I am a major fan of The Fallen Empire series! Even though I did not love this novel as much as the first two, it was still an engrossing read! I love the characters, and it was great to return to Mrs. Draven’s world. I recommend this for fans of Amanda Bouchet, C.L. Wilson, and Elise Kova!

I love Grace Draven and I was looking forward to Raven Unveiled. Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes. Unfortunately, it was a let down for me. I was interested to see how she would write Gharek as a love interest, as he has done heinous deeds in the name of empress. However, even with his backstory flushed out, I could never quite buy into his transformation. It happened so quickly. Draven's worldbuilding was on point - as always. Lushly described and flushed out to the smallest detail. Siora's ability to speak to the dead was interesting. The pacing dragged in parts, especially at the beginning. Their eventual capture and conspiracy felt a bit contrived. A lot of great elements in this story but not executed as well as other books in the series.

I definitely didn’t realize this book was mid series when I requested it, but I did enjoy the book anyway. I thought Siora was really compelling as a heroine. I did think Gharek’s growth came confusingly fast, but not so fast as to ruin the book for me. Beautifully written and well plotted!

I did really enjoy the fantasy world element! The whole "shade talker" magic Siora had was really interesting and it's been cool to see the process of an empire falling apart. I also like the morally grey part of Gharek outside of the context of him being a romantic lead

Raven Unveiled is the third installment in the "Fallen Empire" series , and I can't tell you the excitement that I had that the author was returning to the series. The second book just ended in a little bit of a cliffhanger and I'm glad we got this third book. I really liked Siora. I really did enjoy this one. It wasn't a perfect read, but it was quite entertaining in every way. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.

The Fallen Empire series is a dark, fantasy romance with compelling characters who rise above terrible circumstances to find fulfilment in a seemingly impossible relationship.
In Raven Unveiled, the series concludes with the tale of Gharek and Siora. While their relationship begins in crisis they become reluctant allies who save each other and their world.
The story was fascinating but quite dark and a bit grim. The reader spends a great deal of time following the characters as they trek around the country but the final conclusion felt a bit rushed. I would have liked to see Siora have a greater understanding of her power, watch her foster it and then a tiny peek of some sort of HEA. Wonderful writing and interesting characters saved the story for me. Four stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for an advanced readers copy of this novel.

4.75 stars
When I read the premise for this book, I had to change how I viewed the hero, because the way I imagined him is so different. Grace Draven is really great at writing enemies-to-lovers and hate to love tropes. Each of her characters feel real and of course the changing relationship between the MCs also feel genuine and believable. I think especially with the characters here that have the same love for a child, the bond between them tugged at my heart that much more.

I had been anxiously waiting for this third book in the series and was delighted when it finally was released. As can often be the case though, this book fell short of my expectations. I had largely forgotten the intricacies of the character's plotlines from the previous two installments so I wish there had been more of a summary at the beginning. The first half of the book just was a huge muddle. This person was mad at that person and ultimately spent weeks/months chasing them. Gharek wasn't clear on what he was going to do to Siora if/when he caught her but the chase ensued. Siora wound up saving Gharek on multiple occasions for reasons only she could make sense of. As she struggled to find a safe haven she got dragged into saving the realm from a predator of ghosts and souls. The romance element felt forced. The otherworldly elements were fantastical enough but not in line with the threads from the previous books. There was a great tie in at the end with some of the other characters. Hopefully any further installments find the magic from the first two.
I received a copy of the title via NetGalley.

I love Grace Draven.

We are back in the Krael Empire which is now both shattered and rejoicing in the death of the vile Empress. Several factions like the Savatar and the Nunari are reclaiming their lands, while the Aristocrats and the Generals all make a play for the empty throne.

This story focuses on Gharek and Siora who we have met in prior stories, both with large parts in Book 2.

Gharek acted as the Empress’s vile cat’s-paw. He was the most feared man in the Kingdom after Herself. In Dragon Unleashed, we got a peek behind the curtain into what drives a man to perform such vile acts, most of which were bringing whoever offended the Empress to her to be tortured. We learned that Gharek has a daughter who was born without arms and he has become the most feared man in the land to protect his child and keep her safe from the mobs who would kill her for her imperfection.

He originally meets Siora when she was just a begger on the street who threw herself between young Estred and disgusting rock-throwing mob. Gharek brought her into his house and made Siora Estred’s nursemaid and caretaker.

