Rating 4.5*

Slightly in awe of this book, I don’t think I've read a fantasy this good in a while, everything about it was just?? So good??

The world-building was spectacular, especially with explaining the whole magic system as it ensured you weren’t overwhelmed with information. Instead, it was fed to you slowly so that you were still left intrigued as to how exactly things were working, but also you knew enough to understand the basics of what was going on - maintaining a balance between knowing too much and knowing too little. In regards to the atmosphere, I think I actually got chills at one point just by how eerie and creepy the surroundings were described, it definitely fit the dark fantasy vibes and the underworld created in this book certainly felt very unique.

However, with the magic system at a later point in the book it did feel slightly overwhelming with information and I had to read it several times to be less confused. But this could also be because I was too invested in the plot to really be focused on how it was all actually possible.

Rovan, the mc - ughhh I loved her !! She makes mistakes, she’s selfish at times – it’s just so nice when the main characters are actually relatable. The different dynamics she had with both of her love interests were also really interesting to watch unfold, the more flirtatious banter she had with Lydea in contrast to the enemies to lovers relationship with mysterious Ivrilos – and there definitely wasn’t a lack of chemistry from either side. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and seeing them all come together, also with Japha the bff (who I adored) was really special.

Overall, I devoured this book. Everything about it was brilliant, from the plot to the setting, to the characters & their relationships. It felt very fast paced, yet at the same time nothing was rushed and it was all wrapped up neatly as a standalone. It was also nice that there was a lot of queer rep which always felt genuine and not just there for the sake of it.

I would definitely recommend to any dark fantasy lover (particularly fans of wicked saints!!)

Content warnings:

Blood, gore, mention of suicide, threat of rape, death, violence, injuries

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

3.5 stars!

"We all form a circle. Our strange little family."

This book excelled in the sheer FUN factor. It's magical, dark and queer as heck. I love a good standalone that keeps me on my toes too, even if the pacing was a bit all over the place. It was a beautiful kind of mess, though.

The gist of the plot is a pansexual bloodmage gets roped into court drama and dark underworld corruption whilst trying to deal with her new powerful legacy. There is a great poly (hinge) relationship between the MC, a cool princess and the immortal spirit prince tied to the MC. They all had great chemistry and I loved how the writer focused on found family amongst the darker, intense plot points.

Highlights: lots of action, morally grey characters, good romance, developed friendships, worldbuilding.

Critiques: messy pacing, often felt like the book was trying to be too much at once, e.g. a fantasy, romance, vampire story, and then mythology-based.

Overall, enjoyable and chaotic in a super fun and queer way!

I had high hopes for this, but it honestly turned out a tad too hectic and haywire (in its protagonists, plot, pacing, and politics) to properly get a thrill out of the promising premise of Thanopolis and its people. In The Ravenous Dark is a curious and messy mix of mythology and chaotic court conventions, with numerous nods to names from the Greek canon and a mash-up of comparable ceremonies and marriage customs. Rovan, an undiscovered bloodmage with a dark and blotted background, is dragged from her wonted days of drinking and dalliances to a duplicitous world of ballrooms, bloodlines and birthrights where her dead-and-buried destiny is dredged up and she's drawn into deadly dealings with the dominant dynasties and dead-eyed boys from the underworld. She soon buddies up and solidifies sensual bonds within this beau monde, and gets embroiled in back-stabbing schemes and escape manoeuvrings in a strained bid for emancipation. The reaching plot progresses rapidly - and at random with problematic pith - and the relationships read really rushed with the post-haste pace, at the risk of readers remaining in the dust; altogether, In The Ravenous Dark could do with a dash of polish but is a powerfully piquant and provocative romp, page after page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for kindly passing on this arc! 💫

I feel like I’ve been searching for this book for years.

IN THE RAVENOUS DARK is an incredible story woven around a pansexual bloodmage called Rovan, who is reluctantly bound to an undead guardian while she tries to solve the mystery that holds Thanopolis in its grip. I was gripped the whole way through, both by the fast-paced plot and the witty narration of Rovan, who is up there with Gideon (GIDEON THE NINTH) in banter-levels. If they were in the same room there would be no survivors, just because everyone would whither and die before they were finished batting commentary at each other.

