***Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review***

The Storm Crow is a YA Fantasy debut novel by Kalyn Josephson. I thought that this book would be a perfect fit for me. It’s compared to Eragon meets And I Darken--well, quite frankly, I didn’t get those vibes at all.

This book starts with a bang. The kingdom of Rhodaire is invaded by Illucian soldiers. The soldiers destroy everything in their wake--in particular the magical crows that sustain the Rhodairen way of life. This devastation leaves not only the kingdom in bad shape but Princess Anthia too. Anthia has always been connected to the crows. They take up nearly every aspect of her life. Their loss throws Anthia into a deep depression.

I wanted to love this book. But, the pacing of this book was just way too slow for me. There’s basically zero action until the very end of the book. Things might have been better if I felt connected to the characters. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or what, but I wasn’t connected or invested in this story at all. The only character I liked was Ericen and we didn’t get that many scenes from him in the second half of the book. However, that being said, I do plan on reading the sequel so I can see where the author takes this series.

PSA: If the idea of the main character being depressed deters you from this book, don’t let it. The author captures depression very well. She depicts the feelings of depression accurately and in a relatable way.

It was so hard for me to put this book down. Josephson did such a great job of storytelling. If you get nothing else from this, know that this is one HECK of a story. It’s got so much packed into it, but it’s super well done and not overwhelming at all. The details are incredible. The characters are so well written and you can truly understand what they’re feeling. The dialogue in this book--terrific.
My favorite thing about this book is the way that Thia’s depression and PTSD are written. When the rookeries are destroyed, Thia was right there. The description and inner monologue that Thia has is so well described. It truly conveys what it feels like to have depression: the struggle just to get up in the morning, the indescribable sadness, the weight that feels lodged on your chest, the loss for words when people don’t take the time to understand that it’s not just something you can choose to move on from. For those that have never felt true depression, this is a book that I would push them towards if they really wanted to read an account. Although fiction, I think that sometimes books can do a better job of explaining things like mental illness better than we can speak it in real life. This book truly does it justice.
I also really liked the main and secondary characters and their development over the period of the book. Thia, Kiva, and Caylus are all characters that you geninuely want to be around. Thia, as the main lead, you get more of her story and all of her thoughts. Kiva was such a fun character and was truly a best friend to Thia. Kiva’s also super loyal and has a heart of gold, especially in doing what she thinks is morally right. Caylus was probably one of my top favorite characters. He really made his way into Illucia by fate and I’m glad he did. His story also gave a bit more insight into the rule and conquest of Illucia into other neighboring countries, not just Rhodaire. Also, Ericen probably has one of the best character developments I’ve read, but he’s also a product of his culture and upbringing. Once you read it, you’ll understand.
I do have to say, in the beginning I was really confused about the crows. Were they normal sized and the people small? Or were the people normal sized and the crows enormous? To end any confusion, it’s the latter. And also, this was a super breath of fresh air. Josephson, on the sly, wrote a dragon story, but didn’t use dragons, and came up with her own system of magic unlike one that I’ve read (unless I’m forgetting). I LOVED IT. And you will too.
The Storm Crow released on July 9th. This is one of my favorite reads of this year and you don’t wanna miss it!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you

3.5🌟——————————————————-
“ Snuff out the only candle in a room. Watch how quickly the darkness comes”

What is this book?
After the destruction of the legendary crows and the death of their queen Princess Thia and her kingdom are a mess. Thia’s older sister is suddey thrust into the Spotlight of queen while Thias depression continues to hang over her. The treacherous kingdom responsible for the bloodshed propose a marriage between Thia and their ruthless crown prince. Thias sister has no choice but to accept. Thia leaves her home and her sister to venture into the territory of those who took everything she loved away. With the threat of Thias kingdoms’ demise what can those who took everything take away?

