Holy moly. this was fabulous! I loved how every character is so different and so uniquely themselves. The premise of winged humans living in floating cities above the rest of the world? Super cool. The mystery of the world below, the mist and the dragons? I'm here for it!

There were some really unique elements to this book that were absolutely intriguing. The dramatic irony where the reader knew most sides of the story, but the characters themselves only had their own was very well done, and my heart ached for the characters as events played out.

How am I supposed to wait for the next installment? I need to know what happens next!

So first of all, I will start with something I always do: the writing style. The Raven and the Dove was beautifully written. I immediately had the whole thing in my head. How the world looks like, how the wings of the main characters looked like and so on. It kind of felt like watching a tv show. I honestly can’t complain about that. Now I need a TV show of the book but hey maybe somebody will produce The Raven and the Dove. A girl can always dream, right?

This book is also written in a 3rd person point of view. Which is actually very helpful to the reader as we get to know more about our characters. At the beginning of every chapter, the name of the person is also written down. I, personally, like the third point of view writing in fantasy books. It’s a great way to discover more about the world-building, the people and so on.

Like I already mentioned in the beginning when I wrote about the writing style I also loved the world-building. It was something unique, something that reminded me a lot of ACOTAR and Throne of Glass which are my favourite series ever.

This is an amazing start to a new series and I can’t wait to read more of the series.

The Raven and the Dove is the first book in the epic fantasy romance series of the same name by author Kaitlyn Davis. I have read a few of Kaitlyn’s books, and I have to say this is my favorite book of hers yet! I absolutely LOVED The Raven and the Dove. I need to go grab the prequel book, The Princess and the Pawn, ASAP, and I am eagerly awaiting book two- The Hunter and the Mage, which is currently slated for a September 2020 release! I love this series so much. I was hooked from the tagline description of “Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!” Umm…YES PLEASE! And The Raven and the Dove delivered on all that and more. This is the perfect book for fans of fantasy romances.

The Raven and the Dove is told in multiple perspectives, including Lyana/ Ana, who is the dove princess of the House of Peace. Her best friend Cassi, an Owl who lives with Lyanna on the island of the house of Peace. And Xander and Rafe, both Ravens from the House of Whispers. I love a multi perspective fantasy novel, and what is even better is that I love the characters just as much as I love the world set up in The Raven and the Dove. Kaitlyn Davis always writes great romance, but this novel of hers really captured my attention and my heart. I was hooked from page one and I just kept devouring this book until…next thing I knew It was the middle of the night and I was done with all 500 plus pages. This book is something special, and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.

The world in The Raven and the Dove is so cool! It is made up of the land below, which is ruled by a fire god with his dragons, and then the islands above, which are all bird kingdoms. Highest up is the ruling House of Peace with the Doves. This is where our main character Princess Lyanna and her brother the Prince of the house of Doves. There are also several other island kingdoms, each featuring a different type of bird and a different trait or characteristic. The world was beyond cool, and I am so happy that there are going to be at least 4 books in this series! The plot was also right up my alley. Once a year the kingdom’s host courtship trials, where each kingdom sends their prince and princesses that are of age, to compete in a trial to be matched with their mate from another island. There are secrets and twists galore in the book. I don’t really want to get into them because going in fairly blind was part of the fun for me with this novel, but just know The Raven and the Dove has it all. Romance (including a love triangle), intrigue, betrayals, secrets, and one heck of a cliffhanger. This is one of the best fantasy books I have read so far in 2020, and I itching to get my hands on the next book. The Raven and the Dove is a must read for fans of fantasy romances.

I really enjoyed this unique retelling based on the story of Tristan and Isolde. The avian elements really added something special to the characters and plot. There were unexpected story twists and a magic system that I cannot wait to find out more about. The romantic element was fun and added a good level of tension. I felt that the world building was good, and leaves enough mysteries for me to be highly anticipating the next book already!

This was a wonderful story of a fantasy story of a princess that lives high above the clouds that wants to be free to travel and live her own life. She dreams of this as her courtship is going to be coming. She’s at her wits end thinking and hoping for a way to make her dreams come true! This was a wonderful written story and could feel what the characters in the story felt. I don’t want to give more away but I can’t wait for the next book! I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

The Raven and the Dove has some amazing world-building.  It was extremely original, which I have to admit is hard to do with fantasy.   The majority of this book is character and relationship building. You can certainly tell a plot is building, but you don’t really find out what’s really going on until the end.

The characters in this book are extremely well written.  Though this book is written in the third person, it does a good job of almost seeming like it’s written from each character’s point of view. The Raven and the Dove is really the story of star-crossed lovers and honestly, that was my favorite part.  Seeing Rafe and Lyana’s connection grow was great. If you like those broken male leads then you will love Rafe. Lyana is strong and adventurous and so fun. There are a lot of other side characters, and while I can’t say that I really like them, they were extremely interesting and I can’t wait to see where they end up in book two.  

There were a lot of things that were set up in this book.  I don’t feel like anything was actually tied up in this book, which was slightly annoying but I understand it.  I have a lot of theories about what will happen in the next book. A book I will definitely be reading.

