Thursday 30 July 2015

The Raven Queen - Jules Watson

She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it. 

With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods, Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and put her at war with both her duty and her fate. 

My thoughts:
Some books have that, omg there was magic in the past! feeling, and some do not.

Here the author had Iron Age Irish people living in a world where Gods and Goddesses were heard. Were the Sidhe were around. Where there was magic. But, I did not believe in it. It was historical fantasy, fun to read, but not real.

It's the story of Queen Maeve, who went down in history as a maneater, but then history changes when men write it, Christian men. She was married to kings and princes. She loved her country, and she wanted to fight for it. I did like her strength.

The story of Deidre is told in the background too, but she has her own depressing book.

I could actually have done without the real magic, and  the weird druid guy who spoke with the Sidhe. I am sure people will love that, but as I did not have that omg magic used to be real feeling, it just fell short for me.

And I did know the legends, so I knew what would happen. Still it was interesting to see how she changed things. Though I do confess that I did not understand the ending at all.

Conclusion:
Good. But could have been amazing...

Cover
ok

Paperback, 544 pages
Published February 22nd 2011 by Spectra
Historical fiction
Own

29 comments:

  1. I've always said that we can't expect fiction to read as realistic as the authors want us to feel. Some books have it, some don't.

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  2. Glad it was still interesting, you have me curious

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  3. Looks like a fair read, not one I'd add to my list though. Nice review and greetings!

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  4. Too bad on the ending! Otherwise this sounds like an interesting read:)

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    Replies
    1. I guess it was a happy one? Truth be told, dunno

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  5. Sounds like you enjoyed it overall. I do need my stories to seem realistic though.

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    1. I do like when magic is mixed in, but I want it to feel real *coughs magical realism* or feel like oh there used to be magic but it is gone now

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  6. Ugh confusing endings can be such a bummer

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  7. Sounds like the historical aspect is too good and the magic became a distraction

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    Replies
    1. I would have wished it had been taken out

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  8. I am not thrilled that the ending left you scratching your head.

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  9. That cover pulled me into reading the review. Much like you I look for that escape into their world. When it doesn't pull you into it, it falls flat. Sorry that was this case for you. Great review though!

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  10. Oh I do like the sounds of this one. Sounds neat. :) Thanks!

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  11. Sounds like it could have been better. Unless the book has an AMAZING premise or has something very unique about it, I find myself hard to please when it comes to fae stories these days.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    Replies
    1. I want to feel things! Here it was more a lie

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  12. you knoow that I'm quite difficult with fantasy but this one sounds really good!

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    Replies
    1. I love fantasy, this was historical fiction trying to be cool

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  13. Ah, sad :( I love Irish mythology. Too bad it fell short... An amazing cover, too! Wishing you a great weekend, Linda :)

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  14. I'm not sure about this one. :(

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    Replies
    1. I'd say no. I liked it, but still I cannot recommend it

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  15. I've heard such good things, but alas...no.

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