This one had a good concept and is well structured. I personally just found it difficult to get into and there's a lot of characters to keep up with

Interesting avian fantasy with magic and Mayhem and just a tiny bit of romance. 🥹🫣🩷

I don't have a lot of negative to point out other than the use of the phrase "by half" way too many times.
That, and the cliffhanger but I expected that.

The battle at the end: brutal. Soooo brutal.

Will definitely continue the series.

This was such a fun first installment of a series. Admittedly I grabbed this from #netgalley with no context other than I thought the cover was pretty.

The avian fantasy follows bird hierarchy, and it starts at the beginning of a mating ceremony for the houses that are in the realm. Each house brings a young prince/princess and they compete in trials for the chance at first pick of a mate.

We see bonds forged by secrets, betrayals between friends, and betrayals between family.

It had twists and turns and the pacing was fantastic.

Definitely a YA book in the romance department.

Enjoyed it so much I'm definitely picking up the second book.

Thanks to #netgalley for the book!

What a fresh and unique concept! I loved the world building of the kingdoms in the air and kingdoms below. The avian theme and attributes of the characters was also a really unique and interesting twist. The author did a great job of weaving that theme throughout the writing by using terminology typically used to describes birds (ex. She chirped) to describe human behavior. I really liked all of the main characters and thought the multiple points of view helped build a great story. Pacing is well done and the story didn’t drag. I didn’t love where it went with Rafe and Layana towards the end of the story but other than that, this was a great read.

I read this on an audiobook ARC that I received from NetGalley and enjoyed the narration. I don’t always like when male points of view are read by women but this worked and was well done.

Romantic Content: Kisses, one vague fade to black

Princess Lyana dreams of freedom and adventure, but her life is already planned for her. Planned in more ways than she knows. Lyana must face the mating trials and do her best to win a mate worthy of a dove, the daughter of Aethios. She begs her best friend to watch the houses arrive for the mating trials, but when a dragon attacks the arriving house, everything changes.

Rafe, half-brother to Prince Lysander of the house of whispers, son of Tenatus and raven will do anything for his brother. It is his brother has saved him and Rafe is in his debt. However, acting as Lysander during the mating trials might be more than he can handle. He has seen dragons before and he must fight it. However, when he is mortally wounded he is saved by the dove, Princess Lyana.

So starts a story of love won and lost, and coming to grips with the consequences. This is the first in a series of four novels about worlds above worlds, those with wings and those without, and those with magic and what they all must do to survive. I loved it! I listened to the audiobook and it has been hard to stop listening when I get out of my car! I look forward to reading/listening to the rest of the novels in the series! There is very little spice - one closed door scene. But, beware, this ends in a cliffhanger!

Big thanks to Netgalley and Kaitlyn Davis for this audiobook.

I loved The Raven and The Dove and cannot wait to continue the series.

It had lots of the tropes that I look for in a fantasy series:
forbidden love
forbidden magic
grumpy/sunshine
dragons
fated mates
floating worlds
wings

The story was very intriguing and kept me entertained. I love the use of birds for each floating world and the characters wings. As with most first books in the series, there's a lot of world building in this first book, but was done really well.

Thank you to Kaitlyn Davis, Netgalley, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing me with a free audio in exchange for my honest review.

This had a promising premise. I enjoyed the plot and the magic, and there were several twists I didn't see coming. The characters were all multidimensional, and I enjoyed the multiple POV.

The narration was good, but I think it could have benefited from a full cast of narrators since there were 4 POVs.

There was a sort of love triangle, though, and the way it was handled felt too much like cheating for me to be comfortable with it. Because of that, I may read the next book, but I won't make it a priority.

The Raven and the Dove is an adventurous romance, with an equal balance between the romantic elements and the fantasy world building enough to keep most any readers interested and invested. The romantic elements did, however, feel a bit rushed. But the characters were done in such a way that it felt pretty well natural for them. Overall a fun opening to a series.

The story is set fantasy world, where winged people lived on islands in the sky. Held upright by their Gods, whom they worship and whose stones they protect fiercely.

It's the start of their most important ritual, the courtship trial. Princess Lyana Aethionus wants nothing more than to find a bit of freedom, a place where she didn't have to hide who she is.

Before the ritual starts, she and her best friends Cassie go on a final adventure, to see all of the royals arriving at the palace. But what they see is the raven prince getting attacked by the dragon and losing. Lyana can't help but jump in and when the dragon is defeated, she convinces Cassie to help her hide the prince, until she can fully heal him. She has magic that is forbidden in their world. If anyone would see her, she would be instantly killed, but she can't help but heal him.

When she sees a royal ring around his neck, she is so happy. If she picks him as his mate, she could live with a person from whom she didn't have to hide who she is.

Prince has secrets of his own, magic that meets hers and most importantly that he isn't really a prince, but is standing in for his half-brother.

