I previously reviewed SORCERY OF THORNS, which is another book by Margaret Rogerson. An Enchantment of Ravens is their first book, and I loved Sorcery of Thorns so much that I had to read this book.
So. SO GOOD.
An amazon summary, "Isobel is an artistic prodigy with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious, Rook spirits her away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime. But something is seriously wrong in his world, and they are attacked from every side. With Isobel and Rook depending on each other for survival, their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
Isobel paints portraits of the fair folk. She has many fair folk that come to her for their portraits in exchange for enchantments. Fair folk don't pay in money for anything, they pay in enchantments. But, the enchantments can be very tricky to make sure they don't expire or go bad. Isobel has grown up in the village of Whimsy; where the king of the fair folk has made it eternally summer. Isobel has grown up surrounded by fair folk and is very adept at being able to work with them. She's very aware of all their idiosyncrasies and rules for polite behavior. The fair folk can also never lie, which, Isobel can use to her advantage. They are extremely dangerous though and pretty temperamental. The fair folk are also immortal, and are unable to make any sort of craft. Any. So they need the mortals for things and stuff.
So when the prince of the summer court comes calling, Rook, for a portrait. Isobel finds something more mesmerizing about Rook. He's unlike any of the other fair folk she's encountered, and Isobel becomes somewhat entranced by him. She's determined to get the eyes of his portrait just right... and paints mortal emotions into her eyes. The painting is revealed to his court, and well, the court is outraged. Rook comes back to Whimsy to make Isobel pay for her crime, and they start to traverse through the fair folks realms. But something is not right with the fair folk realms, something is not right at all.
That's enough summary.
Alright. So this is a take on the fair folk (fae, fairies, etc.) that I've never encountered before. I loved every moment of it. Isobel was such a great heroine, and she was so clever, and quick witted in ways I didn't anticipate and it was even more of a delight to read.
I also loved reading about the rules and how they were gradually introduced for how to interact with the fair folk. There's also a moment where the fair folk are compelled to return a bow or curtsy, and she ends up curtsying a fair folk across a room, freaking hilarious.
There were also lots of little oddities sprinkled throughout the world due to the fair folk which only enhanced their otherness and difference from the mortals. There was also the good law to contend with (you have to read the book to find out what that is) which added another level of complexity.
I really liked seeing the dynamic between the mortals and the fair folk, but I also super appreciated how the story unfolded. The pace was well done, the tone was consistent with its foreboding air, and it reminded me a lot of some of the older fairy tales and how they served a message and purpose.
It was just really freaking good. I'm excited to see what this author will do next. I love the world building they create and the characters they build. Fascinating and marvelous to read.
Happy reading!
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