Stephanie Burgis’s The Raven Throne, the second book in the Raven Crown Series, hooked me from the prologue. The book is a fantasy adventure, so there is some backstory you need to know to understand the plot. However, Burgis does a good job of filling in the gaps, even if you haven’t read the first book, The Raven Heir. The three main characters are a diverse and interesting trio with different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses but all are admirably loyal. Burgis also includes cunning villains who add plenty of tension to the story. Additionally, we meet several side characters who are both maddening and supportive, strengthening the complexity of the plot. If you enjoy fantasy, adventure, and intrigue, The Raven Throne is the perfect book for you.

Review of a Advance Reading Copy Provided by the Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Content Analysis: 

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Many (25) brief incidents including character wanting to bash something; character upset and tearing dresses; character could’ve taken another’s leg off; character expecting to be executed; character saying, “No blood may be spilt”; verbal threat; character could die; references to war; second-hand report of character getting hurt in an attack; reference to attempted murder; character missing and drops of blood left behind; character cut another’s arm; characters being controlled by magic; character getting hit by dirt and rocks; character disappearing into the earth; attempted murder; character getting bit by animal, hitting head and left unconscious; land dying; sword stuck in bird.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Death; war.

Alcohol/Drug use:

None