Reviews by Book
Reviews of Amaskan’s Blood
Reviews of Amaskan’s War
Reviews of Class-M Exile
Reviews of Joy to the Worlds
Reviews of Dragon Springs & Other Things
Reviews of Space Ships & Other Trips
Reviews of Voices Carry
PRAISE FOR AMASKAN’S BLOOD
With a ferocious-yet-fragile heroine, resonant themes, and a sweepingly gorgeous backdrop, Amaskan’s Blood delivers food for thought and frank enjoyment.”
Maia Chance, author of the Fairy Tale Fatal series
An exciting epic fantasy filled with intrigue and layers upon layers of well crafted secrets and lies.” 4/5 stars.
Stephanie Hildreth of 100 Pages a Day
Holy crap, this is good!
Seattle Geekly
This is a novel for readers who enjoy plots filled with twists and intrigue and characters that are emotionally on edge, multidimensional, and solidly developed…It is cinematic and outright entertaining. 5/5 stars
Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite
Oak draws on the power of themes found in fairy tales we’ve all grown up with, and weaves them into a powerful tale full of violence, emotion and anguish, whilst delivering a powerful and well held together story….If George R R Martin wrote Tangled, it might be a bit like this.
Noor Jahangir, author of The Adventures of Some Kid
Just when you think you know where the novel is headed, the author will surprise you, frighten you, charm you, and, ultimately, move you profoundly. …if you’re longing for the next season of Game of Thrones to begin, this is the novel to read while you’re waiting. 5/5 stars
Chanticleer Reviews
“[A] fantasy novel in its truest form…these well-developed individuals held me captive. It was a very strong start to a fantasy series that I very much look forward to following.”
Pure Jonal: Confessions of a Bibliophile Reviews
We all enjoyed her book immensely….Amaskan’s Blood most certainly receive[s] the Sparkle Motion stamp of approval.
Sparkle Motion Book Club – Special January Selection
The prose itself is…a cut above the rest as Raven Oak playfully dances with the reader. It’s the addition of just enough detail, and the right amount of it, that makes this read. Oak is loquaciously talented and the writing in the book shines. [She] crafts [her] words carefully, in order to pull the reader in, and once he’s hooked, reels him in.
Open Book Society
…A feast of words…Reading [Amaskan’s Blood] was like trying to run through Alexander–exhilarating, beautiful and filled with danger for preconceived notions about how people of any economic or social level should be treated.
Penguinate
I thought I had “outgrown” fantasy novels quite a while ago, but Amaskan’s Blood kept me intrigued, entertained, and engaged. The world and character building are well done, and the writing is exceptional. 5/5 stars
Beowulf, Reader Review
This book is a story rich in characters and with a plot that stands out from most of its peers...Don’t miss this, its well worth the read. 5/5 stars
Matthew Trotter, Reader Review
The epic fantasy unwinds with sorcery, secrets and convoluted layers of plot… I look forward to the next book of the saga. 4/5 stars
Laurel, Reader Review
An A rating! (Read full break down here.)
Book Digits
Adelei undertakes to save the kingdom, protect Margaret, and discover what truth, loyalty, duty, and family really mean—a tall order for any heroine….
Publisher’s Weekly
Amaskan’s Blood is nothing short of the complete narrative journey, [with] coming-of-age, seeking the meaning of life, and getting to the bottom of great mystery. Make your way to through to the last page, and you will have found a kingdom you wouldn’t mind checking up on from time to time. 5/5 stars
Goodreads Review
[Amaskan’s Blood is] a novel that compelled me to read one more page before going to sleep. 5/5 stars
Reader Review
[Amaskan’s Blood is] a story that is like the love child of Bujold’s Paladin of Souls and Patricia Brigg’s Masques…If you enjoy intrigue, religions and politics this would be a good match for you. 3/5 stars
LibraryThing Early Reviews
PRAISE FOR AMASKAN’S WAR
The dialogue is authentic, the world is exquisitely depicted, and Margaret herself blossoms into a powerhouse before our very eyes. If there is such a thing as a “sloggy middle” when it comes to a series, it appears nobody told Raven Oak that.
Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite
‘A suspense-filled YA fantasy adventure set in a complex fantasy world. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
PRAISE FOR CLASS-M EXILE
There’s a nice twist to the end of this story…I enjoyed ‘Class-M Exile’. not only for the main story and plot twists, but for the implied depth to the back story. It’s well worth reading.
Andy Whitaker of SFCrowsnest
A new voice in science fiction. Oak combines a multi-species future with a contemporary “down home” flavor to create a gripping work of heartbreak and racial tension.
Janine A. Southard, author of the award-winning Hive Queen Saga
I quite enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story. They were so different from anything that I’ve met before. I felt as if I actually knew them.
Jonel Boyko, Pure Jonel Reviews
Intriguing and thoughtful space adventure novella…[with] important themes about prejudice, humanity and war. With a surprising ending, Class-M Exile makes for a fun, reflective and quick read. (4/5 stars)
Stephanie Hildreth of 100 Pages a Day
If you are a fan of sci-fi that is funny, has tension, AND makes you think, please pick up this book. It easily holds its own against Doug Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide, and had me smiling the whole way through. (5/5 stars)
G. G. Silverman, author of Vegan Teenage Zombie Huntress
Some of the best scenes…involved short conversations between Eerl and Mel about human culture and history. These talks provided glimpses into corners of their minds…. I looked forward to every single one of them….
Long & Short Reviews
[Class-M Exile] really does do what [Star] Trek does, in that it functions well in social commentary. If you like science fiction that really deals with social commentary…you need to check this book out! You need to put this author on your radar.
SciFi Diner Podcast
Oak hurls you thousands of years into the future and hits you at the core of your being. It’s a fresh look at science fiction in a charming “hillbilly” fashion… The plot has as much intrigue, suspense and action befitting a much larger work…a testament to Oak’s skill at short fiction writing.
Open Book Society
Class-M Exile tells a fast-paced sci-fi tale from the point of view of an alien that seems to relish old school human culture without any understanding of it. If there is anything that draws me into an organically derived new world, it is language…I, for one, would like to applaud the author, Raven Oak for this.
Stephanie Buck, Reader Review
I am someone who cut her teeth on Heinlein and Bradbury and likes smart sci-fi, not just techno-thrillers. I liked this book a lot, primarily because it used Otherness to contrast and ponder the nature of ‘humanity’, but also because the plot moved a good clip and didn’t get bogged down under too much navel-gazing. (4/5 stars)
Kyra the Red, Reader Review
A smart and well written science fiction story not only about cross-species discovery, but one young woman’s journey of self discovery. Although that description makes this book sound as though it could be very “heavy,” it’s spiced with enough humor and action to keep it lively and moving, with an ending that will haunt you. (5/5 stars)
Beowulf, Reader Review
[It’s] so powerful…Reminds me of the struggle each of us has to survive, regardless of the many popular myths to the contrary.
Early Reader
Class-M Exile is excellent. I loved it. I loved the voice, and the pacing, the treatment of race and commerce and bigotry…Really, really awesome.
Maia Chance, author of the bestselling series Fairy Tale Fatal
[It] proved to be an interesting sci-fi novella with a moral for both hu-mans and aliens alike. Will looking to read the author’s other books. 5/5 stars.
Bookseller Review from Netgalley
[Class-M Exile] barrels ahead like a chase scene from Firefly, all the way up to its thrilling end and heart-stopping last line…The pacing is swift and the mood is very tight and tense, and Oak doesn’t give the reader much time to take a breath in between action scenes. 4/5 stars.
Reviewer from LibraryThing
PRAISE FOR JOY TO THE WORLDS
Eight short stories by four authors glisten with holiday wonder, each one decorated in hues of legend, myth, SF, and quirky, joyful fun.
Publishers Weekly
Joy to the Worlds is a wide-ranging mixture of SF, Fantasy and Horror that made me wish for snowy weather and a good hot drink. [It] reminded me of Connie Willis’s collection Miracle and Other Christmas Stories.
SFFWorld
…an imaginative ride into the ‘what-if’. Drawing from traditional mythology and lore as well as time-travel and science fiction, each author presents a unique perspective on the traditional holiday tale. 4/5 stars
San Francisco Book Review (Cross posted to Only One More Page)
…brain-bending, strange, and wonderful…perfect for taking your mind off holiday stresses…Grab a copy for yourself, and think about your book-obsessed friends as well.
