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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Review: Raven


Title:  Raven
Author: Suzy Turner
Publisher: Suzanne Turner Publishing
Publication Date: 
 May 8, 2011
Reviewer: Carissa

Summary: After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor's parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets... Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was... well, not very motherly. After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that's not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn't who, or what, she thinks she is. Lilly has a very special ability and it's just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again. Raven is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in the beautiful province of British Columbia.

Review: Raven is not your typical werewolf/vampire/changeling paranormal type book (thank God!): Raven is exquisitely different.

            Lilly Taylor lives with her blunt mean mother along with the father she rarely sees. Lilly’s life with her mother is horrible. Her childhood of carefree fun is nonexistent. Lilly’s only friend is December, the funky new girl at school. Her life goes on like clockwork, until one day her mother is gone.

Lilly is shipped off to her Canadian grandfather (who she doesn’t know) and Lilly finds she has family, and lots of it! For once in her life, Lilly is submersed in love and warmth. Lilly really connects with her senior (in high school!) cousin Jo, and the pair quickly becomes friends.

            As well as her newfound family, Lilly discovers the family secret: the world is full of paranormal creatures. Surprisingly, she takes this somewhat in stride. They then go on to explain that Lilly’s cold, heartless “mother” is a witch, and as if that not bad enough, she killed Lilly’s real mother and elder sister. Again, she’s a little shaken, but not that disturbed, oddly.  Then, her grandfather tells her that mother’s family had the ability to turn into certain felines and that her father’s into a raven. Oh, and, by the way, soon you might become a changeling like your parents.

            I really enjoyed Raven! I was really worried that it was going to be a blah book, but the characters were unique and the plot was amazing! The dialogue was a bit off, and the relationship between a 17-year-old and almost-14-year-old was weird. Though he was a family friend…

            I’m looking forward to reading book 2 in the Raven Saga, December Moon.
Ages 10+ and 8 of 10 stars!

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