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Isn't this cover beautiful?! I received it in an Uppercase box (from October 2017) so obviously I'm really behind on all my YA books but I've been going through them fairly steadily this year because they're usually lovely breather books between the dark murder-y stuff. The cover is by an artist named Charlie Bowater. As an aside, Rogerson's new book (Sorcery of Thorns) was this month's Uppercase Box book.  Title: An Enchantment of Ravens Author: Margaret Rogerson Page Number: 300 pages (hardcover) Genre: YA, fantasy, romance, fiction Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Division Year: 2017 A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel. Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life. Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel. First thing first, this is a standalone book! Hallelujah on that. I know there's probably more money in series (especially YA fantasy series) but honestly sometimes it's nice to just have a book with closure. The main female character is Isobel, an artist and portrait painter. Unlike other YA heroines, Isobel actually has a personality (she's not a Mary Sue type) which is such a breath of fresh air. Rook is the main male character, who is also a fae, but he's more reserved as a character. His personality develops along with his story arc. The book starts with Isobel, who lives in the Summerlands. Isobel is human and is able to pursue a craft that puts her in the presence of many Fae nobility. She is introduced to Rook by another fae named Gadfly. In this magical world, the Fae are magical but unable to produce items (i.e. "crafts") and they rely on humans to create items, costumes and art for them to enjoy. Rook is also the Prince of the Autumlands, meaning his prominence is built on strength. Isobel creates a portrait of Rook but gives his eyes a human emotion, putting Rook in danger (as he unveils the portrait in front of his court). Rook comes back for Isobel to put her on trial in order to reclaim his reputation. As Rook and Isobel travel back to his lands, they begin to fall in love. This is, of course, a huge crime in the fairy world. The action of the book is within Isobel and Rook's forbidden romance, their possible future, their dangerous journey through the forest and the threat of the Alder King (the head honcho on the Fae). The side character, Gadfly, was the most interesting to me out of all the characters that get introduced. Rogerson's strength is in her writing style. It was easy to ready and beautifully crafted. I wouldn't say this grabbed my attention they way it did other people but I did like it well enough. I believe this is Rogerson's debut so I'm hopeful I'll be more drawn to her newest book. I've seen this compared to Sarah J. Mass' A Court of Something and Something . I would say there are several elements that are similar but I don't think I'm the best judge because I wasn't too keen on Mass' work. Margaret Rogerson's website Happy Ever After did an interview with Margaret Rogerson
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