This book was allocated via NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the second book after the Gilded Crown. It picks up straight after the first book ended.

The story was initially a bit slow, I didn’t know where it was headed but as the story developed and the characters developed I was hooked. The emotions are so complicated and described so beautifully I was heavily invested by the final third and couldn’t envision where the book was heading.

The idea of second chances and the responsibility of power is delicately and superbly described and I really felt for the main character throughout this book. I yearned for happy endings and I couldn’t think of any other way this book could have ended.

Overall a fitting conclusion to The Gilded Crown and a solid 4 stars.

I have no recollection of The Gilded Crown, so I read a summary to try work out how it’d ended.

I have never been so unable to read a sequel before, but something about this just screams DNF at me. I tried on my kindle with my netgalley copy, and couldn’t get into it. I borrowed from my library, I even tried an audiobook (which I have done a grand total of one time) and I just. Can’t.

I vaguely remember enjoying book one, but unfortunately this one is a DNF for me.

What a gorgeous and underrated duology.

The writing is lush and gothic, and just everything in this book spoke to me. We got to dive into the lore and the history of the world, and wow. And then we have the characters. The characters.

There is romance in this duology, and it's pretty vital, but I wouldn't call this a romance as a series. The obsessive and oft-toxic bond between Hellevir and Sullivain is key to the story, but this is a dark fantasy first and foremost. Both Hellevir and Sullivain are so very, very flawed in extremely different ways, but the author does not shy away from either of their flaws. It makes for fantastic writing and complex character development, having such morally grey leads, even while I was emotionally caught up in the story and therefore emotionally unwell because of the story.

Yes, the first 40% or so feels a bit disconnected, but it did make sense and while perhaps it was a bit of an odd choice to have such a big portion of this book be in that setting, it clearly didn't temper my enjoyment of the book at all.

There are a lot of themes, be it forgiveness or grief or living up to family expectations or religion, and the story does not shy away from viciousness. There's just a lot that can wrap itself around you and destroy you, piece by piece. (👀)

What a brutal and beautiful book.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperVoyager, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this arc in return for an honest review.

I've been looking forward to this book since 'A Gilded Crown', and it did not disappoint! The book started four years on from Hellevir leaving Rochidain to get away from the Houses, courtly goings and Sullivain; to her now travelling round from town to town as a herbalist. Naturally she eventually gets pulled back to Rochidain and the story develops more from there and we learn more about the Antlered King.

The pacing of this book was so good and I really enjoy Marianne Gordon's writing style; particularly with how she writes her characters, who have so much depth that you really get to understand them and sympathise towards them. The storyline is so intriguing and her representation of Death as a character is by far the best one I've read and I love the intrigue surrounding him.

I would definitely recommend this book, it's so different to anything I've read prior and a really get duology!

Okay damn. First of all I have to say again how inappropriate the covers are for this duology, do not go into this series thinking this is a traditional romance.

This book didn’t feel as strong as the first but there were still definitely some compelling elements. I didn’t love the time jump, I understand it had to happen for plot reasons, but it felt very underbaked and like another reviewer, I found it hard to believe she didn’t bring one person (or animal) back from the dead during this time.

The first quarter where she’s in another village also waylaid the story and the subplot with the peer didn’t actually add anything meaningful and felt frustrating to read. Once we got back to the city things picked up, but her family relationships which felt strong in book 1 also seemed to fall a bit flat here.

The war was the most compelling element, truly harrowing seeing what Hellevir went through trying to save everyone, along with Sullivain's joyful slaughtering. I enjoyed seeing more of the Antler King’s story as well. Most compelling here was the exploration of shame and guilt by various characters, especially how Hellevir was known as a giver of second chances but was unable to grant the same forgiveness to herself.

When starting the first book of the series I was not entirely sure if this series was gonna be for me. At the moment I seem to be in the mood for enemies to lovers with loads of romance and a little politics. This book is totally not that. However, through Netgalley I already got this arc from HarperVoyager and I always try my very best to review before or on release date. Luckily, after finishing the first book, I was hooked and ready to continue the journey.

It's hard to capture the essence of this book without spoiling the story. Although action-wise there is not even happening that much in this book, there still is a lot going on. Some things are only spoken about, sometimes our heroine is at the heart of it. The main focus is on Hellevir's emotions though. The finale of the first book was brutal and it's clear that her choices, and the choices others made for her, left quite some scars. And those scars, physical and emotional, are determining her course in this book.

Where things were happening to Hellevir in the first book, she's much more in control of her life in this book. She makes the choices. They're not always the easiest choices, they're for sure not always the healthiest choices, but they are HER choices. But that doesn't mean that her own choices always lead to the best outcome. In a way I wished that Hellevir would have let everything go to live a peaceful life in anonymity. She earned it. But it also doesn't really fit her.

