In the Ravenous Dark

Whilst my review itself doesn't contain spoilers - the TW and Representation discussion below does contain some mild to major spoilers so just be aware and careful when reading!

I thank my lucky stars that NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton approved me for In the Ravenous Dark eARC. All views and opinions are my own

***

Off-Screen TW: suicide, parental death, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, rape, assault

On-Screen TW: alcohol use, implied alcohol addiction, blood - so many mentions of blood (injuries, blood magic, drinking blood, vomiting, menstruation mention, violence, injuries, gore, death, filicide (parent kills their son), threat of rape, threat of forced marriage, death of queer characters (many queer characters within the book and they don't stay completely 100% deceased…, sex scenes (f/f and f/m), swearing, dark humour

Representation: this book has a lot of queer characters (and it never ever feels like it's done just for the sake of it) - the majority of them get to verbally explain their gender/sexuality and what it means to them and there are also some background f/f relationship who don't define their sexuality on screen. Our main character is pansexual (she doesn't use the word itself but this is confirmed by the author), two of our other main characters are; a lesbian princess love interest, and a non-binary asexual best friend (they/them pronouns are used throughout!). There are f/f relationships throughout and there is also a polyamorous relationships m/f/f between our male guardian, main character, and lesbian love interest - all are aware and consenting to this relationship! Homophobia isn't really a thing in the world; nobody cares essentially who sleeps with who - unless you're a royal or a blood-mage and then it is expected that you'll marry someone of the opposite gender to carry on your bloodline - enforced gender roles do come into play here slightly.

***

Okay… I think that is all of that done, now onto my review. Holy shirt balls where do I even begin?! The way I describe this book is nuts but amazing - i'm not sure i've ever read such a wild book that i've loved this much. I started the book just thinking i'd read a few chapters… and then I read a few more.. and a few more… and then it was 2am and I couldn't put this book down until i'd finished and devoured every page and every action. It is AMAZING. I would definitely say this is one of those books that will split reviewers; you will either love it or hate it and I am firmly in the love it category.

I'll start with the characters who are all amazing an all deserve love and care. Our main character Rovan is a hot mess; she starts off the series drinking her way through the pain (and whilst she never really stops drinking) she really comes into her own and finds her own family (i'll come onto this in a minute because found family is my favourite). Rovan is a blood-mage, untrained and unwarded - which makes her dangerous to the royal family. Rovan is extremely powerful but don't mistake that for a typical chosen one character. Rovan is powerful yes but she lacks any real knowledge of her powers, any finesse in how to use them, and is illiterate so is unable to find out more. She is dragged to the castle kicking and screaming… and just never stops. I ADORE HER. She is so wilful and she does not care who she offends; she forms strong bonds and will fight for those she loves; and my god when those that she loves are wronged does the desire for vengeance come out. I wouldn't get in her way that's for sure.

Lydea and Japha. Where do I even begin to describe how much I love both of these characters. Japha is such a delight; they are kind and caring and loyal and just so strong. Japha is the first royal to link in with Rovan and they don't leave her from that moment; they have her back and they grow so much and I just love them. Lydea is the definition of a BAMF; she knows what she wants and what she wants is what she'll get. Their relationship is one another is so lovely and the relationships they build with Rovan; individually and as a group just destroy me.

Ivrilos!!! Our dark and mysterious ward. I definitely loved him and I loved seeing him develop; he has his own agenda throughout but slowly he begins to change alongside the care he feels for Rovan.

This book has one of my favourite book tropes of all time; found family. OMG I love it so much in this book; the above four characters each find their place with one another and find their home and their strength. Rovan and Japha have a conversation at some point about how familial and friendship love is just as important as romantic or sexual love and I live for it. The relationships are so compelling and really what pull the book together.

