Gosh, this was a tremendous novel. I've always loved Busse's ability to demonstrate the internal struggle we all grapple with between light and darkness and in Cry of the Raven she takes this to another level. I don't know how she does it; it's simply superb writing.

Lady Selene Ravenwood is a wonderfully developed character who we've seen struggle with her dreamwalking gift and in this episode we see Selene venture into the dreamscape world continually. I love how Busse portrays the 'dream world' and how we get to see both light and dark of various people Selene inhabits for a time. In this story, we see Selene's internal struggles overlaid with confrontations in dreamscapes which once again Busse does beautifully.

But this story isn't just about Selene. In fact, there's so much more. The Empire wants to take over the seven Great Houses that at the beginning of the story are hardly united. And one of the themes Busse explores is the importance of unity to overcoming evil. In addition, the importance of everyone using their spiritual gifting in a unified manner creates a strength that is unrivalled and no darkness can stand against it. It's a message for we believers: the importance of being united as a church in using our gifts for the glory of God and the rescue of mankind.

There was such a fine cast of supporting characters. The heads of the Great Houses, Damien, Lord Leo, Lord Raoul, Lord Renlar, Lady Bryren (and her magnificent flying wyverns) and so on plus others like Lady Ayaka with her healing gift and Caiaphas, Selene's father. And the bad guys were outstanding: Commander Orion (Head of the Dominia Empire), Lady Ragna and in this episode we see more of the Dark Lady. There is one battle near the end featuring Ragna and the Dark Lady which is brilliantly executed.

Often when one comes to the end of a series we want it to continue and never end but as brilliant as The Ravenwood Saga is I feel there's a completeness about it and Busse brings it to a natural and very satisfying conclusion. Could there be a spin-off? Certainly, and how neat would that be.

As another reviewer has said, each of the three books got better and better so this is a series that one must start at the beginning.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review. But I did this wanting to get my hands on the book before it was released and look forward to adding the paperback edition to my collection with the first two stories.

“Numb. So numb. The only thing Selene could feel was the dull thump of her heart beating as she sat beside the window in the guest chambers the next day.” - Opening line of “Cry of the Raven” by Morgan L. Busse

Cry of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse is the conclusion to the three part Ravenwood Saga. Selene and Damien stand on the brink of war as they try to unite the Great Houses to fight the empire. With Selene’s mother and one Great House on their side, the empire looks formidable and begins to breakdown the border protections.

Damien is struggling with his power, he is left weaker each time he uses it, Selene’s power, however, keeps getting stronger. For both, their power represents their ability to walk with the Light. As they work through their past trauma, their relationship with the Light strengthens. I really enjoyed the way Morgan wove Christian truths, particularly on forgiveness, throughout the series and she does a phenomenal job,

The book concludes with the war against the empire and I don’t cope well with bloody battle scenes, particularly ones involving horses, so if you are like me, there are parts you’ll want to skim over but it is a small part of the book. I felt the war and it’s conclusion wasn’t as interesting as the dreamscape battle so whilst I’d hoped for a more complicated end, it is a triumphant end.

I did thoroughly enjoy this series’ mystery and adventure. If you enjoy Christian speculative fiction, this is one to read. It’s a four out of five on the enJOYment scale!

“Remember what we’re fighting for."

Cry of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse

My thoughts:

There is darkness in this world that Busse has created. Darkness is creeping over the lands, seeking to devour the seven Great Houses. Darkness is whispering in people's dreams, feeding their fears and hopelessness. And yet there is a Light stronger than the darkest night. This is the story of the dreamerwalker who spread that Light in this world's darkest days.

Lady Selene Ravenwood Maris has come a long way over the last 3 books. To quote my review on the first entry of the series:

"Have you ever gone through a period in your life when everything is dark and dismal? When hope and joy are things that only exist in theory? That is Lady Selene's everyday life. Smiles and laughter are few and far between as she is burdened by duty and the dark secrets of her Great House of Ravenwood. She is a highly moral woman being manipulated down a dark path. She is asked to set her morality aside, lock away her heart, and follow the deadly path of the dreamers before her. She is self-sacrificing and quiet. She's serious and struggles to keep any and all vulnerabilities under lock and key."

In this book, she has learned to love and be loved. She has set aside the dark ways of her mother and the dreamers before her to fully explore what their gifts were truly intended for. To quote this book:

"The dreamer comforts the weary, inspires the broken, and brings peace to fearful minds."

Selene does all those things and more.

