Customer Reviews

The Tower of Ravens: Book One of Rhiannon's Ride

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was very, very glad I bought this book. I had done just fine with The Witches of Eileanan series, but it was a little boring at times, and I didn't feel that any of the books deserved more than four stars. Still, when I found a used copy of this book in great shape at Powell's one day, I bought it. I figures, it only cost four dollars, and I at least know I'll like it.

I loved it! This book is exciting, scary and romantic. The author has really let herself explore areas she wasn't willing to write about previously, such as sex. I was especially impressed in this book by the very spine tingling horror plot line, which felt much more mature than past works by this author.

This book takes place twenty-five years after the Fathomless Caves left off. The realm is peaceful, and all is well. But Rhiannon, knows nothing of this. She's half satyricon, half human, and because she only has one pair of breasts, and no horns on her head, she's not respected or loved in her pack. But one day, after killing a young man who escaped from the pack (males of the species are rare so they kidnap human males and basically rape them) she captures a winged horse, and flies away. Only to land right in the lap of civilized people, friends of the young man she killed. They just happen to have been in the Witches...series as well.

As I said before, I was impressed by this book. It showed growth in every way a writer can grow and I eagerly await the second book in this series. I may even pre-order it.

For fans of the "Witches of Eileanan" series, you will absolutely love this book. There's a return of the original cast of characters, even though the story focuses on new ones. "Tower of Ravens" begins what looks to become a fabulous new series.

If you haven't read her previous series, read that first before you pick up this book. Not only would you be missing out, but you'll also be lost when reading this. Even I had a little bit of trouble since it has been so long since I read "Witches." But by keeping the original characters seperate from the main plot, she can continue to forward their story without overdoing it like many authors out today.

Once again Forsyth puts forward an excellent plot and imaginative characters that the reader will completely devour. And it seems she's learned something- gone are the slow spots that occassionally slowed down her original series. This book is absolutely riveting and will keep you craving for more.

I picked this book up on a whim at the airport two weeks ago. I was quickly drawn into the story but ended up not having the time for more than 30 or so pages that day. By the time I took my next flight the following day, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. The author sets the story into motion and introduces the characters in a way that makes the reader not want to put the book down. The manner in which she introduces both the story and the characters allows the reader to fully enjoy this book without having read any of her previous books; though now that I have read this one, I intend on reading her other ones. I hoe that this has been helpful

I loved Kate's previous Witches of Eilelanan series, and was thrilled to have discovered that she had released a series set in the same world. I have read this novel, and only yesterday finished the 2nd book in this series, The Shining City. I was unable to put them down.

25 years in the future following the end of the Witches series, a new story emerges with a wild half-satricoryn girl as the main protagonist. She is savage, violent, and one of the most fasinating characters I have had the pleasure of reading about for some time. Kate does a marvellous job with both the plot and characters of this series, with a twisting and edge-of-your-seat story that has you reading long into the night, and characters which you can get close to.

I was sad when the Witches series came to a close, so I was delighted to find many of my old favourites still going strong, with the plot mainly centred on the children of the original characters. Whilst it is not neccessary to have read the Witches series to enjoy Rhiannon's Ride, I would strongly reccommend reading them first as it will allow you a greater depth of knowledge of the world and characters so intergral to this story.

One of the characteristics of Kates writing that I have found very enjoyable, in this series in particular, is how she continually switches PoV. It means that the reader is able to understand the feelings and motivations behind many characters which would otherwise appear two dimentional. It allows us to understand why characters behave a certain way, and temper our judgement of right and wrong.

I would definately advise anyone who like fantasy novels to read this series, and not be perturbed by the dialect used, as you quickley become accustomed to it.

I'm so glad Forsyth decide to return to her world of witches. I thought I'd read the last of them. In this latest series, the reader returns to this fatasy world of Eileanan 25 years in to the furture after the war. We are introduced to a young girl (half human and half syticorn). Because she favors her human side too much, she is in fear of her life. It is only a matter of time before her herd decides to kill her off as a weaker link. She escapes on the back of a wing horse and is found close to dead by a young man named Lewen (who happens to be the twenty year old son of Lilanthe and Niall). And yet, her journey has only just begun.

The story leaves you hanging quite a bit, so now I'm stuck waiting for the next installment. Very much worth my time and yours.

OK, there are already plenty of descriptions for this book, so I don't think mine is necessary. Just know that I loved this book sooooo much. I didn't even know that Kate Forsyth had a new book until I was wandering through Barnes and Noble with no money. I immediately freaked out when I saw it and I had to beg my Dad to buy it for me. When I had the book I read it almost non-stop for the next few days. It was really good. Although I guess it would still be great as a stand-alone, I suggest reading Forsyth's other books because they're really good too. This was done well as a sequel because it didn't have too much contact with older characters that don't really have anything important to do in this particular book. I look forward to reading the next book and being reunited with characters from the Witches of Eileanan series.
READ THE BOOK!!!! If you don't like it I'll give you a dollar.

