I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I’ve never been torn so much on whether I should write a 1 star review or a 5 star review which is weird because there shouldn’t even be a question. But hear me out. As a Tristan & Isolde retelling, this book worked. It made sense. It was tragic and there was so much manipulation, deceit and heartbreak that no one was spared. Add in the world building and you’ve got a really good book. The problem was the characters. Instead of loving them despite their mistakes, I mostly hated them. I think that’s the problem with not making their problems seem big enough to make the choices they did. Because in the end I didn’t sympathize with their actions. I didn’t feel sorry for them (with the exception of two I mention below). Mixing a YA fantasy with a retelling only made them come across as immature, like they hadn’t fully grown up yet, something that pervaded the narrative until pretty much the end of the book.

Lyana, the main heroine, was just so annoying from the start. Childish, naive and spoiled. Expecting everyone around her to bow to her whims, manipulations and obsessed with pursuing her dream of a life despite what that means for others. She would state that she knew what it meant to be a princess and sacrifice, but she showed none of it until the barest hint right at the end. I mean at one point she says her best friend is no longer exciting because she’s “old news” since she’s become part of the family. Who says that? I got so tired of her whining after she’s been moved to the house of Whispers. Complaining that she’s the victim when she was the cause of all her own problems because of her childish fantasizing. Yes, Xander and Rafe played a part in the deception but she’s the one who pushed the ultimate end that led to all of their misery. We’re supposed to believe she’s noble and feel sorry for her because she’s disguising a secret, but considering that those around her wouldn’t even have hurt her for it, I didn’t feel the least bit sorry. She kept the secret when she had no need to, and hurt people in the process. So needless to say, not my favorite heroine.

I really wanted to love Rafe. I thought he would be the strong, confident, broody love interest we’ve all come to adore. Instead he seemed to be haunted by the circumstances of his birth and rejection of those around him. It was disheartening to watch him hurt himself physically to mask his emotional pain. My biggest issue with him was that he seemed to lack any self-worth and would cling to any scrap of affection thrown to him. This was especially evident in the way he was so saddened by the idea of Xander moving on with his life. It was hard to see he thought he was only important as long as Xander was around or Lyana was gazing at him like a new found adventure. The one thing I did appreciate about him was the sacrifices he made for Xander and how he tried to be selfless and step aside in many ways for his brother. That’s why I didn’t like how Lyana came between the two of them as their bond seemed to be so strong even given their upbringing. I felt some sympathy for the way things ended up for him, even given that it was his own mistakes that had mostly driven him there. I’m curious now as to where his story will go moving forward but I’m hoping that maybe this change will propel him to be a stronger character and not more sullen than he already is.

Because this is a retelling I’m aware that a messed up love story is the name of the game. Still, Lyana and Rafe’s romance came off as juvenile. Their feelings were based solely on this one moment they shared near the beginning of the book, this revealing of the secret and how they had supposedly found the one person they could be honest with. But the secret is the only thing they ever share. They hardly share any further time together in the book and even when they do there’s not much spark beyond that bond they share over a mutual secret. Their time together didn’t make me feel like their love was strong enough to warrant the choices they made or how close they ended up being. And let’s not even mention how each of them treated Xander. He was trying to make the princess happy and was the only person who showed his brother genuine affection but they both threw that back in his face in the worst way possible. The only redeeming aspect was that the author didn’t glorify how things ended up. She showed it for what it was, a terrible series of choices that only ended in the making of further mistakes. I wanted more from the romance in this book. I was hoping that since it was a retelling it wouldn’t just be the same rehash of betrayal and insta-love. I guess I was looking more for a reimagining, that maybe there would be some affection that grew between Rafe and Lyana over time or the story could be flipped on its head and she even started to fall for Xander or something. But no such thing happened.

