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When Among Crows
When Among Crows is swift and striking, drawing from the deep well of Slavic folklore and asking if redemption and atonement can be found in embracing what we most fear.
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.
Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.
Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.
Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.
Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.
Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.
Together they must fight against time and the wrath of the Chicago underworld. But Dymitr’s secrets—and his true motives—may be the thing that actually destroys them.
166 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
Veronica Roth
56 books461k followersVeronica Roth is the New York Times best-selling author of Arch-Conspirator, Poster Girl, Chosen Ones, the short story collection The End and Other Beginnings, the Carve the Mark duology, and the Divergent series. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,407 reviews
August 6, 2024
i could give a lot of reasons i wanted to read this, but the top one was always going to be "look at that gold detailing on the cover."
unfortunately it turns out it's orange, and that this book is not really for me.
i love short books, but that's because i typically read literary fiction, and books about the ennui in the life of a woman in her 30s don't normally need extra pages to clear up any confusion.
this, about polish magic in chicago featuring a romance, a movie theater showing alien as a cover, climactic, action-packed sequences like a guy trying to pick a flower, and musical mythical creatures, probably could've used some.
but it wasn't a bad time.
bottom line: i don't really know what happened in this book, but i might've liked it.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
unfortunately it turns out it's orange, and that this book is not really for me.
i love short books, but that's because i typically read literary fiction, and books about the ennui in the life of a woman in her 30s don't normally need extra pages to clear up any confusion.
this, about polish magic in chicago featuring a romance, a movie theater showing alien as a cover, climactic, action-packed sequences like a guy trying to pick a flower, and musical mythical creatures, probably could've used some.
but it wasn't a bad time.
bottom line: i don't really know what happened in this book, but i might've liked it.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
May 9, 2024
I usually don't star rate books but I loved this one so much I'm going to give it all the stars. A novella that harbors inside it a wonderfully fleshed out world of Slavic myth living just under the surface of modern Chicago. (yay Urban Fantasy!) Batting way above its average in character development and emotional intimacy, this is a story about a man looking for redemption even when it bleeds him, even when he doesn't deserve it. And about the people, the monsters, who have every reason to hate him but end up doing something quite different. There are moments of terror and adventure and violence. There are also moments of quiet intimacy. Just goes to show you can do a lot of work in a very small number of pages and still tell a satisfying story. 5/5 would return to this world and these characters in a heartbeat.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
I received a free ARC which in no way impacted my honest review.
May 22, 2024
‘How did you carry it without being able to bear it?’
Early on in Veronica Roth’s Among the Crows, an old Chicago movie house that only plays double feature horror films is revealed to be operated by creatures of Polish myth who feast on human fears. This is the sort of devilishly delightful atmosphere Roth brings to life in her new urban fantasy where the old world meets the new one in shadowy corners of Chicago populated by Slavic stryga, leshy, banshees, rusalka, zmory and more. As someone also of Polish descent lurking around the lakeshores of Lake Michigan, I had to dive into this succinct yet fully realized story that grapples with questions of pain, sacrifice, family heritage and honor in a world just next to our own where the old magic thrives. We follow Dimytr, who has traveled from Poland to seek an audience with the powerful witch of legend, Baba Jaga, offering the cursed Ala a cure for her torments if she can bring him to the witch. But in a world where magic can kill more swiftly than heal and the knights of the Holy Order are always on the hunt to exterminate those beyond human, loyalties will be tested while lives hang in balance. Veronica Roth crafts a fascinating and dynamic world full of danger, curses and quests in Among the Crows as we examine generational trauma and the pains we carry.
'When among crows, you must caw as one.'
I have a bit of a soft spot for Veronica Roth and I’m always rooting for her. I find she excels at creating complex and intriguing worlds, though I’ve often felt the execution falls flat right at the end. Such was the case with the Divergent trilogy, or the recent Arch-Conspirator which was a rather engaging sci-fi retelling of Sophocles’s Antigone with concepts like soul storage but the narrative came down in a tailspin for a crash landing. But I really respect her originality, find she can write quite vivid scenes that fill your mind with wonder, and love that she understands that novellas can be a perfect length to not overstay a story’s welcome and that sometimes less is more with world building that allows the readers imagination to co-create if you point them in the right direction. So seeing Roth try her hand at Polish mythology set in modern Chicago had me quite excited and I have to say, she nails it here. In a short span she is able to construct a rather marvelous and magical urban fantasy world and give us empathetic characters to move about in it. Personally I love a story that works like how poet Charles Simic described how he found his favorite poems to be like a bank robbery: ‘ you get in, get attention, get the goods and get out fast.’ And Roth does this well, even throwing some major twists in along the way but sticking the landing with spectacle and grace.
‘Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.’
I really enjoy the characters here and the story rotates through the perspectives of Dimytr, Ala and Niko. It threads their stories in a way that enhances each and gives us hints of backstory that serves the narrative well by doing a great deal of development in a short space. But also we see a lot of characters that are ‘caught between two worlds’ in a variety of ways. Ala is not human but ‘gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty,’ which also makes her feel alienated as her family curse was misunderstood as mental illness by humans. But beyond that we see characters who have strong accents and feel no longer part of Poland yet not fully American, or they are not quite magical yet not fully human, or they cannot fully invest in the present or the future still reeling from the scars of the past. These scars come in many forms, such as a curse that functions on many levels, one of which being a metaphor for generational trauma, or references to things like a characters small pox vaccine scar or the political turmoil and regime changes in Poland throughout the 20th century that show history leaves scars on all those it touches.
‘Men always mean harm. The question is, when?’
The burdens and pain born by these characters define them in many ways yet it is how they choose to carry on that truly matters. The curse that is central to the story shows how that burden can be carried down generationally, but we also see how the horrible deeds of the past are also felt as a great weight by those who have inherited that legacy as well. This works particularly well blended with a a folklore that was largely pushed aside by Christianity in a country that, due to imperial repression and economic crisis even before the upheavals of WWII and Soviet occupation, saw a sizable population emigrate to the United States to settle primarily in New York, Chicago and Detroit (the latter being where my own family arrived), and we see the legacy of the past working in new ways in the new world. In short, these characters are all learning to live among the crows.
'That kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there’s nothing magic likes better than the great hollow of a debt.'
Baba Jaga (while you typically see it spelled “Yaga,” Polish spelling tends towards Jaga hence Roth’s use of it here) is likely the most familiar element of Polish folklore here and has a position of great power in the Chicago underworld. Those who deal with her must make payment in the form of sacrifice which ushers us into a realm of investigation on pain and how pain can be not only a punishment but a price. It makes me think of that Full Metal Alchemist series where magic worked on the concept of equivalent exchange. This is not only for the mythical creatures, however, but also the Holy Order who hunts them must divide their soul and keep one half in their sword, a price paid in pain for power. Now return this to the ideas of history and legacy and we see a long legacy of power gained through the pain of others and one might understand why those of ancient myth who trade their own pain for gain would frown upon the world of humans.
