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Emily May's Reviews > An Enchantment of Ravens
An Enchantment of Ravens
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An Enchantment of Ravens is not badly-written, but it is definitely not a book for me. I really wish I'd read some reviews before starting it and noted the comparison to A Court of Thorns and Roses. ACOTAR fans should love this.
This book is for fans of that particular brand of YA romance where a smart, level-headed young woman meets (and is kidnapped by) a prince and her brain instantly turns to mush. My initial liking for Isobel quickly turned sour as she threw sense to the wind and started going all googly-eyed over a fae prince she has known for about five minutes. Declarations of love come about halfway through, but it is clear where the story is headed almost instantly.
Isobel is a portrait artist and the number one choice for fair folk looking to bask in their vanity and enjoy the experience of human Craft for a while. Though immortal, the fae cannot create any kind of art without turning to dust, so Isobel's work is very popular among them. Then she finds herself with a very special client - the autumn prince, AKA Rook - and everything changes.
Isobel paints human sorrow into Rook's eyes, therefore humiliating him in front of his fellow fae. He returns, takes her prisoner, and they start trekking through the fairy lands to the autumn court where Isobel will stand trial for her crime.
I wasn't expecting this to be a journey book and probably wouldn't have picked it if I'd known. There are a few exceptions but, in general, I'm not a fan of books where most of the plot consists of the characters travelling from one place to another. And is it just me or does the reasoning all seem a bit... lame? Rook’s reputation is ruined because she paints human sorrow in his eyes? Yeah right. More like an excuse was needed to get the two of them to go road-tripping together - and give Rook the opportunity to take his shirt off and to save Isobel multiple times.
I was expecting something more from this. Some more magic, more political intrigue, more relationships beyond the central love story... but it is sadly little more than a predictable romance.
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This wasn't like me. So many years of being cautious, and in a matter of minutes I'd started slipping up.
An Enchantment of Ravens is not badly-written, but it is definitely not a book for me. I really wish I'd read some reviews before starting it and noted the comparison to A Court of Thorns and Roses. ACOTAR fans should love this.
This book is for fans of that particular brand of YA romance where a smart, level-headed young woman meets (and is kidnapped by) a prince and her brain instantly turns to mush. My initial liking for Isobel quickly turned sour as she threw sense to the wind and started going all googly-eyed over a fae prince she has known for about five minutes. Declarations of love come about halfway through, but it is clear where the story is headed almost instantly.
Isobel is a portrait artist and the number one choice for fair folk looking to bask in their vanity and enjoy the experience of human Craft for a while. Though immortal, the fae cannot create any kind of art without turning to dust, so Isobel's work is very popular among them. Then she finds herself with a very special client - the autumn prince, AKA Rook - and everything changes.
Isobel paints human sorrow into Rook's eyes, therefore humiliating him in front of his fellow fae. He returns, takes her prisoner, and they start trekking through the fairy lands to the autumn court where Isobel will stand trial for her crime.
I wasn't expecting this to be a journey book and probably wouldn't have picked it if I'd known. There are a few exceptions but, in general, I'm not a fan of books where most of the plot consists of the characters travelling from one place to another. And is it just me or does the reasoning all seem a bit... lame? Rook’s reputation is ruined because she paints human sorrow in his eyes? Yeah right. More like an excuse was needed to get the two of them to go road-tripping together - and give Rook the opportunity to take his shirt off and to save Isobel multiple times.
I was expecting something more from this. Some more magic, more political intrigue, more relationships beyond the central love story... but it is sadly little more than a predictable romance.
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Reading Progress
April 20, 2017
– Shelved
August 29, 2017
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Started Reading
September 1, 2017
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 88 (88 new)
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Max
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Sep 02, 2017 08:12AM
it is a great reveiw even though u didn't like it
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You just saved me from spending money on this, haha. Awesome review, though I'm sorry you didn't like it!
Thanks for your reviews, they're so helpful. I would recommend The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty because the heroine stays intelligent all through out, but it is a journey book unfortunately.
Ahah, loved your review! I've had this on my radar ever since that beautiful cover was released and I know I won't be able to resist it once it comes out, but your review has braced me for the same cynicism that ACOTAR has brought out of me.
