Highly original world building, memorable characters that I enjoyed watching grow and develop over the course of the story. Definitely a good candidate for Battle of the Books.

The Merciful Crow is an exciting debut fantasy from Margaret Owen. We follow Fie, a sixteen-year-old chief-in-training as her group travels the kingdom dealing mercy to those infected with what is known as the Sinner's Plague. In an unusual turn of events, Fie's band ends up hiding a prince and his guard among themselves after a recent attempt on their lives. The question is: can Fie, Tavin and the Prince get over their own prejudices and class distinctions long enough to save their homeland?

This novel is so important to our current era as it deals with class distinctions in a very real way. The castes in The Merciful crow aren't necessarily race based -- instead focusing on the type of magic that they use, but the way they interact with each other is very similiar to how different races act towards one another. The Hawks are even equal to a police force, which brings up visions of police brutality and corruption that we see in the news.

I really enjoyed this book, the action was well written and the character relationships were believeable. My only real issue is that Fie does not read like a sixteen-year old. She reads like a 18 to early 20s year old especially when it comes to matters revolving around sex and diplomacy. The only time where I would consider her acting as a teenager is when she kills someone for the first time and in the beginning when she acts more childish toward the Prince and Tavin. But otherwise she just reads like someone much older.

In the Kingdom of Sabor, all Soborian society is structured on a bird-based caste system, with Phoenixes on top, and Crows on the bottom, which seems super unfair considering that crows are really super smart. Ravens and crows are among the smartest birds out there, you guys. Anyway, all the other bird-castes are known for having a birthright, or a particular type of magic about them (you can read all about them here). The Crow caste is the lowest caste because they don’t precisely have their own birthright - their magic is that they can steal magic from other castes, using the bones of the dead. Particularly the teeth.

The Crow caste is looked down upon by basically everyone in Sabor, and they’re treated like shit all the time. No place will accept them so they’re always on the move. Except for one thing: Crows are immune to a horrible disease known as the “Sinner’s Plague”, a disease that may or may not be smallpox, I’m not certain. It sounds awful, though. The Sinner’s Plague spreads like wildfire, and since the crows can’t catch it, they get to travel all around Sabor answering plague beacons. Whenever someone in a town catches the plague, the Crows come and deliver “mercy” in the form of cutting the throats of the afflicted and then burning their bodies after. This stops the plague from decimating a whole town or village, but sounds terrible for doctors attempting to study the disease or anyone attempting to find a cure or a treatment for it. Or, perhaps, for someone surviving the plague. You don’t get a chance to survive the plague, though, sorry. It’s Crow mercy for you!

Fie’s father is the chief of his own Crow band and Fie has been on the road with them her whole life. As a Crow witch, she’s destined to be the chief of her own band someday. When her Crow band answers a plague beacon in Sabor’s capitol city, it turns out the two plague victims to whom they’re meant to give mercy are the crown prince, Jasimir, and his bodyguard, Tavin. Fie doesn’t see her dad give the two boys mercy - the rest of the Crows wait outside while the chief does the job. However, once the crows are well-shot of town, Jasimir and Tavin jump out of their shrouds, very much alive, scaring the hell out of Fie, who promptly punches Tavin in the face.

Turns out the Evil Queen, Jasimir’s new stepmom Rhusana has been attempting a takeover of Sabor and she’s been trying to kill off Jasimir for months. Jasimir and Tavin concocted a scheme to fake their deaths so they can escape and flee to their allies, namely, Jasimir’s aunt, Master General Draga. With Draga’s help, Jasimir and Tavin are certain they can stop Rhusana. Getting to her, though, is a problem. Jasimir, a Phoenix and Tavin, a Hawk, are both certain that the Crows will help them, no question because they’re on the superior end of the social scale - plus, Jasimir is the prince. They gotta listen to the prince. The Crows, however, aren’t having it - they’re tired of being treated like shit everywhere they go, and tired of being routinely hunted down and murdered by Sabor’s equivalent of the Klu Klux Klan, the Oleander Gentry. So Fie convinces her dad to swear Jasimir to a magically unbreakable oath: the Crows will help Jasimir get to his allies, and, as King, Jasimir will protect the Crows. Jasimir reluctantly agrees, and he and Tavin are forced to pose as Crows, getting a lovely taste of just how terrible things are for the lowest caste.

