To Free a Magpie (The Raven's Daughters #2)

To Free a Magpie, The Raven's Daughters book 2 (2025)

by Joyce Gee

Find out more here: Joyce Gee's Linktree

A bloody, dark, and horny romantasy novel with 'why choose' polyamorous relationship and plenty of spice!

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This was a dark and bloody continuation to the story of The Raven's Daughters. Where To Heal a Wolf (book 1) was a soft story about building confidence and accepting love, To Free a Magpie is about revenge, rage, and desire.

Absolutely loved it!

It follows the oldest of the three sisters and crown-princess, Eivor, who's been a hostage in her own kingdom for the past 100 years. Having survived a brutal treatment and torture, she's hungry for revenge and redemption so when the opportunity arises to break free, she takes it and then some!

Eivor is wonderfully dark and complex. She's stepping carefully on the line between good and evil queen using a very justified anger for her actions. She strikes swiftly on her enemies and there's no remorse nor mercy. Honestly, it's a bit of a relief to not have too many morals inflicting. There's no "I'll be the bigger person". It's dark and brutal revenge - sure for the good and freedom of her people - but mostly just because she's pissed and wants payback on the men who wronged her.

Aiding her desires are two companions as morally flawed as her. The trio makes for an oddly cute and sensitive murder brigade where blood and torture goes hand in hand with desire and lust.

The romance part itself isn't dark, imo. The MC and love interests are supportive and loving of each other more or less from the beginning. There's consent, joy, and shared dreams. Just sprinkled with a bit of emotional support murder... And yeah, definitely on the darker aspect of fantasy!

Joyce's world is massive and the lore extensive. It's a part to love - the world has such depth and history - but with the focus mostly on the romance it can also be a little difficult to keep track of the names of old and new gods and the various species of Tir.

To Free A Magpie is a happy ending for the most part (it's a romance!) though slightly bittersweet when Eivor is reunited with her youngest sister. Not to spoil too much, but I really liked the way it played out. It felt real and organic even through the heartache.

I'm hoping for some reconciling in book 3 !

With the stakes of epic fantasy, a world of high fantasy, vibes of dark fantasy, and brimmed with romance and spice, it's an intriguing read from start to finish. With fully-fleshed characters with flaws, strengths, and vulnerabilities, Joyce beautifully tells the hard and gritty story of survivors of abuse, the ups and downs of healing, and the scars that may paint us forever.

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