The complexity—and humour—of the supporting cast was one of the best parts about this book. Despite the sometimes complicated relationships between characters, I never found myself getting confused between them. They were all beautifully distinct, with their own motivations and desires that often conflicted with Rovan’s goals in a really satisfying way. Special applause goes to Japha, who is asexual and nonbinary and the first time I’ve seen the intersection of my own identity represented on the page.

One of my gripes with fantasy lately has been that the inciting incident often comes too late for my liking, but IN THE RAVENOUS DARK thankfully doesn’t suffer this problem. The plot is evenly-paced. It starts fast but not breakneck and continues that way throughout. It’s a page-turner, and I found myself picking this book up constantly, dying to figure out what was going to happen next.

Finally: what I loved about this book is that it’s the kind of upper-YA/crossover I would have gravitated towards as a teen. It’s fun and full of heart and its darkness is tempered by the enduring hope Rovan holds throughout the story. I’d recommend this to anyone in the upper YA category and anyone looking for protagonists in their late teens/early 20s.

I really do think this is going to be one of the best fantasy books of the year. Add it to your wishlists now (and tell me someone’s making a themed box—my life feels empty without IN THE RAVENOUS DARK merch).

A.M. Strickland has created a wonderfully magic setting where we meet Rowan , a pan sexual teen who hides the fact she can wield magic.
After using her magic in public Rowan is forced to live in the palace, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be! As Rowan plots to leave the palace she encounters new friends and enemies whilst learning more about the magic she holds and has to make tough decisions on wether to save herself or the world as she knows it.

In The Ravenous Dark is an older young adult novel due to the sexual scenes as it does go into some detail (not the act itself). There is swearing but for me it seemed in context and added the ‘roughness’ to the character. The descriptions of the city and beyond was brilliant and really made it real for me and the main characters were instantly likeable. It was refreshing to see an non-binary character too, although I did get confused by the author using “they” and “they’re’’ as I thought the author was talking about multiple characters not the 1, but that is for me to better understand and after re reading the paragraph it did make sense.

I'm not going to hide the fact that this book, while maybe not perfect, is amazing. I'm sorry if this review is just me raving about it, but it was just THAT GOOD.

Characters - 9/10
Rovan, our pansexual bloodmage, feels like she's my spirit animal. She's smart, a wise-ass, and so determined. I loved reading from her perspective. The way she deals with her grief and her emotions just feel so real and I truly felt sorry for her. We follow her POV throughout the story and it just kept me hooked. She does not pull her punches and I love that.

Two other stand out characters were Lydea and Japha. The representation in this book is amazing. The entire cast is queer and I am here for it. I think a Lydea or Japha POV would have been fun, but only because I couldn't get enough of them.

And then we have our brooding bad boy, Ivrilos. He was a hoot to have around. I loved his dry humour and his wit. It was fun seeing the relationship between him and Rovan develop, and I love how we avoid the obvious love triangle. I would have wanted to dive deeper into Ivrilos' past, but the mystery was satisfying enough.

Atmosphere - 10/10
The worldbuilding is one of the best parts of this book. The concept of the underworld and the blight just works so well. They link together in the best way and it all just flowed so naturally. It's not difficult to understand the world and it feels so lived in.

Writing - 10/10
In my opinion, the writing is flawless. I was hooked from the first page. Here's a cool graphic I made of one of my favourite quotes in the series. I'm telling you, this is the book we all need right now.

Plot - 10/10
There were multiple conflicts to this story and they all played out so well. Events happen naturally and are largely driven by the characters. You can clearly see how Strickland weaves together intricate details and everything that was set up paid off.

Intrigue - 9/10
I think it's fair to say that I was intrigued. I finished this book in two sittings, which rarely happens for fantasy books, so that should give you a clue. In the Ravenous Dark was just amazing.

Logic - 10/10
The magic system is fairly easy to understand. Blood magic is for the living, death magic is for the dead. Sometimes you can use both, but at a cost. I like harder magic systems with rules and this one is so unique. The way blood magic is written on your skin and passed down through generations is such a cool concept. Visually I think this book would make an epic movie.

Enjoyment - 10/10
The problem with good standalone books is that I always wish I had more. Fantasy standalones are truly a work of art, In the Ravenous Dark included. I enjoyed this immensely. If you want a satisfying, well-crafted fantasy standalone, this is it.

