Ok, Firstly I'm reading these the wrong way round because I haven't yet read I Am Wolf, I have brought it home from school for the holidays but Raven is going to be withdrawn before I get through both.
Secondly - books should not end like that! How the heck am I supposed to wait for the next one now!

Brann is part of Raven's crew, Coll is part of Wolf's crew as is Reika. Fillan was a boar, but was saved by Coll and taken aboard Wolf. Fillan has a pet Ant called Kevin!

Raven, Wolf and Boar were all mechanical animals but have been defeated by Dragon, But how? Dragon was a weak, small construct (the name for the mechanical animals) why is she now so strong? And who are her crew?

Together they are all now Cub which Reika (a Tock) transformed from the remains of Raven. They are following a signal North that Reika wants to follow, she thinks it will lead to a better life: away from fighting.
Suddenly they are met by Fox, a small fast construct led by Kitsune who tells them that Reika is actually called Leondra of Lion! So Reika has been aboard several constructs. She also tells them that they have been ordered by the High Constructs; Eagle, Bear, Tiger and Lion ( to follow her to Parley, the opposite direction to that they are going) because of Dragon.
They recount how they had made Cub from Raven and followed Wolf essentially because Coll wanted to rejoin his crew (and his mother who was head of that crew). They got lucky, and with Cub and Wolf both attacking Dragon had fallen from a cliff and retreated. The High Constructs also want Reika to access Squire - a computer programme asking for her.
Brann wants to know if they have heard from Raven's crew, they disappeared after the defeat. But nothing has been heard.
Apparently Dragon went into Puma land and has been defeated by Puma. The High Constructs think the signal from the North may mean they are all in danger.
Brann has to face her fear of the dark in order to help Reika access Squire, but she panics. Reika finds out little but something odd is definitely happening: there is a Queen and she is attacking the humans, then their is evidence of an explosion. Then Squire shuts down again. They work out this is the Glass Lands.

Bear and Cub are to go to Puma Lands to survey the remains of Dragon and find Puma. Fox is going with them. In Puma's Land they find Dragon at the bottom of a canyon, and it is dead. But the survey crew find sets of what look like headsets, and the servers onboard have been wiped. Then Brann finds something else....this isn't the dragon...but it is another one built from.... There are Ant tracks everywhere.

Cub and Bear decide they have to find Puma and the tracks go North. Fox and Cub are stowed on Bear so she can go faster. They find bits of Puma on a battlefield...but not all of her. Again there are Ant tracks everywhere.
Then they meet Dragon, smaller than Bear but a fight begins. Brann sees Dragon's crew through a gash, they are all facing one way - wearing headsets...
Then another Dragon appears...smaller still with different colouring...clearly made from....
Bear is overpowered, Cub (but with only Coll; and Fillan) and Fox manage to get off the deck. But they are not strong enough to fight two dragons. Reika and Brann are still on Bear when Ants come aboard. They catch Reika and Brann.

What happens now? Can Cub and Fox help them? Why are they in a room, rather than like the rest of Bear's crew - with headsets on. Headsets that seem to control them.

Oh my goodness, I was a little lost at the beginning as I hadn't read Wolf but blimey this is an exciting series! I can see why I Am Wolf is on most of the lists of best/favourite books from last year.
I really need the next book now!
Length wise it is definitely not off putting, 240 pages is pretty normal for a MG book. Need to get the children at school reading Wolf which we received as part of a Carnegie set.
Thanks to Nosy Crow and Netgalley for the chance to read in advance.

