Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

An Enchantment of Ravens
by Margaret Rogerson

September 26, 2017

300 pages

Goodreads     Indigo

Goodreads Summary:
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.  
 

Review

An Enchantment of Ravens wasn't what I expected. I had hoped to fall in love with it but the story read like typical faeries. What I did enjoy though were the characters and the world.

The story starts off on great footing but half way through the pacing slowed. There was a lot of in-between that I didn't care for which left me feeling detached. Although the climax renewed my interest the ending came off rushed. There was hardly any surprises since the synopsis laid most everything out.

I loved learning about the human Craft- the contrast between their function in the human world and their worth in the faerie world. Considering An Enchantment of Ravens is a faerie story the Craft's significance had me intrigued. Its usage was well-utilized.

 

The more we learned about Isobel the more curious I was about her life. She's young but she's smart and faced danger courageously. I wasn't entirely sold on her love with Rook but I can see his appeal. The faerie prince was a real gentleman (most of the time)~

Isobel's twin sisters March and May, stole the show whenever they appeared. Despite not getting a lot of page time, Their speech and mischief were a highlight of the book. The two were outrageous in every adorable way.

Even though I didn't end up loving An Enchantment of Ravens I enjoyed my time with it. I was entertained. Faerie story lovers will not want to miss this book.