CHARACTERS
Thia is a badass. There is literally no other way to put it. She struggles with depression but she is trying. She is fighting. She is fighting so fucking hard and it’s beautiful. Thias devotion to those she loves is inspiring and admirable. She’s snarky, competitive and has the spirit of a storm.
One part of Thias character that i especially enjoyed was her relationship with her friend and guard Kiva. Kiva is one of the best friends I have read in literature. She truly cares. They care for each other in a strictly platonic way even though Kiva has an on page romance with another girl. A queer girl can be friends with another girl. Who knew from the way YA romanticizes everything.
Another part of Thias character that I really enjoyed was the very human way she dealt with the grief of losing things very dear to her. Thias relationship with the crows is so obviously one of pure respect, admiration and love. The way she bonded with them was clear and something I loved. Thias relationship with her mother wasn’t shied away from. It doesn’t matter if she died that doesn’t mean Thia should romanticize her or her actions.
Thia is a rare depressed badass and that is relatable.(well only the depressed part🙃)

OTHER THINGS I LIKED
- mental illness rep
- relationships explored including and not including Thia
- RES- WHAT A CUTIE PIE
- crow powers and exploration
- argumentative strong female character
-writing

SOME THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE
- the romance
- The Prince
- the romance
- The Princes Mom
- The love triangle thing that’s happening
- DID I MENTION THE ROMANCE BECAUSE I DON’T LIKE IT

Overall thoughts
This was a pretty standard unremarkable YA for me. The only thing that set it apart was the mental health representation. That was the reason this book got a 3.5 instead of a mediocre 2.5. Mental health is a big part of a lot of people’s lives and i’m glad it’s being represented more in media especially in fantastical settings.

I will be continuing on with this series.
in spite of THE FRICKING HORRIBLE ROMANCE

3.5 stars. The writing was good, the idea was good, the characters are fully developed and interesting BUT the pacing was very slow for the majority of the book. I had to force myself to keep reading at times. I ended up enjoying this book and I definitely plan to read the next book but this book was lots of set up. I feel like parts were pretty predictable but i’m enjoying the characters enough to be ok with it. I feel like the next book will be better because it will have more action and be more focused on plot vs setup. I’m interested to see what happens next. I really did enjoy the characters and I feel like some betrayals are coming! So i’m hoping to see some ruthless twists and turns in the next book. I hope the next book has less predictability and more oh my gosh did that just happen. Because this book was a good setup to what could potentially be a very good series.

Was so excited to read The Storm Crow, plus the cover art is beautiful. Initially I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to find out more, however it then became a little predictable and I had trouble wanting to continue.

Within Young Adult fantasy often than not female characters are portrayed instantly within positions of power or their physical capabilities are unrealistic, as we imagine a world where stereotypes are broken. Female empowerment is not a straight formula, and it was wonderful to see the character development of overcoming the invisible crutch of mental illness and persevering despite surviving a traumatic event. Those who deal with mental illnesses often acknowledge that they know how they are reacting to a situation is “absurd” but are disabled to cope within the identical fashion as what the “average” person would. To see it portrayed within a fantasy debut as diverse, and intriguing as Storm Crow was exciting. Unfortunately, it did not extend throughout the entire novel, and at times certain extenuating circumstances raised questions as to why the absences of the main characters were not questioned. The lack of introduction to the tropical Kingdom of Rhodaire, and the elemental crows left much to be desired. Yet despite the bit of underdevelopment there was an instant attachment to the concept, and plot that is undeniable – leaving a sense of curiosity as to what the sequel will unveil.

Recommended for those who love fantasy, and magic. With mental health, and LGBTQ representation.

Thank you to SourceBooksFire for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I NEED MORE! WHERE IS THE SEQUEL?!!!! I. NEED. IT. NOW.

I’m so 100000% obsessed by this book! I mean, we’re talking about CROWS and guess what? Crows are good thing and you know what, I read “Six of Crows” then saw this title “The Storm CROW” in e-Galley I quickly requested it and didn’t regret anything! I’m soooo glad they accepted and read this really awesome book! Ugh! I can’t get enough. AND LOOK AT THE COVER, intriguing, mystery and GOSH I’m hugging that crow!

Okay first thing – the CROWS – this book, I think have 8 (EIGHT!!) kinds of crows in Rhodaire and my favorites are the Storm and Sun Crows. The way the author writes about the crows are really special and detailed from the start of the book. You can actually be fascinated by the fact that you can imagine each of them. It’s really that good and the coolest creatures that I’ve read so far! This is one of the high fantasy that I really love. The world here is so powerful, so unique and so cruel. Like the chances of characters are given very limited time to plan and stick whatever they have come out. Every chapter always have this story to tell, its surprises me every single time.