Unfortunately, when the Crows attempt to deliver Jasimir and Tavin to one of Jasimir’s supposed allies, they’re double-crossed - The Crow band, Fie’s kin are captured, but Jasimir, Tavin and Fie manage to escape. The three of them make an odd Crow band, but they have to stick together, answer plague beacons avoid the Oleander Gentry AND Queen Rhusana’s most ruthless trackers if they’re going to make it to Master General Draga alive. Fie just wants to rescue her family - but now she’s stuck with a snobby prince and his handsome bodyguard who will just NOT stop flirting with her. Doesn’t he realize Hawks and Crows don’t go together??

The Merciful Crow is a fun read - once you make sense of the caste system and the tooth-based magic, the story moves quickly. The plot is a familiar one - the exasperated member of an oppressed, impoverished group putting up with clueless rich people who have spent their lives in a bubble - the clueless rich people learning that hey, life isn’t great for everyone and maybe everyone should be treated a little bit better, etc. etc. You’ve probably read it before, but this one comes with some pretty neat worldbuilding. And tooth magic! I wish my teeth could do magic. Alas, they cannot, or else they would’ve straightened themselves out for free, instead of making me pay three thousand dollars for braces…grumble grumble grumble…

Margaret Owen’s The Merciful Crow is an immersive, gorgeous fantasy story that deserves to be the breakout YA hit of the summer.

To be fair, there are a ton of great stories headed your way to enjoy during this season of peak summer reading time. (I’ve read a lot of them! They’re honestly great!) But there’s something special about Owen’s debut, which manages to tell an exciting, fast-paced story that not only includes memorable characters and themes, it feels like something we haven’t really read before.

In the kingdom of Sabor, people are divided into a hierarchical system of castes, named after various species of birds and ranked according to their abilities, or Birthrights. Phoenixes are all royals and they’re capable of manifesting and controlling fire. The warrior Hawks are skilled at Healing. Peacocks control illusions; while Swans are gifted in the arts of desire. The Crow caste ranks at the very bottom of things, serving as undertakers and mercy-killers to those infected by a terrible disease known as the Sinner’s Plague. They themselves have no magic, but a few can manipulate the teeth of the dead to use the abilities that those same people once used in life.

It’s hard to get too specific about the Crows journey without delving into spoilers, but let’s just say it’s non-stop. I tore through this novel in the space of a weekend, and was honestly upset to see the last page.
Despite the fact that The Merciful Crow is hardly the only recent YA effort involving an itinerant band of mercy killers – See also: The Boneless Mercies – this novel nevertheless manages to feel like something completely fresh. Perhaps it’s the intricate and dedicated worldbuilding that doesn’t spoon-feed explanations to readers. Instead, we’re all just expected to keep up, and glean information as its presented to us.

The Merciful Crow is a fast-paced, exciting story full of interesting and diverse characters who inhabit a wonderfully rich, detailed world. There’s violence, darkness and betrayal here, to be sure. But there’s also love, grit and hope for a better tomorrow. It’s a story that belongs on your TBR pile this year – and it’s one you’ll be glad you read.

Full review: https://culturess.com/2019/07/30/margaret-owen-the-merciful-crow-review/

*Received via NetGalley for review*

An interesting concept with a fairly interesting plot that seems to head into a love triangle but (thankfully) doesn't. Lots of twists and turns that drive the plot along and raise the stakes.

There are some unanswered questions, but could be a standalone.