This book is 400 pages long but it never feels it; the plot is so well developed and the pacing is perfect. It takes a little while to get your head around the world but once you're in… you're in - until of course Strickland reveals her twists and turns which leave you shocked and in awe. Honestly with their writing I think she could have turned them all into unicorns and i'd have gone along with it. Rovan is not your typical main character; she isn't here to be liked and she doesn't care about getting on the wrong side of people and if she wants revenge she will take it. And this bleeds across completely into the plot which is so dark at times; i'm hesitant to class it as YA as it definitely feels adult at times. But I love how dark the plot gets and that there are no apologies for this.

There were so many moments in this book that I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest; I mean just stop hurting Rovan and her family please - is that too much to ask for?! But Strickland never lets us suffer with that long - moving the plot onto something perhaps even more painful at times i'm laughing and crying I promise. The big battle starts around 60-70% of the book in which really threw me because normally it's only in the last 15% that these happen; so you know that it's going to be good and well written. Strickland lets the big battle scene build up, drawing in all the wider characters, and exploring motivations and i love it. It gives you enough time for wider characters to understand what is going on whilst never slowing down the action. I'm gonna say much about the plot itself - but there were two moments in that last 30% that near enough destroyed me - and then I had to keep reading of course to find out what happens next!

I love this book. I love that it's a stand-alone and it does stand so strongly on it's own - everything is wrapped up to a point where you have a conclusion and know where the characters are going next without it being explicitly in the plot. I just love it so much - I already want to pre-order her next one even though it's not out for a while and luckily enough for me I have Beyond the Black Door on my shelves just waiting to be read!

This book is out 18th May 2021 and if you don't go and buy it I don't know what you're doing with your life.

This was so amazing! I loved the world Strickland has created, it was so creepy and dark. That was my favourite aspect of this book. all the blood and death magic. The characters were really fleshed out and I especially loved the diverse relationships. The discussion around those relationships felt very genuine too.
This book was very fast paced which I loved, I found myself reading it every chance I got. I did feel the ending was perhaps wrapped up too neatly but that's just a minor thing. I'm really excited to see what Strickland writes in the future. because if this is only there second book, their future work is going to be even more amazing!

This book was sensational. It kept me interested from the first to last page, I'm utterly destroyed it's a standalone and I just adored the complexity of the world. Tales of the undead rarely do it for me. Remember what a hit Gideon the Ninth was? Nope. Didn't work for me. So my expectations for In the Ravenous Dark were pretty low with a premise not too dissimilar in theme.

But the blurb had me interested. Because it's not often that we get stories about bloodmages making friends with undead spirits and rebelling against both the living and the dead. And that might be enough to get you hooked at first, but you're probably sceptical about the execution of something which promises to be so good. It is that good.

Thanopolis has a number of gifted individuals, blessed with magical abilities and dead spirits who guard them. Of course, no relationship is one way and the spirits stand to gain something from this job too. Rovan quickly finds herself thrown out of her normal life and thrust into a complex battle against a corrupt system which wants to marry her off for her bloodline.

The story is enormous. Frankly, it feels like there are multiple books tied into this single book. What starts off as a story of self-discovery for Rovan transforms into a battle in the mortal world and, later, a battle in the underworld too. The transition from the living world to the dead is seamless and works so well - I loved getting to follow the dead into the underworld, and the explanation of how the living body and the dead spirit were separate entities getting to live out their living or dead lives in either eventuality.

Rovan however is the best part of this book. So often I find myself thinking that the way characters react to a situation they don't want to be in just isn't realistic; it's difficult to strike the balance between just being too ferocious with being too meek. Rovan does everything I would have done in her situation, or would like to think I would do if I was brave and badass, and the author explains things exactly when I was thinking, "okay, but what about this?".

It's fascinating. I couldn't put it down. I'm just so sad to see there won't be a second. Read it.

ARC provided from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hold on a second. Man, hold on a second. I've been sitting on this for days now because I don't know how to write a review. I'm not conflicted about my feelings - I just don't know how to express just how very, very much I loved this book. Start to finish, I adored it.
This review is probably going to be useless, because it won't mean anything to anyone except the few people who know me, but - this book. This book was for me. It has things I love in books. It has the kinds of characters I love in books. It has a worldbuilding interesting in a way I love in books. It has things I didn't even know I loved in books until I read it. I couldn't read it fast enough. I couldn't read it slow enough to savour every page. I cannot wait to read this again immediately as soon as it's out and I can hold a physical copy in my hands.

