Raven Flight: A Shadowfell novel

I've read some reviews that talk about how childish this book series is. I find that criticism unduly harsh. It is written for young adults, after all, and I think it was a unique and interesting storyline. I'm an adult, and read this series during a time in my life when I was recovering from some hard emotional life happenings. I was grateful for the rich yet simple storyline. I found it healing and very enjoyable.

I enjoyed the expansion of the plot, building beautifully off the themes of the first book, Shadowfell. There were several moments where the plot and characters held me in suspense--and one moment where I wept! (I won't spoil it--you'll know it when you get to it!) Overall, the book was a bit faster-paced, with a little less description than I've come to expect from Marillier's writing, but it's still a wonderful fantasy adventure. Can't wait to see where it all goes in the third book (I hope there will be a third book, anyway)!

As a story, I found "Raven Flight" to be absolutely engrossing. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, Shadowfell , then prepare to be enraptured with the more action-driven "Raven Flight." Where "Shadowfell" was more a tale about Neryn's journey/escape to the mysterious haven of rebels at Shadowfell, "Raven" is about Neryn really learning how to harness the power of her gift as Caller; she does this by traveling in search of the four mysterious Guardians of Alban who can direct her magical education. Meanwhile, the rebellion becomes pressed for time and the preparations for a confrontation with the nefarious King Keldec begin to take shape in a way that will unite the human rebels with the fey--with Neryn as the key to that alliance. In the course of the book we encounter old friends--Tali, Regan, Sage, and of course, Flint--and are introduced to a greater world including the Guardians themselves and more of the Good Folk as Neryn travels to the far reaches of Alban in pursuit of her special training. For those unfamiliar with Juliet Marillier, you're in for a treat. She is a master of prose--her writing is so beautiful and so tight, you forget you are reading. I don't know of another author as talented as Marillier at making fantasy so palpable and so vivid in the reader's mind eye. I've enjoyed all her books so far, but this Shadowfell series is thus far a welcome addition to her limited YA offerings (the only others being the two books in her "Wildwood" series, also recommended). There is action and tender romance and enough magic in "Raven Flight" to please any fantasy fan, young or old. I would mention that there is a fair amount of violence in this series and the tone can be quite dark (as Marillier set this fantasy against a medieval Scottish backdrop, this is hardly surprising). However, Marillier always infuses a light of hope beaming through the darkness so that the violence and cruelty is never overwhelming. For those wondering, the romance in the Shadowfell series is at the most a PG rating--it is very clean but incredibly sweet. Flint and Neryn are each other's solace and hope for the future during the bleakest of times, and I could not possibly love them together any more. <3 (And don't worry, without spoiling the plot, I will say that while their romance is not the focus of this book, they do get a few scenes together). I read "Raven Flight" in a day. I loved it. I loved the characters, the story, even the tumultuous emotional roller coaster it put me through. The only downside for me was that it ended and I now have to wait until 2014 for the final installment of the trilogy. Oh well. A journey this good will surely be worth the wait.