Firstly a huge, huge thank you to both NetGalley and Hodder Books/Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with A.M. Strickland’s In the Ravenous Dark in exchange for my totally honest and unbiased review.
Any book with the blurb beginning with …”A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead” demands to be read! And, I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to review this book! Thank you!.

I haven’t read a book this gay since Gideon the Ninth! Seriously, there is no holding back, but before you panic it is done amazingly. The characters spring to life from the pages and nothing is overplayed or caricatured, and a pansexual protagonist, f/f couples, a non-binary, asexual character and polyamory.

The lead protagonist Rovan is a pansexual, wild, loose, practicing alcoholic, determined to commit to nothing and no one, other than her job as a weaver, supporting her mother following the tragic murder of her father, after he is discovered as a bloodmage living in hiding from the authorities. However, Rovan has inherited bloodmage skills from her father and following a drunken night out inadvertently gives herself away.

From this point on the pace and the action explode, Rovan is dragged into the world of royalty, and finds herself amidst a multitude of plots within plots and saddled with a dead guardian, a smoking hot dead guardian – Ivrilos (Ivril).

The book takes you on Rovan’s journey to solve a major mystery, save everything and everyone that is dear to her and find love, acceptance and family…chosen family! Yes, this book is dark, gothic and full of mystery and action, but damn it’s funny too… throughout the blood, gore and grotesque Rovan’s humour and character shine through and I found myself chuckling at some of the worst, goriest moments.

If you loved Gideon the Ninth, if you love gay books, if you love a wild ride of a story, great characters and a damn good plot then I totally recommend you read In the Ravenous Dark! A total 5 star read for me!

In the Ravenous Dark follows Rovan, who accidentally reveals herself to be a bloodmage as she uses her power to save her lover from a deathly fall. After that incident, she is immediately dragged to the palace, where she reunites with people who she thought long dead, and begins to unravel a 400 year old secret...

I am struggling to review this book, to determine what it is I'm feeling and what I want to say. Because I did really enjoy it, in parts, but other moments of the book gave me pause, and left me feeling underwhelmed. So, it's tricky, because I feel rather stuck in the middle.

I did enjoy the 'mystery' element to this story. What is the blight? How can it be rid off? What is aging bloodmages so drastically in this Kingdom, while the bloodmages in Skyellean aren't suffering the same fate? It was interesting to unpack and see the answers unfold, even if at times I did become slightly confused (this was mainly with the lineage of the royal family. I need a family tree. I kept pausing, going wait HOW are they related?? I thought that was their dad!)

I liked our protagonist, Rovan, a lot. I found she was very sassy, and I loved her 0ne-liners and her absolute refusal to take shit from anyone. Not to give spoilers, but when she decided enough was enough, I was cheering! Even if I was like ... this is not sensible, goodbye logic, this will not end well. I understood her motives and what led her to that point, which is a good job by the author.

However . . . while I did enjoy that, the lasting repercussions *sigh*. Everything from then just felt entirely rushed! I felt the beginning took it's time (it wasn't slow) and was building the story and weaving, and then all of a sudden, it was this reveal, this person was dead, and now that person, and now this happened . . . and it really took a lot of the emotional impact out of the story and didn't allow the characters to show their own development/development in their relationship. For example, we have a character falling out with one in one scene, and then in the next they immediately forgive them and it's out of mind. And like, look, I get it - there were bigger things to worry about at that time, more imminent threats, but I think it should've been sat with a little longer (especially since they were like 'wow you were using me like everyone else' and then it was 'of course I'll trust you'?? Sure, characters say things in anger that they later may not mean but sigh...don't think we really dug in to it enough).

This was also sad because I really enjoyed the romantic relationships Rovan had with both Lydea and Ivirlos (their first scene meeting...knew I was probably going to land up shipping them). But, because of the issue I mentioned above, their relationships often fell flat to me because they'd do and say pretty shit things to each other, and then have an immediate change of heart in the next scene and it would all be fine. Made their characters feel inconsistent for the sake of pushing the plot forward. I think I just wanted a little more angst, a little more exploration of those feelings and conversations.

Also, shoutout to Japha. I really loved them & all their very fashionable moments.

Ultimately, I wouldn't say this is a bad book and I would recommend it. It's funny and has a pretty decent plot.

"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."