Among the Crows is a fast but fascinating and fun read and I’m pleased to say that Veronica Roth manages to uphold her world building through her execution here. There’s a lot of whimsicality I love, such as the flower that ‘unravels most curses but it can only be touched by mortal hands,’ meaning those who need it can’t obtain it but those who obtain it likely have no use for it (this becomes an essential part of the ideas on trust and if the aid of another is truly selfless or earnest), or objects that will kill those who touch them but without it one will die. The puzzles and paradoxes are fun, the urban fantasy is exciting, and we even get a brief queer romance that will make you say “aww.” Roth pulls a big twist near the end that I worried would bring about the collapse of the novel but she really lands it here. Plus we have Slavic folklore in Chicago, how can you not love that. A worthwhile read full of magic. Dziękuję za przeczytanie.
4/5
Early on in Veronica Roth’s Among the Crows, an old Chicago movie house that only plays double feature horror films is revealed to be operated by creatures of Polish myth who feast on human fears. This is the sort of devilishly delightful atmosphere Roth brings to life in her new urban fantasy where the old world meets the new one in shadowy corners of Chicago populated by Slavic stryga, leshy, banshees, rusalka, zmory and more. As someone also of Polish descent lurking around the lakeshores of Lake Michigan, I had to dive into this succinct yet fully realized story that grapples with questions of pain, sacrifice, family heritage and honor in a world just next to our own where the old magic thrives. We follow Dimytr, who has traveled from Poland to seek an audience with the powerful witch of legend, Baba Jaga, offering the cursed Ala a cure for her torments if she can bring him to the witch. But in a world where magic can kill more swiftly than heal and the knights of the Holy Order are always on the hunt to exterminate those beyond human, loyalties will be tested while lives hang in balance. Veronica Roth crafts a fascinating and dynamic world full of danger, curses and quests in Among the Crows as we examine generational trauma and the pains we carry.
'When among crows, you must caw as one.'
I have a bit of a soft spot for Veronica Roth and I’m always rooting for her. I find she excels at creating complex and intriguing worlds, though I’ve often felt the execution falls flat right at the end. Such was the case with the Divergent trilogy, or the recent Arch-Conspirator which was a rather engaging sci-fi retelling of Sophocles’s Antigone with concepts like soul storage but the narrative came down in a tailspin for a crash landing. But I really respect her originality, find she can write quite vivid scenes that fill your mind with wonder, and love that she understands that novellas can be a perfect length to not overstay a story’s welcome and that sometimes less is more with world building that allows the readers imagination to co-create if you point them in the right direction. So seeing Roth try her hand at Polish mythology set in modern Chicago had me quite excited and I have to say, she nails it here. In a short span she is able to construct a rather marvelous and magical urban fantasy world and give us empathetic characters to move about in it. Personally I love a story that works like how poet Charles Simic described how he found his favorite poems to be like a bank robbery: ‘ you get in, get attention, get the goods and get out fast.’ And Roth does this well, even throwing some major twists in along the way but sticking the landing with spectacle and grace.
‘Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.’
I really enjoy the characters here and the story rotates through the perspectives of Dimytr, Ala and Niko. It threads their stories in a way that enhances each and gives us hints of backstory that serves the narrative well by doing a great deal of development in a short space. But also we see a lot of characters that are ‘caught between two worlds’ in a variety of ways. Ala is not human but ‘gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty,’ which also makes her feel alienated as her family curse was misunderstood as mental illness by humans. But beyond that we see characters who have strong accents and feel no longer part of Poland yet not fully American, or they are not quite magical yet not fully human, or they cannot fully invest in the present or the future still reeling from the scars of the past. These scars come in many forms, such as a curse that functions on many levels, one of which being a metaphor for generational trauma, or references to things like a characters small pox vaccine scar or the political turmoil and regime changes in Poland throughout the 20th century that show history leaves scars on all those it touches.
‘Men always mean harm. The question is, when?’
The burdens and pain born by these characters define them in many ways yet it is how they choose to carry on that truly matters. The curse that is central to the story shows how that burden can be carried down generationally, but we also see how the horrible deeds of the past are also felt as a great weight by those who have inherited that legacy as well. This works particularly well blended with a a folklore that was largely pushed aside by Christianity in a country that, due to imperial repression and economic crisis even before the upheavals of WWII and Soviet occupation, saw a sizable population emigrate to the United States to settle primarily in New York, Chicago and Detroit (the latter being where my own family arrived), and we see the legacy of the past working in new ways in the new world. In short, these characters are all learning to live among the crows.
'That kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there’s nothing magic likes better than the great hollow of a debt.'
Baba Jaga (while you typically see it spelled “Yaga,” Polish spelling tends towards Jaga hence Roth’s use of it here) is likely the most familiar element of Polish folklore here and has a position of great power in the Chicago underworld. Those who deal with her must make payment in the form of sacrifice which ushers us into a realm of investigation on pain and how pain can be not only a punishment but a price. It makes me think of that Full Metal Alchemist series where magic worked on the concept of equivalent exchange. This is not only for the mythical creatures, however, but also the Holy Order who hunts them must divide their soul and keep one half in their sword, a price paid in pain for power. Now return this to the ideas of history and legacy and we see a long legacy of power gained through the pain of others and one might understand why those of ancient myth who trade their own pain for gain would frown upon the world of humans.
Among the Crows is a fast but fascinating and fun read and I’m pleased to say that Veronica Roth manages to uphold her world building through her execution here. There’s a lot of whimsicality I love, such as the flower that ‘unravels most curses but it can only be touched by mortal hands,’ meaning those who need it can’t obtain it but those who obtain it likely have no use for it (this becomes an essential part of the ideas on trust and if the aid of another is truly selfless or earnest), or objects that will kill those who touch them but without it one will die. The puzzles and paradoxes are fun, the urban fantasy is exciting, and we even get a brief queer romance that will make you say “aww.” Roth pulls a big twist near the end that I worried would bring about the collapse of the novel but she really lands it here. Plus we have Slavic folklore in Chicago, how can you not love that. A worthwhile read full of magic. Dziękuję za przeczytanie.
