Review: Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Series: Shadowfell #2
Pages: 416

Received: Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Release Date: July 9, 2013
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Goodreads Synopsis:

Neryn has finally found the rebel group at Shadowfell, and now her task is to seek out the elusive Guardians, vital to her training as a Caller. These four powerful beings have been increasingly at odds with human kind, and Neryn must prove her worth to them. She desperately needs their help to use her gift without compromising herself or the cause of overthrowing the evil King Keldec.

Neryn must journey with the tough and steadfast Tali, who looks on Neryn's love for the double agent Flint as a needless vulnerability. And perhaps it is. What Flint learns from the king will change the battlefield entirely—but in whose favor, no one knows.

My Review:

I absolutely loved Shadowfell when it came out last year, and I have been anxious about what was next for Neryn. Raven Flight was just as amazing as the first book. Juliet Marillier picks up the story right where she left off in the first one, Neryn has now arrived at Shadowfell and is learning about the rebel group and what their plan is. Juliet Marillier did a great job of reminding readers of what happened in the first book, interspersed throughout Raven Flight details are placed reminding you of the previous book.

This book focuses on Neryn, and her journey to learning more about her gift. It is great to see a character grow so much in one book. Neryn journeys to find the different Guardians and have them teach her more about what she needs to do to use her gift perfectly. I love that Neryn is still learning so much about herself in this book and that she is still self conscious about using her gift. Neryn is unsure about what she must do and how exactly her gift works, which is why she must search out the Guardians.

Because of Neryn's special ability she must travel with a protector, and Tali is chosen to go along with her. As these two travel together they learn a lot more about one another, you can see in the beginning that they do not completely like each other, but you see over time that their friendship develops. It was great to see Neryn become close with someone else.

The one disappointing thing for me in this book was that there was not a lot of Flint and Neryn together, I really wanted to see more of these two together after everything that happened in the first book. Their relationship is interesting and you can really see the connection they have with one another. Readers do still get a glimpse at what Flint is up to for the King, and by the end, there is a huge surprise. I'm really excited for the next book to see how everything comes together. I expect big things in the next installment of Shadowfell and I think it will be a great ending to an amazing series!