Crowfall: The Raven’s Mark book 3 by Ed McDonald (book review).
‘Crowfall’ is the final book in ‘The Raven’s Mark’ which is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the land itself is an enemy of the people.
Ryhalt Galharrow has spent the six years since the events in Ravencry absorbing the Misery. The poisoned land caused by the previous battle between immortals should have killed him but he’s trying to weaponise it, knowing there is more and worse to come.
The Nameless, the immortals who protect the Republic, are weakened and the Deep Kings are moving against them. It’s going to break the world and there are just a few broken individuals who need to come together to stop it.
Losing the love of his life changed Ryhalt, again. He’s already in service to Crowfoot, one of the Nameless, part of a dark bargain in the past and now he seeks to claw back his losses. He’s rejected Valiya, who now serves a different master, and he’s lost track of his ward, Amaira. She’s a captain of the Blackwing and she, too, has taken the raven’s mark of Crowfoot.
Old enemies return and new challenges arise in this final epic instalment as Galharrow and us swing from hope to despair and back again. The finale is a sweeping and dramatic series of events and a concentrated surge of emotions which may leave you a little bit teary-eyed at the end-mostly because this story is now over.
As you may have guessed, I really enjoyed this book. Although epic in stature it drills down to the human level of real loss, decisions and the importance of friends. Although there is magic and sword fighting, it’s the underlying emotions that are important.
It’s a worthy trilogy and worth a complete re read. One it’s many attractions is that people are not just cannon-fodder. Nobody is wasted and even the enemies get a fair crack. Galharrow’s journey is ours. We may not carry his sword and armour but our blackened hearts are like his. We live, we learn and, hopefully, we, too, can save the world.
Sue Davies
September 2019
(pub: Gollancz. 454 page hardback, 2019. Price: £18.99 (UK only). ISBN: 978-1-473-22209-0)
check out websites: www.golancz.co.uk, www.orionbooks.co.uk and www.edmacdonaldwriting.com