4/5
May 8, 2024
4.25 ⭐️ WOW this was really fantastic and before I say anything else I want to say that you should totally go into this book without reading the synopsis because it gives you just a bit too much information in my opinion. Anyway…
What a great novella. Slavic folklore among the modern, urban streets of Chicago. A quest - both physical and internal - themes of displacement and loss and Christian imperialism, a marrying of the mythical and mundane that I find so compelling about urban fantasy (a stryzgon, a zmora, and a mysterious mortal cruising through modern Chicago in a beat up cloth-top jeep), more stuff I typed out and then deleted because as mentioned above I think this is one best gone into with not too much info, especially given how short it is. There’s just a lot in here that worked for me.
I do feel like the character relationships were perhaps just on the cusp of being completely satisfyingly fleshed out, likely due to the length, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story much.
A modern day fairytale. I really enjoyed this.
[ARC provided to me by the publisher for free under no obligation]
What a great novella. Slavic folklore among the modern, urban streets of Chicago. A quest - both physical and internal - themes of displacement and loss and Christian imperialism, a marrying of the mythical and mundane that I find so compelling about urban fantasy (a stryzgon, a zmora, and a mysterious mortal cruising through modern Chicago in a beat up cloth-top jeep), more stuff I typed out and then deleted because as mentioned above I think this is one best gone into with not too much info, especially given how short it is. There’s just a lot in here that worked for me.
I do feel like the character relationships were perhaps just on the cusp of being completely satisfyingly fleshed out, likely due to the length, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story much.
A modern day fairytale. I really enjoyed this.
[ARC provided to me by the publisher for free under no obligation]
May 7, 2024
First of all, I would like to thank Edelweiss and Tor Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
✨❤️🔥I AM OBSESSED!! THIS WAS OUTSTANDING!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO READ ANYTHING ELSE WHEN ALL I WANT TO DO IS SIT IN THIS GLORIOUS VIBE FOREVER?❤️🔥✨
⚜️I am in LOVE with this folkloric urban fantasy featuring a penitent MC who gives Jardani Jovonovich meets John Constantine ! Everything about this book was PERFECT FOR ME, and I must say that for my first Veronica Roth, this was a stunning knockout!
🏹I loved the multifaceted and atmospheric cityscape and its supernatural denizens we get to discover and explore throughout this novella. Chicago...but more.
I could not get enough of this mortals-living-side by side-with-the-otherworldly vibe! The worldbuilding was so well done that I now find myself looking for ghouls in my city's bricks.🎭
❤️🩹Dymitr and Niko and Ala's stories were all so immersive, poignant and breathtakingly raw at times! These characters have my whole heart! The world was wild and supernatural; a panoply of toothy snapping jaws and claws! There were tender moments of intimacy and palpable yearning, and the narrative was chef's kiss compelling and visceral. And my gawd the lore was fascinating to me and leapt right off the page, hallucinogenic bright and wretchedly dark at the same time! I am a monster for this book!
✨❤️🔥I WANT THIS BOOK IN MY BRAIN FOREVER AND EVER! Thank you, Director Baba Jaga!❤️🔥✨
💖I thought this novella was brilliant! Roth fed my imagination, and every flex of her narrative had me hungering for more! I leaned in and was rewarded with a spectacular reading experience! YMMV.
🌟Supremely happy to have this gorgeousness in my brain, and I am beside myself looking forward to more of Roth's adult SFF, because I am sure it will all be unapologetically stunning and a battalion of gold star winners for me!
"We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword."
✨❤️🔥I AM OBSESSED!! THIS WAS OUTSTANDING!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO READ ANYTHING ELSE WHEN ALL I WANT TO DO IS SIT IN THIS GLORIOUS VIBE FOREVER?❤️🔥✨
⚜️I am in LOVE with this folkloric urban fantasy featuring a penitent MC who gives Jardani Jovonovich meets John Constantine ! Everything about this book was PERFECT FOR ME, and I must say that for my first Veronica Roth, this was a stunning knockout!
🏹I loved the multifaceted and atmospheric cityscape and its supernatural denizens we get to discover and explore throughout this novella. Chicago...but more.
I could not get enough of this mortals-living-side by side-with-the-otherworldly vibe! The worldbuilding was so well done that I now find myself looking for ghouls in my city's bricks.🎭
❤️🩹Dymitr and Niko and Ala's stories were all so immersive, poignant and breathtakingly raw at times! These characters have my whole heart! The world was wild and supernatural; a panoply of toothy snapping jaws and claws! There were tender moments of intimacy and palpable yearning, and the narrative was chef's kiss compelling and visceral. And my gawd the lore was fascinating to me and leapt right off the page, hallucinogenic bright and wretchedly dark at the same time! I am a monster for this book!
✨❤️🔥I WANT THIS BOOK IN MY BRAIN FOREVER AND EVER! Thank you, Director Baba Jaga!❤️🔥✨
💖I thought this novella was brilliant! Roth fed my imagination, and every flex of her narrative had me hungering for more! I leaned in and was rewarded with a spectacular reading experience! YMMV.
🌟Supremely happy to have this gorgeousness in my brain, and I am beside myself looking forward to more of Roth's adult SFF, because I am sure it will all be unapologetically stunning and a battalion of gold star winners for me!
September 2, 2024
When among crows, you must caw as one.
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is a tale of the quest to remove a curse, of new friendship growing despite differences, mixed in with repentance and vengeance.
The story of the quest was fast paced and drew me in, along with Roth's beautiful writing, to soon be invested in the characters Dymitr, Ala, Niko and their secrets. The goal to find Baba Yaga needs them to open up about their past and the character arcs, especially Dymitr, were interesting.
I did wish the book had better world-building however. I kept wondering about the magic system, and the folklore behind it, whenever it was performed on page and this detracted from the reading experience for me. I might have liked this more as a full-length novel with more details.
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.
🌟🌟🌟
The rating for this book is 3.25 stars rounded down to 3 stars as I wished the book had more world-building.
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; 3/4 star for the story; 1/4 star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 3.25 stars in total.]
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is a tale of the quest to remove a curse, of new friendship growing despite differences, mixed in with repentance and vengeance.
The story of the quest was fast paced and drew me in, along with Roth's beautiful writing, to soon be invested in the characters Dymitr, Ala, Niko and their secrets. The goal to find Baba Yaga needs them to open up about their past and the character arcs, especially Dymitr, were interesting.
I did wish the book had better world-building however. I kept wondering about the magic system, and the folklore behind it, whenever it was performed on page and this detracted from the reading experience for me. I might have liked this more as a full-length novel with more details.
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword.
🌟🌟🌟
The rating for this book is 3.25 stars rounded down to 3 stars as I wished the book had more world-building.
[3/4 star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the characters; 3/4 star for the story; 1/4 star for the world-building; Half a star for the writing - 3.25 stars in total.]
May 8, 2024
I had no idea where to set my expectations for this book, and initially picked it up with equal amounts of interest and skepticism. But I never would have guessed it would have blown me away the way it did.
