Readers' View

Raven: Birds of Flight - Book Two

Following on the heels of “Albatross,” ”Raven” is the second book in the “Birds of Flight” series. I became a huge fan of the author, J.M. Erickson, when I read the first book in the series. He did not disappoint me with the second one. As a matter of fact, if I hadn’t been sitting in a bean bag chair, I would have been clutching the sides of my chair to hang on as I read!“Raven” begins with Alexander Burns, the former counter-terrorist agent, trying to make a deal with a government agency to return the confidential information that was acquired by his group during “Albatross.”

    Wanting to guarantee his friends their freedom, Burns arranges a drop so that most of the information can be returned. When things do not go as planned because of his nemesis Webber, Burns steps back into his old role and becomes very dangerous to those involved. While still hoping for a peaceful resolution, Burns and his friends have to resort to deadly tactics to make their stance clear. The world also has to stand up and take notice as information is released, by Burns, about the actions of our government. This forces alliances throughout the world to change, and for world leaders to have to take a stance to demand justice.  While one government agency wants to seek a peaceful resolution, they are continuously thwarted by Webber’s attempts to gain fame while seeking revenge. People in the government group trying to obtain the information that Burns has, have been burned by Webber in the past. It is hard for anyone to pity Webber for the retribution that is owed to him.

   As with “Raven,” the author uses his extensive knowledge of psychology to create characters that are complex and multi-dimensional. It was interesting to find myself cheering for the people who are considered “the bad guys,” even when they have to take drastic action against people who are just doing their jobs. I also found it thought-provoking that some of the actions of our government that have been fictionalized by the author are beginning to show up in the news at this time. This includes the government using social media as a way to control the population. This is extremely interesting and kind of scary.I highly recommend reading “Raven.” I suggest reading “Albatross” first so that you will feel more of a connection and a greater understanding of why Burns’ group has to act as they do. Both books by J.M. Erickson should not be missed! - Paige Lovitt