Merula

The Children of Corvus, Book 2

By: L.E. Harrison

Narrated by: Andrew McDermott

What if you were a shape-shifter, but didn't know it?

What if the man who raised you orchestrated your father's execution?

What if you discover that the people closest to you have been lying to you all your life?

Book two in the award-winning contemporary fantasy trilogy about a tribe of shape-shifters in Northern Maine, USA.

On a cold October morning in Blackwater Hills, Samuel Singleton steps outside to do his morning chores and is whisked through a portal into the domain of the witch goddess known as the Shadowlands.

On a cold October evening, Cadie Maxwell, a priestess newly sworn to the Sacred Order, follows what she believes is the will of the gods and flees the only home she has ever known on a quest to find the truth about Corvus's Sacred Law - a law that demands that every male cursed with shapeshifting powers must be executed. Cadie arrives in a small town called Ashland, and takes a job at a local bar and grill. There she meets Jonathan and Sarina Lance, who are desperate to locate their missing father, best-selling novelist J. Lance Sr.

On a mission to rescue J. Lance Sr., Cadie guides the outsiders through the Great Shield, a powerful force field that protects her homeland. But instead of the missing novelist, Cadie finds her childhood friend, Samuel delirious and showing signs of suffering from the blood madness.

Can she save Samuel’s life, and get her friends safely back to Ashland while exposing the corruption within the priesthood, forswearing her holy vows, and uncovering the truth about her gods and her tribe?

One of ReadFreely's 50 Best Indie Books of 2017.

An IHIBRP 5-Star Recommended Read.

©2017, 2018, 2019 Lisa A. Erb (P)2022 Lisa A. Erb

Critic reviews

Winner of the 2018 Virtual Fantasy Con Award for Best Dark Fantasy

Great series so far! Very original

I was very confused at first. So I read book 1 again. (I read the 1st book a long time ago so I needed a refresher). I didn't understand who these new characters were at first. But I kept going and finally, it all started to make sense. Totally worth having to listen to the book a second time! I really loved book one. Book two was close but not quite as good, in my opinion. I listened to the audible version and maybe I just didn't vibe with the new narrator. He's good. I just couldn't listen at my normal quicker speed. But still, well worth the listen! Cant wait to start book 3! 

Great story

Great Story, great narration. The story was gripping and exciting, making you want want more. Having a country within a country was very interesting. I don't want to give away the plot so get the book and find out more!

All in the family 😁

This book by had me in a trance, I couldn't stop listening to it. I listened 6 hours straight. I am hooked. Katie was an awesome heroine and I can't wait to hear what she does in book 3 ( Corvus). Samuel is an unlikely hero, and it pained me to hear everything be he has gone through. I was shocked to be hear about Johnathan Jr. and eagerly awaiting the verdict.
The narrator was talented and Drew me into every scene. I definitely recommend this book even though I initially wasn't sure I would like the book. I love it

Chilling, intriguing and action packed............

Merula is the second book in the Children of Corvus Series, and I realized after reading this book that the first book was actually more of a prequel. I was confused during a large part of the first book, but it all made so much more sense after reading Merula. This book features the son of the tragic main characters from the first book as well as three other incredibly brave and adventurous young people. Sam is a male cursed to die if his secret shape-shifting abilities are discovered. Cadie is a priestess in a mystical tribe of shape shifters. She disagrees with the law that dooms Sam to an early death, and she sets out to discover the origins of this law. During her quest, she meets Jonathan and Sarina, a brother and sister team also on a quest, only theirs is to find their missing father. When this threesome runs into a battered Sam, the adventure truly begins, and I just had to hold my breath as the author introduced twists and turns galore. Although the story ends with a basic resolution, I still have so many unanswered questions that I am off to listen to book three as soon as possible.

Andrew McDermott's does a great job with the narration. I did not enjoy the narrator in the first book, so, although I usually prefer the same narrator handle all the books in a series, I was very happy with this particular change. I loved McDermott's lilting Irish accent, and I thought it added to the overall fantasy feeling of the book.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

Great Read

Merula (The Children of Corvus #2) was a great read by L.E. Harrison. This is book two about a tribe of shapeshifters who dwell within the inhospitable forest of Northern Maine. Samuel Singleton steps outside to do his morning chores on a cold October morning in Blackwater Hills. He finds himself whisked through a portal into the domain of the witch goddess known as the Shadowlands. Caddie Maxwell is a priestess who is newly sworn to the Sacred Order. She flees the only home she’s ever known to find the truth about her tribe’s Sacred Law, the law that says any male who has shapeshifting powers must be executed. `Cadie arrived at a small town named Ashland and takes a job at a local bar and grill. There she hears Jonathan and Sarina Lance discussing their missing father. Cadie, Jonathan and Sarina go on an expedition through a mysterious forest to rescue their father, with an up and coming reporter. It is there that they find Samuel naked and disoriented. Cadie discovered Samuel has shapeshifting powers and the council of priests vote her in charge of Samuel’s execution. Cadie works to expose the corruption within the priesthood, renounce her holy vows, and uncover the truth of her tribe and her gods. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

Worth a credit?🤷‍♀️

Merula: The Children of Corvus, Book 2 by L.E. Harrison is a continuation of the fantasy world of Corvus. Samuel Singleton grew up with the people of Corvus not knowing who his parents were. They treated him as an outcast and now that he has come of age, things seem to be changing, and not for the better.

Acadia “Cadie” Maxwell, the newest member of the Sacred Order, believes she has figured out the mystery and is trying to help Samuel fulfill his destiny.

This book is very well written. Even though I have not listened to book one, I easily fell into the story and was able to understand what was going on. I think the reason for this was because the author prefaces each character’s section as coming from their POV and where they are, be it in Ashland, Maine or in the alternate dimension of Blackwater Hills.

Narrator, Andrew McDermott, gives a job well done. 👍🏻 Even though he has a light Irish (or sometimes I hear more of a Scottish lilt) accent, it seemed to go well with this fantasy genre. I would LOVE to hear more books from him that are set in either England, Scotland or Ireland. Maybe more Regency romance books or Highland warrior romance stories. 😉 Come on “powers that be!” You have a rare gem of a narrator in this man! Use him to his full potential!!

Is this book worth a credit! I say absolutely!👍🏻👍🏻

Merula

I have not read/listened to the first book but I did not feel I was missing something when I listened to it. It was the book cover that first attracted my attention and the book does not disappoint.