The romance between her and her husband, Lord Damien Maris is sweet and not overdone. It's also very clean. My only complaint there is that I tended to struggle to retain interest everytime they were separated. Everytime they reunited, my attention snapped right back into focus. I would've liked to have seen them fight together more than they did.

Damien also has nice character development. He started the series as a good man held back in some ways by grief. He ends this book as a great man who learns how to not be crippled by loss. He remembers his father once telling him:

"You have a big heart. And it hurts to see the pain in this world. But that’s not a weakness. It is your hidden strength. Never forget that.”

Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to the series. I would definitely read any book that was set in this world Busse created and I hope to read more about the seven Great House.

I recieved this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

"And then her heart changed, or at least she understood it; and the winter passed, and the sun shone upon her."

The Return of the King by J.R.R Tolkien

This book wasn't terrible. Sadly, that's kind of all I can say about it. I wish I had raving praise to give it or something amazing to say but honestly I was just expecting more.

This book suffered from the same problem the second one did, lack of emotional depth. It’s not that the writing isn’t good, there are moments where the world really comes alive and you can truly appreciate the characters. But for the most part, the book simply falls flat. The dialogue feels stilted and overly formal and the pace moves so quickly that nothing has room to breathe. There was no time given just to appreciate a somber, tender or intense moment. Sometimes things would happen in the narrative that simply came across as forced, rushed and a bit disjointed as if the pieces of it didn't quite fit together. This made it hard to connect emotionally with the characters and their struggle as the book progresses too rapidly from one thing to the next. Nothing resonated because I felt more like I was observing the characters than experiencing their story. 

Unfortunately, that lack of emotion definitely took its toll on the romance. I loved Selene and Damien’s relationship in the first book. By the second it felt like almost two different characters, just going through the motions. This third book really didn’t improve that feeling. There were some genuinely sweet moments but overall their relationship lacked the spark they had in the first book. I'm not sure if the author was trying to show the maturity in their relationship, which could've been fine, but in the end they both came off as more distant than mature. Plus, having them spend a good deal of time apart seems like an odd choice for the final book. Their moments together were too brief and I would’ve loved to have seen them conquering things together and not just in an encouragement here or there but to have really taken on the challenges together. They speak of how much they miss each other and how intense their connection is but with their continued formality towards each other and little interaction on the pages together, it’s hard to believe that.  Their ending was on the surface just what I would’ve wanted but it felt hollow without the emotion behind it. It seemed more like they were two people co-habitating than two people who defied the odds and fell deeply in love.

The faith elements in this book did end up feeling a little repetitive at times. I know it can be difficult to incorporate Christianity into a fictional world, especially one of fantasy and I had praised Busse for the way she wove it in the beginning. Sadly in this book the message became more of the focus, less so the characters and I think that's where the idea fell apart.  While I appreciated the authors sentiments, the way the characters spoke about the Light didn't always come across as natural so often the message felt forced. The  times where this faith theme was utilized best were when the characters simply acted according to what they believed. When their behavior showed the conviction of their faith in the Light. The times when they tried to speak too much about it, to themselves or others, that's when it didn't come across so well.

I had hopes that different small plots might be explored further, like Raoul from House Friere, Lord Leo and Lady Ayaka and especially Ophelania, but all fizzled out at the end. It's a shame because there was enough in each to be elaborated on further. Especially with Raoul and Ophelania, her storyline resolved too easily in the end and the two of them could've had interesting intertwining plots together had that avenue been explored. Honestly even though this book wasn't short, I would've been ok with it being longer or even having a fourth book just to have all those little glimpses and details that were hinted at be fleshed out more.

Busse's writing is still great. While her characters can lack some depth, her imagery for world and scene crafting is wonderful. I can always imagine what is taking place and picture the surroundings, something not all authors are able to achieve. I simply wish her characters had remained the lively, engaging people they were in the first book. Like I said above, this book wasn't terrible, it just wasn't amazing either. It pains me to say that because I want more Christan fantasy out there. I want more Christian writers to know that writing in the world of fantasy is a great use of the imagination and there's a way to weave faith and fiction without there being a conflict. Overall I liked this book, I simply didn't love it. I'm still glad the series is out there though, I enjoyed being in this world with Selene, Damien and their allies from the other houses. Busse had an amazing idea with these books and even though it didn't unfold the way I had expected, I still love the world she created, the concept and the underlying message she was trying to convey. I hope to see more series like it in the future.

