An Enchantment of Ravens, and why trusting Fae is a Rooky mistake

Okay, I couldn't resist the pun. I'll see myself out.

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Terrible humour aside, I genuinely really enjoyed this book. Which was a pleasant surprise, since I bought it after a lengthy back and forth during which I weighed the allure of the synopsis versus the mixed reviews on Goodreads. Was this book gonna be magical, or cringe-worthy? Exciting or dull? Finally, I bit the bullet and ordered it, thinking I could just return it if it proved as bad as some of the reviews would have you believe, and I'm glad I did.

The story is offers a fascinating take on Fae mythology, which definitely appeals to fans of Sarah J Maas like myself, but is by no means a replica of her interpretation. Think of An Enchantment of Ravens more as a psychedelic trip through the lands of the Fair Folk. It features some cool aspects I haven't encountered before, such as the Craft twist, along with classics like the inability to lie and the deadly properties of iron. I also like that this narrative had a darker take on the Fae, it adds interesting layers which are somewhat lacking in the works of SJM (as much as I love the glistening, buff, broody boys).

This is indeed a travel book, but only in parts. Compared to the two instalments of The Book of Dust I had the questionable pleasure to read earlier this year, this was action-packed travel that barely lasted but a moment. Plus, we got to see some stunning nature shield magic, and my plant-loving, Druid-playing soul rejoiced.

Isobel gets a lot of stick for her character arch, which I though would put me off her as a protagonist, but I feel a lot of the reviews don't do her justice. Yes, it is a bit of a fairy-tale romance where they've only known each other for a short time, but I mean, c'mon. What were you expecting when you bough this book? Even the cover screams fairy-tale.

Besides, the narration adds a lot of depth to Isobel's character, portraying her as self-aware and making her shift in perspective all the more believable because she comes with us on the journey of watching herself rethink her beliefs.

The ending was a bit rushed and all over the place, but I enjoyed the fact that it was the heroine who saved the day. Would I have liked a longer Epilogue, or perhaps a different ending (Rook leaving as a mortal with Isobel and her family to live in the World Beyond, for instance)? Yes. But it's still a satisfying enough resolution, and I've rounded up my star rating on Goodreads because this story deserves more love. Plus, it gets bonus points in my books for being a standalone in a YA fantasy world over-saturated with trilogies.

4.5/5 stars