Following an unlikely crew of three very different characters who carry three different family burdens, WHEN AMONG CROWS is a gorgeous and captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility.
I was prepared for an action-packed folkloric urban fantasy. But I was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration, cultural ties, and Christian imperialism. And I was even less prepared for Roth to tackle all of these elements with such nuance and tact while creating a blossoming and tender achillean romance and found family amidst the cast of utterly lovable characters.
I almost want to say I wish it was longer, but not because it needed to be (arguably one of the best paced novellas I’ve ever read), but just because I fell so in love with these characters and this world and would read a whole series of this.
If you are a fan of political and folklore-heavy narratives like THE WOLF AND THE WOODSMAN, and want that type of story in the length of a novella, I highly recommend WHEN AMONG CROWS.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
CW: blood & gore, body horror, violence, grief, self-inflicted harm (for sacrifice), religious guilt, death of mother (past), death of father (past), alcohol consumption
Following an unlikely crew of three very different characters who carry three different family burdens, WHEN AMONG CROWS is a gorgeous and captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility.
I was prepared for an action-packed folkloric urban fantasy. But I was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration, cultural ties, and Christian imperialism. And I was even less prepared for Roth to tackle all of these elements with such nuance and tact while creating a blossoming and tender achillean romance and found family amidst the cast of utterly lovable characters.
I almost want to say I wish it was longer, but not because it needed to be (arguably one of the best paced novellas I’ve ever read), but just because I fell so in love with these characters and this world and would read a whole series of this.
If you are a fan of political and folklore-heavy narratives like THE WOLF AND THE WOODSMAN, and want that type of story in the length of a novella, I highly recommend WHEN AMONG CROWS.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
CW: blood & gore, body horror, violence, grief, self-inflicted harm (for sacrifice), religious guilt, death of mother (past), death of father (past), alcohol consumption
Want to read
November 21, 2023OH MY GOD THAT COVER!
Honestly besides divergent all of Roth's books have been a flop for me hopefully this changes my mind.
Honestly besides divergent all of Roth's books have been a flop for me hopefully this changes my mind.
May 30, 2024
4.5 stars
When Among Crows delivers a dark, emotional urban fantasy story packed with folklore. As this is such a short novella, I HIGHLY recommend going into this knowing as little as possible. I am going to keep this review on the short side to avoid giving anything away.
Roth creates a modern fairytale on the urban streets of Chicago, weaving Slavic folklore into the very foundation of this city. I loved seeing how the different mythical beings were included in the story. In this world, Roth explores culture, identity, immigration, belonging, and Christian imperialism. Every page of this story packs a punch.
When Among Crows follows an unlikely cast of characters on a 36-hour impossible quest. I loved every member of this little found family. The pacing of the quest really suited the novella format. I do wish the story had had a bit more time to build the character relationships.
Easily one of the best novellas I have ever read. I am excited to explore more of Veronica Roth’s adult fantasy work.
Thank you Tor Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
When Among Crows delivers a dark, emotional urban fantasy story packed with folklore. As this is such a short novella, I HIGHLY recommend going into this knowing as little as possible. I am going to keep this review on the short side to avoid giving anything away.
Roth creates a modern fairytale on the urban streets of Chicago, weaving Slavic folklore into the very foundation of this city. I loved seeing how the different mythical beings were included in the story. In this world, Roth explores culture, identity, immigration, belonging, and Christian imperialism. Every page of this story packs a punch.
When Among Crows follows an unlikely cast of characters on a 36-hour impossible quest. I loved every member of this little found family. The pacing of the quest really suited the novella format. I do wish the story had had a bit more time to build the character relationships.
Easily one of the best novellas I have ever read. I am excited to explore more of Veronica Roth’s adult fantasy work.
Thank you Tor Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
July 14, 2024
This was so unique
June 2, 2024
“when among crows, you must caw as one.”
the urban fantasy x folklore was serving. but I needed this to be like 400 more pages so I could really connect with the story. honestly, this concept as a duology or trilogy would’ve slayed.
the urban fantasy x folklore was serving. but I needed this to be like 400 more pages so I could really connect with the story. honestly, this concept as a duology or trilogy would’ve slayed.
May 5, 2024
Alright, let's break this down in simple terms! So, you know how in a good story, the characters are like puzzle pieces, fitting together in all sorts of interesting ways? Well, in this book, the characters are like a whole jigsaw puzzle of personalities!
First off, we've got Dymitir, a guy who's carrying around a load of guilt like it's his favorite accessory. You can practically feel his struggles jumping off the page! Then there's Ala and Nico, two newbies to the crew who bring their own spark to the mix.
Now, here's the scoop: while the book lays the groundwork for some serious found-family vibes, it's like the author hit the gas pedal before fully revving up that engine. But hey, we can totally imagine these characters becoming one big, dysfunctional, but lovable family in the end!
And let's not forget about the plot—it's like taking a trip down a dark and twisty rabbit hole into the paranormal underworld of Chicago. Picture a road trip meets quest to win favor from Baba Jaga, the mythical creature. Sounds wild, right? That's because it is!
The action keeps you on your toes, the twists make you go "Whoa, didn't see that coming!" and the Slavic folklore woven throughout? Totally fascinating stuff!
Now, here's the kicker: while most of the ride is smooth sailing, there are a couple of bumps in the road. Some moments felt a bit forced, and others didn't quite hit the mark for me.
But overall, it's a wild ride that's definitely worth hopping on! Big thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me take this adventure and share my thoughts. So, grab your headphones and get ready to dive into this fantastical world—you won't regret it!
First off, we've got Dymitir, a guy who's carrying around a load of guilt like it's his favorite accessory. You can practically feel his struggles jumping off the page! Then there's Ala and Nico, two newbies to the crew who bring their own spark to the mix.
Now, here's the scoop: while the book lays the groundwork for some serious found-family vibes, it's like the author hit the gas pedal before fully revving up that engine. But hey, we can totally imagine these characters becoming one big, dysfunctional, but lovable family in the end!
And let's not forget about the plot—it's like taking a trip down a dark and twisty rabbit hole into the paranormal underworld of Chicago. Picture a road trip meets quest to win favor from Baba Jaga, the mythical creature. Sounds wild, right? That's because it is!
The action keeps you on your toes, the twists make you go "Whoa, didn't see that coming!" and the Slavic folklore woven throughout? Totally fascinating stuff!
Now, here's the kicker: while most of the ride is smooth sailing, there are a couple of bumps in the road. Some moments felt a bit forced, and others didn't quite hit the mark for me.
But overall, it's a wild ride that's definitely worth hopping on! Big thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me take this adventure and share my thoughts. So, grab your headphones and get ready to dive into this fantastical world—you won't regret it!
