I think I should start this review with a fan fact. I just found out that this book is a retelling of one of my favorite childhood stories, Tristan and Isolde! It all makes sense now! How could I not see it before?
The world created in the story is focused on royal houses that were blessed and saved by Gods. Each house is called by the different type of a bird and blessed by different God. The book tells the story of Lyana, the princess of the doves and Rafe, the bastard of the king of ravens. Lyana dreams about being free, travel and explore the unknown, however, as a princess she has her obligation like choosing a mate and become a queen and wife. She understands the need to sacrifice all her dreams for a good cause. On the last night before the trials and ceremony, she sneaks out of the castle so she can be free for the last night. That’s where she crossed her ways with Rafe. He got attacked and injured by a dragon. If she and her friend wouldn’t help him, he would die. Lyana has a gift, she can cure people with magic. To save him she takes him to the cave to heal him there. That’s the moment I really like it because they are getting to know each other but they both lie about who they are. Lyana thinks he’s the prince of ravens and Rafe thinks she’s just a normal girl. Rafe doesn’t correct her because he came here to win a mate for his brother pretending, he is the prince. They look almost the same, however, Xander isn’t as physically gifted so he asked his brother to take part in the trials instead of him.

Xander and Rafe are very close to each other and they would do everything for each other. I couldn’t decide which one of them I felt worse because they both have problematic lives. I love their relationship because even if their past could mess up things between them, they remained to be brothers and best friends. It makes me so sad knowing that trials and their switch of personalities make everything complicated and destroy their brotherhood step by step.

This book includes so much hope for finding someone the characters will be finally understood and free with. Lysandra was looking for someone she wouldn’t need to hide her secrets from, however, Xander was looking for someone he would spend days in the library, someone who would understand him. They almost got what they were looking for but as it always happens in life, everything got much more complicated for everyone.
I felt so bad for these three main characters. Lyana after trials and travel to her new homeland she felt like in a cage. Xander wished just this one time to be loved and learn what true love is like but his mate’s heart couldn’t be one by him. However, Rafe just wished to change his past, he was a black sheep in the kingdom, not welcome but anyone but his brother.

I honestly wish this book would change differently. I felt so much pain for every single thing that happened at the end. I think Rafe’s case was the most painful of all. I cannot believe that after everything that happened the only thing that he loved so much was taken away from him. His life was already crushed by all that happened the day before and now this. I don’t know if I will be able to read a sequel and find in what condition he is.
This book had some parts I didn’t like that much but despite it, I can say it was a good read. I enjoyed the story and the characters. As tragic as this story was for its characters, I still enjoyed it. I hope the second book will be even better than this one.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Kaitlyn Davis for providing me this copy. I enjoyed this book a lot and I can’t wait to read another book in this series.

As one of my highly anticipated releases, I had huge expectations from the book and I guess that's probably the reason why it didn't exactly mesh with my reading taste. It is a high fantasy set in a world afloat, divided by different clans of bird types with the Raven clan being inferior to the Doves. But when fate brings two young souls of each clan to holy matrimony, nothing can stop them from the prejudice that follows.
The premise of the novel was pretty good but the execution just didn't do for me. I eventually DNFed it after a considerable number of attempts.

This book has the most beautiful cover ever and I have to admit I was drawn to the cover when scrolling through Netgalley as well as the suggestion that it would be for fans of Sarah J Mass. Raven and Dove is a fantasy retelling of the Tristan and Isolde/Iseult tale set in a magical world where characters can take the form of different birds depending on the family they come from.

I enjoyed the book and the characters were interesting and well written but it was very similar to many other YA fantasy and the beginning of the book was very slow and it too awhile to get going. Also the plot was a little confusing in places - but I will read the next book as I liked the characters and I want to know what happens to them next!

This is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde though I am not super familiar with the tale. I liked the unique plot lines that were mostly unlike any plots that I've seen in other YA Fantasy books. I also loved the diverse characters, gorgeous world building, magic and forbidden romance.

If you like:
• POC MC
• Royal Politics
• Strong FMC
• Magic and fantasy
• Deception

Then this is the book for you!

I’ll be honest the cover was the first thing that drew me in because hello… the wings. I want to thank ACOTAR, An Enchantment of Ravens, Spin the Dawn, and let’s not forget, Damon for The Vampire Diaries for making me fall in love with characters with wings or can shift into birds (tbh I blame Rhys for the whole obsession of characters with wings). Then I had read the synopsis and found out that the that there’s a guy who an outcast among his people but important to the Raven’s society in the long run making this a story that I had to read.

Lyana is the princess of the doves and is old enough to enter the competition of all royal children of age to marry other royals to build bonds with different kingdoms. Lyana wants nothing more than to be able to find someone who she can trust with a life or death secret of her magic in a land where magic is seen as sorcery and punishable by death. Lyana also yearns to see the different places of the world and travel. So, when she helps saves who she assumes to be the prince of the ravens, she realizes that he has magic of his own and sees her opportunity of possibly being able to settle down with someone who she can confine in and have a relationship where she doesn’t have to hid a huge part of her life.