Well, since I already ordered it I'm gonna read it, I guess we'll see. Great review anyway �
I was kind of afraid of elements like these appearing in this one but I think I'll still pick it up and try it myself because I'm really hyped for it and it sounds really intriguing
I love ACOTAR so I guess I'll give this a chance I love your reviews 😊
I read this recently for a book club, and while I liked it, I would agree with basically everything you said about it. Good review :)
Wow, sounds disappointing. Still want to read it, but it does sound like a less-appealing version of ACOTAR (and I can't count the number of times I got frustrated with Feyre, and I love that series, so...) But great review! I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it.
I was looking forward to this, but now I'm not so sure. Thank you for your honest review.
Sounds like your typical YA romance/fantasy, but I love that trash so I'll probably read this. lol
Similar to ACOTAR? Eww, don't say more XD
Hahaha, I was waiting for more in your review when I read about the human sorrow part, then read the end of your review and was like wait-what??? That's IT? THAT'S THE REASON?Laaaaaaaame dude. So lame.
Oh, nooo. I was so looking forward to this. 😩 Still going to give it a go. Sometime.
I pre-ordered this one hoping it was going to be good, after seeing so many mixed reviews I am starting to question my decision.
Thank you for this review. The fact you said it feels and reads like the ACoTaR makes me remove it from my list.
Thank you for the honest review. I'm going to give this one a pass because I thought this would be more political similar to Megan Whalen Turner books and I can't stand the insta-affection.
Great review! I love the ACOTAR series, but to me this sounds like a carbon copy and I don't particularly want to read a flavourless version that Sarah has already proved she can do so much better.
So it’s just a standalone right? How does all of that fit in 300 pages...
I’m half way thru and so bored it’s taking me so long. The instalove has me cringing at every freaking page
Awesome review this too was a disappointment for me :/
You were wrong about one thing: I loved the ACOTAR series. I couldn't stand this. One was not like the other, in my opinion. Our rating is the same though. so cheers to that.
I don't like journey's book and I don't like females that forget everything for a guy they've just met. Thank you for this review
It's more than his reputation that's ruined. *Bit of a spoiler*. It was mentioned in the book he had a previous strike against him for a great show of emotion (love) which is considered a weakness. In his world, if he is suspected of having a weakness, his people will turn on him. Having the sorrow painted in his eyes is the second strike against him. In general, the fae despise human emotion. Not sure how this was missed considering the majority of the story including the final challenges were strictly to do with the Fae's lack of emotion and their reaction to feeling even the slightest emotions. It's how they overcame their enemy.I thought this book had a really solid storyline.
Joelene wrote: "It's more than his reputation that's ruined. *Bit of a spoiler*. It was mentioned in the book he had a previous strike against him for a great show of emotion (love) which is considered a weakness...."I didn't miss what you said at all; I just phrased it in a more basic way to not give away too much. By saying his reputation was ruined, I was encompassing what you mentioned, and I still think it's a pretty lame reason. A human paints an emotion into his eyes and that makes him seem weak? It's a painting! It really did feel like an excuse to get them to go fantasy road-tripping.
I am glad you enjoyed it more and saw it a different way, though. Sad it didn't work for me.
Sounds a reasonable review to me. Really appreciate a sensible and astute reviewer who is not goo goo at every book!!Thank you
Autumn wrote: "No, it was badly written. 🤣"It seemed fairly standard for YA.
Haven't read it yet, but wondering if turning to mush has anything to do with faery magic or does the h have Stockholm Syndrome?
[SPOILER] I was confused. Like was isobel still mortal in the end and rook just have to watch he grow old and die? Or did becoming queen make her immortal?
