfoot is a hard taskmaster and putting him to work to find a lost artefact from his vault. This leads him and his old friends back to the Misery and we finally get to learn more about its magical origins.

The Misery is a character in its own right - it's a magical wasteland that does weird and distinctly un-wonderful things to the people who roam it.
I loved learning more about the Misery and its effects on people in this book, but it was the only old character (apart from Galharrow) that I felt played enough of a role - Nenn was my favourite character from Blackwing, I was gutted that she didn't appear anywhere near as much as I wanted this time around.

I think that I failed to bond with this book because despite sharing the same characters and continuing the story from the first, it has much slower pacing and just doesn't feel like a natural continuation to the story. Whatever it was that made the first shine for me, was missing from this installment.

I think this is a book that's going to make a lot of people very happy with its dark storyline and gritty violence... I'm going to have to give it another go in a couple of months when I'm in the fantasy mood again and see if I enjoy it any more because McDonald's work is worth the extra effort!

From goodreads:
The second book in a series can sometimes be hit or miss - not this one - if anything better.
Rattles along at a pace, huge events, swords, magic … and most importantly damaged characters that you warm to and root for
Good job

Estar al día de la nueva corriente de autores de fantasía es algo prácticamente imposible. Se publica mucho, sobre todo dentro de la corriente grimdark, y habría que especializarse solo en esta parcela para poder leerlo todo (aún así, dudo que se pudiera). Mi estrategia, por el contrario, consiste en picotear un poco de aquí y allí para ver qué autores me gustan y seguir con ellos cuando puedo. También seguir el consejo de algunos "prescriptores" en cuyo criterio confío.

El caso es que Ravencry es la segunda parte de una trilogía que empezó con Blackwing, una obra que a pesar de sus defectos me entretuvo. Me temo que Ravencry se sitúa un escalón por debajo de esta primer libro.

La acción se sitúa cuatro años después de los hechos acontecidos en la primera entrega, pero se puede considerar una continuación directa, por que los personajes no han avanzado mucho a pesar del tiempo transcurrido, aunque haya algunas incorporaciones nuevas al plantel de los Blackwing.

El libro tiene un marcado tono místico, derivado de la aparición de una poderosa secta de la luz alentada por las apariciones de una misteriosa dama brillante en la ciudad. Esta influencia me temo que no le sienta bien a la narración, que pierde parte de la acción que impregnaba las páginas de Blackwing a favor de una "travesía por el desierto". Aunque este peregrinaje no dura cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, esta claro cuál es el referente de Ed McDonald al escribir estas páginas.

También se añoran los diálogos chispeantes que tanto dinamizaban el primer libro. Creo que el mayor número de diálogos tienen lugar entre el protagonista y un cuervo, un ser sin inteligencia propia, por lo que las conversaciones no dejan de ser cíclicas.

También hay puntos positivos en el libro. La trama de corrupción está muy bien planteada, sucediendo antes los propios ojos de los vigilantes sin que estos se percaten de nada. En ocasiones el autor se adentra en el terreno más gore, algo que hará las delicias de los lectores que gusten más de este aspecto de la fantasía oscura. Se nota que estas páginas ya estaban pensadas cuando estaba escribiendo la primera novela, por lo que vemos referencias a capítulos anteriores que ahora encuentran explicación. Aunque la principal motivación del archienemigo sea la ambición por el poder absoluto, el amor juega un papel principal en la historia de Galharrow

A pesar de no haber quedado completamente satisfecha con Ravencry, creo que volveré a darle una oportunidad al autor en una siguiente entrega.

AMAZING. I loved Blackwing and this is no different. So, so, SO good. If you like grimdark, you have to read this series. Incredible, especially for a debut.

Ravencry is the sequel to Blackwing and therefore Part 2 of the trilogy The Ravens Mark. Blackwing was and is a stunning and highly readable. It sucks you right into the adventure. Ravencry follows on from Blackwing so don't read this is you haven't read it. Why haven't you read it?

Mr Ed has a degree in ancient history from Birmingham Universityand is a keen proponent of martial arts specialising in the Italian longs wordsso unsurprisingly this will be a positive review!

Ravencry deals with the aftermath of the failure of Nall’s Engine and the loss of Ezabeth. It also launches headfirst into another gripping story picking up some of the threads and creating new dilemmas.

Ryhalt Galharrow still leads the Blackwing , still drinks hard, doesn't sleep, denies love, pretends not to care. He does though, evident through his various friendships and the little details we learn through the narrative. He is carried through by the powerful belief that Ezabeth is trapped in another dimension. The lady of the lights spawns a religion after visions of the Bright Lady are seen in the phos light. He doesn't want to belief but he can't help it.

