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Product Description
In this dazzling retelling of one of Ireland’s most stirring legends, acclaimed author Jules Watson brings to life the story of Maeve, the raven queen, who is as fierce as she is captivating.
She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it.
With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods, Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and put her at war with both her duty and her fate.
She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it.
With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods, Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and put her at war with both her duty and her fate.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Where ARE you all? I can't believe no-one else across the world has read this fascinating novel! I've just regretfully finished my second visit to this Celtic world, and enjoyed the experience even more.
The story involves two main characters, Maeve, the abused supposedly-"favourite" child of an Irish "king" (king of one of the four counties which then comprised Ireland as a whole) and Ruan, a former Druid, blinded in revenge for his failure to heal the sick son of a local Lord.
The first few chapters I was uncomfortable with - Maeve suffered child abuse, and three forced marriages courtesy of her father, (the first of which resulted in her baby being taken from her by a possessive dad) and humiliation at the hands of her father and brother when she'd finally had enough, and abandoned her third husband for the doubtful "safety" of home. With a family like that, who needs enemies?
Ruan's background too wasn't a comfortable story, as vicious revenge was taken on him for his failure, and the arrogance which it had stemmed from.
Then, both started to heal and grow - Ruan with the help of the Sidhe (the Shee, the Faery folk) and Maeve with the help of Ruan - and the magic really set in! Helping each other through their sorrows, both Maeve and Ruan (seemingly poles apart) left their old frightened, scarred, selves behind. Each grew into a new confidence and view of their worlds, and along the way we're led into their beautiful spiritual journey with them. Jules Watson does this so well, and through her characters, leads us too into the wonderful spiritual world which shares existence with Thisworld - if we accept it.
I especially like the experience Ruan has with the Sidhe when they take him along with them as they travel the countryside spreading Source (or Life) among the Nature world during the night. It reminded me greatly of Midsummer Day's evening revels of the Faery Folk as they romp en masse about our world, sharing their joy of life with all here. This goes much deeper though, and we share a detailed experience with Ruan as he merges with Source - an incredible journey for him - and the reader. As a practising Druid herself, J.W. knows how to make the spiritual experiences of Ruan and Maeve "live" on a page. These are sections to be read and re-read.
It's not necessary to actually believe in that spiritual world to enjoy these stories, they can be great entertainment for anyone who doesn't, or anyone interested in ancient Celtic life.
So, if you love well drawn historical tales this is likely to be a good choice for you, too.
The story involves two main characters, Maeve, the abused supposedly-"favourite" child of an Irish "king" (king of one of the four counties which then comprised Ireland as a whole) and Ruan, a former Druid, blinded in revenge for his failure to heal the sick son of a local Lord.
The first few chapters I was uncomfortable with - Maeve suffered child abuse, and three forced marriages courtesy of her father, (the first of which resulted in her baby being taken from her by a possessive dad) and humiliation at the hands of her father and brother when she'd finally had enough, and abandoned her third husband for the doubtful "safety" of home. With a family like that, who needs enemies?
Ruan's background too wasn't a comfortable story, as vicious revenge was taken on him for his failure, and the arrogance which it had stemmed from.
Then, both started to heal and grow - Ruan with the help of the Sidhe (the Shee, the Faery folk) and Maeve with the help of Ruan - and the magic really set in! Helping each other through their sorrows, both Maeve and Ruan (seemingly poles apart) left their old frightened, scarred, selves behind. Each grew into a new confidence and view of their worlds, and along the way we're led into their beautiful spiritual journey with them. Jules Watson does this so well, and through her characters, leads us too into the wonderful spiritual world which shares existence with Thisworld - if we accept it.
I especially like the experience Ruan has with the Sidhe when they take him along with them as they travel the countryside spreading Source (or Life) among the Nature world during the night. It reminded me greatly of Midsummer Day's evening revels of the Faery Folk as they romp en masse about our world, sharing their joy of life with all here. This goes much deeper though, and we share a detailed experience with Ruan as he merges with Source - an incredible journey for him - and the reader. As a practising Druid herself, J.W. knows how to make the spiritual experiences of Ruan and Maeve "live" on a page. These are sections to be read and re-read.