Everything that happens in this book fits her. Just like everything that happens in this book fits the kind of story that's being told. The ending, which I won't spoil of course, doesn't come out of nowhere. For two books we've been building towards it and no matter what it is inevitable. And although I wouldn't call the ending a happily ever after, it is a very satisfying ending. The kind of ending that both allows you to let go of the book and its characters and will stay with you for a very very long time.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

For a book titled The Antlered King there really wasn’t much about the Antlered King. This was incredibly disappointing as this was by far the most intriguing and interesting plot line, yet for most of the book this plot simmered quietly in the back corner — not biding its time and building up to a ferocious boil, but more a slow boil that went unnoticed. It was disappointing. I really liked when Gordon remembered this plot existed but alas I felt the pacing was off. I appreciated what the author was trying to do to bring all the plots together, but it wasn’t done well.

This book just has a weird pacing all about it. We start off with Hellevir doing a side quest, which was fine, but again it took a lot of time without really contributing to the main plot. It just came around at the end but that could’ve happened anyway with a shorter page time.

The romance in this is completely unbelievable and I really wanted to shake Hellevir and get her to wake up. Lord almighty. I think the stakes would have been higher and the book would have been way better if I was actually invested in the romance between Hellevir and Sullivan, but I wasn’t. Sullivan was awful and the attempts Gordon tried to give to show that she was multifaceted and complex just missed the mark. I feel the first book did way better. And I’m so confused. One second Sullivan feels like an adept fighter and she’s this Great War general, next she can barely fend off an attacker and has died AGAIN?

I didn’t like the ending. I could see where it was going and I didn’t like it. Certain characters didn’t deserve a second chance and the narrative did not suggest in any form that they would use it to be better (it in fact showed several times that they wouldn’t) but alas this final time was the one that changed it all…

This book was just an overall disappointment. It should have focused more on The Antlered King and Hellevir, as opposed to all this political storyline.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager for this e-arc

The Antlered King by Marianne Gordon is a breathtaking, immersive fantasy that will captivate readers from start to finish. With its rich world-building and fascinating mythology, Gordon crafts a world where magic, power, and destiny collide. The story follows a strong protagonist on a journey of self-discovery, filled with danger, betrayal, and heart-stopping twists.

Gordon’s writing is lush and atmospheric, bringing the world to life with vivid detail and emotional depth. The characters are well-developed, each with their own flaws, strengths, and growth arcs, making them incredibly relatable and engaging. The balance between action, emotional depth, and complex relationships creates a story that is both thrilling and poignant.

Themes of power, sacrifice, and identity are explored beautifully throughout the book, making it not only a gripping read but also one that will linger long after the final page. The Antlered King is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy with rich lore, complex characters, and an epic journey. Highly recommended!

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of The Antlered King through Harper Collins via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, so I would like to say thank you in advance for that. My opinions are my own.

I initially requested this book because the description of it seemed like something I would enjoy, I however was an idiot and did not realise until - and I wish I was joking about this - the 40% mark that this is the second book in the duology... That being said, the way this book was written made it not difficult to understand the plot or characters.

Hellevir is a complex character and we initially see her in this book living a nomadic life, only to return to the city and Sullivain, the Princess she has romantic entanglements with and who she has revived four times to the point that their souls are tangled immensely, to help her ascend to power as Queen.

Both Hellevir and Sullivain are complicated and complex characters, even though the story is told entirely through Hellevir's POV you see how the two struggle and grapple with the choices they have made, as well as their understandings of themselves. For Hellevir, she is a healer as well as a resurrectionist. She knows her limits, her body is a testament to this and no matter how many things she gives in return for life - despite losing teeth and bone, limbs, she still continues to try and bring back as many people as possible knowing that if she continues she will wither to nothing. For Sullivain, she's been fashioned into a weapon, a bloodthirsty killer since she was a child. Hellevir sees this, knows this, sees her memories of blood caked under her child-self's finger nails and Sullivain even recounts her first kill, her father, and says she was too far gone from the get go. And yet with Hellevir's belief in her, for a moment Sullivain had hoped she could be better, not be the killer she'd been told she was. She yearns for that life and yet falls victim to her learned behaviour time and time again.

The two women's relationship is also complex. They're toxic, souls twined together too tightly. Hellevir realises later on in the book that Sullivain is too far gone and that they cannot be together when they're on two sides of a war, and yet neither can truly hurt the other. They lash out but still seek each other in their dreams, Sullivain in particular. Hellevir is the only peace the now Queen has ever known and when Hellevir decides to cut the connection, the loss is felt.

There was a moment after the final battle where I felt empty, like I myself had been to war and won. Maybe it was the Skyrim cinematic music playing in the background but I felt like I was Hellevir in that moment. I felt the ending of the book was perfect too, it had been hinted at throughout the book so I wasn't too surprised but it felt like it was the best ending for the Antlered King and Hellevir. I also loved seeing Eloe and her son again because I did grow attached to the bard in the beginning, and I'm glad a certain someone did keep her word and protected them with her final revival.