She does what she wants and isn’t afraid of speaking out and bending the rules when needed. She sneaks out with her friend Cassi who is an owl and sees the lands close to the dove’s area.

Rafe is the half brother of the actual prince of the ravens, Xander, and is blamed for the king’s death years ago. The ravens despise him, while Xander is his only friend. Because Xander was born without an arm, Rafe is the one who is representing the ravens in the competition since the other kingdoms are unaware of the prince’s disability and to give the raven’s a chance of finding a mate for their future king. Rafe is against the idea from the beginning but goes along with it for the sake of his half-brother.

Rafe is the quiet brother who has the ability to fight and protect; while Xander is the one who is good with the people of his kingdom and cares for their wellbeing.

Fate brings Rafe and Lyana together before the competition and they are drawn to each other. Lyana sees freedom in Rafe, and he sees someone who captivates his attention like no other.

When it comes time in the competition where the people pick their mates, Lyana chooses Rafe and is one step closer to some of her biggest dreams coming true, but at the end of the ceremony she realizes that Rafe isn’t the real prince. She meets Xander and can see a repeat of her current life of not telling anyone about her magic, but she (along with Cassi as her protector) still goes with the ravens because she agreed to be their future queen.

As time gets closer to Lyana and Xander’s mating ceremony and wedding, she starts to see some semblance of a peaceful life, but she can’t get Rafe out of her mind despite him giving her the cold shoulder and pushing her away, so Xander can be happy.

While all of this is going on, Cassi is working on something of her own helping someone who is faraway with a situation that could be bigger than the four of them combined.

With things continuing to happen, secretes are exposed and trust is broken. Will the four of them be able to work things out or will things be messed up beyond repair? In this book following in switching POVs of Lyana, Xander, Rafe, and Cassi, relationships are pushed to the limits and could cause years or heartache if it’s not handled carefully.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about this book and, sadly, was a bit disappointed. I just couldn't really get into it no matter how many times I set it aside before coming back. Most of the characters were interesting, but I just really, really couldn't stand the Princess. She kept acting like she was a child of five years instead of a princess about ready to change her whole life. I might try to give this book another chance again, but not until I finish my whole pile that needs to be read.

I've seen this book all over the bookstagrammer world and so I thought to myself, why not... now I'm going to read it.

When I started reading it, I was catapulted into a magical world, as the synopsis promises, a retelling of Tristan and Isolde.

The cover story knows how to get the reader's attention, tells you to buy it, and you do it.

The Raven and the Dove, despite the wonderful cover, I think it's a story easy enough to read and spend time with.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity!

The Raven and The Dove is one of those books that draws you in if you enjoy vaguely described magic systems. There is no deep dive into the magical system in the book, so the reader gets to concentrate on the actual storyline and characters. The book sports two protagonists who are both equally likable although one is a bit angst-y. I'm not a fan of magic so there where parts of the book that weren't quite for me. That said, the plot is solid, the characters are not offputting, and the storyline flows.

Star-crossed lovers, dragons, magic, a secret war, and deceit.

The story presents a well developed world in the sky filled with humans gifted with flight. Magic is banned and a dark practice reminiscent of the past. Enter Lyana, the defiant and loving Princess of the House of peace and a Dove. She desires traveling below the mist and among the other houses. And with the mating trials coming, she gets her opportunity! Accompanied by her sassy friend Cassi, a girl with secrets, the two begin a prophesied journey. Rafe and Xander are half brothers of the House of Whispers and are Ravens. Their relationship is tested throughout the story and pushed to many limits.

The flow of the story moves at a good pace with three clear distinct plots. The plot follows the standard trend of love triangle, defying orders, and the start of a war. Thus, it is fairly predictable but still engaging. The lore created by Davis for each house was well written and captivating.

I'm looking forward to the next book!

I enjoyed this title so much! I thought the plot was so intriguing, and the characterization very strong! The description used by the author was so evocative I felt transported, and I kept turning until the very last page. I think the cover is very cute - I'll be sure to purchase this for my store!

I'm not going to lie, the cover is what attracted me to the book. It is absolutely stunning. The novel itself...I'm in two minds. The first half I really liked. Lyanna is a good heroine even though she acts like a spoilt princess at times. She's vibrant and determined. Rafe is the bastard son of the dead king consort. The romance was a bit meh. I just wasn't feeling it. The brothers thing is just so overdone. I do however, like a good prophecy so I liked that aspect of the book. I enjoyed the world building. I liked the avian type species but the courtship trials was another aspect that I felt is overdone in YA. I think therein lies my issue with a lot of YA. A lot of it has been done before so for a YA series to keep my attention, the execution of various tropes has to be good. The Raven and the Dove was okay. The cliffhanger ending has made me want to read book 2 but it's not something I would wait for with bated breath.

