Lady Selene has just married Lord Damien, but it was not a love match. Instead, it was done out of desperation to save her life. She yearns to know Damien’s real feelings towards her. Kindness and fairness abound in her new husband’s life, as well as, in the treatment of his people. It is very different from the cold House of Ravenwood where she grew up.

The Great Light is often spoken of in her new home. Damien actively believes in and worships the Light, but Selene is unsure. Her dreams are haunted by the Dark Lady, causing her to be exhausted and tense. Shockingly, things she sees in her dreams begin taking place in real life. She urgently wants to bring it to an end, and spends lots of time pouring over ancient texts hoping to find an answer.

Unknown to Selene, her sister, Lady Amara, pursues Selene to rain destruction on Damien and his kingdom. Spurred on by their mother’s order not to return unless she is successful, and coupled with Amara’s jealousy of Selene, she will go to any lengths to be victorious.

Damien and Selene gently begin to get to know each other, talk of their amazing gifts, and consider what all their future’s may be. At the same time, storm clouds of war are gathering, and a clash among the houses seems destined to take place with the spring thaw.

There is much good versus evil in this tale. Selene is torn between what she has known her entire existence, and the life she is exposed to in her new home. Excitement in this story builds, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know what happens next. Flight of the Raven is the second story in the Ravenwood Saga, and has enough backstory to be read on its own–but the tale would be much richer if the first book is read. I highly recommend this 5-star book to all who enjoy fantasy and adventure with a Christian worldview.

Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Flight of the Raven, for the purpose of review.

This book suffered from sequel syndrome. While I really did enjoy it, it never quite lived up to the hype that had been built from the first book.

The world-building is what I think got the most time spent on it in the story. There was a lot of explaining and expanding on the complexities of the powers, the Grand House dynamics and Light, somewhat to the detriment of the character building. The author really does know how to paint a word picture and with her beautiful imagery I was able to imagine everything that was happening in the scenes as they unfolded, I think my biggest struggle was just that I wanted to care more about what was happening. While I was intrigued by everything I was learning about the Houses and powers, the emotion and depth in the book wasn’t as strong as the first book. I can’t seem to put my finger on why, but the scenes played out more as an historical retelling than an immersion in the lives of the characters.

The characters themselves didn’t seem to progress like I had hoped. Even though there were moments where they shined I kept waiting for real growth to shine through but everything kind of came across as forced or wrote. For Selene she was so closed off in the beginning and her relationship with Damien was the main reason I was excited to pick up this book but honestly I came away a little disappointed with how it all turned out. They’re together truly now, yes, but I still wish that the progression had been different somehow. Their small moments together were the best ones and it seemed like they went from a real courtship, where Selene was warming up to him, to just forcing things along because they didn’t want to be perceived as scared by the other. That bothered me. I was enjoying Damien’s attempt to bring Selene out of her shell and to show her he really cared for her. Once they started sharing a chamber together it seemed like all of their beautiful moments just ended. Somehow, even though they spent a good deal of time together in the book, the moments just felt too brief, it would’ve been nice had the author just lingered on them for awhile instead of rushing ahead to all of the political intrigue. The couple of times she did had such a tenderness and romantic purity to them that I wanted more.

Selene’s journey towards the Light was stilted and I praised the last book for not being too “religious” and being creative with it’s Christian themes but this book was much more overt. Selene actually came across as more lost in this book than she did the last one. And that wouldn’t have necessarily been a bad thing, had she come into herself, discovered more about her powers and the Light slowly but instead there are the jumps in time and knowledge that jolted me away from feeling like I had really watched her grow as a character. One second I felt like I was just getting to know her and the next she seemed like a stranger on the page. The ending and Selene’s decision to follow the Light, along with what happened to Amara all seemed so rushed and not how I had hoped it would all come about. Plus her struggles with the Dark Lady and coming to grips with her powers just didn’t resonate with me. None of it connected emotionally like the first book, it all read like a thinly veiled allegory so it was hard to get into the fantasy of it all.

I know from all of that it’s going to sound like I didn’t enjoy the book but I honestly did. The world was fleshed out more, Selene and Damien are still great characters and their sweet romance is better than many I’ve read lately, plus I got to know the side characters a little more and the story is obviously building to a good conclusion. Like I said before I just think this book suffered from middle-book syndrome where it had to add information about the world not included in the first book and then set up all of the pieces for the next book (or books, I’m not sure if this is a trilogy).

There were moments that were just perfect and then sometimes it just dragged, but overall this book was just like the previous one, I couldn’t put it down. The world that Busse has managed to build and the characters she’s created within it pull at your heart and imagination, compelling you to stay with them until the very last page is finished. While I can nit pick about things here and there, these books are still thoroughly enjoyable and come with great messages attached. I will absolutely be coming back for the next installment.

Mark of the Raven was one of my favorite reads of all time and this second installment did not disappoint. The settings and character interaction were so vivid, rich and full of life. Definitely the most enjoyable parts. There were plenty of good twists and page turning moments ... the Dark Lady, yeah, my bunny slippers are still hiding.

