An enjoyable read that was definitely able to create the scene and place.
Overall this was reasonably well structured with a great start. As the novel progressed it didn't deliver anything more substantial.

Fifteen years after young lovers Julia and Branna are harshly separated, they meet again on the high seas when Julia's ship is taken down by pirates. Now Julia runs her fathers shipping company while Branna is captain of a mercenary ship. Seeking vengance for past wrongs, the two women become unlikely allies and realize their old feelings haven't been tamed by the years gone by.

I am very picky when it comes to historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. This book completely immerses you in the world, the scents, the sounds, the hustle and bustle of the port town and the activity of the ship. There was a perfect balance of action/adventure and romance/heart-wrenching emotional drama to keep the reader. The chemistry between Julia and Branna is so good, and Carolyn Elizabeth did an outstanding job with the evolution of the chemistry from the lightness of youth to the same sizzling chemistry weighted with history and trauma and lived experiences, with both being equally exciting to read. In the harsh realities such as the ones Julia and Branna lived, it was nicely balanced by the good people they had surrounded themselves with. All in all a wonderful read, and I would gladly read more historical fiction in the future from this author.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ms Elizabeth had me at the book blurb. Lesbians. Pirates. It’s the perfect pairing. Okay, so Branna Kelly isn’t a pirate per se … but she’s a daring sea captain intent on revenge against the despicable pirates who killed her parents and have been terrorizing the seas for years. That’s close enough for me.

The Raven and Banshee is a great adventure set in the 1700s that brought back a lot of good memories of the old swashbuckler movies I loved as a kid – but with two female leads which is even better.

Julia Farrow and Branna Kelly were young and in love, but the potential scandal led to Julia’s father threatening to destroy Branna’s father’s career as a captain. Forced to spurn Branna’s declaration of love and sending her off on a voyage with her parents, Julia’s guilt and regret is devastating when Branna’s father’s ship is reported as being attacked by pirates with no survivors. But never fear, Branna managed to escape with a scar and a grudge. Over the years, Branna built her reputation and skills as the captain of The Banshee, a mercenary ship that harried pirates and ne’er do well’s around the Bahamas. When Branna’s ship comes across an seemingly abandoned ship, they find Julia chained in the hold with a message for Branna from the dread pirate who Branna has chased all these years.

I don’t want to give the story away, suffice to say that there’s lots of drama, lots of action, lots of betrayal, lots of brooding, lots of romance. This was a great way to spend the weekend – immersed in an exciting and action-packed story that didn’t shy away from some gore and mayhem.

As with Ms Elizabeth’s other novels, her main characters are engaging and well rounded and even the secondary characters felt real and fleshed out. There’s good chemistry between Branna and Julia, the second chance romance is always a favourite trope because it makes you root for the couple even more. Branna’s pride and Julia’s not always smart decisions gave them enough obstacles to overcome and the time to let the rekindled romance simmer

For a good time – read this book.

RECOMMEND

THE RAVEN AND THE BANSHEE is a fun, swashbuckling novel of lost loves and vengeance. It combines a sapphic second-chance romance of opposite personalities, with a dramatic and action-packed pirate story. I have a real fondness for pirate stories, so this one really appealed to me.

I thought Elizabeth set the scene very well and painted a vivid picture of the Banshee (Branna’s ship) and of 1700s Nassau. The pirates are rough and ready, and the actions scenes are well done — just enough danger and violence. Branna and Julia have good chemistry and (although a little slow to get off the ground) the romance between the two women feels very believable.

I thought THE RAVEN AND THE BANSHEE could have perhaps been a bit longer in places, to give us more time to get to know the rest of the Banshee’s crew and the girls in the Nassau brothel, but it’s a fast-paced, enjoyable read.

There’s a 5,000 short story sequel online, and I enjoyed THE RAVEN AND THE BANSHEE enough that I definitely plan to check that out.