My rating: 🌝🌝🌝🌜( 3.5 / 5 )

This book has a promising start: immediate action, great world-building, interesting magic systems and cool characters. Unfortunately, I think the last half suffers from it being a standalone. The relationships aren't fleshed out enough so it's difficult to root for any of them, the pacing of the plot feels super rushed and there's a lot of jumping from scene to scene. There were a few occasions where I reached a new chapter but had to go back and make sure that I hadn't accidentally skipped ahead. I really think this book would benefit from being a duology instead.

Having said that, it is an enjoyable, fast-paced read! The plot is very different to anything I've read before and I like that the author puts their own spin on classic tropes. There's a lot of queer rep amongst the MC's which is refreshing, particularly because their genders/sexualities are largely accepted and they don't have to deal with a lot of ignorance. And lastly, the overarching plot is great because even though I didn't connect with the characters, it was the plot that kept me engaged until the very end.

Overall, In the Ravenous Dark is a great standalone to read if you're looking to get out of a reading slump!

*** Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🩸In the Ravenous Dark🩸

Thank you to Netgalley, A. M. Strickland and Hodderstoughton for the arc

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:
Ever read a book and a few pages in you KNOW. You just KNOW this is gonna become one of your favourite books, that is exactly what happened with this book.

A LOT happens in the opening chapters I found myself having to reread cos damnnn. It packs a punch from the very first page and is impossible to put down.

I’ve decided I want Rovan to be my bestie. She’s such an incredible badass in the face of adversity and the forces of evil that are conspiring. Realistically flawed rather than these perfect heroines we often see and have inherently human properties (well bloodmage but still). A strong message throughout is love is love and found family. I like that.

I loved that both romances were enemies to lovers. One with a nice juicy slow burn, the other with a kind of insta lust with a slow burn to love? Both love interests were intriguing, you wonder if their motives are entirely pure or whether they have their own ulterior motives.

There were plot twists, boooooy were there plot twists. Heart pounding, head spinning plot twists as with any book, some were predictable but most left me shocked. I love this book. The only thing that could’ve made it better would be the promise of another book but alas, a standalone it is.

I think fantasy fans far and wide will enjoy this book! Fans of From Blood and Ash, be sure to add this to your tbr!

Devilishly dark, intricately woven and dripping in diversity- this is my top read of 2021 so far! Five blood thirsty stars for this incredible book.

TW:// parental death, references to suicide, murder.

The queer found family we didn't know we needed. This delicious dark fantasy has everything, hot princesses, blood magic, a guardian from the underworld, all the LGBTQ+ rep you could ever ask for.

The queer rep in this book is well established, and never feels forced. I love that most of the characters get to introduce their own sexuality/gender identity, and how the conversation around it is very non-judgemental.

As a main character I adored Rovan. She's strong, self assured, not always likeable at times but that somehow makes her more likeable. She's fiercely protective of her family, both blood and found, and I loved seeing her grow into her powers and then grow with them. Both Lydea and Ivrilos were desperately attractive love interests and I found myself so invested in the romance - I wish there had been more!

The world created in this book is incredibly complex, and I feel like whilst we only scratched the surface of it, this book did a great job of immersing without info dumping. It wasn't overly expositional, and despite being a sizeable 400 page book, it was paced well so it felt shorter. I'm almost disappointed that the events of the book were wrapped up in one, I'd have loved more of these characters, but the world feels immense enough to support more books within it, even if the focus needs to be on different characters. It was nice to see such a vast world represented in a standalone novel, it didn't feel like the author compromised on world building, magic systems or character development at any point. I really appreciated the battle scene build up too, it was well thought out, layered and not rushed like a lot of books.

This book is decadent, luscious and you definitely need to read it.

In the Ravenous Dark by A M Strickland

!! MINOR SPOILER ALERT!!

So, let’s start by mentioning that this was a HIGHLY anticipated read for me. I have been waiting for this book for a while and was EPICALLY (sorry for all the CAPITALS) excited to get an advanced copy, thank you!

The synopsis really drew me in, especially this part:

“A pansexual blood mage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead”.

I mean come on, if that doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what will. This book is FULL of diversity, it literally made my heart sing. It has pansexual, asexual, genderqueer, lesbian and characters from different socioeconomic and ethnic groups. For that alone I highly recommend it. But speaking about the actual storyline, it is pretty incredible. I read it within a day, whilst in a slump, that is how truly awesome it is. The characters are relatable, likeable and also some which are easy to hate, with such a passion that you can’t wait for them to get their comeuppance.