Congrats to Busse for pulling me so deeply into Selene and Damien's "finally" kiss. Kisses, meh, I never care about them, but this was so, so good ;).

On a down note (spoilers ahead) ~

This is a personal issue for me. I don't handle character death well so it has to feel necessary for the character's arc/main storyline for me to begrudgingly accept its appearance. While most of the climax/ending was just perfectly amazing; I can't make myself feel that a certain character's demise was needed. I'm trying to trust Busse has a reason ... trying.

But overall, seriously, where is book 3. I need it hmmm, in the next five minutes would be quite acceptable.

You know how the first book in a series can suck you in, but then the second book sometimes kind of leaves you wanting more? Not with the Ravenwood Saga. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Mark of the Raven, but the second book blew me away. The only thing Flight of the Raven left me wanting was for it to never end.
The atmosphere of intrigue, the depth of emotion, the richness of the world Busse created in the first book, were all multiplied in Flight of the Raven, but with the added element of hope. That hope brought so much to the story. While my heart broke for Selene in the beginning of the saga, it leapt for her in this story. And now, I can’t wait to read what happens next.
It’s hard to beat a Morgan Busse fantasy, and Flight of the Raven proves that. It’s a beautiful, action-packed story of love, loss, and hope that I highly recommend you read.
Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!

As with many good fantasy series, the story hits it’s stride in the second book as the beautiful world created is known to the reader and the author can focus on the action. Such is the case with Flight of the Raven, I thoroughly enjoyed the first but the second book by Morgan L. Busse is even better. Similarly, in these sorts of series, the end comes too quickly and the next is eagerly anticipated!

To share more without spoiling the journey is tricky, but, I can safely remark the inclusion of Christianity, in a wholly created world, is brilliant. I loved the truths tucked in and Serene’s discovery of the Great Light. The perceptions shared around the gifts given to each of the leaders of the house is beautifully handled and great reminder of our responsibility to use our own gifts wisely. Romance is kept at a minimum in the storytelling despite our two leads being newly weds but love weaves gently throughout in a subtle way. It is action packed, fast paced and I read it straight through! The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to, I particularly connected with Serene.

This novel ends on the precipice of a great war between good and evil and the reader is left with bated breath awaiting the next episode!

If you are fond of fantasy, I highly recommend this one. It is a five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale!

Okay. This is my first time reading a novel by Morgan L. Busse. I kid you not when I tell you that I COULD. NOT. put it down!! What an incredibly brilliant author! The story itself moved along quickly and built upon itself with ease. But the characters...just wow. Selene and Damien (and Taegis!) absolutely captured my heart and will literally stay with me forever. The way the author created a world of Great Houses, lesser houses, the Light and the Dark Lady was absolutely incredible and had me feverishly turning the pages.

Dear Morgan L. Busse,

I am your new super fan.

xo,

Stacie

In many ways this is weaker than the first book but all signs point to an action packed, fast paced finale. The characters and their relationships progress, and Selene's breakthroughs in particular feel triumphant. Yet every character besides Selene felt pantomime in some way, particularly the villains. The world building and intrigue stalled in this book even as the relationships progressed. This reads very much like a young adult book in all ways besides the writing, which can lean more middle grade. This series lacks subtlety with its plots and characterization, but somehow remains emotionally affecting. And that's perhaps the main reason to keep reading.

3.5 stars

I was so excited to read this book, as I really enjoyed the first one in the series. It’s certainly best to read the books in order. A person would likely be lost if they tried to read this one as a standalone.

I really like Selene and how she is trying to figure out who she is in her search for the truth about the Light, as well as the internal struggle of what it would mean to go against her family and the legacy she was told she must fulfill. I liked how Busse showed the growth of Selene’s relationship with Damien, too. The characters are realistic and the pace appropriate. I can’t wait to read the final book in the series!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Flight of the Raven by Morgan Busse is number two in the fantasy series entitled The Ravenwood Saga. I read the first book a while ago, but I had a hard time remembering what I read. I believe, and this series proved it, that fantasy novels need to be read one right after another. The stories are usually pretty linear, and flow naturally, but it is hard to process what happened before if it has been a while since reading. I do enjoy how Busse allowed the heroine Selene to be interested in searching for the truth about the Light and going against what her families legacy currently is. She is discovering more about what really makes world tick, and I enjoy her curiosity. The series is building toward its climactic moment, and I can't wait to see how this plays out. As for the plot in this series, it really is about Selene finding herself and learning to love, but the big action I hope will play out in the final book. Overall, Flight of the Raven is an enticing read filled with memorable characters and a overarching threat, begging to explode like the water surrounding the kingdom.

I received a complimentary copy of Flight of the Raven by Morgan Busse from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This was a great middle book. The first book went out on a BANG and this second book hits the ground running.

I loved the way marriage was represented and I enjoyed the exploration of and growth through faith.

Can't wait for the last book!