An excellent fantasy with a great cast of characters and an amazing world building.
I like the engrossing and entertaining story and can't wait for the next one by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Raven and the Dove

Author: Kaitlyn Davis

Book Series: The Raven and the Dove Book 1

Rating: 1/5

Publication Date: March 9, 2020

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed

Publisher: Amazon Services

Pages: 506

Amazon Link

Synopsis: A princess longing to be free...

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong...

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!

Review: I had to DNF this book. I felt like I had read this same story before. I am NOT saying that this book is plagiarizing another work but I feel like this book is just a rehashing of the same plot points in a different manner. I’m aware it’s a Tristian and Isolde retelling, but for some reason this book just feels so old to me. The characters aren’t appealing to me and the world building is everywhere. Stuff just feels like it’s thrown into your face without warning. It’s a bit of a chaotic read and it was really slow. I made it about 38% through before I had to quit reading.

Verdict: Not for me, but might be for you!

Rafe is the bastard of the King of Ravens and when Xander , his brother and rightful heir to the throne asks him to take his place in the courtship trials that will take place, because Rafe is more qualified to win , according to him, he succumbs and accepts. But something happened and a Dove helps him with her hidden magic, something that they both have in common, but is something that if known they could end up exiled or dead. What he doesn't know is that this dove is Princess Lyana and she will also be at these trials to be mated.

I loved how unique this storyline was. I loved the world building, the woven storylines and how back they went or how different was one family and place from the other. I also appreciated the diversity on this one. And how one of the main characters had a disability and how it was handled throughout the book. I loved the forbidden love that existed, but even though I was rooting for them and I shipped them, it still hurt because I really liked Xander and hated how this was all behind his back and they didn't trust him enough to be honest with him. Rafe especially that was his closest friend and he stood up for him all this time. I still understood that inner struggle they had though, so I can't really blame them.

Lyanna was such a vibrant and cheerful character, bubbly and overall like a 5 year old crazy on sugar! I don't mind that she was that way, because we can see how her character progresses as the plot gets thickened. Rafe was amazing. Xander too. I have so much love for them, but sadly they suffer so much and I suffered with them. I really enjoyed the secondary characters that we met both at the trials, but also later on. Cassi was also an interesting character, but I have such conflicted feelings about her.

It's the sting of betrayal that doesn't make it easy for me in this book. Not only by our main protagonists, but also from someone who was supposed to be a childhood friend and that character even though they had good intentions, what they did made them seem disgusting to me and they will need to do a lot to be redeemed. And honestly, I can't even fathom what happened. Like that was beyond cruel and even cowardly. Don't get confused, I'm not speaking about our two love birds, but someone who was close to them.

Anyway, this was a fast paced book and it rolled rather fast, I just fell into a slump in the way. I don't know if that's what's at fault here, but even though this started great, I felt like it lost its spark around the middle and then in the last few chapters everything happened and I was shocked in almost every chapter, until the end. Definitely recommend this one if you're craving fantasy! Now who's going to wait for the next book in the series not patiently at all?? That's right, me!


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was really great! The writing style hooked me from the the first page. I enjoyed the world building and seeing how the different houses were represented. The avian aspect was so interesting. The characters were likable and the storyline and pacing keeps you interested. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to the second book cause I need answers!

This book has utterly broken my heart. I couldn’t step away, the story really captured me from the beginning and I finished the book in days.

An amazing romance, a lot of betrayal and my brain still wondering ‘where the hell can it go from here!’

I can’t wait for the second book to come out, can we have it soon? PLEASE!!

Unfortunately DNF'd this at 37%. It wasn't holding my attention. I've been trying to figure out why, but I'm coming up empty. For some reason, I felt very disconnected from the characters and the events that were occurring.

A wonderful retelling of Tristan and Isolde with a POC main!! This book was fast-paced and energetic. At times, I did think it moved a little too quickly, skipping out on opportunities to get more from the characters' interactions. There were times the POV took us through a scene with mainly their thoughts as a guide where dialogue would have made a much larger impact. Otherwise, I very much enjoyed every POV and felt for each character, especially in the last bunch of chapters when I was on the edge of my seat!

For more Reviews , Interviews and Recommendations , Check out my blog : https://bibliomedico.wordpress.com/
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Thanks To the author , publisher and fantastic flying bookclub For giving me the chance to read this book and be part of the tour .

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Well , I CAN’T WAIT FOR BOOK TWO , PLEASEEE GIVE IT TO ME 😦

This book was AMAZING , beside the gorgeous cover , the story is so interesting , the writing style is superb and the characters are just Awesome .

I’m so glad I got the chance to read Rafe and Lyana story , It was romantic and exciting. From their first encounter I was rooting for them.

This is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde “side note : If you don’t know the story , DO NOT Google it 😉 Spoilers alert 😀 “ , I liked how the author used some tropes from that story and integrated them in her own magical world .

Kaitlyn Davis is a great storyteller , This is my first book by her , but her writing style is so engaging and comforting ( I got immersed in this book from the first page and finished the whole book in oner siting 🙂 ) .

