Maria Dean does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that element that I was wanting from the description. The characters were so well done and worked with the genre and world, I was invested in what was going on and thought they worked well in this plot. The plot was everything that I was expecting and enjoyed in this type of book.

"First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the magic system in this book—it felt fresh, well thought out, and added a unique layer to the story. What stood out to me the most was how the magic was intricately tied to the characters’ emotions and choices, making it feel both powerful and personal. It wasn’t just there for flashy moments; it had clear rules and consequences, which made the worldbuilding feel more grounded and immersive. It was a refreshing take that kept me intrigued throughout the story. I look forward to reading more!"

“We don’t go through life not hurting those closest to us.”

“We Become Ravens,” by Maria Dean

This book was utterly amazing! I love psychological type book where you see the dual sides to the bad guy and since this book is so focused on the FMC meeting with her brother’s killer to get his side of the story it was a perfect plot for me. I loved the build up in the book, it wasn’t too fast and not too slow and there was very little fighting or anything, but it was such a great plot. I loved how magic was mixed into the book, and it was so important, but it really was just an accent for the characters, who were the actual importance of the entire story. it was spicy with gang stuff happening but also a career focused woman who wanted to live the most normal life she could get despite seeing dead people. Absolutely perfect, 5 out of 5 stars.

-Forbidden Romance
-Magic
-Gangs

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

The description of this book sounded soo promising! But sadly it didn't hold up to my expectations at all. Half the book was just about her visits to the prison, while all the other aspects of her life (like, her work? her friends?? all the *6* other days of the week???) were just skiped almost completely. Also, it was sooo much tell and just not enough show. Like, when Valdemar tells Evangeline what happened to her brother she's all like "omggg his words are capturing me and I feel like I'm right there with him!1!!" and it's just ...words? You know? Just super basic sentences, no flowy language or anything. And all aspects of the story which could have given the book and its characters some emotional depth were just resolved within a few sentences, which was honestly just really frustrating to read.

I love a dark romance, especially one that is seeped in mystery and magic. This novel by Maria Dean was definitely right up my alley. The greatest question.. if someone you loved was murdered would you visit them in prison? And if so would you forgive, use it as an excuse to further your own gain, admonish them even more or. do something unbeknown to the rest of the world - fall in love with them?!

I absolutely loved this novel. I devoured this in a day as soon as I was approved for this arc. The twists, the turns, the secrets that lies between them, and the brilliant spice. I also loved how different it was, how the author made sure the protagonist was strong and fought her own battles as well as had a strong man beside her within the Raven community, rather than the standard of the FMC being apart of the man's world. And the dream scenes... absolutely lush!!

Fabulous. I will be reading more from this author most definitely and cannot wait to see what she bring out next.

Rated 4 stars and 3 chilli spice rating. :D

A dark romance with Edgar Allen Poe vibes. A great magic system, murder, mystery, enemies to lovers trope. This book is a quick read but oh so enjoyable. The characters are interesting and the storyline will keep you interested. The writing was good and character development was good.

4.75/5 ⭐️ • 2/5 🌶

- forbidden romance
- knife play
- paranormal/ghosts
- Edgar Allan Poe - inspirations throughout book

We start with the drama of our FMC visiting out MMC in jail. We discover that things may not be as they seem within the first few chapters. Throughout the book, revelations are made about everyone in the book. These are about them as people, their abilities, and their involvement in everything.

I loved the layers that kept unfolding throughout that answered questions that the author made us think. While I saw it has paranormal aspects, I enjoyed the world the author built and how the fantasy elements played out.

We Become Ravens by Maria Dean was a thrilling crime romance with an enemies to lovers pull. There’s a touch of fantasy mixed in with some of the characters having special gifts. Maria Dean tosses in a nice twist you don’t see coming. We Become Ravens is a true standalone, which is getting harder to come by in this genre.

I recommend We Become Ravens to fans of The Inmate.