April 25, 2024
4.5/5
Gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty.
I absolutely adored this novella! It's filled to the brim with creatures and monsters from folklore, primarily Polish/Slavic folklore, and it feels so magical. In such a short time, Roth manages to immerse you in this hidden world and makes you care so deeply about all the characters within it. It's a brilliant concept executed perfectly.
I loved every single character so incredibly much. Dymitr is such a fascinating character written with such heart. I always found it awe-inspiring how skillfully Roth was able to weave in elements of the characters' pasts into the present day story. It was masterfully done so that I instantly became attached to them and understood their every motivation. Ala and Niko were also amazing characters, they all played off of each other phenomenally well. I wanted to spend so much more time with all of them!
I adored how folklore was woven into the very bones of this story. I loved the different types of connection the characters had with the folklore of themselves, it was such an intriguing way to explore heritage and a foreign motherland. I could tell, with every word, the passion Roth brought to this story.
Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.
You definitely won't want to miss out on this book! It's a magical whirlwind, it's a story of family and identity, it's a desperate, bloody clawing for redemption. I'm always astounded at authors' skills when I come across such incredible novellas. It's a wholly different level of expertise when you can tell such an emotional and moving story in such few pages.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
Gentle enough in spirit to live among mortals but fierce enough to endure their cruelty.
I absolutely adored this novella! It's filled to the brim with creatures and monsters from folklore, primarily Polish/Slavic folklore, and it feels so magical. In such a short time, Roth manages to immerse you in this hidden world and makes you care so deeply about all the characters within it. It's a brilliant concept executed perfectly.
I loved every single character so incredibly much. Dymitr is such a fascinating character written with such heart. I always found it awe-inspiring how skillfully Roth was able to weave in elements of the characters' pasts into the present day story. It was masterfully done so that I instantly became attached to them and understood their every motivation. Ala and Niko were also amazing characters, they all played off of each other phenomenally well. I wanted to spend so much more time with all of them!
I adored how folklore was woven into the very bones of this story. I loved the different types of connection the characters had with the folklore of themselves, it was such an intriguing way to explore heritage and a foreign motherland. I could tell, with every word, the passion Roth brought to this story.
Eternity is long. Time enough for hearts to soften.
You definitely won't want to miss out on this book! It's a magical whirlwind, it's a story of family and identity, it's a desperate, bloody clawing for redemption. I'm always astounded at authors' skills when I come across such incredible novellas. It's a wholly different level of expertise when you can tell such an emotional and moving story in such few pages.
Thank you Titan Books for an arc.
May 31, 2024
reading books because of their pretty covers: my legacy
—2.5 stars
—2.5 stars
May 13, 2024
I'll admit, despite obviously knowing the author, and having read all (most?) of her books, this was a cover request more than anything else. And, second admission, even though that opening line of the synopsis sounded delicious, I didn't expect to love (or like..) this considering the last few reads have been (in my opinion) middling at best.
But actually.. it was; delicious, I mean. Also, fun? Complex? The perfect amount of emo? Interesting AF? I had such a good time with this and I'm so mad it's not a full length story or a series except it felt perfectly paced, and just the right amount of plot and character work, that I'm also not mad about it. Not at all.
This is a fantasy surrounding Slavic lore built onto our world with creatures and the Knights who hunt them to protect the unaware humans around them and, even more than that, the choices we make and how we choose to define ourselves. And.. that's all I'm going to say. Mostly because anything more would ruin the fun and you should absolutely experience it for yourself.
Also, in hindsight, I love the cover even more the title is just perfection.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
--
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
But actually.. it was; delicious, I mean. Also, fun? Complex? The perfect amount of emo? Interesting AF? I had such a good time with this and I'm so mad it's not a full length story or a series except it felt perfectly paced, and just the right amount of plot and character work, that I'm also not mad about it. Not at all.
This is a fantasy surrounding Slavic lore built onto our world with creatures and the Knights who hunt them to protect the unaware humans around them and, even more than that, the choices we make and how we choose to define ourselves. And.. that's all I'm going to say. Mostly because anything more would ruin the fun and you should absolutely experience it for yourself.
Also, in hindsight, I love the cover even more the title is just perfection.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
--
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 20, 2024
“What will it take to convince you that I mean you no harm?”
“There’s nothing you can say or do that will convince me of that… Men always mean harm. The question is simply, when?”
Y’all. This is so Olivie Blake coded. Oooo I loved it!
More details to come but for the love of Baba Yaga, DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS. It contains spoilers and you’ll want to go into this blind. (I did and it was so worth it)
“There’s nothing you can say or do that will convince me of that… Men always mean harm. The question is simply, when?”
Y’all. This is so Olivie Blake coded. Oooo I loved it!
More details to come but for the love of Baba Yaga, DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS. It contains spoilers and you’ll want to go into this blind. (I did and it was so worth it)
April 26, 2024
2nd read: This novella is so good with exposition. I'm so impressed by how carefully it establishes every element a little bit before you need to know about it.
1st read: I love this book and want it to find its people. It's so strongly written.
It's an urban fantasy based on Slavic folklore, about a human on a quest and the cursed people he gets help from. It's reflective, and takes time to breathe and explore emotional baggage between action sequences.
The magic system is very soft, and goes where the plot needs it to. It's used as a way to set up the conflicts, but isn't really explored. What is explored is themes of family cultures being passed down, guilt and redemption, and judgment.
I loved the audiobook. It's got multiple narrators, and they're all wonderful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
1st read: I love this book and want it to find its people. It's so strongly written.
It's an urban fantasy based on Slavic folklore, about a human on a quest and the cursed people he gets help from. It's reflective, and takes time to breathe and explore emotional baggage between action sequences.
The magic system is very soft, and goes where the plot needs it to. It's used as a way to set up the conflicts, but isn't really explored. What is explored is themes of family cultures being passed down, guilt and redemption, and judgment.
I loved the audiobook. It's got multiple narrators, and they're all wonderful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
May 23, 2024
Having Polish heritage + living in the Windy City for a decade = delightful escapism.
Sometimes those super niche categories really hit the TBR spot perfectly. 😅 But I realize, it’s a kinda a weird one to recommend.
It’s like a fairy tale + horror, mixed in a contemporary setting.
Even though this had more serious tone, if you liked Masters of Death (Olivie Blake) or Thistlefoot (GennaRose Nethercott), I’d recommend.
I had to listen to the last couple of chapters twice so I understood what wasn’t said vs. implied (which sometimes drives me nuts) - but overall, I found this an amusing novella between my heavier reads.
I kinda wish this was a full novel so the ideas had time to grow more.