Her world is shaken, but there is no going back. They need to find a way to deny a connection, and move on with their lives, cause their love could never be.

Below the world above, hidden in a fog is a world in a war. A king, looking for a prophesied queen who could save them, with a hidden spy will stop at nothing to have her.

It's a complex story, but of betrayal, and so many twists and turns that will make you dizzy (in a good way:) ). A truly romantic story, of two people finding their other half, in people that they could never have.

Highly recommend it!

got it on Netgalley, all opinions are mine

This book was so incredibly good!! Fun fact: this was the first audiobook I've ever listened to and I absolutely loved it! Sarah Sampino did an incredible job and I will definitely be listening to more audiobooks in the future.

The book is a character driven book, not having an exact plot that I can set my finger on. The story really leans on the characters, who definitely hold it up. It was slow in the beginning as I was getting used to the worlds and characters, but once I got immersed in the people, the lack of definite plot was made up for and I found myself really enjoying just about anything the character was doing.

Now, listening to this with audio was a very different experience. I found myself confused at the magic scenes, not fully understanding what was going on, but it wasn't too bad so I could still figure it out mostly. The magic system of how they heal things or use powers does confuse me still. There wasn't as much world building as I would've wanted. I mean, the world is so freaking interesting and we only get a glimpse. Seven houses each set in different type of regions, seven types of birds, seven stones with seven gods, many different kinds of magic, the world below the mist, the political relationships, there was so much and I wish I got more. Especially with the other houses. I found myself wanting to know who the other houses paired with though and what their life was like. I kept on thinking about Coralie and Damien and wanting to know about their life cause they seem like exact opposites, or Lucca and Iris, and we don’t even find out who the others are paired with. Also, such a huge thing is that one of the male’s would not get a female cause there wasn’t enough, and we never find out which one. Adding those little details to the story probably would’ve tipped me to 5 stars.

But, with the characters that we did get to know, it was amazing. I often found myself cackling out loud in the car or squealing like a little girl. Rafe and Lyana both took warming up to, but I loved them so much, especially Rafe, by the end. Xander was such an amazing character too and I felt sorry for him throughout the story. Cassi, I honestly hated at first. I knew she was hiding a secret. And I hated her more when I found it out. But, the ending changed my mind about her and I can't wait to discover her even more in book two.

Overall, this book was amazing. I've been in a bit of a slump and this made me excited to read the next book and continue the journey. The ending had me in shock and it was worthwhile a slower beginning. Also, there's dragons (enough said). Definitely check this out if you love fantasy with a character driven plot!

"The Raven and The Dove" is an engaging and enjoyable book that deserves recognition. While I ultimately enjoyed my reading experience, I did have a few reservations that prevented me from awarding it a full five-star rating.

The primary issue I encountered was the pacing of the story. The narrative moved at a fast pace, almost as if I was rushing to keep up with the events unfolding. This made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the world and connect with the characters on a deeper level. The rapid pace also made it challenging to keep track of the various points of view (POVs) presented throughout the story. Juggling multiple perspectives can be an enriching storytelling technique, but in this case, it occasionally proved overwhelming.

Despite these concerns, "The Raven and The Dove" has many redeeming qualities that make it a worthwhile read. The book shines in its imaginative and well-crafted world-building, transporting readers to a unique and vividly depicted setting. The author's attention to detail is commendable, allowing readers to easily envision the enchanting realms and landscapes.

Moreover, the characters within the story are complex and multi-dimensional, each with their own struggles and motivations. Although the fast pacing hindered my ability to fully connect with them, they were still intriguing and well-developed. The romantic elements in the plot were skillfully integrated and added depth to the relationships between the characters, enhancing the overall reading experience.

In terms of writing style, the author demonstrates a mastery of descriptive language, painting vivid pictures with their words. The prose is evocative and engaging, drawing readers deeper into the story. Additionally, the world-building and lore were well-researched, providing a solid foundation for the narrative.

In addition to the written version, I also had the opportunity to experience "The Raven and The Dove" as an audiobook, and I must say that the narration greatly enhanced the overall enjoyment of the story. The choice of narrator was excellent, as their voice and delivery captured the essence of the characters and brought them to life. The narrator's skillful interpretation of emotions, accents, and dialogue added depth and authenticity to the listening experience. It was a pleasure to listen to their soothing and engaging voice, making the audiobook an immersive and pleasurable way to experience the book. The audio production quality was top-notch, ensuring a clear and professional recording. Overall, the audiobook version of "The Raven and The Dove" is highly recommended, particularly for those who appreciate the immersive nature of audio storytelling.

In conclusion, "The Raven and The Dove" is a solid four-star read. Despite the issues with pacing and multiple POVs, the book offers a captivating world, complex characters, and a well-crafted narrative. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy novels with a touch of romance will likely find themselves enthralled by this tale.