I tried this book and I just could not get into it. I think its just not my favorite writing style but I can see how others would really like it. I kept putting it down for other books and not feeling motivated to pick it back up. I did end up DNFing around 45 percent. I think some people will really enjoy this story but its just not for me.

If world building was the only aspect I was looking at, I would give this book all the stars. Different avian kingdoms (all birds, different kinds) come together to participate in a contest where they choose their next queen/king through a series of tests. Davis takes her own sweet time to develop these kingdoms, with their special features and nature and their standing in the entire kingdom. The Sea of Mist is well described, giving it the villainous voice it deserves. There is a spy hiding in plain sight, there's magic that exists but whose purpose cannot be ascertained and there are Dragons (you'll be disappointed, I promise).

But the whole love story fell flat. Lyanna is hot tempered and used to getting her way. She is fierce when required, takes risks and is way too excited about things for her own good. Xander is her mate (ignore him, because everyone else does). Then there's Rafe, the bastard (I'm sure that has your attention), misunderstood, broody and stubborn. Also the guy Lyanna is in love (?) with. This slow-burn romance doesn't burn at all. The chemistry is missing, there's no character development and the whole angle is absurd.

The twist and turns, however, had my attention because things truly happened (in an earth shaking manner). The cliffhanger at the end is making me look forward to the next book and I just hope that the author rectifies the problematic areas because God knows, this story has potential.

This book is so hyped. I read this and there are some points in the book that bore me. The story was good, unique, and lovely. That cover is a gem!

This was a bit of a slow build for me, but the imagery for the kingdoms and their subjects pulled me in. The characters and their distinctive traits and characteristics were interesting and were seemingly ornithological in nature. I could have also been distracted by how everyone had wings. Wings! The dynamic between the primary four characters, despite the overhaul of well-placed broodiness Rafe brings into the fold, shows promise for a strong loyalty in later additions to the series. This is one of those YA titles that renew my interest in the genre and provide a need to read the next book.

Book Review: The Raven and the Dove by @kaitlyndavisbooks

4 stars

I was SO excited to read this book...have you seen that cover 😍?!
The story is based in a world which is split in 2. The "god chosen" live on blocks of earth in the sky and are humans with wings. There are many different groups: angelic doves, wise owls, fast hummingbirds, strong ravens, vicious birds of prey and stunning birds of paradise. As a bird lover the imagery the writing evoked in my mind was stunning, especially during the mating trials. I also thought the research of the different bird traits was the best I've read so far.

The book follows 4 main characters and POV.
Lyana is the dove princess who is strong, passionate and excitable. I loved her spirit even though she was a little spoilt at times. She cares for others and puts them before herself.
Rafe is the Raven bastard who is the love interest with Lyana (insta love). He is dark and brooding but we see a lighter side to him too. He is loyal despite his dark past being an excuse to not be. I really liked him.
There is Xander, Rafe's half brother and the prince of the Ravens. He is an unassuming, bookish & kind guy who you can't help but like. He only has one hand and it was interesting to see how his disability affects his mental health and life in general. Finally there is Cassi, Lyana's best friend. She is an owl orphan that loves with the Doves.
Magic is a big theme in the book. Certain characters have magical skills, although I won't spoil it by saying who! There is also dragons as well!
My few problems with the book surround the pacing and detail. I found it to be way too fast paced and often wished it would slow down and show scenes in more detail.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I was engaged and there were enough twists and turns to keep it exciting. I recommend it to those that enjoy YA fantasy!
Please note that this book was #gifted from @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#theravenandthedove #kaitlyndavis #fantasybooks #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviewer #fantasy #yafantasy #yafiction #youngadultfantasy #bookish #igbook #ilovebooks #bookreviewfeatures #bookstagramflatlay #youngadult #ya #romance #book

Exceptional world building. The setting is beyond unique.
Kaitlyn Davis is a new to me author and she definitely set the bar high for future installments in the series.
I really loved Rafe. He's probably my favorite character. I have a love hate relationship with Cass but I think that makes me like the book even more because you feel pretty strongly about each character.
All in all, a really great young adult fantasy novel. It's book one in a new series so the pacing is a little slower as we learn about the characters, their back stories, and the world, but this book is absolutely bingeworthy and that cover....so effing beautiful

I tried reading the first few chapters, but the writing was rough and the storyline seemed too similar to Sarah J. Maas' work.

4.5 stars.
OH MY GOSH THAT WAS INTENSE.
I really loved this gorgeous retelling of Tristan & Isolde - the characters (morally grey! sweet and sensitive! a little erratic!), the setting, the fantasy elements, the twists and turns, the relationships, everything!
I cannot wait for book 2.

Thank you, NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this book.

DNF

This is a classic case of "it's me, not you". I initially requested this book for its gorgeous cover and interesting synopsis, but unfortunately, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I definitely see why people love this but I'm not meshing with any of the characters and the world is confusing, plus there are way too many POVs. I may come back to this novel in the future, but I'm putting it down for now.