Oh wow this was so dark and not for me personally. I never read fantasy and even like YA fantasy so I should’ve known I wouldn’t like this story. It’s not for me but I think others would enjoy it

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The more I think about this book, the more I dislike it. This book had so much potential! Unfortunately for me it fell flat.

In The Ravenous Dark tells the story of bloodmage set on revenge against a kingdom and a blight taking over the land. This story has a mix of blood magic and death magic. However, neither magic system is really explained. Instead of focusing on the magic, the plot leans heavily on the romance and sexuality of the main character.

Rovan, our main character is pansexual. And apparently also polyamorous. I’m glad to see the diversity, but you don’t really see development of any of her relationships. She literally just thinks everyone is beautiful and is horny all the time. That, in my opinion is not the best representation of pansexuality or polyamory.

Because there was so much insta love and focus on the relationships, we don’t develop the magic systems very well. We have blood magic. We have death magic. People aren’t supposed to be able to use both. Oh wait, we can use both. Oh wait… we’re vampires now?… it’s all very confusing and not explained. How does it work? Why does it work?

If you want a queer story for the sake of having a queer story, this is for you. If you prefer your stories to have more depth, this probably isn’t the book for you.

Finally, I am very confused about the target audience for this book. The romance heavy plot, with little world development makes me think it’s a YA book. However, the sexual content and explicit sex scene on the page makes me think it’s inappropriate for some teenagers. Maybe older teens.

Idk my thoughts are all over the place about this book. I wanted to love it. I didn’t. I am sorely disappointed.

I received a complimentary audiobook copy of In the Ravenous Dark through NetGalley so I could share my review with you!

Content Warning from Author’s post: Death (lots, major and minor characters), death of queer characters, Parent death, on page and off, Sibling death by suicide (off page), Fratricide, Violence (lots), Blood (lots), Gore (not excessive, but there’s, uh, a scene or two for sure), Mild body horror, Mild substance addiction (alcohol), Enforced gender roles, Forced marriage and pregnancy (including rape, but the latter is off page, in the past, and not involving main characters), threat of rape/abuse of the main character, on-page sex scenes.

After her father’s death, Rovan has been judiciously keeping her magic a secret, for fear of what might happen if the throne discovers her powers. Rovan, like select others in Thanopolis, possesses blood magic, a dangerous ability that has been strictly controlled by Thanopolis’s ruling powers. But, when Rovan accidentally reveals her magic in an attempt to save a friend, she is sucked into a world of dark court politics and people who would see her in chains.

You can get your copy of In the Ravenous Dark now from wherever you prefer to purchase audiobooks!

This book was deliciously dark, gritty, and packed with high-stakes court magic. There were so many layers of mystery to unravel, from the kingdom’s dark past to the realities of blood magic. And, without giving any spoilers, I absolutely adored the ending of this story! I couldn’t have dreamt of a better and more exciting way for everything to be concluded. The thing that really pushed this book into five-star territory for me, though, was the abundant presence of queer characters of many different identities. I hope to see more stories in the future that feature so many well-written members of the LGBTQIA+ community!

The narration for this title was absolutely fantastic! Lauryn Allman’s voice was the perfect fit for how I thought Rovan should sound, and her speaking speed was just right. Sometimes, fantasy novels can be tricky to listen to, as there is usually a lot going on, but I had no trouble following the plot in this story.

My Recommendation-
If you enjoy dark fantasies packed with court intrigue and blood magic, you need to read In the Ravenous Dark! This book would be a great choice for readers looking for an upper YA fantasy to keep them reading late into the night.

I couldn’t finish This.. it was so boring and slow I had to quit and I’m so sorry. I loved the idea and synopsis but I couldn’t go on

Gothic Fantasy

"Get ready for a blood-spattered, kiss-filled roller coaster ride.”

Tags: YA, gothic, dark fantasy, lgbtq, blood, magic, spirits, ghosts, underworld,

TW: blood, gore, death, addiction, abuse

Magic and mythology collide in this new Gothic Fantasy by A.M. Strickland.

In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them (and control them). Our main character, Rovan, was taught to hide her powers to keep her safe from the spirits. But when her powers are accidentally revealed, she is thrust into the world of magic and politics, and along her journey uncovers dark secrets that can destroy the world she knows. In order to save her world, she must learn how to trust, and how to love...because the fate of everyone, mortal and immoral, depends on it.

Fast-paced and action-packed, there was always something happening that keeps readers on their toes.