Fan Girl Nation
…a spunky alternative to traditional holiday fare…If you’re a dystopian at heart, “Joy to the Worlds” may be the remedy for you.
Barbara McMichael, The Kitsap Sun and The Bellingham Herald
…clever and evocative of the mystery and thrill of Christmas by turns creepy and sometimes amusing. Ranging from dark dystopian worlds to comedic retro-futures, four diverse writers find new ways to combine these disparate worlds into something anyone will enjoy.
Amy Brown, Geek Syndicate
The holidays plus spec-fic… yes please! I was tempted to hold off reading this book until closer to Christmas, but I couldn’t do it. I needed this book in my life. And the good news is… Joy to the Worlds did not disappoint! The bad news is, I want more! Way more. This book was unlike any other holiday collection out there, and that’s why I loved it. Is it Christmas yet?
Librarian Nerdette
…good, well-paced and enjoyable anthology of speculative fiction/urban fantasy short stories set around Christmas time. It is an enjoyable read, suits to season for this urban fantasy junkie and all in all something I suggest you pop in your eBook stocking tomorrow! 4 out of 5 stars
Janis Hill of Janis’ Reviews
…a solid collection of fantasy and sci-fi jaunts that will leave you with a strangely satisfying Christmassy feeling. 4 out of 5 stars
The Bookshelf Gargoyle
…engaging collection…this [book] need not be limited to holiday season reading. 4.25 out of 5 stars
Martha’s Bookshelf
…well-written and enjoyable…a great holiday-time read!
Tungsten Hippo
…fantastical, dark and unique…All the stories are a completely different reading experience and will thrill mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and horror fans alike.
I Smell Sheep
Great Holiday Spiced Speculative Fiction…delightful collection. [Ol’ St. Nick]–Think Santa Claus vs the Martians crossed with Firefly and a dash of The Sopranos. [In The Ringers] Raven Oak really managed to turn holiday traditions on their heads.
Conrad Zero
…a fascinating mixture of genres. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries that are heavily influence by science fiction.
Long & Short Reviews
We get to travel in space, time, and the incredible, from the perspective of four different authors that brings a great degree of freshness to the book. Definitely fun to read while enjoying some hot cocoa around the fireplace.
The Reading Frog
…A good anthology with an interesting premise…a good holiday read. 4 out of 5 stars
Through Raspberry Colored Glasses
[Joy to the Worlds will] entertain in an unexpected way, giving the reader a slightly askew look at the holiday season. What better way to be introduced to authors you haven’t tried before?
Buried Under Books
The twists and turns will leave you gasping for breath and looking forward to the next cliffhanger. 4 out of 5 stars.
Masquerade Crew Reviews
…Pour some egg nog, snuggle in beside the Christmas tree, and get lost somewhere in the wonderland that is ‘Joy to the Worlds’; just keep an eye out for any rogue Christmas decorations or suspicious crew members first.
What Is That Book About? Review
…each story had a bit of charm to it…something for everyone!
Author Elizabeth Guizetti (Full video review HERE)
Pick up Joy to the Worlds for this winter holiday, settle yourself in a comfy armchair with a hot chocolate at hand, and let go of reality. The twists and turns will leave you gasping for breath and looking forward to the next cliffhanger. 4 out of 5 stars
Early Reviewer
…Splendidly eclectic collection of science fiction and fantasy Christmas mystery stories. The tales are brain-bending, strange, and wonderful. This set of short stories is perfect for taking your mind off holiday stresses—or for reading in July…
Jessica Greenlee (Reviewer)
We get to travel in space, time, and the incredible, from the perspective of four different authors that brings a great degree of freshness to the book. Definitely fun to read while enjoying some hot cocoa around the fireplace.
Armando Negron (Reviewer)
PRAISE FOR DRAGON SPRINGS & OTHER THINGS
…a mesmerizing debut collection by the talented author and artist Raven Oak. This captivating anthology combines a decade’s mystical tales, showcasing Oak’s versatility and mastery of various genres, including gothic and urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and steampunk…Raven Oak’s name is sure to be etched in the annals of literature as she continues to enchant audiences with her unparalleled storytelling prowess.
