In the Ravenous Dark was one of the best books I've read this year, it kept me gripped from beginning to end and feeling all the emotions throughout! One of the best elements of this book is how well the characters are written, as the reader, I felt so connected to everything these characters went through and generally felt very attached to them, as I finished the book all I craved was more. The LGBTQ+ representation among these characters was achieved brilliantly, it wasn't made a major plot in the story but just part of the characters which I loved to see.
The plot points were planned out extremely well, you learnt everything as the characters uncovered everything without being able to work it out early on which is something I loved as the ending was still very high energy and dramatic (which I love).
There are some TW's in this book including violence and gore so read with caution, but I loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone from now on.

This book was SO good! When I picked it up, I didn’t really know what to expect. I’d heard it had a pansexual main character and blood magic and the stunning cover definitely drew me in, but it ended up surprising me in so many ways. The Greco-Roman-inspired fantasy world was vivid and interesting, and I absolutely loved the court setting and all the political scheming. I fell head over heels in love with our cast of characters, and the story took turns I wasn’t expecting, some of which made me audibly gasp and left me on the edge of my seat.

The only thing that stopped me from giving this book a five-star rating was that at times the writing felt a little confusing. There were some info-dumpy sections, and although this is somewhat expected in a standalone fantasy as the author has to establish an entire world, cast of characters and magic system, there were a couple of parts where I had to reread passages to truly understand what was happening. Also, some of the romance felt a tiny bit cringey to me. Despite that, for the most part I felt the writing really suited the book. It was melodramatic but also funny, and the author was able to expertly balance the light and dark moments. I will definitely be picking up more books from them in the future.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was thrilling and dark, and it’s one of the few young adult fantasies I have read in the past few years that has really captivated me. If you are looking for a very queer, action-packed and bloody rollercoaster ride of a book, this is the one you need to pick up!

Content Warnings: blood and blood drinking, violence, mild body horror, death (including death of queer characters, although most of the main characters are queer), death of a loved one, vomiting, heights, substance addiction (alcohol), imprisonment, misogyny and enforced gender roles, forced marriage and pregnancy, physical and verbal abuse, reference to sexual abuse (including threat of rape/abuse of main character), reference to suicide

When the blurb for this story begins "A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead", you know you are in for an absolute rollercoaster!

I was so excited to read this book, I had such high hopes and oh wow did it deliver!! I bloody loved it.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

***

Goodreads Description: A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead.

In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them. Ever since Rovan’s father died trying to keep her from this fate, she’s hidden her magic. But when she accidentally reveals her powers, she’s bound to a spirit and thrust into a world of palace intrigue and deception.

Desperate to escape, Rovan finds herself falling for two people she can’t fully trust: Lydea, a beguiling, rebellious princess; and Ivrilos, the handsome spirit with the ability to control Rovan, body and soul.

Together, they uncover a secret that will destroy Thanopolis. To save them all, Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both the mortal world and the underworld and find a way to trust the princess and spirit battling for her heart—if she doesn’t betray them first.

***

That description alone should be enough to get you wanting this book.
But believe me, it doesn't just sound amazing ... it is amazing!!

The world building is incredible ... the plot addictive, dark and perfectly paced throughout, the magic system amazing (badass blood mages - what more could you want!!) ... the characters just brilliant, I loved them all - Rovan, Lydea, Japha and Ivrilos and I just adored the found family feels that developed so so much .... Also, the queer representation in this book is amazing!! and actually felt genuine and not just thrown in for the sake of being there.

Lastly ... I love that this was standalone read and one that absolutely stands strongly on it's own! Everything is wrapped up perfectly and I had no unanswered questions .. perfectly done!!
Only downside to a real good standalone is I always want more .. Im just greedy like that and this book was THAT good!

Now to go order Beyond the Black Door!! I need more A.M. Strickland in my life!!

In the Ravenous Dark is queer fantasy about a bloodmage hiding from the system until one day she is discovered after saving a lover.

What did I like about this book? The diversity is great, particularly when it comes to gender and sexuality. I also really enjoyed the prologue (the writing was much more mature in third person and I kind of wish the whole book was third person). The beginning of the book was also well paced and I enjoyed getting to know Rovan, our main character.

What didn't I like? Rovan's magic comes a bit too easily to her. I feel like the world-building itself was also a little on the light side. I also found that Rovan grew progressively more annoying as the book progressed and acted much younger than 19. Also - instalove. And it happens with two love interests! I really wanted these relationships to develop more, particularly with Ivrilos because Rovan has a very sudden change of heart towards him.

