I loved the concept of this novel and felt it had alot of potential but I didn’t finish it unfortunately. I found the pacing a little slow for me and after reading some other reviews alot happens in the last 50 pages which is a shame.

I might give it another go after a bit of time because I loved the banter and the slow burn!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark academia meets magical realism in this striking debut. The Violet Raven blends poetic writing with gothic mystery, unraveling a story full of hidden knowledge and twisted loyalty.

E.E. Star’s prose is lush, and the mood is expertly crafted—moody, cerebral, and slightly haunting. Some scenes felt overly abstract at times, but the overall aesthetic and emotional resonance kept me reading. One for fans of shadowy libraries, secret societies, and beautiful ruin.

A wonderfully romantic story with the right amount of romance, humour and fantasy elements thrown into it adding extra depth and made for an immersive and enjoyable read.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an early arc of this book.

High Fantasy at the absolute pinnacle of perfection!! A story so stunningly woven that you escape into a perfectly crafted world and fall into a story that you have a hard time leaving for the real world that awaits you! I am not typically a huge fan of high fantasy just because of the extensive world building that sometimes feels just to daunting to undertake, however, that is not the case with this book. Even though I did have to re-read parts just to make sure I got everything I didn't feel like it was a chore to read. The characters grow on you and then it ends in a cliff-hanger that makes you want the next book post-haste!

Looking forward to book two!!

How could I possibly describe this book? fantastical, romantic, heart-breaking, inspiring, and ultimately it feels like coming home in a way.
The Violet Raven starts off by laying the foundation for an action-packed super fun book series, I cannot rave enough about how when you are reading, it feels like you’re getting a great big hug from characters that quickly become special. You can feel the emotion and tension radiating off the pages making us more invested than anything else.

Star’s writing style is amazing! the amount of description used for any which scene is perfect and sets the scene rather well ❤️😊
The characters have soo much heart that its difficult not to root for them as they go about their journey, seeing their dedication for each other is incredibly refreshing and makes my own heart long for the dedication and commitment that they have for each other.

Tri is a spit-fire, in the take no nonsense, gentle kind of way. She is by far the most well developed character in the book (obvi), but she stays true to her kind nature throughout the ups and downs of her story. Her and Finns relationship is one for the history books! DAMN! the slow burn was slow-burninggggggg, but they are hands-down my fav fictional couple. His dedication and love for Tri made me tear up on more than one occasion ⛓️‍💥, his love for her is so deep that it has rooted out all selfishness and replaced the gaps with a need for her happiness and survival. Never have I seen such a love-sick and dedicated man come to life in the most gentle and green-flag manner.

I wait with eager anticipation for the next instalment 🌸✨

Many thanks to Victory Editing & NetGalley for a copy. All above opinions are uniquely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and E.E. Star for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to preface this review by saying, these tropes and setting were clearly just not for me. The writing was beautiful, I loved the idea of the Gaelic language and folklore woven in, however it just didn't grab me. I ended up dnf-ing at the 60% mark as I felt like not all that much had happened. I could see that there was a lot of focus on the world-building and I thought the dual POVs were good for setting up character relationships, but in reality, aside from the one big event that caused our characters to flee, not a lot had occurred for me. It's clear from reviews that if these tropes and elements appeal to you, you are probably going to love this book, and I did find the writing really beautiful, the overall book was just not for me.

The visual imagery created in the book are amazing. If you are someone who has movies playing in your head while you read this book is perfect for you. I love the writing style just for that. The character building is very well done. They were not lying when “slow burn” was mentioned. I am anxious to see where the rest of this series goes. And where the main relationship goes especially with the magic system in play.

What a great way to start a series. Though I did not expect this to be 70% romance and 30% fantasy, I still enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the potential in future books.

Triona grew up loving the stories her mother and father would tell her about the Raven Queen and the fighting and action. Yet as she grows older, something within her awakens. Also, there's Finn MacGregor who is certainly out MMC and seems fairly crush-worthy and intense. Other characters are also well developed and the story is solid even if the beginning was a bit slow. I feel like the first 10% is just introducing various characters and kind of setting a stage. It didn't feel overwhelming with regards to content, but I do think it could have been a little bit shorter.

I do feel as though this book gets the ball rolling in what aims to be a a good series. I wish the magic system had been more developed a bit more in the beginning as well a more fantasy elements. I completely understand the author was trying to stay within a realm of possibility, but they do mention earlier the other lands in the other world, so we can suspend belief when we cross the veil into the other world.

All of that being said, I really enjoyed entering this world and joining the characters for the adventure and recommend this to anyone who loves a good romantasy and mythology.

This is an incredible read. The storyline in the beginning, the folklore, the history it creates in na world set in my favourite places in the world. Im in love!

I can only describe this book as an experience! I was lost in the world, the lore, the characters, the relationships and the love story. There is no shortage of descriptions and long sentences but omg I savoured every word and I find myself refusing to pull out of this world!

Things that would otherwise jarr me work perfectly here. The first half and more of the book reads as a historical novel/ romance but there is the interlaced mystery of how the fantasy element will unfold which somehow added to the story without taking away or frustrating. I was so invested to witness the romance develop, I ended up absolutely consumed. The folklore is strong and amazing. Enjoyed every aspect of it.

