Review: An Enchantment Of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

An Enchantment Of Ravens

By Margaret Rogerson
Published By: Margaret K. McElderry Books on September 26th 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 300
Purchase: Amazon – Kindle

Synopsis:

A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆

My rating for this book is actually 3.5/5 stars. I enjoyed this book. I thought it very similar to A Court Of Thorns And Roses. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I just expected more from this book. This book would get a higher rating if it was a longer book or if there was more to come in the future. I feel like this book was a bit cramped for how much MR was trying to do. 

Plot Rating: ☆☆☆

Seeing as this book is very similar to ACOTAR, I loved the story line. I felt like I was reading a fanfic of ACOTAR and I loved it. I do like the differences between them. I just really wish this book was longer so that the plot could have expanded more.

The ending came so quickly, it was a bit disappointing. The “big battle” happened within the last couple of chapters and it was over just as it started. I really wish we had more fighting time.

Character Rating: ☆☆☆

I loved the Fae people in this book. I love that they try so hard to live like mortals even though they cannot do their Craft. They’re exceptional creatures. 

Rook has to be my favorite character. He’s a bit of a smartass and I love it. I know it’s mostly because they cannot lie, but it’s still hilarious. He seemed like the most developed character. I kind of wish that this book was from his perspective instead of Isobel’s.

Isobel drove me crazy sometimes. When she couldn’t kill Rook because she couldn’t live without him and she knows that he can’t live without her. Instead of drinking from the Green Well, she destroys it. Which means, she can never become Fae. Which means, eventually, Rook will have to live without her. I think it was a selfish decision.

I really enjoyed Gadfly’s character and I’m so glad he was there throughout the book. His part in this story is amazing and completely unexpected. 

World Building: ☆☆☆☆

MR did such a good job at building this world. I was able to visualize everything. It was just purely amazing. It amazes me that she was able to build such a wonderful world in such a small book.

Although, at first, it is kind of difficult to tell what time period this is happening in. But there’s no technology so one can only assume it was taken place before all of that was invented.

Romance Rating: ☆☆

As much as I love Rook and Isobel, I am disappointed. There was not enough romance in this book to be even considered a romantic fantasy. I just really wish that there was more. I’m all for a bit of steam in YA romance and this book had none 🙁

Writing Style: ☆☆☆☆

MR’s writing style is very whimsical. When she was describing things, I just could see it perfectly. She did such a good job at making sure there weren’t any random gaps in the story and I appreciate that. I really can’t stand time gaps in books.