Now Xander and Cassie. These characters were so interesting and heartbreaking. But for completely different reasons. One for the secrets hidden from him, the other for the secrets she kept. One for what he wasn’t willing to do, the other for what she was, despite the cost to herself. Somehow even though they weren’t the main couple or the main focus, they drew mine anyway. Their pain felt more real, more honest than Lyana and Rafe. Their struggles made my heart ache for them in a way I couldn’t with the other two. I felt so sorry for Cassi that she kept having to do things she really didn’t want to because she believed in a king who had long since forgotten about her. And I honestly could say so much about Xander. Yes the whole mess may have begun because he asked Rafe to be in his place, but the way he continued to wear his heart on his sleeve only to have it crushed was so devastating to watch. He was such an admirable character. Not perfect, no. He lacked courage and strength in some ways. But he showed he could be a good king and sacrifice where it really mattered. The more the book went on the more I was waiting for chapters on these two to show up. There were hints at a possible pairing between the two and that I would be on board for, although I have no clue how Cassi will find redemption after what she did near the end of the book, that was pretty awful.

The world building of this story is phenomenal though. Which is why it’s so sad I didn’t like the main characters because I loved the world they inhabited. The avian aspects were executed so well and the writing was vivid enough that I could picture all the different elements as they were being described. I always like when there’s different royal houses because it leaves potential for more places to be explored. Learning about each house was fascinating and then adding the details about magic on top of it really brought a great level of complexity. This word was fantastical, ethereal and dreamy all at the same time but with an aura of danger always surrounding it. I just wish all the characters had the same level of depth the world did.

The underlying plot that connects everything got much more interesting near the end. I did like how the author wove the idea of this fifth hidden figure throughout. Almost the puppet master of some of the events. He’s an interesting character and one that I hope has a much bigger role in the next book, there’s a potential for even him to become a love interest but I have no idea where that would go if it happened. Plus at this point there’s already 4 POVs so I don’t know if having 5 would be a good idea.

Overall this book was ok. The main characters dragged it down from the heights I believe it could’ve soared to but I know I’ll probably read the sequel. If nothing else because this world was so unique and it’s rare these days to find a unique concept. I hope there’ll be more development in the next book and even more places to explore.

Deceit, dragons, hidden magic and star-crossed lovers. The Raven and the Dove has all of that and more. Set in a world divided into two, those above and those below, it delivered a story beyond two people fighting fate for love. It’s about a princess who dreams of a higher calling, a prince who longs for approval, a bastard who wants to be accepted and an owl who hides the darkest secrets of them all.

Lyana - Princess of the snowy House of Peace. She dreams of adventure and is always getting into all kinds of mischief. On the day the challenges for royalty to find mates should begin she witnesses a brave prince fighting for his life against a dragon and decides she’s going to turn the tables on fate and propriety.

Rafe - The bastard prince of The House of Whispers. Shunned in his own kingdom by everyone but his brother, he would do anything for Xander including pretending to be him to compete and obtain the perfect mate for the kingdom that hates him. Attacked by a dragon and nursed back to health by a mysterious dove has a strange way of coming back to bite him in the ass later on though.

Xander - The crown prince of The House of Whispers. He’s held back by his deformity, a man of books rather than fighting. He needs the perfect mate to bring hope back to his kingdom to restore it and be taken seriously again.

Cassi - The orphaned owl taken in by Lyana and her kind heart. She loves her best friend more than anything, but she has her own past and secrets that might just change everything.

There were so many amazing things about this book. From the writing to the world-building and the amazing characters themselves I was enraptured. While we had 4 POVs most the book, they each had their own distinct voice and I never found myself dreading someone’s chapters.

There was a bit trickery and star-crossed lovers having in the romance department. You are just on this journey with Lyana but you see what she doesn’t thanks to Rafe and Cassi. It was like watching an train wreck about to happen. So many threads of people’s lives were tangled because of the decisions others made. I just wanted it to all work out in the best ways possible and without any betrayals.

Xander was my favorite little cinnamon roll. He loves his people but is so passive in his own life. Everyone could see it but him. He let something out of his control define him and I think some progress there was made so that’s something I’m really looking forward to in the second book along with Cassi’s storyline.