It's not necessary to actually believe in that spiritual world to enjoy these stories, they can be great entertainment for anyone who doesn't, or anyone interested in ancient Celtic life.
So, if you love well drawn historical tales this is likely to be a good choice for you, too.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Fantastic Historical Fantasy
8 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this reimagining of an Irish legend and I absolutely loved Maeve. Maeve is such a fully fleshed-out heroine. She is fierce, intelligent, and unpredictable--struggling, grasping, fighting, desperate to protect her people, to prove herself and to earn true independence. Yet underneath her tough facade, she's extremely vulnerable. All her life she's been used and abused by men. She's frightened. She's full of self-doubt. Yet she's surprisingly sensitive and maternal. But she's surrounded by men to whom she dare not show any of these "weaknesses", men she wants to rule. She is continually challenged, and it's exhausting just to read about, so it's no wonder Maeve's health suffers as the stakes for her queenship grow higher. She finds unexpected solace in the company of Ruan, a mystical wanderer who, though he's blind, sees her as no one else has. But Maeve's rabid determination to become queen threatens to cost her everything, and when she finally comes to realize what is truly important to her, and what truly sets her free, will it be too late?
The Raven Queen is a mix of fantasy, history and romance, and it's brought to life in vivid Celtic detail. I love Ms. Watson's descriptive writing style, and the way she weaves the beauty of the natural world and the magic of the Source into the narrative and into the characters themselves. She has the marvelous ability to put the reader in the moment and make the reader feel that subtle magic, and it really helps lend some balance and peaceful moments to an intense, often violent story. Here's one of my favorite examples:
"For a time all was still, until a full moon broke over the hills. The lake-water flared into life. The reeds were tipped with silver, dipping and whispering. The streams and pools ignited into sheets of brightness. What had been clear in the day and empty in the dark now became something blurred. Gray. Silver. Indistinct. An in-between place."
See what I mean? Those moments of tranquility are a welcome diversion. There are many characters and several related storylines running simultaneously, and Maeve's precarious position is in a constant state of flux with one obstacle after another presenting itself, but the evolution of the story arc and the pacing are perfect throughout, and it all comes together flawlessly as the story reaches its conclusion.
When I'm reading, I love to escape into a different world and I like a good romance, but I also like to walk away feeling like I've learned something. Ms. Watson provides an interesting and detailed author's note describing the role Maeve has played in Irish myth and how she navigated the different versions of the legends to create her own tribute to Maeve. As a fan of fantasy and historical fiction, I thought it was great!
4.5 Stars
The Raven Queen is a mix of fantasy, history and romance, and it's brought to life in vivid Celtic detail. I love Ms. Watson's descriptive writing style, and the way she weaves the beauty of the natural world and the magic of the Source into the narrative and into the characters themselves. She has the marvelous ability to put the reader in the moment and make the reader feel that subtle magic, and it really helps lend some balance and peaceful moments to an intense, often violent story. Here's one of my favorite examples:
"For a time all was still, until a full moon broke over the hills. The lake-water flared into life. The reeds were tipped with silver, dipping and whispering. The streams and pools ignited into sheets of brightness. What had been clear in the day and empty in the dark now became something blurred. Gray. Silver. Indistinct. An in-between place."
See what I mean? Those moments of tranquility are a welcome diversion. There are many characters and several related storylines running simultaneously, and Maeve's precarious position is in a constant state of flux with one obstacle after another presenting itself, but the evolution of the story arc and the pacing are perfect throughout, and it all comes together flawlessly as the story reaches its conclusion.
When I'm reading, I love to escape into a different world and I like a good romance, but I also like to walk away feeling like I've learned something. Ms. Watson provides an interesting and detailed author's note describing the role Maeve has played in Irish myth and how she navigated the different versions of the legends to create her own tribute to Maeve. As a fan of fantasy and historical fiction, I thought it was great!