Very rarely does a fantasy novel manage to take you into its world from the first page and refuse to let you go until the ending. More often than not, stories in a series get you hooked into its magical world, then leave you hanging as you breathlessly await the next installment. Not so with Kate Forsyth's THE TOWER OF THE RAVENS. For those who have never visited her world of Eileanan in books such as The Pool of Two Moons: Witches of Eileanen Book 2 (Witches of Eileanan) or The Cursed Towers (Witches of Eileanan, Book 3), never fear! THE TOWER OF THE RAVENS is a fantasy epic that can definitely stand alone, and does so with competent writing, fantastic world-building, and a deeply heroic cast of characters.

Ever since she was a young girl, Rhiannon has wanted nothing more than to catch a winged horse, to tame and train it so that she could fly away and escape from the hellish nightmare that is her life. Scorned, ridiculed, and even feared by her fellow man, Rhiannon lives in near solitude, wanting only to belong. Without even a name at this young age, the daughter of One-Horn and a human father. One-Horn is the mother of the tribe of satyricon, fairies who have horns and hoofs instead of feet. Rhiannon, born without a horn and with human feet, is immediately branded an outcast, and she lives her solitary life with only the hope of escape as comfort.

When she finally manages to escape upon a winged horse, its not without injury and risk to herself. Arriving at the home of Lewen, an apprentice witch, she's finally given a name-and perhaps a chance to truly belong. When Lewen and his family decide to bring Rhiannon to the Tower of Two Moons in the city of Lucescere to be tested for magical ability, Rhiannon worries that she might once again lose any sense of self she's just beginning to gain.

Murder, intrigue, and suspicion soon surround Rhiannon when a member of the Guard is found dead. Suddenly surrounded by unimaginable evil and malevolence, it will take all the strength and magic that Rhiannon possesses to protect herself and those she loves.

THE TOWER OF RAVENS is a wonderful fantasy novel that will thoroughly immerse you in Kate Forsyth's magical world. A woman who wants only to find her place in the world, Rhiannon is a strong, caring woman who truly overcomes her past to be a woman that everyone can be proud of.

Very engaging book, really liked the charecter Rhiannon. I could hardly put it down, and stayed up WAY TO LATE to finish it.

Kate Forsyth is best known for her last series the Witches of Eileanan which I haven't read. This book is the first book in her latest series; Rhiannon's Ride. Rhiannon's Ride is a trilogy. Overall this was an excellent and very solid fantasy. For me it fell somewhere between and epic type of fantasy and an adventure fantasy. The first book is more of an adventure fantasy.

This book starts out with No-Horn a half-satrycorn girl who is in danger on being killed by the satrycorn tribe because she has not yet grown a horn. No-Horn manages to kill a prisoner and steal his goods; she captures a black-winged horse and flees the tribe. She ends up in the forest near Lewen's parents' land. Lewen finds her tied to the horse and helps to heal her. Lewen and family decide to name her Rhiannon. The remainder of the book deals with their adventures on their way to the Shining City of Lucescere.

This was a great book. There was a lot of action, the plot is complex and deep. The world is magnificent and is developed to great detail. There are a number of different races of creatures and there is a very complex history behind the story. I am guessing that some of the history and backstory were developed in the Witches of Eileanan series. Rhiannon and Lewen are wonderful characters who come across as believable both in the heroism and their humanity. The supporting characters are also rich with personality and history. Reading this book really made me want to go back to the first series and read more about all the fascinating characters in the background.

That being said, I found this to be a stand alone series. Although I am guessing you might understand the motives of some of the supporting characters better if you knew their history from the first series. That being said this is *not* a stand alone book. The first book stops basically mid journey. I was extremely greatful that I had purchased the next book in the series already.

This really is one of the best straight fantasy novels I have read in some time. There is action, adventure, intrigue, true love, and magic. The intricies of all of the customs of the different races are fascinating but never overbearing.

In summary a wonderful read. My only complaint would be that the book does not wrap anything up before it's conclusion. I would recommend buying all three books if you opt to read the first one; otherwise you will be fretting about what is going to happen to Rhiannon while you wait to get the next book. I can't imagine reading the first book and not reading the second and third one. This book made me want to go out and get all of the books in the Witches of Eileanan series too!

This could have been an great story of how a wild girl found her place in the world outside her harsh people, instead it is a sweet and slowmoving story where the dangerous creature becomes a sweet young girl that learnes to love and cries for her past sinns.
If you want a story where the people constantly launch into lenghty tales of the countrys history and in the moments that should move the caracters to haste and fill their minds with terror, all you get is a sweet timeout where eveybody take more than a moment to console eachother and they take stock of themselfe and the horses before moving the injured to safety, this might be a book for those who want a romance that is lenghty and without any real tenshion.