What a love story! Finn is top tier, he's absolute perfection and the dialog (the things coming out of this man's mouth, Jesus!), the interactions, the slow burn, the yearning, I could not get enough of it, masterful! the spice is late to arrive, but when it does, it will scorch you! Trina's arc is brilliant and I can't wait to see her come into her powers and abilities. Casey, Bran and Callan are *chef's kiss*

This book is very much laying the groundwork for what's to follow, again, I was not annoyed for the cliffhanger or the fact I have to wait who knows how long for the second installment. Somehow I am content to pause here and take a breath, the story halts at an agreeable point and I appreciate that E.E.Star has a clear idea of how she wants to tell her story. It's actually a pace I respect because it has allowed me to truly get to know the characters and love them. They are all so very skillfully flashed out and there is so much love that seeps through the pages, romantic love, sibling love, friendship. Brilliant.

I even love the loose ends, I feel like the story is about to turn into an epic adventure and I'm here for it. I will admit, went into this pretty blind and loved EVERY SINGLE WORD. thank you for transporting me to this world, was truly a gift.

Cannot recommend enough, I hope this book gets all the love and attentions it deserves!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and E. E. Star for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this book. Some of the scenes I think could have been cut or shortened given how long the novel is, however, I enjoyed this immensely.

3.25⭐️
This story does a fantastic job blending historical fiction with fantastical elements and magic. The writing style and world-building take a bit of time to adjust to, so keep that in mind when you start.

We dive deep into the magical aspects of the world in the last 20%, and the final 6% was so gripping that I’m left reeling and full of more questions than answers.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about the book. Did I enjoy it? Yes, for the most part. Did I think it was a little too long? Also yes. There's so much potential here, especially with the characters and the world, and that ending?? It’s hard to ignore. At this point, I think I’ll continue with the series because I genuinely love the characters and their connection, and I’m curious to see how the story unfolds.

Thank you NetGalley and E.E. Star for this arc!

The beginning of this is very slow and I was worried nothing would reel me in. At some point I became very interested in what would happen, only for that fire to be doused over time. I truly liked Triona, I just felt bad for her. I think I'm just over the "woman trains her whole life for some unknown reason just for everyone around her to reveal that everything she thought she knew is a lie" trope. The romance with Finn was SUCH a slow burn, which I do enjoy, however I wish he would've revealed his feelings much sooner. This was difficult to get through at times and I think it should've been much shorter. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and high fantasy setting. I would recommend this!

When they say slow burn, they really meant slow burn. It wasn’t even just in terms of the romance in it but the entire story in general. I was so excited during the first 20% of the book and then by the time I hit 43% I realized I didn’t really know anything about the FMC aside from everyone really loved and cherished her.

The dual POVS played well. I think I was more invested in Bran and Finn’s relationship than the two MCs. That being said for a very long time this felt like more of a romance novel. It’s like you get the fantasy out of the prophecy you read in the beginning and the subtle additions of visions with Triona’s dreams but aside from that it’s all romance which made me bored. The fantasy “dark fantasy” didn’t make an appearance until later which took a lot of effort to reach.

I did however love the language used, appreciated the songs, and the history.

This book was different from anything that I’ve ever read. It was a bit slow in the beginning and the slang that was used throughout the book through me off a bit. The writing was also a bit repetitive at times. But it wasn’t bad at all, but it also wasn’t my favorite book ever. I very much appreciate being able to get an ARC of this book. I don’t think it would be for everyone, but I also think that there are people who would enjoy it as well. Overall, this book was an enjoyable read.

The opening scene introducing Triona’s parents had me swooning right away. I loved how the author not only captured their love for each other but also set up the story by showing them trying to get a cheeky, energetic young Triona to sleep, telling her the tale of Eriu.

As the story continued, though, I found the pacing to be slow, especially when it came to establishing since picking up on the connection between Triona and Eriu.,The silent language spoken between her family confirms they clearly knew more than Triona did at the time.

Halfway through the book is where things truly picked up. As beautiful as the descriptions were, especially the folklore, it was difficult for me to connect with the story as much as I would have liked, simply because it took so long to get going.

That said, the way the story ended made me curious about the journey ahead. There’s a great foundation here, and I’m hoping we get to see more of what Triona is capable of in the next installment.

Absolutely obsessed with this story! So beautiful and funny and the most delicious romance you ever read. @author_e.e.star thank you for giving me the chance to read your work. Can’t wait for everyone else to read it too.

Do you like detailed descriptions of someone walking into the room? The way the wind feels on a nice sunny day ? lol if so this book is for you. I did not know that the book would be so descriptive and it was a bit much for me. I don’t want to be rude because it had its benefits with knowing the characters and their behaviors. But there were times I would roll my eyes at the details. My biggest problem with the story was the amazingness of the FMC. Time and time again her kindness, loyalty, greatness was mentioned. Which is fineeee but as I read I didn’t see anything that made her that way. I do not like to be told things by the author I would rather read it for myself with their actions.

Historical romance with a good dose of adventure, the characters coming together to fight for the greater good. The FMC and MMC were very cute, a good amount of yearning while having sweet but corny declarations. Having so many characters at times it was hard for me to keep them straight. The minor characters were memorable and likable that make you want to know more about them and their problems. I enjoyed this story but it’s definitely something you have to be in the mood in to be able to enjoy but I can see it being difficult to get through.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op I received a ARC for an honest review !

A thrill to read! Great if you enjoy dark fantasy and slow-burn romance. A good dialogue and vividly paints wonderous imagery. Well thought out and researched - evident with the Gaelic language which is used throughout. If you like dark fantasy and folklore, give this a go!