Overall I was disappointed with the general construction of the book, but there was lots of potential there so I'll probably try A.M. Stickland's next book.

Not the best not the worst.
It is readable.

I wanted to love it, but I found it such a struggle to get into the book and its ‘medieval’ themed world. The world-building was a bit slow. I liked the style and the narrative of this book, it did have a lot of interesting themes. But I don’t think it was for me, possibly it is for a younger teen reader?
I give it 3 out of 5 stars as it failed to entrap me into the story.

I've been following Strickland on twitter for a while so I've been excited for In The Ravenous Dark for months! I heard "pan MC and polyamorous relationship in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Greece/Rome" and I was sold.

In The Ravenous Dark is a dark fantasy but I love how it manages to be both dark and funny. It's mysterious, bloody, suspenseful, very queer, and so great!

I instantly loved Rovan, she's witty, sarcastic, rebellious, with trust issues and a lot of love to give. I loved seeing her so wary of everyone at first and slowly finding a new family she created for herself. She's surrounded by so many amazing and loving people. I just loved all her relationships both romantic and platonic. And I loved how both were equally important.
The love interests are so great! I mean a rebellious princess and a warrior ghost, could it be more perfect? And both relationships are like "I like you but I'm not sure I can trust you so I'll betray you before you betray me" and "do I wanna kiss you or stab you?".
This book is the perfect example of love triangles I love and how they should all end. No jealousy, no fighting between the two love interests for who will end up with the main character. Just love and understanding. If your love triangle doesn't end up in a polyamorous relationship I don't want it.

I loved the universe and magic system with both blood and death magic, the underworld being tied so closely with the living world. It was so great to discover new elements about the magic alongside the characters and understanding how it all worked. And the plot was so well paced, there was action, suspense. I wasn't bored for one second, it was a real page turner.

CW: Death, parent death (on page and off), mention of death by suicide (off page), fratricide, violence, blood, gore, mild body horror, mild substance addiction (alcohol), enforced gender roles, forced marriage and pregnancy (including rape, but the latter is off page, in the past, and not involving main characters), threat of rape/abuse of the main character

I love this book. A pansexual bloodmage gets pulled into a supernatural conspiracy and fights the patriarchy? Yes please. While I was super excited for this I was a bit worried that it would be too edgy and over the top (I recently got burned that way), but this balances that fine line perfectly. There is technically a love triangle in the sense that Rovan is interested in two different people, but when it comes to love and relationships, the main sentiment in this book is acceptance. Acceptance of who the other person is, what they might want and a huge step away from what society might think right. That’s not to say that there isn’t a lot of toxicity in this story, but it doesn’t come from the characters at its centre.

There is an intricate system of magic in the world of this story, with bloodmages – who carry bloodlines handed down through the generations, and death magic. There are also ghosts, introduced as protectors of the bloodmages but revealed to be far more than that. There is politics and plotting too. In short, In the Ravenous Dark contains all of the elements necessary for a strong story. And – as I was discussing books as metal bands with a friend recently – this was my suggestion for a book that matched the atmosphere of Black Sabbath. A bit classic, a bit edgy, going into goth territory but ultimately groovy and comforting.

In the ravenous dark is a queer dark and bloody fantasy standalone filled with magic, death, romance and plenty of twists and turns!

I was instantly hooked with this one! I adored the creepy atmosphere of the world and all the detailed world building was so interesting.

Even though it’s dark the humour throughout was great!😆 I really liked writing and the found family aspect too. Japha was definitely my favourite character they’re so caring, loyal and just damn precious!🥺

Great representation: a pansexual main character, lesbian love interest, non-binary asexual best friend and polyamory (m/f/f)👏🏽😌

Overall a unique, dark fast-paced read I’d highly recommend.💓

Tw:
Blood, Violence, Parental Death, Forced Marriage, Sexual Assault/Rape (Mentioned)

“They were accompanied by dark shadows lurking behind them – silent smudges against the brightness of day.”

I’ve never been so excited to review a book, and yet been so lost for something to say. I really enjoyed this novel; I found the characters enticing, the action was exciting and well-choreographed, and the inciting incidents felt well-timed – fuelled by betrayal, secrets and intrigue. I really couldn’t have asked for more from this book, which is why (now that I’ve listed the obvious wins) I’m struggling to find a way to flesh out this review.

I’ll try to stick to the initial scenes, so as to avoid spoilers, and give some examples of where the above is mentioned, and then I’ll try to explain coherently why I loved it so much. But just know, even if I cannot articulate in this review how much, I really, really loved this book.