Parallels can be drawn between identity and sexuality in this book — from the beginning, there is a heavy theme of hiding. Rovan and her father must hide their magic to keep them safe, just as many in the lgbtq community feel the need to hide their sexuality to protect themselves from judgement and discrimination. Rovan’s character makes a good role model for those hiding secrets of their own, and she shows us how embracing our truth can be the first step towards finding acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, A.M. Strickland, and Lauryn Allman (narrator) for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of In the Ravenous Dark in exchange for and honest review.

I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this novel. Voice narrator Lauryn Allman does an excellent job portraying the main character and reads with an eloquent allure that makes this novel feel just as dark and foreboding as it should.

Rovan's father died for the sake of her bloodmage abilities. Ever since then, she has held her powers at bay, keeping them a secret from the world around her. When she accidentally shows her bloodmage power, binding herself to a spirit, she is then thrust into a completely different world than the one she grew up in.

Lineages and secrets are revealed when Rovan must live among those of the palace. On top of being seen for what she really is, Rovan also happens to fall in love with her bound spirit, Ivrilos, as well as the princess, Lydea. Romance becomes complicated, when one is deceased and one is a rebel. When they three discover a dark secret, they must join together to spark their own rebellion to save Thanopolis.

I enjoyed the narrator of this novel and there were quite a few moments that felt darker than others. The romantic interests were quite intriguing and added depth to the characters and story. While there are many stories out there with a person who later exhibits magic powers and their lives were turned around, I found this onw to focus more on the political aspects of Thanopolis, after Rovan's heritage is revealed. This is a great novel for lovers of fantasy or someone looking for romance that goes beyond the usual.

Rovan is a pansexual blood-mage. Since the death of her father when she was 7 years old, she has been hiding her powers from the Crown. When her powers are accidently uncovered, she is captured and brought to the palace to be assigned an undead spirit to keep her powers in line. Wishing to escape her new destiny, Rovan turns to two people she meets in the palace that she must learn to trust. As time goes on, they discover a secret that starts a rebellion between humans and the undead world.

I was initially so excited for this when I first heard about the premise. A book featuring a polyamorous pansexual?! SIGN ME UP! I absolutely loved this story and the representation it brought in such a casual way. Rovan is pansexual, and such a bad ass character. She is fierce and feisty, she cares so deeply about her friends and family. I also adored the side characters as well. Lydea was a lesbian princess, who when you first meet her, aren't sure you can trust. Jafah was also wonderful, they are an asexual, nonbinary prince who stole my heart right from the first time they were on page. The found family in this is so well done. I also think the magic system was really interesting. These blood-mages and their powers fascinate me so much, I thought it was so cool that the bloodlines were passed down, but would kill the original person. I liked the idea of the undead spirits, but I also found them so creepy at the same time. I really liked Ivrilos and learning more about him and his background as the story progressed. I listened to this on audiobook, and I think the narrator did such a wonderful job with this story.

I wish there was a sequel to this... I want more of these characters and I want them NOW.

In this Greco-Roman inspired world, there are those who posses magic which is wielded using blood. To keep them in check, bloodmages are assigned an undead guardian. I’ll admit I was weary of this “undead” guardian thing, as I cannot stand anything to do with zombies – I’m pleased to report this is nothing like zombies and it didn’t bother me!

There is a lot of information, places, and names given early on in this story, and it was a little confusing at first but I quickly caught on after a few chapters. There are a lot of characters and bloodlines to keep straight, but it all comes together. The world building is beautiful.

When Rovan’s father is killed in front of her eyes as a child, she vows to never let anyone know she too is a bloodmage, and to never use her power in front of anyone. That goes well for her until she’s nineteen and uses her power to save the girl she has slept with from falling to her death and reveals her power for all to see.

She is taken to the palace and assigned a spirit guardian to protect her – but she’s a rebel and doesn’t want any part of this world. What unfolds is a dark fantasy full of blood magic, death, queer romance in a world nobody minds if you’re queer (as long as you don’t mess with the bloodlines, aka you have an heir and continue your line), a non-binary major supporting character, and queer found family.

Rovan is a powerful bloodmage who is illiterate, but can still work the handful of sigils she learned as a child. She’s bold and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her – she is her own person and I love her boldness. She identifies as pansexual, although the term is never officially used on page – she loves who she loves.

Japha is one of my favorites and I wish we saw them more – they are non-binary and they are accepted as such in this world. They/them pronouns are used throughout the story, including by their father. Japha is the best friend everyone should hope to have – or aspire to be.

Lydea is the princess who fights her role as a princess only needed to produce an heir and pass on her bloodline – the literal lines on her body with contain magic passed on from parent to child. She’s also very much into Rovan – in *that* way.

