I really enjoyed the openness of "Others" mixed in with the ordinary world. I wish there would have been more on the growing discontent with regular folks wanting to close their world to "Others." The growing movement against those with supernatural abilities was mentioned in passing a few times, but it could have been expanded upon a bit more. Hopefully future installments will flesh this out more and add to the tension. The ending felt rushed compared to the rest of the plot's pacing, and felt a little anti-climatic and a bit corny. The snark was initially funny but became tiresome about halfway through. Despite these things, I did enjoy learning about Raven and especially her family, which provided a lot of comic relief throughout the story.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was a fun mashup of different beliefs, deities, and the idea that scientists screwed up and brought about magic (Because they couldn’t think of a better name) in the world through physics.

Raven and her twin are shifters, but not the garden variety foxes like their half siblings. In a world of magic and strangeness, the still feel odd, with no link to their mysterious father.
The family business is investigations, so when something is stolen, they’re hired to track the thief down and get it back. Too bad it’s her brawny idiot twin.

But, chaos ensues, and they discover their father. I found that part delightfully trippy trying to determine the lineage on that one, but it played an important role in the end of the book and I really liked it. In all, this was a great start to the series and I look forward to the next one. And, I totally agree with the list of pet peeves!!

Raven Crawford wants no dealings with the fae or the Underworld, but things change when her twin brother, Bear, suddenly turns up missing. With two fae lords demanding his whereabouts, Raven knows something bad has went down. That becomes even more clear when she learns he's stolen a very important artifact. Raven has to get to him before it's too late.

Although she has grown up in a fox shifter family, Raven and her twin are something much different. Keeping their identities and abilities secret has been paramount up until now. With two strangers tailing her, Raven must decide which one she can trust. Cole is the better option of the two, but Raven knows when it comes down to it, it's always going to be "twins before wins", as her brother says.

First off, the cover of author J.C. McKenzie's CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is bad *ss! CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS is the first novel in Ms. McKenzie's RAVEN CRAWFORD series. I love that it's so different from other paranormal out there. The fact that Raven can turn into multiple ravens is so unique in the shifter genre. Raven is resilient for sure. I love that although she's falling for Cole, she holds onto her own independence and values. I really enjoyed book one and cannot wait to see where she goes next. Paranormal/urban fantasy fans looking for something new and exciting, look no further than Ms. McKenzie's CONSPIRACY OF RAVENS.

I think the first thing I have to talk about is that I think this cover is amazing and was 100% the reason why I was drawn to this book. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I always break that rule. When it came to 'Conspiracy or Ravens' the cover really did do this book justice.

Going into this book, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I didn't think that it was going to be as funny as it was, but I'm so happy about it. Raven was such a great character and I loved the way she handled every situation that was throne at her. From the first couple pages I loved her.

This book was fun and the romance was great. I pretty much read this in about one sitting and have no regrets.

What's not to enjoy in Conspiracy of Ravens. It had everything I love to read about. Magic, mystery and mayhem with fae, mythology and lots of steamy chemistry.

Ravin and her twin brother grew up in a family of fox shifters. The family has helped both Ravin and her brother hide their true nature, they are actually 1/2 fae. There mother has had them hid their heritage their entire lives.

Raven's twin goes missing and very powerful fae come to Raven and her family to entice, threaten and/or even force them to find him and the treasure he stole.

Strong storytelling, undeniable chemistry and a great family dynamic makes Conspiracy of Ravens another urban fantasy series I will have to follow.

I received this ARC copy of Conspiracy of Ravens from J. C. McKenzie. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really liked this book. It had strong characters and an unusual story. I like the idea of twins with one good and the other a challenge. I also like the snark factor. Gotta have snark. I will eagerly await the next in the series.

Blurb:
Raven Crawford knows better than to venture into the seductive world of the dark fae or agree to any of their salacious promises. She plans to pay off her debts so she can get on with her life and stay far away from the denizens of the Underworld.