– I voluntarily read and reviewed an e-copy of this book I received through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. –

War is here. As the Empire crashes through the wall, and the two traitorous houses join their forces, can the remaining five houses find enough resources and common ground to halt their advance? Past treacherous secrets are revealed, bitterness and mistrust, denial and callousness threaten to tear apart whatever hope of an alliance there may be between the houses. Selene is trying to figure out how she can use her gift in the way it was meant to be used to help their cause. She knows she will also need to deal with her mother and the Dark Lady at some point in the upcoming conflict. Damien is experiencing a block to his power, but can’t figure out why. And the two of them are still trying to figure out this marriage thing. And Caiaphas is trying to rally the Alliance now that Ragna has left for the battle front. Things aren’t looking very hopeful on any front.

This was a fabulous conclusion to this series. Busse continues to peel back layers in the betrayal and hurt the land faced in the past clash with the empire showing readers just what is at stake even beyond the lives on the line. The plot has a lot of different things going on, but it never felt confusing or jarring to go from one to the other. It was well balanced, and all eventually came together. I liked that not only did Selene grow in her knowledge of the Light and his ways, but Damien also had some things to learn about the Light and how to best follow him in this book. It was a good reminder that even those more mature in some areas may have things to learn. And what he learned was hugely important in a book that does see a lot of casualties. It was an important inclusion for the plot and the readers. The Light and the allusions to how that reflects God and the Christian walk were well done. It feels like the world is all its own, but there are truths to be gathered for those with eyes to see them. Damien and Selene’s relationship growth and hiccups were done quite well too. I felt like they experienced natural questions, conflicts, and hiccups for any marriage but they worked things out well and were great models of a healthy marriage for readers. My one qualm with the story was that I wish we got to see more of the other houses beyond Damien’s and Selene’s using their gifts, but that probably would’ve made the book too long. We just get snippets as it is. I also think a spin off series following Opheliana in the future might be fascinating. I fully enjoyed this entire series. It was both inspirational and a delightful read in an imaginative fantasy world. Recommended to fantasy fans, and those who like deeper meanings in their stories. The series is marketed as YA but it is sophisticated enough that adults will enjoy it too.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are several battles and many deaths on page. Some wounds moderately described (nothing super gory.) The gravity of death and value of life is handled very well in the story, as is dealing with grief.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The conclusion of the Ravenwood Saga series has arrived. Be sure to start with book 1, Mark of the Raven. It’s a must to read these in order.

I will admit, the genres of fantasy and YA are hit or miss for me. Sometimes I love them and get wrapped up in the epic story lines of far away worlds with legendary characters. Other times I can’t get into the stories. But I loved the entire Ravenwood Saga for all its imagery, allegories, and characters.

The third installment picks up with Selene Ravenwood stepping up to protect all of the Great Houses from the impending encroachment of the Dominia Empire. Selene perfects her gift of dream walking, but prepares to face off against the Dark Lady and her mother.

I love watching the relationship Damien Maris and Selene grow. Of course, the intrigue of Selene’s dream walking builds in Cry of the Raven as she takes her rightful place as the head of Ravenwood, using her gift the way it was intended. There are plenty of epic battle scenes as the novel focuses more on some of the other Great Houses and their gifts as they all come together to fight the Dominia Empire.

I definitely recommend the entire series, especially if you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings series or Harry Potter series. The fantasy element is excellent and the story moves at a fast-pace to keep suspense-seekers like me hooked.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The thing I love the most is the cover of Cry of the Raven. It reminds me so much of a Tolkien cover. That is what I thought of the first time I saw this cover almost six months ago. Cry of the Raven is the huge climactic moment in the three book series. Lots of tension and fighting. Learning to know what is worth fighting for. Learning to trust and love others. This story was wonderfully written with enough fantasy to capture the imagination. It is nice that all three are now published because I think I should go back and read them all one after another to grasp the complete storyline. That is usually my issue when it comes to fantasy. If they aren't all available at the same time, then, as a reader, I forgot certain elements of the past stories when I return to the stories. Not that there is really anything to do about this. I know with the publishing schedules; it is hard for a publishing company to publish all three at once. Overall, Cry of the Raven is truly unique story that reminded me a lot of Tolkien's mythology. If readers enjoy Tolkien, then they might want to try Busse's stories.

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

Cry of the Raven is book three in Ravenwood Saga. In order to fully appreciate this story you will need to begin with book one, Mark of the Raven.

I don’t want to say to much or give away any spoilers so I’ll just say that all in all I found this to be a very satisfying completion to an excellent trilogy, fully rounding out character development, trying up loose ends and even bringing unexpected redemption.

I recommend this series to you.