The battle, the surprises and the twists are endless in this story, its literary non-stop that you can’t stop reading it from the start. I have so many emotions reading this book: cry, laugh, shocked – it’s everything. I love every single thing happened in this book. To the love story, I’m surprise and it’s quick, I was like “holy sh*t that’s it?” and little disappointed since the one I want to ship is sinking – it’s always like that right? – BUT I’m not losing hope! But I think in this book, it really didn’t focus much on the love side but more on the battle and more on the crows!

Let’s talk about the characters: I LOVE THEM ALL. Like literally love them all, I won’t be saying them all since I want you guys to have this hunger to know the characters once it releases! First, we have Princess Thia, who is the protagonist and was depressed in this story because of something tragic happened to her kingdom. She’s absolutely USELESS but when the story goes, she glows like a sun. She’s literary don’t go anything for a fight, a fierce princess, always gives herself a push to her fears; she’s everything you wished for. Then we have Ericen – the prince villain, smart mouth and handsome – who’s really draw my heart closer to his character. He’s somehow very special and unique on his manly way and I can’t help not to smile every time he make Thia blush. For me, Ericen is like Nikolai in particular way, he keeps reminding me of him when I knew about his past. BUT I want to see more of him in BOOK 2 – I’m hoping! The character building in this book is upgrading every chapter. They are so much more character building in the story, this story also have strong friendship bond that I can’t even how to describe it! PLEASE trust me! You have to read this book!

Overall, it’s all you want from a high fantasy book. I’m so down that when these book hit the shelves it will be the ones to talk about. It’s amazingly written. You should pick this one once it releases, I recommend that YOU should grab this okay? I don’t want you to miss all the good things about this book! AND Please could we have the BOOK 2 release soon please?! I badly want and need it for Saints’ sake :D

This was everything you could ever want out of a debut fantasy novel. Kalyn Josephson has created a magical and unique world for us to fall in love with. The Storm Crow is about a Kingdom where crows with elemental magic are bonded with riders and help keep the cities running. When tragedy strikes and the kingdom is in shambles, the princess of Rhodaire is forced to make difficult choices and try to fuel a rebellion.

Thia is our main character and she is everything young women should aspire to be. Not only is she fiercely loyal, strong, ambitious, kind, and brave, she is also battling depression. The way that Josephson portrays mental health in this book is heartbreakingly beautiful. Thia feels the insurmountable weight of her kingdom's losses on her shoulders and we get to go on the journey to healing with her. I love that she doesn't brush it under the rug, but rather gives us the harsh reality of what it's like to live with mental illness.

Ericen is the prince of Illucia and Thia has to decide whether or not she should trust him or hate him. He is similar to Thia in the fact that he is fiercely loyal to his kingdom, but his loyalty knows no bounds and he is often forced to do awful things at his mother's behest. I fell in love with his character and I cannot wait to see how his story unfolds in the sequel.

I love Kiva and Caylus, our two main supporting characters. The relationships that Thia builds with them are crucial to her survival and help her crawl out from the dark hole shes been living in. I can't wait to read more of their adventures and see what roles they play in the rebellion in book 2.

If you're looking for your next fantasy read then I highly suggest you pre-order this gorgeous book, I promise you won't regret it. Overall this was a beautiful story about love, loyalty, loss, and how you can overcome even your darkest of days.

The Storm Crow tells the story of a depressed princess who's grappling with the death of her mother and the loss of her kingdom's main source of protection. With the crows destroyed and the new queen at her wit's end, Anthia, the depressed princess, is forced to marry the son of the woman who had her mother killed. Quick witted but not particularly discrete, Anthia now has to deal with leaving the only home she's ever known, to fit in with a ruthless new court filled with enemies. With her best friend at her side and a mysterious egg in her possession, Thia just might have a chance.

We weren't a fan of the main 'ship in the book and disliked everytime Thia and Ericen (love interest) talked to each other. We aren't ones for love found through fighting and arguments. Other than that, it was a good read (no pun intended) and we look forward to the next book in the series

Overall, I really liked The Storm Crow. The story was interesting and the concept of having magical crows that help a country was unique. The last part of this story had me on the edge of my seat. The story began a little slow, which was why I didn't give it a full five stars.