In Dragon Unleashed, Gharek was ordered by the Empress to capture the dragon so she could bathe in his blood and re-grow her missing arm.  Upon hearing this, Gharek was determined to find the hiding Dragon but not to turn him over to the Empress, but he wanted some a bit of the Dragon's blood to heal his own daughter.   In his desperation to fix his daughter, Gharek acted even more vile than usual, which was saying quite a bit.   Siora felt Gharek went too far when he kidnapped Asil, an old woman with the mind of a child, and Siora went against Gharek and helped her back to her people.

In Raven Unveiled, Gharek feels betrayed by Siora and has sworn to track her down and kill her for that betrayal but more importantly, he wants to drag her back home and make her apologize for making his daughter cry when Siora ran away without saying goodbye.

We can tell from his rantings, that Gharek had become fond of Siora himself.  She wasn't afraid of him even though his whole household, and the Empire at large, feared him.  She would speak her mind and even smiled at him a time or two, and she truly cared for his daughter, Estred.   Siora was gaining Gharek's respect, and her betrayal hurt him as much as her leaving suddenly did to his daughter.

But not everyone was a fan of the Empress's cat's-paw and plenty of people were hunting for Gharek for payback now that the Empress was dead, and Gharek's power and protection is dried up.  As soon as Gharek catches up with Siora, one of the battling General's catches them both, and turns the tables on Gharek but using his daughter as a pawn to force Gharek's help sneaking into the old palace.   Gharek knows that he is as good as dead, but maybe risking his life can save Siora and Estred.

And it is not just the feuding Lords and Generals that they have to worry about. Something powerful is rising in the haunted city of Midrigar, and is devouring the souls of the dead. As it devours and grows stronger, it has started to draw the living towards its cursed gates, beginning with Gharek. It might not matter who sits on the throne when they may not be a living soul left in the lands.

Thoughts:
I love when an author can take a villain and truly make him into a hero. Gharek was absolutely a bad guy.  He did vile things for the Empress and brought people to her, some who never commited a crime, even knowing the Empress would torture and kill them for her own entertainment.   Then we learned why Gharek did everything he did--to protect his child.  Gharek knew that he would the only thing keeping his daughter from being killed by the masses, simply because the bright and witty child was born without arms.   But we also learned that he was in as much danger from the Empress as anyone else. She knew about his child and would ask about her as a reminder to Gharek that he need to do his vile job or risk his daughter or his own life, which would again leave his daughter vulnerable to the mobs who would attack her for her differences. Ok, he wasn’t the best hero as his actions were selfish but what parent wouldn't contemplate horrific choices to protect their child.  Also, Siora was working to push him into being a man his daughter would be proud of.

No matter what happens in this story, a HEA for Gharek, Siora and Estred is quite questionable since anyone who would recognize him as the cat's-paw will try to kill him or capture him for payment to someone else who wants to kill him. There is no where in this Krael Empire that will offer them safety to live out their days in quiet peace.

We have crossed paths with Siora in Phoenix Unbound as well. She was in the 1st book as one of the Flowers of Spring.  She was in the pit with Gilene at the end of the story.  Siora is a shade speaker that can hear spirits and was speaking with the spirit of her father who had died in those same pits a decade before.

I love Grace Draven and really enjoy the worlds she creates.   We did not finish this story with a happy Kingdom rejoicing in peace so I hope that means we have more stories to read from the Fallen Kingdom.

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is probably my second favorite in this series. I loved that the couple had a past history between them that meant them coming together took time. While it did take time I loved the slow burn of them coming back together to actually work as equals. What really stops me from giving this five stars is the fact that it felt like so much happened but then not much at all? I would have really enjoyed there being more of an actual plot instead of traveling from point a to b and then back again. Traveling scenes can be fun but when the whole book is that level I really want some sprinkles of actual reasons for these people to do what they are doing. I get it towards the end but, even then, the plot felt so forced. Both the main characters were the only thing that kept me reading for more because I really loved their dynamic.

On a random notes, I would love if Draven gave us an LGBTQ sequel to this with two characters that are introduced here. I would love to see them more and how that magic works.

Book 3 of 3 in this series. Pursued by an assassin but also having the ability to speak to the dead? An interesting premise. A story full of action, love, resilience and passion.

So I got this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A quick thanks to them and the publisher.

On to the review.

No. I did not like this book.

Big reason is there’s rape in this book and there is no trigger warning at the front of the book. I will say this until I am blue in the face. Books need trigger warnings. They are no different than a movie telling you there’s sex or violence. Trigger warnings allow readers to make informed decisions about if they want to engage with a piece of media. To have something like rape and not put a trigger warning is something that infuriates me.