What an interesting story! I really enjoyed the magic system, although it did take me a few chapters to comprehend the structure of the land and its people. Fie and her band of Crows travel to and fro doing the thankless work of providing undertaker services and mercy killings to plague victims. When they receive word of plague victims of royal descent, which shouldn’t be possible due to the Phoenix magic that runs in their veins, Fie and her band hope the payout will ease some of their struggles.

That is not what happens.

While it took me a few chapters to get into the world, the magic and characters were well-written and coherently developed. The romance, while a slow burn, was well-balanced and logical (which isn’t always true for other romances). Also, the constant fear and mistrust the other castes possess towards Crows is scarily reminiscent of recent events. The author has stated this will be part of a duology, so I am looking forward to seeing how Fie, Tavin, and Jasimir resolve the conflict with Rhusana and the Oleanders.

Title: The Merciful Crow
Author: Margaret Owen
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Fie is a Crow—a caste of undertakers and mercy-killers immune to the plague and despised and persecuted by society. When her band is tasked with disposing of two royal bodies, they encounter the conniving queen who plans to cheat them of their pay and cost them even more respect. But Fie thwarts the queen—and discovers the two royal bodies aren’t exactly dead.

Instead, the crown prince and his clever body double have faked their own deaths to escape before the murderous queen can kill them. If they can make it to their allies, they have a chance at overthrowing the queen. They strike a deal with Fie: if she sees them safely to their allies, the prince will protect the Crows when he’s king.

But the queen’s ruthless assassins are on their trail, and Fie might lose everything she cares about to fulfill the promise she made.

From the very first page, I was enthralled. I couldn’t put this book down, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’ve never read anything like this and found the worldbuilding both vivid and unique. The magic system was odd—teeth?—but compelling, and I adored Fie as a character. She’s tough and prickly and fierce, but she can, eventually, see reason. I fell into this world headlong and did not want to leave.

Margaret Owen is an author and illustrator. The Merciful Crow is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Henry Holt and Co via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

<i>The Merciful Crow</i> is Margaret Owen's debut high fantasy novel, and it's a decent debut. The story centers around 16 year old Fie, a chieftan in training for the Crows, the lowest caste in Sabor. Fie and her family offer quick, merciful death to those suffering from the plague, and their mercy is rewarded with the hatred of the other castes. Fie must protect and guide a young prince and his guardian in order to save her family and protect the future of the crows.

I imagine my review would be higher if I were a young adult rather than an old person reading this book. It has a lot of the hallmarks of a high fantasy YA novel including a romance subplot. The thinks that prevented me from enjoying the book was how detailed the caste system is (so many birds!) and how long the journey is--that definitely made the book drag a bit around the halfway point.

I DNF'd this within the first few chapters. I wasn't getting into the writing style and the content wasn't drawing me into the story as I had anticipated.

So, I did not know what to expect with this one because I’ve never read a book based on birds nor have I read Margaret Owen, but this exceeded my expectations by lightyears! I couldn’t put this book down. It has everything. I loved Fie. I didn’t care for her name, but I loved her as a character. She was so fierce and loyal and full of courage and she’s who I want to be! (Insert crying hysterically emoji) Seriously, though I think I need to cosplay her now.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Crows and how they lived and handled things in this caste setting. The love interest in this story though took me by surprise and wasn’t what I was expecting based on the synopsis at all. Which I also LOVED! I couldn’t fangirl more over the character development Owen wrote because it’s the best I’ve read all year!

I liked Prince Jas and Tavin a lot but Fie really took the cake for me. Just when I thought I’ve read enough over the top kick-ass heroines, The Merciful Crow reminded me I needed just one more. Ok, maybe another and pretty much any book by Owen now. I am still thinking about Tavin and his openness and Fie and her and her bravery. I think this story was fast-paced and exciting and I cannot wait for the sequel! Thank God for duologies!

