If you mingled the history and romance of Philippa Gregory with the magical fantasy of George R.R. Martin, the result just might be the fascinating Apollo’s Raven (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 1) by Linnea Tanner. Get ready for a journey filled with the desires of star-crossed lovers, the horror of a son polishing his own mother’s skull and the fantasy of humans becoming creatures as a tool to save their very humanity.
From the start, Tanner had me hooked. The descriptions of the world being created were deep, well-crafted, and compelling. Skull-faced moon, dark Ravens, and the battle of Brittania against Rome sink the reader directly into this marvelous realm. The story is somehow simple but so very multi-faceted. Two kingdoms are engaged in a struggle to maintain their own ways. The next-generation leaders of both nations begin a Shakespearean lovers twist. Princess Catrin of Britannia is the King’s daughter, secretly in love with Marcellus, the son of Rome. Their romance crosses the point of no return when he is kept in Britannia as ransom, while the regencies tug at supremacy. This forbidden dalliance blooms in secret and darkness. Tanner doesn’t skimp on the secondary personalities either. An adulterous mother, a secret birth father, jealous siblings and a rogue half-brother are only a few of the compelling challenges our Princess needs to overcome.
Both the prose and descriptions sparkle in this book. When Tanner tells us, “she felt her stomach drop like a hung corpse,” you can see and feel it. The reader can smell from the pages when the “chamber stank like gutted cattle.” The action is lightning fast and razor sharp. The editing is crisp and diligent. One of the pure strengths of the book is the ability of human current themes to stay relevant in these mythical realms. Some questions will always remain the same and unanswered. Am I a sorceress or a warrior? Can I be both? Can I trust this person with my heart? Are my parents truthful or gravely fallible? Tanner spans this gap and explores these questions page after page in intriguing ways.
A risk of fantasy is that it is such a heavily populated genre. So much has been shown and described. That was one of the only weak spots in the plot line for me. When a character sees as through the eyes of a raven, the reader can’t help but see the Game of Thrones similarities. I want, as all readers do, something new and not yet excavated. When you tell stories so close to leaders in the field, you’d better bring your best. Tanner does a more than capable job. I’d like to see what else lies in the writer’s imagination. Fans of fantasy will be enthralled with this book. Not only them, but romance and historical fiction fans will be equally smitten with Apollo’s Raven
EUR 4.26 with 75 percent savings
Print List Price: EUR 17.08 
The Print List Price is the lowest suggested retail price provided by a publisher for a print book format of this title, available on Amazon (e.g. hardcover, paperback, mass market paperback).
Learn more
Learn more
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
Get new release updates & improved recommendations
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:EUR 12.78-By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
There are 4 books in this series.
Kindle Price:
EUR 12.78
-
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start over
Customers also bought or read
Page 1 of 1Start over
- CHRISTIAN ORTHODOXY: A Closer Look: Examining the Foundations of Christian Faith
Kindle EditionEUR2.55 - Adverse Possession: A Nick Shuman Legal Thriller (Nick Shuman Legal Thrillers Book 1)
Just releasedKindle EditionEUR3.41
Loading...