TY #MacAudio2024 & #netgalley for the opportunity to listen.
Sometimes those super niche categories really hit the TBR spot perfectly. 😅 But I realize, it’s a kinda a weird one to recommend.
It’s like a fairy tale + horror, mixed in a contemporary setting.
Even though this had more serious tone, if you liked Masters of Death (Olivie Blake) or Thistlefoot (GennaRose Nethercott), I’d recommend.
I had to listen to the last couple of chapters twice so I understood what wasn’t said vs. implied (which sometimes drives me nuts) - but overall, I found this an amusing novella between my heavier reads.
I kinda wish this was a full novel so the ideas had time to grow more.
TY #MacAudio2024 & #netgalley for the opportunity to listen.
June 14, 2024
“But there is something different about him, too. Something sharper, and wilder, like a fox that wanders into a suburban neighborhood in search of food—capable at any moment of ferocity.”
4.25 ⭐️
it’s been a while since i read another one of veronica roth’s works but i’m glad i did because this one really surprised me in more than one way! When Among Crows has a dark setting with slavic folk references which is very unique and the first of its kind that i’ve read.
THE PLOT
the gist of the story is that ala begrudgingly accepts dmityr’s help to cure her from the curse and for dmityr to seek an audience with baba jaga in return and that’s where they meet the charming vampire, niko along the way. i couldn’t guess what would happen next because the story was quite unpredictable. the shifting POVs made this an immersive read and i loved the details given to each of the various folk creatures.
the story is whimsical and not everything makes sense but that’s what made it all the more fun! however, the significance of “crows” wasn’t as symbolic as i’d hoped and rather a subtle reference to the epigraph mentioned at the start of the book, save for one scene where the main characters actually get attacked by enchanted crows. i also wasn’t expecting any queer rep in this book so i was really pleased when that happened. i love it when there’s unexpectedly a gay ship for me to lose my mind over.
THE CHARACTERS
despite having a lesser page count, the characters were pretty fleshed out. each of them had a moving arc that fixes you in its grasp and makes you crave for more. the more i read about them, the better i understood them.
out of all three characters, dmityr stood out the most for me. the origin of his inherited power and the murders he had committed to uphold his family’s expectations did more damage than good to his conscience. he saw himself as a monster and deeply repented his actions. i could empathise with his remorse and desire to undo his family’s bloody legacy. his character development was steady but gripping all the same.
ala was plagued by disturbing visions as a result of a curse that runs in her lineage and passes down from one member to another. her backstory was moving as well but i wanted the book to explore a little more on her relationship with her mom and the tragic event that lead to her death. i found the story lacking in that aspect especially after it was revealed how her mother had died. i believe it would’ve given ala’s character more depth.
i initially thought this book would only have dual POV so when niko’s chapter was introduced it came as a surprise to me but you know what they say, everything good comes in three’s ;) niko was charming but his motivations to help the duo weren’t clearly specified so i was a little taken aback when he suddenly started aiding them in their mission. niko’s backstory was also only briefly mentioned which leads me to believe that his POV was added as an afterthought. either way, the three of them made an interesting trio!
baba jaga’s depiction was really not what i was expecting because in my head i had pictured her to be this mean old crone but the witch was more sophisticated and charismatic than that. she had very little page time though, which is a bummer because i wanted to see more of her arcane personality.
FINAL THOUGHTS
overall, this novella has good potential to be a full length novel or even a series and with that open ending, i hope it does. in essence, When Among Crows is a story of redemption, breaking toxic family traditions, and the value of friendship. if you’re looking for a quick but engrossing read i’d highly recommend this book!
October 16, 2023
Veronica Roth is genuinely becoming a must-read author for me... I missed the Divergents, but liked Chosen Ones, really liked Arch-Conspirator and LOVED this. only complaint is that it's 176 pages and not 776 pages. MORE IN THIS UNIVERSE ASAP, PLEASE, MS ROTH
May 17, 2024
4.5 out of 5 stars
I haven't read Veronica Roth since my Divergent trilogy days, back in the 2010s, and I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed. When Among Crows is a beautiful urban fantasy novella (set in Chicago, thank you very much), filled with Polish folklore. Need I say more? It's dark, Slavic folklore (my favorite), with a dash of the immigrant experience, set in the city I've spent the past 20 years of my life in, featuring a cinema that plays horror movies - this book was pretty much written for me. The author finds the perfect balance between its modern setting and the fantasy elements- it's the old and the new coming together in a unique blend that feels almost Gothic. The writing style is very fitting as well: it's descriptive and evocative without feeling overdone, each character has a unique voice, and mythical creatures pretty much jump off the pages. Also, a special thank you from me for getting Kupala Night and the fern flower involved in this story.
As expected with a great novella, my only complaint is that this wasn't a full length novel. I loved the characters, I loved the story itself, I loved the setting, and I was incredibly sad that all of it was over so quickly, even though I loved the ending. There definitely was so much more to explore, and I sincerely hope Veronica Roth revisits this world in the future. I obviously highly recommend it. Oh, and if you're a fan of The Witcher, particularly the first two books of short stories - don't walk, run to your local bookstore to get your hands on When Among Crows.
A review copy was provided by the publisher
I haven't read Veronica Roth since my Divergent trilogy days, back in the 2010s, and I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed. When Among Crows is a beautiful urban fantasy novella (set in Chicago, thank you very much), filled with Polish folklore. Need I say more? It's dark, Slavic folklore (my favorite), with a dash of the immigrant experience, set in the city I've spent the past 20 years of my life in, featuring a cinema that plays horror movies - this book was pretty much written for me. The author finds the perfect balance between its modern setting and the fantasy elements- it's the old and the new coming together in a unique blend that feels almost Gothic. The writing style is very fitting as well: it's descriptive and evocative without feeling overdone, each character has a unique voice, and mythical creatures pretty much jump off the pages. Also, a special thank you from me for getting Kupala Night and the fern flower involved in this story.
As expected with a great novella, my only complaint is that this wasn't a full length novel. I loved the characters, I loved the story itself, I loved the setting, and I was incredibly sad that all of it was over so quickly, even though I loved the ending. There definitely was so much more to explore, and I sincerely hope Veronica Roth revisits this world in the future. I obviously highly recommend it. Oh, and if you're a fan of The Witcher, particularly the first two books of short stories - don't walk, run to your local bookstore to get your hands on When Among Crows.
A review copy was provided by the publisher
April 24, 2024
Has this turned me into a novella fan?
Ala is a fear-eating zmora awaiting death from the generational curse she carries. When Dymitr, a mortal with a mysterious purpose, offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she reluctantly agrees.
Roth portrays a Chicago overrun by Polish monsters, but mostly operating out of sight and by rules to keep them and the mortals safe.