It took me five days to get through this book. Four days for the first half, and then I crammed the entire second half into one night so I could write this review by publication day. To be honest, I considered giving up several times because finishing felt like a chore. I tried. I really tried to like this book, holding on to the bitter end but I found it difficult to connect to these characters or their LONG journey. The world was not adequately explained and you're just thrown into the world, fictitious words, and magic system with pieces of information liberally offered.

The various castes, their origin, the Covenant and their religious beliefs could have used a lot more detailing. The Covenant was a large component of the worldbuilding, yet it didn't seem to be very consistent among other things. Being told that the Covenant was struck by the thousand gods, and it brought death, judgement, free will, and rebirth into the world isn't sufficient. That doesn't exactly tell me what it is, and I spent a lot of the book trying to make it work. Scummers/scum/scummed was used in so many different ways I still am not entirely sure of the true definition. I was continually having to re-read things to figure things out by context.

The crows were an oppressed line of people in this world of bird castes created by the gods. Prejudice and classism were the central themes, where a supremacist-like group called the Oleander Gentry hunted them, and they lived every day in fear for their lives. You couldn't help but make an obvious comparison when this group of white dusted, white robed people came for the unarmed and powerless crows during the night to murder and terrorize. The crows are despised for their lack of magic birthright, and blamed for the spread of the Sinner's Plague because they remain untouched by it. The finger must be pointed somewhere, and where else than those where hate can easily be swayed?

The heroine Fie and her people are seen as a necessary evil. They're mercy killers, called on to finish off the barely living, plague infected in order to appease the gods and save the rest of the city. If they are not killed, the entire population will be wiped out in days. Fie's father is the chief in charge of these killings, and one day Fie will step into his bloody shoes. She's dreading the day that happens, often wishing she could escape her fate, but bound to do her duty for her people. They live by loyalty for their own, because all they have in their cruel world is each other. I have to admit her thoughts on this became repetitive through the book. When, not if. That was her internal dialogue every time she saw something she would be responsible for in the future she didn't want to do.

The journey with Fie, Prince Jasimir, and Tavin seemed never-ending rather than an exciting adventure. They were hunted by a group, they hid with invisibility, big fiery explosion to escape, bickering amongst themselves over the social injustice, they're discovered again, and repeat. Jasimir was not likable at all based on his privilege and blindness to the Crow's true plight. Even after donning the crow life and spending weeks in their reality, he stubbornly lacked any empathy for much of the book. Fie was prickly and angry, and rightfully so after being dehumanized and hated her whole life. But her bitterness was a hard pill to swallow, jagged and unpleasant on the palate. I actually did enjoy Tavin, the Hawk protector and body double for the prince. He was the peacemaker between Fie and Jasimir, he had a great sense of humor, and he truly wanted change for the crows.

There were things that I thought were original such as the bone magic used by the dead's teeth, the gruesome plague scenes, and the mammoth warriors. As a whole though there was too much that didn't work for me. The pace, the repetition, and the lack of clarity on important things made for quite a dragging read. I see many others enjoying this one, so you may not feel the same.

Okay, so this is a bit of a darker start for a Young adult fantasy that feels more like a Sara Maas book than a true YA fantasy. There are some really great elements here, including the political system and a little bit of mystery. I enjoyed how the world was set up, and had some good movement in the story. With most first books of fantasy series, there is always a tough balance between getting the plot moving and giving readers enough to understand the world and its people. Owen does strike a nice balance and gives us just enough to let us infer a lot of information while keeping the plot moving forward.

This isn't as grim or realistic as A Song of Ice and Fire's political system is, however it's strength is that it feels real because of the combination of solid character and world building. I liked this book and can't wait to see what happens next.

The Merciful Crow is a dark and unique fantasy, with death, magic, family bonds, and a little romance as well.

