Title: An Enchantment of Ravens
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Narrated By: Julia Whelan
Length: 8 hours, 45 minutes
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publish Date: September 26, 2017

Imprisonment, Transformation without Consent,
Murder

Skin tones?

TBR Readathon: Author's Debut
ATLA Readathon: Interesting World-Building
Hogwarts House Battle: Animal on Cover

This is going to be fun! I think the more that I start participating in Readathons, the more I’ll be able to include what prompts my books fall under. Also, I think I really wanted to read this one thanks to ReadwithCindy on BookTube because she mentioned liking this one, and I wanted to see how Rogerson improved from this book to Sorcery of Thorns. So here we go!

Isobel makes a semi-living with her adopted family by painting Fae because they can’t master human craftwork themselves (like cooking, art, etc). I really like Isobel, even though I still don’t know what her real name is. Basically she doesn’t give anyone her real name because in this world, the Fae can basically take away your free will if they know your real name. She’s pretty smart to have a fake name that seems pretty realistic. Also, the way she paints is almost like she was born to paint. She can paint the true emotion in her subjects that they may be hiding to the rest of the world.

But I mean, that is what kind of got her into trouble, but oh well!

Rook is a Fae Prince that commissions a self-portrait as a recommendation from a fellow Fae. He seems to be cool in the beginning and kind of show-offy, but then he shows his true colors after the painting is completed. He’s a brat. He thinks that he’s so perfect because he’s a Fae Prince, and eh. I ended up liking some things about him though, but he really was a brat.

Everything was fine in Isobel’s life until the painting that she did for Fae Prince Rook somehow showed a weakness that he was trying to hide from everyone. Since he blames her for trying to sabotage his painting – because she could totally do that, I guess – he steals her in the middle of the night to have her stand trial for her “crimes”. Whatever that is.

This one was interesting though because Isobel gets to meet more of the Fae Folk in a “relaxed” setting, and it didn’t seem as dangerous every single time. Doesn’t mean that they aren’t dangerous because – oh buddy, yes they are.

Oh I guess there’s some romance involved but I didn’t really feel bothered by it.

I’m really intrigued by the world building in this story. Sometimes it feels like it’s going really quickly, but then I just feel so wrapped up in this story that I don’t even remember what I was complaining about.

I was so proud of Rook learning what consent means, and following Isobel’s teachings even though he really didn’t have to. I think that’s something that I feel like the Fae don’t really consider because they are immortal and powerful, and why would they have to listen to the requests of mortals?

“Rook,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “before I get up, you have to promise to never touch me again without my permission.”

“I can touch whomever I please.”

“Have you ever stopped to think that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should?”

Conversation on Consent

Later on in the novel, I just didn’t include everything in that section, he remembered this and kept his word that he wouldn’t touch her without her permission. That was the best I’ve ever seen.

Oh I also like that people are able to turn into Fae through the Green Well? It’s not just some magical thing I guess, but anyone can drink from it and become a Fae. Now, if Isobel would actually drink from the Green Well is up in the air and I won’t say because it’s a spoiler but I like that it wasn’t some complicated process.

I feel like people would probably compare this story to A Court of Thorns and Roses because of some of the similarities:

• Isobel is a prodigy painter; Feyre paints every once in a while
• Rook is a Fae Prince and super strong; Tamlin is Fae royalty (also a Prince I think?) and super strong as well apparently
• Isobel commits a “crime” and gets kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night; Feyre commits a crime and gets taken from her home in the middle of the night
• Fae in the world; Fae in the world
• Fae are negatively affected by iron; Fae are negatively affected by iron

That’s just in the first 5 Chapters so far, and while I can see how it may mirror ACOTAR, I really don’t seem them as alike. Not necessarily a dislike, but I don’t want people to say its a rip off or whatever.

Other than that, I don’t really think I didn’t like anything but the treatment of Isobel by the Fae, but then again they always treat humans like crap apparently.

“I give my word that I will never touch you without your permission, except if I need to spare you from harm,” he declared.

Rook to isobel

If only more people kept their word as well as Rook did.