Wow, I had to buy this after reading up to chapter 5 as it is just brilliant. I Am Wolf is fabulous but this could be even better. The drama, the drip-fed information that adds to the emotional tension. Action, adventure and cliffhangers that are so well-crafted. There are so many layers to the themes within the story as well as the characters who are just wonderfully unique. Everything about this story is just amazing and inventive. The story moves at pace, it joins the dots from the previous story and it makes you desperate, yes desperate to read the next one. We meet characters from before who we learn more about, we meet new characters who add to the suspense or help to explain key events that have led up to this extraordinary world that has been created. The role of technology is compelling as is the role of humans within this world. Put this review on Blue Sky as pynchonic - Wow! @alastairc.com and @nosycrow.bsky.social that is an incredible story. Action, adventure and so much more. Couldn’t put it down. Going to get my pre-order of We Are Dragon in with @wonderlandbookshop.bsky.social as soon as I can. Thank you

I am Raven

I jumped at the chance to have a review copy of this book from NetGalley as I had enjoyed the first book - I am Wolf - so much. Also I needed to know what happened next to Coll, Brann, Rijeka, Fillian and not forgetting Kevin!
It was a pleasure to return to this superbly described world of giant mechanical yet sentient constructs and their crews. Just as exciting as I am Wolf, this book takes us further in to the backstory of Brann of Raven; answering questions but also provoking new ones. More about their world is revealed and the story is expanded to encompass the High Constructs of this land. The sci-fi elements were tantalisingly disclosed and brought to mind many classic elements from books and screen.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but suffice to say that within this book there is action, battles, friendship, discoveries, lots to be revealed and it will leave you wanting more! Luckily there will be more… I am Dragon! We only have to wait.

Having loved I Am Wolf, I was really looking forward to this one and I was not disappointed. All the action and character building from Wolf is fed into the second book, and then some. The superb world building that happened in the first book was built upon and enhanced. In addition, the character development continued apace. Whilst Wolf focussed mainly of Coll. In I am Raven we delve deeper into to the character of Brann, and also Reika. There are some unexpected twists and turns as the Cub construct and crew continue to search for answers … and find more problems.
The theme of emotions (specifically fear) is explored in depth here as is a common theme in a lot of Chisholm’s books, technology “gone wrong”.
The book is very fast paced and an excellent read. I am already looking forward to book 3.

Having seemingly defeated Dragon, the crew of Cub are plunged deeper into the mysteries that emerged in the first book. Why has Dragon become so powerful? What has happened to the Raven crew?

It was a treat to revisit the world of Coll, Brann, Reika and Fillan. I loved I Am Wolf and its sequel was every bit as good. Chisholm's world building is always impeccable (Orion Lost is my sci-fi gateway book of choice to recommend to students) and I Am Raven is no exception. More backstory is revealed, giving the reader an insight into how the world of the constructs came to be. I cannot wait for We Are Dragon. Highly recommended.

Instantly readable. Despite the complexity of the world created, this is hugely gripping. I came to it having not read I Am Wolf and was inspired to go back to read this title to appreciate the back story even more than that offered here. I would recommend reading the series in order, however, as I think it is easier to appreciate the mysteries building with this approach. There is a Mortal Engines quality to this but I found it even better with greater connection to characters. Some profound questions emerge too, perfect for the classroom and the book group,

I thought this was absolutely brilliant - 5*

I only read I Am Wolf a couple of weeks ago but really enjoyed it and was looking forward to continuing the series. I was therefore delighted when I saw that NetGalley and Nosy Crow were offering eARCs of the next book.

Personally, I enjoyed this book more than the first as there was more worldbuilding and it answered some of the questions and dealt with theories I had after reading I Am Wolf. There are still a fair few battles but there was more of a focus on internal than external struggle in this book. However, if it was the action which appealed to you in I Am Wolf, there is still plenty of that in I Am Raven.

I loved getting to know more about Brann and Rieka, as well as the newly introduced characters, Constructs and their territories. The reveal about the origins of the Constructs was wonderfully done, especially the deft touches like the differences between Kevin the Ant and his ancestors.

The reveal of the antagonist was really interesting. I had predicted some of what was revealed but it also went in a slightly different direction to what I was expecting. Although. looking back now. I can see the clues were there.

The pacing was good and, as with I Am Wolf, I raced through the book. It did become apparent that not everything would be dealt with in this book as there weren't enough pages left. However I was relieved to see that the third book, We Are Dragon, is already titled. Now just to wait patiently for it's release . . .