The Raven and the Dove is a beautifully written fantasy with lyrical prose and a slow-burning romance. The rich worldbuilding and complex characters drew me in, though the pacing felt a bit slow at times. A captivating read for fans of atmospheric fantasy.

Okay, I will admit that I’m impressed. Pushing aside the fact that it took me 5 years to finally get past the first chapter (all other attempts didn’t take and this time it took me 3 days to pass it), I ended up devouring the rest of the book in a day. Admittedly, I skimmed some of the longer overly descriptive scenes that didn’t seem to add anything other than splendour to the story. That said, this turned out to be more than I expected! Let’s get straight into what did and don’t work for me and what was in between:

- The Romance. Okay, this is a big one because this is essentially a Tristan & Isolde retelling. Star crossed lovers, forbidden romance, lots of dicey history to contend with—I liked all of that for the most part. The only thing I wasn’t sold on (and it’s kind of a big thing) is the instalove. Look, I get forming a connection with someone based on the secret that you both harbour, but is this the magic talking or is it your true feelings? Ana gave that piece of her heart to Rafe in TWO DAYS. Like, girl, please calm down. While declarations were never made out loud, the direction was clear and I wasn’t wowed by it. I understand why it needed to happen, but the fact that we don’t get many more scenes between them getting know each other, just made it feel less believable. She spent more time with Xander than Rafe!
- The World-building. I found it an interesting fantasy world and to her credit, Davis knows how to write beautiful scenes into the story. The Seven Houses were distinct, the unknowns below the clouds added a great mysterious element, and we have formidable foes that can set the world aflame. Not to mention the allusions that there’s something worse waiting around the corner. What little of the magic we learned about was elemental but that's also metallurgy and other things that are again hinted at but not fully explored in this first book, although I have no doubt we’ll get that in the sequel.
- That said, the sudden barrages of info dumping contributed to choppy writing that interrupted the reading flow. The sudden influx of information about this world, placed at random points, made the read feel so clunky! I also found some scenes overly descriptive without adding much to the story—these scenes I skimmed and I didn't feel like I missed anything. Did we need more than one chapter describing the ways the other houses presented their offerings during the mating ceremony? Sorry, but no.
- The characters were interesting and I liked them well enough. Rafe was my favourite though because we love a sad broody boy and he is the epitome of that! Ana, Xander and even Cassi were interesting and I don’t think I disliked any one of their perspectives but I did wish for a bit more development for Ana, as the FMC. I think what I most appreciated though was how well Davis wrote their personalities because, while maybe nothing out of the ordinary, I still found them to be distinct. I loved how much that came through on page. Ana’s childish exuberance and wilfullness was like a giant blast of energy every time she came on page. The same goes for Rafe’s surliness, Xander’s insecurity, and Cassi’s torn loyalty. It was all well done!
- Also, I gotta hand it to Davis for not holding back on the brutality and the savage backstabbing that occurs in these pages. Oof, those last few chapters as chaos explodes were like a total gut punch! 😅 I didn’t think we’d go that dark but here we are and it did set things up really nicely for the next book.

Overall, this was a much more enjoyable than I thought it’d be (sorry I’m just skeptical, lol) and whereas I initially thought to DNF the series, I think I’m now going to continue with the next book and see how I feel about it I get the impression I do know where this is heading—with the chosen one trope and all—but I’m curious to see how the author will get us there. I am a bit worried though at how there are three more books and they’re all chonksters. It’d be interesting to see how Davis’ writing evolves through the series!

This was a fun and interesting read. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. I love how each kingdom was a different bird species.
I found each character complexed and I was conflicted about how I felt about them throughout the story. I was less conflicted about Cassie. I’m not a fan. I know she has a sense of loyalty to her King but she is supposed to be Lyana’s friend. Lyana entrusts her with her deepest secret and Cassie does not return that trust. She even saves Cassie before she really knows her, endangering her own life. And what’s she is able to do at the end of the story seals her fate with me. I didn’t mean for my how review to be a rant about Cassie but that’s how I feel.

My main issue with the book is pacing. I feel like it goes really fast and it can make it confusing. I wish more time was giving to certain parts of the story. That being said I enjoyed this book and plan on continuing the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I must say I am a bit biased because I love winged creatures. I don’t have anything negative to say about the book. I loved Lyana and all the other characters . The pacing is great and I liked the different POV’s even if they’re third person.

I don't normally read Book 1 of unpublished series but I'm glad I took a chance on this.

Thank you to Net Gallley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing.

The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis is an engaging fantasy novel that blends romance, intrigue, and adventure in a compelling way. The story follows two main characters, Rhea and Caden, whose lives are intertwined by fate and the conflicts between their warring kingdoms. Rhea, a princess with a mysterious past, and Caden, a soldier with his own secrets, are thrown together in a world of political tension and magic.

