Mark of the Raven ~ Review

Mark of the Raven
The Ravenwood Saga #1
By Morgan L. Busse

Oh my, I've found another series to add to my can't wait for what comes next list. What is it about this book that has brought me to this conclusion? Well, the characters are engaging as their situations draw in the reader.

First, we have Lady Selen Ravenwood the heir to the House of Ravenwood. The House of Ravenwood is a house with a carefully guarded secret, one that they have been hiding for hundreds of years ever since House of Ravenwood was sacrificed to the Dominia Empire by the other Great Houses. And the House of Ravenwood is about to task Selen with her role as heir become an assassin taking down the Houses that betrayed them years ago. There is just one problem with this plan - Selen's heart.

Then we have the House of Maris being led by Damien Maris who came into the role of Grand Lord upon the death of the rest family. Not ready to take on the burden of leadership Damien has taken his father's place as both leader and protector of his people. Determined to see his father's dream of the Great Houses uniting together  Damien calls for an assembly hoping that the Houses will see the threat that the Dominia once again poses and agree to come together.

An assembly is the perfect opportunity to work out long-held differences and it is the perfect opportunity for Selen to become whom she is meant to be - the killer her mother has trained her to be. Selen's victim is Damien and to kill him she must enter his dreamscape and learn his weakness. Damien is unlike anyone Selen has ever met. He is burdened by his gift just as she is but he possesses a light that she is drawn to. Could this light that fills his soul free her from the darkness that is taking her slowly day-by-day as she does her mother's bidding?

This book is well-written with characters that can bring out one's sympathy and compassion while others bring a shiver of dread when they enter a scene. And the conclusion leaves one in anticipation of the next book. Where will Selen's "gift" of Dreamwalking take her? Will the approaching danger destroy the Great Houses or will an alliance be formed against the Dominia?

Fans Patrick Carr, Jill Williamson, S.D. Grimm, Thomas Locke, or Nadine Brandes will find much to love about this book. Get ready to enter a new world of fantasy and be intrigued!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Dreamwalker.  Nightwatcher.  Lady of Ravenwood. 

Lady Selene Has Come into Her Family's Power.

But Has She Inherited a Gift or a Curse? 

Lady Selene is heir to the House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. Soon after the gifting, however, Selene discovers that the Ravenwood women have been secretly using their gift to gather information or to assassinate those responsible for the fall of House Ravenwood to the Dominia Empire hundreds of years ago. 
 
As she becomes more entrenched in Ravenwood's dark past, Selene longs to find out the true reason behind her family's gift, believing that its original intent could not have been for such evil purposes, but she is torn about upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people. Selene's dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations--but who is also prophesied to bring about the downfall of her own house.
 
One path holds glory and power and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and likely death. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?