But allow me to say this - this book has one of the things I adore most about certain books - a title that tells you exactly what's going to happen. But you have to read it to see it. It's right there under your nose! But you only *get* it when you read it. I've been holding my head in my hands, eyes glistening, with just how brilliant it is. It's wonderful. It's beautiful. I've been screaming into the void nonstop and I'm going to continue screaming.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book. But mostly, thank you to the author for writing it

A.M Strickland’s new YA Fantasy stand-alone is Magically lush and Captivatingly dark;with a masterfully written ,Greco-Roman inspired setting and a witty heroine-with the willpower to defy a tyrannical king and take back her freedom.

“I am going to ensure my mother is safe, but I’m also going to look people in the eye as I plot to escape them.”

When her father dies, Rovan Ballacra is determined to hide the blood magic that got him killed and for 12 and a half years, she succeeded. Until a public incident reveals Rovan’s powers to the very people who took her father from her. In order to control her Bloodmage ability the king has tethered her to an undead spirit and to keep her obedient he’s imprisoned her mother.

But Rovan will not surrender without a fight, seeking vengeance she joins forces with her spirit “guardian”, Ivrilos. Together,they can spark a rebellion- between both the living and the dead.

It’s weird,it’s bloody and unequivocally brutal,but oh so spectacular, with as much action and more blood than a game of thrones episode. The characters are full of depth and the LGBTQ+ representation is phenomenal- Our main character is Pansexual ,has a lesbian love interest (as well as a spectral one in a polyamorous relationship) and an Asexual,Non-Binary bestie- with fabulous fashion sense.

I’d have to say this is definitely at the older end of YA fiction simply for the subject material (death,violence,blood,gore,mild substance addiction, off screen mention of rape and threat of rape and abuse). So, if none of that scares you off and you love dark fantasy with a powerful female protagonist, I thoroughly reccomend to give this a read.

I would also like to thank Hodder&Stoughton and Net Galley for the digital ARC.

I was really looking forward to read In the Ravenous Dark after the first glimpse of the summary, because it sounded all the way up my alley and it did not disappoint. It was just fantastic!
It's dark, brutal, morbid and full of creepy magic. I would definitely consider it more of a New Adult read.

This book has such awesome, complex worldbuilding in an ancient greece inspired setting with a really cool magic system. I was especially intrigued by the lush descriptions, the dark and gloomy atmosphere and the impressive broadness of diversity and representation that felt very natural and well-explained.
I had so much fun with the highly relateable cast of queer misfits and morally grey characters. Especially the protagonist Rovan who is a super sassy badass, with somewhat of an alcohol problem and a tendency to cause disasters, stole my heart from page 1.

The relatively simple writing style made for a quick and easy read. The plot is fast-paced and full of action and twists. It's not a short book, but I wasn't bored for a second. In fact so much happened that some things felt a bit rushed, especially the romance. I had the impression the book could have easily be split up into multiple volumes, which I personally would have preferred, because so much intense stuff happens that would deserve more time and detail in my opinion.
But nonetheless I enjoyed this book so much, I couldn't fathom giving it less than 5 stars, even if it has its flaws. I was gripped right away and just couldn't put it down.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher Hodder&Stoughton for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this fabulous book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Woah, this was a RIDE AND A HALF. I know its a stand-alone but I can't help but want more of our disaster gays. Especially Japha. I want more of them, please.

IN THE RAVENOUS DARK follows Bloodmage Rovan, except she's determined to hide her powers... until she slips up trying to save her lover. The book then follows Rovan and her journey in a dark, creepy, and corrupt Royal court filled with magic, secrets, blood, and death. Will she be able to navigate this new world and control her powers?