Fie is a 16 year-old girl training to be chief of a band of Crows - the bottom (but necessary) level of a world broken down into castes. The Crows are the providers of mercy killings and funeral pyres to those of the other castes who fall victim to the plague - Crows themselves are the only caste immune to it. When the band of Crows that Fie belongs to is called to the palace to collect the bodies of two dead royals for the first time in hundreds of years, she's expecting a big payday - until her chief and pa reveals that these two lordlings aren't actually dead, only pretending to escape assassination attempts by the Prince's (one of the presumed plague-struck royals) stepmother, who now has an heir of her own.
A deal is struck between the Crows and the lordlings, as Fie calls them, and so begins their treacherous journey, which calls into question loyalties, family bonds, what is truly "the right thing to do" when there seem to be no good options, and the Crows highest rule: look after your own.

I thought the writing was awesome and engaging throughout the book, and the storyline had a bit of classic fairytale to it (stepmothers and all that) with some very unique twists that I love. Overall, very well done in my opinion!

Death, treachery and change. A YA fantasy!

Puzžling and yet not. A society where each caste has a bird attribute, and their place within the pecking order depends on their gifts and occupations. Lastly there is the Crows, the unclean caste whose job it is to remove those dead from plague, grant the act of mercy of those infected but still alive, burn the bodies and stop the plague from spreading.
A payment is granted as they leave the place they were called to. All too often that payment is unworthy. The crows are hated by the other groups.
But think on this. The organic nature of the community means that all have value, even if it is not immediately determined, due to fear and feelings of superiority.
If the Crows do not attend to their calling what would eventually happen? It doesn't seem that has been thought of. And the Crows must attend. It's part of their mandated calling by their universe.
Often the crows reward is vilification. They are hunted down, maimed and murdered by groups looking for 'fun.' The white Oleanders.
The start of the novel is violence tempered with necessity..
Fie is the chief in training for her group of crows. She's a strong and feisty character.
They have been called to the palace to remove two bodies dead from plague.
As they leave the Queen offers them insult with the degree of payment. Fie who is leading the 'money dance' (the bargaining) does not back down. Enmity is immediately born.
It becomes more complicated when the dead are the prince and his bodyguard look alike, and they're not dead! They need to flee to a place of safety, and they need the help of the Crows. (And in the long escape one wonders if such a place exists!)
A covenant is struck between Fie and the Prince. A world changing, Crow changing covenant!
Well of course the way just gets harder and even more complicated. Prince Jasimir and his bodyguard Tavin find that life as a lowly crow is so much more dangerous and destroying than they ever imagined.
I look forward to the next in the series with great anticipation.

A Macmillan Children's Publishing Group ARC via NetGalley

Posting to all sites for the blog tour 7/29 as scheduled

The Fantasy Genre is known for enhanced abilities, inspired worlds with characters facing immeasurable odds versus unyielding villains. If you are looking for that in Margaret Owen’s (Q and A Link) debut Merciful Crow (Pre-Order From Owen’s website here) you will find it, in spades. Remarkably, it is the unexpected take on social injustice, classism and inner demons we all fight that catapults Merciful Crow beyond the traditional Fantasy Genre.


Thank you to MacMillan Kids, Henry Holt and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review
Owen demonstrates bravery in not just tackling the content of these issues but in how deftly she threads them throughout the story. It is not with a hammer that Owen beats the reader in the head screaming SEE THE MORAL INDIGNATION (my MA degree is screaming Man vs. World) or SEE THE CHARACTER’S CONFLICT WITHIN THEMSELF (again my MA degree is screaming Man vs. Himself).

Owen realizes that it is with a whisper, the scalpel of a skilled surgeon, not Thor’s Mjolnir that will wield the most impact. By not overpowering the story, but instead allowing it to breathe life into the themes she would attempt to communicate that they would be most impactful. These themes range from a world view to those that many have experienced as mere growing pains to those that <ahem> adults still struggle with day-in and day-out.

