This is another book I've heard about for a while that I finally got around to reading. I'm not sure if it was hyped up too much and my expectations were too high, but it will not make my top ten list anytime soon. That's not to say I didn't like it, because I did like it, but there are things about it that are a little disappointing.
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson takes place in a world where humans and fairies—known as fair folk—coexist, though not always peacefully. Romantic relationships between humans and fair folk are forbidden on pain of death, and fairy beasts roam the land. Fair folk crave human Craft—art, clothing, food, and a hundred other things—above all else because if they attempt to paint, cook, or sew, they turn to dust. So, many humans make their living by Crafting for the fair folk, paid in carefully-worded enchantments.
Isobel is the finest portrait painter in Whimsy, with dozens of loyal patrons, but everything changes when she receives her first royal subject. Rook, the elusive autumn prince, commissions a portrait from her and reveals a vulnerability hidden from everyone else—as royalty, any hint of weakness would mean death by his own kind. But when Isobel paints mortal sorrow in his eyes, Rook's status is threatened. The prince whisks her off to the autumn court to stand trial, but as they journey through the treacherous summerlands, their relationship develops into something much more dangerous than artist and client—something like love.
I was hooked from the start by this book—fairies, enemies to lovers, and a YA protagonist are some of my favorite things. I was convinced of the relationship between Isobel and Rook, and I believed in their characters and rooted for them. I felt the urgency and high stakes and wondered how they would solve everything. Rogerson kept me turning pages, and I was excited to reach the end.
However, I felt misled by the book's synopsis, which colored my perception of the book. The summary was written like all others to grab attention and avoid spoilers, so it left off at the first big event of the book, but when I finished the book, I was a bit disappointed. Based on the synopsis, things did or didn't happen the way I anticipated, so I had trouble readjusting my understanding. At times, it felt that the pacing was off, with longer breaks between action-packed moments than one would expect from what had happened. Additionally, I thought a few key things were under-explained, which confused me for longer than I should have. By the end, I felt I had read a different book than expected.
My reading experience is likely different than everyone else's, so others may enjoy An Enchantment of Ravens more than I did, but it just felt off to me. And yet, I still loved the characters, and the writing is beyond beautiful. I was happy to fall in love with this world, and if Rogerson were to write more books set in Whimsy, I would happily read them.
I rate An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 3/5 stars. Like always, this review consists of my own opinion and reading experience, and other readers may find themselves unbothered by the issues I mentioned. Happy reading!
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