Lastly we have Ivrilos, Rovan’s spririt guardian only she can see and speak with, and he’s bound to protect her and stop her from doing anything rash, such as, trying to burn down the palace. She doesn’t trust him, despite being bound together.

I love that In The Ravenous Dark features a polyamorous m/f/f relationship – I don’t see that often enough in books, especially YA, and that’s one of the main things that drew me to this story. Since I have little experience reading it, I didn’t know what exactly to expect. It was a little underwhelming to be honest, but I’m still glad it was acknowledged and that it happened.

This book is incredibly fast paced and I wish it was a duology – there is enough information and world building that this story could have benefited from more space! But I’m also a big fan of standalones, so I’m not too upset.

There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming throughout this story and it kept me alert at all times – my review only touches the surface. If you’re a fan of supernatural beings and magic, this is the story for you!

I loved all the representation in this, especially the pansexuality. I haven't read many books that explore this and it was nice to see it treated the same as any other sexuality. I also thought the polyamory was well done and fit the story nicely. I didn't love the plot as much as I hoped. It felt a bit slow in the beginning and for me the revenants and guardians were a bit confusing. If I get lost, I struggle to come back and don't enjoy the story.

Rovan was a complicated character and I did like that the author made her human. She didn't always do the right thing, she's basically drunk half the time, and some things she does hurt others. It made her more relatable and less fake. Her relationship with Lydea was great and I liked them as a couple. Ivrilos is pretty mysterious and I wasn't sure about Rovan being with him at first, but it grew on me as we learned about his history.

I wanted to know more about being a blood mage and get some history of the magic. There were some interesting twists that I liked, I just got a little lost when we learned so many things at once. I did think this was a unique book and I hope to see more representation like this in future stories.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copy.

4.5 stars.
The story and writing were very entertaining. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading because I was wondering what was going to happen next.
Excellent representation, a wide variety of sexualities, and gender presentations.
My biggest problem is that I feel like the story falsely equates pansexuality with polyamory. I love how accepting even some of the awful characters are, like accepting people for what they're born as is unquestionable.

For some reason I had issues downloading this, but I was able to listen to it elsewhere and the narration is spectacular. It adds a sense of mystery to this mysterious world that you don't get from the text itself.

Thank you for the arc!

Oh my gosh I absolutely LOVED this. In The Ravenous Dark is a YA dark fantasy with highly complex world building. Catering around blood magic, this book definitely gave me Gideon and Harrow vibes. Lots of twists, turns, and blood. 10000000% recommend - you NEED to read this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

Riven is a young blood mage who has avoided detection her entire life. Her father was taken when she was young, never to be heard from again by those who use blood mages and bind them to the dead to be used as their puppets. After an encounter causes her to use her magic, Roven's secret is out and she is whisked away to the palace to be bound to a guardian. How will Roven traverse life with a guardian and what surprises and threats await her at the palace?

This book was so much better than the authors debut "Beyond the Black Door", you could really see an improvement in her writing and storytelling. The world building and magic system are the stuff of a publishers/readers wet dreams and the inclusiveness of all the characters was second to none. Roven is such a great character to spend time with, no whining or moping around like you see in so much YA these days with chosen ones. She quite literally polishes gold out of turds over and over again. Her supporting cast of characters (which I won't get too into in order to avoid spoilers) all served a purpose and furthered Roven's development. Some of the plot twists felt a bit repetitive/obvious at times, but there were plenty in there that will still make your jaw drop.

Overall I recommend this novel for anyone 14+ as there is a bit of sexual content and some gore/violence(she is a blood mage after all). I look forward to seeing what this author has to offer in the coming years, they could be a real sought after author if they continue on the path they are on. Keep you eyes on this one, folks, and don't miss this once in a lifetime story.

4.5⭐

Wow. This was absolutely amazing!

I read very little of the synopsis (beyond the pitch) before going into this so a lot of this story took me by surprise. This book is hella queer, dark, gritty, and took me on a wild ride. I cannot wait to read more from A.M. in the future after devouring this fantastic fantasy!

This story follows a young woman who has hidden her abilities as a blood mage her entire life after witnessing mages kill her father for being unguarded. But after her powers are witnessed, she is whisked off to the palace, forced to bond with a spirit guardian, and then thrust in court politics.

I adored each and every one of the characters in here. Roven can be a frustrating character at times, but it made her feel even more authentic as a 19 year old woman. She makes some selfish/poor decisions but I actually loved following an MC who didn't have all the right answers. She knows as little about politics and the world as the reader does going in, and she definitely doesn't figure it all out without trial.