Strickland has created a fantastic Greco-Roman inspired world, filled with magic, disaster, and plenty of humour weaved into the pages of this book.
The diversity is pretty good - we have a pansexual main character, an enby/ace side character, and sapphic side character, and multiple f/f, and m/m relationships throughout, as well as a polyamorous relationship.
The book itself is quite fast-paced, and some things (the romance, ahem) I feel are slightly rushed, but overall its a really, really good book with premise for some spin-offs.

I'd definitely say this is maybe on the older side of YA, maybe even bordering into New Adult Fantasy due to some of the content.

Overall, a fantastically weird and gripping read, 5/5.

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].

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.

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🩸

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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!!

"Shadowed by death. Bound to darkness."
Wow. This book was incredible and honestly such a standout for the genre, I am so pleased I discovered this title and this author's work because the innovation alongside the fantastic representation is just brilliant. I can see myself reccomending this title A LOT and it has inspired me to check out the authors other works.
These characters are going to mean so much to so many people and they are really so varied in terms of their personalities and how they react to certain situations. Their interactions really speak volumes on how important friendship is and how much it can mean. Not to mention the romance, like can we make all love triangles poly at this point, its gives off a maturity that so many young adult books lack and honestly it was so refreshing to read about.
Whilst we could have got more worldbuilding and information on the magic system, this is a relatively small standalone, therefor I feel as if the background that we got was a great foundation and helped me to understand the novel as a whole. To do so without seeming info-dumpy is honestl y a skill, and I do believe I had a firm grasp on the intricasies of this world and its nuances. It was in no way simplistic either. Such balance is hard to find.
The intrigue and plot was spot on in my opinion, I was engaged throughout and there was definitely some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Similarly, the pacing and the structure of the book worked really well and I am surprised how much of an engaging story the author was able to fit into a mere 400 pages, especially considering the development we got.
I wouldn't be surprised if this made it onto my favourite books of the year list, highly reccomend!

Captivating, beautiful and breathtakingly thrilling!

This book has me at a loss for words. I love it so deeply and I'm so thankful for being given an arc of it.

Before I get started on the plot, I want to note how incredible the characters are. Not only is there a gender nonconforming character as one of the main, and favourites, but there is also TONS of queer representation. Our main character, Rovan, makes it more than obvious that she's attracted to the person and not the gender, whereas her princess counterpart Lydea prefers only women. It's so wholesome to see this addresses so effortlessly and casually, showing that there really is nothing wrong with being who you are.

The plot was, as expected, absolutely phenomenal. It was so entertaining and filled with drama and blood magic and death (everyone good story has some!) and was just outstanding. The author's voice is unique and she creates such an enticing and captivating story as she delves straight into the crazy world of Thanopolis.

I sincerely can't recommend this book enough. And I hope that we get to see these characters again in the future.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and A.M. Strickland for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:
A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead in this dark upper YA Fantasy stand-alone.

My Thoughts:
The combination of bloodmages, spirit guards, royal intrigue, and a heavy dose of romance made for a dark and intense read. I can definitely see myself rereading this in the autumn to get into the spirit of spooky season!

I found Rovan difficult to like at first because she was brash and impulsive and this behaviour not only got herself in trouble but was also directed at someone I thought deserved more empathy. I do think she matured and acknowledged her mistakes more as the book continued which meant I started really wanting her to succeed.

In spite of struggling to have patience with her at first I did find it refreshing to see these qualities in a female character for a change. She wasn’t a typical YA heroine (nothing wrong with those) and I liked that she didn’t need anyone’s permission to be bold and unapologetically herself. Rather than starting out meek and mild Rovan started out a wild mess but grew into herself over the course of the book.

A non binary character also features prominently in this book. Their struggles are discussed but the character is in a place where they are happy and confident with who they are. I hope we see more characters like this in fantasy books!

There were a whole host of plot twists! Most had me gripped but I thought a couple needed a little more build up for me to actually be worried about the outcome. I can’t say more without spoiling things.