3.5 stars! (published Jan 13)

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Pros
+ LESBIAN MERCENARY SHIP CAPTAIN STORY
+ rep: lesbian
+ romance tropes: second-chance romance, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, sick/caretaker
+ Branna: captain of The Banshee, a mercenary ship, which patrols the Caribbean
+ Julia: heir to the shipping company, Farrow Company
+ Plot: Rejection. Reuniting. Pirates! They were in love until Julia rejected Branna on the eve of Branna's family's departure to set up a new shipping port for Julia's father's company. Set upon by pirates, all hands are presumed lost. Fifteen years later, Julia sails into the company, encounters the same pirates and is the only one left alive. Her rescuer is the infamous cold-hearted Raven.
+ Their sex scenes were amazing! Thank you for actually writing them out, not just fading to black. So many f-f romances do that and I'm like??? Women together are worth writing on the page!

Cons
- The pirate villain is really black-and-white, with no back story, or motivation, other than "he's evil" so we must destroy him... The story would have been much stronger if we'd known why he was the way he was or even saw much of him at all.
- The writing is not subtle at all and the plot progresses exactly as you can imagine it would. So, while not bad in of itself, it means that I would never give it higher than a 3.5-star rating.

TW: massacre, murder, stabbing, guns, beating, trauma

4.25 Stars. Hey, here's a swashbuckler that doesn't revel in partner abuse! Yay! This is a great story that doesn't run away from some of the violence and danger that can occur in a pirate adventure, but it doesn't force its two protagonists to constantly hurt each other in order to prove that this world is a little gritty. Branna Kelly, the Raven, is a soft sole that did have to harden her outer shell in order to survive her actual kidnapping by pirates. However, she's not completely ruthless, as she builds a family of loyal sailors and others as she earns her fearsome reputation. In fact, the most devistating part of her life was the abrupt rejection of her affections by her childhood friend, heiress Julia Farrow fifteen years before she earned the 'Raven' moniker. When she rescues Julia from a shipwreck, then both must navigate feelings that suddenly leap to the front.

So many pirate books like to prove that their pirate is a broody, dark, enigmatic person that they often forget that sometimes when their love interest comes on the scene, that they have no problem abusing the love interest throughout the book. Branna is a broody pirate, but she rarely uses Julia as a prop to prove her strength. More often than not, Julia just turns Branna into the adorkable teen she was in the introduction. This dynamic is constantly moving and flowing though, as Julia devastated Branna in that way that teens only know how to do, and as adults, they both have to reconcile that. And that is on top of the Caribbean underbelly and Branna's need to stay at the top of that hierarchy.

Don't get me wrong, though, this pirate adventure is full of swashbuckling danger, and has plenty of gore, both implied and detailed. The side characters feel dangerous, but never disloyal to Branna, and the port cities are vibrant with their own political structures and people. Branna basically have a pirate mom and dad who are ruthless in their own right. Branna's adoptive mom is the madam of the famous brothel and her adoptive dad is her first mate, and they secretly love each other, and outwardly love Branna and I love them.

This isn't a romp like Pirates of the Caribbean, but it has its comedic moments. It also a super fast read. I believe when I first read this, it took only one sitting for me to get through. I didn't know why I was turning the pages, but I was, and had a ton of fun while doing so. I know there's a really short story floating around that tells of the exploits of Branna and Julia after the events of this book, so I will go check that out.

Fans of Carolyn Elizabeth will have a blast with this one, and newcomers will have a blast with this mostly serious, but fun swashbuckler.

First rate lesbian pirate story. Even better is that the focus is on the pirating, we need more of these normal people stories. Definitely 5 stars. Will be recommending everywhere.

Never read a pirate story before, and I can't wait to read another. I've only read one other book by Carolyn Elizabeth before The Raven and the Banshee, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.
The Raven and the banshee as whit, gore, trauma, adventure and love. It's got everything you need. I did enjoy the story. I've given The Raven and the Banshee a 4/5.

I hope to see Julia Farrow and Branna Kelly again.

𝗣𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀!

