Raven Song (Inoki's Game, #1)

by I a Ashcroft

[layawaydragon]

The Good
+This starting Arc is a complete tale with an open ending for continuation that I loved
+Anna and Jackson were well done, apart and together
+Loved finding out about their pasts and what happened to Anna in her time
+Action-packed
+Interesting worldbuilding with solid dystopian aspects incorporating paranormal/mythology

The Bad & The Other
-Took time to get into
-No diversity
-Supporting cast is typical


The prologue sets the weird what-the-fuck-ness that lasts. While I didn’t know what was going on, it was enjoyable and wasn’t nonsensical. It reminds me of The Raven Cycle in this way – you know it’ll come around and make sense eventually. It’s all connected and planned like a web. The flies we’re following just don’t see the whole picture yet.

It is dark with the recurring themes and the content. There’s plenty of violence – nuclear fallout, spontaneous combustion, and fire-fights—and ruthless groups all around. Even the healers don't sit back.

There’s scant time for Jackson to set things up, and he’s rather clueless for the local you’ll find (he wouldn't be a Ravenclaw), then it starts hopping. At the end, it’s been a week and in typical action-adventure fashion, no one can believe it.

It wasn’t always the smoothest. It’s immediately interesting and different, it wasn’t submersive at first. Around 30% or so is where I racing to pick it back up again. The plot was illuminated to show more depth and I was investing in the characters.

I love all the bits and pieces going on and around. I keep thinking about it all and wondering....

I love the ending. The first leg of the journey and level 1 boss is finished, and they’re onto the next intriguing path. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the next installment.



If you like dark reads or dystopians, you’ll enjoy Raven Song. I agree about the recs in the blurb for "Readers of Neil Gaiman, Holly Black, and Charlie Human".

While Jackson and Anna are in the New Adult range, there’s no sexual content (for those who care) and has great cross-over appeal for all mature readers. Of course, I was reading Stephen King in middle school so my perspective is hardly the norm, fyi.