While it took me a hot minute to get into this book and the idea of winged people, once I was in I was in deep. We’ve only really gotten to explore the tiny bit of this huge world and were left with some major cliffhangers. I’m excited to see where this will go next and even more excited that the next book The Hunter and the Mage comes out September 2020 so I don’t even have to wait too long!

I can unabashedly say that yes, I did, at first, request this book because of the cover. I mean, just look at it. The summary did appeal to me, though, so it's not fully a cover-request.

Anyway, the book. Definitely some crazy things going on here.

So this story is very loosely based on Tristan and Isolde, if that gives you any indication of what this is going to be like, i.e. painful. In this world, the new group of young royals from these different avian-people groups must compete to find their mates. The dove princess, Lyanna, secretly meets who she thinks is the raven prince and drama ensues. All the while, there is a greater plot at hand.

The whole "the characters have wings" thing is new to me (I know this isn't a new idea, but this is my first time reading it). I wasn't sure how I felt about it in the beginning, but I think the author handled it very well. She used the wings to show emotion, as a plot point, and as a physical feature of the characters, but not one they relied to heavily on.

Speaking of the characters, I have some mixed feelings on them, but mostly good things. This story was told in multiple POVs, the main four being Lyanna (the "Isolde" character), Rafe (the "Tristan" character), Xander (the prince that Lyanna is betrothed to), and Cassie (Lyanna's best friend). Each character was well-developed and had their own voice, which I appreciate in a book with so many POVs.

Lyanna is very spunky and stubborn. She has a wish to be free and explore, but knows she must do her duty as a princess. At times, though, her actions are hard to read. The "cover your eyes to avoid the embarrassment" kind of hard to read.

A favorite character of mine was Xander. He's soft and I just want to hug him and tell him that I will sit in his library and read books with him. I would also tell him that he is stronger than he knows and he just needs to accept that.

Where this story fell a little short for me was the plot. Every step was intriguing and watching Lyanna deal with her feelings was fun, but this story seemed to have the wrong focus. I know this series is planned for four books, so it kind of felt like this book was mostly setup for what is to come. The background, greater plot, was a little too in the background. The major thing happened at the end, and then it was over. I understand this, of course, but as a reader, it was a little frustrating.

On top of that, the "Tristan and Isolde" part of the love story wasn't quite enough for me. Lyanna's feelings at the beginning of that arc, seemed more focused on Rafe being "convenient," even if they did have real chemistry. Then later, she suddenly liked him for real, when he was not at all convenient. I don't know. It just felt a little off for me. I wanted more.

Overall, an exciting story and I'm looking forward to continuing this series when the rest comes out in approximately a million years.

Thanks Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5

This is a Tristan and Isolde fantasy retelling about a world divided into seven Houses. These people were previously slaves to master who used magic on them, but thanks to the Gods, they were freed and given wings.

Princess Lyana Aethionus, of House of Peace, was almost 18, therefore she would have to participate in courtship trials to find a suitor and just before this big event, she saves Rafe from a dragon using her forbidden magic to defeat it and save him.

Rafe is the bastard half-brother of Prince Lysander Taetanus, from House of Whispers, but Lyana thinks he's the prince himself, so she's looking forward to those trials, since he also has forbidden magic and hopes that he'd be the only suitor able to understand and accept her as she is.

Those are the two main characters, but there are 4 points of views, the other two being the Prince Xander and Cassi, Lyana's orphan best friend, who also has some pretty dark secrets regarding a hidden world that believes Lyana's the queen from a prophecy.

Wow, it seems a lot, doesn't it? But even though it looks like it's a lot of information , the author's builds the worlds pretty well and doesn't give a bunch of information all at once, easing the reader into it. So, it was a very light and interesting read. The characters were very interesting, too. It's very easy to relate to them, since their conflicts felt very genuine. I just had some problems with Rafe who annoyed me a bit, but the other three had my love very quickly.

However, I had some problems with the romance. It was not a BIG part of the book, like I was expecting, which was good, since the author could focus on world-building and developing the characters, but it felt a bit instalovey for me, which I don't like at all. Also the plot about the underworld was very little explored, only playing a big part at the end, so it was a bit underwhelming.