After that, it’s the writing in general. Also the fact this is the third book in a loosely connected series of books that apparently can be read as standalones. I don’t really like doing that so if I’d known, I wouldn’t have requested it.

When it comes to pacing, it’s a slog. This book is so slow. It was so hard to get started. I tried so many times and hated it each time. And the characters didn’t help. I didn’t care about any of them. It wasn’t something I could get past. I didn’t care about them, their problems, they didn’t grab me.

We’ve also got an enemies to loves situation.

This man hates her at the beginning. And it’s a very apparent and heavy hatred. I could not see a believable way for them to move from that to lovers. It didn’t really feel real or track for me. It wasn’t convincing and I couldn’t root for them as a couple.

All in all, this was a no for me. A big no. I hesitate to give low star reviews, I don’t like being super harsh. But I could not stand this book.

For me, this is a big no. It gets a one (1) star for me. That’s it.

Disclaimer : I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

Content Warning: mentions of rape, gore, death, ghosts

This felt like the weakest of the three in this series, which was a bit disappointing. Maybe because the characters were so closely related to the (not subtly at all) evil character from the last two. Even though there were bigger and more pressing matters in this one, I couldn't separate that in my head.

But the magic that Siora had was really cool! I have enjoyed seeing the different magical elements from all three of the women in this series and how that has helped them be strong and independent, while also fighting for what they believe in and love. I liked seeing the progression in strength of the writing style that Draven has for this series as well from Phoenix Unbound to now.

But the relationship did fall a little flat for me. It's not my favourite trope and I felt that there was too much that Gharek had in terms of power over Siora to fully get there.

I definitely recommend the first two books and if you read them and find those interesting, continue onwards with this one!

RAVEN UNVEILED is an epic fantasy ride.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=80179

It has been two years since the second audiobook Dragons Unleashed published and I felt disoriented going into Raven Unveiled. Thankfully, my review and a re-listen to the last few chapters of the previous book brought me up to speed and reminded me of Siora’s role. While each audio features its own romance, the story arc and world demand that you listen to these in the order of their release.

Once again I was pulled into this world Draven has created and found myself impressed. One of the most wanted men in the falling empire, Gharek of Cabast, the dead empress’s former cat’s paw (assassin) is ruthlessly seeking the woman who betrayed not only him, but his beloved daughter, Estred. Siora is that woman. She believes she acted in the best interest of Gharek and Estred. The tale that unfolds delivers a merry chase, battles, danger and a greater threat.

Siora can speak to the dead, and yields untapped power. She will protest that she is not a necromancer, and indeed her skill set is unique. She is clever, adores Estred and has a soft spot for Gharek, even if he frustrates her.

Their chase is set against the darkness that has enveloped all the kingdom after the empress’s fall. Others seek power, and both are hunted. Gharek for his former position and Siora by a dark phantom who is gobbling up the dead in the fields of the fallen. I found the threads concerning the dead and Siora’s own talents fascinating.

The author delivers swoons, tender moments, suspense and nail-biting battle scenes that kept me on edge. The characters are ones I connected to. I truly admired Siora and loved the growth and sacrifice we witnessed. The romance that developed felt genuine as their snark & bite was laced with chemistry.

Katharine Lee McEwan narrated and brought both Siora and Gharek to life. Through tone, accent, and pacing, their emotions and personalities shone. Her secondary character voices were spot on. Her overall narrative enhanced this well-written fantasy.

The story began slowly and build up momentum until I could barely pause as I listened to the climatic ending. Draven gave us an epilogue, one which I appreciated. I am not sure if this was a trilogy or if the series will continue. Whatever the case, I will be on the lookout for her next release.

I'm a huge fan of Grace Draven. I feel she is one of the most underrated authors out there, and her Radiance duology remains one of my faves of all time. I also enjoyed her Phoenix Unleashed and Master of Crows. This one, however, didn't quite connect with me. It's still a solid, good read, but not one of my faves.

I did like that she chose an unconventional hero and didn't shy away from that challenge. Not everyone can make someone previously unlikable into someone readers will root for.

I will begin by stating I have not read the previous books in this series. Which, I honestly think was a detriment to me. As it did take me a while to get used to the world and what was happening.

Pros: I really like the paranormal elements, necromancy, dragons, enemies to lovers.

Cons: The beginning felt slow, and some of the end plot felt rushed.

My favorite parts were Siora, her powers, and the ghost eater. Which is the arc I felt was the most rushed. I wish there was more about her and her powers, but I did also like the King and his twin brother. The end felt a bit rushed compared to the beginning chase that felt like it could have been shortened.