I would like to give a big thank you to Kaitlyn Davis and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this story on audiobook. This book grabbed me from the very first scene. This is a beautiful YA retelling of Tristian and Isolde but with a twist, they are birds, specifically a raven and a dove. I have never read an avian fantasy before and I was hooked immediately. I don't want to give anything away, but one thing I will say is that this book was an immediate 5 star read for me within the first 5 chapters. I highly recommend to fantasy readers and I recently found out this book and as well as all of the books in this series are available on Kindle Unlimited. Heading there as soon as I submit this review and read all of her works.
#TheRavenandtheDove #NetGalley

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I like the Tristan and Isolde story so I was excited to see this as a fantasy retelling. The story is retold with birds (yup that's right, like the title says), some of which have magic. Lyanna is a princess who, before the tournament to choose mates, meets Rafe and he is injured during a dragon fight. She nurses him back to health and so their story begins.

What this book needed more of was their falling in love in the cave. It was too short to believe that they had fallen in love. They could have drawn that out a little more and spent less time on the parade before the choosing ceremony and some other parts that were unnecessary to the storyline. Then some secret time together throughout her courtship with his brother would have sealed it in. I also thought it was weird that they kept saying that they are "human". No, they're not. They're birds. Fae would have made more sense or some made-up word to call them.

I liked the magic twist on this and being a retelling, it starts to go off of the original storyline as it draws out for book 2, which I really liked. I'm continuing with the series. I also liked the ease of writing which made the storyline enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Not affecting my rating is the audiobook narrator. My rating is solely on the writing and storyline. The narrator for this book is extremely robotic. Almost comically so. I'm not sure if it was done on purpose, or if a general American accent is not her natural accent, or what it was. It became annoying to listen to her speak robotically for the majority of the book.

Ahh this book was seriously amazing! Oh my goodness it deserves so much hype! I would never have found it if not for NetGalley so I’m super grateful.

The book follows four main characters in an avian world of magic and royalty. It felt both unlike anything I have encountered before but also wholly on par with other YA romantasies like The Selection or Red Queen. I loved the chemistry and banter between characters.

The avian world is so fresh and interesting. I imagine that there could be a lot more material for world building in the future books from this series. This first book ends with so much left to uncover and explore.

I loved the themes of loyalty, friendship, and freedom. I think it opened up the space for a lot of character growth which I hope shows up in future books. The writing style is also excellent - I know other reviewers mention having trouble making sense of the world and following certain things. I didn’t have that issue and found everything to be very vivid and easy to imagine in my mind.

Additionally, the audiobook quality is great. The narrator does a great job of immersing their listener.

A great read for fans of The Selection, Red Queen, Shadow and Bone.

DNFed at the 56% mark.

I had a hard time connecting with this story. I understood several of the plot points but was more confused by the world building. The characters were less compelling than I wanted them to be so I didn't feel comfortable continuing listening to the audiobook. It is potential I would do better reading the print version.

If you like YA romantasy with big wing energy, you will likely like this. I just don't believe this book was for me at this time.

I received an audiobook ARC from Netgalley for review and don't ever get paid for my reviews.

Are you ready for a tale of love, friendship, destiny and more? Well Raven and the Dove is for you.

TBH I requested this book solely based on the cover. SNS but if there's a black girl on the cover im here for it, especially is it a fantasy. I ended up switching from the audio to the physical book,

4.25 Stars.

Thankyou to NetGalley for an Audiocopy of this book for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series, I have already ordered them so hopefully not long before I can dive into this world again.

We are Following Lyana, Cassi, Rafe and Xander as they keep secrets and manoeuvre their way through a new world. There is a love triangle, epic battles against dragons, secrets and more. What a rollercoaster it is but you don't want it to stop.

I would recommend for Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout fans.

This is a fast paced fantasy romance . If you are a fan of Tristan and Isolde you will be a fan of Raven and Dove. Even though the read is light, fast, and gripping. The author's world building is seemless in places, describing a rather brutal world where those with magic live in fear of being killed, sometimes in brutal ways. The scenes where Lyanna cares for an injured Rafe will feed the need of any fans of enemies to lovers.

The Narrator did an excellent job capturing the feelings of the characters. Each voice was distinct and her performance was well rounded.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The ending! OMG.

If I say this is a book about bird people no one will read it. But that's kind of what it is and it's amazing. I really love any book that has a prophecised princes/prince/person trope and this is it. This book has forbidden magic, romance, prophecy, and betreyal. Honestly, this is what the best books are made of. There is also a trial to choose mates which was fun. I thought this was great. I recommend to all fantasy lovers!

Oh and did I mention there are floating worlds??

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this audiobook

The narrator of The Raven and The Dove was really good at bringing this story to life. The fantasy world was richly created and the story plot was really enjoyable. The characters were created with a uniqueness, with all of these factors it really brought the whole book together.