This packs in a lot. Queer longing, polish lore, a heartache for a familiar past you can only lay claim to through heritage and stories.
Normally I struggle with novellas due to their shortness and struggling to feel connected to the stories and their characters. Yet Roth has created a satisfying and unique story.
Thank you to Tor Books for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
Ala is a fear-eating zmora awaiting death from the generational curse she carries. When Dymitr, a mortal with a mysterious purpose, offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she reluctantly agrees.
Roth portrays a Chicago overrun by Polish monsters, but mostly operating out of sight and by rules to keep them and the mortals safe.
This packs in a lot. Queer longing, polish lore, a heartache for a familiar past you can only lay claim to through heritage and stories.
Normally I struggle with novellas due to their shortness and struggling to feel connected to the stories and their characters. Yet Roth has created a satisfying and unique story.
Thank you to Tor Books for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
May 27, 2024
i think i got confused somewhere around the vampire boxing match and then a banshee started singing, my bad
May 3, 2024
I liked this, but in a subdued way. If asked, I likely would have guessed that this was written by Alix E. Harrow with some influence from Polish folklore.
Vibes:
It would be spoilers to give away what kind of story this is, but I think that there's a lot of heart to the primary storyline. Melancholy and quiet and aching and regret and yearning, but big emotions from people who feel deeply.
Characters:
Unfortunately this story is very short and I don't think this writing style lends itself to giving me the sort of fully fleshed out and easily-imagined characters that I'd hope for. I do like that we get multiple POVs and that the audiobook has a different narrator for all 3, though! And the FMC was probably the least guarded and therefore most fleshed out for me.
The Ending:
I wasn't expecting a book like this to have a twist at the end, but I quite liked it. It felt good and right. I just wish there was a little bit more time to sit with the characters and their emotions and to feel a greater weight for what transpired.
Overall:
As a whole it's a nice, little, bite-sized piece of Polish folklore and I thought the various creatures (strzyga, zmory, leshy, and more) were really well handled and imagined. I'd like to see future stories in this world, perhaps a full length novel following different characters.
For whatever reason, I'm not personally a big fan of Alix E. Harrow, so this work feeling so reminiscent for me means it probably won't leave a lasting impact (hence the 3/5 stars) but I do really think that people who enjoy her work will equally like this story.
Audiobook Notes:
There are 3 different narrators to do each of the 3 POVs. All of them were competent, though one of the male voices was a little more generic and monotone than the other two voice actors, but it wasn't distracting or detracting.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me this audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vibes:
It would be spoilers to give away what kind of story this is, but I think that there's a lot of heart to the primary storyline. Melancholy and quiet and aching and regret and yearning, but big emotions from people who feel deeply.
Characters:
Unfortunately this story is very short and I don't think this writing style lends itself to giving me the sort of fully fleshed out and easily-imagined characters that I'd hope for. I do like that we get multiple POVs and that the audiobook has a different narrator for all 3, though! And the FMC was probably the least guarded and therefore most fleshed out for me.
The Ending:
I wasn't expecting a book like this to have a twist at the end, but I quite liked it. It felt good and right. I just wish there was a little bit more time to sit with the characters and their emotions and to feel a greater weight for what transpired.
Overall:
As a whole it's a nice, little, bite-sized piece of Polish folklore and I thought the various creatures (strzyga, zmory, leshy, and more) were really well handled and imagined. I'd like to see future stories in this world, perhaps a full length novel following different characters.
For whatever reason, I'm not personally a big fan of Alix E. Harrow, so this work feeling so reminiscent for me means it probably won't leave a lasting impact (hence the 3/5 stars) but I do really think that people who enjoy her work will equally like this story.
Audiobook Notes:
There are 3 different narrators to do each of the 3 POVs. All of them were competent, though one of the male voices was a little more generic and monotone than the other two voice actors, but it wasn't distracting or detracting.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me this audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 3, 2024
I can't shake the feeling that this book would have been so much better if it were a full-length novel and not a 160-page novella. The Slavic mythology in a modern setting was very much to my liking, but there was just no time to develop any of the characters and the plot moved lightning fast up to the point where it just felt messy.
May 18, 2024
This is a story of the Polish diaspora, told through the language of Slavic folklore against a gritty noir background of Chicago’s supernatural underground scene. It is about the simultaneous belonging and alienation of being an Eastern European immigrant or their descendant in North America. It is about the struggle between a mainstream culture and those who were born never to fit into it.
When Among Crows is an interesting urban fantasy addition to the New Veronica Roth canon. Although it didn’t quite have the chemistry to make it a new favorite for me, I think it shows signs of the growth that Roth is going through.
I happen to belong to the small club of literature degree holders who will openly admit to liking Veronica Roth’s debut, the 2011 YA sensation Divergent. Before anyone reading this review assumes that my enjoyment of Divergent comes down to teenage nostalgia, let me share with you that I read Roth’s debut in my thirties. It had exactly what I hope to find every time I open a book - a gripping story that’s vivid enough for my brain to turn it into a movie in my head, along with some insight into people’s thoughts that you can’t get from a screen. Sure, reading it was a bit like being on the phone with a sixteen-year-old as she describes her day. But it happened to have been a wild day, so I enjoyed my conversation with the young Veronica Roth.
Roth took a bit of a break before redirecting her career away from lengthy YA to short stories and novellas - still speculative, but clearly meant to appeal to an older audience. When Among Crows is my second New Veronica Roth piece, after her SF short story Ark (I spent way too much of my review of Ark talking about Divergent, too).
I wish I could say that When Among Crows made me feel more than it did. Sadly, I didn’t find any magic in it - no story spark to make me want to buy an extra couple of copies to dog-ear for revisiting its characters and scenes at a later date. It felt like the story was checking items off a list of what makes a ‘good’ book. A complicated past with trauma for the protagonist and supporting characters. Some foreshadowing, but not too much (although not enough of it, in my opinion). A want, a fear, inner and outer conflict. Language that is not repetitive (here, Roth shows clear growth from her early era). But it didn’t really come together to a story that set my heart aflutter.
A twist happens very close to the end of this novella, and I think it should have been revealed to us on page one. A very minor spoiler here will explain why:
Nevertheless, I see progress in Roth’s work. This story is more interesting than Ark, and the sentence-level writing is better than it was in Divergent. I just hope that in her near future, Roth once again taps into the chemistry I felt in her early period. I hope she writes longer works again, too, because I get the feeling that she needs the page space to let her storytelling come into bloom.
When Among Crows is an interesting urban fantasy addition to the New Veronica Roth canon. Although it didn’t quite have the chemistry to make it a new favorite for me, I think it shows signs of the growth that Roth is going through.
