Such a great anthology! Loved the stories, the cover and the writing flowed so well! Thanks to NetGalley for and e-arc!

Book – The Raven Prince and Other Stories
Author – Jean-Paul Whitehall
Star rating – ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 176
Cover – Great!
Would I read it again – YES!
Genre – FF, MM, Romance, Fantasy, Anthology, Historical, Contemporary
Triggers – some stories contain instances/references/explorations of: bullying, homophobia, bloody fights, underage (consensual) sexual situations and threats of rape.


** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine


The Raven Prince and Other Stories is a charity anthology (100% proceeds going to a LGBT youth charity) that packs an immediate punch. Weaving together historical and fantasy tales, with magic, romance and YA-appropriate experiences and feelings, the writing sweeps you away into another word right from page one.

At the root of every story, at the heart of every relationship, is friendship. And, in this era, where romances can be fleeting and love not always ever-lasting, it's especially important to embrace and remember the friendships that have lasted and helped us move through each struggle that comes out way.

~

Our Lady of the Axe

★★★★★

POV: 1st person, one character
Length: 1-22%
Theme: Historical, Regency England, marriage, FF, Magic
Triggers: rape threats, scenes of blood/gore,

This was an amazing story. Right from the start, Eleanor was a little girl with a big future, a girl who didn't quite fit into the proper ways of young women in Regency England. The story progresses through three important periods of her life: questioning a family legacy as a young girl, finding out the secrets of the family legacy as a young lady, and then facing the horrible fate of a marriage to someone she didn't like, as a young woman.
Through these experiences, we see Eleanor grow and become braver, become stronger, and start to find her way in her own life. When she's kidnapped by ruffians who are being paid to ensure her marriage to a big-headed Duke, things begin to really ramp up excitement wise. There are the historically accurate, if horrifying to think about, threats of rape towards young girls, one as young as seven, but thankfully nothing ever happens to them and they don't even remember the incident, later.
With magic, a sweet thread of FF romance, and a whole lot of strong women, this story is a great start to the book, but also a really great read. I loved Eleanor and I loved the journey she went on, finding strength from within and learning to view life in a different way to the way she'd been raised.

Favourite Quote

“He was still holding my hand as he led me to the settee. I was too ladylike to knee him between his legs to retrieve it.”

~


Edging

★★★★☆

POV: 1t person, present tense, one character
Length: 23-28%
Theme: Contemporary, Teen Romance, Edging, Fear of Heights, Established Couple, MM

This was a really cute story about how one word can have two different meanings to two different people. Although it was cute and funny, it did revolve around two guys who were only 15, so I felt more like a pervy adult spying on kids – which is icky – than I would have felt if they were older. I had to squint real hard and just think of them as immature 20-year-olds. There is a lot of sex talk, about boners and what experience the two guys have with each other, and I think teens would appreciate the honesty and relatability of it, so I'm giving it bonus points for that. For an adult – squishy. For a teen – perfect teen comedy in a short bite.

Favourite Quote

“I figure if this works out, when we get really old, like thirty or something, I'll tell him he coulda had my boner and the rest of me at “Vince, I'm gay,” and not wasted a whole damn year.”

~

The Plan That Didn't Gang Aft Agley

★★★★☆

POV: 1st person, present tense, one character
Length: 29-35%
Theme: Contemporary, Teen Romance, MM

Ugh, the cuteness is off the charts!
I'll admit that I was confused about location, at first, as both previous stories took place in the UK and this one has a Robert Burns quote at the start. But, it takes place in Dallas, which made sense of some of the setting details.
Again, it has that teen speech that was in the previous story, but to a lesser extent. And, again, it has two 15 – almost 16 – year olds, so feels a little uncomfortable when they talk about all the sex stuff and boners etc. But, again, it would make a fantastic read for a teenager. The cuteness, the romance, the relateability and the contemporary setting all make for a great teen story.

