A woman with the gift to speak to the dead—and the assassin pursuing her—may be the only chance a crumbling empire has of holding back true evil, in this electrifying fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.
Siora has been on the run for longer than she cares to remember, from her past and her gift. Born with the ability to see and speak to ghosts, she has heard their desperate pleas as an otherworldly predator stalks the dead amid the fertile killing fields of the collapsing Krael Empire. The creature’s power and reach are growing with every soul it consumes, but Siora is preoccupied with her own troubles: namely an assassin who has sworn an oath of vengeance against her.
Gharek of Cabast was once the right-hand man of the reviled empress but is now a wanted fugitive. Although his reasons for hunting Siora are viscerally personal, what Gharek can’t anticipate is that when he finally does find her, she will hold the key to saving his world, or what’s left of it. To make good on old debts and protect the vulnerable dead from a malevolent force, Gharek and Siora will both need to make an ally out of an enemy—and trust that will be enough to save each other.
Title : Raven Unveiled
Author : Grace Draven
Series : Fallen Empire (book three)
Format : eARC
Page Count : 336
Genre : fantasy romance
Publisher : Ace
Release Date : November 8, 2022
Reviewer : Hollis
Rating : ★ ★
Hollis’ 2 star review
This series hasn’t been a great ride for me. I did enjoy book one, and rounded up on my feelings because of my love for the author, but the sequel ended up with the same rating this finale (I assume it’s the finale..) is getting. Not a great progression.
In some ways, this one was better (at least from my vague recollection; I truly remember nothing concrete about the books that came before, but vague plot impressions, little to nothing about the characters) but in many ways it was equally lackluster. In a positive vein, I enjoyed how the book opened up, one character on the run from the other, assuming he’s after her to kill her. He’s definitely after her but the vengeance he’s after is less murdery despite his initial inclination. Eventually everything gets derailed and they have to band together for reasons involving a side quest and it’s through this bonding time they start to unpack their baggage and connect.
Or so the author wants us to believe. Because this romance? Hard to buy into. In fact, I want my money back because while I could maybe get on board with them being friends, I don’t accept anything more. The moment these two started to lean into that, I started checking out of the story. That isn’t to say it was four star material up until that point but it was better without the forced romance element.
I will repeat my moaning about how sad I am that I can’t shout about the author’s trade published works from the rooftops. Because all I can do is recommend some of the indie works that came before. This series just had none of the magic, none of the excitement, I’ve loved from her before. But having said that, her latest indie, a continuation of one of my favourite series, wasn’t a win either, so. I’m at a loss.
I will probably read on in this series if there’s more to come (#Completionist) but I hope it’s done. I would of course be interested in whatever else is to come from her but my expectations will definitely be a smidge lowered.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
A Take from Two Cities 