The Raven Thief (The Wild Rites Saga, #5) in Reverse Harem Revolution

Nov 17, 2019 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed, put-on-site

I still completely dig this series, but this book kept rubbing me wrong in all sorts of ways and was my least favorite. Before I start listing the reasons of woe, I'll mark off some pluses:

I really liked the ravens. Their structure, the "captain", and the moments with that.
Seshua was around more without them going at each other's throats. They even had a dance.
We get a small Zach moment and a little bit of the kids.
At the end of the book Emma mentions maybe going back to the ranch - I liked them I still completely dig this series, but this book kept rubbing me wrong in all sorts of ways and was my least favorite. Before I start listing the reasons of woe, I'll mark off some pluses:

I really liked the ravens. Their structure, the "captain", and the moments with that.
Seshua was around more without them going at each other's throats. They even had a dance.
We get a small Zach moment and a little bit of the kids.
At the end of the book Emma mentions maybe going back to the ranch - I liked them there, wish they would as a home base.
We get a resolution on a big-bad who did her completely wrong at the end of the third book.
Summer finally pops back up briefly - I like her and hope she sticks around.
Maybe not all is lost with a character previously thought dead and gone.

Now, the negatives....

SO. Much. ANGST. It's constant. It's every chapter. It's every relationship. It won't stop. It beat at me. It mixed in with every event, every relationship's good and bad moment, every plot point. Seriously stop. Too much angst with Telly, but not only that it's with Red Sun, Fern, Alexis.

I can't believe the author thought it was okay to have us wait five books for her to sleep with one of them, to have it done under duress at a magically induced orgy. Having people having to sleep with other people they wouldn't have chosen to otherwise feels too rape-like to me. I'm stunned the author thought this was okay, truly. Emma doesn't seem to care since she wanted Red Sun anyway and is happy it's finally happened when she didn't have her nerve before, but what about other people? *sighs* The forced orgy aside, it feels cheated to have the firsts be like that, not even in their control.

I don't like Emma as much now. She was oddly growing diva for the first portion of the book, and other times she's randomly bitchy. She kept getting on my nerves. Since she's the main character, that doesn't help.

I still love Fern as my favorite but the author is so focused on Alexi (who is the main in this book and there all the time) that it seems their bond is in a way stronger now than Ferns, which is crushing to me. He joins in on their private conversations even. I wanted her to have alone time with characters but she was interrupted the entire book by having too many people around all the time. Seriously, it's claustrophobic. I want her to have special times and magic with her characters, not have to share everything constantly and hear the other character's thoughts of everything with her relationships. It's hard to explain but was cloying.

We get she's powerful, we don't need her to have to say it every few chapters. On the other hand, she continues getting hurt, faint, weak from nausea, and now has a new serious side effect of doing something with the bears at the end of the book that will cause more angst concern in the future. *sighs*

This one also has one of the weakest plot wise. A few things happen but they are kind of on the sidelines to....well, angst relationships. I hope the next book has more Fern by himself and their bond strong again, more of the others by themselves in their own scenes with Emma without so much angst, not having to put in every politically correct thing in one book just to have it in there,
and Emma not acting like everything's about her all the time. We shall see! Since I enjoyed the series so much so far despite this last book, I'll be there with bells on when the next one arrives. It's been since 2016 so hopefully it's soon. ...more

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Jun 28, 2019 Saint Fitz rated it it was amazing

Review because I don't know if I ever reviewed this book series when I read it initially, perhaps over a year ago. Having just re-read it, it's all fresh in mind. This review is for the whole series.

First of all, Anna McIlwraith's world building and character development is second to none. I have never read an UF (RH-lite...) with such quality writing--its up *there* in my book with Karen Marie Moening's Fever Series, and that is saying a lot. Some thoughts on the characters:

Emma Chase is equal Review because I don't know if I ever reviewed this book series when I read it initially, perhaps over a year ago. Having just re-read it, it's all fresh in mind. This review is for the whole series.

First of all, Anna McIlwraith's world building and character development is second to none. I have never read an UF (RH-lite...) with such quality writing--its up *there* in my book with Karen Marie Moening's Fever Series, and that is saying a lot. Some thoughts on the characters:

Emma Chase is equal parts plucky and ballsy and soft and squishy. It makes her character very approachable--more "human" and less a caricature of a UF heroine. I appreciate that she doesn't go all goo-goo when a hot guy comes around (even if she does, indeed acknowledge all the shifters around her tend to go very naked and are insanely hot). She has guts. There are a few self-sacrificial moments that got on my nerves throughout the series, but it was woven into the fabric of her character, which made it less annoying. One of the marks of good character development is if you take a snapshot of the character at the beginning and end of the book, series, whatever, and ask, "has this character grown? Would their reaction to such-and-such person or event be the same as page 1 of the book?" In Emma's case, she grew, changed, stretched, and was continuously broken and reformed as a person throughout the series. I can't say enough how much I love this character.

