Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse

Review: I don't rate books on a point system, but if I did I would give "Mark of the Raven" five stars. I am a huge fan of fantasy fiction, but unfortunately there is a sorrowful lack of quality fantasy that isn't filled with trashy content. Hence, when I do find a fantasy novel that is well written, possessed of a believable world, has dynamic and creative characters, is clean enough for my mother to read, and last but not least, has a good plot...well, I get pretty excited. Mark of the Raven ticks off all of these marks.

The Seven Houses that make up the land have each been blessed with a certain power or magical type ability. These houses guard their powers and the secrets wrapped around them with fierce jealously. At one time in history, these houses all worked together to keep the land and their people safe. Now, many years after the first invasion of the Dominia Empire, the land is fractured and the houses view each other with suspicion and distrust. Evil has crawled its way into the hearts of many of the people and now some of the houses serve the Dark Lady.

The House of Ravenwood is considered the least of all the houses. Most believe that the ladies of Ravenwood no longer contain their gifting. No one except for the ladies of Ravenwood themselves are aware that they still have the power to dreamwalk. Lady Selene has been trained hard since childhood to take on the mantle of dreamwalker once her gifting is placed on her. However, none of her training could have prepared her for the brutal truth of what her gift all implies.

Meanwhile, as Selene discovers what her gift means and learns the scope of her power, the Dominia Empire is threatening to attack once more and the fractured houses are poised to meet once again... to dramatic results.

I would highly recommend this book - I read it in one sitting.

Thank you to Graf-Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing Group for a copy of this novel

Back Cover: Lady Selene is heir to the House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. Soon after the gifting, however, Selene discovers that the Ravenwood women have been secretly using their gift to gather information or to assassinate those responsible for the fall of House Ravenwood to the Dominia Empire hundreds of years ago. 

As she becomes more entrenched in Ravenwood's dark past, Selene longs to find out the true reason behind her family's gift, believing that its original intent could not have been for such evil purposes, but she is torn about upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people. Selene's dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations--but who is also prophesied to bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and likely death. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?