Raven Flight managed to overcome the curse that I tend to apply to second books. For me, the story that bridges the gap between the first & last books in a trilogy is a hit or a miss, and while I didn't enjoy Raven Flight quite as much a Shadowfell, it was still a very engaging read. Neryn is a gentle main character, and sort of reminds me of Sorcha, in that her one weakness is, well, being sort of a pipsqueak physically. Thin and waif-like, Neryn isn't much good on the battlefield, but has the rare talent of being a Caller. I was happy to get to know Tali, a character that was introduced toward the end of Shadowfell. She is the perfect foil for Neryn, and I loved the friendship that developed between them as they traveled to find the Good Folk who can teach Neryn how to use her gift as a Caller. Marillier excels at showing the hazards of the thin line between loyalty to a cause and just how much should be sacrificed for that cause. She's certainly not afraid to kill off important characters, nor is she afraid failures that add realistic layers to the story. And, wow, the Gathering chapter was brutal - my heart was hurting for Neryn, but especially for Tali & Flint. Oh, Flint. I wanted more of him in the story, but at the same time was grateful that Marillier chose to focus on friendship rather than romance. However, their longing for each other was almost a tangible thing and really tugged at my heart. The plot held tension all the way through, nearly to the end. It didn't have as much action as I expected, but my little fantasy-loving heart was so happy to meet more of the illusive Good Folk. They were no longer a nameless presence, integral and unseen, but rather interacted with Neryn, Tali and the rest of Regan's Rebels. This is classified as young adult, but I would recommend for older teens. While it is clean, there is one scene that I don't think appropriate for young teens as it is intimate in nature. However, there's no "bad boy" here but rather a gallant man that truly values Neryn. She and Flint choose to act wisely rather than follow their hormones, and, as someone who has never found any appeal in the bad-but-hurting-boy, I was pleasantly surprised. Show me a man that is in a nearly impossible position but doesn't cause emotional damage to those around him, now that is my idea of a real man. Apologies for the near soap-box nature of this paragraph ;) If you read and liked Shadowfell (and read that one first, of course), Raven Flight is a worthy continuation, and I definitely recommend it.

In my opinion, Raven Flight, not only picked up where Shadowfell left off, it danced even higher. In every way the original story was deepened and Neryn's experiences became a journey so intriguing and fraught with chance, it was hard to put the book down. I try not to race through Marillier like the story is ice cream melting, but really savor the beautiful images and excitement she builds. So much of Juliet Marillier's prose, I find well worth re-reading for the richness of her word magic and the beauty she weaves, setting up scenes. Her stories live with well-researched craft and unfold with a rhythmic passion that deeply draws readers inside. I love how her lands are mythic, yet new and alive with voices. She never fails to cause one to see more deeply into the mystery of the tiny and the subtle in nature.

Good, but nothing to write home about. While Raven Flight takes leaps and bounds in terms of Neryn's development it fails to entrance and enthrall the way that Marillier's previous works are so well known for. I've spoken many times about the quiet that Marillier is able to instill within the core of her books. How introversion and introspection breed beautiful landscapes and expressive characters. While that is not exactly missing in this series, Raven Flight is definitely missing some quality that compels the reader to push forward. The quality that makes quiet exciting and instead leaves the reader pushing forward, not from enticement, but rather in hopes of reading about something, anything actually happening. Like an event that's not just two women traveling the opposite route that we spent traveling in Shadowfell. I think the reason that this quiet doesn't work so well in the Shadowfell series is because unlike Marillier's other stories, Shadowfell's plot line is based in a problem that requires action. It would be different if this was merely Neryn's story of self discovery, or if mysticism was the main focus, but instead the core of the series is the fight to save Alban from a tyrannical king. And for that to occur there must be a battle. For the first two books we have been traveling, trying to amass an army in order to ultimately fight evil. The plot is physical and therefore the book's structure needs to mirror it in order to draw the reader in. It is hard to read a book leading toward an epic battle without any skirmishes. It is hard to read a book about people and the changes wrought on society with very little character interactions. This is not to say that the story is bad or that there were not parts that I enjoyed, just that it feels imbalanced. And while there were times I was drawn into the story there were just as many times that I read simply in hopes of being done sooner rather than later. I enjoyed Tali and Neryn's relationship. I enjoyed watching what was once begrudging tolerance blossom into an enduring friendship. But for me just as their physical route mimicked the route of book 1, so did the relationship structure mimic Neryn and Flint's previous growth. While the intent of the relationships are different the structure of the two books are so similar it's hard to feel like anything has been gained once we reached the end. That is not to say that things did not happen in Raven Flight. And it is not to say that these moments were not important, but because of the similarity to book 1 they failed to make their mark, to penetrate and create feeling. This is not a bad book, and truthfully I went into it with an idea of what I would be getting when I read it. I intended to read it knowing it would be slower than the previous book and I viewed it as a stepping stone for The Caller, for which I still have high hopes. Having said that I still wish I had liked this one at least as much as the previous but it will not stop me from moving forward.