Read for:
• unique magic system ✨
• romance ❤️
• pansexual, lesbian, and non binary characters 🌈
• royals 👑

I really enjoyed In the Ravenous Dark and gave it 4.5/5🌟 Out on the 18th May! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #InTheRavenousDark #NetGalley

This book started off quite slow and quite confusing but once I had gotten into it, I loved it. The pansexual representation in it was accurate which, as someone who is pansexual, absolutely appreciated. The book was fast paced and I could not put it down. I read it all in two sittings!

I loved Beyond the Black Door so it's not a surprise that I loved the author's new book, too. Honestly, it's a jackpot. Fast action, queer found family, poli relationship, enemies-to-lovers, morally grey characters, lots of magic.... basically all my favourite things in one book.

I loved the way the characters discussed attraction and relationships, I loved the way queerness was woven into the fantasy world, I loved how amatonormativity was challenged at every step and of course I loved secondary ace rep!

It's impossible to choose my favourite character and I'm so glad that instead if a love triangle we got an amazing poli relationship, because, as it was repeated, "love is not a finite resource."

The action was so fast, I was at the edge of my seat and things just kept happening. I love fast-paced fantasy so it's a huge yes from me.

Can't wait for everyone to read this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I’d like to mention first off, that I was so happy to see such an extensive trigger warning list from the author, as well as her willing to discuss and help readers navigate them. Clearly, she genuinely cares about her readers.

I was totally entranced by this book. The action starts right from the prologue and doesn’t stop. I love the magic system, it reminded me a little of the Dame Rouges from Serpent & Dove, and I loved it!

The world was fascinating, Greco-Roman inspired but more of the feeling and style rather than a straight transplant, which was lovely!

I loved Rovan’s relationships. She has a beautiful found family, two fantastic one interests, and her relationships are fleshed out and interesting. Three cheers for friendships in YA novels! Rovan herself is also a great character. She recognizes her own faults, she fights, and she loves deeply. She’s a very self-aware protagonist, which I love.

There are some incredibly well crafted scenes in the novel. The ones that comes to my mind first are when Rovan doublespeaks with Kineas and Ivrilos. Very cool. Some of the world-building is very, very complex, though, and at times, you do need to reread to completely get it. I love it, but I wish it was a little clearer.

The rep in this book was just *chef’s kiss*. Japha is an asexual nonbinary joy; Lydea is a sexy lesbian; Rovan herself is a cool af pansexual, and there’s even more. All the queer identities are explicit as well. Although they don’t use our language (fantasy world), most of the characters outwardly state how they feel about their identities and attractions. Strickland has done an amazing job of proving how normal and authentic queer identities are in fantasies and novels; no more excuses, other authors!

The book is also 100% sex-positive which we love to see in a YA. Rovan has important relationships with both Lydea and Ivrilos, and it is fantastic. This was one of the only books where I have enjoyed both love interests and actually enjoyed the love triangle!

I’m definitely going to read Strickland’s other books! This one is 5 stars from me.

Where do I even begin?
What a unique, phenomenally thought out fantasy.
I was hooked from start to finish. The depth in the characters was just incredible and I found myself rooting for them all. There are a LOT of characters, so it can get a little confusing BUT fear not there’s a very helpful family tree in the front of the book!
This had such amazing LGBTQ+ representation.
This will forever be one of my favourite fantasy books. I will definitely be reading this again! Absolutely fantastic!

Where to begin?
I honestly am speechless after that book. In the Ravenous Dark was honestly a breath of fresh air and I didn’t know I needed this book until I read it. I’m going to keep this spoiler free as much as possible! I’ve been telling a lot of people to preorder this while I was reading simply because of how beautiful the story was. I loved the world with the bloodmages and royalty and magic and darkness, at times I was a little confused at some parts but it’s honestly just because I was devouring the book and accidentally skipped some information which I went back and reread. The characters were so well developed, I was in love with them. And obviously in particular; Rovan, Lydea and Ivrilos - I thought each of them was simply delightful and it was so refreshing seeing Rovan’s relationship with them both flourish so magically. To conclude, I loved this book so much, I loved the representation within it and I thought Japha was an absolute angel, I loved them so much. The ending was so well written. I recommend this book to everyone honestly!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc for reviewing purposes.

