Review & Giveaway: Chasing Ravens by Jessica Paige

Chasing Ravens

Book # 1

By- Jessica E. Paige

Genre- YA Fairy Tale/Folklore

Orphaned at a young age, 15-year old Anouk’s punishment for being too outspoken is an arranged marriage worse than any she could imagine. Fleeing on horseback, yet without a sense of where to turn, she stumbles upon an idyllic village where she finds safe haven. Could this be home?

Ultimately, it will lead her to confront the very face of death, yet amidst the danger and darkness, she meets a handsome woodsman and finds a glowing blue flower with power beyond her wildest dreams.

Inspired by Russian fairy tales and steeped in ancient folklore, Paige’s novel is ripe with fantasy, love, and courage.

   

My Review

I love Russia: its magnificent city, its atmosphere, its landscapes, its colors, its culture and its literature. My biggest dream is to visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. When I read that it was inspired by a Russian fairy tale, I could not wait to read it. And I was not disappointed.

Anouk has lost her family when she was small: the mother died in giving birth to her little brother but even the child didn't survive. Her grandmother and her father died soon after because of the fever. Anouk is entrusted to the mother's brother: the girl is made to work very hard and her aunt would also force her to marry an old alcoholic but she decides to escape on horseback in the woods. She's welcomed in a village and here can be very useful due to her great knowledge of herbs and their benefits that taught her grandmother. But .......

Anouk is a girl who inspires immediately much sympathy: she hoped to find a new family in her uncle's family instead found only exploiters and a village that considers her a witch. She's a girl impetuous, impulsive, courageous and generous. I am happy to publish the review today, March 8, International Women's Day: is the best way to honor this day to talk about a strong woman and a story with so many female characters decisive and fundamental to the village's life.

It 's really well written, doesn't seem a debut author, is never boring, even a page leads to another. She wonderfully alternated the Anouk's adventures with various legends, amazing descriptions of landscapes and those of herbs and their benefits. In a fairy tale then couldn't miss love .....

It 's a perfect story to read to children but very suitable for everyone.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

About the Author-

Jessica Paige hails from the Seattle area where she lives with her husband and two dogs. Though she was raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jessica has long been intrigued by the ancient folklore of her Slavic and Lithuanian roots. Her love of horses and the outdoors led her to a career in environmental outreach, and her studies in herbalism. When she’s not working or writing, you’ll find her digging in the garden, creating herbal remedies, or walking in the woods with her dogs. You can visit her at www. jessicaepaige.com.

Links-

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Paige-Author/604575719637418?ref=br_tf

Twitter- https://twitter.com/jessicaepaige

Website- http://www.jessicaepaige.com/

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11174887.Jessica_E_Paige

Jess, please tell us about yourself using 3 verbs, 1 quirk and a pop culture addiction

verbs: walk, imagine, dig

quirk: when I’m anxious (or just thinking too much) I rub the nails of my index finger and thumb together, so I always have a little groove in those nails.

Pop culture addiction: It’s a tie between Downton Abbey and Marc Maron’s WTF podcast

What’s the last song you listened to?

The Stable Song, Gregory Alan Isakov

This or That-

*Vanilla or Chocolate?

Chocolate!

*Summer or Winter?

Summer for sure. Sorry Winter--Summer wouldn’t feel so lovely without you :)

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