My Goodreads review: Ravenwood

Ravenwood by Nathan Lowell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A highly entertaining Podiobook fantasy from the author of the "Share" SF series (and, yes, I've listened to all of those, too). I'm not sure how well Lowell's storytelling translates to print -- but on audio, he makes treadmill sessions & household chore time fly by.

Ravenwood is a pagan-themed tale featuring a rarity in in most fantasy: a woman protagonist over fifty (or at least close to it!). Tanith Fairport is a healer and long-time student of herb lore, on the road to improve her knowledge & escape an abusive past. When she stops to help a sick woman in a small, new village, she expects to be on her way by morning -- but fate (or perhaps the All-Mother) has a different plan for her.

What follows is a detailed, character-rich account of Tanith's next few months in the village (later named Ravenwood, for spoiler reasons), helping its mostly young inhabitants get themselves established. Bandits, business problems, & her own discovery of herself as more than a simple healer keep the plot humming along, though I wouldn't call this a tale of high adventure. Rather, it's a story of personal growth with a fascinating, somewhat magical setting.

Listeners who enjoy strong believable heroines over the age of 30, Wicca-type pagan details, and/or plenty of information about herbs (and village life in general) will welcome this one. I'm hoping for more Tanith Fairport adventures, though none are currently being offered in audio form.






View all my reviews