I really liked the main character. Thia was a girl whose life circumstances pushed her into a debilitating depression. It wasn't the kind of chronic depression that a person with chronic suicidality might have, but it is the kind of depression a person might feel after a traumatic event. Eventually, she had to rise above her circumstances and fight (which I realize might not be possible for some people, but it was possible in her case). Thia is forced, against her will, to leave her homeland to go live in another country with a royal family she's supposed to marry into. I can imagine how this would be an uncomfortable situation.

Another thing I liked about this book was the friendship that Thia had with Kiva. There aren't enough friendships in YA books, but her friendship with Kiva is nice.

Then there are the villains. There is one main villain here, and a few smaller villains, but I don't want to give too much away. Things might not be exactly as they seem at the beginning of the book.

Thia, Kiva, and a few allies they run into along the way grow as people during The Storm Crow, find out what is going on and by the end of the book, they get to a point where... while it's not a cliffhanger, you'll want to read the next book to find out what's happening. I plan to read the second book in this series.

I really enjoyed this book! The world-building is really interesting and I would love to know more about the crows and the different countries. Thia's a main character that you can root for and I appreciate that this book dealt with PTSD and depression, instead of simply brushing her trauma under the rug. I can't wait to read the next book!

The Storm Crow is a fast paced Fantasy novel with quite a bit of action, but it fails to present a detailed world-building or a complex and well developed plot. The mythology and magic surrounding the crows is really interesting despite how little we get of it. The characters are intriguing and diverse, but not all that developed, and there is instalove everywhere.

Kalyn Josephson’s writing is good, but it could do with more fleshing out. There are almost no descriptions about the kingdoms and places in the novel, which makes it difficult to connect to the story, especially when the reader is faced with concepts like science experiments and the use of the word ‘depression’. It’s a bit difficult to situate yourself in this world and that hurts the story.

I’m disappointed. This is a really quick read in the sense that the writing is good and the pace is fast, but a few things fell off and the plot totally falls apart after a while. Thia’s depression is one thing that I appreciated a lot in the beginning, as it’s not a common thing to be addressed in YA Fantasy novels, but the use of the word ‘depression’ and the way it’s shown, addressed, and dealt with in the book is kind of really inconsistent and not well developed.

The world-building is also really scarce. The crow magic is super interesting, but it doesn’t get explored in depth all that much, and the shallow descriptions of the kingdoms and cities and everything else really doesn’t help things. It’s very difficult to imagine the word Thia finds herself in. And the way a few plot points happen makes it even harder to believe in the characters, their actions, and that they’re in danger.

Instalove is also reeeeeally present all around, but I do have to say that having a wlw couple instantly loving each other is a nice treat. The novel is diverse, which is a good thing, but it’s a bit of a bummer that the characters aren’t all that developed and don’t really change much throughout the novel.

In the end, The Storm Crow, personally, doesn’t work for me. There are too many pot inconsistencies or things that don’t make sense, the world-building is really shallow and vague, and the characters aren’t much better. Some people will definitely like this for its cool concept, but the execution failed for me.

Wow. This book was fantastic. I was so excited to get an ARC of this!

First thoughts—love the premise of giant crows with diverse magical abilities. A refreshing new take on a classic creature that appears in a lot of literature.

Second, the cover of the book is beautiful. Props to the artist!

I love that the author brought up elements of depression, as seen with Thia. So many times in books I feel like there is no relation to the emotional effects of tragedy on a character. This book really showed the progression of Thia getting out of depression, while also still grappling with those feelings throughout.

Romance....well, it’s your typical asshole prince-turned-caring, conflicted soul. BUT I do like Ericen as a character. I do feel bad for him and want to see him break free from his terrible mother. Thia claims she does not think of him in a romantic way, but i could see that changing in book 2.

Caylus’s character was okay. Wasn’t too overly ecstatic about him, but maybe book 2 will give more character development. Kiva is great. I want a Kiva as a bff.

Overall, i was very satisfied with this book. I cannot wait for the second to come out!

