Descent of Ravens

Bel's War, Book 1

By: A.C. Andrews

Narrated by: Isaac Grisham

Length: 13 hrs

Publisher's summary

An LGBTQ+ epic fantasy

The old covenant of the gods is broken. Will the world break, too?

When an army of vampires invades the island of Trosika, Rio and Turi must fight for their future. Rio is a healer and a priest of Astara who suffers severe self-doubt and a growing crisis of faith; even his goddess cannot stop the forces arrayed against them. Turi has long buried a secret about himself that he fears could upend everything.

When Rio unseals a centuries-old tomb, releasing the immortal and cursed prince Philip, he discovers that he has a bond with Philip that stretches across lifetimes. As Turi grapples with his secrets, he is recruited by the terrifying goddess Mormo and gifted with necromancy for reasons he does not understand.

Rio and Turi must contend with bloodthirsty mages, battle an endless army of vampires, and confront the truth of who Turi truly is; most of all, they must rely on their unshakable friendship to survive. As they struggle to protect each other, their religion, and their island home, the fate of an empire hangs in the balance.

Descent of Ravens is an exciting new fantasy with gay, trans, and nonbinary protagonists, rich world-building, and dark adventure!

Content Warnings: This is a work of fantasy with LGBTQ+ characters, violence (including epic battle scenes), adult language, and adult situations including mildly explicit scenes of sensuality and consensual sex suitable for older YA listeners and adult listeners. There are sadistic villains whose sadism involves cutting and blood and feral vampires who are, ahem, messy eaters.

©2021 A.C. Andrews (P)2022 A.C. Andrews

Good world building - bad everything else

This review contains spoilers!

I’m really mad that I paid for this book. It was … not great.

Though the world building had potential, it was completely usurped by rotten pacing, extraneous detail, flat characters, inconsistent language, and general disorganization. I’ll also admit that the narrator was monotonous; a talented reader could have done this book so many favors, but even with the best voice actor in the world this would have been rough.

The entire book felt like a first draft. The plot points were there - again, interesting world building! - but there were so many elements that distracted from all the ways the novel could have succeeded:

- the romance felt trite and unbelievable. A long-undead prince and the reincarnation of his lover? Could have been super interesting, exploring insecurities and identity and building something deep based on who two people can be together … or, it can be glazed over and used as a cheap way to go zero to sixty romantically in under two chapters.

- a trans person as a main character, with societal pressures and acceptances. I just read several fantasy books in a row that included trans characters, a few of which had their own language to describe the trans identity - the main difference between the trans people in this book versus other fantasy novels was that this felt like it was being shoved into the story to win points versus being a rich part of the world building and culture. Characters were outing one another; the concept of being kinji was at once very significant and then glossed over in the next moment; and the family dynamics that orphaned the trans character were tied up in a happy little bow in one chapter of “woke grandma saves the day” without having any meaningful conversations about the bigotry that severely impacted the trans person’s childhood.

- literal deus ex machinas. Left right and center. Lazy writing.

- the language swapped from formal, fantasy language to awkwardly modern.

- the dialogue was almost always awkward and stilted.

All in all, the only reason I’m giving this book any stars at all is because the plot had the potential to be compelling. It was imaginative, and used the vampire trope in a cool way. Unfortunately, no one went over this with a good red pen before it got published.

Fantastic!!

Loved this audio from both a new author for me and a new narrator! This was one heck of a ride! Fabulous world building, fantastic storyline and amazing main characters, this one blew me away! Really enjoyed the narration as well.

Epic!!!

The story was seriously epic! I didn’t want to hit pause at all. I was swept away with the magic from the moment it started. The plot kept me engaged the entire time and I loved the complexity of it. I also loved all the different paranormal creatures included in the book. I can’t wait to see where this series is going to go! I want way more of these characters and this world.