'We Become Ravens' was a fun read. I especially enjoyed the dynamic that grew between Valdemar and Evangeline, the narrator. There was a lot of spice in this novel., but I thought it was well-handled. Another fun part were the allusions to Edgar Allan Poe. Whether it was character names or allusions to a short story like 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' they tested my knowledge of Poe. At the end, there was also a nice revenge strategy. 4 stars.

I absolutely devoured this book! The atmosphere was dark and immersive, the characters were compelling, and the plot kept me hooked until the very end. I couldn’t put it down and already want to read it again!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Alright, buckle up, because We Become Ravens by Maria Dean is the kind of book that sinks its claws into you and refuses to let go. Dark, eerie, and dripping with gothic allure, this is a story that feels like stepping into a dream—one that’s equal parts intoxicating and terrifying.

We follow journalist Evangeline Bransby, who’s spent the last decade haunted by the murder of her twin brother. So when she receives an invitation to interview Valdemar Montresor—the infamous leader of the Raven Hands gang and, oh yeah, the man convicted of killing her brother—she does what any self-respecting journalist with a death wish would do: she goes. Straight into Monroe Penitentiary. Because of course she does.

From the moment these two meet, the tension is thick enough to choke on. Valdemar is the definition of morally gray—dangerous, enigmatic, and way too charming for a man locked behind bars. But here’s the thing: he insists he didn’t kill her brother. And as Evangeline digs deeper, she finds herself caught in a web of secrets, supernatural forces, and dreamlike visions that blur the line between reality and nightmare.

Maria Dean’s writing? Absolutely stunning. She weaves a story that feels like it was whispered to you in the dead of night—lyrical, haunting, and impossible to shake. The chemistry between Evangeline and Valdemar crackles with intensity, and their dynamic is the perfect mix of I shouldn’t want this & but what if I do?

And let’s talk about the atmosphere. If you love gothic tales soaked in mystery, with just the right amount of the supernatural, We Become Ravens will have you absolutely feral. It’s unsettling, seductive, and perfect for readers who like their romance with a side of existential dread.

Final verdict? If The Raven Cycle, Gideon the Ninth, and Interview with the Vampire had a beautifully unhinged love child, it would be this book. Prepare to get lost in the shadows—you won’t want to leave.

Evangeline Bransby is facing a dilemma she’s not sure what to do about. She’s received a request to visit with Valdemar Montresor at Monroe Penitentiary. As the head of the Raven Hands, an interview with Montresor is a journalist’s dream - but this is also the man who murdered her twin brother in cold blood almost ten years ago. She’s determined to know the truth of that night, and the more invested she gets, the more she’s pulled to Valdemar himself.

We Become Ravens was an intriguing novel. It’s a sort of retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s works and life mashed up in a steamy romantasy story. I appreciated the nods to each of Poe’s works that appeared. The story is tied together with the “relationship” of Evangeline and Valdemar woven throughout to hold the reader’s attention. Ultimately I found some of it to be rushed, some areas a little glossed over, and some of the Poe references a little on the nose. Overall, however, a solid good read.

Final rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Recommended if you like: romantasy, fantasy, spicy retellings

Thank you to Maria Dean, Hot Tree Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an arc!

We Become Ravens follows Evangeline, a journalist who is summoned to the prison at the request of notorious criminal Valdemar Montresor to hear his story before his impending release after spending the last 10 years behind bars for a coldblooded murder.. The murder in question? Evangeline’s twin brother Ed…

I really enjoyed this one! I went in pretty much blind and wasn’t sure what to expect but it was fast paced and sexy and I couldn’t put it down! I saw this was tagged as a fantasy book but was confused at the start about where the fantasy elements would come from and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the magical realism was interesting and the storyline wasn’t like anything I’ve really read before. I really liked how the chapters were short and sweet which made it super fast paced and impossible for me to put down that I pretty much binged it in a day!