Favourite Quote

“I'm looking at you, William Robert “Don't you effing dare call me Billy-Bob” Jones.
I like looking at you, Billy-Bob. I don't tell you often enough.”

~

Family Be Damned

★★★★★

POV: 3rd person person, dual character
Length: 35-37%
Theme: Contemporary, School Dance, FF, Teen Romance

Adorable. Perfect. Just right.
I love that we got to see both girls as they got ready for the school dance, and how they managed to make it happen according to their plans. I love that both sets of parents were worried about Big Tony and all the rumours about him, yet he didn't even look at either girl and they weren't looking at him.
Really cute, adorable, lovely story.

Favourite Quote

“She looked around. Smiled. Yes!”

~

The Raven Prince

★★★★

POV: 1st person, one character
Length: 38-99%
Theme: Contemporary, High School, Bullying, Homophobia, MM, Friendship, Shifter
Triggers: Bullying, Homophobia

Wow. I barely know what to say. It's been a while since a story left me this speechless.
Powerful. Heart-wrenching. Equally beautiful and sad. It makes you stop and think, and cry, and breathe, and wonder...and not stop reading.
If there is one thing I can say before I get into the bones of the story, is it that you CANNOT stop reading at Fin. This story has so many P.S.'s that I lost count. And each and every one of them is more important than the rest. Even the last one. Because, yes, it all applied to me. Even the last, poignant message “Wipe your eyes at the beauty of life, love, and Ravens of Unusual Size, and go!”
I'm crying while writing this, just as I've been crying while reading it. And don't think I didn't love the 'The Princess Bride' references.

This story is about bullying, yes. But it's also about strength, friendship, love, resilience in the face of fear, justice, the power of lies, strength in numbers, and revenge. It's about facing the truth, no matter how hard it might be. About finding strength within yourself to do what is right, even if it's hard. It's about standing up for yourself, and others, because no matter how small an act of bullying might be, allowing it continue unchecked can lead to untethered escalation, until the consequences are so dire that no one involved can remember how it got that far.
I have to give a shout out to the author for the warnings. Not only at the beginning of the story, about how hard it might be to read about bullying, but also the warnings throughout, that told me I could just skip to the next chapter, or avoid reading the next bit, if I was going to have issues with it. As someone who is a major 'book trigger' advocate, I heartily thank you for those warnings.
However, I kept reading and I'm an emotional mess right now, because of it. Because, what came after hurt, was painful to read, and hit me where it hurts, but was so, so important. I can't stress enough how IMPORTANT it is for people – adults, too, but especially teenagers – to read stories like this and realise the serious impact and consequences that bullying, or even ignoring bullying going on around you, can have. That lies spread quicker than the truth and are more likely to be believed. That words are a real weapon, just as real as any gun or locker or knife.
I can't think of a more adapt phrase than “I remember...” because, it's the truth. People who are bullied or who have witnessed severe bullying, will never forget it. People who are impacted by bullying in any way, will NEVER forget it. They always remember. And the most important thing that anyone who reads this book can do is...remember. Remember the pain. Remember the love that fought through it. Remember the injustices. And remember that words are humanity's most vicious and most frequently used weapons. We wield them without thinking and they always hit their mark. And just as physical injuries can't be undone, words can't be taken back.

I remember...and I will never forget. This story, the impact it has, or the lessons it can teach us all.

Favourite Quote

I honestly couldn't pick one. It was hard enough to get it limited to these four.

“I am the master of my face. I am the captain of my cock.
I lost control of both in English class.”

“I decided I'd enjoy what I had while I had it, and when I didn't have it any more...I'd cope.”

“I'll make sure there's a do-no-mpreg-the-Raven-Prince clause in the unwritten contract before I agree to serve.”

“Please remember...if a bird shits on you, don't get angry. Pause. Think about what you did to deserve it. And mend your ways.
Birds are, as you now know, instruments of justice.”

