The Brush of Black Wings

I love grave driven for the romance and steamy scenes, but this story was a little anticlimactic and I was left wanting a longer story with more complex plot line. Hoping for more full length novels about these 2 characters

This is a short story that takes place after Master of Crows, which I think you should really read first so you have a better understanding of the characters, their relationships, and the significance of their Gifts. Quick overview: Martise accidentally stumbles over a gate to another world and a demon who thinks she can free him. Silhara pretty much stops at nothing to rescue her and we are all reminded why he's our favorite grumpy crow mage. There's a lot packed in here for a short story. We're introduced to a couple of characters that make me wonder if we will see more of them later though there's a mystery or two regarding Martise that remain unresolved. I feel like the author is setting up for future stories and not just ones involving Martise and Silhara.

Spoiler alert! Here there be spoilers! Enter at your own risk!

One of the other short stories, The Light Within, pretty much establishes that Master of Crows and Radiance are set in the same world but in different time periods with Radiance being in the past. Radiance also happens to be the first book of the Wraith Kings series. In TBoBW, Silhara and Martise encounter Megiddo, one of the five demonic Wraith Kings who supposedly terrorized the world centuries ago. Except the true story of what really happened was lost. Hmm, makes you think, doesn't it?

Megiddo shows Silhara the truth but we're not privy to it. Silhara manages to send Acseh back to her time period with Megiddo's sword but we don't see how that plays out. I think we're going to see Acseh and Megiddo again but probably in the Wraith Kings books. Or at least I hope we do - why go through the trouble of establishing two interesting characters just to never use them again and leave their story unfinished? Martise's Gift returns but is acting strangely. Also, is she pregnant or somehow affected by all the dark magic she came into contact with? And there's a random crow following them around for some reason - Conclave spy or what? I really think there's a lot of things being put into motion here that are going to affect future books in both series. And I'm very excited about that.

As always recommend G. Draven to all of my friends and those looking for a good book in general. However; this is not one of my favorite pieces from her. I do not hate it and I love that it connects Radiance and Master of Crows but it felt incomplete. Hopefully, the next installment finishes the storyline out completely.

DISCLOSURE: I received The Brush of Black Wings (TBoBW) as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. No bribes or gifts were requested or received for this review.

“…The Master of Crows was a caustic, temperamental man with a razor tongue and no hesitation in using it to flay someone bloody. Sometimes though, he blunted its edge a little, offering a sharp wit instead that encouraged a laugh…”

The long, eagerly anticipated sequel to Master of Crows (MoC) has finally arrived and will soon be in wide release to the general public. Fans of Ms Draven's wonderful stories will enjoy this novella, which takes place at Neith a few years after the events of MoC.

Without getting too much into the details, suffice it to say that little did Neith's inhabitants suspect that Martise's early wintry morning's mushroom-picking jaunt would turn into a terrifying encounter with a ghostly presence and the opening of a gate to an unknown half-world.

What follows is the subtly portrayed deep-seated love between the former apprentice and her master, as well as between the couple, their magefinder Cael, and servant Gurn, as well as the suspense of determining who and/or what is driving the events Martise is experiencing. However, once a portion of the puzzle unravels, the mystery deepens even more. Nothing is what it appears, least of all… a wraith king.

There is a scene in which Martise is having a nightmare; it brought to vivid life for me the Nazgul in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Lest anyone think I’m comparing TBoBW to LotR, I’m emphatically not because the books and worlds are very different, but the description within the nightmare instantly made me think of the Nazgul.

I think readers will be more than pleasantly surprised at the tantalizing twists and turns TBoBW takes. If there is any disappointment to be had, it is that TBoBW is not a full novel, but that is a minor quibble in the scheme of things, especially as Ms Draven has promised more books in this series.

Note: Readers do not need to read Master of Crows to enjoy The Brush of Black Wings, but doing so will enhance their pleasure.

Ohhhh how unnerving!! PLEASE Grace con't this series, i LOVE Silhara & Martise, i want more. I'm hoping her FB is connected to the store reviews instantly, so she reads this. This was fantastic, but only ~100pgs?!? She has to con't w/ Megiddo & Acseh's story! I want to know what happens to them & i want more of The Crow family.

The book that confirms that both Radiance/Eidolon & Master of Crows universes are the same one. I loved this one. Just finished Eidolon a few days ago so was happy to delve myself more into see more of Meggidon in this one even if the end was kinda abrupt. & yes can never get enough of Silhara and Martise. Great to see Meggido again, If you want to see how he came to be trapped read the Wraith Kings series(Radiance/Eidolon) ASAP: You won't regret it!

wonderful return to our favorite grumpy crow mage and his talented wife as they stumble into an old piece of forgotten dark and terrible history via a mushroom hunt and a magical time trap...this is another gem in the wondrous crown of stories concerning Silhara of Neith and his beloved apprentice Martise...

Follow-up novella to Master of Crows. Love the characters, earthy, funny and real. Can't say too much about the story without giving it away, but Martise becomes involved in a magical situation that causes Silhara to have to come to her aid. It is a very good story, which I picked up because I am becoming a very big fan of Grade Draven's writing. Recently read MoC, and Radiance and am hooked. If you like well written, fast-paced fantasy stories give it a try.

I found Master of Crows really pulled me into the story. I couldn't wait to pick it back up when I had a walk away from it. The Brush of Black Wings was interesting, but It felt like certain pieces of the story were missing or rushed through. The book ended and I wanted more.