4.5 Stars
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Courageous but unlikable heroine
17 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
Jules Watson's The Raven Queen is a historical fantasy based on the ancient Irish legends about Queen Maeve. Red-haired and fiery-tempered, since childhood Maeve has resented being used by her father, King of Connacht, as a political tool. He has sent her as a peace-bride to acquire alliances with various neighboring warlords, but Maeve doesn't tend to actually foster peace anywhere she goes. In fact, she has just returned home to her dying father after running away from her third husband, the powerful King Conor -- an action that will surely bring Conor's wrath against Connacht at a time when they do not have a strong leader. As expected, when her father dies, Maeve, her brother, and other relatives begin vying for the throne of Connacht as they simultaneously brace for an invasion by King Conor.
Despite her admirable independence and courage, Maeve is not a likable heroine. You might argue that, based on the legends, she is not meant to be, but even a villainess can be a great heroine if the author can persuade the reader to believe it (and I've been persuaded many times). But there was no reason to sympathize with Maeve. For most of the story she was whiny, petulant, impulsive, mean, and bitter. She complains that her father used her body to make alliances, but then she offers her body when she needs an alliance. She hates men and marriage, but she uses men and marriage to get the power she wants for herself. And why does she want this power? She tells us she wants her people to be free, but it's hard to believe that when we see her behave so selfishly and ruthlessly. I thought she'd make a terrible queen and likely a worse ruler than at least one of the alternatives would, so I couldn't route for her, which kind of ruined most of the plot for me. Maeve became more likable by the end of the book, but by that time it was too late for me to start cheering for Maeve.
The Raven Queen might have gotten away with such an unpleasant heroine if its style had made up for it. Unfortunately, this was not the case -- there was little beauty in it. Short choppy sentences and paragraphs became irritatingly rhythmic, and word usage that was slightly "off" jarred me out of the story occasionally. As just one example, I found the constant use of the word "rutting" to be ugly and coarse (e.g. "She had gone too long without the release of rutting..."). Sounds like animals, not people. A bit more attention by the editor could have easily fixed this small but insidious problem.
Readers who don't mind an unlikable heroine (who does get better by the end of the book) and can overlook some editorial negligence will enjoy The Raven Queen more than I did. The story is fast-paced and includes some lively characters and plenty of action. Readers might also like to know that Jules Watson's novel The Swan Maiden is a companion story -- it tells that tale of Deirdre and Naisi.
Despite her admirable independence and courage, Maeve is not a likable heroine. You might argue that, based on the legends, she is not meant to be, but even a villainess can be a great heroine if the author can persuade the reader to believe it (and I've been persuaded many times). But there was no reason to sympathize with Maeve. For most of the story she was whiny, petulant, impulsive, mean, and bitter. She complains that her father used her body to make alliances, but then she offers her body when she needs an alliance. She hates men and marriage, but she uses men and marriage to get the power she wants for herself. And why does she want this power? She tells us she wants her people to be free, but it's hard to believe that when we see her behave so selfishly and ruthlessly. I thought she'd make a terrible queen and likely a worse ruler than at least one of the alternatives would, so I couldn't route for her, which kind of ruined most of the plot for me. Maeve became more likable by the end of the book, but by that time it was too late for me to start cheering for Maeve.
The Raven Queen might have gotten away with such an unpleasant heroine if its style had made up for it. Unfortunately, this was not the case -- there was little beauty in it. Short choppy sentences and paragraphs became irritatingly rhythmic, and word usage that was slightly "off" jarred me out of the story occasionally. As just one example, I found the constant use of the word "rutting" to be ugly and coarse (e.g. "She had gone too long without the release of rutting..."). Sounds like animals, not people. A bit more attention by the editor could have easily fixed this small but insidious problem.
Readers who don't mind an unlikable heroine (who does get better by the end of the book) and can overlook some editorial negligence will enjoy The Raven Queen more than I did. The story is fast-paced and includes some lively characters and plenty of action. Readers might also like to know that Jules Watson's novel The Swan Maiden is a companion story -- it tells that tale of Deirdre and Naisi.
historical celtic
27 Oct 2011
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I lover JUles Watson! She writes a very believable story and keeps me up nights until I finsh. I have read all of her books and will continue to because she writes my favorite genere and takes me on a real trip!
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