Overall, it was an interesting read and it shows some potential for a new series, even if it was not the great epic fantasy I was expecting it to be.

Disclaimer: I was given an advance reading copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author for the opportunity.

4 stars

I was so excited when I saw this on NetGalley because the cover reminded me of Rhysand and Feyre!

I really love how the plot was planned and the characters were good. I don't really mind the romance, but I as expecting more of it. Maybe that's why I didn't give this a solid 5 star rating.

Please pick this up!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free e-book in exchange for an honest review!

I was hypnotized by this books beautiful cover and I knew I had to request it. This was a very cute read and I enjoyed it. However the romance was not that breath-taking as I hoped it would be , it was sort of a insta-love that lacked chemistry. I was expecting to fall heads over heels for this heart-stopping romance, it was definitely cute and lovable, but not something that will linger in your mind afterwards.
I did love the world-building, the dragons, and the entire "choosing a mate" quest. The twist, the authors writing style and the amazing world she created make me want to pick up the sequel for sure!

Avian-themed novel about starcrossed lovers and a King who will do anything to save the world as they know it. With 4 povs, this book had everything, from dragons, magic, to heavy pining. A bit of angst and relatable characters who didn't speak their mind. JUST TALK, things are better if you communicate!!

You know when things could've been 1000% times better if the characters just told the other characters what was going on in order to avoid the unnecessary drama? Well, that's exactly what happened here and what made me rate it 4 instead of maybe a bit more. The characters, even with the whole "I've spoken to you 5 minutes but I already love you" thing they almost had going on, were likeable and the 4 povs weren't hard to follow, even if I still need to understand Cassi's. She's still a mystery and I'm angry at her, and at one other character who was the worst!

I loved the whole world above the clouds with different floating islands each inhabited by different bird people: doves, ravens, hawks, hummingbirds, and more. Everything was well detailed and it painted a clear picture of the above world in my mind. I can't say the same about the kingdom beneath the mist, but I'm sure it'll be cover in the sequel.

The last chapters were wild af! I expected almost all of it since the beginning; I still have so many questions, though. A couple scenes from the last chapters broke my heart, made me cringe hard. Being inside all of their minds, knowing their thoughts, following each of their journeys, made me more aware of their feelings, and seeing them in certain situations wasn't easy.

The sequel sounds great! I read the synopsis and colour me intrigued!

I had seen this book on Bookstagram quite a lot so once I saw it on NetGalley I knew I had to read it. I mean, how gorgeous is that cover?!?!

This story blew me away, with its interesting and captivating world and different houses/species. This is a re-telling of Triston and Isolde which I don’t know too much about but will now definitely read more about them!

Kaitlyn Davis has an incredibly enchanting writing style that has you hooked on the story and its characters, who I absolutely loved. I’m an absolutely sucker for dual POV’s so when I realised that this book had just that I knew it was going to be a new favourite. I especially liked reading from the perspective of Cassi whose chapters were incredibly insightful!

Lyana and Rafe are perfect main characters and I honestly couldn’t help but fall in love with them and their story. While I’m not a fan of insta-love I was impressed with how much it didn’t frustrate me in this story.

I did find the beginning a little bit confusing, especially with the introduction to the different houses. It was hard to get my head wrapped around all the information and to figure out who was who. However this quickly passed and it all somewhat clicked into place.

Kaitlyn Davis has created this breath-taking, mesmerising world which I cannot honestly wait to dive back into! I recommend The Raven and The Dove to any YA fantasy lover!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kaitlyn Davis for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I admittedly was drawn to The Raven and the Dove by the beautiful cover art thinking it would be another fae story I would fall in love with, but instead it was a really interesting retelling about of Triston and Isolde within an avian society. All the the world building and details about the different houses/species and such was interesting, but it ultimately made it really hard to get sucked in to the story initially because there was just so much of it. The one truly fantastic thing this book has going for itself is the characters. Lyanna, Rafe, Xander, Cassi, and Malek carried this story through to the end, and although I could sense some heavy influence from other well known YA characters (I got a Darkling vibe from Malek), they all stand on their own as interesting additions to the YA world. The one thing that really rubbed me the wrong way, and always does within YA novels, was the insta love between Lyanna and Rafe. It seems like an almost unavoidable trope in YA, but it just takes so much away from the story. Overall, I liked The Raven and the Dove, but I didn't love it. It's a fun story with winged characters and dragons, and if that's something that draws you in than go for it.