This book is so fantastically casually queer. This book is not about discovering sexuality or coming out in any way. Instead it's about living you life and loving whoever the hell you want. This book has on page pansexual rep, lesbian rep, non binary rep, asexual rep, and a poly relationship.

This story took a WILD turn I wasn't expecting around the halfway point. And I loved it even more for that. This book explores family, love (in all it's forms), and has an epic battle of good versus evil.

There is SO much packed into this standalone. There is never a single moment or page that isn't revealing something or moving the plot along. In fact, there was so much in here that I almost wish it had been a duology. Because this plot was so intricate, I felt like lost a little time and ability to sit with the characters and watch their relationships develop. But at the same time, I love having a complete story in one book and having a new standalone fantasy to recommend.

Bonus - the audiobook for this is fantastically narrated! I always worry that fantasy books will be more difficult to follow via audio, but that was definitely not the case with this one! Not only is the narrator amazing, but the world building is flawlessly woven into the story, so there's no overwhelming info dumping to get lost in.

Overall I was blown away by this dark fantasy. The themes were much gritty and darker than I was expecting and I would definitely classify this on the upper end of YA fantasy. But it's fantastically written with a complex and lush world and unique, wonderful characters.

This is a story about a pansexual bloodmage with an appreciation for revenge & good hair.


This was a strange, highly entertaining book! The protagonist was both frustrating & charming, and I loved the twists & turns. I also enjoyed the lore interwoven throughout.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Thank you so much Netgalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALRC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a pretty dark and gritty fantasy novel that deals with a lot of difficult issues. I thought the world that was created here was very unique and found all of the main characters the kind of people you root for. I also really appreciated the way this book normalizes sexuality and the positive tone it has for a variety of relationships. I think anyone who enjoys darker fantasy that includes romance and LQBTQIA positive stories will enjoy this one.

I do wish there had been a little more time on world building, as I felt like it moved from one concept of the world to another very quickly and left me not always confident in the exact nature of things.

I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narration. I thought the narrator matched the writing and the tone.

While this is marked at Teen & YA, I would consider this to be more New Adult based on the level of violence and maturity the book has - just be aware that I'm not sure I would recommend this to younger teens. Content warnings below.

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content warning: death of parents, death of friends, mentions of sexual assault, violence and gore, sexual content (not very graphic)

Bold and brilliant, IN THE RAVENOUS DARK is the dark YA Fantasy of my dreams. I loved every second of this book. Rovan is a relentless, addictive voice, and the supporting cast was absolutely dazzling. With complex worldbuilding and a vibe that is GIDEON THE NINTH meets the video game HADES, this book is a nonstop thrill ride full of bloody, devastating twists and turns. I want nine sequels.

3.5 stars. It feels wrong to say that this was a fun book because of how dark it is throughout, but I really did have a good time with it. The first half of the book had me fully locked in and I loved the characters, especially Japha and Lydea. my interest lagged a little by the second half of the book as the ending seemed expected while I was reading, but I still found it to be an enjoyable experience. I also loved the inclusion of pansexual, lesbian, nonbinary, and polyamorous rep! I think where this book fell short was more personal preference on my end--I really didn't like the names of places/kingdoms throughout the story and found the worldbuilding lacking. Still, I'm glad I got the chance to read about these fun characters!

After reading Beyond the Black Door and being a bit disappointed with the execution of the book, I still looked forward to the prospect of In the Ravenous Dark since I chalked up my grievances with the author’s previous book as a lack of experience since Beyond the Black Door was their debut. Well, it’s safe to say that I just am not a fan of the way that Strickland writes fantasy books.

So what is incredible about this story is the queer normative world. Everyone is open about both sexual and gender identity. Our MC Rovan is pansexual. Japha is non-binary and asexual. Lydea is lesbian. There’s no judgments on relationships, number of partners, etc. Loved all of those things.

I also really enjoyed Rovan as a character. She’s feisty, strong-willed, independent, and literally doesn’t take anyone’s BS. Rovan is also messy and finds herself in some rather interesting predicaments thanks to her own decisions.

What didn’t work for me is the plot and the execution. The world building takes a back seat in this book in favor of character development, so it’s rather nebulous until you get random info dumps that don’t really backfill all of the questions you have in the first place. There’s also a plot twist that happened about 60% into the book that I legitimately do not understand.

I’m disappointed because there was so much potential in this story, but it ultimately left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Requested this ARC and mere hours later the book was archived before I could even download it. Was really looking forward to this too :(