Telly: Beautiful and agonizingly stupid. I mean, REALLY. He is a gazillion years old and selfish and more than a little unhinged. I loved this character as well, and just want so much more for him. I am really hoping future books bring his redemption.

Alexi: Clearly Alexi took a page from the Barrons play book. I can't quite put this character into words, but lets just say, he is everything you want in a romantic MC. EVEN if you don't like snakes, you'll like Alexi. Cold yet passionate. Ruthless yet gentle. Controlling yet supportive. I know, I'm talking in opposites, but he's all these things in the right kind of way.

Red Sun: Red kind of sneaks up on you. At first you think he's going to be a side character, but then he roars right into the plot and doesn't go anywhere. And somewhere in the third book you realize there's more to this character...that he's important to the plot...to Emma. To me, Red's character on the *inside* was the least clear (thoughts, motivations, hopes/dreams), perhaps because he spent the least amount of time in dialogue with Emma.

FERN: FERN FERN FERN FERN. I am obsessed with Fern. I clearly saved the best for last. I've never read another bond like his and Emma's. At first, it's terrible for her. Violating and inconvenient but dammit, it's impossible to hate Fern for what he did. To read Fern is to love Fern. Like Alexi, it's hard to describe him as a character. He's still got so many secrets and I am so excited to find out what's going to happen to him in the coming books. Out of all the characters, I am the most anxious for Fern and Telly to get sorted with Emma.

The plot: The one critique I have about the overall plot (the thing that's linking all the books together) is that it's not entirely clear where this ship is headed. All the individual books hold up and there are a few loose ends that have the potential to be bigger shitstorms if Anna McIlwraith writes them as such. For example, (view spoiler). I am curious (but trusting the author) how she will tie these strings up in the coming book or two.

The driver of this series is the characters and their development. Yes, there is a prophesy. And loads of action and suspense...but this about Emma and her guys and her growing her supernatural family. There's a lot of dialogue. The romance is EXTREMELY slow-burn. Like, (author says this outright) not till the 4th-5th book slow. SLOW SLOW SLOW. You have to be okay with both these things if you're gonna enjoy these books. Clearly, I am a masochist because I want more more more more.

At this moment, McIlwraith has said she's "still working on" the sixth book, but who knows when that will get published. She hasn't given up yet, so I'm hopeful this year will bring a new installment! ...more

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Apr 09, 2017 Tiffany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reverse-harem, waiting-for-the-next-book

Ok there are spoilers here!!! So the previous books had me crying, well with happened in Russia and then other stuff. I read other posts to try and get a few spoilers...yes I know I am evil lol, so I knew some of the things that was going to happen but not much. I did see many people complaining about that this was a "coming out of the closet book" and that they knew more about random people's sexual orientation than the story line.... I do have to agree a bit. The fact that the wasting illness Ok there are spoilers here!!! So the previous books had me crying, well with happened in Russia and then other stuff. I read other posts to try and get a few spoilers...yes I know I am evil lol, so I knew some of the things that was going to happen but not much. I did see many people complaining about that this was a "coming out of the closet book" and that they knew more about random people's sexual orientation than the story line.... I do have to agree a bit. The fact that the wasting illness slows fertility to a mere drip, alone says logically being trans, gay, lesbian, or asexual would not be logical at all because due to the fact that many of them are ruled by their beasts, for the most part, self preservation almost always wins. So it's not logical for that many in such a small group to be that many different sexual orientations, I understand that Ms. McIlwraith was more than likely wanting to show her support for the community and add a bit of everything in, and I do respect that. But if you look at it logically it just doesn't make sense for that many people in such a small group to not be of the sexual orientation that is required for mating and creating more of their species. Also it isn't very logical due to the fact that you encounter almost all sexual orientations in a rather small group, statistically speaking those odds are rather low, and well it all just made me feel like it was being forced in there to make it known that the Author was supporting the community and also getting her frustrations out of how horrible society tends to treat those that have different sexual orientations, that is ok as well but as I said I felt like it was forced and she was grasping at straws to try and count all of the sexual orientations. The polygamy part....jk it wasn't bad at all. I am against polygamy for myself due to insecurities and brainwashing of society, but I truly believe that some people are lucky enough to be in love and loved by more than one person. I don't think it was forced to much, as a Southern gal I can really understand how much she would struggle internally with fighting her feelings because society tells you it's not ok, although she is very stubborn and there are times when I want to slap her. Ok anyways this book was amazing....I finished the entire series in 3 days.....I am a very sleepy girl right now lol. I would highly recommend this series to many people. Can not wait for the next book, but I will wait patiently because I understand that with surgery you have to take time to get better and get back on a schedule. ...more