~

OVERALL

While I enjoyed each and every story that was contained in this collection, the first and last had the most lasting impacts on me. I would so happily read more stories about Eleanor, the brave, independent young woman, who kicked ass and took names. But, most especially, Mike stole my heart. I'm not sure when I last read a story that impacted me the way 'The Raven Prince' did, but I sure as heck would want to read more. I want Mike to be happy, to see more of Lisa's writing endeavours, and to check in at least one more time, to make sure that he gets his happily ever after. Even if it can't be with Johnny.

While this collection is generally about love, I also feel that it's just as equally about friendship. Every couple here were friends before they became anything more. Their friendship led them through hardships, through trials and heartache. Those friendships helped them fight and change and shift into new, stronger, better people.

If this is how his short stories feel, then this is definitely an author I want to read more from.

The Raven Prince and Other Stores by Jean-Paul Whitehall was a delight. Out of all the stories, I enjoyed Our Lady of the Axe the most out of all the stories. I feel like that one was a fresh, historical fiction read and focused on Elanor learning the history of the Our Lady of the Axe portrait that doubles as a family protector. I loved how witty and badass the protector was. It was a lot of fun to read this one and I didn’t want it to end.

There were a few shorts, focused on two teenage boys, learning more and more about their sexualities. There wasn’t anything too remarkable about the stories … besides the fact that in each one they would get stiff every time the wind blew. The line was not unique to any one story and appeared multiple times. It was neat to see the Romeo and Juliet remake and I wish that one would have been expanded.

Now on to the namesake of the collection, The Raven Prince. I loved this one. Because Mike categorized the bullies in a way that I did back in high school. He was witty, fast with the comebacks and did his own thing without apologies. It broke my heart in a couple of places, made me laugh, made me want to jump in the book and show those bullies what was up. That is an excellent sign of how much I enjoyed the story. I got lost in The Raven Prince and wished for a full sized novel featuring these characters.

Now I know I have another author to stalk and read all of their work! The cover put me off, but don’t let the cover push you away. It really is a great little collection of stories.

This is a collection of stories that address some serious issues in the world and make them easier to understand as well as cope with.
*Our Lady of the Axe
“Your Grace, this will take far too long and risk an outcome more disadvantageous to you, if there is no honesty in this room.” I stroked the shaft again. “Have you ever wondered if a battle axe might find particular delight in hewing down the dishonest?”
The first story is Our Lady of the Axe who is a protector of the family that descends from her line. Each time the eldest daughter in this family is married they receive the painted depiction of Our Lady and are told the secrets that are hidden in the portrait. In this case, the story is about Elanor and her refusal to marry though it is her third season in the Ton of 1800’s England.
I particularly adored Elanor and her refusal to settle down to just any Courtier that wants her dowry and even if that means being called a spinster at the ripe ole age of 19! Furthermore, I loved that her parents supported her and did not pressure her to marry the not so charming Duke that is dead set on marrying her. The Duke, however, will not be so easily dissuaded and hatches a plan to have our fair beauty and her friends kidnapped.
What happened next was absolutely glorious and had me cheering aloud for Our Lady! To avoid ruining it for you I will not give details but now I envy Elanor to the extent that I want my own portrait protector! There was also some tonsil hockey gratitude bestowed upon Elanor by her friend Diana that had Elanor regretting kissing men! Holy Medieval Girl on Girl Action Batman!
Elanor is a fantastic heroine all the way through to the end! She dispatches the dastardly Duke like a real Lady should and insists on finding a way to be with her true love even if it is a faux pas to the Ton and the loss of her reputation.
“At the moment we are discussing honesty and the men... the remaining men… that you hired to kidnap us and hold us for ransom. You did not believe their story of an insane woman who, ah, took an axe and gave them forty whacks, and when saw what she had done, tried to give them forty-one?” I borrowed a bit of his smugness back and used it. I thought it rather a clever rhyme made up on the spot.