Midwest Book Review – Review from Suzy Housley, Sr. Editor.
All the stories are delightful. Oak explores a wide range of subjects and styles in her storytelling…this collection is a wonderful read.
Seattle Book Review
A compelling and eclectic set of shorts with a futuristic feel to them. Very enjoyable…. The author is a strong writer who knows how to jam a lot in…[they] offers interesting and often thought-provoking plots in well-imagined, futuristic worlds.
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
I loved this collection of short stories, and can’t imagine anyone not finding some that are just their cup of tea. Every tale held my interest and I loved the fact that the author explained how each one came to be.
Liminal Fiction
Featuring six new offerings together with earlier stories, the collection opens with ‘Mirror Me’, a detective noir of sorts—serial deaths around a homeless encampment. ‘Water the Fire’ unburies a first-person house exorcism, and a lady mercenary comes to fore in ‘Alive’ that has connections to Oak’s Amaskan stories, as does ‘Amaskan’. A looming wedding in ‘Learning to Fly’ also arrives with letters from a dead father in the pocket of his bride-to-be daughter’s dress. A novella appears in ‘The Ringers’, where a young girl finds herself yarning in a factory rather than in the academy of magic for which she’s destined… The stories here are not so much speculative as playful, with tantalising little bitsies of dragons, magic, sword and sorcery mashed with westerns, all collected into an imaginative smorgasbord of ‘why not?’
Aurealis Magazine Issue 161
Dragon Springs & Other Things makes me eager to read more from Ms. Oak. 4/5 stars
Long & Short Reviews
[About the story Peace Be with You, Friend] A sweet and touching story of the end of the world and it’s (sic) last two living inhabitants, a starving dragon and a young girl. I loved their conversations and interactions down to the very end. 4/5 stars
100 Pages a Day
What I like about this author is her ability to find the magic in the ordinary and to weave stories that have hints of fairy tales in them. 5/5 stars
Jenn @ Book Sirens
…well-written anthology of mixed fantasy and fantastical science fiction, with lovingly and heart-felt storytelling. 5/5 stars
Elizabeth Guizzetti, author of Accident among Vampires
This is my first time reading from the author, but it certainly will not be my last! 4/5 stars
Buttercup’s Book Blog
Raven Oak does a great job in writing this and creating a great collection of multi-genre stories. It worked overall and each story worked with the other. It left me excited to read Vol 2. 5/5 stars
NetGalley Reviewer
…each story has a rich, cohesive magical or future setting, with mature, introspective and sympathetic characters.
Renaissance Writer
RETURN TO TOP
PRAISE FOR SPACE SHIPS & OTHER TRIPS
…a sterling example of the genre’s flexibility and thought-provoking opportunities. It should be a mainstay in any library strong in speculative works, on the reading lists of anyone attracted to thought-provoking short pieces, and used as discussion material for book clubs interested in engaging subjects about life’s meaning and impact.
Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan
…every bit as wonderful as the first [collection].
Liminal Fiction
…another series of good stories.
Raven Nest
Thought-provoking, evocative tales. This is an interesting futuristic blend of short stories…I recommend this collection for readers of science fiction and for readers wanting more LGBTQ+ and minority protagonists. 5/5 stars
Jenn @ Book Sirens
This book was definitely a trip. As a former barista, a situation in the story “Mouth” was relatable, a little icky, and you’ll have to read it to find out why. I can’t stop thinking about it! 4/5 stars
NetGalley Librarian
PRAISE FOR VOICES CARRY: A STORY OF TEACHING, TRANSITIONS, & TRUTHS
…a powerful exploration of resilience and self-acceptance…I highly recommend Voices Carry to anyone dealing with chronic pain, mental health struggles, or anyone who feels their dreams have been deferred. Raven’s story offers solace and inspiration.” 5/5 stars
Sarah Hill of Wondermajica
Oak is articulate and pulls no punches in this memoir. She doesn’t necessarily owe her readers an explanation as to how she transitioned to her own current identity as queer, but she might have used her superpower as a writer to provide deeper insight into what LGBTQ+ terminology represents.
Barbara Lloyd McMichael of Our Coast Weekend
If you’re interested in a review copy of any of Raven Oak’s books, please contact the publisher at info@greysunpress.com.