I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I adored the first two books in this trilogy and read them each in one sitting. Sadly, I was less happy with this third and final installment. It was still a good read, but fell slightly short of great for me. I feel like it would have made an excellent movie and then I wouldn't have been so confused about who was fighting who and where they were doing it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A perfect finish to a perfect series. With disaster and ruin marching ever closer, Busse takes the characters we have come to love (or hate) and plunges deep into the souls, minds and hearts of each for answers, courage, hope and a victory that can only come through the bonds of unity.

*pokes the publisher* Spin off series, please?

Be aware that this review will have spoilers for Mark of the Raven and Flight of the Raven as this is the third book in this series! Please do not read any further if you haven’t read those! I try to keep spoilers at a minimum but some can’t be avoided.

In Cry of the Raven, the stakes are higher than ever before... the empire is on the move, allied with two houses including Selene’s mother, and it’s up to the remaining houses to stand together or fall. War is coming. We start where Flight of the Raven ends, with the death of someone Selene loved very much, and with a single sentence I was immediately thrown back into all these feels. But Selene has no time to mourn, as the houses comes together and decisions need to be made. Shaken as she is, she has trouble trusting other people, but she tries anyway. Throughout the book she really grows as a person, and overcomes her fears and becomes a wise, confident woman who is not afraid to show every part of herself and is kind to others.

Damien is being awesome as always. Ok I just simply adore him, he can’t do anything wrong in my eyes. He’s everything you want in a man, and Selene finally can admit to herself that she loves him, which is awesome! What I love about their relationship, is that it feels so real, and you can see it growing, maybe even more because it is very clean. Because they actually TALK. A lot. They talk about everything, their feelings and what they want and their loved ones, and it just takes their relationship to a whole other level. And I just love that. Damien always is very respectful of Selene’s boundaries and vice versa, but they would die for each other. But, as Damien learns, you can feel extremely responsible and care a lot about someone, you need to give them in God’s hand and let the fear of losing them go. This was such a wise lesson that really struck home for me.

What I also love is that the other houses are featured more and more history is revealed. We get to see a lot of the other lords and ladies, and that gives this story an extra dimension. Elric was the absolute best, he brings a lot of humor into the mix! One thing I loved too: there is much importance placed on the smaller things. In a war it can be too much on a grand scale, when only big things happening, but there was much room for introspection, for debating how to use your power in a good way, and there were many personal struggles to overcome, too. That kept the plot interesting, though I have to admit that it did sag a little in the middle for me. Everyone was off to another place, all over the country, and it was like all they did was travel back and forth. The dual POV made it better, and I get why it has to happen this way, but I still would have liked less traveling overall. And maybe I would have liked to have a bit more plot concentrated around Caiaphas, like maybe a long emotional talk about what happened with the Ravenwood members, and more importantly: what Caiaphas has done all these years in secret. I would really like to know that! (I’m hoping for a prequel novella here, Morgan!). 

Some parts were heartbreaking, especially with what’s going on in Australia with the bush fires right now that makes this book so much harder to read and actually made me cry. The battle scenes were epic, and I loved that there was both a physical and a spiritual component to this war, in the end it came down to Light versus darkness. Forgiveness versus hate. Courage over fear. The power of dreams. The Christian theme woven throughout is strong and very inspiring.

I have loved this series from the first book, and this final book is everything I wanted (though I do want more books). This is one of the best Christian fantasy series in my opinion, and I recommend it to everyone! Even if you don’t like fantasy, I think you’ll be able to love this, as it’s not complicated like adult fantasy, and another world can really help to bring some points across about our world.

I received a free e-copy from Bethany House through Netgalley. I’m really happy I got to read this book early, but it hasn’t influenced my opinions as I already was hopelessly in love with this series.

I've only read book 3 (I recommend you start with book #1 - I would if I did it again). At first it took a hot minute to get acquainted with all the characters due to this infraction (however when I saw it on net galley, I couldn't pass the opportunity to review it!). It sounded interesting, to say the least. The story definitely exceeded the expectation.

Selene seemed a little melodramatic at first but her character arc was wonderful. I loved hearing how her heart had changed and the source of her power had changed. I won't add more because it will spoil the fun.

Overall, it was a swooping fantasy with the perfect amount of charm and fantastical. The author made Selene and Damien's love life tangible and sweet (and not at all graphic)! There seems to be an unnecessary amount of graphic relationships in fantasy nowadays so that was refreshing.

I would definitely recommend.

On a personal note, this book has a soft spot in my heart now. My grandma passed away the day I finished it and like Damien, I needed to hear those words that the Light will take better care of those then we could ever imagine! Love you grandma!

