The Raven Tower

The Raven Tower

by Emma Miles

5 out of 5

Synopsis
What price will Kesta and the fire-walkers have to pay to keep their people from enslavement? The raids were more ferocious, more desperate and much earlier in the year. When Kesta sees in the flame who is really behind the attacks the Independent islands of the Fulmers seem doomed to fall. Their only hope is to cross the sea to seek the help of the King of Elden and his sorcerer, the Dark Man.



Review
When Kesta and her father seek help from the King against raiders, she is not expecting to be forced into a marriage with the country's dark and dangerous sorcerer.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Miles, although she's been on my reading list for years (obviously, she does have a book called 'The Shadow Rises').
I really enjoyed this epic story of fire-walkers and necromancers, and different countries preparing for war.

The opening chapter was a bit confusing, as you are thrown into the middle of Kesta and her father seeking an audience with the King. There's a lot of information to pick up, and quite a few names to follow. I felt that the political marriage between Kesta and the Jorren, the King's sorcerer, was all a bit of a hasty arrangement.
After the initial scenes, everything settled down and I enjoyed it immensely.
Kesta is from an island nation, where women are rulers and magic-wielders, and have the freedom to chose their partners. She doesn't take being forced into a political marriage well, and even though she agrees to it, it was entertaining to see Kesta expressing her feelings.

The story follows Kesta, as she settles into her new home, taking on the challenge of the neglected fort, and getting it ready for the war she knows is coming. Thanks to her fire-walker abilities, she has caught glimpses of the threat that is going to overwhelm them all.

The Chem are a power-hungry nation, that has been taken over by necromancers. They use blood magic - a dark and unnatural source of power, that goes against the spirit magic that exists elsewhere. They bring the dead back to life, and use the corpses as an (almost-)invincible army.

Everything: the magic, the history, the nations and the battles: it is all wonderfully original. Miles writes with a creative flair, building a depth to her world, that you just accept it, and get carried away with the story.

The narrative is split between several different characters: Kesta; Osun (a spy in Chem); and the Icante (Kesta's mother).
After reading quite a few epics recently that couldn't handle multi-pov's, I was wary when I saw this book was also split. But I'm happy to say that Miles pulls it off.
I felt connected to each narrator, and easily fell back into their storyline, and the dangers that were particular to them.

As you might have noticed, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more!

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