The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher and the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

I have to admit it. The first thing that drawn me to this book was its cover. I mean, how beautiful is that?
Then, the plot sounded quite intriguing and the Tristan and Isolde reference what was really conquered me at the end.
I have to say The Raven and the Dove is a very enjoyable book. I liked the writing style, the short chapters and how the whole world building was done. I found this world to be very mysterious yet intriguing, so I can't wait to discover more about it and all its secrets.
One thing I didn't enjoy quite a lot was the insta-love. I'm not a big fan of it, but if it'd done well, than it's fine with me. But I think here it was really too quick and not so well developed. It seems like Lyanna and Rafe were drawn to each other just because they have magic in common. I understand that then they developed some kind of attraction and affection, but it was everything really to rushed for me.
Anyway, I think the characters were well characterised and I could see their personal growth.
About Lyanna I loved her wild soul and her thirst for adventure. But, at the same time, I found her to be a little too childish some time. Rafe was the typical guy you fall for in books, so obviously I liked him a lot. But the one who really surprised me was Rafe. I didn't expect to like him as much as I did. I literally loved him. He's such a sweet-pie and I just want to see him happy. He really deserves it. Therefore, I really enjoyed how he was able to finally find the courage to fight and overcome his insecurities, in the end.
I enjoyed the plot, even if the betrayals weren't so shocking in my opinion and the first half of the book was maybe a bit too slow.
Anyway, I really can't wait to read the next book. I think this one set a good base for the story to evolve and become even more captivating.

I was drawn to this book initially for two reasons: the stunning cover (I’m really loving illustrated covers lately!) and that it’s a Tristan and Isolde retelling but this book is everything the blurb promises and more.
I couldn’t put it down when I started reading. I love the avian magic Rafe and Lyana possess, the characters, and the worldbuilding. I know there were a couple books out in 2019 that had avian ties (in different ways of course) but as a comparable I liked this book so much more.
There were a few things I didn’t like but with three more books to come the author has given herself plenty of time to allow the characters to grow and plot holes to be filled.
Pros to this book: a seemingly solid friendship cast over with dark secrets ready to come out, brooding boys, and captivating worldbuilding.
Cons: not a great disability rep, brothers bound to become enemies over something stupid, and insta love (which can be a love or hate for me).
Overall this book is a thrilling adventure that although not a 5-star for me, lays the groundwork and potential for the coming 3 books.

If you close your eyes and listen to the pages, you'll begin to feel the inevitable pull of fate and freedom that calls you skyward.


Wings brush lightly against your cheek as they whisper to you a story of forbidden love, the pureness of a dove, and the fierceness of a raven who together, form a connection that will change their worlds as they know it.


If they can rival the opposing tides of their destiny.


Told through the perspective of an enchanting imagination, author Kaitlyn Davis takes to to a world above the clouds that is layered with a rich history that I loved voyaging through. I also commend Davis's themes that empowered those with disabilities and encouraged character to revel in their independent. I thoroughly anticipate the sequel to The Raven and the Dove with the hopes of being able to read more about Xander and his feelings of unworthiness because of his missing arm and emotional past. He has a truly royal heart of gold in my book.


The main protagonists, Lyana (the dove of the House of Peace) and Rafe (the bastard son of the House of Whispers) beautifully contrast through Lyana's sense of freedom and innocence and Rafe's dark warrior heart. They had an insta-love in The Raven and the Dove that gave off the vibe of old souls meeting again in another life like Tristan and Isolde. That being said, I also look forward to seeing their relationship develop with a sparkling form of affection towards each other.


I was certainly not anticipating the ending that sends you towards a spiraling plummet from the sky to to the ground. All in all, The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis was such a touching book for readers who wish to read about a love that resonates through time.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was different and unique. I really liked the avian theme and the floating cities. There was a lot of mystery to this book. We aren't really sure what the plot for the series will be yet but I want to know! It seemed the aim of this book was to introduce us to the characters and the world. I feel like we did get to know each of then and I like that we get different points of views as it really is needed to connect to the characters but also adds some foreboding! I liked the magic of the world and I am interested to see what happens next! Overall a good, well written start to a series and I'm excited to read more.