I never thought of myself as a pirate person, but I like this. It's an exciting story and there's a lot of action at sea. The story is set in 1700s, Caribbean, a difficult time for women to amount to anything so it was nice that Branna could flourish as the fearless captain of a mercenary ship with a reputation that precedes her and never have her gender called to question.

There's an equal amount of romance here and the love story between Branna and her childhood sweetheart, Julia is very sweet and I love the chemistry between them. Young Branna and Julia had parted ways abruptly as teens and had gone through mutliple losses along the way. The adult version of Branna is broken and Julia pieces Branna's heart back together when they reunite years later.

This is an exciting story I never thought I would like this much, but I really do.

If you told me a few years ago I'd be reading (and enjoying) pirate-themed lesfic books, I would've laughed. Wholeheartedly. I really enjoyed this pirate adventure novel, even though it was a tad predictable at times.

What I love about Carolyn Elizabeth's novels that I've read so far is that she doesn't let her characters off lightly. They typically have some serious events happen to them, which makes for an entertaining and dramatic read. The Raven and the Banshee is no exception to the rule, as both Branna and Julia face significant challenges during the novel and I couldn't help but feel very sympathetic to them both.

The second chance romance is very sweet. I liked these characters together but the romance (for me) was not the driving force of this novel. It was the adventure, the pirate life and the fleshed out side characters giving us so much entertainment. This is getting rave reviews so far and it's definitely clear why.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

“The Raven and the Banshee” by Carolyn Elizabeth is a historical action/adventure pirate book featuring a second chance romance.

Pirate books are not my first choice but when I saw that Elizabeth was writing one, I knew I had to read it. I’ve enjoyed the other two books I’ve read by her and assumed this one would be no different and I’m so glad I was right. This was really fun and gory and I just about read the whole thing in one sitting.

Branna Kelly and Julia Farrow have been life-long best friends. At 16, their relationship has progressed to more but is eventually ended by Julia. Fifteen years later they are reunited on the seas when Branna, now living life as a pirate captain, comes across Julia’s seemingly abandoned cargo ship.

One of my favorite things about this are the characters. Branna and Julia are both such interesting and different characters. This is set in the 1700’s so they’re busy breaking all kinds of barriers with Julia running her family’s trading company and Branna being the captain of a pirate ship. They’re opposites but have a lot in common as well. They’ve both dealt with a lot and are stronger women because of it. All of the side characters were just as fun and interesting to read too. They all have important roles and I loved how Elizabeth uses them instead of just being there to prop up the main characters.

There is plenty of action on the seas for all the action/adventure fans out there. This has a bit of a revenge plot with Branna hunting a certain pirate and Elizabeth does a fantastic job with all the details in describing the settings and the action that it’s very easy to imagine. There’s fighting and gore and if you love pirates doing piratey things, you’ll love this.

Also, there is a 5,000-word short story that was previously released that follows this. It’s available on Bella Books website and I recommend it just as a fun follow up to this terrific read.

I have my fingers crossed that we get more of Branna and Julia in the future!

I received an ARC from Bella Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Carolyn Elizabeth does it again! Having read the Curtis and Reynolds series, I can tell you that fans of Elizabeth will also enjoy The Raven and the Banshee. A historical romance with pirates and damsels, rogues and heroes. Treasures are lost and treasures are found. If you are looking for lesbian adventure on the high seas along with witty dialog, this book is your next read.

This is a beautiful well written historical fiction with a Sapphic pirate. The characters had amazing chemistry. There's action, suspense and romance. What there not to love. Well done, I recommend. 4.5 stars.


Thank you, Bella Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was very excited to pick this book up due to the fact the only other book I read from this author was The Other Side of Forestlands Lake and I absolutely loved that one.