There's no peace for the wicked as somethings, er, wicked is coming. The raven that tries to break from his arm tattoo is very much weakened. It's master Crowfoot is in a desperate battle and can send little help which is often limited to snarky comments.

There's a certain grim reality about this book. It's setting of medieval Wild West with only a certain amount of magic and certainly no dragons offers a fresh, gritty and very engaging hero. Supporting characters who form an ensemble are essential and bring it to life. The idea of a quest is very strong and alongside the disturbing desert known as the Misery creates an intense backdrop. It's a visual and visceral mix which sticks with you long after you have finished. It is one of those books where you don't want to wait for the next installment. After you put it down the world feels quite washed out and dull. That's the power of reading for me.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2018/07/05/ravencry-ravens-mark-2-by-ed-mcdonald/
Blackwing (Raven’s Mark #1) was one of my favourite books last year. Ed McDonald was a new voice on the grimdark scene, his debut was rich in creativity and it was one of those books that although it brimmed with brutality also managed to maintain a sense of hope and an element of much needed humour. Ravencry is the second in series and I was very keen to pick this one up and read once again the trials and tribulations of Captain Ryhalt Galharrow. I will say from the outset that Ravencry does not disappoint.

It’s been four years since the siege. Galharrow seems to be fairly settled in terms of an important position, a decent home and the respect of his colleagues. It doesn’t take a genius though to see that he hasn’t fully come to terms with certain events and alcohol plays a large part in keeping him propped up.

Within a few chapters it becomes fairly obvious that trouble is once again brewing, although on the face of it it’s difficult to pin down exactly what shape it will take. A stolen artefact, countless visions of a ‘bright lady’ that have led to a disturbing growth in numbers of a new religious cult coupled with the appearance of some suspicious characters – who become even more suspect when it’s discovered that they’ve already died at least once already – these things just don’t sit well.

I’m not really going to go into the plot at all. For me, I did find that it meandered a little at the beginning before becoming a real threat – which, is fair enough. It took time for Ryhalt to investigate things and at first he was floundering a little until the penny finally dropped and the realisation of what was actually about to take place became evident.

What I thoroughly enjoyed about Ravencry was the return to a world that has been so well established and the joy of spending time with characters that are simply great to read about. Galharrow, and Nenn, are such persuasive characters. Galharrow in particular. He’s so easy to read and such a great narrator. He gets himself into countless desperate situations that there really doesn’t seem any likelihood of coming back from and yet with sheer determination he manages to find a way, be it swimming through a filthy canal, scouring the sewers or once again tracking into the very heart of the Misery with all its evil critters and haunted beings in order to stop a force against seemingly impossible odds.

I also admit that I love the style of writing. Mr McDonald has a vivid imagination and a way with words that makes the world and the terrors it holds simply jump off the page. There’s no shortage of death and heartbreak in these pages and the author undoubtedly made some difficult decisions. There are numerous fights and skirmishes and unspeakable crimes and I’m hard pressed to decide which is worse between the horrors unfolding in the City or Galharrow’s own personal journey through hell when he spends more time than is wise in the Misery. I’m probably painting a grim picture here but with good reason I think. Strangely enough, although the overall threat didn’t seem quite as real in this instalment (or at least the focus seems to have changed) the death and subsequent despair undoubtedly reached a high.

In terms of criticisms. No deal breakers here fortunately. Thankfully this doesn’t fall victim to ‘middle book syndrome’. I think the only thing I would mention is that I felt the pacing of the first half stalled a little. I also felt an element of near death experience fatigue on behalf of Galharrow – in fact I don’t know how he just didn’t fall over into a ditch and stay there at one point because he seemed to have had such a lot thrown at him and certainly more than most people could survive. That being said – I am relieved that he didn’t fall into said ditch.

Overall this was a great read and one that really sets the stall out for the final instalment. A fine demonstration of writing prowess and an author to keep firmly on the ‘must read’ list.

I received a copy through Negalley, courtesy of the publishers. for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  This review is spoiler-free for Ravencry, but contains major spoilers for Blackwing.


Blackwing was one of my favourite novels of 2017 -- I absolutely loved the refreshing world, story, characters, and McDonald's sharp writing style.  I had high expectations for the sequel, and those expectations were absolutely smashed. While some authors struggle with ‘second book syndrome’, McDonald shows that his talent as a writer is growing stronger.