I would say that I wish the ending were a little more satisfying as I feel like things were wrapped up a little too cleanly but overall I enjoyed this one and would recommend it!

We Become Ravens had me when I saw it likened to Edgar Allen Poe and that it included one of my favorite tropes--forbidden romance. While the story started off strong, I soon lost interest.

Evangeline's character seemed to carry a chip on her shoulder and came across as if everyone owed her something. Even Valdemar's character fell flat, with his obsession with Evangeline being basically his entire personality. & do not even get me started on her brother... No sympathy whatsoever for his plight.

Overall, this was intriguing and I did enjoy the supernatural/fantasy aspects, it was just unfortunately more miss than hit for me.

I loved this from start to finish! I truly believe this is a book you should go into blind, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by doing so. The writing was so compelling and while the story takes place in the modern world, it had this gothic fantasy vibe to it. A good portion of the this takes place in dreams and I thought that was very well done. Shoutout to the Edgar Allen Poe references!! Valdemar has to be one of my favorite morally grey MMC's ever, and I loved our FMC Evangeline as well. They were perfect. The spice 🥵🌶🌶🌶
I highly recommend this and feel very lucky to have been approved. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Forbidden Romance
Special Powers
Revenge
Ghosts


Evangeline is a journalist who is invited by her brother’s convicted killer, Valdemar Montresor for a visit to the prison where he is held for the last ten years. She is the only person he has ever invited to speak about what happened that night and he wants to explain what happened and why he did it before his early release.
Valdemar is the head of the Raven Hands, a notorious vigilante gang and for some strange reason she is drawn to him which causes her to have conflicted feelings about being attracted to her brother’s killer. She has strange erotic dreams of him and feels guilty about having these desires for him.
This was a great read and I can recommend it to everyone who enjoys a villainous heart throb, murder mysteries and ghosts. This is also perfect if you are new to fantasy as it is an urban fantasy with very little magic.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

When the man who killed her twin brother wants to see her from his prison cell, Evangeline hesitantly agrees because she wants to know the truth.

This book was amazing! The magic system, character development, mystery - I couldn’t stop reading! The writing style was beautiful as well!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read. I’ve been recommending this one to others!

You lost your twin brother Ed and now his killer wants to see you. Evangeline doesn’t want to meet Valdermar but she wants the truth about that night.
She wasn’t expecting her reaction to him & his presence. He has told her about the night that he shot Ed but there is something missing and she needs to find out the real story. She is drawn into a new world and old truths come out and she realises that she needs to make a choice. Vlademar knows that he needs to be careful when it comes to her as she is what he has been waiting for. Will they make peace with the past? Will their bond become stronger?
A good read starts off slow but once you get pulled into their world it makes sense. Good characters a different storyline.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

2.5 stars

I picked this up because the idea of Edgar Allen Poe, a murder mystery, and some supernatural elements tied together sounded like it would be great. In the end, about half of it was okay, and the other half just ended up falling flat.

Evangeline seemed like a good character in the first half. She's had horrible trauma, including "killing" her mother in childbirth and then having her twin brother murdered. She ends up visiting her brother's murderer in jail to find the truth. Valdemar is the dark, broody, alpha-male character that crops up in these enemies-to-lovers romances. At first, I liked him too. Then he just became solely focused on Evangeline and he turns into a flat character without any development. Add to that the twist with Evangeline's brother, and I just really lost my liking for the book.

There are pacing problems with this book. We have long flashbacks, and the present day seems to rush past. Some of the visits to the prison don't seem to last as long as others, even though the time allotment is the same. Everything felt either too slow or too fast. The ending was wrapped up, and I liked the "revenge" that was taken on the main villain as a callback to Edgar Allen Poe. That was about it.

Romantasy readers will probably really like this. The spicy scenes went on for pages at some points. I found the characters rather unlikeable, and I was ultimately disappointed with it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.