The prologue of the narrative sets up the character dynamics, Father, Mother, Daughter, alongside the general world set up. Bloodmages are owned by the crown, and Silvean (Rovan’s Father) wants nothing to do with them. When Bloodmages arrive to take him away from his family, Silvean fights with brutal finality. The writing style was reminiscent of High Fantasy classics, but with the modern freedom and fluidity which meant it wasn’t clunky or over written. We follow Silvean’s every move and we watch through his daughter’s eyes as he protects his family, but fails to protect himself. We see, through Rovan’s eyes, a broken, bloody man carried away on the back of a horse. When I list it out, there’s nothing in this narrative which hasn’t been done before, and yet Strickland’s writing feels so naturally authentic, and has such an exciting dynamic to it, I just don’t care. I would read a hundred of these stories, if you could guarantee they’d all be as much fun as this one.

We understand, even before the narrative has truly begun, where the disgust and disrespect Rovan has for the Bloodmages comes from. So (twelve years later) when she’s arrested, dragged before a council and tested for the magic, it’s a genuinely tense scene. The people she cares about are with her, and she can’t do anything to protect them. It’s a perfect parallel to the behaviour and the action we’ve seen from her father. She’s a real chip off the old block, and it’s a character dynamic which (when done poorly) can be overused and underappreciated. Again, Strickland finds well crafted, secure and considered way to make this narrative feel singular and unique.

I gave this story five stars. It was utter perfection, and I’ve really strained to find different ways of saying that – because it’s just that simple to me. I’m excited by the fact Strickland already has another novel available for me to read, because I plan to start it immediately.

This was a fantastic book. A M Strickland created such a fantastic world and I was hooked from the beginning, the characters are diverse and real, the relationships they form with each other are memorable and I invested in them. What a fabulous stand alone with great LGBTQ+ rep without making the fact that the characters are queer be there only defining personality trait.
Rovan was a main character who was different without being completely annoying it felt like if a normal person woke up and found out they had magical powers and not your standard female protagonist who always knew she was diffirent. I have already pre-ordered a physical copy because I will read it again and is one of the best books I've read in 2021

I don't really like the cover of In The Ravenous Dark, but thats about the only thing that I didn't love about this book! A gothic tale of magical bloodlines and a young woman used as a pawn by royals seeking power, this story is magnificent.

I'm not sure I completely understood the magic system, but I followed enough to know I was loving the story! The plot is action packed, and builds in intensity to a gruesome climax. It got a little bit more brutal than I usually enjoy, but by then I was so invested that I didn't particularly care!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rovan is a 19 year old bloodmage in hiding, doing what she can to avoid the kingdom’s other bloodmages who have been assigned undead spirits as guardians. It’s a way for the king to control them and their power, and Rovan is determined to remain unknown to the king and therefore also unguarded.

But when her lover and friend Bethea has an accident, Rovan uses her bloodmagic to save her life, exposing herself as a bloodmage. She’s instantly brought to the palace by the king’s men and is assigned a guardian of her own. Desperate to escape, she befriends some unlikely people in the palace and together they uncover secrets that will change everything and destroy their kingdom.

In the Ravenous Dark is an interesting read. It’s full of queer representation in a way that doesn’t focus on the queer experience, but it’s treated as any romance subplot, the romance just happens to be f/f, m/f/f etc. And there’s also representation of nonbinary and asexual characters in the book, which is another thing I really like about it.

So, the queer rep here is prominent, it’s a big part of the book the way they discuss their sexuality and gender identity within the group and how they are so open about it. However, (and I hate to put a however here), the thing is that even though I love the representation here and how they talk about it, they do it a little too much in my opinion. And I’m not saying that because I don’t enjoy their conversations and their thoughts here, it’s because considering their current situation plot-wise, it doesn’t fit in. I really don’t understand how these characters can spend every moment they’re together talking and joking about sex or the lack of thereof and gender and sexuality and all that when everything is falling apart around them, when people are dying, family is dying.

Their conversations flow so natural though, and I wish that things would be as easy in real life. But, like I said, the conversations and the tone of them didn’t feel like they fit into the story and what was happening around the characters at the time.

The plot is great and interesting and the characters are also well developed and fun to follow, and I like that they are funny and share witty banter between each other. But it’s not believable that the first thing that crosses your mind after you, your lover and your mother has been taken captive by murderous maniacs is “wow, that princess is gorgeous, and they too, and oh wow, the undead spirit who’s here to keep me under control is also out of the world beautiful and I just want to f*ck them all”.

Another thing in the same line as the above is the constant mention of how beautiful people are. Rovan constantly tells the reader that everyone is so stunning and gorgeous and beautiful and it gets tiresome. Just show me, don’t tell me. We got from the first moment we saw the princess that Rovan finds her beautiful, we don’t need it repeated a hundred times over. But it’s seemingly all she thinks about when it comes to her friends (and enemies).

As while I’m on the romance here, it’s unfortunately not believable either. These people don’t know each other, and they move way too quickly. There’s no chemistry between them at all, it’s just “wow they are beautiful” and then it goes from “I hate them” to “I love them” without any real chemistry or progress. It all just ended up feeling like Rovan would jump into bed with anyone who she found pretty enough, which in this world was basically everyone except the guy she was to be forced to marry.

There’s no love in this book, it’s all just lust. Which would have been fine had it been called what it was.

And I hate that I don’t like it, because I wanted to like it, because I loved all the LGBTQ+ rep here, but I can’t let a book get away with poor romance just because I love that it’s queer. There still needs to be tension between characters, development in the relationship. I still need to feel the love between them, not just be told that they are beautiful and then suddenly the main character loves them (and they love her back despite her being a selfish asshole).

Now, to the plot. It’s well developed with plenty of twists and turns that make it very interesting. It’s one of those plots that make you want to turn the page and get the answers, and it’s fairly fast-paced and there’s always something happening. Lots of death and gore and blood, and well vampires, sort of.

So, by plot alone, this book is a clear four star read for me, the lack of proper romantic development, however, makes me inclined to bring it down to three stars. But I’m feeling generous today, and compared to other books I’ve recently read, this holds up well and I read it in just a couple of days. So, I’m going to give it 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book to read.

With Thanks to A.M Strickland and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced readers copy of this book.

5 Stars.

Simply put, its brilliant.

Stand alone fantasy full of dark magic, death, romance and all the representation (seriously). This should be really high on your 2021 tbr!

“In the Ravenous Dark” has solidified itself as my favourite book so far this year. I love a strong female lead and this definitely delivers on that front. Rovan is a stunning blend of Gideon (Gideon the Ninth) and Delilah (A Darker Shade of Magic) with a cast of friends as deep and compelling as she is. This book has magic and sword fights, blood and death, pansexual and non-binary representation, and so much more. The only thing I didn’t like is that this wasn’t made as a series of books. I didn’t feel ready to leave the world and the characters behind.

For fans of “Nevernight”, “Gideon the Ninth”, A Darker Shade of Magic”

“In the Ravenous Dark” is due for release on May 18th

Thank you firstly to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an early copy of this book.
If you're looking for a queer fantasy full of action and magic, look no further. I simply don't think I've ever read a book with representation like this and I enjoyed finally seeing exactly how this can be written in to a fantasy setting. As I've always thought, words like pansexual and nonbinary don't often exist in a fantasy setting unless you're bringing in very modern language. Yet Strickland managed to explain the circumstances without crossing that line and the language in explaining it was all so simple. The conversations flowed so easily, a real breath of fresh air which makes you wish it was this easy in real life. It's made clear that there isn't complete acceptance in this world but other than a few mentions here and there it's not problematic to the plot and so isn't given much space to become a problem, just as it should be!
Having said that, a quick few content warnings that I can quickly recall: blood manipulation, gore, death, referenced suicide, forced marriage, threats of rape, alcohol usage and some thinly veiled sex. It's definitely an upper range YA book but can you really expect a fantasy around people called 'bloodmages' to be anything other than that?
We open on a rather explosive chapter which I very much enjoyed as a part of setting the scene before jumping in to the main setting a few years later. We're reading in first person from the perspective of Rovan and that allows you to immerse in her emotions and thoughts wonderfully. There's a rush of feelings through the whirlwind of action in the beginning of the book. We get a chance to catch our breath in the middle as Rovan attempts to understand her new surroundings which inevitably goes a little . . . wrong. Then we're straight back to that action and I absolutely tore up those last hundred pages!
Let's talk about our characters. Rovan is a fiery woman, obviously traumatised after witnessing her father's death but also strained by her efforts to remain undiscovered among people that would fear her for her power. I can understand how much she wishes to escape and have the drive of someone so constantly wronged. It years worth of resentment that we see unleashed over the course of this book.
Japha is so lovely, such a beautiful soul that was so pleasant to read. One thing I enjoyed about having their pronouns was realising that I haven't seen they/them pronouns being used very widely yet. I had a slight confusion sometimes thinking I was reading about multiple people and hope I get to meet more nonbinary characters so I can get used to it. Loved their humour and glamour. Just loved them.
I struggle to speak about much of the other characters because they all felt a bit shallow. They didn't go much further past their initial introduction and so I didn't get a deep feeling for any of them which is a little bit of a shame. We certainly have a whole host of strong females to root for, they also follow a goddess so even the light swearing is female empowering. It would probably be too much if there wasn't some gender enforcing and forced child bearing going on (awful but mostly mentioned rather than seen in the book).
The setting is lovely despite us seeing relatively little of the world. We don't need to see any more Strickland balances a lovely level of description in to the plot to help you picture the world. The magic system is wonderful and interpreted differently across the people. There is a pressing need across the world giving weight to the actions of our characters and a whole world to explore which is a want I can always relate to.
So why did I end up with only three stars? Well, past the great idea and action when I thought more deeply in to some elements of the book I just felt they were a little shallow. As I mentioned with the characters, I didn't feel much in the way of personalities coming through which is sometimes a sacrifice with constant action furthering the plot. One of our first verbal fights around a lot of the banter results in body shaming which for me is just a no, no matter how little. There's also a whole lot hinging on love when all I really saw was lust. There was no real development of feelings especially within such a short time frame, it just starting getting called that after a few kisses.
Next point is likely to be controversial and very subject to opinion. I myself am a part of the LGBTQ+ community but felt there was some small issue here. Lots of representation in the characters as they were introduced, great. I did get to a point half way or so though the book where another character was revealed as LGBTQ+ and I just rolled my eyes. Everything up until that point had felt quite organic and then, for me, that was just too fit in. We ultimately end up with straight people as the antagonists and cheaters which isn't great. Not something a lot of people are likely to notice but once you do doesn't exactly leave a great taste in your mouth.
Having said this, it's not something that can't be smoothed over by a less detailed reader and I'm sure there will be many people that love this book as they look for some older range YA fantasy. I know I'm still likely to look out for Strickland's future books!

Couldn't get into this story. I found it confusing and hard to follow.
I was confused about the body count number thing and DNF.

3.5 Stars

W/TW (taken from GR):Death (lots, major and minor characters)/Parent death, on page and off/Sibling death by suicide (off page)/Fratricide/Violence (lots)/Blood (lots)/Gore (not excessive, but there’s, uh, a scene or two for sure)/Mild body horror/Mild substance addiction (alcohol)/Enforced gender roles/Forced marriage and pregnancy (including rape, but the latter is off page, in the past, and not involving main characters)/Threat of rape/abuse of the main character

Rep: Poly/Pansexuality/asexuality/non-binary/(f/f, m/f/f)/lesbian

In The Ravenous Dark, by A.M. Strickland is a morbidly humorous and compelling fantasy with great characters and a twisty storyline that will keep you engrossed from start to finish. Strickland has a strong prose, that maintains a good pace throughout the book. The descriptions are vivid and captivating and the prose flows well making the story an easy read. The narrative works well with the story, especially with Rovan’s constant plots to do things she shouldn’t as we get to see her thoughts and feelings, plans and schemes and then watch it all go spectacularly awry!

The story is fun, twisty and compelling with equal measures of darkness, humour and romance. From the start the world is set up as quite brutal, with Rovan witnessing her dad’s murder at the hands of bloodmages and their guardians. This brutal and vicious tone sticks throughout the book, and it makes for some brilliant fight/action scenes throughout the story. The magic fits the tone with blood magic and death magic being the two primary types to exist, Rovan comes from a rich line of bloodmages, and death magic is reserved for those who do not have the gift of blood magic. The magic is really interesting, from it’s presentation on the skin and the way inheritance works to the use of it. Rovan is incredibly strong and has a lot of raw power but she isn’t ‘the chosen one’ she is reckless and has little control over her magic, she does have her own unique skills that set her apart but it avoids the trope of ‘suddenly being an expert’ and it makes Rovan much easier to connect with,

The actual plot, following Rovan trying to work out the secrets behind the palace, the guardians and her own magic is intriguing. The reveals are shocking and the build up has good suspense and tension. The story definitely manages to surprise you and takes shocking and dark turns that keep you on your toes and keeps you engaged. I can’t say too much because spoilers, but the plot is unique, fun and yet horrifying all at once. The world is more or less queernormative, with the palace being the only place that is a little stricter – allowing it as long as heirs are produced. The relationships are well built, and the natural flow works very well. I do think some of the connections were a little rushed, I prefer more build up though – however, by the end the relationships were well established and worked well. I do think Rovan was a little too easily lead at times, romantically, but her impulsive nature was thoroughly amusing and kept me on my toes.

