*Mini Post by the Belle*
Title: An Enchantment of Ravens
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Pages: 297
Summary: Every Enchantment has a price…
Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the immortal fair folk. But when she receives her first royal patron — Rook, the autumn prince — she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes — a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious, Rook spirits Isobel away to stand trial for her crime. But something is seriously amiss in his world, and they are attacked from every side. Forced to depend upon each other for survival, their alliance blossoms into trust, perhaps even love…a forbidden emotion that would render both their lives forfeit. What force could Isobel’s paintings conjure that is powerful enough to defy the ancient malice of the fairy courts?
Belle Rating: D
Target Audience: Young Adults
Story Notes: Isobel is a young woman with an amazing talent. Like none other in her little town where it is always summer and where the fey come to get crafted items, in exchange for an enchantment. You see, the fey in this world cannot make anything. Trying would kill them. So, these beings seem to crave for that which they cannot make/do for themselves. And since Isobel is one of the best crafters in the town, she is the most sought after. Isobel, however, is very guarded against the fey than the rest of the crafters in the town. Many ask for frivolous things. Others wait for the day when they can ask to find the well that will turn them into fey, thus granting them immortality. However, Isobel would rather die than join the fey. So she tends to ask for less selfish things: like hens that will always produce eggs for the rest of their lives. Then, Isobel is asked to do a portrait for the fabled Autumn Prince who hasn’t been seen in the town for centuries. She completes the portrait for the Prince will very little difficulty. But there was one thing she could not get right: his eyes. And it wasn’t until she realized that he did in fact have emotion in those eyes. A sadness that seems to have been suppressed for a very long time. She mistakenly paints that into his face. Later, Rook (the prince) finds her and forces her to come with him to stand trial in the Autumn Court for what she did…because apparently fey cannot feel emotion…except for this guy…yeah…the rest of the book is about her having to follow Rook around the Fey Realms. There are dangers around every corner…and of course she slowly falls in love with him. The most dangerous thing she could ever do. DuN dun DUN!
Writing Style: Ok guys….I will admit that the romance within the novel is pretty good. However, you will end up having more questions when it is all said and done. There are several things in the book that the author doesn’t seem to care about giving any sort of details/backstory. Like why the heck is it always summer in the town?? Or, why are there dead, nasty things that have started coming alive in the Summer Court (and that no one seems to care about it???) Who is in charge of the Winter Court?? Good golly woman, if you put things like that in the book I expect said things to be EXPLAINED! It can also feel choppy in places. Mostly because you are left without seemingly important details and thrust into a different situation. Otherwise, this book is a super easy read.
Weaknesses: DETAILS! As I have stated above, this story is lacking in some world building. The author hints at things that sound pretty cool, but refuses to go into any sort of explanation for said things.
Strengths: I actually really liked the main characters. I appreciated that the main female character was actually pretty smart compared to everyone else in her town. Rook was also really interesting. And it was an easy read. This would be a great story if you were going on a trip and wanted something to keep your mind occupied.
Final Thoughts: If she hadn’t mentioned many of the unfinished details, this would have been a far more successful book for me. I’m not hating on the characters or the premise of the story. There are just things that I waNT TO KNOW!!! So, if you want a quick read and you like romance fantasy novels, then this would be a good choice for you.
The Belle and The Bookworm 