The Raven and the Rush: A Forbidden Love Fantasy Romance

A sweet coming of age love story. You follow along with 2 characters who are unexpectedly thrown into roles they never were prepared for, trying to find out who they want to be and how they want to change their world's all while fighting for the only thing that makes sense. Love. You get to see them grow during their journey and help not only them but those around you. Very fast paced and intriguing read.

From the moment I saw this stunning cover and read the synopsis, I was super curious about The Raven and the Rush, which is the first book in The Book of All Things series. Needless to say, I was beyond excited to receive an advanced copy of the book. The story follows Rhosynora Ravenwood, a young woman about to become the High Priestess of her kingdom, and Evrathedyn Blackrook, a second son forced to return home and fulfill a destiny he never wanted. Rhosyn’s story is complicated, disturbing, and a bit heartbreaking. Bound by duty to her family and kingdom, Rhosyn feels helpless in escaping her future. Rhosyn doesn’t have much autonomy in her life, and her future as High Priestess is bleak. She knows that her life is in jeopardy, and she realizes how horrific it will be when she gains this role. I like how Rhosyn finds solace and peace during her visits with the Frost family, which is also where she meets Evra. It feels like with the Frosts’, Rhosyn can be herself and let her guard down, which she doesn’t get to do when she is home. The Frost’s treat her more like family than her own family does, and their love, warmth, and caring stand in sharp contrast to Rhosyn’s mother and malicious brother. Evra’s journey is also pretty amazing. A young man who wants to be a scholar, Evra is unwillingly thrust into the role of leader. Not prepared to rule his kingdom, which is plagued and in upheaval, Evra travels to find a Raven to aid him. Evra makes a couple of really big, seemingly unforgivable mistakes, but everything he does is out of love and a desperate need to help and protect. I like how Evra realizes that sometimes strength lies in allowing others to make their own decisions, and sometimes it is important to fight beside someone and not for someone. Evra is tested so much throughout the story, and he shows such growth and astuteness. He also, unlike many men in his kingdom, places women in high esteem, which I loved. Women have been so influential in his life, and he treats them like the equals they should be. It’s a huge change in his world and something he is judged for, but Evra proves strong in his convictions. Evra and Rhosyn have a complicated romance filled with so many obstacles. Obligations to their kingdoms, personal choices, lies, betrayal, malicious antagonists, and more get in the way of their blossoming relationship, but their feelings for each other are not fleeting. Both characters go on a personal journey and have to figure out who they are, what they stand for, and who they want standing with them. Overall, I thought this was a strong start to the series, and I’m pretty sure each book in the series is a standalone. I’m curious to read the next book and find out more about this unique, fantastical world and the beings who inhabit it. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy darker NA fantasy and would recommend you check out the content warnings before reading it. There are some elements that could be triggers for some readers. Thanks so much to the author for giving me a copy of the book.

Evrathedyn is the handsome, bookish second son of Lord Blackrook, and would rather live the celibate life of a scholar than face his cruel father and the war the Lord wages on magic. Rhosynora is second in line to become the high priestess of a race of magical beings that can shape shift into Ravens. She knows her older sister will soon fail at her role as high priestess and dreams of running away rather than facing her cruel brother whom she will be forced to marry. Their paths cross when Evrathedyn suddenly finds himself Lord Blackrook and journeys north to find magic that will hopefully save his sister and the rest of his rush from falling to illnesses that only magic can cure. The Raven and the Rush reads like a classic, epic fantasy! The writing style is intelligent and descriptive without being over the top. There is enough action to keep the book exciting without drowning in it and the spark between Evra and Rhosyn is palpable. I really enjoyed this book, even though the familial structures are broken, Evra and Rhosyn are well on their way to breaking that cycle in the end. There are brief mentions of intimate moments, but nothing super explicit, for those who keep track of that type of content.