9.0/10

In Ravencaller, readers of The Keepers series are given exactly what was promised at the end of Soulkeeper: an expanded world with more monsters, a deeper dive into the plans of the gods, evolved powers by the good guys, and more battles. That was the formula for Book 1 of the series (albeit, on a smaller scale), and if it ain’t broke why fix it?

In the second volume of the series, the monsters begin to take over after waking from a centuries-long slumber. There is, of course, much animosity between them and the humans as the monsters retake land that as theirs before The Sisters put them away. Humans obviously do not react well to this and fight to keep their homes.

I found it to be really interesting that there was some dissension amongst the Gods (and demi-Gods), as well. The reader learns a lot more about their motives in this story, and not all of them agree on the outcome. This aspect had to be part of the story; otherwise, there would not be any reason for the Gods and monsters not to just run right over the humans. The fact that the biggest reason humanity is able to hold their own is that the Keepers in this story are given elevated powers by the Gods that support them is really important to the story, as it adds depth to the plot. This is a war being fought on two fronts: one between mortals, and the other between immortals, and it gets messy at times. In my opinion, this is the biggest plot point that drives the most interest in the story.

The writing in this book is just as good as the first, as well. It is so smooth and flows really well, plus the author’s use of plot devices as a method for moving the story along and as a method for instigating important events in the story continues to be at a pro level, which I find to be really enjoyable in this book. The story evolved along a logical path, and that is a big plus.

The only reason I did not give this book the same rating as Book 1 in the series is because the first book was full of big monster reveals. Obviously, the second book could not continue in the same manner, as the story was ready to go to the next level, but Soulkeeper was just so much fun. As I mentioned before, Ravencaller is just as well-written and interesting, and I continue to really like this series a lot. The difference between the two books is that Book 1 did it first, and, naturally, a little bit of that shine wears off in Book 2.

Overall, Ravencaller is a worthy follow-up to Soulkeeper in The Keepers series. With similar plot elements and characters and an evolved narrative, the story just keeps getting bigger. I am excited to see what comes next and how the third installment takes this series to an even higher level. I continue to recommend this series to fantasy fans.

The story in Ravencaller takes place soon after what happened at the end of the previous book, and it’s an installment that mainly revolves around the most vital aspect of this series: the characterizations and the genuine character’s developments. Devin, Adria, Jacaranda, and Tommy are characters that felt so real, and I loved reading about them so much. Struggles and hardships have completely robbed them of their innocence, and witnessing them trying their best to retain every sense of goodness while having to do relatively bad things to survive was utterly captivating. A longing for peace, a longing for a different life, trying to love and stay loyal to each other despite myriad temptations; the characterizations for these four, above everything else in the series, are what made Ravencaller work so well for me.

This sequel is a punch to the gut when it comes to the action. It is constantly moving and you are constantly stressed. Dalglish has imagined a vast, fascinating universe with countless possibilities and it made for an altogether more exciting and unpredictable plot. The scope of the setting never overwhelms though with the author keeping the cast small and thereby bringing balance and an intimate feel to the story, which is only enhanced further through the character relationships.

Ravencaller is an exclamation mark in the world of fantasy, revealing Dalglish to be in complete control of his style and the story he wishes to tell. The compelling narrative, authentic and complex characters and the wonderfully imaginative universe all combine to deliver one of this year’s most exciting releases, and if you have not yet decided to read Soulkeeper, you will be missing out.