I received an ARC of this book through the publisher for an honest review. 

The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters is a fictionalized and fantasied account of Edgar Allan Poe’s teenage years. In the story artists have muses that can be manifested if given a name. Edgar, of course, names his muse Lenore after the famous woman in his poem The Raven. The story is told through both Edgar and Lenore’s perspectives.

I’ll admit, I had a tough time reading this book. The writing was absolutely gorgeous, and very lyrical. This is the first young adult novel that I’ve read in a long time where I did not understand some words the author used. There were a couple of times that I had to stop and look up the definition of a word. To me, The Raven’s Tale didn’t feel like a young adult novel, but it also didn’t feel like an adult novel. It exists in this liminal space where other books like The Bear and The Nightingale, Uprooted, and Six of Crows inhabit as well. I really wonder if I would enjoy this book more as an audiobook as I do like purple-prosy works more heard rather than read. 

Something else that really stuck out to me about The Raven’s Tale is how much it reminded me of Guillermo del Toro’s work. His films all have a certain feel to them that is hard to describe, but it’s a vibe I definitely got from this book. In particular, I kept thinking of Crimson Peak and Pan’s Labyrinth when reading The Raven’s Tale.

If you are a fan of highly atmospheric books like The Strange and Beautiful Life of Ava Lavender, Bone Gap, The Raven Boys, or Guillermo del Toro’s films, then you should give The Raven’s Tale a try.

As soon as I heard about this I had to have it and read it. A retelling about Edgar Allan Poe and his muse? Sign me up! I liked that this included some of his poetry. I enjoyed the story and reading about Poe as a teenager and about his muse. His muse was such a vivid character that I was rooting for. The author did a great job with this! I wouldn’t mind a continuation from where this ended.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At this point, I do not feel comfortable assigning a rating to this book; I DNFed it at about 50%. The copy I received for review was an ebook, so I may try again once the book is in print. 

I love Edgar Allan Poe and was very excited when I saw the description for this book. A story about Poe and his creepy gothic muse? YES PLEASE! But I've struggled to get to the halfway point, and the story itself is just . . . a bit boring, actually. I really wanted to like this one, but I just don't. As I have other review copies currently in my possession running out of time, I'm going to put this one down for now and move forward.

The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters is this author's newest historical fantasy novel. As she's one of my favorite authors (this is the fifth book I've read from her), I can't believe I lucked out and got approved by NetGalley for this novel featuring Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite classic writers, and his muse. Unfortunately, it's my least favorite of everything I've already read from her. That being said, I'm still giving it three stars so there's still quite a bit that I liked even if it didn't live up to my expectations. As always, Winters' writing is lush and richly detailed. She has clearly done her research to create 1820s Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia as well as bring Edgar's early years to life. I also particularly enjoyed getting to know our young and creatively passionate Edgar Allan Poe. He's trying to come to terms with himself, his work, and his foster father's expectations for his future. Winters does a pretty fantastic job of recreating his Poe's style, by the way. The weakest points for me though were the concept of the muses and the plot itself. I felt too out of the loop when it came to how the muses work, especially when I realized some other characters have them as well. That said, I still enjoyed reading Lenore's perspective chapters. As for the plot, not a whole lot happens over the course of 368 pages - I suppose I was hoping for a little more action. Overall, though, The Raven's Tale is still definitely worth reading if you're a fan of Cat Winters' wonderful style, Edgar Allan Poe, and historical fantasy.

The Ravens Tale

I received an ARC of The Raven’s Tale in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to ABRAMS Kids for supplying a copy for me. 

Synopsis-

Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until can escape his foster family- the wealthy Allan’s of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse names Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”

I wasn’t sure how I would feel going into this book but I actually liked it more than I thought I would. Some parts where a little confusing but overall it was interesting and entertaining and kept my interest. 

“Give me a name that means ‘light,’ not shadow,” she says, “and we may be able to show them there’s beauty in horror.”

I found this book to be unique and quite interesting. Reading a book that’s a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe is something that I haven’t seen before and I liked how it started off and took flight. It was interesting seeing the events that took place in the book and watching Edgar discover his Muse and watching Lenore battle to be recognized and appreciated. 

“Sometimes muses follow us around when we don’t want them. But other times they’re not there when we need them.” 

The creative have muses, it’s just a matter of choosing to shun them or embrace them. 

“No man has ever died from stifling his muse, said Pa tonight- but oh, my dear Pa, what you don’t understand is that no artist truly lives after silencing their muse!”

4/5 Stars!

I was excited for this book. The premise was promising and the expectation was high. But that could have been my own fault and the downfall of my experience with The Raven's Tale.