I would still recommend this book because I enjoyed the world and the paranormal aspects. I really like how the world feels like ready a classic fantasy book. You don't need fae to have a good fantasy story! I'm actually excited to see what the other books are like as well. Especially the dragons story. I've read other Grace Draven books, as with this book, I really like how the world feels like ready a classic fantasy book.

Raven Unveiled was interesting and Draven has created an intense and unique world. I hadn't read the the previous books so there were things that might have been good to know but the book works well stand alone.

Siora is amazing. How someone can go through so many horrible experiences and still be loving and positive is a true wonder. Even more amazing is how great she is with Gharek's daughter who's had an even worse life and still have an equally positive outlook on life. Gharek has had a tough existence too although at first glance it seems he has made choices and is therefore guilty and deserves the hatred and fear of those he crosses.. But did he really have a choice? He did what he felt he had to to provide for a daughter he loves dearly. These three people are fascinating in their ability to deal with what life's dealt them.

There's lots of action and so much tension as Siora and Gharek race against time and all forms of evil to secure a better life for their empire and themselves. My heart was full for this unlikely family when they get their HEA.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

This is the story of Siora and Gharek. Siora sees the dead, and uses that ability to get by in life. She was once employed by Gharek to care for his daughter, but due to some choices she made, now she's on the run from him. Gharek is chasing Siora to demand that she apologize to his daughter for betraying her trust and leaving without saying anything. They run into each other right ouside of the cursed city of Midrigar though, and from there, all sorts of shenanigans go down.

I admittedly didn't love this one as much as I did the two before it. It just seemed to be the weakest of the three. I don't mind a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and this was absolutely an entertaining enough read, but I had trouble caring about the characters. I think this might just be personal preference. I eventually started liking Gharek, but always found Siora to be a bit annoying. There was some serious deus ex machina at one point too that made my eyes roll a bit, lol.

Nevertheless, the world that the story takes place in was an interesting one, and seeing a bit more of it come to life was nice. This crazy world of crazy ghost cities and markets in-between dimensions was a captivating backdrop for some romantic shenanigans. If you like Fantasy Romance, I suggest checking it out!

Raven Unveiled, by author Grace Draven, is the third installment in the authors The Fallen Empires series. The fall of Domora and the death of evil Empress Dalvila by the draga Malachus in Dragon Unleashed has left the world leaderless and in the midst of revolution. This book features Gharek of Cabast, who was once Dalvila's feared cat paw/assassin who is now a wanted man, and Siora, a shade speaker who has the ability to see and to communicate with ghosts. The woman who was once nursemaid to Gharek's disabled daughter.

Siora has been hearing desperate pleas of the departed, as well as her own father, as an otherworldly predator stalks the dead amid the fertile killing fields of the collapsing Krael Empire. The creature’s power and reach are growing with every soul it consumes and no one is safe. Not the departed, not the living. Siora betrayed her employer (Gharek) and the child (Estred) she had become nursemaid to. She helped save the Dragon in the previous book knowing what it would cost her and has been on the run ever since.

Gharek is prepared to hunt Siora to the end of the world and back again because she didn’t just leave him, but also left his child who mourned her leaving like a child losing a parent. He will make sure he bring Siora in front of his daughter to apologize. Gharek's plans are thwarted when he is captured by a General named Zaredis who demands that Gharek find a way into the palace he knows like the back of his hand. He wants Gharek to retrieve a powerful artifact called Windcry that the former Empress put under a powerful protection.

With the Windcry, Zaredis hopes to become the next Emperor. Gharek and Siora are forced to team up which ends up with meeting characters from the second book in this series: Malachus, Asil, and Halani. Needless to say, the 3 are not exactly jumping for joy at meeting Gharek. Although his reasons for hunting Siora are viscerally personal, what Gharek can’t anticipate is that when he finally does find her, she will hold the key to saving his world, or what’s left of it.

Once you read Gharek's backstory, he's not really the monster that most people think he is. His backstory also begs the question what would you do for your child? What horrible lengths would you go to to protect them? This book considers what an extreme answer to this question might look like. Meanwhile, Siora has to learn quickly that she's more than just a person who speaks and hears the departed. She's much, much more, and she will have to learn quickly so that both she and Gharek survive the dark taking over the land.

This book ends on a what happens next note. I am not sure who will be focus on any sequel to this story. This is an author who knows how to write interesting characters, twisted stories, and fantastic world building. I would encourage readers to read books in order as they were released so that you understand this world.