I can’t put into words how much I ended up loving this book. It made me gasp and laugh out loud multiple times. I was a big fan of Rovan as the main character and her dynamic with all her friends and Ivrilos was absolutely brilliant. Japha and Ledya were fantastic friends and the way the found family trope came into place was brilliant. Ivrilos was just everything you’d what you want in a broody character (so edgy).

I must admit I was confused at first by the large amount of characters and how they all related to each other but I managed to grasp it towards the middle of the novel. I would have appreciated a character guide for sure!

I believe this is a stanadlone but I just need more from this world and characters.

I definitely recommend this book for any fans of dark stories with dark humour and great characters. Please do look up trigger warnings before reading as there are quite a few..

TL;DR recommendation:
Heavily liked/verging on love. The story was wonderful but my attention wandered from time to time. Definitely edging on the old side of YA.

Oh. My. Gosh. This is queer AF and I am HERE for it.

✨ Blood magic literally taking over bodies in a weirdly beautiful way
✨ A very shit system where people get thrown to the underworld as a tribute
✨ A royal family where women can never, ever, ever succeed
✨ A pansexual main with a lesbian princess and a non-binary bestie ready to take down the damn system

If that ain’t got you excited, then stop reading because this ain’t the book for you. If it’s got you intrigued, then we shall get along splendidly.

Let me introduce you to our new friend, Rovan. Rovan has had a bit of a shite life; her dad was killed in front of her for the same thing that she had charging through her veins. Blood magic. She did well to hid it until she used it in a very, very public place thus resulting in the world as she knew, crumbling around her.

Normally you’d be tossed into a dungeon etc. to rot your life away but she was whisked into the world of royalty, tethered to a dead shade and actively encouraged to use the magic she spent years concealing. Rovan’s shade lad of a guardian (otherwise known as Ivrilos) has one command he must follow – keep his ward in line. Instead of following the rules, the two form a bond between the living and the dead and go charging in with their new royal friends/lovers to take down the monarchy.

And I can’t not talk about the relationships throughout this. In the Ravenous Dark is set in a world where love is a free thing. Not bound by the dumb laws of the past, homosexual relationships are the norm and polyamorous lovers can freely live their lives. None of this feels forced in any way and I didn’t notice any incorrect misgendering throughout.

This is a wild ride. A standalone novel where a shit tone happens and it can feel a tad overwhelming at times. That being said, it’s written in a style that makes you laugh at situations where you probs shouldn’t be and when the action gets going, it a very easy read.

In the Ravenous Dark comes out on 18th May and you should hug this book with your entire heart.

P.s They mention Polis a lot in this. Whilst it’s a city in their world, it means the police in mine and the confusion was real.

Ok, let's be clear: this is a great fantasy book.
It's dark, gritty at times and highly entertaining.
A stand-alone story featuring great characters, a very interesting world building a plot that kept me hooked.
The author is a talented storyteller and delivers an excellent story.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
I would be happy to read other books featuring this world.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

“But this is the opposite of yesterday’s pageantry, where the living masqueraded as the dead. This is death dressed up as life, and it’s far more frightening.”

CW: Death of family, near death experience, blood

In the Ravenous Dark was set to be one of my most anticipated books of the year. I’m glad to report back that it totally lived up to expectations and I know it’ll be one of my top books of the year.

The characters in this were one of the strongest parts of the book, which is great because it was one of the driving forces behind me adding the book to my wishlist in the first place. The main character, Rovan, was prickly, sarcastic and not necessarily loveable at the start. She’s terribly selfish too, thinking entirely of herself. However, she really changes as the book goes on, growing as a character and starting to consider others and the effects her actions can have on them.