I'd been putting off reading this for so long and regretted it so badly! I didn't want the book to finish and after reading it all on 48hrs I was left hungry for so much more!

The book has a, lively, strong, stubborn but loving princess protagonist that defies expectations. A brooding prince in disguise, a charming Prince hidden, a mysterious best friend and layers of betrayal that leave everyone hurting.

Nothing is what it seems and this is an adventure of a life time! Do not miss this book!

Review will be live on bookstagram @booksandyass next week.

Wow! What a great book. I requested based on the cover alone, and I am not sorry at all. I read it overnight, and I cannot wait to see what the next book brings! The characters, the setting, everything just flows really well.

I received a complimentary copy of The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Raven and the Dove was released on March 9th!
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Rafe is the bastard son of the deceased King of the Ravens and although he is despised by his people, he would do anything for his half brother Xander, the heir. Xander feels he is unfit to perform in the upcoming courtship trials, so he convinces Rafe to take his place. When Rafe is gravely injured by a dragon the day before the trials, he is saved by a Dove who, just like Rafe, possesses forbidden magic and heals him. Lyana, the Princess of the Doves, only wants a mate she can be honest with and she thinks she has found that when she saves Rafe, believing him to be the Raven heir. As the courtship trials progress and mates are chosen, a King from the land below believes Lyana to be a prophesied savior and his future Queen. With the help of his spy, he will do whatever it takes to have her.
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I have so many mixed feelings about this one. I really liked Lyana as a character. She is strong, but she struggles to balance her own desires with her duties as a Princess. She is kind and tries her best to make the most of unfortunate situations. The relationship between Rafe and Xander was compelling. But there was something missing in the first part of this book. Certain things felt unnecessarily drawn out and other aspects of the story could have been more fleshed out. The ending had a very different tone from the rest of the book, but it was good and I'm interested to see where the next book goes. Overall, I'm glad I read this story inspired by Tristan and Isolde.
3.5/5 stars.

This book was boring and predictable. The writing seemed like it was dumbing the reader down. A lot of the sentences were redundant. A character would perform and action and the author would proceed to explain the action. For example, “Lyana sighed- an airy, breathy sound.” Lyana and Rafe were so cliche. The cheery heroine and the broody hero *yawn.* I didn’t care about any of the characters at all.

This is the first work I’ve read by Kaitlyn Davis and, let me tell you, it won’t be the last. I fell in love with this story and these characters, and it was all phenomenal. This fantasy world is one that many readers will get lost in and wish it was somehow real. The Raven the Dove is truly a story I could read multiple times.

Lyana is quite the main character. I loved how hot tempered she was and how she was not afraid to show her true self through her actions. Her heart was always on display, in the sense that she led more with her heart than her head. She’s strong minded and overall, a fun main character that I could easily connect with; she wasn’t one to take the easy way out and I loved that about her. I did think her relationship with Rafe moved quickly, but it worked in a way that fit well with the storyline. And speaking of Rafe…

Rafe is, what someone would call, a tortured soul. But I honestly connected with his character and his past. He decides to go in his older brother’s place in the courtship trials. Rafe, like others, wants happiness, but not at the expense of his brother. He’s the type that puts family first, which is one of the reason I resonated with his character – family always comes first for me. But overall, I really enjoyed all the characters (especially Xander) and how much each character developed over the story.

The story and plot itself were amazing. I loved the idea of choosing mates and all the fantastical elements (I will read any story with dragons!). The world building is outstanding; I loved how the world was unique from other fantasy books I’ve read. Davis’s writing is beautiful and lush and hooked me from the very beginning. I loved how her words and descriptions flowed off the page so effortlessly. Davis knows how to create a captivating setting with unforgettable characters.

I’m excited for the sequel, mainly because that ending was absolute torture for me and the characters and I can’t wait to see what Davis has in store for these beloved characters next.

The Raven And The Dove has been quite a surprise read and a really good one at that. I started reading this book not quite sure what to expect. I was pulled into the story right from the start. I actually read this book pretty fast.

First, this book is told from multiple points of view, which I felt was needed in this story because it brought different perspectives on their world, their past, and motivation. I felt more invested in the four main characters and better understood them.

