This historical romantic fantasy takes readers to 24 AD to the Southeast Coast of Britannia, blending magic, romance, and politics into a satisfying tale of one determined Celtic woman who must choose beteen doing her duty and following her heart.
King Amren and Queen Rhiannon are the parents of warrior princess Catrin, who they fear may be the embodiment of a curse placed on Amren by his former queen, whom he beheaded for treason. Catrin has a psychic connection to a raven that marks her as a sorceress and the potential downfall of her father's kingdom. Her shape-shifting half-brother also poses a threat and has been banished.
When Catrin encounters Marcellus (Mark Antony's great grandson) during a tense political meeting with the Romans, she is instantly attracted to this foreign enemy. At another meeting, Amren orders Marcellus held hostage in his castle to ensure the Romans honor their promise of peaceful negotiations.
Inexplicably, the king and queen use Catrin's bedroom as his holding cell and task her with guarding the young Roman to learn his secrets. Marcellus receives similar instructions to spy on Catrin, using seduction if necessary. As Catrin and Marcellus inevitably fall in love, Rhiannon informs Catrin she will be married off to another man for political reasons.
Minor flaws, such as contrivances surrounding Catrin and Marcellus and some anachronistic language ("Fact it"; The last thing I need"), are small distractions in this otherwise excellent book. The inticate story effectively combines genres and subplots, delivering well-developed main characters. Clear writing with highly descriptive language engages readers' senses: "She cover his hips and legs with a fox-tail pelt to warm his cold skin, then dripped some oil on his torso and massaged the viscous fluid into his skin." (The occasional seduction scenes are sensual, though not explicit.)
Fans of romantic historical fiction will appreciate the author's obvious love of ancient history and attention to period detail in this promising start to a new series.
Also available in an e-book.
A Celtic warrior princess saves her kingdom and loses her heart in Tanner's debut fantasy novel.
Princess Catrin, the youngest daughter of King Amren, possesses the power of a Druidess. She can psychically connect to her raven and see through its eyes, taking in the present and the future and even journeying to the spiritual realm. According to a curse levied by Amren's former queen, Rhan, on the date of her own behading, Catrin and her raven will bring about the downfall of Amren's kingdom. When Romans, led by Sen. Lucius Antonius, land on Britannia's shores, the curse is set in motion. Lucius brings troubling news of a marriage between Amren's banished son, Marrock, and rival King Cunobelin's daughter. Amren must travel to meet with Cunobelin and settle their political differences so as to maintain peace, ideally avoiding Rome's interference. In the meantime, Lucius' son, Marcellus, will stay with Amren's family as a hostage. Catrin is assigned to Marcellus as a guide and companion, though her true role is far more complicated: she's tasked with uncovering Rome's true interest and cajoling Marcellus into revealing their deeper intentions for Amren's kingdom and Britannia. However, Catrin's growing feelings for Marcellus threaten her success. Tanner's fantasy novel focuses on a challenging historical period from which few written records exist. Her version of Britannia is full of warring tribes, yet Rome's influence is effectively portrayed as inescapable--a complicated situation that provides the perfect backdrop for political and romantic turmoil. The requisit fantasy elements of magic and mystery abound, found in the presence of druids, curses, dark magic, and shape-shifting. Reader will find these elements are engaging enough, but Tanner also does an admirable job weaving in the politics and mythology of a bygone people. Though Catrin, Amren, Marcellus, and other key players are fictitious, Tanner's devotion to research is evident in her well-drawn and historically plausible cast.
A complex and promising start to a new fantasy series.
This rapturous read mixes Celtic mythology into a good historical romance.Apollo's Raven, the first volume of a multivolume fantasy series by Linnea Tanner, is a sweeping, fiery drama in which a Celtic warrior princess must choose beteen love and family loyalty.The book is set in a politically volatile Britannia on the brink of war with the Romans. The year is 24 CE, and Senator Lucius Antonius, a grandson of Marc Antony, has arrived in Britannia with a legion to exact tribute from Ken Amren of Cantiaci. He also plans to investigate a rival clan's claims to the legitimacy of Marrock, Amren's banished, son, as rightful heir to the throne.when the talks devolve into violence, Catrin, Amren's youngest daughter, spares the life lf Lucius's son Marcellus, incurring the wrath of her father. The two groups reluctantly agree to a hostage exchange--Marcellus for Amren's eldest daughter, Vala--to ensure peaceful negotiations.King Amren charges Catrin to guard and spy on Marcellus in order to discern the Romans' true intentions. Catrin, who has the mystical spirit powers of a raven, finds herself romantically drawn to Marcelus. Torn between her love for Marcellus and loyalty to her people, Catrin must use her powers to battle the dark prophecy threatening to destroy her future. "Political schemes . . . twisting on each other, [and] not what they appear at first glance," is a perfect summation of this tale that combines the best elements of sword and socery, Celtic mysticism, romance, and historical fact to create a cohesive and hasterfully constructed narrative.Well-researched with attention to historical details and Celtic lore and mythology, the book explores the pagan traditions of the ancient Celts and Romans with a deft hand, juxtaposing the Cantiaci's polytheistic and naturalistic eities (the animal warrior spirts of raven, horse, and wolf, and Mother Goddess) against the paternalistic heirarcy of Roman social and religious circles. All liberties taken make sense with the context of the story.Character developments also champion feminism. The women of the Cantiaci show strength and unity of purpose in their actions and thoughts. Men in the story, while competent with their displays of physical strength, demonstrate an almost brutish impetuosty, and their "damsel-in-distress" nature requires timely women's interventions.Various plot points ebb and flow in a thoughtul way, as does language. The sequence of events moves logically, smoothly, and swiftly from chapter to chapter. Sex scenes sometimes feel gratuitous. Short chapters provide no opportunities for awkward pauses, and there are no breaks in energy or sudden stops in the cascade of churning events that move the plot forward to its logical, cliff-handing end.Apollo's Raven is a rapturous read that mixes Celtic mythology into a good historical romance.