I wish I had realised this was book two in a duology/series before reading this book, but as I said it wasn't too difficult to understand what was going on. I can see myself rereading this in the future and actually starting from the beginning. I would recommend this to any fantasy lovers and will be purchasing a physical copy at some point!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. While I enjoyed the first installment, I already had some issues with how Hellevir was treated by those around her and, even more concerning, how she allowed this treatment to occur.

I had hoped for some redeeming character arcs in the sequel because I was not convinced by the love interest and the direction the story took in the first book. Unfortunately, my hopes were not fulfilled; the redemption arcs of certain characters felt forced, and I truly wished that Hellevir had ended up with someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The writing is still gorgeous, and the world-building was on point yet again. Without giving too much away, I would’ve enjoyed seeing the lovers story go to the other person - she deserved the kindness they were offering compared to what she got.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. My one word review: wow. This is a stunning conclusion to the Raven's trade duology. I was genuinely moved by the ending, while it is not the end I would have chosen for Hellevir, it was beautiful and perfect all the same. What I love about these books is that there is a cost to everything, and the characters have to live with the consequences of their decisions. We get so much depth from the characters because of this, and each of them are flawed in their own way. I loved it in every way, and its not a stretch to say that this is one of my favourite duologies of all time. I eagerly look forward to whatever the author has coming next!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for approving me to read this early. I’m rating this 4.25 stars.

Wow what a conclusion to this story, my heart! I really admire our FMC Hellevir, she was so genuine and she suffered for it along the way. This book picks up from book 1 in a place where we get to see who Hellevir is outside of the capital a little scorned from her experience and still reeling from all she has given of herself to save others. Along this journey so many secrets and sly behaviours occur and it truly does hurt to see Hellevir rarely ever catch a break.

Hellevirs journey has a beautiful and maybe bitter sweet conclusion depending on your view point, and the author very neatly ties up all loose ends giving all characters a conclusion.

I received this as an arc from Netgalley.
I had a great time with the whole duology. I found the second book and the conclusion to be really satisfying. There are parts of this book that really pull at your heart strings and things that made me chuckle. There were some great and important themes in this series that really made me think and self examine.
The relationships between the characters were on the whole great. There were one or two characters that seemed to have a change of heart too rapidly that I felt a little whiplashed but the main relationship between Hellevir and Sullivain was so complicatedly fascinating. I loved the scenes with them together and how things between them progressed in this book.
I will definitely recommend this series and be on the lookout for more from the author.

4,25/4,5⭐️


POSSIBLES SPOILERS BELOW


The Antlered King by Marianne Gordon is the second and final installment of the Raven’s Trade duology.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so invested in a series and, while I admit that the ending felt a bit bittersweet right after finishing the book, the more I think about it the more I believe that the author really wrote the perfect conclusion for this duology.

Every character is very complex, especially Hellevir and Sullivain, and the entire cast of characters is particularly well-drawn.
I have also grown genuinely fond of the new characters that were introduced in this second book.

In conclusion, I recommend this duology to any fantasy lover and to anyone who is particularly fond of well-written characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

Sequels can sometimes lose some of the magic of the original work. Not this one. The author has created a stunning fantasy world that is unique and fully realized. The characters are complex and interesting and the plot took twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. I loved every minute of reading this book.

Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins for giving me a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow.

After reading The Gilded Crown I knew I had to start the sequel sooner than later, so I was very ecstatic to be able to read this before the release.
Being able to dig into a book with beautiful writing and characters is honestly such a privilege, I felt engaged with the plot the whole time and I felt the pain the FMC, Hellevir, experienced throughout this whole book.
The only time I felt a bit iffy was during chapters 9 and 10 where things felt a little rushed, but the whole story takes a drastic and darker turn that works far too well and made me even more obsessed with this story.

Overall, amazing book everyone must read this duology as it is BEAUTIFUL! And it also made me sob, which is extremely rare.


Release Date: 27 Feb 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

A captivating read from start to finish, full of action, adventure, mystery and romance. I enjoyed every second of this!!

This book is brutal from start to finish! Hellevir simply cannot catch a break at all. For those that prefer high fantasy, I would recommend this as long as you’re prepared for some pretty dark twists.

From start to finish there are a lot of awful choices to be made, I didn’t entirely enjoy all of them and on some occasions I didn’t see the need.

It’s a constant battle between Hellevir wanting to help and losing all common sense. And when you throw in the fact everyone just wants to use her and beat her down her, you can’t really blame her for being misguided.

Without giving too much away, I would’ve enjoyed seeing the lovers story go to the other person - she deserved the kindness they were offering compared to watch she got. But, how Marianne Gordon ended Hellevir’s story was truly satisfying, I feel like she ended up in the best place for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review