But be careful my friends , This book ends with a mean Cliffhanger , I’m currently suffering withdrawal symptoms , I just need to know more 😛 😦

The world building with all the side characters were interesting , the story has SO MUCH potential , I feel like there is a lot we need to know and will read about in the next books .

All in all , This is an excellent fantasy book , Would highly recommend it for all magic lovers ;).

And As A “Sarah J Maas” Books lover , This is Perfect for all of , Throne of glass / A court of thorns and roses Fans 😉

“The world will fracture, splinter in two, One made of gray, the other of blue. Beasts will emerge, filled with fury and scorn, Fighting to recover what from their claws we have torn. Two saviors will arise, one above, one below, A king born in fire and a queen bred of snow. Together they will heal that which we broke, With magic and spirit, with mirrors and smoke. But only on the day when the sky does fall, Will be revealed the one who will save you all.”

I absolutely fell in love with this book, and I totally didn't expect to. But I couldn't put the story down, and with every turn of the page, I found myself more invested in the characters and their world. It's a must read for anyone looking for a story that's new, interesting, and packed with court conflicts. It's like Wicked King Meets ACOTAR!!!!!!

Thank you so much to Kaitlyn Davis and NetGalley for letting me read the Raven and the Dove early! I really liked the summary of the book, so I was very excited to read it!

The Raven and the Dove 4/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: A princess longing to be free...
On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.
A bastard aching to belong...
Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...
Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

The beginning of the Raven and the Dove was a little slow for me, but as soon as we actually got to the courtship trials, it picked up for sure! I really liked Xander and Rafe a lot. Their dynamic as siblings was very cute and I love how it was them against the world for so much of the book, no matter what anyone else thought. I also really like Lyana- she was a great main female character. Cassi was interesting and I can't wait to see where her story ends up going in book two. I really enjoyed getting to see all four points of view in this book. There was so much going on and as soon as I thought I knew where something was going or how something was going to end, a curveball was thrown my way and I loved it! 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think that everyone should check out the Raven and the Dove! It came out yesterday, so it's still super new!

This book is great! I’m not completely finished with it but I’ve loved it so far! The star crossed lovers trope is one of my favorites. I really enjoy the world building as well. Definitely recommend!

What attracted me first in this book was the amazing cover and then I read the synopsis and I knew I had to read it. I’m happy I did but I have to admit even though I do love retellings I am not familiar with Tristan and Isolde’s story, so I can’t say much about that.
What I can tell you is that the world building is AMAZING. At times I struggled to keep up with so much information. This is the first book in a 4 book series so there’s a lot of details and information to remember but the mysterious world and the atmosphere are breathtaking.
Lyana, Cassi, Rafe and Xander are an interesting group of characters. I really liked Rafe’s and Xander backstory, they definitely felt the most developed characters of the book. Rafe’s story is something else, I loved it and his actions made sense considering his past. Also, it didn’t hurt that he was a broody sarcastic cute guy. Lyana is a likable character, I liked how feisty and determined she was but she wasn’t my favorite character, sometimes some of her actions were a little childish but still understandable. Cassi… well I liked her, hated her, pitied her, it was a roller coaster which means the character was well developed and I’m very, very, very intrigued about her character’s future. She’s definitely the wildcard in the story.
I was enthralled in this story and the entertainment level was great. There was not much happening by the middle of the story but in the end things were a bit chaotic, including the romance, and I wanted more from a certain character, Malek, but he ended up having a small role that I thought. I hope we get much more from him in book 2.
Overall, The Raven and The Dove was a very entertaining story with a unique, distinct atmosphere and world building and I enjoyed it very much. I’m excited for book 2!

This story is a fantasy retelling of the classic Tristan and Isolde, and it follows star-crossed lovers as they navigate the complex political world of their avian kingdom. Ok, I know there's a lot to unpack there, let me just say if you enjoyed the Red Queen series or Shadow Frost, this book might be for you. This book has everything you've come to love in a YA fantasy. There is a lot of world building to explain just how these royal kingdoms are separated by the bird wings they carry and the avian traits they mimic. There are the common tropes forbidden love and enemies to lovers for those who love a romance angle. There are also elements of magic, including dragons (!), and a war to save the world.

I enjoyed this read, even though at first I thought it might be a little too similar to the series I mentioned above but there is a lot of action and several complex characters who surprise you with their cunning. I was excited to see there is already a sequel in the works!

The Raven and the Dove
This book was absolutely FANTASTIC!! I Loved it hard!
The characters, the world building, the angst, the twists and turns held me captive during the day it took me to devour this.
I want more right now, Kaitlyn’s writing is so beautiful and it pulls you in instantly I just can’t stop gushing about this book.
I can’t wait for people to read it and I can’t wait to have a physical copy on my shelves to cherish. The characters are so strongly written and I instantly loved Lyana for her cheeky spirit and wholesome ways and Rafe the delectable dark and broody Raven, so much chemistry and angst.
Can’t wait to read book 2 as this was definitely one of my favourite reads so far this year.