*Edging
This was an eye-opening short that will introduce the reader to two fifteen-year-old homosexual boys, Vince and Tommy. Vince and Tommy are curious to try new things… and do what fifteen-year-old boys do. It did make me laugh several times and I had to look up a few terms because I was not familiar with them. Now I am. Love is a beautiful thing, and everyone should be fiercely in love and be loved in return no matter who they love! <3

*The Plan That Didn’t Gang Aft Angly
This short is also about two fifteen-year-old homosexual boys but I sure do prefer it to the former because it is a love story- albeit a short love story. I was genuinely happy and giddy after reading it. I am a sap for a huge romantic gesture and lordy-be this one had me tearing up. Jack and Billy are on the high school football team deep in hometown Texas football country. The courage that it takes to stand up and announce to everyone right on the football field with both families present, that they are now an “out and proud” couple is truly inspiring. Loved this one!

*Family Be Damned
I adored this short and simple retelling of Romeo & Juliet! Like I said I am sap for love stories! I am not going give away the big secret, but this short was a stroke of genius! Especially the names and the planned meeting! Ah, to be young and in love again!

*The Raven Prince
The Raven Prince is by far the best short story in the novel and I am glad they saved the best for last! The Raven Prince deals with some serious injustices. It’s been far too long that bullying has been classified as physical abuse alone and too long weak-minded people have turned a blind eye to the abuse. We are reminded how difficult small circles in society make the lives of those who classify themselves as homosexual and those who support them. The world needs more people to stand up to bullying and to the hate.
The Raven Price is an unsung hero in this aspect. He exacts his own form of justice for someone he cares about dearly when no one – even that person’s own family- did not care if he lived after being brutally “Gay-Bashed” for a nasty rumor with zero merit! I celebrate the way that this story was written and for someone trying to open the minds of others. Bravo!
Mike is an average raven-shifter boy who undergoes the dreaded move to a new home in a very closed-minded small town in suburbia. Right from the moment the token bullies of his new school lay their eyes on him, Mike becomes their favorite new toy. Too bad their toy does not play fair and is not afraid of them or their jeers. After many trial and error attacks, the Four, as Mike refers to them, find a way to truly hurt Mike and to ruin another’s life.
Johnny and Mike had become fast friends from very different ends of the social hierarchy. Johnny is a “mindless jock” from the wrestling team and a popular kid around the school. He does not let the faux pas of high school social standards keep him away from his new best friend – that Four refers to as “the fair”y- or as Johnny calls him “Goth Boy”. Mike and Johnny joke about their self-imposed titles but are delighted to find that other people start to “flock” to them after Mike has a very visible victory over the Four.
The Four decide that since they cannot hurt Mike, Johnny should be their new target. Now as previously mentioned, the tale is set in a close-minded small town, so when rumors of sexual favors between Mike and Johnny become rampant, Johnny begins to show the side effects of bullying. Soon it is clear that he is trying to avoid Mike to help stop the rumors. That is until Johnny becomes a victim of a hate crime and is brutally attacked by his own family! Thus, leaving him in a coma. Que the best revenge piece I have ever read! To avoid spoiling it for other readers I will not elaborate in detail but Mike avenges not just Johnny, but all of those out there that wish they could stand up for themselves and get justice. Thus being a hero in a very untraditional form.
Just when I thought there would not be a complete happy ending, the author sprinkled in more than a few P.S. memos which each caused laugh out laughter and a warmth to spread all over my soul! I loved that Mike and the characters often laughed at themselves and did not remain too serious even at the end!
“Wipe your eyes at the beauty of life, love, and Ravens of Unusual Size..”

This novel had several stories in it and I hope I have did them all the credit they deserve! It is so refreshing to read a book, and have so many issues addressed within. I do recommend this book to anyone wanting to broaden their horizons and to those who love a good dose of satire!