Lyanna, the princess, is quite a curious character with a good heart. She tends to be childish at times, but she remains likable. Her friend, Cassi, is quite the character. She is… Just read it! I mean, the girl herself is worth the read. lol

Rafe and his brother, Xander have a very interesting dynamic and I truly enjoyed reading about each character. They all bring something important to the story.

Now, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, but the plot twists and that #%@^#%% ending were amazing. Even though there were a couple of things that were predictable, the story really took me by surprise and this is something I always appreciate.

Finally, the magic system is interesting but the fact that the world is avian inspired really brought something unique to the story. This part was refreshing and forced me to think about things I would have never really paid attention to before. I can tell the author put a lot of work into it.

Overall, this was a great read that I highly recommend. There were a couple of things with Lyanna that bugged me, but nothing major. This is a four/four and a half star for me.

Well written, story moved a little slow for me. Overall a cute YA fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde, with an avian twist. I really liked Rafe and Lysander, but found the main character a little annoying at times, which made it hard to enjoy fully. I think it’s a great fantasy book for younger audiences. The story arc with cassi was quite interesting.

"But dreams had a bothersome way of ignoring the truth, and hope made the impossible seem within reach."

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion. 

If anyone doesn't know already, but I love being one of the unpopular opinions when it comes to books that people love. Also, I requested this book on a whim for the pretty cover and somehow got accepted? All I saw was the pretty cover-I mean how cool is that cover. I love it so much!

Unfortunately, pretty cover be damned because I didn't really like this book to much to really even care about it. It took me a little more than 1/2 of the way to even really connect with the story. 

This book was boring for my tastes. Nothing really exciting happens until the last 100 pages, also where all the shortest chapters were at? It was really hard for me to pay attention through a good chunk of it, and somehow a small light flickered that I could actually know what was happening even if I did not care about the characters.

The characters were really lacking. Rafe was probably one of the most interesting characters and so was Cassi. Both characters should have gotten some more POVs in the book, because they were interesting. I couldn't care less about what happened to Xander and Layana. Those two characters drove me crazy, and was the main reason why I didn't binge read this book, and read during the last five or ten minutes of lunch.

The writing was certainly... interesting to say. I love purple prose in fantasy books and found that it really worked well in the book. It was just so beautiful and the way that it was described was ❤.  I did noticed that there were a few spots where the prose was unnecessary and the huge "world-building" terms that made me question it.

The world-building terms was just really weird. The author added terms later to the book, and I had to side-eye them quite a bit.

They were weird, and honestly because I keep misreading them and it looked like another few words I know quite a bit. It was really weird.

There was quite a bit of times where I noticed repetition with a few words. It was this book, where I now hate the word 'Mate' for a long time. Mate was used quite a bit of times, and honestly how many times can you use the word for a long time before someone could get sick of it.

This is the ARC version of it, and I'm not sure if some of the repetition got fixed in the final copy, but if somehow read the final copy. Can you tell me if mate gets repeated a lot in the book?  

I have no idea how to describe the romance that was in the book. It was fine, and this is coming from a person where romance is not her cup of tea whatsoever. I feel like the romance between Rafe and Layana was insta-love. They met for a few chapters, and then the next thing I knew they were in love with each other, but they can't be together. And Xander and Layana's romance was just boring.

I have to say, this was surprisingly good! The world-building was really cool, some of the characters were amazing (cough, Cassi, cough), the plot was intriguing and I had a lot of fun reading this. It had some plot twists and reveals that actually had me a bit shook, which made it even more enjoyable! All in all a solid 4-star book.

I had more or less no expectations going into this book, but after hitting the 20% mark I was more or less hooked. A story about a girl with wings, longing for adventure under the open sky with a best friend who has been living a double life all along, made for a really fun story. Cassi (the best friend) is without a doubt my favorite character, because of how complex and grey she is. The others are a little less enjoyable to me, but still well-written!

I will warn you however, the cliffhanger at the end is MASSIVE. Like I seriously disliked how much happened right at the end, because it made the story speed up right when there is no more of it. A little cliffhanger is usually fine, but this was brutal. I want the next book already!!