This book has a really workable F/F/M consensual love triangle and it’s such a beautiful thing to see develop and read about. I feel these types of relationships get missed in fiction quite a lot. Although, if you’re interested in more, I’d also recommend The Dark Artifices which has an F/M/M dynamic.

A.M. Strickland has created a dark, sensuous read with a fascinating look at life after death. I loved it with all my heart and would happily give it 1000 stars if I could. I recommend it to you ALL.

This book is one of my most anticipated releases of the year! Lets just say this did not dissapoint at all!! This is the queer book of dreams!! I love how queer books are becomming more common in popular books.

The magic in this book is spectacular and the dark vibes are everything i didnt know i needed!! I love the new adult/ya mix of this book.

theres lots of violence and gore and lots more trigger things but they were so well written that i wasnt bothered too much by them.

I already have this book on pre order and will be telling all my friends that they must read this book.

I got chills reading this book! It was so amazing and dark!
The characters were great, specially the main characters, I loved how they interacted, just felt really natural.
The romance was so sexy, I Ioved every single moment of it!
Definitely recommend this one!

This is yet another review that I have to open up with the disclaimer that this book suffered from my continuing (though more occasional now) …let’s say issues with YA fantasy, and if you are interested in it, don’t let this review stop you.

That being said, there were parts of it that I genuinely didn’t like and that’s not just me and YA fantasy.

Basically, this book follows the “oppressed mage is enslaved by evil king who wants her power” trope. Now, I don’t know how much any of you have read about the whole “oppressed mage” trope, because I think a lot of that conversation surrounds video games, not books, but it’s a whole thing. (This piece here will give more depth than I’ll go into in this review, but also if you just google oppressed mage trope or something similar, there’s a lot out there.)

Let me open with a quote from that piece that probably sums up what about the trope is so frustrating:

“My issue is that fantasy (and science-fiction) metaphors for bigotry don’t actually help anyone. These stories are for the privileged progressives to look at each other, wink and say, “What a good person I am, I know what this story is about, and I am on the right side.””

Mages are, as this essay states, a kind of vague, catch-all minority. They’re what happens when you can’t quite be bothered to create a specific identity for your oppressed group. And, much like in the example of Dragon Age in the essay, this book then screws it up by attempting to justify this oppression. Bloodmages in In the Ravenous Dark are dangerous and must be controlled.

Thus:

“A failure to understand why systematic persecution of minorities exists often leads writers [to attempt to] justify it, as if the propaganda that the marginalized are dangerous must be true in order for the oppression to exist, or even begin.”

If you consider real life bigotries, those always come with propaganda to dehumanise the victims. Here, with fantasies justifying their bigotries, that plays into the whole cycle. It lays the blame on victims of oppression as causes of that oppression.

And, yeah, so the whole idea of this can be done well (the essay offers an example of how), but, in all honesty, this book didn’t have the range to do that. It was, in all, a fairly simplistic tale: oppressed mage is enslaved by evil ruler, realises that the evil ruler is the reason the country is going to shit, has to take down the evil ruler (and, in the process, free themselves).

But I think what made this version of the story especially unnuanced was the fact that it seemed very much to be advocating for an individualistic view, as opposed to systemic. Barring the two obviously evil members of the royal family — a royal family that had benefited from bloodmage oppression, I might add, even if some of their own were also bloodmages (side note: I didn’t understand this. The magic of this world was massively underdeveloped for me) — it was alright because everyone else was fine! You get rid of the two who are doing the immediate damage and it’s all sorted. But to me, that shifts the blame from a system built to oppress onto individuals. The whole “it’s just a few bad apples” argument.

I guess this was namely because the main character’s two love interests were a member of the royal family and her literal torturer (the way bloodmages were controlled was via this ghost creature which basically fed off them-slash-acted like a shock collar when they did something the royal family disliked). Of course, you want to be pushing the “bad apples” narrative when both your love interests actively benefit from the main character’s oppression. This book ended up doing the most to sell the idea that the problem wasn’t the system, but the people using it. (Spoiler alert: it can be both.)

