House of the Raven Book Review

Review

Book 1 of The Eldrystone series, Ingrid Seymour’s House of the Raven is an epic, almost dystopian, fae fantasy with an amazingly unique world. Set against the backdrop of Castella, a realm reminiscent of Spain, decades after the “Veil” between the human and Fae realm of Tirnanog has fallen, Seymour crafts a tale that immerses you in a richly detailed world where danger lurks at every turn. Before the shimmering Veil appeared, neither species knew of the other’s existence. Once the Fae King discovered the Veil and further unfurled it, a relationship between the Therics (Tirnanog’s royal family) and the Plumanegras (Castella’s royal family) was established and magic (“espiritu”), trade, and people flowed freely between realms for hundreds of years. Then, all at once, the Veil disappeared, trapping humans in the Fae realm and Fae in the human realm alike. Little espiritu was left in Castella and the relations between those of each species that remained devolved, leading to an almost inhumane treatment of the isolated Fae and creation of the “Veilfallen” desperate to find a way home. Who even knows what happened in Tirnanog? The story largely follows Princess Valeria Plumanegra as tragedy strikes and she races to escape her future, uncover secrets, and save Castella from a horrible evil. Meanwhile, Rífíor, or “River,” a damaged hero driven by a hunger for revenge and leader of the Veilfallen, gets closer and closer to recovering what was seemingly taken from him in a bid to return to the Fae realm. On a collision course with each other, their fates intertwine in unexpected ways. Will they succeed in their respective quests? Or will their efforts fail and lead to their ends?

Valeria’s character arc, though initially sheltered and immature, slowly evolves into a fierce and determined heroine, refusing to succumb to the challenges thrown her way; however, I’m excited to see even more growth from her. River, for his part, is certainly an intriguing leading man, though I wish we would have gotten more of his point of view and background. I still feel as though I don’t really know him. Yet, I suspect (or maybe just hope) the next book, Echoes of the Raven, will continue with a focus on him. As an important side note, while the book is marketed as a Fantasy Romance, it is very much so a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, with this relationship mostly forming towards the end of the story, feeling somewhat abrupt, and seemingly culminating just as quickly as it started. Honestly, I had almost forgotten this was supposed to be a romantasy, though the main plot of what actually occurs throughout the book more than ensured the high rating given.

As for the main story, I would have liked more of an explanation for, or background of, the antagonist. I got the gist that they were evil and power hungry, but why? What is their reasoning? Why target Castella? How did they accomplish what they did between the first time they appeared in the story and the next? Additionally, there was a subplot involving Valeria’s sister that, while aiding in spurring Valeria on in her journey, never really made too much sense, with little resolution even upon the book’s conclusion; it felt somewhat underdeveloped and left me a bit confused. Regardless, there is no question that Seymour’s skillful storytelling kept me engaged from start to finish. The sprinkling of Spanish words, though at times didn’t exactly feel natural, added a touch of authenticity to the narrative. Finally, and perhaps most especially, themes of politics, history, war and tensions, and class differences were expertly weaved throughout, adding depth and nuance to the story.  

Even though it was not what I was expecting based on the blurb, House of the Raven was a fantastic read. Days later, the story will continue to linger in your thoughts, revealing new layers and interpretations with each reflection. The complexity of the narrative is quite remarkable, offering endless opportunities for critical analysis and theories. Furthermore, with a cliffhanger ending and a promise for increased spiciness in the next installment, I’m eager to read Echoes of the Raven.

Expected publication date is 7 March 2024.