I'm excited to be a part of THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE blog tour with The Fantastic Flying Book Club from March 9th - March 15th, 2020!

I received an ARC of this book from Amazon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.

All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Content Warning: Injury, Attempted murder, Natural disaster (earthquake), Cheating

"Lyana was dying to see beneath the Sea of Mist. To fly through the impenetrable white and discover what lay beyond. But that wasn’t her future, no matter how she wished it could be."

Lyana Aethionus is the princess of the doves. A life at court isn’t nearly as alluring for her as the skies above and the mist below. Strong-willed Lyana dreams of the fanciful, rather than forward to the upcoming courtship trials where she is to choose a mate. That is, until she happens upon an alluring prince of the ravens after he is injured fighting a rogue dragon. Lyana, possessing a special and forbidden magic, uses her ability to help mend the broken prince back to health--not expecting the surprising secret that the prince harbors himself.

"Rafe knew what people gossiped about in the dark halls of their castle. How the ravens had lost favor with the other gods, how their patron god was weakening, how they’d been cursed."

Rafe is the bastard prince to a dead king. Despite his origins, his relationship with his half-brother and prince has always remained strong. The two have looked out for one another since they were young; Lysander making sure Rafe remained in the palace even though his mother disliked him, and Rafe with his loyalty to protecting his appointed brother. With the upcoming event that will secure a mate for the young prince, they both know that the forever-injured Lysander cannot compete in the trials with only one hand. Scheming with his look-alike half brother to stand in his place in the courtship trials, Rafe will do anything to help his brother and his people. As the ravens, the Court of Whisperings, have been rumored to have lost favor with their dying god, a match must be sealed for Prince Lysander. With Lysander’s injury, Rafe must take his place in disguise in order to make that happen.

The plans between the brothers are perfect until the dragon attacks, and Rafe disappears. Having a special magical ability as well, Lysander expects that his brother is alright, but must locate him before the ceremony. He searches, and finds Rafe alive and on the mend--just in time for the trials.

Lyana and Rafe both know about each other's magic--which is a secret to all as magic is forbidden in the floating isles. With new determination, Lyana goes into the trials knowing who she will choose as her forever mate, only to find that what she expects turns out to be a rouse. Full of turmoil, betrayal, and heartache, The Raven and the Dove builds an enchanting story based around entangled lovers and forbidden magic. Written in 3rd person point-of-view, the reader often knows more about the characters than they do, but not by much. What is most intriguing about this story is how it is structured, and that even at the end, only part of the entire plot is shared. There is certainly much more to come in future installments, and a much broader world to discover.

Forbidden magic, secret alliances, beautiful world-building, diverse characters and unique plot-lines gives The Raven and the Dove a poignant voice in the Young Adult Fantasy scene. Not to mention, forbidden romance loosely retelling the romance between Tristan and Iseult. The Raven and the Dove is compared to the works of Sarah J. Maas, but it is certainly much more structured, better-written, focused, and more Young Adult reader friendly, as it doesn't include scenes that are certainly paralleled to erotica. With unique world building and a tale that intricately weaves characters on strategic paths, it is a very promising start to a fresh and exciting series.

Vulgarity: Minimal, if any.
Sexual content: Kissing. Nothing explicit, but two characters do cheat with one another.
Violence: Minimal to moderate.

My Rating: ★★★★

THIS WAS VERY GOOD. The cover is stunning and excited me immediately and the story was right up my alley.

I feel like at times it felt a little empty and I don't really think I connected with the characters as much as I could have but I think this is a very substantial first book to a potentially really great series.

The cover drew me in and the writing style kept me going. I loved how fiery the main character was and the plot was really unique. My only criticism is I feel like the couple lacked chemistry at times. But overall it was so enjoyable and I think this book will be well received.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Amazon Digital Services, LLC for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Okay what?!?!? Seriously this book just kept breaking my heart left and right. How was I even able to get through this book without crying every so often? Well that’s not true because I was crying every so often. I was crying in the beginning when I was hearing about Rafe’s parents, then the battle with the dragon in the very beginning, then Lyana and Cassi and how they became sisters in arms basically.