I like ACOTAR and I have to agree this book is like a carbon copy but ACOTAR is better and definitely the ending is better than this book that left so many questions unanswered
I think that ACOTAR has a solid storyline with an amazing plot and jaw dropping twists, but the writing style is lacking, and it feels as if the writer is inexperienced. There are so many glaring spots where the writing just suddenly become sloppy or does a 180 in style. Feyre also feels almost Mary-Sue like, and some plot lines just fall too easily in place; too much of an easy coincidence. I still thoroughly enjoyed the books though, but some of its writing flaws were hard to disregard. Rogerson on the other hand writes as if she is a veteran in the craft (pun not intended), though this story is much simpler (no less interesting tho) and cleaner in its direction as compared to ACOTAR, which isn't a bad thing. All faerie related books are carbon copies of each other; the lore is just too rich and deeply entrenched that all modern interpretations will seem like mere copies (with the exception of dear Sir Pratchett and his wonderful Wee Free Men :D)
[spoiler alert]
I also like the way it kinds of leave the readers hanging. So what now? Is Isobel going to be immortal? Most likely not, and that's refreshing as well as poignant. Too many heroines in this genre just turn into Fae to solve the romance problem, but a love story between an immortal and mortal is so much more bittersweet (think Neil Gaiman's Stardust and it's ending) <3
Wait, her painting of him was her crime? 😑
This is such an unfair review. No one’s brain “turns to mush.� After an initial brief infatuation Isobel is painfully conflicted in her feelings for almost the whole story, while plotting non-stop to outwit the fae guys and not end up dead. There’s totally politics between the four fae “courts� and the Wild Hunt. There’s a whole subplot of the intrigue / conflict between the princes Gadfly & Rook. Everyone is trying to murder each other and employ sneaky stratagems. The whole thing with Isobel painting human sorrow integral to several aspects of the story � Isobel’s identity, the ambiguous nature of the fae, Isobel’s ultimate survival strategy. They don’t just “go on a road trip.� An acute problem arises due to Rook’s personal flaw coming into contact with Isobel’s artistic talent and they have to go another place in order to address it. Isobel gradually falls for Rook while spending weeks painting him, not “after about five minutes.� You don’t have to like the story but at least be fair.
I want to like this so bad, but mostly bc the cover is BEAUTIFUL!! Haha but I always trust your reviews!
I usually follow your reviews like religion but all i can say is I am sorry you didn’t end up liking it
I've got about 100 pages left still but have to say this is pretty much my feelings about it. It's not a bad book and I'm enjoying it but it's also a bit 'meh' if I'm honest
I also gave two stars to this book.. but it definitely isn’t in comparison with ACOTAR (besides the seasons and the fae’s). I loved ACOTAR because of the characters and the thrilling story. But for me, with this book, I felt like I missed the pictures like in a children’s book. There is no depth to the story or characters at all. But the writing skills are definitely there, so maybe this book just wasn� for me
Thank you, I thought the whole painting sorrow into his eyes ruining his reputation, was complete nonsense.
I don’t agree with you that the main character’s brain turns to mush. She mostly keeps hers senses and comes up with almost all the plans. I think this was an interesting debut novel, but it did have its issues. For me, it was more the gaping plot holes, lack of true explanations, and the hurried ending. It’s like she was going to make it a series then decided last minute to make it a stand alone. I left the book with lots of irritating questions. Still, I found it to be enjoyable and an easy marathon read.
"And is it just me or does the reasoning all seem a bit... lame? Rook’s reputation is ruined because she paints human sorrow in his eyes? Yeah right. More like an excuse was needed to get the two of them to go road-tripping together."Everyone is absolutely entitled to their opinion, but saying that the human sorrow in his eyes was a lame excuse to get them on a road trip together misses the entire theme of the book: Human emotion and creativity trump all the things humans covet, be it power, good looks, or immortality. The fairies are nothing compared to humans because they cannot create or feel, and Rook's ability to love—and the fact that his own people would kill him for it—is definitely not a lame excuse for a romantic road trip. This book is obviously a romance, and not everyone likes those, but the grief he felt for his lost love and the vulnerability he therefore experienced within his court is the entire backbone of the book.
Hannah wrote: ""And is it just me or does the reasoning all seem a bit... lame? Rook’s reputation is ruined because she paints human sorrow in his eyes? Yeah right. More like an excuse was needed to get the two o..."I'm glad you saw something so profound in it, Hannah. I had a different experience, but I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
You should all try reading Avery by Charlotte McConaghy similar in themes to this book but so good.
I completely agree with your review
