It's Bonus Book Review Saturday, and have I got a treat for you! I have to say no book has sucked me in so thoroughly as this one did within the first 100 pages. A great read, indeed…

Raven Song

A century ago, the world burned. Even now, though rebuilt and defiant, civilization is still choking on the ashes. Jackson, a smuggler, lives in the shadows, once a boy with no memory, no name, and no future. Ravens followed him, long-extinct birds only he could see, and nightmares flew in their wake. Once, Jackson thought himself to be one of the lucky few touched by magic, a candidate for the Order of Mages. He is a man now, and that dream has died. But, the ravens still follow. The nightmares still whisper in his ear. Anna’s life was under the sun, her future bright, her scientific work promising. She knew nothing of The Bombings, the poisoned world, or the occult. One day, she went to work, and the next, she awoke in a box over a hundred years in the future, screaming, fighting to breathe, and looking up into the eyes of a smuggler. Anna fears she’s gone crazy, unable to fill the massive hole in her memories, and terrified of the strange abilities she now possesses. The Coalition government has turned its watchful eyes towards them. The secret factions of the city move to collect them first. And, old gods stir in the darkness, shifting their pawns on the playing field. If Anna and Jackson wish to stay free, they must learn what they are and why they exist. Unfortunately, even if they do, it may be too late.

My Review: 4 Stars

I have nothing but praise for the beginning of the book! It started off with amazingly intriguing characters, great setting, and everything I could ask for in a dystopian world. I wanted to find out everything I could about Jackson and his smuggling business. His dreams: meh, but they added to the "fantasy" of the story. Once Anna was introduced, I felt the book went a bit off the rails. With two characters living half-in, half-out of a dream world, it spent more time on the dreams and visions than the part of the story I wanted to read. Still, this is just my preference as a reader. The book was very well-written, and while I may not have loved the story line (with its trippy dream-world stuff), I was hooked by the premise, setting, and characters. For those who can handle the more abstract and metaphysical concepts, this would be a 5-star book. For me, who loves a story grounded in reality, this was good but not great.

About the Author:

I. A. Ashcroft has been writing fiction in many forms for almost twenty years. The author's first book, written at age seven, featured the family cat hunting an evil sorceress alongside dragons and eagles. This preoccupation with the fantastical has not changed in the slightest. Now, the author dwells in Phoenix, AZ alongside a wonderful tale-spinner and two increasingly deranged cats. Ashcroft writes almost exclusively in the realm of darker fantasy these days, loving to entertain adults with stories of magic, wonder, despair, violence, and hope, bringing a deep love of mythology into every tale penned. The author also loves diverse and intriguing casts of characters. When not buried in a book, one might find Ashcroft learning languages, charting road trips, and playing tabletop RPGs with clever and fun people. Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Song-Dystopian-Fantasy-Inokis/dp/1944674004/ Read I.A.'s thoughts on his Website: http://www.ia-ashcroft.com/ Connect with him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/i.a.ashcroft Tweet at him: https://twitter.com/ia_ashcroft