Honestly, this is the book that made we want to restart this blog. “Road of the Raven” is basically my perfect book.

It is “The Handmaid’s Tale” and District 12 from “The Hunger Games,” but also neither of those things at all. It made me cry and laugh and swoon and grip my Kindle with worry at times. It is a tender, touching love story, but also a story of two people discovering themselves, surviving through so much adversity, and discovering their own strengths.

The Blurb:

“Home has never signified freedom for Thora, but if she can reach the Pacific Coast, it might. Even though she’s escaped the walls of Genesis, her overbearing father, and cold fiancé, Thora’s determination can only get her so far. A thousand-mile trek separates her from freedom, as do the hunters intending to take her back.

But the land isn’t only full of danger. When Thora crosses paths with Zeke, their differences at first set them apart, but they eventually forge a bond that leads them to a place neither was expecting.

It leads them home.”

The Review:

Alexandra centers the bones of this novel in a dystopian setting that feels vaguely familiar, but also wholly unique. It’s a religious based dystopian world (thus the reference to Atwood), but one where America’s cities have been abandoned. The main character, Thora, grows up in a small guarded colony that stifles her choices and freedom. When she seizes her chance to escape and later meets Zeke on her path to freedom, the story begins to unfurl and Thora’s life truly begins. This story is a romance, but it is also so much more than that. It is a survival story of two people hiking a huge distance, surviving together, and escaping seeming insurmountable odds.

The romance itself is amazing and wholesome and very realistic. This is a slowwwww burn, but it’s very worth the wait. Thora and Zeke build so much trust and respect for each other during their travels, and it’s amazing to read their growth. The romance is extremely clean, which felt realistic for the characters. I always appreciate a sweet and realistic romance that still manages to still feel swoon-worthy, and this definitely fits the bill!

While the romance is fairly clean, I wouldn’t say this is a Young Adult novel. Although Thora is about 18-19 and Zeke probably isn’t much older, this book deals with some heavy topics. I think this is best for New Adult or Adult audiences. Trigger warnings I would mention: racism, homophobia, cancer, death of a loved one, infertility, and miscarriage.

Final Thoughts:

Alexandra’s prose is amazing, and the characters are unforgettable. This was an Infinity Stars read for me, meaning if I could give it more than 5/5 stars, I would. I adored this book completely, and I think you will too. If you like slow-burn romances, friends to lovers stories, survival stories, and dystopian concepts, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up. It is certainly a book I will reread.

Rating: 5/5 Stars. Infinity Stars.

You can pick Road of the Raven up on Amazon today!

Find it on Goodreads here!

Thanks to Alexandra for an advanced copy of this novel for review!