Thoughts on : The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
Genre : Fantasy
Stand alone
About the Book :
For centuries, the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by the god known as the Raven. He watches over his territory from atop a tower in the powerful port of Vastai. His will is enacted through the Raven’s Lease, a human ruler chosen by the god himself. His magic is sustained via the blood sacrifice that every Lease must offer. And under the Raven’s watch, the city flourishes.
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But the power of the Raven is weakening. A usurper has claimed the throne. The kingdom borders are tested by invaders who long for the prosperity that Vastai boasts. And they have made their own alliances with other gods.
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It is into this unrest that the warrior Eolo–aide to Mawat, the true Lease–arrives. And in seeking to help Mawat reclaim his city, Eolo discovers that the Raven’s Tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself…and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever.
I LOVED this book – and I have no idea how/if to recommend it. It’s a bit of a unique fantasy book, and I can’t compare it to anything else I’ve read.
The Raven Tower might be what you’re looking for if :
- You enjoy fantasy stories where the pace is slow and not much happens;
- You enjoy a more literary fantasy novel;
- You don’t mind (or appreciate) when part of the story is told in second person (You);
- The idea of the story being told by a god who happens to be a giant rock is interesting to you;
- You enjoy learning extensively about the history of a fantasy world, and you don’t mind that the book alternates between story and history.
For me The Raven Tower was all about the journey and the experience. I had to set aside my expectations of how a plot usually develops and let the story carry me along.
It’s a story that made me feel tiny in a big universe, something I’ve experienced before more with sci-fi than fantasy. I felt as though I was reading the history or legends of an ancient world, and despite the slow pace, I was captivated rather than bored.
When it comes to the story, I thought the author made an interesting choice by focusing not on Mawat, the prince and future Lease, but on Eolo, his aide. Eolo was a unique character, curious and determined, but also good at reading people, which is great in a story where politics play such a big role.
For me, The Raven Tower was a hit. Everything was perfectly dosed – plot, history, magic – and I adored how the combination of the second person narration and the chosen narrator created such a unique voice. This being said, I can easily see why this book might be a “miss” for other readers!