I Loved it, Great Start to New Series

I loved this story, I was captivated rom first chapters by magical adventures and beautiful world building. Main characters were interesting and unique in their own way, I enjoyed their interactions and dynamic. Narrator has a pleasant voice and I think he did a good job, but I would like to hear differences in voices for Rio, Turi and others. Overall this was a very good start to the series, I am excited for the next book in Bel's War saga.

I can’t wait for the next book.

I really liked the storyline and overall plot. I found the use of the gods to be great.

Epic

This was a good start! This world was well laid out. This story was really interesting. Vampire stories are always good and this one isn't any different. I found the new way they have these vampires interact was great. Each of the main characters provide great points of view. With this being just the first part of battle, I can't wait to see how our crew continues to build their army to take back their island.

Great listen!

Love this story even more with hearing it! Grisham does a fantastic job with bringing these epic characters to life. Tone and flow work with each personality and you get lost in the story. Can't wait for the next.

Different for Me

I really enjoyed this book. I am not usually a fantasy reader/ listener, but there was so much to love here! I am shocked that the world building was so thorough, and the author might have reached a bit. But, overall it is a strong start to what looks to be a great new series!

A fantastic beginning to a new series!

Fantastic! !! The story has really complex, multi-layered characters. The world building is great! Rio and Turi must fight for their lives. The story was packed with magic, vampires, monsters, gods and goddesses and reincarnations. We are left for a HFN. I cannot wait for the next!! Isaac Grisham is a new to me narrator. I felt he did a good job. Overall, a fantastic listen! Highly recommend!

I enjoyed the story

I really enjoyed this book when I read it last year. For some reason it didn’t translate as well to audio for me. I still liked the story but I am not sure what the issue was. Maybe it was the new to me narrator. His voice was good but I just couldn’t get into it. Rio and Phillip are still my favorite characters and the world building is very good. It is a great story overall.

New to me, author and narrator,

With this in mind and receiving a copy from GRR to review, honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect.

I struggled to get into the book, but I still worked with it once I did. It is a shame; it was well written but too long for me. I think, in reality, that this should have been a two-book story.

The world-building was good, and the imagination is excellent to have written this. The characters were well-developed, and the story, as I said, was well-written.
So with that, all I can think is that the narration wasn't for me, although the different voices were good and clear. I struggled to finish the book but couldn't pinpoint why.

New to me narrator by Isaac Grisham. Clean and concise, although very slow, I speed this narration up to 1.25 on Audible, which is usual for me.

Descent of Ravens
Bel's War, Book 1
By: A.C. Andrews
Narrated by: Isaac Grisham
Series: Bel's War Series, Book 1
Length: 13 hrs

❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible

I received this audiobook for free from GRR at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - neither the author nor GRR influenced my opinion.

A wholesome paranormal fantasy

I absolutely loved this paranormal LGBTQ fantasy!!

Syxh a refreshing world building.

Interesting Chara abd a compelling storyline.

Good narration as well

Epic Fantasy

There’s a lot going on in this book. As often happens with fantasy stories, there are many characters and points of view. The world-building was phenomenal, but I sometimes struggled to keep it all straight in my mind. And although this is a YA book, there is plenty of violence and, as the synopsis suggests, sadistic villains who do sadistic things. I wasn’t disturbed by most of the imagery as it fit the story.

I found Rio a compelling hero. His story interested me as well as his connection to Philip. Other characters struck me, but those two were most fascinating.

I also loved the diversity of characters. That array of sexual orientations and attractions was the reason I snagged the book and I wasn’t disappointed.

Isaac Grisham is a new narrator to me and I thought he did a good job. Overall, I’m glad I grabbed this one.

Great new series

If you are looking for a new paranormal/dark urban fantasy to dig your teeth into, this is the one. The world these characters inhabit is dangerous and complex, there are gods, priests, healers, vampires, royalty all spinning plots and counterplots to either destroy the world or save it. We see both past and present in this first volume and the detail is incredible. I was swallowed up in the world and intrigued by the characters and their relationships. Very much looking forward to the second book. Isaac Grisham does a fantastic job of keeping all the different characters and timelines straight for the listener.

