YA Fanatic

Black Dove, White Raven is a total letdown for me. I absolutely adored the audio books for Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire and was expecting a lot from Elizabeth Wein's new one. I really didn't love the narration of the audio book. The intensity of the first two was sorely missing in this book. It too until half way through that I began to even enjoy the story line.

Em and Teo have lived under their mother's famous story's with their Black Dove and White Raven flying history together. But when Delia die's in an accident and Teo becomes Em's brother their mother wants leave racist America behind to take them to Ethiopia. Soon Ethiopia's peace is threatened by the Italian war and the three become shoved right in the middle of it. 

The audio book was a major disconnect for me. Teo's voice doesn't fit the character and the two narrations were done in a separate location meaning some of the pronunciations were different. There is supposed to be a feeling of strong love and family between the two main characters but I couldn't feel it throughout the book. I'm not sure if this is because of the audio or because of the writing. 

One of my most anticipated reads this year and its not my favorite. I have a feeling Wein's fans might be slightly disappointed as well. I'm not sure I would give this to a teen to read even though it is a young adult. Its very slow building and while interesting may not grab a teen's attention, I myself may not have finished this if I read it instead of listened to it.