I happen to belong to the small club of literature degree holders who will openly admit to liking Veronica Roth’s debut, the 2011 YA sensation Divergent. Before anyone reading this review assumes that my enjoyment of Divergent comes down to teenage nostalgia, let me share with you that I read Roth’s debut in my thirties. It had exactly what I hope to find every time I open a book - a gripping story that’s vivid enough for my brain to turn it into a movie in my head, along with some insight into people’s thoughts that you can’t get from a screen. Sure, reading it was a bit like being on the phone with a sixteen-year-old as she describes her day. But it happened to have been a wild day, so I enjoyed my conversation with the young Veronica Roth.
Roth took a bit of a break before redirecting her career away from lengthy YA to short stories and novellas - still speculative, but clearly meant to appeal to an older audience. When Among Crows is my second New Veronica Roth piece, after her SF short story Ark (I spent way too much of my review of Ark talking about Divergent, too).
I wish I could say that When Among Crows made me feel more than it did. Sadly, I didn’t find any magic in it - no story spark to make me want to buy an extra couple of copies to dog-ear for revisiting its characters and scenes at a later date. It felt like the story was checking items off a list of what makes a ‘good’ book. A complicated past with trauma for the protagonist and supporting characters. Some foreshadowing, but not too much (although not enough of it, in my opinion). A want, a fear, inner and outer conflict. Language that is not repetitive (here, Roth shows clear growth from her early era). But it didn’t really come together to a story that set my heart aflutter.
A twist happens very close to the end of this novella, and I think it should have been revealed to us on page one. A very minor spoiler here will explain why:
Nevertheless, I see progress in Roth’s work. This story is more interesting than Ark, and the sentence-level writing is better than it was in Divergent. I just hope that in her near future, Roth once again taps into the chemistry I felt in her early period. I hope she writes longer works again, too, because I get the feeling that she needs the page space to let her storytelling come into bloom.
April 5, 2024
As a reader, novellas represent a tricky middle ground for me: a short story has brevity, a novel has depth, but novellas fall in this in-between space that usually means I struggle to find ones I truly love. I say all this to preface the fact that When Among Crows was a real standout to me, a novella that I loved and that worked for me on every level.
My biggest impression of When Among Crows is, I think, how striking it is. It's a novella that understands the real power of a strong visual image, the way it allows a story to take root in your mind. That certain scenes hit so hard, and come to life so vividly, is a real testament to Veronica Roth's writing, her ability to viscerally evoke the atmosphere and sense of a moment or scene. (There's one particular scene from the end of the novella that sticks out in my mind so starkly as an example of this.) I described it as a "striking" novella, and that's really the perfect word to convey the effect of Roth's writing: it aims, and it aims true; sets up the shot and lands it with both precision and impact.
But if the novella's moments land, it's not just because of the stellar writing, but also the stellar characterization. There are three main characters in When Among Crows and they each feel distinct in their own right, with their own backgrounds, vulnerabilities, motivations, and story arcs. More importantly, their stories are just really moving; they're not just characters you feel like you understand, but characters that you care about.
Finally, When Among Crows is, thematically, such a fascinating novella to me. On a fundamental level, I think it's a story that's interested in asking two intertwined questions. First, what does pain do? How do we value pain, and what does it mean to invest in the significance of pain (both symbolically and practically)? to see pain as a marker of having "earned" or worked for something? From there, we get to the novella's second thematic question: what can pain do? Can suffering be a form of atonement? To what extent can pain be a form of restitution, a way to right wrongs done?
Like I said, novellas are usually a hard sell for me, so the fact that I loved this one makes it stand out to me all the more. Writing, characterization, pacing, themes--all of it worked for me here. When Among Crows was great in the moment, but even more it's a novella with lasting power, one that continues to be memorable in my mind.
(thank you to Tor for the eARC!)
My biggest impression of When Among Crows is, I think, how striking it is. It's a novella that understands the real power of a strong visual image, the way it allows a story to take root in your mind. That certain scenes hit so hard, and come to life so vividly, is a real testament to Veronica Roth's writing, her ability to viscerally evoke the atmosphere and sense of a moment or scene. (There's one particular scene from the end of the novella that sticks out in my mind so starkly as an example of this.) I described it as a "striking" novella, and that's really the perfect word to convey the effect of Roth's writing: it aims, and it aims true; sets up the shot and lands it with both precision and impact.
But if the novella's moments land, it's not just because of the stellar writing, but also the stellar characterization. There are three main characters in When Among Crows and they each feel distinct in their own right, with their own backgrounds, vulnerabilities, motivations, and story arcs. More importantly, their stories are just really moving; they're not just characters you feel like you understand, but characters that you care about.
Finally, When Among Crows is, thematically, such a fascinating novella to me. On a fundamental level, I think it's a story that's interested in asking two intertwined questions. First, what does pain do? How do we value pain, and what does it mean to invest in the significance of pain (both symbolically and practically)? to see pain as a marker of having "earned" or worked for something? From there, we get to the novella's second thematic question: what can pain do? Can suffering be a form of atonement? To what extent can pain be a form of restitution, a way to right wrongs done?
Like I said, novellas are usually a hard sell for me, so the fact that I loved this one makes it stand out to me all the more. Writing, characterization, pacing, themes--all of it worked for me here. When Among Crows was great in the moment, but even more it's a novella with lasting power, one that continues to be memorable in my mind.
(thank you to Tor for the eARC!)
August 18, 2024
This made up for the disaster that was Allegiant. RTC
June 17, 2024
I liked learning all about the different folkloric creatures, but I feel like that's all this book was
May 31, 2024
THIS WAS SO. FN. GOOD.
ms veronica roth STILL GOT IT. i am soo impressed at how immersive the story is, especially for being under 200 pgs. the story unraveled perfectly, and flowed so well without those useless scenes that longer books tend to have. i really really enjoyed this and it affirmed my belief that books do not have to be long to hit the spot just right.
i went into it not really knowing what it was about and the first chapter def was confusing but oh it was so addicting after that. if anyone is interested in old european myths, pick this up!! 🤗 i cannot WAIT to read more of veronica’s works, especially with the reread of the divergent series i have planned!
ms veronica roth STILL GOT IT. i am soo impressed at how immersive the story is, especially for being under 200 pgs. the story unraveled perfectly, and flowed so well without those useless scenes that longer books tend to have. i really really enjoyed this and it affirmed my belief that books do not have to be long to hit the spot just right.
i went into it not really knowing what it was about and the first chapter def was confusing but oh it was so addicting after that. if anyone is interested in old european myths, pick this up!! 🤗 i cannot WAIT to read more of veronica’s works, especially with the reread of the divergent series i have planned!
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