Fantastic

A great first instalment by AC Andrews. Interesting story with fantastic characters that is amazing to follow on their adventure. Isaac Grisham did a super job bringing the characters to life.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Great action packed listen

While this story is slow to get going, and definitely gives a lot of information in the beginning, I find this the case with a lot of fantasy books and to be honest that’s one of the things I like about fantasy - the slow build-up to an action packed and and fast flowing story.

The world building is really well done with the vampires, mages, goddesses, and the characters are well rounded and multidimensional. I don’t even know who is my favourite character - I love them all so much.

Isaac Grisham is a new to me narrator, and as usual with a new narrator it took me a bit to get into the swing of his style but it worked wonderfully with the story line and characters. Definitely looking forward to more from the series.

Descent of Ravens

A.C. Andrew’s is a new to me author and despite the book starting off slow and a bit confusing to me, I soon became invested in the story.
The story is complex with great characters, magic, monsters, vampires, gods and goddesses. It finishes on a HFN and I look forward to the next book.
This is the first time I have listened to any work by Isaac Grisham and it took me a while to warm to his style. However, he did a good job in differentiating voices and emotions. I hope to hear more from him in the future.

Epic!

This book introduce me to a new author for me and a new voice actor. I usually don't hear new books in audio format, but heard the narration of books I already read and love in ebook format so I don't get frustated by the velocity of the storyline wanting to know what happens next, but the blurb of this one caught my attention so I decided to break my own rule. And WOW! What an adventure! The story is agile and entertaining, the characters are amazing and Mr Grisham work in the narration was great. I enjoyed a lot the world the author created for the story and the audio helped me to immerse in the captivating plot. An epic, magical tale beautifully narrated. I discovered book 2 in the series is out now in ebook format, so I will read it to be prepared for the audio version. Really, a series worth of reading in any format you'd prefer. Loved it so much!

Slow to start, but great once it got going

I found this audiobook slow and a bit confusing to start, but once the action started, I was hooked and didn't want to stop listening. It is such an interesting and emotional story with MCs you can't help but root for. I really liked the unique view on vampires, and the whole 'rebirthing' idea to change their natures and goals. I liked the diversity of characters and lifestyles. Although there are LGBTQIA+ characters, that felt mostly coincidental, as the story and plot took precedence over sexual orientation. There are some intimate same-sex moments, but they are minimal and not very explicit. In my opinion, the TW for bloodshed and violence is far more significant. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and story and really look forward to more books in tis story.

The narrator was new to me and I felt he did a great job differentiating the characters' voices and expressing their emotions.

I received a free copy on this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Fascinating & Action-packed! Great Story & Listen🎧

This fast-paced, action-packed epic fantasy grabs your attention and holds it captive throughout the entire book. A.C. Andrews is a gifted author and the fascinating story he created is imaginative, with interesting storylines. The characters and world are equally imaginative and fascinating, too. I liked the author included and described the myths and lores of the gods and goddesses. Also liked that he included various kinds of non-cisgender people. The story takes place on the Island of Trosika and it is being invaded by vampires and evil Mage who are just as bloodthirsty as the vampires. I was rooting for the lead characters, Rio and Turi, right from the start and then the others who join in, including Philip, the cursed prince. There is never a dull moment in this book and a lot of info gets thrown your way, but the author is great with the descriptive details and clever plotting making it easy to follow along. A.C. Andrews, thank you for this epic and unforgettable story and the wild ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the terrific narration, Isaac Grisham is a talented narrator and a versatile voice artist. He did a great job bringing the characters and their story to life. His portrayal of each character was spot on, giving each their own voice and personality, making it easy to follow along and tell who was who. He set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into his performance. Grisham is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen.