Raven Unveiled

September 26, 2022
For the solid third Fallen Empire fantasy (after Dragon Unleashed), Draven contrasts the horror-tinged darkness of her secondary world with a sweet enemies-to-lovers story that offers a measure of redemption for the morally conflicted, emotionally bruised protagonists. Ever since shade speaker Siora betrayed Gharek, a former assassin and cat’s-paw to a now-deceased mad empress, Gharek has relentlessly pursued her across the lengths of the civil war torn Kraelian empire, all while narrowly avoiding the bounties on his own head. Meanwhile, Siora fears the growing presence of a spectral monstrosity that eats spirits. Then both assassin and shade speaker fall into the hands of would-be ruler General Zaredis, who holds Gharek’s daughter hostage. To save her, the unlikely duo must band together on a deadly mission into the empress’s summer palace in search of a magical artifact. The longer Siora and Gharek work together, the closer they become, and an attraction arises in the wake of their enmity. The chemistry comes through, the almost grimdark world feels lived-in, and Draven’s atmospheric prose ties it all together. While the story depends greatly on the events of the previous volumes, often referencing earlier characters and incidents, it’s still possible to read this as a satisfying standalone fantasy romance. Readers will be pleased. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary.

October 21, 2022
Gharek has been tracking Siora, formerly his daughter's nurse, to make her apologize for betraying them. When he finally catches her, she saves him from the monster that inhabits the cursed city of Midrigar. He repays the favor, saving her from raiders in a nearby town. They're captured by the forces of General Zaredis, who wants revenge for Gharek's role in his brother's death and holds Gharek's daughter, Estred, hostage. To save her, Gharek and Siora must discover a way to steal a magical artifact from the heart of the dead empress' capital city. They have plenty of opportunities to warm up to each other, revealing long-held secrets and motivations, always concerned with Estred's fate above almost all else. The background stakes are high, though: whatever is eating spirits in Midrigar needs to be stopped before it consumes all the spirits of the Kraelian empire, and Siora may hold the key. The fulcrum of the story really is Gharek and Siora's changing relationship, so knowledge of previous volumes in the series (starting with Phoenix Unbound, 2018) isn't vital to enjoying this adventure.

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