BOOK REVIEW : THE HUNTER AND THE MAGE ( THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE #2) BY KAITLYN DAVIS

TITLE : The Hunter And The Mage ( The Raven And The Dove #2)

AUTHOR : Kaitlyn Davis

GENRE : YA, Fantasy

FR RATING : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5 Stars)

DATE OF PUBLISHING : September 21st 2020

If you haven’t read The Raven And The Dove (#1), make sure to check out my review!!

CLICK HERE

If you haven’t read The Princess And The Pawn (#0.5), make sure to check out my review!!

CLICK HERE

FR REVIEW

DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Kaitlyn Davis for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Hunter And The Mage is the second book in this fantastic The Raven And The Dove series. When I got the chance to request for the ARC of this book I was beyond thrilled. I may have screamed a bit… The first book left me drained and so badly wanting to get back into the second book that I caught myself wondering what will happen in the coming books. Kaitlyn Davis doesn’t shy away from putting her characters through her ringer especially her main characters. If you have read The Raven And The Dove, then you know what I am talking about! I had very high expectations for this book and went into it fully excited and ready for everything she will throw at us.

The Hunter And The Mage picks up from where we left off in the first book. Lyana has been brought below the mist. King Malek has told her about the prophecy and is seeking her help to protect the world. While Lyana is trying to get control of her new magic with the help of Malek, Rafe is struggling to come to terms with the new him without the sky as his safe haven. Both Lyana and Rafe are adjusting to their new realities by giving their best of their current situations. Cassie and Xander have formed an unlikely alliance to bring Lyana back before the House Of Whispers descends into chaos.

The world expands into the new kingdom below the mists. We get to see more of the magic and the Kingdom. It was interesting to see the stark differences between the worlds above and below. While one focuses on the Gods and their power to sustain them, the other relies heavily on the magic and the mages who wield it. The lifestyle is different as well. While the world above is flourishing, the world below is dealing with poverty, health problems, and general difficulties that make people’s problems worse. The magic system is interesting and we see them in more detail and in use in this book. The expansion of the powers and their usage is also explained in this book. There is some magic that is yet not fully defined but I am thinking it will be explored in the coming books.

The pacing is good. This book deals with more of Cassie and Xander trying to figure out what happened to Lyana and also about the separate lives, Lyana and Rafe are leading in the world below the mists. This doesn’t have a lot of action happening. But I still loved it and enjoyed their individual journeys. I loved the exploration of the world and magic. The prophecy and the mystery surrounding the dragons was definitely fascinating to see.

Some of the characters introduced in this book were a fun group. Loved Rafe’s found-family of sorts. I hated Malek with a passion. God!! That guy is evil!! He reminds me of Eli a lot. His motivations for his actions and how he has closed off his emotions are what make him more threatening and deadly. I loved Cassie’s ARC so much. Her conflicts and desire to belong all make her so much more interesting. Xander has to face the world and the complications it presents without his brother at his side. Lyana is also coming to terms with the responsibility and expectations put on her. She realizes she can no longer be the carefree bird she longs to be but has to be a Queen worthy of the Kingdom to protect the world. She is motivated by her emotions and she is growing into her character growing confident in her powers. Rafe as usual has to be tortured and I hate to say this but why does Rafe have to go through all this torture!! Oh My God!! The first book almost left me in tears and I was heartbroken by everything Rafe goes through in the book. This book is no different and we get to see him put through the fire!! Literally!!

There are some twists and turns that happened, that I did not see coming. I loved the story and I had a great time reading it. It was such an enjoyable experience and I can’t wait to read the next book. If you loved the first book and you love to read YA fantasy with amazing characters, fun and entertaining story with an intriguing world you should definitely pick this book up. I gave the book 5 stars and I absolutely loved reading it. I highly recommend checking it out.

SYNOPSIS

Return to the world of The Raven and the Dove, where winged people rule the skies, a lost kingdom lives at sea, and two star-crossed lovers hold the fate of each in their palms. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A mage written in prophecy…

When Lyana wakes in the Sea of Mist, adventure is the first thing on her mind. But between her unruly new magic and an unyielding young king, the world below comes with more responsibility than she ever dreamed. An entire civilization exists within the fog, and its survival depends entirely on her.

A hunter forged in blood…

Adrift at sea on a ship full of strangers, Rafe fights to cope with his new reality. He’ll do anything to return to the sky and the people he left behind. When a surprising offer comes his way, he instantly accepts, sparing no time to consider the consequences.

Loyalties are tested and an ancient war begins anew…

With rebellion in her heart, Cassi defies her king and befriends the prince she’s been ordered to kill. Oblivious to the threat, Xander welcomes her into his inner circle, determined to rescue his mate. As one works to help and the other to hinder, an ancient enemy stirs, forcing Cassi to choose between trusting the man who broke her heart and turning her back on everything she’s ever known.