Moving on from this, there were other issues I had — although these are probably more mundane. Firstly, the worldbuilding was lacking. I couldn’t really tell you anything in particular about this fantasy world. There are bloodmages, and that’s about it. Nothing really stood out for me as memorable. (Also, in case you hadn’t realised, my non-usage of names in this review is because I cannot remember a single one! None of them stuck!) Add onto that the fact that the magic system was just… all over the place, bringing up pertinent information right at the end in a kind of deus ex machina haha you didn’t know this could happen but it can! without any foreshadowing? I think at one point I just gave up trying to understand what was going on.

Although there was worldbuilding enough to make this a misogynistic world that sees the bloodmage women as “broodmares”. Thanks, I guess.

And then there’s the fact that, at points, the plot just seems stupid. The dude love interest has actually been trying to take down the true villain for ...four hundred years! Is he so singularly useless that in FOUR HUNDRED YEARS he has had absolutely no impact? Not until the main character shows up? Apparently so! (Also, another side note: why is there a multiple-centuries-years-old love interest for a YA protagonist? Why does he latch onto her? Is he a creep?) Add onto that the aforementioned sudden introduction of previously unmentioned information that just so happened to resolve any problems that might have faced the main character? Can you see why I stopped paying attention after a bit?

On top of all this, I just found the plot moved entirely too slowly and I got bored. That old chestnut. It wasn’t until maybe the final third that things started actually happening and, honestly, I think I just kept reading out of some sort of habit.

Frankly, perhaps I could have seen this all coming, given that the blurb flat out refers to one of the main character’s love interests as “the handsome spirit with the ability to control her, body and soul”.

Big red flag right there.

I adored the world building in this book, it was such a delight to read. The story itself was unique, the fight scenes wonderfully detailed and the found family trope is perfection. I'm a little sad that this is a standalone as I would love to read more from this world. The writing was beautifully descriptive and I can't wait to start seeing fan art of the outfits. Loved it!

I love discovering weird books that are perfect for me. I didn't know what to expect from this book and I ended up loving it and it's fantastic characters. The world-building was richly detailed and the magic system was well thought out. It also has one of my favourite tropes - found family. Perfect for fans of [book:Harrow the Ninth|39325105].

'In the Ravenous Dark’ is an enjoyable, fast-paced fantasy romance with excellent LGBTQIAP+ representation and a fun cast of characters. The twists are relatively predictable and the plot simple, but it’s a solid read if you’re not looking for something complex.

In Thanopolis, those with magic are both prized and feared, bound to undead spirits to guide and control them. Rovan’s father gave his life to keep her from this fate – but when an accident leads to her revealing her powers, she’s thrust into a world of magic and politics that she barely understands. Her situation is further complicated when she finds herself falling for the beautiful Princess Lydea – and also Ivrilos, the undead spirit now bound to her for all eternity. Unsure who to trust, Rovan must uncover a centuries old secret at the heart of Thanopolis – and possibly betray everyone she loves in the process.

Rovan is a solid protagonist. Raised in an isolated village for her own safety, she understands little of city politics or royalty – and combined with a tendency for bluntness it leads to some hilarious, if cringe-worthy, situations. A powerful but untrained bloodmage, Rovan is capable of extraordinary feats, but regularly finds herself out of her depth. She’s so overpowered it does take some of the suspense and drama out of things, but despite this its impossible to dislike her with such an amazing matter-of-fact attitude.

The two love interests, Lydea and Ivrilos, are polar opposites. Lydea is a princess, but otherwise much like Rovan – fun-loving, relaxed, and unafraid of breaking the rules. Sparks fly almost immediately and the chemistry is palpable – however theirs always feels like a more surface level relationship. In contrast, Ivrilos is the stereotypical male fantasy love interest – quiet, brooding, and mysterious, a protector in the background betraying his family for the one he loves. He starts very two-dimensional, however as more about his past and personality is revealed, he develops into arguably the most interesting character in the book. His relationship with Rovan is a far slower burn, and feels more realistic for it.

It’s unusual to see polygamy portrayed in mainstream fantasy, and whilst the instant acceptance of anything might seem unrealistic, there’s enough tension in the plot without needing relationship friction to add to the drama. LGBTQIAP+ characters aren’t fully accepted in Strickland’s world – Japha, who is non-binary, is treated as male by the King, and lesbian Lydea is expected to marry and produce children with a man – but Rovan’s pansexuality and polygamy is never treated as abnormal. It’s great to have healthy representation of non-monogamous relationships, and whilst the overall ending is a bit too happily-ever-after it does make a pleasant change from all the LGBTQIAP+ characters dying at the end.