I bounced around throughout most of this book. My biggest disconnect was the pacing to this book. While I thought Edgar and Lenore could be interesting, I found myself repeating the same page to grasp at the story and where it was going. I gave it until about chapter 10 before I was becoming disinterested, and that was mostly due to my lack of interest to the subject at this time.

I didn't relate to Lenore enough. I found her strange and odd, and not in a quirky way. I skipped a lot of parts with her, and unfortunately didn't get to understand Edgar as much as I wanted to.

But I appreciated the amount of work and detail that Winters put into this story. You can tell just from the amount of information put in.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

I have never been so sad to not love a book. Like ever. And usually, when it's a book by an author I adore, I can find some things to like even if I don't love everything. But this was just not the book for me, I guess? Le sigh, let us break it down!

The Things I Liked: 

•Young Edgar is, you know, a regular dude. I liked that he wasn't completely broody and maudlin. He was just a guy who loved to write, had fallen in love, and wanted to make something of himself on his own terms. I mean, sure he was intense and such, but that isn't a bad thing! It was a good choice to write him in a likable and relatable way. 

•The time period/historical stuff was so fun to learn about! Since I didn't go to college in Virginia in the 1800s, this was a fun new adventure! I loved the look into the lives that Edgar and his contemporaries lived. Also, the author has a ton of information at the end of the book about Edgar, his family, and his friends that we meet in the book. This was probably my favorite part. 

The Things I Didn't: 

•Nothing... happened? Like Eddy had a beer today, cool, cool. He hugged his mom, splendid. I just kept waiting for the plot and it wasn't there. It never came. Like okay he "met" Leonore, his muse. Whatever even that is, I have no idea because it wasn't ever fully explained.  Fought with his dad. Wrote some stuff. And then this whole thing repeated a few times: Muse encounter, writing, fight with Dad, lather rinse repeat as needed. 

•Lenore was a bore. See what I did there? It's nice that I amuse myself, no? Anyyyyway, I had to because Lenore certainly wasn't amusing me. Like, she was pretty pissed, and I get it because hello, Edgar wasn't exactly treating her nicely. But would I treat a hallucination/bird-person nicely? NO. In part because you all know how I feel about bird people, but also I wouldn't want to be hallucinating so um of course he wanted her to vanish? Like sweetie, use some common sense. You're whatever a muse is, and that is probably scary. 

•Like I mentioned, I never completely understood the muse concept. Is this something that was popular in the nineteenth century? Or was it just a thing for the sake of the story? I am fine with whichever, but try as I might I couldn't find anything specific on this "muse" business, because there are a lot of things/products named Muse. And when I searched "Poe Muse" it just kept trying to link me to a Poe Museum which is decidedly not what I wanted and this is turning into more of a story about Google than a review so I'll stop. My point is, why did everyone and their mom (literally) see this... thing? Woman? Bird? Look I don't even know, okay. 

•I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone or anything. Okay, except for Poe's adopted Mom, she's the real hero here. Maybe next we just write a book about her, but in the book she breaks up with the shitty "father" (who by the by is cheating on her while she lays in her sickbed, what a prince 🙄) and then she takes up... Idk, burlesque dancing to make a living for her and her son, and then she meets a doctor who is able to fix her health stuff but also he falls in love with her and treats her like the queen she really is. And Edgar doesn't die in a gutter, the end. (I mean technically he didn't die there, but shh. He was unconscious there and it makes my story sound much better.) 

Bottom Line:  Wow look I legitimately made up several of my own stories in this review that might have spiced up the actual book in which nothing happens, but it is a look into old-timey stuff and dead folks which is kinda cool?

I was incredibly intrigued by the premise of this book. I’d read some of Edgar Allen Poe’s work in school so I was excited going into this. 
It must have been difficult to develop a character that already exists in history. Obviously, he isn’t around for us to know what his personality is like, what he likes and dislikes etc. We can only go with what we can presume from his work. Also, even though no one alive will have known him at the time. I feel like people will already have pictures in their heads of how they perceive him to be, and then when they read a book based on him, it can run the risk of the character not feeling real. So I applaud the author for taking on task. 
This book had an interesting concept with muses being a real person. I thought this was fascinating because it really is like they are an inspirational, creative guide who acts in your best interest but is also rather out of control.
The writing was so beautifully orchestrated and it had this magical feeling of sucking you right into the heart of the story.

So I just have to say: WOW. This book was so artful and wistfully written. I feel almost shameful trying to put words to such a creative and lofty piece of work. Seriously, Cat Winters captures such gothic struggle and beauty between Poe and his Muse, Lenore, that their relationship (if we can call it that) is hard to read sometimes because it is just written in such a way. Poe tries so hard to make something the world expects of him, something he things the people around of him. But Lenore is the ever-present voice of inspiration and creativity. The muse and the shadow and the raven and be known at all.

While I think this book was by far one of the most beautifully written, even moreso than I even expected it could, there wasn't always very much action going on. Sometimes I did have to make myself pick the book back up, but when I did, it was worth it. Great book.

I love Poe so much! This was such a fun book to read and I loooooove the cover. The plot was good but it made up for what it wavered in with its excellent characterization and writing - Everyone should read this!

I love cat Winters books. She’s an astounding writer and this book does not disappoint. Edgar Allen Poe is amazing and she did him justice!! I loved going back in time and reading about this time period.

I am a massive Edgar Allen Poe fan and so when I saw this on Netgalley I immediately had to request it and was so honoured when I was accepted. This novel follows the story of Edgar Poe when he was a teenager trying to ignore his fascination with the gothic and macabre however, his muse is fed up with living in the shadows and wants to be seen by the world. The writing in this is fantastic and I love the way the author imitates Edgar Allen Poe’s writing throughout parts of this. I also adored the gothic atmosphere throughout and now have every intention of reading everything that Cat Winters writes.

Overall, I loved this and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Raven's Tale is a wonderful story on Edgar Allen Poe. Set during his earlier years, the story brings to life muses, giving them flesh and blood to an otherwise literary concept. Where the physical embodiment of muses is more a common thing, Poe has to tip toe around his where his father is concerned. The lyrical narrative of Lenore against Poe's natural speech makes the muse concept even more believable. Cat Winters is definitely an author to keep an eye out for. I can't wait to see what else she plans to bring to the YA community.

Anybody that knows me, knows that I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe so naturally, when I heard about “The Raven’s Tale” by Cat Winters it was an immediate “ Take my money!” scenario.     
    First of all, that cover! So beautifully done! I absolutely love it! Second of all, Cat has definitely done some extensive research into the life and times of Edgar Allan Poe and that is very much reflected in this book. The book centers around a teenage Poe and his muse, Lenore. Told in alternating point of views, “The Raven’s Tale is a  very,very strange yet beautiful tale. 
   This story was dark, depressing even. But, if you know anything about Poe, you know that his life was dark…depressing even. Be aware that there are some triggers including abuse, death, and violence as well as slavery (which I wasn’t aware of going in). I have not read any of Cat Winters other work, but I will be sure to check them out in the future. 

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Cat Winters has a written a stellar book involving Edgar Allan Poe!  Being a Poe fan myself, I was worried about whether I would enjoy this read.  I was not disappointed!!  It’s obvious that Winters is not only a fan of Poe but also spent time in research prior to writing this book!  It was enjoyable from Page 1.  Her comfortable style left me wanting to read each successive page!  This book is sure to be a bestseller!

I have been a big fan of Edgar Allen Poe since I first read some of his stories when I was thirteen. Cat really brought to life seventeen year old Edgar. It felt like she really did her research for this story and it showed a lot. Edgar was a very flawed character much like he was in life. It was easy to relate to in many aspects. 

Lenore was definitely my favorite character. She was given such an incredible voice! I really enjoyed the chapters from her point of view. 

There were some strong themes of depression, and abuse. It was a wonderful dark read. I recommend it for Edgar fans, and those who enjoy a good dark read.

I give this book 4.5 stars.

Poe has always been a favorite author of mine, so when I heard that there was a book about his teenage year, I had to read it. And I was not disappointed.

You can tell that Cat Winters put a lot of work and time into bringing Poe's life to life, for lack of better wording. You can almost feel the connection between her and Poe as she tells the story of Poe and his Muse.

If Muses were actually people like Lenore was in this story, Cat did amazing job at making it believable and had you cheering for the awkward raven that tried so hard to be a part of Poe's life.

I loved that Poe was a flawed person in this story, and in his actual life. He was a relatable character that loved and hurt as anyone else, but rose above those who tried to hold him back. Also, the wonderful backdrop of people in his life that made the story all that more interesting.

If you are a fan of Poe and his work, I highly recommend this book.

"Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family - the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: "Let them see me!""

There just aren't enough books retelling and re-imagining the life of Poe.

I really enjoyed this book. I love how the author extensively researched before even writing. It really shows in her work. It definitely has a Poe feel to it!

On point! Cat Winter's deserves a round of applause for pulling this off so seamlessly. 

There was a sublet similarity in the spine chilling poems of Poe that Winters carried over into The Raven's Tale that was so freakishly good I was uncertain this was a work of fiction at moments.