There are few books out there these days that have a truly pagan feel. I suppose Guy Gavriel Kay comes to mind as another author of historical fantasy that manages this, but no one quite compares to Juliet Marillier. I'm going to try to discuss this with only mild spoilers. If you don't want any, then you'd best not continue reading this review. Many of the concepts in this book are things that feel like proverbial guns on the wall, that I expect will go off in book three. A major one is that they dare not love, not before Keldec is defeated, because he uses his victims' loved ones against them. I'll avoid giving explicit detail, but this is demonstrated about two thirds of the way through the book. What has been brought up is that Flint and Neryn's love for each other may yet be used against the two of them. I have been dreading this moment. Every moment Flint has spent working for Keldec, I have been on the edge of my seat dreading this particular gun on the wall. I was pleased to get a lot of Tali in this book. I found her incredibly interesting in the previous book, and she is no less so by the end of Raven Flight, whose title, I believe, is in reference to Tali's tattoos. In fairness, all of the characters are compelling. I was touched, as was Neryn, by the depiction of Regan saying his morning prayer, near the beginning, and it will stick with me throughout the series, I'm sure. She has a way of writing close friendships and romances that are incredibly poignant and ring true. The one thing that I've had trouble with in this series is the phonetic accents of the Good Folk. I find them difficult and would prefer to just imagine the accents without having to read it that way. It's very distracting. But that is the only thing that didn't work for me in this series. If her Sevenwaters series seemed to be growing a bit stale by the end, this series has all the magic of her earlier work. I am only sorry to be finished and having to wait for the next book. I may need to take a little break between books before I'm in the mood to read another author.

I was already in love with Juliet Marillier's writing style going into this series and it stands here, as it does in all her previous offerings. Shadowfell was a wonderful introduction to the young Caller Neryn, our reluctant central figure. It introduced us to the eccentric Good Folk, the evils of King Keldec's Alban, and the fiercely endearing male lead Flint. And then came Raven Flight. As others have said, it definitely feels like a 'middle' book in an epic series. Characters learn and grow, while setting up the final conflict in the coming novel. That being said, this novel isn't just a bridge from the beginning of the story to its (most anticipated) end. This story sets up details that at times made me as a reader feel raw with emotion. I was genuinely surprised how much I found (and still find) myself routing for Flint and Neryn, and the rebellion's cause. It seems almost effortless for Ms. Marillier to evoke this intensity from her readers. Middle book though it may be, Raven Flight is rich with beautiful imagery, strong characters, and unforgettable moments of genuine feeling. To nitpick just a little, I will say that there did seem to be some pacing issues throughout the book. The Hag's tests seemed needlessly long while the Lord of the North's tests seemed a little obvious and very short. However, there is no denying the outcome of the cliffhanger ending: I am hungry for more. The bottom line: if you love fantasy and fiction, pick up both Shadowfell and Raven Flight. Then you can, and likely will, join the ranks of countless fans eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

Chegou a tempo e nas devidas condições.