The Raven and the Banshee is not just a pirate captain saves the lovely lady story-it is so much more, about second chances and exploring feelings/emotions both from a revenged perspective and a loved lost perspective. The author really gives us 2 storylines, one of the lost love and one of the killing/revenge and both written intertwined brilliantly, even though one does not trigger the other as you might expect (no spoilers). Julia and Branna are destined to break each others hearts, but as they say, love wins in the end. Both characters are well written that we just want to cheer both of them on. Understanding the family dynamics, social classes and society 'norms' (women are for marrying off to men for better family standings) in the 1700s, the author leads us down the path of tears for both characters, but gives us healing and smiles along the way....and a few pretty steamy scenes that would get the boat 'a-rockin' <wink>.

There are just a few trigger warning that the author has noted (thank you), but nothing real graphic, just brings more realism of how life was on the high seas of that period. Where the author does gives us great detail in that I just loved, was describing the environment of the Caribbean islands, specifically Nassaua-the colors, the people and the town atmosphere of a sea port, I just felt like I was there and could feel the sand and warmth-I found that Ms. Elizabeth is brilliant in bringing the reader in like they are actually there, both in this book and her earlier work The Other Side of Forestlands Lake. And like that other book, in this book we also get a variety of sub-characters that are fun to read about and they fill out the story of Julia and Branna. so complimentary. A great read that I would recommend to anyone and say 'grab some rum for an exciting voyage'.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Grab some rum for the exciting voyage

3.5 stars
I appreciate an author giving us something unusual and different to read. It must have taken a lot of research into sailing, large ships and piracy in order to be successful in creating this story. Their were many unexpected events that made me think..."oh no".. but most were resolved favorably. The romance has its ups and downs but all turns out well. The action scenes were very exciting and described very well but short.
I had a bit of a problem determining who was who and what was their position or rank but I didn't feel it was that important. Overall it was a good read.
The title and book cover is an excellent choice and marketing draw.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Carolyn Elizabeth is one of those authors whose books I automatically grab when I see them. I have loved her writing since I read her very first novel. Even knowing that, little did I realize how captivated I would be by her swashbuckling pirate adventure and romance novel, The Raven and the Banshee.

This is an awesome story! The beginning setting is a place I know well…Charleston, or Charlestown, South Carolina as it was known in the early 1700s. As someone who lived in this area, I can tell you the descriptions in the book are spot on. Even with the three hundred year time difference, the area described here, especially around The Battery and the plantation homes have really not changed that much in looks and atmosphere. The mercenary ship, The Banshee, and the early colony of Nassau are also well described.

Of course this is an adventure story filled with pirates and mercenaries. Not only are these people out for gold and other riches, many are set on exacting revenge for wrongs done to them. These folks don’t settle disputes by playing a rousing game of checkers. You must expect a lot of action, fighting, blood and gore.

Woven into this exciting adventure is a second chance romance between Branna Kelly, who becomes Captain Kelly (The Raven) of the mercenary ship, The Banshee, and Julia Farrow, a young Southern lady who inherits the Farrow shipping company. I fell for both women early and their love story itself would have kept me a captive of this tale. It is a fairly angsty romance, but that just makes it fit perfectly into the adventure. The chemistry is there at the beginning of the tale, and grows throughout the story.

The author tells us in the blurb about one mention of rape and a short scene of an attempted sexual assault in the novel. The scenes didn’t bother me, but I thought I would mention it anyway.

This book is now firmly in my favorites and has my highest recommendation. If you love adventure and romance, then set your sails and chart your course for the nearest bookstore, Matey. You don’t want to miss this treasure of a tale!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

4.5 stars. I have such a weak spot for pirate stories, especially lesbian pirate stories, so how could I not love this book. I like the way Carolyn Elizabeth writes and I will pick up any book she writes, but when I saw a pirate book was coming, well let’s just say it made me very happy (although I do hope we also get more Corey and Thayer).

Last year a short story (At Words Point) was already published featuring the two main characters of this book later in life as an established couple, but now I finally got to see how they get together. This is a second chance romance between Branna Kelly and Julia Farrow, and their history together works excellent with all the action and adventure going on to keep a romance going as well. They grow up together and fall in love, Branna being the daughter of a well-respected captain and Julia being the daughter of a wealthy family in trading that employs Branna’s father. However, Julia rejects Branna and their ways separate, only to meet again 15 years later when Branna (aka the Raven) has grown into the captain of the mercenary ship the Banshee and Julia works for the family trading company.