There was a whole host of incredible side characters, with genuinely interesting relationships. Rovan is pansexual and drawn to a princess and her spirit guard, so there’s kind of a FFM (enemies to lovers) relationship. But there is also a panromantic asexual non-binary best friend and they are fantastic (sassy, fabulous, beautiful) but also handled so well (no one bats an eyelash because it doesn’t matter how you identify if you still do what you have to).

Women are handled in a way which makes for good feminist discussions. Women can be warriors and can handle magic, but they are also forbidden from doing stuff. Everyone is forced into arranged marriages, but you’re cool to be with whoever you like outside that.

The relationships in this were definitely the strongest point. Rovan loves and she loves hard, but she maybe doesn’t always think of all the effects her love can have. She loves her family and her friends, but I loved her romantic relationships too. I definitely think the best side of it was with her spirit guard because it’s the most complicated one and it wasn’t as easy to predict.

It feels funny to say, but I liked that this plot started straight away. Often, books have a few chapters to set up the world, but there’s not that here. You are immediately thrown into it and you learn everything as Rovan – and the rest of the world – discovers it. This isn’t a story where everything, like the magic, is set at the start. It changes and develops and it’s fascinating.

The magic and the history of the world was interesting, and the plot was filled with a number of unexpected twists. I didn’t want to put it down.

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was gripping from the very start. Fantastically written. Would definitely recommend.

This book is original in its ideas weaving a world in which bloodmages have become law enforcers for the King. However, unlike bloodmages from Skyllea they have had a guardian attached to them.
The main character, Rovan has hidden her blood magic for a long time after seeing what the bloodmages did to he father when she was 7. When her girlfriends almost dies she saves her using blood magic exposing her to the bloodmages of the king. She is taken to the palace where she is thrown onto a den of vipers making discoveries about friendships and her family. Not knowing who to trust and who is on her side or not she has to learn to navigate the rules of court.
The twists and turns of the story make it a compelling read with some surprises.
My only slight reservation is the development of the love interests for Rovan. I feel that she falls in love based on looks rather than personality. Her love interests lack depth and personality other than in how they interact with Rovan. This is a shame because Lydea in particular could be developed into a stronger character. Japha is probably my favourite in that they just want to be themselves. It is refreshing to also read about a character who has chosen the pronoun they without it being the main plot of the story.
Definitely worth reading if you like fantasy and magic.

I didn't know what I got myself into starting this book. I thought something about blood magic and death and maybe some gothic vibes. I got so much more than I bargained for!

I love the story with its twists and turns. I loved where it went and how it got there. There were several twists I didn't see coming in a good way.

I also loved the number of friendships in here. There are some solid ones that last through thick and thin. I ship several of these friendships!

As this is a standalone I expected something heavy and a lot just to set the scene, but there wasn't. It was a pleasant level of world-building. It felt like a vivid place and a rather large place even though only a few other places are mentioned. There was just something about it that made me think it was a big area.

There were several things about this world/magic I didn't see coming but explains why the character on the cover cries red. I didn't see that feature coming at all and almost laughed out loud. And it fitted nicely into the story and the magic. It was very well done

Rovan is the main character and we get introduces to her as she wakes up with a hangover on top of a gazebo with a lady friend *wink wink*. Immediately I like her... I mean why wouldn't I? She also becomes determined to achieve her goal even if it becomes self-destructive. And she doesn't trust easily. All my favourite traits in a character.

Of the side characters, I think I prefeed Japha. They were just amazing and ace and so cool! Loved them.

The writing was smooth. considering this is a new author to me, I didn't know what to expect. But I enjoyed it. It drew me in and prevented me from putting the book down. It was uncomplicated and flowed easily from page to page.

I loved it! It blew me away. It was so much better than expected and had so many interesting features that I didn't see coming.

Yes, it wasn't perfect but I still loved it with some much of me that I think this author might become an auto-buy/request in the future. I'm excited to see what they do next.