Yes, I did apply for an arc of this book on netgalley because I was too impatient to wait for February. 😂

One of my most anxiously awaited reads of 2020, Cry of the Raven was an excellent ending to the Ravenwood Saga. I loved seeing how Selene has grown since book one, and the romance between her and Damien is so sweet!

One thing I also really loved was the joining of the Houses in working together. It's clear from the beginning that if they are to have any hope of defeating the empire, they need to work together in using their gifts, and that was a touch I greatly appreciated. Even some of the less-than-admirable characters are given a bit more depth, and there were also some specific interactions between characters that I was glad to see. Plus, the ending itself is also lovely and hopeful, and just what I was wishing for.

The first two books in the series are still my favorite, but this was a more than satisfying conclusion, and I hope to buy a paperback copy to complete the series on my bookshelf as soon as February rolls around.

I received this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review.

This series was a bit different from my usual reads, but I'm so glad I stepped outside my "box."

This is a satisfying conclusion to the Ravenwood Saga. It was nice to learn how everything turned out for Selene and Damien, as well as the various houses. (If you haven't read the other books in the series, I recommend doing that first, as this one picks up where the prior book ended.).

It was great to see how Selene has grown throughout the series, particularly in relation to the Light. Damien is a wonderful example of a leader, as well as a husband. The romance angle isn't overwhelming. Busse showed the reader all sides, not just the good.

I love how the author weaves the faith angle throughout the story/series, especially the importance of turning to and clinging to God, as well as looking to him for direction.

The action and intrigue keeps the reader engaged. It's sad to see the series come to an end, but I look forward to what Busse will come up with next!

There are no words to express how much I adored this trilogy and this conclusion was perfection. I want to cry and scream on the top of a hilltop about how much I love this trilogy. Morgan L. Busse has crafted an amazing fantasy world, wove scripture seamlessly and created such dynamic characters you grow to love and dislike.

Selene has grown so much from the first book to the last. She's stronger emotionally. Doesn't rely on herself and on thoughts. She's more into the people and protecting those she loves. She's all for the Light and fighting back against the Dark Lady. Seeing her mature in her gift was absolutely fantastic. Selene will always be my little pudding pie. I adore her heart.

Damien was such an amazing young man from beginning to end. What I appreciated most in this is that we got to see his vulnerable side. He shows that even though you may have a huge heart, there is a weakness and mental battle with that. Damien is a man of honor, courage and love. He embodies what a man should be in leadership, love and family.

The romance was clean, sweet and everything! I adored the way their romance wasn't always peaches and cream. You saw the good, the saw the bad, the arguments, the drama, the harsh words said to one another. You saw them grow and mature in their love and romance. They definitely had a strong connection since book one, but this final book gave me everything and more especially Riven.

Lady Ragna is still a woman I can't stand, but I felt bad for her towards the end. She's the product of what happens when you live by the past your family dictates to you. The Dark Lady was a wicked being. I'm glad she was done away with.

Lord Leo was HIGHLY aggravating at first, but I loved his apology and how he befriended Selene. Lady Ayaka, Lady Bryren, Lord Renlar and Raoul were all great assets. Seeing the Great House coming together along with some of the lesser and noble houses was epic. It proved that people work better together rather then against one another.

The faith aspects were phenomenal in this story! Learning to lean on God when your strength runs out. Learning to use your gifts for better. Understanding that even in the dark moments the Light still shines. I can go on and on about the faith, but I just loved the use of scripture.

Overall, this was an epic end. War, love and victory. I highly recommend this book and the entire trilogy as a whole. A fantastic Christian fantasy!

Morgan L. Busse delivers a satisfying ending to the Ravenwood Saga in Cry of the Raven. After what seemed like a long wait since the last book in the series, readers can finally see what happens with Selene Ravenwood and her husband Damien Maris of two of the seven great houses. The couple must do what they can to help save their lands and peoples from the Dominian Empire. But with her family’s dark history, can Selene convince the coalition to trust that she is not like her family, that she will use her powers for the good of the coalition and not for harm? Selene desires to use her Light-given powers to help the people, not hurt them, but trust goes both ways as she discovers how the great houses had sacrificed her family in the past. Can Damien discover and overcome the inner barrier he faces when trying to use his powers to raise the waters to protect the people? Cry of the Raven provides plenty of action, suspense, and excitement as the author draws the story together to tie it up. It was an enjoyable read from a great author who creates believable worlds and interesting characters. It was suspenseful with unpredictable predicability—just enough but not too much! Readers will not be disappointed in the read, just that the journey has come to an end and that they must find a new series to read. Hopefully Busse will deliver an equally exciting new series in the near future!

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.