Review: Raven by Suzy Turner

Title: Raven
Series: Book #1 of The Raven Saga
Author: Suzy Turner
Genre: YA (Paranormal)
Topic: Shapeshifters/ Magic
Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis. After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor's parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets... Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was... well, not very motherly. After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that's not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn't who, or what, she thinks she is. Lilly has a very special ability and it's just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again. 

Well I gotta say, I really liked this book a lot. The book had a great storyline and I really liked the characters. But let's get more detailed:

The Good: I loved the setting! It starts in London then moves to Canada! The author does a great job make the reader feel "on location". Which is great because i probably have no hope of traveling to either place any time soon.

I also really liked protag Lilly. She seems a little naive (esp. with the hair cut and dyeing) in the beginning but I grew to like her throughout the book. I also liked Rose and her Grand dad. The love interest in this book (while maybe a bit rushed) seems pretty genuine, esp for a character of her age. She's like 13/14..not like 16/17, so i could see her quickly falling for a older guy. (It does seem a bit odd though how all the females in this book are in love with guys much older...but maybe that's just me!)

The Not So Good: Well there aren't many things to dislike about this book...but I've pinpointed a few. First, being the british english that the book is written in. While this isn't really a negative, it just made it a bit hard for me to understand some words or what things meant.

Second thing is the family aspect. I understand that this book is probably written for readers that are younger (therefore, needing to have a strong family bond) but im just not a heavy family person. lol wow, i know that probably sounds weird, but it's true... I had a colorful childhood and don't really have a family to rely on. So for me, it was hard to relate with Lilly in that respect. Like when "something" happens, the whole family rushing over to help and show concern... That just seems sort of weird to me. It's totally not the book/authors fault though, because I'm sure that's how a family is "supposed" to act!

 View it on Goodreads

     About the Author     

Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart husband Michael and their menagerie of cats and dogs. Suzy's career began soon after completing her A levels when she was offered the position of trainee journalist for a local English newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she moved on to become assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher. Since then she has also worked as the editor of one of the Algarve's most loved monthly lifestyle magazines. Early in 2010 however, Suzy began working as a freelance writer and author. She has since completed three novels for teens, The Raven Saga, a trilogy. Suzy has just launched a brand new series, The Morgan Sisters, the first of which, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw is out now!

Suzy Around the Web:    Website  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter

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With love,
Margaret

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