The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove, #1) by Kaitlyn Davis

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A princess longing to be free...

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong...

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!

𑁋𑁋𑁋

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I cannot stop thinking about this book! Once I reached certain point, there was no stopping. I had to know how this story would end, and if my lovebirds would be okay. I have no idea how similar this book is to Tristan and Isolde, because for the life of me, I cannot remember that tale. I'm sure I could Google it, but what's the point? The Raven and the Dove was better than it could ever hope to be! (No offense to Tristan and Isolde fans, I just really loved this book!) ;)

My one teeny, tiny complaint would be the cliffhanger. I knew it was coming, I braced for it to happen, but I still felt frustrated when the story concluded. I wanted to know how people felt, what they were thinking, what might potentially happen in the next book! Instead we're left with a lot of questions and only promised answers. Our main characters are left in less-than-stellar situations, and my heart is still breaking for them. Why do authors have to be so cruel to their creations?? 

The Raven and the Dove was an intense read! I understood why people did bad things, and even felt like I would do something similar in their situations. I didn't know how to separate my feelings of love, hate and sympathy, since all three could be applied equally. They're flawed characters, and they're struggling with problems only the reader knows about. They don't always make the best decisions, but that just made me like them more. Did I wish they'd done things differently? Sure. However, I felt like this story was told in exactly the right way. I'm emotional, conflicted, in love with fictional winged people, and so ready for the next installment in this series. I'm willing to (mostly) overlook the cliffhanger, because it was a really good one. It answered enough to leave me feeling mollified, but not enough to completely satisfy.

There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and my mind eager for more information. I really enjoyed experiencing the world Davis created, and I look forward to revisiting it in the future. I'm also a sucker for prophesies, and love seeing how they play out over time! The prophesies always happen, but rarely in the way I think they will (similar to Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Gregor the Overlander).

Have I convinced you yet? No?

1. There's magic that has solid, believable rules. It's applied in ways both foreign and familiar. 
2. There are people with wings and birdlike mannerisms that follow traditions so old, no one can remember why they're done. Although, the trials and ceremonies were beautifully rendered.  
3. There's a mysterious mist that layers the land below (no one knows what's down there), and dragons rise from its depths. They spew flames and leave chaos in their wake.
4. There are ancient gods, even older wars, and relationships more complicated than a Rubik's Cube. 

Now you're dying to read it, right?? If you enjoy fantasies or retellings (or just really great books), The Raven and the Dove is definitely worth checking out! (★★★★⋆)