The author does a great job creating a world full of rich lore and tension, with strong emotional stakes that drive the story. The chemistry between Rhea and Caden builds slowly, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers invested in their journey. The plot is fast-paced, and the writing is accessible, making it an easy book to get lost in.

Both Rhea and Caden are complex and relatable, and their growth throughout the book adds depth to their relationship.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

I love and hate the story of Tristan and Isolde because it is one of those epic love stories and also makes you upset. I really like that bit of this novel with the retelling. Some of the other stuff just did not work for me. I don't entirely understand the magic in the novel and it seems like not everyone has magic or wings, however, that was not entirely explained! It was a bit confusing for me with that part...and I guess because of that most of the novel was very bland for me. This is obviously a series, however, I dislike when I do not understand such a huge part of the story and I genuinely do not understand so much of the magic! I think maybe this was just a not for me kind of novel and I do not plan to continue the series.

Full disclosure: my reason for picking up with book was because of the black FMC knowing it was a YA. It is fairly light fantasy book in my opinion (based on the high-fantasy books I typically read). The world/setting building was the best aspect in this book. I have to say that re-tellings are also a hit or miss for me and this one did not quite hit the mark. The pacing was slow and I was not invested in the character's relationship or dynamic. Overall, my impression of this book was tarnished by the way this author uses a black FMC as a plot device for the story.

The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlin Davis
Rating: ★★★★★

Kaitlin Davis's The Raven and the Dove swept me away from the very first page. As a fan of fantasy novels with rich character dynamics, this book hit all the right notes for me. Davis weaves a captivating tale set in a fantastical realm where political intrigue and mystical powers intertwine.

What stood out most for me was the well-paced narrative that kept me eagerly turning pages. The story unfolds at just the right speed, balancing action-packed sequences with quieter, introspective moments that deepen the characters' connections and motivations.

Speaking of characters, Davis excels in creating a diverse and compelling cast. Each character, from the brave and determined Raven to the enigmatic Dove, felt vivid and multi-dimensional. Their interactions and relationships added layers of complexity to the story, drawing me deeper into their world.

Davis's prose is elegant and evocative, painting vivid scenes of lush landscapes and glittering courts. The world-building is richly detailed, enhancing the immersive experience of reading. Themes of love, sacrifice, and destiny are expertly explored, resonating long after the final chapter.

The Raven and the Dove is a masterfully crafted fantasy that delights with its intricate plot, well-rounded characters, and enchanting world. It's a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys tales of romance and adventure woven into a rich tapestry of magic and intrigue.

I had high hopes for this book given the premise. Sadly, I feel this read too young to really maximize its potential.

It Was cute. A cute YA with Tristan/Isolde vibes and good plot and characters. Overall I liked it but I won’t continue the series

I think this ended up for me being a little too YA overall. I've been disconnected from fantasy romance YA and thought this would still work.

Unfortunately DNF'd at 20% in due to just general boredom.

I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't really meet my expectations. It felt like a long prologue for a bigger story that I have no interest in continuing. I liked Rafe as a character and his story progression, but I found myself getting annoyed with Lyana. Overall, this is a good book for those interested in getting into the world of romantasy.

The Raven and the Dove is interesting in its premise and I had a good enough time reading but somehow it fell a little flat for me. I didn’t really like the main character Lyana and I had a hard time believing in her motivations, she just wasn’t well developed enough for me to feel any kind of attachment to her. In comparisons I much preferred Rafe and his development and especially back story was externally well done and was probably the high point of this book for me. As a whole I feel like this is a good start to something bigger and even though I didn’t love this I would give this author a try in the future because I think she has promise.

I’ve come back to this book so many times, but despite loving the concept I just CANNOT get into it. I may give it another go eventually, but for now I’m finally dnfing it.

The premise of this book was interesting, I have to admit I'm a sucker for forbidden romance. The plot had a lot of promise but took a bit of time for it to unfold so at time the books kinda dragged. The story rotates between the POV of four main characters, I liked the characters for the most part but they came off a bit cliche. The romance also felt a bit insta-lovey. In general is seemed like in general the story and plot where buIlding up to blead to the next book. There where elements that I enjoyed but overall I did not like this book. I would recommend this for someone who is wanting to read a romance based story.

I've been looking for a unique fantasy romance, and this was just that! It was fun and quick to get through, but still so impactful.

This cover is amazing. The story a bit med, is a Tristan and Isolde retelling so from the get go you know what your in for.

This was a total cover request, this cover and the rest of the series are simply stunning! The story however was just OK. I wasn't overly fussed on the characters and the world-building had much more potential.

I really enjoyed this! It was very whimsical and fast paced and had my on the edge of my seat. I found the world to be so compelling and the story was well executed. I also enjoyed the slow burn of the romance and all the other characters were really interesting and fleshed out well.