Unfortunately, her numbskull twin steals from the most tempting and lethal fae of them all. Now, Raven must help the Lord of Shadows get back what her idiot brother stole. Her only weapons? Just a little ingenuity and a whole lot of snark. It’s suicide for sure, but she’ll do anything to protect her twin,

My Thoughts:
this urban dystopian fantasy is fast paced and full of edge of your seat suspense, heart pounding excitement and a whole host of characters that I am sure you will come to enjoy, I love to read about. Magic, mystery and mayhem with fae, mythology and lots of sexy chemistry and this story provide that.

Raven is half-fae and also a twin. She is known to her family and friends as the "good twin" to her bad brother, Bear. Bear has always been a magnet for trouble. And after Bear goes missing, trouble comes knocking. His trouble then suddenly zeros in on her when she tries to find her missing brother. Trouble also has a handsome face and name- Cole (aka Tall Dark and Dangerous). But the problem is that he's trying to find Bear too...

What I like most is the author kept the book unique. I love the comradery of Raven's family. This was a mash-up of Fae and Viking mythology placed in Canada. I had a lot of fun reading this novel. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #NetGalley

This is a new to me author and ve come away with mixed feelings. On the one hand I really liked the bones of the story, world and characters. Unfortunately there were several problems for me. The pacing was off, it was a really slow start. The world building needed more, in that we the reader needed some more background, but with fewer info dumps. And really the info dump at 78% was bizarre. Lastly, the story kept getting bogged down with the constant ogling and sex. I'm a romance reader, but it as like there was a quota on it or something. All in all I will definitely look for the next in the series and hope for improvement.

I'm back with another great read.  It seems right now the Fantasy books are just what I'm craving more than anything else.  And this one had me enjoying every moment.  First off, this book is not for younger readers, as sex is present in this story.  Please be advised.

Now, Raven, the main protagonist, is not a model or perfect.  She is, however, very real and very flawed.  For once, I enjoyed the fact that we did not get the perfect main character.  We got to learn and grow with her, fight through her fears.

We also see some great family dynamics and 'bacon'!  Why doesn't love bacon?

The world was well thought out and we only got to learn as much as Raven needs to know at any given time, so there was no info-dumping or overloading.  I enjoyed seeing a different take on the 'heaven' and 'earth' and 'hell' scenario that we see so much of.

The plot had me guessing at a lot of things, and most of it only fell into place at the last bit, which suited me just fine.  Having kept me guessing, I liked seeing how this story played out. 

Also, there was a great romance in this book.  I don't want to spoil anything, but you'll enjoy seeing the relationship growth in this one... 

In Short

A great world I want to learn even more of.
Raven was sassy and broken and strong.  Also, #familygoals here!
There is so much more to read here, I'm sure of it...

Raven Crawford and her brother Bear are twins. Bear is on the run from the others Dark Fae. Cole is the Lord of the shadows she does not know if she can trust him in the search for her brother but she is so drawn to him (TDD) tall dark and dangerous. Raven is working nights at a run down diner to pay off her ex’s debts. Her life is going to get so much more interesting when she learns what her past has been hiding. You will enjoy the developing hot relationship with Cole which is just going to get hotter in the next book.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

We meet Raven Crawford, the main character of this book working at a job she hates, down on her luck and saddled with her ex’s debts. All this seems frivolous when the power hitters of the otherworldly/fae realms start calling on her looking for her brother.

I always enjoy a grumpy heroine and Raven had good snark and did not have the sense to be rightfully curled up under a table which is always fun in a heroine. Raven also had sizzling chemistry with Cole and I enjoyed their interactions. The other secondary characters were also quite well drawn and I especially look forward to finding out more about Bear.

The mystery in this book was quite compelling and I rather enjoyed the jumble of mythologies as it broadens the possibilities for future books. That said, I would have preferred slightly more information about the world earlier on the book. I found the pacing rather uneven throughout the book and it was a bit of a slow start. However, overall this book was fairly enjoyable.