Sometimes Bec will pick up a book and know within the first page or two that she’s gonna be hooked, and absolutely love it. Some books this has happened with before are The City of Brass, Ninth House, and Mexican Gothic – all very different books, not necessarily her brand of book or her go-to style, but ones she instantly loved and devoured. In the Ravenous Dark is definitely a new addition to this list.

But for Lauren, In the Ravenous Dark is exactly the kind of book she’ll reach for and push others to read. When others had discussed it they spoke about blood magic, how could she not want to consume it. This was definitely a book that grabbed her attention and she knows that Rovan’s personality is a solid reason for this, she’s got those kinds of Gideon vibes which just made her very enjoyable to read about.

This is something that Bec agrees with wholeheartedly as she felt something that immediately drew her in was how our main character, Rovan, has a lot of traits that are often put in a bad light in fantasy, and yet here they appeared so casually and without question. When we meet Rovan in the present day, she’s been drinking (and regularly does), she’s just spent a night on top of a gazebo with a girl – she’s queer, and she unashamedly loves sex. We both think it was so refreshing to see a sex-positive fantasy, especially with a pansexual, polyamorous main character!

Anyway, the story’s pace is very fast in the best possible way (Lauren even sat and read it all in two sittings because she fell so in love with it), but even through the darkest moments, Rovan refuses to be anything other than herself. She won’t change for anyone – especially the death-obsessed regime that tore her family apart – and we love that about her. She never once gives up a piece of herself, but she does take the time to reflect on her actions and put effort into improving her selfish nature – a nature that is hardly surprising after living in fear for many, many years.

So at this point, you’re probably thinking this is a book full of sex and blood magic, and well yes, there is a lot of both of those – but at its heart, this is a story of found family. On that note, let’s talk about some more very important characters!

After being taken to the palace once her blood-mage skills are discovered, Rovan soon meets Japha (a member of the royal family who is non-binary and asexual), and Lydea, a lesbian princess and just generally someone you want on your side in a palace full of people who are against you. We also meet Ivrilos, the (very handsome but very undead) guardian who Rovan is bound to so that her blood-mage powers can be kept under control. Ivrilos is definitely more of a mysterious character, but his character arc was really interesting to read and such a great part of the overall plot.

As mentioned, this is a story of a found family; found through loss and through fighting, through betrayals to those closest to you, through understanding your own power. Although our main four make bad decisions at times, they all fight for each other, and some aspects of what they’ll do to protect their newfound family definitely get quite dark and emotional. But what do you expect in a book that features death and blood mages? There is also an f/f/m polyamorous relationship, which was not only great to see in itself, but also the fact that it was discussed and all consented to without hurting each other was done perfectly.

The world-building and magic system itself was unique, yet easy to keep up with despite the fast pace of the storytelling. We wouldn’t be surprised if we see some lovely art inspired by the sigils in the coming months. Thanopolis is a fantasy Ancient Greece/Rome inspired land, and these inspirations were interwoven so well with the magical aspects and traditions created.

Really, our only complaint is that this is a standalone book and we want more of this world and these characters – isn’t that always the case when you find a book you love so much? The story is wrapped up perfectly in just the one book, but we already love this powerful group of misfits so much and we have such a need to read more about them. Truly we’d love to just follow them on an adventure or two. If you pick up just one new fantasy release this month, make it In the Ravenous Dark!

Content warnings: death, blood (including drinking blood), violence, vomit, alcoholism, grief, threat/mention of rape and sexual assault, sacrifices, death of a parent, threat of forced marriage, and speak of previous forced marriage.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I loved this book - it was a lot of fun and featured some really important representation for pansexuality and gender non-binary issues. I liked the spin on the vampire mythology and the protagonists were great characters. A great standalone fantasy novel - I look forward to reading more from Strickland.

This one took me by surprise, in an exceptionally good way. I loved how dark and raw this story was, and even though I did not expect to love it as much, I was sucked into the story from the beginning, and really enjoyed it. I normally don't like the main character, but Rovan was amazing, and I loved how fierce she was. This will definitely be a book you can find me rereading!