A Raven of the Rainforest by Rosanne Parry

On Westerly the raven’s otherwise ink-black tail, one bright white feather stands out. Westerly stands out, too. She isn’t like her brother and sister—she’s different. Everyone knows it, including the roost’s storykeeper, who proclaims that Westerly alone is destined to save her fellow ravens from a terrible fate. Questioning her destiny, isolated from her family, and full of doubt, Westerly takes to the sky, vowing never to return. But when a once-in-a-lifetime volcanic eruption finds her, she has no choice but to flee in the direction of home.

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PRE-READING

I've read three of the four previous books in Rosanne Parry's Voice of the Wilderness series, so I already knew what I was hoping for here: a proper story, fascinating wildlife, and enough real-world information woven through it that I come away feeling as though I've learned something without having been handed a textbook.

Also: ravens. Excellent. Let's go.

POST-READING

Happily, A Raven of the Rainforest lives up to its predecessors beautifully.

We follow Westerly, a young raven who doesn't quite fit with the rest of her tribe. She has a white feather in her otherwise black tail, and she's different in other ways too. When the storykeeper declares that Westerly is destined to save the other ravens from a terrible fate, she's understandably not entirely convinced. She questions what is expected of her, struggles with where she belongs, and eventually takes to the sky rather than face it.

And then there's a volcanic eruption.

So that works out well.

As I expected

Parry's great strength in these books is the way she combines a genuinely engaging animal story with a huge amount of factual information. Westerly's journey is a story first, but you're constantly getting a sense of the real lives and behaviour of ravens and the environment they inhabit.

And then, at the back of the book, there's even more.

I absolutely loved the factual information here. It's fascinating in its own right, but it also gives you a glimpse of the sheer amount of research that goes into creating these novels. There's something particularly satisfying about seeing the real science and natural history behind the story you've just enjoyed.

I was surprised by

How much I liked Westerly's uncertainty.

She's a little bit of a hero in the Moana mould: she doesn't immediately know what she's supposed to do, she questions the path in front of her, she changes her mind, and eventually she does the right thing.

Which is obviously a slight spoiler, but honestly, the interesting part is getting to see how she gets there.

Westerly isn't compelling because she's instantly brave and certain. She's compelling because she's unsure and keeps going anyway.

There's also something lovely about the idea of a character who stands out from the beginning - quite literally, in Westerly's case - having to work out whether being different is something to overcome, something to accept, or something that might actually be important.

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you enjoy animal stories that give you plenty of real science and natural history alongside the adventure, this is absolutely worth picking up.

For another book that combines a young animal's story with a strong sense of the natural world, try The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

And for something on screen with a similar combination of young hero, uncertainty, nature and finding your own path, try Moana.

MUSIC PAIRING

"Here Comes the Sun" — The Beatles

There is something wonderfully spring-like about Westerly taking to the sky: new beginnings, new possibilities, and the feeling that the world is opening up in front of her.

Although perhaps with slightly more volcanic ash than The Beatles had in mind.

VIBE CHECK

Colour palette: Fresh leaf green, rain-washed grey, black feathers and a flash of brilliant white
Soundtrack: Birdsong, wind through the rainforest canopy, and something distant rumbling
Season: Spring
Mood: Curious, hopeful, adventurous - with a hint of danger on the wind
Scent: Wet earth, fresh leaves and rain
Texture: Smooth feathers, damp moss and rough tree bark

TAROT CARD PULLED

Page of Swords

The Page of Swords is curious, questioning and alert. They're watching the world, trying to understand it, and not necessarily accepting everything they're told without thinking about it.

That feels very Westerly.

She's uncertain about the destiny that's been assigned to her, questions where she belongs, and has to learn that finding your place doesn't necessarily mean becoming exactly what everyone expected you to be.

And the Swords bring just the right hint of danger, too. There's always something in the air - something Westerly needs to notice.

✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦

What if being different is exactly what the world needs from you?

A Raven of the Rainforest is a wonderful continuation of Rosanne Parry's Voice of the Wilderness novels: a compelling animal adventure wrapped around fascinating real-world science, with an especially good reminder at the end of just how much research sits behind the story.

A Raven of the Rainforest publishes on 29 September 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.