The Raven's Song; Bren MacDibble & Zana Fraillon

‘Two esteemed writers at the height of their powers’ - Bren MacDibble and Zana Fraillon - craft an intriguing, captivating and complex tale of survival and discovery where a future society must pay the heavy price for the indiscretions of those that have walked (and destroyed) the land before them.

Phoenix exists in a world that is being pushed to the brink by excessive consumption, climate change and where an incurable pandemic is about to reek devastating consequences. Shelby Jones and her best friend Davy live in a world that is one-hundred years in the future; post-pandemic, pollution-free, post-city; where government dictates that three-hundred-and-fifty kind and ethical people exist within a fenced-off seven-hundred hectares. It is a simple and low-tech existence; farming, looking after chickens and school lessons to learn how to preserve what they have and to understand a troubling history so that they can avoid the mistakes of the past.

When a sheep disappears from Davy’s farm, the children identify a cut in the fence and thus begins a journey of discovery that leads them from the confines of their enclosed community and out into the honoured world where derelict cities, burnt-out cars, polluted waters and something even more disturbing awaits…

Appealing to all those with an environmental conscience, The Raven’s Song is a uniquely challenging, absorbing and thought-provoking read that sees the realms of science-fiction and mythology collide as - in a world that has fallen apart - two children separated by a century are brought together.

The two main protagonists, Shelby and Phoenix, tell their story’s in alternating chapters that become increasingly entwined as the narrative progresses. The dual narrative linking an environmentally conscious society with mythology and a tale of past mistakes that sees victims of an incurable virus awaiting a scientific breakthrough.

Given the news stories of late - extreme climatic events around the globe and the Covid-19 pandemic - The Raven’s Song is a timely novel and one that resonates all too close to home. It  offers lots of scope for discussion and encourages us to reflect on our own actions, the way we are treating the planet, and to identify past mistakes and ensure that they are not repeated. 

There is hope for the future; humans do have the ability to change their ways and to make a difference - the biggest and most meaningful of differences. We are after all, guardians of the planet, and it is our responsibility to persevere it for generations to come, and maybe, just maybe, be like Shelby and allow the honoured and natural world to heal.

With huge thanks to Allen & Unwin for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 12+.