Legends of the Ceo San by J. Elizabeth Vincent

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 Raven Thrall (Legends of the Ceo San #1)

                                                        
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Raven Thrall is the first in the Legends of the Ceo San series by J. Elizabeth Vincent. Miriah had fled across the sea, believing that her mother had betrayed her and sold her to the King's men. She has made a new life for herself. In a world where Ceo San people (people who could shapeshift into an animal) were being hunted and enslaved by a greedy and power-hungry king, Miriah has been half changed her entire life. She was a tall, lean woman with striking silver hair and a pair of huge black and silver wings on her back.

When faced with the choice of going back to her homeland to help save the family of a fellow shifter, she is forced into a complete shift through necessity and she and a young crow eager to find his siblings take in an impossible quest.

Along the way, Miriah and Xae make some interesting friends, have some battles with foes and end up smack in the middle of the Varidian and in the reach of the KIng. Miriah has to decide whether the Ceo San are chosen for a divine purpose or cursed to be hunted down and enslaved.

Raven Thrall is one of those books that grab as you start reading/listening.  It has a great opening, and the story flows easily and naturally, leaving a well-constructed world where the magical creatures fit in seamlessly.  The vivid descriptions of the hawks and crow in flight are mesmerizing.

Lynn Norris does an excellent job as narrator and brings the characters to life, conveying the emotions of the characters and making each one unique and discernible,

This is a good epic fantasy that can safely be recommended to YA, with the caution that there is some violence and deaths but that it fits into the story.


Healer's Sacrifice, the prequal to Raven thrall is also a good read and gives more information about Shira and the circumstances surrounding the fate of the Ceo San

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