Book: A Tempest of Ravens by E.A. Bard
Reviewed by Ashley M
Rating: 4/5
Overview
Dates read: September 11 – September 21, 2026
E.A. Bard drops us into a dark, swirling historical atmosphere, and she clearly did her homework before unleashing absolute magic. The sheer level of historical detail — from the lived-in settings and authentic linguistic touches to the way people actually interact — turns what could have been standard fantasy into something thoroughly immersive and grounded.
Instead of a cozy historical stroll, you’re handed pure high-stakes intrigue right out of the gate. A villainous character casually uses a dark artifact — a shriveled, severed forearm — to keep the local crowd in absolute terror. Eww, honestly. It immediately sets the tone: the magic here is unpredictable, atmospheric, and deeply eerie.
What I Loved
Creeping visions and raven magic. Our heroine’s “Gift” — the Second Sight — functions as much like a terrifying curse as it does magic.
Cormac. Pure Maleficent-raven energy: flitting around pitch-black huts, brushing silk-soft wings against necks, dropping items directly into hands.
Brahan. Pure joy on the page; when he claps his hands in mirth, you can’t help but giggle along. (I will not have him die on my watch. I love him!)
The set pieces. Blades drawn in swirling sea-fog, angry storm clouds swelling overhead, lightning casting ghostly silhouettes across the sky.
A serious core. Under the banter — sailors colorfully coaxing wind into the sails, men secretly perfecting their mothers’ baking recipes — threatening illnesses and past trauma keep you on edge for the people the characters are trying to protect.
What Didn’t Work
“For the last goddamned time, will you marry me?”
The romance feels rushed, the only real stumble in an otherwise seamless narrative. These two have had maybe three proper interactions before the breathless passion ignites. Some of the dialogue felt a touch melodramatic and broke my immersion — one minute a pitch-perfect proposal, the next I’m reminded of the bloopers from Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus when someone murmurs, “Hmm, that tickles.” (Also: suspiciously modern-feeling goatees. I’m doing a terrible job imagining historical figures with those.)
Verdict
★★★★☆ (4/5) — equal parts historical fantasy, dramatic tension, and delightfully unhinged fun. Pick this one up if you crave meticulous historical research, atmospheric magic, and unpredictable characters.
Read next:
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig — the same mist-shrouded atmosphere and dangerous, curse-like magic.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon — if the historical research and sudden, high-intensity romance swept you away.
Full review on Medium