The Relic Master (Book of the Crow, #1)

by Catherine Fisher

Raffi is apprenticed to the Relic Master, Galen, whose task is to keep safe the relics of a bygone age. But his powers are weakening and he and Raffi set off to meet the Makers in the City of the Crows and discover why. The journey is beset with dangers and Raffi's courage is tested at every turn. They are joined by the enigmatic girl Carys and face an uncertain future in the City of Destruction. Will they be able to summon the Crow to help them? Or will the everpresent Watch eventually eliminate them?

• ISBN10: 0099263939
• ISBN13: 9780099263937
• Publish Date: 4 February 1999 (first published 6 August 1998)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 25 September 2012
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
• Imprint: Red Fox
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[rakesandrogues]

If it weren’t for the fact that I received this for review from Library Thing, I probably would not have picked it up. I usually don’t go for heavy fantasy, but I was curious about Catherine Fisher. Author of the Incarceron series, I’ve heard many good things about her other books and I’ve been meaning to pick them up. Despite my qualms about heavy fantasy, THE DARK CITY was very enjoyable for me – which can only mean that lovers of fantasy can only like this book even more.

What I loved about this book was its ability to suck me in. Even if I only started reading in short intervals, I found it amazing that Fisher was able to pull me straight in. The book was a quick and easy read. The pages just flew by and before I knew it, I had already finished the book. THE DARK CITY looked lengthy, but the combination of bigger than usual font, and photographs before the start of each chapter really takes up a lot of space after a while. Not that I’m complaining… The ARC I received was just absolutely gorgeous. The cover itself is shiny and the photographs of the stars before each chapter was something I looked forward to.

Though I’m not a huge fantasy reader, I have to give Fisher props for her fantastic world building. My imagination went wild with her vivid descriptions of relics and Anara. It did take me a while to get into the whole magic of the story, but I think that’s the reluctant fantasy reader in me. But once I tamed down my resistance, I fully welcomed the world of Anara and the magic of the Keepers.

Since it’s written in third person for the most part, it was tough to connect with any of the characters. We are given a glimpse into the thoughts of Carys, however, since she does write a journal every so often throughout the book. I was intrigued with her personal conflicts about what was right and wrong. She was really the only character in the book that went through a lot of changes as the story progressed. I hope that in the later books we learn more about Raffi.

I would definitely recommend that fans of Catherine Fisher pick this up, as well as those who love stories with heavy fantasy and adventure elements. Though THE DARK CITY is the first in a four-part series, each subsequent book is due to release this summer! The wait won’t be long, and fans will have something to look forward to all throughout summer!