And if the story was more about characters than world or plot, well, I kinda like that. Otherwise, this little indie book scratched the itch – it had the drama of a fantasy world, the romance focus I love, and characters that fired up my imagination. The story tries, it really does, to make up for the skewed power dynamic. Oh and she has the baggage of a lifetime of slavery to overcome. As the story goes on, alongside being a spy, Martise becomes Sil’s apprentice, servant, and (no spoiler here, guys, we knew it was coming) lover – sometimes simultaneously. But but but, I’m squeamish when it comes to professor-student, mentor-mentee, and employer-employee romances. Powerful, tortured hero meets terrible-past heroine, and slowly, from animosity, we get affection as they both realize that the other is a human being worthy of love and respect. On the one hand, it has all of the kind of intrigue I love in my fantasy/romance. So, I loved The Master of Crows, and I really didn’t love The Master of Crows. She’s set up to be his scribe and apprentice. On the other, you have Martise a young slavewoman-turned-spy who’s been promised her freedom if she is able to find the proof of Silhara’s crimes that would lead to his execution. Welp, on the one hand, you have the renegade sorcerer Silhara, reticent avatar of the evil god, Corruption. Who needs plot? The Book I Ended Up Reading. Being so close to him, with her senses inundated by the force of his Gift and his very maleness, made thinking difficult. The Master of Crows was an overwhelming presence, frightening, annoying and fascinating. Here’s another cover that I couldn’t pass by. Grace Draven (Goodreads Author) Not Liable for Damages s review really liked it.

Master of crows by grace draven