I imagine that while writing her debut novel, Kalyn Josephson had advisors. There are advisors from her publishers Sourcebooks and peer advisors, for example. Yet, apparently no one explained a simple rule to Josephson. In the first book of a series you build worlds, characters and intrigue. You set-up your series. She did the latter. The first two? Destroyed. Well most of them by the end of the prologue. And I can only say one thing to that. THANK THE CROWS NO ONE TOLD HER THAT RULE.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an Arc in exchange for an honest review
Don't forget today is the last day to enter the international (wherever book depository delivers) give away for a pre-order copy of The Storm Crow! Details can be found on the Q and A Post.
Truth be told when it comes to the rules of fantasy writing, series writing and, well writing, Josephson has absolutely no... *ok let me keep this G-rated*... bucks to give. And I'm here for it. All of it. Except for knowing how to give the reader enough intrigue, and open-ended plotlines to keep them coming back, but also wrapping up enough to not leave them frustrated? She went Bob Dylan (for us old enough to remember Bob Dylan) and it worked.
Let me be clear. Josephson can accomplish this feat because her writing style is impeccable. It is poetic and terrifying. She uses powerful imagery that juxtaposes terrifying events with beautiful and compelling sensory details--provoking visceral emotion and awe in the captive reader.
I was a storm.
Then the fire seared through feather and muscle and bone, and it plummeted to the earth like a falling star. It struck the ground before me, erupting like a funeral pyre Only my raw throat told me I'd screamed the entire time It'd fallen.
It is in these moments that you meet Princess Thia and her kingdom of Rhodaire as both simultaneously torn down, destroyed and everything is changed forever. It is here that you realize Josephson doesn't fear the rules of writing the fantasy genre.
As you continue through The Storm Crow it becomes abundantly clear she has no issue eradicating them. Not for self-purpose, but because they work within the structure and plotline of her story. And if it serves her story, her characters? That is the priority.
• By the end of the prologue she hadn't built Rhodaire, the most important kingdom in the story- she burnt it down (It isn't a spoiler-- it is the prologue).
• She introduced the characters by bringing them down to their lowest possible points, all for completely different reasons.
• And even the possible relationship doesn't bother me because there are SO many different types of relationships of relationships happening that it works. And anyone who reads my blog understands what a HUGE deal that is for me to say.
• Everyone expecting all the magic action? Based on the description? The cover? Don't. Not outside of the destruction of a whole kingdom and a couple of attempts on people's lives.
o But again- rules? What rules? This is a series, not a stand-alone. It is ok because you know. You just know. You are being lulled in. It is going to come. And when it does? It is going to be spectacular. Again, this isn't a spoiler. This is my impression, my prediction and my thoughts. I really believe that Josephson is setting us up for magic and action to take center stage.
Moving on from the rule breaking... a few more essential details about The Storm Crow.
The Depression representation demonstrates how much fiction can teach us about the world, ourselves and each other as we aim for a more inclusive society, world and schools. I said it in another recent review. Books with representation of mental illness and physical disability need to be written and read fiercely. The Storm Crow now joins that list.
Relationships. Hello relationships. Friendships. Family. Friends. Allies. Enemies. And a mixture of all of them combined, because you just never know what anyone might be up to? Yeah. I'm not giving you any more than that so just deal with it.

All of them are there and they are deeply explored. They are complicated and never just skimmed over or just side fodder. Each are integral to the story and have their own unique dynamic. They have already started to show a growth over the first book, and I imagine will continue to grow during the second book.
I won't say much about newly introduced characters and one character that enters Thia's world because... you should go in and have all the fun I did, and he kicks off so much of everything.
Just know that there is A LOT OF political intrigue and tough decisions to be made. But with each tough decision comes fear, the fight of inner demons and the hope of finding the strength to beat them.
So, breathe now. While you barely still can. Because once all the above comes together for book two? We are all doomed to be held captive for whatever this writing sorceress has in store for us all. And if she is willing to break all these rules in her debut. I dare not think about what will be done in book two.

The Storm Crow was a disappointing read. When I saw the cover for this book on Netgalley, I immediately jumped at the chance to request it. But yet again, a pretty cover does not make for a great read. I felt like I’ve read this story before countless times and not in a good way. Many times I have had to put this book to the side to read something else. I didn’t like the characters, and the plot was boring. I’ve seen countless raved reviews for The Storm Crow, but I don’t see it.