Because the foundations for the world were well established Blackwing, Ravencry really gets a chance to spread its wings (ha) and expand upon that world.  Not only do we get to see aftermath of the siege at the end of Blackwing, we see how this event has affected our heroes.  Galharrow has established a proper Blackwing corp, something I thought was really missing from the first book, political tensions are running high, and the Bright Order has been established in the city. We also get the opportunity to dive deep into the Misery, one of my favourite fantasy settings ever, and see the truly bizarre nature of this broken land.  My favourite fantasy books are the ones that give greater insight into fascinating world and that show you the consequences of wars and sieges -- Ravencry gives us both.  Also, I love a good cult.  Who doesn't love a cult?  The look at religious fanaticism added a realistic complication to war-torn Valengrad, which was a great addition to the plot.

The best thing about this book is the addition of new characters and the growth of old favourites.  Again, because the foundations of the world have been established, McDonald got the opportunity to give us deeper insight into the complex characters that make up this story.  Most notably, we got so much more of Galharrow’s character in this book. Although I still find him to be one of the less intriguing characters in this series, his characterisation really stands out in Ravencry.  Perhaps it is because we witnessed the devestating death of Ezabeth in Blackwing and can relate more to this than his we do to his tragic past. I feel like I just ‘got’ him much more in this book -- my emotional attachment to him was so much stronger. Nenn is another character who we get more of in Ravencry.  Rather than just being a feisty side character, as she is in Blackwing, she really comes into her own in Ravencry.  She was not only more present in this book, I felt like I was much more attached to her.  In Blackwing, she's mostly memorable for her attitude and missing nose, while in Ravencry she felt like a real person with weaknesses and flaws.  We  also get more Crowfoot -- you can never get enough Crowfoot -- and I absolutely loved his inclusion in the story.

New favourites in Ravencry for me are Amaira and Davandein.  I wont say much due to spoilers, but I really love McDonald's female characters.  They're exactly what I want from fantasy ladies -- they're sometimes awful, sometimes wonderful, deeply flawed, and have agency.

Overall, I really loved Ravencry, possibly even more than Blackwing.  There are some bits toward the end that I am a little iffy about, however, the great story and characters more than made up for it.  I cannot wait for the next book!

4.5/5 stars

Ravencry Called to me from the Depths of Grimdark

Well, that’s what I call a sequel! If you remember back to my review from last year, I was *blown away* by the McDonald’s debut Blackwing and was so psyched to pick up an ARC for the sequel… but also naturally nervous because what if it didn’t deliver on the second instalment? I really shouldn’t have worried- because the Raven’s Mark series is shaping up to be a sharp venture into grimdark fantasy!

This begins with a mystery that flies in the face of what we already knew- instantly showing us that this will be different from its predecessor. We then journey with Ryalt into the unknown, travelling deeper into the heart of the Misery. Much like traditional fairy tales where a character treks out into vast unknowable nature- losing pieces of themselves along the way and undergoing a transformation- the trip alters the protagonist irrevocably. Yet here it is all the more traumatic and vividly grotesque. Psychologically and physically it breaks down his character, until he admits “I just wasn’t the same as when I’d gone in”- and we as the reader have changed along with him.

I was sucked straight back into sludge-grey world of the Misery and the Deep Kings. The only anchor was Ryhalt Galharrow’s enigmatic voice, which balanced out this grim vision with chuckleworthy asides. And even as the main character has more prestige and respectability, there’s no way a shall we say less than level-headed hero can wake up and get on with the next book without being drenched in regrets and grief. Ryhalt is most certainly haunted by recent ghosts- especially since there were some very real manifestations of the Bright Lady and a cult that rises up in her wake.

Complex and action packed, the non-stop whirring of the plot takes you through darkness into phos-induced light. The reintroduction of the villain, in particular, felt like we dived into the flesh and bones of the story. Through the amazing twists and turns, there are hints of further intrigues, making me curious as to where it’s going after the enigmatic end.

The level of imagination here is incredible. Like the first, it’s a richly dense book, with terrifying darkness and an unsettling atmosphere. There is an uncanny, gothic element to the magic, which adds tremendously to the world building.

I was gripped by the writing as well. Not only is it creepy, but there’s also a build up to create a sense of dread. My kindle copy was covered in highlights- because, man there’s some effing expertise to the writing. One masterstroke, for instance, was to add Shakespearean technique of giving logic to the ravings of a madman. Phases like “save face” are given multiple meanings. The writing is, to be frank, bloody good (emphasis on the blood- there’s quite a bit of it!)

Yet Ravencry does not simply serve up a dish of graphic entertainment- it will tear at your heart strings and open up your innards. Characters don’t just grow up like Amaira- they ripped from their childhood and thrust into the adult world. Stories like that of Nenn’s aren’t just expanded- they are pushed to the limits- and what happens to them is too awful for words. In the end, this was as emotional as the first:

Rating: 5/5 bananas