Chasing Ravens
Book # 1
By- Jessica E. Paige
Genre- YA Fairy Tale/Folklore
Orphaned at a young age, 15-year old Anouk’s punishment for being too outspoken is an arranged marriage worse than any she could imagine. Fleeing on horseback, yet without a sense of where to turn, she stumbles upon an idyllic village where she finds safe haven. Could this be home?
Ultimately, it will lead her to confront the very face of death, yet amidst the danger and darkness, she meets a handsome woodsman and finds a glowing blue flower with power beyond her wildest dreams.
Inspired by Russian fairy tales and steeped in ancient folklore, Paige’s novel is ripe with fantasy, love, and courage.
MY TIDBITS
This is a beautifully written story, which reminds of traditional folklore at its finest. The heroine gains immediate sympathy as she looses her family, is forced to move to relatives she's never really met, and finds herself as an outcast about to be married off to an aggressive, drunkard. All this time, she struggles to keep her emotions in check and finally, takes matters into her own hands by running away - it pulls at the heart strings and one can't help but liking and cheering for her right away.
From here, there's a wonderful transition to first a new settlement in the middle of a forest, and from there to a mystical world on the other side of a river. I loved this gentle push bit by bit into the fantastical world and not an abrupt 'here you are'. The scenes are well described, allowing them to come alive without ever feeling overly done, and many of the mystical creatures are still familiar although not often seen in literature.
The writing itself flows well and follows a more traditional form of tale telling. Although I wondered about some of the character's decisions and actions, there are enough unexpected twists and turns to keep those pages turning. The ending wasn't a complete surprise, but it didn't have to be. It reminded me of a story my grandmother would tell, one that I'd cherish and spread on to the next generation.
From here, there's a wonderful transition to first a new settlement in the middle of a forest, and from there to a mystical world on the other side of a river. I loved this gentle push bit by bit into the fantastical world and not an abrupt 'here you are'. The scenes are well described, allowing them to come alive without ever feeling overly done, and many of the mystical creatures are still familiar although not often seen in literature.
The writing itself flows well and follows a more traditional form of tale telling. Although I wondered about some of the character's decisions and actions, there are enough unexpected twists and turns to keep those pages turning. The ending wasn't a complete surprise, but it didn't have to be. It reminded me of a story my grandmother would tell, one that I'd cherish and spread on to the next generation.
Jessica Paige hails from the Seattle area where she lives with her husband and two dogs. Though she was raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jessica has long been intrigued by the ancient folklore of her Slavic and Lithuanian roots. Her love of horses and the outdoors led her to a career in environmental outreach, and her studies in herbalism. When she’s not working or writing, you’ll find her digging in the garden, creating herbal remedies, or walking in the woods with her dogs. You can visit her at www. jessicaepaige.com.
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2 comments:
This sounds like a lovely book. I like folk tales and traditionally told tales. The title pulls me in, too.
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