I am completely hooked! It was right from the start. Kayln did a wonderful job with drawing an emotional response from me, the reader. I was captivated by the magic of the crows and devastated at the loss. It was easy to connect with the characters and their experiences. The world building was also so well done. I just cannot wait for the next in the series!

"It was joy, as wild and powerful as a storm, and it was hope, as tentative and newborn as the hatching crow"

* * * *
4 / 5

Huge crows that you can ride that have magical powers. I was completely sold on that premise alone. Throw in a complex female protagonist with depression that she is fighting, a whole cast of women, an unlikely marriage, and a revolution and you have a solid YA fantasy. 

"Some hours, some seconds, I could handle, and the next, I wanted to let the world swallow me up"

Princess Anthia of Rhodaire is a second daughter, destined to receive her own crow at the next ceremony and to become a rider, whilst her older sister Caliza studies to become Queen. When the military kingdom of Illucia invades, butchers their people, and slays all of their crows, Caliza must stand up and become Queen. Meanwhile, Anthia, or Thia, falls into a deep depression having lost her mother, her friends, and virtually everything she loves. Unfortunately for her, Caliza promises Anthia's hand in marriage to Prince Ericen of Illucia. You see, the crows are magical. Sun crows have healing powers, shadow crows can meld into the darkness. Without water crows to summon rains and battle crows to protect them, Rhodaire is extremely vulnerable. 

First up, I can't remember the last time I read a YA fantasy novel with a main character that is so clearly depressed and calls it that. Life sucks for Thia. Her mother is dead, her sister doesn't have any time for her, and she's supposed to marry a man from the people that destroyed her life. Can't blame the girl for not wanting to get out of bed. Then she finds a single storm crow egg in the wreckage of the rookery and it lights a small fire inside of her. I really rooted for Thia throughout the book.

"A beast inside me slowly uncoiled, releasing a tension so deeply ingrained, it had become a part of me"

The Storm Crow was thoughtful and fun and I definitely thought that the idea of magical crows was super cool and well integrated into the book. It's clear how having the crows has affected Rhodairen culture. However, this book definitely needed more crow action. There's a flight sequence at the start and the storm crow egg, but other than that there's not actually many crows around (on account of them all being dead). Shame. The Storm Crow also manages to fall into a number of classic YA cliches, including the dreaded love triangle and awkward cringeworthy enemies to friends banter between Thia and Ericen.

On the whole I loved this book. In particular I loved how it had prominently had several female friendships and a whole cast of women. Virtually every character of any importance bar the two love interests was female: kind women, clever women, cunning women, cruel women. The writing was also lovely; easy to read, descriptive and flowing, Josephson has a great style. 

There was a lot to love in The Storm Crow (including that gorgeous cover!). I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars.

e-ARC received via Sourcebooks Fire & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2019 so I am super thankful to these providers for granting me this ARC.
T/W: Mild-violence, Depression
Diverse range of sexualities

A fantasy where our main character rides on the backs of giant crows? Yes, please. Also, we can't ignore that STUNNING cover - wow!

This was really enjoyable. Things go wild from the very first chapter and what you thought to be the storyline flips completely upside down. I liked our main character, although I did have slight difficulty picturing her despite several short descriptions of her appearance. I love first person narration but I think third might've worked better in this case. I'd love to have know what was happening in the other kingdoms, not just in Anthia's head.

I loved Prince Ericen, Anthia's suitor. My only real complaint with his character was that he has a striking resemblance to Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses, and what I predict will be a similar character arc. Here's some examples:

'Prince Ericen was one of the most attractive men I'd ever seen. With a short crop of black hair and eyes brighter than a bluebird's feathers, he was all crisp, clean edges and rich, manicured Illucian style.'

'His lips twisted into a one-sided smile. "At least mine's a pleasant sight.'

'"Are you saying you're not normally a prick?"
"Oh no, I am. Just usually a more charming one."'

'He lounged in his chair in a lithe, imperious way, as if the chair should be grateful to him.'