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May 31, 2017 Princess J. Antoinette rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, paranormal-other, possessive-alphas, billionaire-alphamale, contemporary-romance, shifters, fantasy-magic, romance-suspense, mystery

So good... But I tell ya Emma really hit a nerve with her indecisiveness of her feels for Red Sun, Fern, Telly and Sesuha. My goodness I really hope she get a grip by the next installment of the Wild Rites geesh. Anyway this book series is really a damn good read!

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Aug 24, 2021 mspotts rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rereadable, reverse-harem, heroes-i-love, urban-fantasy, unique, reverse-harem-favourites, strong-female-lead, paranormal-romance, alpha-male-done-well

All time favourite RH series! It isn't complete but at least it ended in a relatively stable place, although there's so much still left unresolved it's not even funny.

As usual, the world-building here is truly incredible and the characters are so vivid and well-described they practically jump off the page. There were some long-awaited intimate scenes in this fifth instalment of the Wild Rites Saga as well.

The author has a real knack for keeping you guessing who will be in the harem: we end the All time favourite RH series! It isn't complete but at least it ended in a relatively stable place, although there's so much still left unresolved it's not even funny.

As usual, the world-building here is truly incredible and the characters are so vivid and well-described they practically jump off the page. There were some long-awaited intimate scenes in this fifth instalment of the Wild Rites Saga as well.

The author has a real knack for keeping you guessing who will be in the harem: we end the book with only two confirmed and a big fat question mark over at least three others.

We got some information about Fern that broke me a little. I still think Emma loves him the most. Despite her relationship with Alexi, Fern is bound to her SOUL - there's no escaping that. It's only a matter of time.

*SPOILERS*

Now, as others have said, there were some real issues with Emma's character in this book. While I'm happy to see a strong female character who doesn't allow the big strong men in her life to make a wuss of her, it spoils the effect when Emma ends up defying everyone literally at every opportunity.

She pretends that she doesn't want to be treated 'special', and yet, barks orders at everyone, throws her authority around (which btw, I'm fine with, she's a leader), but then on the flip side, refuses to accept the personal sacrifices due to a leader - such as accepting her bodyguards' protection, understanding that her life is more important due to who she is, and respecting other people's choices to take bullets on her behalf.

She makes it clear that Alexi, Telly, Seshua and all her other protectors can't stop her from taking risks - yet tries to stop them from doing what they want to do as their role as her guardians. How is that fair?? And then there's her inability to compromise, her need to always have things her own way (outside of her relationships, at least). Worse, whenever someone calls her out on it, somehow it ends up being that person's fault, until one day, everyone eventually stops fighting her and accepts her way of thinking so they can stay by her side.

Alexi's character changed in this book, and while I adored seeing the new sensitive side to him, it also saddened me to see him becoming less true to his nature. The men in her life allow her to be domineering because they love her, but by doing all this she lessens them - makes them feel unneeded, and honestly, makes them a little redundant. I mean, what's the point of having all that ancient manly firepower at your disposal 24/7 if it can't be used when needed?? Only with Fern, who is less 'alpha' and is bound to her will anyway, is she still reasonable.

So, yeah, I had issues with Emma in this one. Her stubbornness became grating. And then the maiming happened and I just couldn't. She reacts in a way that I felt was just unrealistic. Even soldiers who are used to seeing terrible injuries struggle to accept losing a limb. She was just too strong here, too perfect.

I wonder if that's why the author hasn't been able to finish the next book? Emma needing a prosthetic isn't the kind of easy character development or plot point that you can brush off. Especially in such a high-action, fast-paced story, where Emma risks her life at least twice per novel. Losing a limb has real consequences and will be a complete change to her lifestyle. It's also a blow to her independence - and I think pretending otherwise is insulting to the very real challenges that real-life people in her position would face. Not to say she can't still be independent or powerful - but that making it all so easy, diminishes the loss. I dunno - it'll be interesting to see how Emma adjusts or if the author will just skim over it as if nothing's changed.

Hopefully, one day, we'll get a resolution, although at the moment it seems unlikely. ...more

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Jun 07, 2018 Yasmin rated it really liked it

The series is great but all the dark drama makes me dread what will happen next to Emma.

I wouldn't be surprise at this point if one of her love interest dies.
...more

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