** CONTAINS SPOILERS **

I actually didn't realise, when I requested this book, that it's a retelling of Triston and Isolde. I LOVE Triston and Isolde, so I was incredbily excited as I started reading and realised.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way that it was reimagined. The concept of the Avian society was really cute and interesting, and I hope it's expanded upon even more in the next book, and that we get a glimpse of the other households. I'm not gonna lie, I'd even read a spinoff about the other houses because this world is so intriguing.

There aren't words to describe the heartbreak and anger about what Cassie does to Rafe. I was gobsmacked.

My only niggle with the story was one little plot hole : Malek not knowing Cassie is a bird. He MUST have known that she was one in order for her to be an effective spy. I'm hoping that this is a plot point that will be resolved in the next book, or that Malek did know all along and Cassie just didn't know he knew.

I cannot wait for the sequel!!!

4.5/5

I got about 10 percent into this book and I realized it wasn't really holding my attention so I will not be finishing this novel. I'll probably try to read it again in the future when I'm not feeling so drained.

I enjoyed this book. I found it kept my interest . Is it one of my favourite books? No but it was good enough that I do want to read the next book .

Magical beings, birds of prey, birds of peace, political marriages, a feisty heroine, two heroes to choose from and dragons! Kaitlyn Davis had me from the first page of THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE!!

A princess knows her time has come to choose her prince from the powerful houses of the land, but sh is determined to do things her way, resenting the lack of control she has over her life. Lyana did NOT expect to fall for the mysterious raven prince as she watched him battle to the death with a dragon. If she had to marry, it would be him. Little did she know he wasn’t who he claimed to be exactly, but she would discover how powerful brotherly love and a sacrifice made for that love was and the secret powers she shared with Rafe. But they could never be together, but would marrying Lysander, the gentle and bookish soul be so bad?

No one expected a treacherous betrayal or a claim from a young king from below who will stop at nothing to have Lyana.

Simply magical! A tale of love found, denied and the pain of duty over personal desires. Wonderful characters, each with distinct and vibrant personalities, a heart-wrenching betrayal and the beauty of a fantasy world that feels real! After this powerhouse of an opener, I can't wait for more in this series!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Kaitlyn Davis! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Set in a world, with floating cities and winged people, we follow a few main characters. Lyanna - the dove princess who wants to have more independence; Cassi - the owl best friend of Lyanna and she has an unexpected allegiance; Rafe - the raven bastard who wishes for a life of his own; Lysander - the raven prince with a heart of gold and deep care for his people. They each have their own POV, which was insightful into their thoughts and motivations.

Lyanna and Rafe are the main characters of this book - I enjoyed their individual backgrounds and how they discover one another. But their romance was a bit insta-love and had the particular flavour of an "undeniable connection." Following them, I have to say they're a good pairing and their storylines ended up in very dark places, which will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the sequel.

The main plot line was surrounding the courtship trails where the royal princes and princesses must find their mate. All of the participants are wearing a mask during the tests to create an air of mystery. However, there are several underlying plots: to have forbidden magical abilities is either death or exile, and an earthly king wants his foretold match from above. Everyone has a secret they're hiding, all will eventually be revealed.

Asides from the focus on romance, there's themes of undying loyalty, greater truths, and the power within. The ending was shocking and I didn't expect one of the characters to do what they did. It was brutal, but they were resolute in their goals. I'm so happy I got an early copy of this book, and I'm excited for the sequel!