Adding to that, the Illucian town reminded me exactly of Velaris in A Court of Mist and Fury and the word 'Illucian' itself sounds an awful lot like 'Illyrian' from that same series. Maybe _ is our Tamlin! Another thing that threw me off, which is slightly more ridiculous: the disastrous event at the beginning of the novel is referred to as 'Ronoch' and all I could think of everytime I read it was 'Ragnarok' from the third 'Thor' film. This is entirely my fault but I thought it was funny enough to share.

There is a strong female friendship in this story that I really admired. Anthia and Kiva are extremely close and I thought that their differences in station made for an interesting bond. One thing that did surprise me was the boldness Kiva treated Ericen with. Some of her comments towards him were completely out of line, especially when the kingdom of Illucia threatens that of Rhodaire so harshly. It just seemed odd that a Prince would put up with an opposing General's daughter. But then again that could be because he does not wish to offend Anthia entirely.

I admire the depression rep but I would've liked that area to have been developed on further. It is great seeing mental health represented in a YA fantasy book. It is so important, especially as our main character has been through so much, and lost so many loved ones, at such a young age.

I went into The Storm Crow believing it to be a standalone. I was mistaken. It is in fact a duology, potentially a trilogy. While I am excited for the storyline to progress in further books, I was quite looking forward to reading a standalone fantasy as they are so rare. Nevertheless, it ended on a cliff-hanger so the following book(s) is(/are) sure to have some goodcontent!

If you love fantasy, a new plot, a fresh idea, but some more familiar characters - this is the book for you!

The Storm Crow is the book I needed to read at exactly this point in my life. The representation of not only depression but difficult family relationships that happen as a result of ignorance or misunderstanding is wonderfully explained in this book. There were times when I had to annotate a few lines or read over pages of scenes that were so spot on that it changed the entire feeling and atmosphere around me.

It wasn’t only the representation in this book that made it worth every minute rereading it. The character arc of Thia felt real. Every fragile moment set the bar deeper and deeper into feelings that books very rarely bring out.

Under the charming, witty dialogue of both Thia and Ericen, Kalyn Josephson gave these characters regrets and dreams that ultimately end up eating away at both of them. Both sides of the same coin, and yet when it came down to it, they chose different things for the same reasons.

The editions of the crows were one of the things that initially drew me to this book. Large black birds with strong wings and sharp beaks and yet still delicate and perfectly symbolic with just enough representation to make each mention of those wonderfully large birds mean something more.

A debut novel that has set the standard for all Kalyn Josephsons books from now on, put the author on the top of my must-read list with this book coming out of my summer reading recommendations. Everyone needs to read this book for the adventure, the intricacy and the representation. Oh and magic crows.

<b> Netgalley Arc Copy </b>

So weird to me how in one week I read two fantasy books revolving around war, and huge birds. I recently read Crown of Feathers and absolutely loved it, and now The Storm Crow which is similar in the birds, war aspect but also so much different.

This was very good. It’s a little on the slower side but I was really invested and never got bored or wanted it to speed up. I enjoyed the characters, plot and I LOVE the world. I can’t wait to learn more about the world and every different part of it.


Thia is our main character and I adore her. She has major anxiety and from someone with anxiety it’s an honest depiction of what anxiety feels like day to day, she also struggles with depression in the beginning and it was extremely relatable! I really enjoyed Kiva, she’s a bad ass trained solider but she is the sweetest little pumpkin as well. She’s the best friend Thia could ever ask for and never ever lets Thia down! There friendship was an amazing aspect of this story! I also really liked Ericen and Caylus too. There was hints of a love triangle but it never actually is one, it’s very well explained towards the end. The only thing I would have liked would be a little bit more between Caylus and Thia. Just a tiny bit, he’s a very mysterious quiet guy, but I wish we could have just spent maybe another 3 chapters between them and getting to know him for ourselves. Other than that I really loved them.


The freaking <b> CROWS </b> sign me tf up!
I neeeeddd more of the crows. I want to learn every single thing about these crows and their magic. I mean that is such a unique and fascinating thing to me. Also I love little Res and his tantrums. I was laughing my butt off multiple times!


A really great read! I can’t wait for the second one.


<b> A round of applause for this being Kalyn’s debut novel as well!!! </b>