Life has been busy. Oh so busy. And yet, it seems I have still been able to devour books like normal. Possibly even better than normal. One of my favorite books that I’ve read recently has to be, hands down, Mark of the Raven by Morgan L Busse.
Today marks the 1 week anniversary of the Mark of the Raven release, so I have decided to share with y’all some of my favorite aspects of the book. I’ll try not to add any spoilers.
Damien
Oh. My, Gosh. Damien Maris was by far my absolute favorite character in Mark of the Raven. Although I did love Selene as well, it’s just not the same. Damien was just so kind, and yet he still struggles, but he doesn’t let those struggles and fears consume him. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that he’s refreshingly human for a fictional character. Even though I’m not a man, I was able to relate to him in his struggles and in his faith, which is one thing I really enjoy in stories. Also, I mean who doesn’t like a good hero? Damien was THE BEST hero.
Assassins
Okay, though this sounds positively horrid, if you say a book has assassins in it, you’ve got me hooked. I honestly don’t know why, I suppose I just have a morbid mind. Can anyone relate to that?? Anyway, that being said, Mark of the Raven did have assassins in it, which, for me, just added yet another layer of mystery and intrigue to the story.
Ravens
If you look at the title of Morgan’s new book close enough, you might be able to tell that it has something to do with ravens. If you can’t tell, I’m so very sorry. Anyway, I have a strange fascination with ravens (kinda like the assassins thing, just not as morbid) that I’m thinking stems from the fact that ravens can be very symbolic. That fact makes them very strange and mysterious in my mind. Ravens do indeed play a large part in Morgan’s new book, though you’ll have to read it to find out why. I will, however say that she is part of House Ravenwood.
Contrast of Dark and Light
One thing that really stood out to me while I was reading Mark of the Raven was the deep themes of darkness and light. This contrast is one thing I absolutely love to have in the stories I read. There’s just something powerful about seeing the darkness and sin as it is, and then seeing the light of Christ up next to it. In Mark of the Raven, Morgan beautifully wove that theme throughout the story and it was a wonderful reminder that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome that light.
Selene
Even though I saved her for last, that doesn’t mean she was my least favorite part of the book. Quite the contrary, in fact. Selene was so raw and real. I felt with her pain and so wanted to go to House Ravenwood and try to help her through it. In a way, she reminded of me when I was younger: searching for something, but not knowing what. My absolute favorite scene was when she saw the Light for the first time. I’m pretty sure I cried at that point. It really awed me because the light of Christ is so very beautiful and in that moment, all I wanted was Christ because I know that He will satisfy me, just as Selene knew that the Light was what she had been looking for.
Needless to say, I enjoyed Mark of the Raven immensely. And, seriously y’all, if you like fantasy and fiction, you need to try it. Morgan is an amazing author who writes so real and gut wrenching stories that are still filled with hope, and it’s rare that I find authors like that nowadays.
What wonderful books have you been reading recently??
Changed by Him 
Hallo, Hallo — travelling through my WP Reader seeking discussion for the Ravenwood Saga
And, happily I stumbled across your lovely blog and discussion post!! I released my ruminations for this series on my blog today – as I’m part of the blog tour and it was my first chance to dig into the first two installments ahead of “Cry of the Raven”. I’m so gutted by everything I’ve read – I feel as if the entire journey of Selene’s became my own and I am still within that world; anchoured to their experiences and still trying to recover from the hours I’ve spent walking beside them. It is such a lovely fantastical read — one of my favourites in a long while (though I can claim several this month as I co-hosted #WyrdAndWonder) but I meant in regards to High Fantasy, this is a true gem of a find!
I liked the contrast between Damien and Selene – between the hero and the anti-heroine who has to take agency for her own destiny whilst he influenced her to fulfill that desire for internal insurrection and ulimate personal growth. Without Damien Selene could not finalise her journey and without Selene I am unsure if Damien would have been completely healed and whole himself as he was burdened by those memories which tarnished his ability to sleep without the fears of his past before she stepped through his dreamscapes.
It was the reasons and whys behind the dreamkills which both unsettled me and also led me through the redemptive story arc Busse built for us to understand. Without that foundation and without her wisdom in knowing how to lead us through that kind of arc I am unsure if I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. Blessedly too – this was a non-graphically violent series and it was without the harsher words that I think perhaps a traditionally published novel might have had flickering through the pages; for me, those absences heightened my bookish joy.
Laughs with mirth. I mention the corvids, too!!
I truly appreciated this non-traditional glmpse into who and whom were behind the Dark Lady and the Light – she only faltered once in “Flight of the Raven” by breaking the 4th wall of the novel so to speak when she had Selene mention “God” as that was not his name in this world – he was only known as “Light”… and purposely so. however, this concept she wove into the backstory is what truly left a strong impresson on me as well as I loved her instincts for creating it.
Selene by far in combination with Damien were my favourite characters… however, I feel like Amara is missing from some of the discussions online, too. Hers was not an easy path to walk and in many ways she was set-up to fail (by their mother) — with her story-line we truly see how this series is full of mercy, grace and redemption.
In short, this was one of my favourite reads for #WyrdAndWonder! Drop by sometime and perhaps let me know if I shared anything that you felt similarly about yourself?
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