The plot is mainly focused around political intrigue and scheming, but it’s fast paced and engaging. It does feel very trope heavy, with most of the revelations easily predictable, but the tropes are written well. The main issue with the plot is that all the villains are a bit caricaturic. The protagonists are undoubtedly good, with the possible exception of Ivrilos, compared to the true irredeemability of their enemies. There’s a twist approximately two-thirds into the book which will likely divide opinion, but personally I found it an interesting addition if a bit out of keeping with the rest of the books mythos.

Overall, ‘In The Ravenous Dark’ is a solid addition to the fantasy romance genre, mostly notable for its depiction of a healthy polygamous relationship and LGBTQIAP+ diversity including pansexual, asexual, and non-binary representation. Recommended for fans of new adult fantasy romance, love triangles done right, and political intrigue.

disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

rep: pansexual m/c, lesbian li, nonbinary side character, asexual side character, polyamory (m/f/f)

content warnings: blood, gore, death, threats of rape

In the Ravenous Dark follows Rovan, a blood mage, who has hidden her magic since her father died protecting her. In Thanopolis, having magic means being drafted into service, and having an undead spirit bound in order to guard them-and control them. When she accidentally reveals her powers to protect a lover, she is taken, bound to a spirit, and thrown into a world full of magic, death, and intrigue.

In the Ravenous Dark is a complicated one for me - I enjoyed the romance and I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics, though I favoured Rovan's relationship with Lydea purely because I felt they were more equal in terms of power, whereas her relationship with Ivrilos started off with a big power imbalance - though I did enjoy the development in that relationship and the fluctuations in power between the two. It is also a polyam relationship (m/f/f).

In the Ravenous Dark features blood magic, and I really enjoyed this aspect, and the exploration of this magic. But, in this world, being a blood mage means having a lineage - which is primarily passed down through women (though not always) and in this world, these mages are used and abused. One thing I do dislike in fantasy is rampant misogyny, which this book was rife with - constant use of rape threats which I'm not overly fond of. Granted, if done well, I do not always mind but I don't particularly think this aspect was done well.

I did, however, enjoy Rovan as a character, she's morally ambiguous, witty, defiant, and impulsive and frankly, she's a bit of a chaotic mess but she had some really great development. I enjoyed Ivrilos as a character, albeit a bit of a cliche love interest, but enjoyable nonetheless. Lydea was also a favourite - headstrong and determined. Japha is Rovan's best friend who is kind, caring, and loyal, (and is also non-binary).

In terms of plot, I feel as though it could have been improved, it kept me reading but the end was a bit of a hectic and rushed mess but I can't complain too much as it's the first book I've read in months, so that's something!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Oh, how I wanted to love this book. It was one of my most anticipated new releases of 2021, and I'm so sad to say that it simply wasn't for me.

Let's start with the positive aspects: I really enjoyed our main character, Rovan. The chaotic pansexual blood mage immediately resonated with me and I loved following her around. I adored all of the LGBTQ+ representation in general - not only do we get a poly relationship, there's also really important Lesbian, asexual and non-binary characters!
The concept of the story was amazing - I'm a huge sucker for blood magic, and the fact that this was paired with the existence of death magic really drew me in. The idea of magic coming from live and death has a huge appeal to me, and the way it was explained was also super intriguing.

Sadly, at the end of the day, these exact same reasons also work as my cons. Honestly, I think most of my issues could have been resolved had this been a duology instead of a standalone.
The worldbuilding and the story were so rich and ambitious, and sadly, one book just didn't do them justice. Many plot points felt rushed to me, while I wish other things were granted more time to be explored.
The same thing applies to the relationships. As much as love seeing poly relationships, it just didn't stir any feeling inside of me - their connections felt rushed, incomplete and juvenile. It felt like no true bonding ever took place, and their feelings for each other just didn't make sense to me. I don't think that this is necessarily the author's fault - I think it all boils down to the general pacing of the book, with so much story happening, some sacrifices had to be made to keep the length manageable.

TL;DR: This is a perfectly fine YA fantasy book with some really nice LGBTQ+ representation. I simply feel that it didn't live up to its potential, so I was disappointed.