My first read from J.C. McKenzie - I will definitely keep an eye out for the series to continue. The book takes place in an alternate world where realms between worlds have broken and fae can cross into the Mortal Realm. Raven, a half "Other", gets caught up in her brother's highjinks when he steals from the wrong person. Add in a couple dark fae, some interesting powers, and funny family dynamics and you've got a pretty unusual book.

It took a little bit to build up but I enjoyed the ending. Raven is extremely interesting and I’m eager to see her growth, both as a person and in her powers. Obviously, she is not what she seems in the beginning. I’d like a bit more world building and background context - McKenzie makes some assumptions without actually sharing context.

Raven is left in debt by an ex and must work days in her family business and as a waitress at night. People assume she is a shifter, like her family. They are unaware of her heritage, as is she. The Lord of Shadows offers protection and seeks assistance. They are combustible together. I immensely enjoyed this fantasy into the paranormal world. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the author's note to the epilogue with a promise of more, this book captured my attention! The author has a way with words that makes you stay up to the wee hours of the morning just so you can experience the story without a single solitary break. I truly can't pinpoint an instance within this book where I wanted to put it down - I just kept reading until I was finished. This is the first book I've read by J.C. McKenzie, and it's a shame that I did not find her sooner.

Lord of Shadows, Master of Darkness, Patron Fae of Assassins...but you can just call him Cole. That's who walks into the diner and immediately sets off alarm bells in Raven Crawford's mind. He is looking for her wayward twin brother, Bear, and there is no way she is going to help him. But soon more fae appear, and each is more deadly than the last. Cole becomes the one person who seems intent on keeping Raven safe, even if it is for a selfish purpose. What started off as a battle of wills is now a race of survival, not only for Raven but for her entire family.

Cole...*sigh*...I really fell hard for this TDD man. He was hard to read at first, because he appeared as a bad guy but soon became Raven's protector instead. It was confusing, intriguing, and alluring. He drew me in with his mysterious smile and his sheltering shadows, and I found myself rooting for him to seduce Raven and for her to fall for him. Raven was a really strong character with an instinctive loyalty to her family and a desire to learn more about her past. She never knew her biological father, and when this story reveals it, it's a huge shock. I loved the mythology the author wove into the story as well, making everything appear both fantasy and realistic. You could almost believe this could happen in real life, and that makes it all the more appealing.

I can't wait for the second book! It's going to be amazing to see Cole again, and I hope we get to see more of Raven's family as well.

This was SUCH a good book. I enjoyed almost everything about it. I laughed, I swooned (a lot), and kept wanting to find out what happened next. It was a great world created here with an interesting combination of dark realms, shifters, normals, and Nordic myths. What I really liked, that we definitely do not get enough of, was just how realistic and believable Raven was. She knew her limits and had no illusions of her being a one woman army. She had spunk, but knew when to bite her tongue. Her internal battle of wills between her head and her body were too funny. She didn't constantly run off doing stupid shit just to prove that she could. Needless to say, I liked her.

Raven was just a normal girl, working two jobs and living in a shitty apartment thanks to her ex who left her with $50k in debt. Just because she's part Other and can shift into a bunch of crows doesn't make her that special. Or does it? She's had a rough couple years now, but she has a family she loves and who will always be there for her. Unfortunately, her twin has disappeared. And there are a lot of dangerous people looking for him.

Cole is one such person. Patron fae of assassins, Lord of Shadows...he can kidnap me any day. Raven called it to a T when she said he was 'Tall, Dark, and Dangerous'. He's not a man to mess with with his violent personality that was just so damn hot. Add to that his quick wit, superior attitude, and volatile treatment of Raven and I'm a goner. Cole knows it was Raven's brother (Bear) that stole something from him, something very powerful, and he'll use any means to get it back before anyone else.