This probably will be stated everywhere but the cover art is beautiful! The story and the characters were decent and had some possibilities. I enjoyed the world building and the beauty that was described and I liked the concept of the book that followed. The characters were a little weak at times and not a lot of growth with them either. But the next book sounds wonderful and will continue the series. So a decent read, not a favorite but a good read. Would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!!

This was one of those fantasy novels that pulls you in from the very beginning. The writing style was super intriguing, and I think that it really helped to explain and unravel the world to the reader.
I absolutely adored the character development and world building, and I think this is one that people are genuinely going to enjoy this coming May!

Great book that's is loosely based on a classic story, but then takes the story into a magical world. The characters are well done and the story flows smoothly.

Admittedly, I went into this thinking this was gonna be something with fae or whatever considering the dude on the cover looked like off-brand Rhysand. But this took me - happily - by surprise.

First of all, there's a lot going on, so you kinda gotta strap in. But I think it's overall explained pretty well and you definitely learn more as you go. If the combination of magic, people-birds, royalty, and cute brothers catches your eye, then you'll be in for a treat.

I loved how unique the plot ended up being, even if it was a little weird and hard to grasp entirely. My only problem is that a lot of it, you're sort of told is going to happen through a certain characters perspective. While there were still some surprises in the end, it sort of felt I was just reading and waiting for what I know was going to happen to happen. This made the writing kind of eh at times. I honestly think it was better during some character's POVs than others (btw, this follows like, four people).

So what ended up really grabbing me wasn't necessarily the plot or the writing, but the CHARACTERS. Specifically the two brothers, Xander and Rafe. I just want to give them so many hugs. Xander, the crown prince, is the softer character that just wants to read books and loves his people and is just so sweet. Rafe, the bastard, is a little rougher around the edges because of his upbringing, but would do absolutely anything for his brother, and I just !!! I love them and I'm so sorry for calling him an off brand Rhysand. Besides the brothers, there's Lyanna and Cassi. Lyanna took a little warming up to, mostly because she has the kind of peppy personality that is SO different from my own, but her exploring outside of her kingdom and her love for adventure was adorable, v Tangled-esque. I had a love/hate relationship with Cassi, mostly because I was never really looking forward to her chapters, but I liked her outside of her own perspective more.

Overall, this hit me where it's most important, with the characters. The plot was really interesting as well, which helped for some of the parts that I didn't love about it. I'm excited for the next one to see where this goes!

Three and a half
Ok lets be honest I wanted to read this because of the beautiful cover and I've a feeling I won't be the only one so yes call me fickle. However the world building ideas with winged communities living above a dense thick mist was extremely intriguing. Below the mist is what I can only describe as people desperate to fulfil a prophecy but not everything is exactly as it seems.
The story primarily settles on four main characters, there's Lyana the spoilt princess, Rafe the bastard son, Xander the crown Prince and Cassie who has secrets of her own. Lyana if I'm blunt just didn't resonate with me but I did applaud her determination to use her gifts. Rafe is so loyal to his brother and he was so close to being my favourite character. Xander might not be the fighter that his younger brother is but he is nevertheless a wonderful character and a lovely surprise. As for Cassie she's an incredible force who is severely underestimated and if it wasn't for her actions towards the end would have been my favourite. There's magic and mystery here plus Dragons that seem to be vicious and attracted to magic. I have absolutely no idea were this storyline is going because there is an absolutely huge cliff hanger but I would be interested in finding out just why the atrocities that happen at the end were felt necessary because believe me it's brutal !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Going into this book I was hoping to just fall in love with a YA fantasy, I found the premise to be promising, but this was just a miss for me. I found the writing to be eloquent, and I thought the world was magnificent, but I thought the was all over the place.

I did find there to be some very lovable characters, that were wonderful and interesting which I have been having trouble with recently, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have issues. I did like the character Raf, he’s your classic YA male protagonist, he’s broody, with a gruesome past, who doesn’t think he’s worthy. Anna was sometimes a little insufferable, she’s very privileged, despite her magic supposedly marginalizes her.

I didn’t mind the romance, I found it to be quite lovely. I didn’t care for this book much and that means I’m not planning on reading the sequel in the future.