This book gives you everything you can expect from a book with pirates/mercenaries. Part of the book is set at sea and part on land in port Nassau where the mercenaries enjoy their off time. The pirates are rough and ready to overtake a ship or settle a score, so there is plenty of adventure, and of course there is the romance between Branna and Julia. They both wear scars from their past and challenge each other constantly. I liked them both, Branna is closed and not the easiest type to get along with (I mean, she’s a mercenary!), but there is a heart in there somewhere;) Julia is more sociable and not afraid to ask for what she wants and while she may seem like the damsel in distress at times, she certainly is not.

The pacing is good and while the storyline is a bit predictable at times it provides both good action scenes and interesting characters (also the secondary characters), which made this book score so many points on the entertainment factor for me. I could read more about these two, so I hope Elizabeth will follow through on that statement in the acknowledgments that there is more where this came from.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Would you call pirates in 1720 historical fiction? I think maybe yes? Is that out of my comfort zone? Definitely yes! But for a Carolyn Elizabeth story, I am happy to venture outside of my comfy corner. Elizabeth's Curtis and Reynolds series is so good, one of my favourites even, and whenever she has a new book out I just need to read it. I doubted if this one was for me, because of the very specific theme of pirates, I don't really care for them, not even the lesbian variety. I think that this book might have shifted my perspective on that, or it's just Elizabeth's excellent writing.

I only needed to read a few pages to be immersed in the world of pirates in 1720, a bustling Nassau, rough seas, and even rougher people who work on or around the seas. The battles and the work are brutal, but very well written. I think this book works so well for me because of how strong Elizabeth's characters are, you know very early on who they are and why they are behaving in a certain way. You really get a good feel of the main characters, but the author doesn't stop there, the secondary characters are just as strong and important to the story.

You must be wondering how can there be a romance in a story like this with a lot of violence and on open seas. That's where the very smart decision of a second chance romance comes into play. Branna and Julia have a history. As a reader you are aware of the history and it makes for pleasant reading and a good romance to go with all the action.
Action-adventure romances always have an issue with making the romance believable, at least a lot of the time. In my opinion one always takes away from the other, that's why I prefer the crime/ mystery romance, it usually works better. In this case I would say it works out perfectly, and it all comes down to Elizabeth's excellent writing, story choices and characters.

Does this book have downsides? Just a tiny one I would say, it's predictable. But even in the predictability, there are some "surprises". Oh and maybe a warning for attempted sexual assault should be in place. I like how it was fiercely handled. And just in general lots of violence, because you know, pirates... and it gets into some graphical detail, if that isn't your thing, skip over those passages.

This book now belongs in my comfort zone, thank you Carolyn Elizabeth! I hope this is the beginning of a new series, 4.5 stars.

A historical fiction romance with a sapphic pirate. What is not to love? In 1705 Julia Farrow is 16 and her father owns a shipping company. Branna Kelly is the daughter of a sailer and to separate the two girls the Kelly family is sent to the Caribbean. Sadly their ship is attack and all are thought lost. Fifteen years later Julia is running the family business. She is found, the only surviving member of her crew by Captain Raven (Branna).

This is a second chance romance that is also a swashbuckling good time. I was happy to see the two reunited fairly early on in the story. Being a second chance they already have a past to build on but Branna must get over the rejection she felt. I love Julia's easy going nature and her joy at finding Branna again. Branna is more changed and hardened and is a mission to avenge her family's death. I like the locations on sea and in the Bahama's. Some parts were predictable but overall I enjoyed the adventure. It is well paced and includes lots of side characters (family and crew) for extra depth. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars rounding up)

Sapphic pirates! While it wasn’t my favorite, the things I disliked were personal preferences, like not being a huge fan of historical fiction or realistic fiction. Aside from my own taste, it was really well written! The content warning at the beginning was nice too.