The characters were compelling because they were messy and flawed and very human despite their magic (or undead nature). From their plans to relationships, everything fit well with the characters personalities and flaws. My absolute favourite character had to be Japha though, hands down they were the one I was always super excited to see on the page. Rovan was a great mc, Ivrilos and Lydea were also brilliant major characters, and I loved the dynamic between them, the wit, humour and sarcasm. However, Japha still rose to the top for me!

Overall, this is a good read, fun and humorous with excellent dark twists and a unique take on magic. The characters were messy and flawed, and the relationships were interesting and dynamic. However, I do feel some areas could have been more developed (a little less chaotic) and I would have liked if some of the relationships had a bit more build up.

I do recommend this to people who love romance focused fantasy, or lovers of fantasy like Gideon The Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir.

*I recieved an eARC from #Netgalley #Hodder&Stoughton in exchange for an honest review – thank you!*

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
4.75*
This one was a real surprise for me.
If you are looking for a queer story about badass bloodmages with some romance in it this might be worth a read for you.
From the first page, the writing style spoke to me. This and the worldbuilding sucked me in and made this an extremely enjoyable read. The execution of the magic system could have been something that you read a hundred times already but A.M. Strickland did an amazing job in creating a unique system that was amazing and was so fun to read!
What I really appreciated was the overall cohesiveness of this book. It had an engaging start, it didn't drag and the ending was perfect in my opinion. The plot was fast-paced and full of twists and turn
But what was really outstanding were the characters. The Main character Rovan is so snarky and badass without being overly extreme. Following her discovery of this brutal society and learning about her powers came really naturally. Often times YA protagonists are given a tremendous amount of power that they are also able to perfectly use after 2 lessons. But not Rovan, while she has raw power she lacks the finesse to execute it properly, which gives us some fun scenes but also some gory scenes. What I like most about her is that she is a flawed hero, because I am tired of reading about flawless heroines that have no struggles in this world. ​Ivrilos, her spirit guard was such a cinnamon roll inside and the banter between these 2 was off the charts. And most other characters like Lydea and Japha are well fleshed out and don't feel one-dimensional.
And was really enjoyable was the amount of diversity and representation and the okayness of it in society. As long as you are willing to produce an heir, nobody cares who you interested in or who not. The main character can be described as pansexual, even though the term isn't used in this world. There are also nonbinary, lesbian and asexual characters.
The only thing that I had to deduct points for is the rush of some character relationships, but still an amazing read that made me stay up until 6 am to finish this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stroughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them. Ever since Rovan’s father died trying to keep her from this fate, she’s hidden her magic. But when she accidentally reveals her powers, she’s bound to a spirit and thrust into a world of palace intrigue and deception. Desperate to escape, Rovan finds herself falling for two people she can’t fully trust: Lydea, a beguiling, rebellious princess; and Ivrilos, the handsome spirit with the ability to control Rovan, body and soul. Together, they uncover a secret that will destroy Thanopolis. To save them all, Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both the mortal world and the underworld, and find a way to trust the princess and spirit battling for her heart—if she doesn’t betray them first.

Rovan denies a part of herself for years after watching her bleeding, unconscious father being dragged away. It was interesting to read her realising that after revealing her powers, she needs to rely on them to survive in her new life. I liked that there was resistance initially, and that it went beyond being “I don’t want this” - there was reasoning behind it that gave her character depth. Her friendship with her guardian was entertaining - particularly as she was so defiant in the beginning that she wouldn’t accept his presence. I felt Rovan grew as a character throughout the book, not just in respect of her changing powers but in the way she perceived life and those around her.

The major LGBTQ+ inclusion in the book had me squealing with joy. People free to love who they want and be who they are with very little to no judgement at all - PERFECTION. It’s how life should be. I loved that Rovan is pansexual and that we get to see her explore her feelings with both genders - and that her best friend is non-binary! Something that did have me a little disappointed is a lot of the feeling in this book fell a little flat. Even in more intimate scenes, it felt as if I wasn’t entirely immersed in the story. If this was different, then the story could have earned a 5⭐️ rating.

Overall, In the Ravenous Dark is a tale of twisted magic and the havoc it can cause.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stroughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review live on my blog on 17th May.