Kurze Inhaltsbeschreibung Im zweiten Teil erfahren wir mehr von Neryns Leben bei Rigans Rebellen. Nachdem sie dort zu Kräften gekommen ist, muss sie einen Weg finden, die Alten des Nordens zu rufen, um herauszufinden, wie sie ihre Kräfte weiter trainieren kann. Dieser Weg führt sie weit in den Norden, weswegen die Zeit drängt, denn wenn der Winter einbricht ist der Weg unpassierbar. Außerdem drängt ein neuer Verbündeter die Rebellen dazu, noch im Sommer gegen den König zu ziehen und bis dahin muss Neryn in der Lage sein ihre Kräfte zu beherrschen. Doch der Weg bis dahin ist nicht leicht und fordert einige Verluste … Der Schreibstil und Storyverlauf Das ich in den Schreibstil von Juliet Marillier verliebt bin, ist ja kein Geheimnis mehr. Es gibt einfach keine anderen Autoren, die solch für mich perfekten Bücher schreiben. Bei Juliets Büchern passt einfach alles. Der Schreibstil, die tollen Figuren, die Entwicklung, die diese durchmachen, die romantische Liebesgeschichte, die berührende, historisch angehauchte Fantasystory und die schönen Enden. Auch RAVEN FLIGHT konnte mich in dieser Hinsicht überzeugen und hat es auf Platz Eins meiner Jahreshighlights im Bereich 2. Bände geschafft. Der Verlauf der Geschichte wird klarer und dadurch natürlich auch spannender. Neue Figuren kommen dazu und wachsen einem ans Herz, was auf die berührende Art und Weise mit der Juliet schreibt, zurückzuführen ist. Es gibt keine Längen im Buch und ruhige Passagen halten sich gut mit den ‚spannenderen’ Abschnitten die Waage. Außerdem gibt es wieder eine große Portion irische Fantasy in diesem Band, die beinah märchenhaft beschrieben wurde und mich vollends gefesselt hat. Das Ende ist in sich rund und abgeschlossen, jedoch kann man es vor Spannung kaum abwarten und ich bin froh, dass der letzte Band bereits im Spätsommer erscheint. Die Charaktere und ihre Entwicklung Neryn entwickelt sich in diesem Band in eine tolle Richtung weiter. Sie nimmt ihre Aufgabe an, wird mutiger und selbstbewusster was den Umgang mit ihrem Schicksal und ihren Fähigkeiten angeht. Jedoch verliert sie nicht ihre mitfühlende und sanfte Art und das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Besonderes Highlight waren für mich die Stellen, bei denen sie an Flint denkt und natürlich ihre sich entwickelnde Freundschaft zu Tally. Diese wird als Nebenfigur neu eingeführt und löst ein wenig Flint ab, der in diesem zweiten Band nur wenig auftaucht. Das fand ich zwar sehr schade, wird aber durch die Storyline und die Tatsache, dass die Geschichte aus Neryns Perspektive erzählt wird, gut begründet. Tally ist eine interessante Figur, die Neryn sehr gut ergänzt. Sie ist eine Kämpferin, die ihre Gefühle verschlossen hält und doch durch Neryn immer wieder dazu gebracht wird, diese sich selbst und anderen gegenüber zu offenbaren. Ihr Mut, ihre Tapferkeit und ihre Entschlossenheit haben mich gerade zum Ende des Buches hin sehr tief berührt. Das Fazit Die Reihe wird durch diesen tollen Verlauf immer schöner und besser. Sie steht den anderen Büchern von Juliet Marilliers in Nichts nach und ist nicht nur für Jugendliche etwas. Im gegenteil die berührende, fantastische Geschichte bietet tolle Lesestunden für jedes Alter. Das Englisch ist anspruchsvoll aber durchaus verständlich und für jeden, der englische Bücher liest und dadurch in der Sprache ‚steht’ gut zu lesen. Bewertung: Leseempfehlung für: Jugendliche und Erwachsene ~ Fantasyliebhaber [vor allem irisch/historischer Fantasy] ~ Juliet Marillier Fans Schwierigkeitsgrad Sprache: ~ schwer ~

I love all of her books - this is the second in another lovely series beginning with Shadowfell. I'm already devouring The Caller, and have Blackthorn and Grim at the ready. These 'teen' books are just as good as her adult stories.(Sevenwaters Series, Bridei Chronicles, etc) Compelling mythology, endearing characters, intelligent and timely underlying ethics, just enough magic. I think she's a most underrated novelist in this genre. Juliet Marillier is an amazing storyteller.

If you like Juliet Marillier then this book is well worth a read! The story and writing are both magical and familiar to me as I'm a big fan of her work. I would say that this series doesn't quite meet the standard of my favourite "Sevenwaters" but I still enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the 3rd book to come out!!

Continuing with Neryn's story - we find ourselves meeting new characters, seeing new places and being part of Neryn's education. The story continues as she finds her new 'home' and makes new friends and a few enemies. There are fantasy and mythology flavours with a swoony dose of romance. I love how this, as the middle book doesn't lose it's own voice as other books in this position usually do. Can't wait to finish book 3.