“Everything has degrees, and deep evils seem lighter if you are broken enough.”

Do you like dark fairytale retellings? Calandra—little sister to the future Count of Bone Bay—likes the idea of supporting her people without the pressure of an official title. She prefers quiet and learning over making dreaded small talk with her fellow nobles. When Nicodemus, a magus with immense power, joins the royal court of Invarnis, Calandra's life changes forever. She is entranced when he shows her magic for the first time, but its entry into the royal court has repercussions she never imagined.

In this reimagined Swan Lake, Calandra is haunted by a curse that pursues her through the centuries. She'll have to overcome war, loss, and suffering to save the land of Invarnis. When the dust settles, however, can she rebuild her life and find a new place in this reborn world?

Set in Dana Fraedrich's fantasy steampunk world of Broken Gears, Raven's Cry is great for fans of Suzanne Collins, Sarah J. Maas, and Naomi Novik. In this standalone installment, readers will discover a realm of dark magic and technology as they join Calandra in her battle for freedom, hope, and healing.

"Raven's Cry is a dark yet purely original recounting of Swan Lake. But, the author expertly blends that tale into the imaginative creation of her Broken Gears world and to good effect. If this is our introduction to Dana Fraedrich's books, we readers will certainly want to discover and also eagerly read her other stories." ~Reader's Favorite
 
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5x8 paperback, glossy cover, 233 pages.

Also available in ebook and audio. Get more information on the Raven's Cry book page.

What People Are Saying From Around the Web

“A compelling and original take on a classic tale, Ravens cry puts a steampunk twist on a classic story. Set in the same fantasy setting as the authors Broken Gears novels, we follow the story of Calandra, and the impact on her life and fate which comes about following the appointment to court of Nicodemus, an immensley powerful magus. I enjoyed this story greatly, Fraedrich really knows how to tease you into liking a character, and then dragging them through the wringer. I was most impressed with the solid, imaginitive and well-thought-out world building which forms the spine of this atmospheric take on Swan Lake. It's certainly whetted my appitite for the writers other books, although this is a standalone which does not require any prior knowledge of the other stories to enjoy to the fullest. Interesting characters and a great setting and mood carry you along through this story. it starts off slowly, but soon kicks into high-speed steampunk gear. Well worth your time.”

~Author James Fahy

“After reading Fraedrich’s Out of the Shadows, I was keen for an ARC of Raven’s Cry. I haven’t yet read book two in the Broken Gears series, but it was easy to jump back in with this book as it is a standalone, yet still has links to Out of the Shadows for those who have read it. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the rest of the series, it won’t affect the narrative for you. Those links are only noticeable to readers of the other books. The world building in Cali’s tale is just as thought out and imaginative. Cali’s story is tragic for centuries, but she somehow keeps her head and makes it through the torture and imprisonment at the hands of a powerful, evil magus. Fraedrich has mastered the retelling well. I am not usually a fan of retellings, but as long as the narrative carries its weight in its own right with hints to the original, then I am a happy reader. If you enjoy retellings, this dark retelling of Swan Lake is for you, and while you’re at it, why not get book one in the Broken Gears series?”

Author KJ Chapman

“There's nothing I love more than a good fairytale retelling. In this case, it's more like a fairytale reinvention, which was even more exciting. Seeing through the eyes of our main character, Calandra was quite something and at first blush, it seemed like everything would be fine and dandy and this was your normal fantasy novel. And then it changed and became something much more interesting. This book is a darker retelling of Swan Lake, set in her Broken Gears steampunk fantasy world. It's very much a fractured version of the fairytale and there are some elements that might not be suitable for very young readers. However, like with all great fairytale retellings/remixes, it takes the subject material and then expands and improves upon it. I found it absolutely delightful. The worldbuilding is fantastic and Calandra is an interesting character to follow. I appreciated her growth as well as the fact that the author didn't shirk away from showing the effects of some of the trauma that she underwent. If there is anything I find fault with, it's that the book isn't long enough for me. I found myself wanting more about some of the side characters and more about some of the histories of the various places here and there in the story. If you love female protagonists who aren't perfect, but grow and mature over the course of the novel. If you love fairytale remixes with steampunk and fantasy thrown in. If you like stories that span a long course of time, then this book is perfect for you.”

~Amazon Reader