So the two of them sort of work together in order figure out where Bear disappeared to. During which time, Raven is constantly attacked by another Dark Fae Lord and Cole is always trying to save or protect her. Who cares if a few people have to die in order for him to do so. Something Raven thinks she should feel bad about, but in Cole's presence it only turns her on. I hear ya sister. During this time Raven is also constantly fighting her body's reaction to Cole because her body wants him bad. Man, did it take long enough for them to finally get together!

The more they find out, the more questions Raven ends up having. Her search for her brother leads her to, arguably, the most powerful person around...and her learning of her real father. Something she has a lot of trouble wrapping her head around. After Raven gets kidnapped (for the third time) we learn who was behind everything and why. It was a good end with some interesting fighting and lots of bloodshed. The only thing that could be considered urk-some is her brother's declaration because it was sooooo predictable.

The very end annoyed me, but only because I would have done the opposite of Raven. And I have a feeling what she did is going to have a Riddick kind of affect. If my theory is correct, this is going to be awesome going forward and would give her and Cole no reason to be apart. I really hope I remember to keep my eye out for the next one.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy Conspiracy of ravens. This was book 1 of the Raven Crawford series and I look forward to reading the next book. Raven works two jobs to pay off the loan she stupidly co-signed for her boyfriend. She has always tried to steer clear of the Fae world, until her twin steals from the Lord of Shadows. After that her world is turned upside down. Raven who is a
PI by day for her stepfather and a waitress at night, has a lot of snark which I like...and her diner pet peeves are bang on! The sizzle between her and Cole is great, and the plot kept me intrigued throughout. I was worried we wouldn’t meet Bear, her twin, but we did, briefly....so hopefully more of him in the next book!

Rating: 3.25 stars ... Because it's more than a 3 star read but not quite 3.5 stars? I'm a little torn, haha

I really liked this book, but at the same time I got impatient with Raven endlessly oggling Cole and lusting after his "dong" (as she so eloquently puts it) and talking EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. about how he smells like a moonlit forest glade or whatever. I get it - dude smells good. You don't need to talk about inhaling his scent every time he makes an appearance.

The overall mystery-ish plotline is interesting, as one would expect from an Urban Fantasy PI book. (Why are most Urban Fantasies about private investigators, detectives, and bounty hunters, anyway?) The who/what/why are pretty well plotted, but the entire story keeps getting bogged down by Raven and Cole's sexual hijinks. And when I say that as a romance reader... Yeah, it's a bit of a problem.

Raven is really interesting (and a total badass!), and I LOVE her family of fox shifters. I definitely want to read more about her half-siblings Mike and Juni. Cole is also intriguing in that dark, broody bad-boy way (or Tall, Dark, and Deadly...) and his interactions with Raven are alternately hot and hilarious. The writing itself is really well done, but the overall story just moves kind of slowly.

This is the first book in the Raven Crawford series. It can be read as a standalone in that the major plotline is resolved within this book, but it also is left somewhat open ended to continue for further books in the series. Personally, I doubt I'll be continuing with the series.

I am a huge fan of PNR/UF but this just didn't work for me. The beginning was hard to get into and the worst of it all was that Raven is a whiney mare with an inner monologue of a sixteen year old who has never had sex the oggling of the designated Hero? Really annoying.

This book was received as an ARC from J. C. McKenzie in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was very intrigued when I was introduced to this book die to its amazing cover art and intriguing description so immediately I had high expectations for this book. My expectations were met and then some. Raven was such a mesmerizing protagonist that you could not help but support her and be on her side. While aiming to pay off her debts, Raven's twin brother gets himself into trouble and Raven will stop at nothing to save him even if it means giving up what she loves most. I also love the unique approach J.C. McKenzie took with this book and it made the book so different that it was a whole book of twists and turns. Our book club will definitely be interested in this book when it gets released.

We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.