Ugh I’m just really emotional honestly. I was really into this book the entire time I was reading it and then I was like… really, really sad that it was over and just wow. Clearly I have no control over my words and thoughts right now but I was just way into this novel. Like, way into it.

When we first meet Rafe and Xander, I was so into their brotherhood for one another, and then hearing the backstory on them and why Rafe still belongs in the kingdom despite everyone else really wanting him dead or exiled was insane. Like, I’m so freaking proud of Xander sticking up for his baby brother like he did.

Then I was really happy with the friendship between Lyana and Cassi, and again there was that introduction on how Lyana and Cassi became friends – more like sisters – and that just warmed my heart too.

I can’t believe the next three books are coming out so quickly though?! I’m just really excited, okay????

This one was just not a favorite for me. 

I did go into it with the expectations that it was going to be this well-developed, epic fantasy, which in a way it was, it's just that it wasn't for my taste. 

At first, it was a bit confusing. The world-building just wasn't hitting home, and the fact that it's a fantasy kind of takes away the whole purpose of reading it. I also couldn't get into their romance, and ultimately just didn't care how they turned out. 

While it was a fun, interesting concept, I had to give this one 2 out of 5 stars. I think that it has potential to be someone's favorite, but it just wasn't mine.

Story
The Raven and the Dove is one hell of a story filled with twists and turns, and I loved it. The plot is amazing, fresh and new. I loved the avian inspired world and characters, so I definitely recommend this book.

I really liked the worldbuilding, but I have some very serious questions about the functions of the world that I don’t think I’ll ever get answers. My other complaint is that this book was slightly too long and weirdly paced. The story takes a turn around the middle and turns into something completely different than the first part. Which is fine, it wasn’t something I could have predicted, but I would have liked to spend more time with the first part of the story.

Writing
The writing was really clear and strong and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out. I’m also a fan of the multiple POVs we got to read in this book. It just gives great insight into all of the characters and makes the story more complete.

Characters
The characters were great and really in-depth, but I cannot wait to see what happens to them in the next book. I believe the next book will contain loads more character arcs and building, and I am here for that.

As I said, I was a fan of the multiple POVs. It just gives us more insight into each of the characters and how they think. Rafe was definitely my favourite character, who doesn’t love a brooding bad boy? I wasn’t a fan of the insta-love between him and Lyanna and the hints of a love triangle to come.

Also, the word “mate” just gets under my skin. It’s like “moist”, please don’t overuse it.

This book was all kinds of intense! If I had known that this is not a standalone but the first of a four-book series not due to be finished until next spring, I probably would not have begun reading it. For sure, if I had known how much angst and sorrow would be involved, I definitely would not have started the series. I am just way too tender-hearted for this much sorrow. Seriously, just about every time you turn around there is something that is even MORE sad for one of the main characters. Such was the power of the author's tale here that I thought about and brooded over this story for several days afterwards.

There was an incredible amount of world-building done throughout this volume, especially in the beginning. But it all flowed naturally and didn't impede the action or distract from the story. The entire world and the characters' very existence, not to mention the rather odd societies in which they found themselves, were very unique and required an exceptional amount of back-story. All was well thought out and described, such that I could clearly envision things in my minds eye.

From the main foursome of Lyana, Rafe, Xander, and Cassi - to the more minor players in this volume of Luka, Helen, the Captain, the King, and others - the characters were so full of life as to make them totally authentic. I just immediately felt for them in the myriad difficult situations that they faced. There were multiple times throughout the course of the book that I found myself in tears for the circumstances of one or the other of the players. And not only were these totally fictional characters, but fantasy ones as well, not even really human. I mean, seriously, they were nearly all half-bird people with giant wings! And yet the author managed to make them not only believable but also extremely sympathetic.

While the next volume seems as though it could be even more tragic (so I can't exactly say that I'll be looking forward to reading it), I am very much interested to see what the future holds for this complex cast of characters. I just hope I can survive the continued turmoil. But I swear, if this ends like the Tristan and Isolde tale after which it is apparently fashioned, or something similar like the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, I will be SO upset!