Antler Jinny and the Raven

Rating: 3.7/5

Publisher’s Description: Set in 65 CE, Antler Jinny and the Raven combines beautifully descriptive narrative and page turning action in a story populated by distinctive, colorful characters. At the book’s center is a young, disabled Celtic girl, Jinny, and the raven princess she is sent to serve as a slave. Both have suffered terrible reversals in their lives and both have overwhelming, irreconcilable reasons to become Queen of the Dragons.

Review: This was a pleasant surprise that kept me interested and sometimes captivated.

The first movement is inspired by Jinny and her love of life and dancing until she loses her leg. As the ancient Fomors arise her village is plunged into despair. The depth of the daily struggle that must be endured is only surpassed when Jinny becomes a slave to the Raven. In this second movement, Jinny begins to accept her awakening to something greater yet is often dragged down by her circumstances and her own lack of self-esteem.

What a great tale for the YA to take heart in, as there are real life lessons to be had. Building self-esteem, being personally accountable, standing for what is right and holding a moral compass and liking yourself for just being you. The Fomors represent all of the manifestations of the mind/ego that trend towards the negative in action. Pride, hatred, fear etc. are showcased in an epic war (which also rages in the psyche).

The only Debbie Downer was the lengthy and suddenly abrupt, and confusing ending. I missed the first in the series but I had no problem getting up to speed. GET THIS!

Antler Jinny and the Raven is a story of magic. If the plot and the characters are themselves spellbinding, the story—set in the Britain of the Roman era—has everything a good fantasy needs. There are Druids and fairies, enchantments and dragons, and a quest leading to deadly rivalry. 

Like Pandora before him, the young Druid, Geordan, opens a chest entrusted to him by his dying master. Unwittingly, he  uncovers an artefact that not only corrupts those people with whom it comes into contact but draws to itself the Fomors, the gods of darkness. 

This is the story of Jinny, a one-legged girl who uses the antler of a deer instead of a crutch. It tells of her capture, her removal as a slave to the Island of the Gods, and her determination to become queen of the dragons. There she is in conflict with the Raven, a woman known to history as the daughter of Queen Boudicca of the Iceni. 

Readers of Chris Dews’s earlier books, Aengus Amused and The Druid and the Bracelet, will meet some old friends, including Erbert, history’s friendliest and most unassuming ogre. This second story in the Druid Lailoken series is a fascinating story that will keep readers enthralled.

A good fantasy book that keep you hooked since the beginning. It's well written, full of positive values and charming characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

I loved this novel, which captivatingly incorporates Celtic history and mythology into an epic coming-of-age fantasy. This is the second book in the Druid Lailoken series, but it works fine as a stand-alone. Epic fantasy isn’t one of my preferred genres, but I really enjoyed spending time in this world, despite its frequent violence and brutality. 

At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the characters, but they quickly grew on me. Our main character, Jinny, has a very satisfying story arc. I like books where we witness characters discovering their strengths, and I’m particularly fond of books where we get to see a disabled character learning how to live well with their disability. Jinny’s friends were also well developed, interesting, flawed yet likeable characters. Even the antagonists, whose actions are quite monstrous at times, are developed in such a way that we understand why they behave the way they do and they become somewhat sympathetic.

I was so drawn into this story, that more than once I found myself distracted from tasks that needed my attention, or staying up too late when I ought to be getting some sleep. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy and won’t be too disturbed by the violence and brutality or discussion of rape.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting. The ARC was well-written and neatly formatted; I don’t recall noticing any proofreading errors.

This was a thoroughly good book, I loved the characters and the environment. I was a little confused as I hadn't read the first book but it has a great format that makes it easier to read and get into. I really enjoyed reading this.

Antler Jinny and the Raven
by Chris Dews
Aengus Press
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Historical Fiction , Sci Fi & Fantasy
I was delighted about the amount of Scottish Celtic lore in this book and it was a good one. Naturally some of the points were a bit debatable with both Deities and the  people that served them but really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.