About the author
Customers say
Customers find this book to be an extraordinary novel with a suspenseful historical/mythical romance of considerable proportions, featuring well-developed characters and a plucky female protagonist. The story is set in a great historical context, entwining both history and fantasy, and customers appreciate its masterful writing style, with one noting its impeccable detail to historic times. They praise its political elements, with one review highlighting the intricate webs of political intrigue, while another appreciates how it brings mythology to life in an intriguing time period.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
53 customers mention content, 48 positive, 5 negative
...The story is a multi-layered tale of forbidden love, political intrigue, and mythology.Read more
...This was a great read and I loved every minute of it!Read more
Linnea Tanner has created an extraordinary novel that takes you back to medieval times, entwining both history and fantasy....Read more
An amazing book. Found it impossible to put it down. It flowed so easily; not hard to keep tract of characters or places....Read more
37 customers mention story, 34 positive, 3 negative
...concoctions, and the mystery of death are all a part of this fascinating story. This is the first book I have read by this author, but not the last.Read more
...'s Raven is a triumphant blend of historical research and imaginative story telling....Read more
I really enjoyed this story. From the first chapter, the reader is brought into the action....Read more
...There are so many twists and turns and the way the past is revealed and blurred with the visions of the future was masterfully handled....Read more
22 customers mention historical, 21 positive, 1 negative
...Historical fiction and fantasy come together nicely as the many factions fight for control.Read more
Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner is a historical novel that skillfully shares the fictional account of a female Celtic warrior princess with a very...Read more
Apollo's Raven is a triumphant blend of historical research and imaginative story telling....Read more
...were well-written and I loved the mythology and historical aspects of the story....Read more
18 customers mention romance, 15 positive, 3 negative
...It is a gripping story of history, romance, and mythology. Catrin must try to rescue her father, save her lover, and keep herself safe....Read more
Linnea has written an epic tale of love, intrigue & mythology set in Roman times....Read more
...I appreciated the many layers of the plot that included betrayal, love, power, bravery, duty, and malice....Read more
...I recommend this book for readers who love twists and turns and forbidden love. Excellent book.Read more
17 customers mention character development, 13 positive, 4 negative
...The characters are developed well and the story takes you on a benevolent ride of the mystic beliefs of Celtic people....Read more
I really wanted to love this book. There are some memorable characters, but the reel rather than show styling, and clumsy romance scenes left me...Read more
...The superb character development extends past the primary players and into a strong cast of secondary characters....Read more
...It lacks engagement, and I felt no attachment to the characters, the plot, or the setting....Read more
17 customers mention historical context, 17 positive, 0 negative
...It is a gripping story of history, romance, and mythology. Catrin must try to rescue her father, save her lover, and keep herself safe....Read more
...that I was about to embark on an epic journey of love, betrayal, mysticism, and the fierceness of a beautiful Celtic warrior princess determined to...Read more
...The tale has many interconnected parts of historical events and fantasy which pull together in a thought-provoking, cogent story....Read more
...The characters were well-written and I loved the mythology and historical aspects of the story....Read more
12 customers mention writing quality, 9 positive, 3 negative
...to read what happened next, but as for the story itself, it was masterfully written....Read more
I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were well-written and I loved the mythology and historical aspects of the story....Read more
...Over all, I enjoyed the story for itself but the writing needs some work.Read more
...This story is well-written. I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series to see what happens next!Read more
11 customers mention political, 10 positive, 1 negative
...I found it to be a story of magic, politics, God's and Goddesses, sacrifices (animal & human), war, betrayal, and love....Read more
...She naturally interweaves cultural, political and religious information about the Romans and Celts, which grounds the whole story and informs many...Read more
...with thorough descriptions of the surroundings, setting, and politics of the day....Read more
...It has lots of action, fights, & political problems. I would recommend that all read this book & learn a bit more celtic history....Read more
Historical Fiction or Historical Fantasy?
The book is set in what is now southeast England in AD 24. It is a time between Julius Caesar's invasions of 55-54 BC and the full Roman conquest of the island starting in AD 43. Caesar left the island after establishing treaties with Celtic "client kings." These treaties required the kings to allow trade with Rome and to provide annual tributes. In turn Rome would support their clients. The story focuses on Celtic King Amren and his family. There is a dispute over Amren's succession and Rome has sent a senator and a small army of 600 legionnaires to try to settle the dispute. The stage is set for a multi-themed story: a forbidden love affair, political intrigue involving a really nasty villain, fantasy, and betrayal. Tanner weaves these themes together smoothly so there is no confusion. The various characters are well developed and are mostly likable or despicable as suits their roles in the story. Along the way, she treats the reader to a good dose of Celtic and Roman cultures, especially how women are treated differently and the ancient Druid myths and beliefs. This is book one of a four-book series and as such it finishes with a lot unresolved. It's a good book but is it good enough to make a reader want to continue and find out what happens later? I say yes -- I'm now in the middle of book three. Very highly recommended. Respectively submitted, Paul R. Ritter.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
- Ali Kausar RizviReviewed in India on September 26, 2024
Book Review: Apollo Raven BY Linnea Tanner
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - FreyaPReviewsReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2023
Intrigue & Romance
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