Inner Conflict: Duty vs. Desire
Fie must decide after a devastating tragedy whether to go against a sacred oath to “protect her own” with no guarantee to ever fulfill that oath again or trust those that put her in that position.
Crows had one rule. Look after your own… “Your father said to keep the oath,” Tavin said, staring down the broken end of the sword.
“Damn you.” Fie screamed…
What do you want Fie?…
She wanted to kick Tavin’s teeth out and use them to heal herself of everything Hawks had done today.
She wanted to teach the… price for crossing a Crow witch.
Give them fire, hissed the Phoenix teeth…
All of her wanted to.
But it wasn’t her oath to break…It wasn’t her price to pay. It was every Crow’s.
She could burn it all down and run…
Fie stood, motionless, for a long moment. Then she stuck the sword through her sash, slumped against the wall and stuck out a bloody hand.
And at that moment, Fie found what her Chief voice sounded like.
“Fix my hand. And tell me where in twelve hells we’re going.”

Classism
There are a few points to be made regarding classism. Some are personal due to the lens with which I read the book through, although I suspect they are universal to many. Some are connections from other media formats. Some are connections to the world as, again, I’m sure we have all experienced and/or seen daily.
Fie’s Crow Caste is not recognized by the nation of Sabor. Yet it is depended on by every other Caste to deal with the plague of sinners, by providing mercy to those on the brink of death. Thus not wiping out entire villages. Crows are the only caste able to perform this duty as they are untouched by the plague. They are payed for such services, but the method of payment and how much is determined by the payer.
Despite the essential service provided and hardened life they live traveling from beacon to beacon, they are hunted nightly by Oleanders. This group of racist vigilantes go unchecked seeking to kill every Crow it finds.
In fact, they are being courted by the Queen of Sabor. Should the King die, the Oleanders will have unlimited reign and the support of the Hawk Caste of hunters to commit genocide both day and night. Fie’s purpose for honoring her Chief’s oath with the heir to the throne of Sabor and his Hawk bodyguard is stopping this at all cost, for the entirety of the Crow Caste. While many, both in the fictional and real world make promises, as the highness has, even with the best of intentions they often come to find that they neither understand the issue at hand, nor the complexities of solving them.
“It’s everywhere… The Oleanders, the markets in Cheparok, everything. You’re right, you’ve been right this whole time, I know it, and Jas knows it, and the reason <Tavin> don’t want to look at him is because we both told you we’d fix it and… and I don’t think we can.”

Injustice
It is easy for those in power to prey upon those who are weak. It is as easy for those not in the top echelons of power, but still not at the bottom rung. Even if it is middle-class vs. the lower-class. When everyone is struggling for just an edge, people start looking for the slightest advantage. In this case it is both the Splendid Castes and the Hunting Castes that need to realize that the Crows are a part of Sabor. To make the heir to Sabor’s throne recognize the problem, and then make the ruling class recognize that the problem even exists.
Because from royalty on down? As long as those that are on the lower dregs of society serve their purpose and don’t disrupt the status quo? Then there is no reason to do anything but make excuses for not making changes.
You can kick us around anytime because we all know that if we kick back, <hawks> just put on some white powder, call yourselves Oleanders, and cut every one of us down.

She couldn’t stop herself.

“And even if you don’t, you just look the other way, and when they’re done you say we provoked them, we brought it down on our heads, we’re the ones who ought to hold our tongues, and take the high road, we always pay so you don’t have to… You see how we’re treated on his family’s watch, and you still tell yourself he’ll be a good king.”

It is easy to see where the cycle of injustice starts and continues. Even for Fie who finds herself consumed by such rage that even she gets caught up in the realization that it is horrifyingly easy to “hit those that can’t hit back”. Recognizing that, that was why the Crows have been dismissed, deemed not worthy of protection, fair pay, let alone citizens of Sabor, despite their dutiful service to Sabor for so long.

However, it is through a long road, a blood bound oath between the heir to Sabor and the young Chief of a Crow Caste whose humanity is unrecognized by its nation, escorted by a duty-bound Hawk of a hunting caste.

One supposedly honor bound to protect. But how easily is that honor bought and sold for their own survival? Then aligning with the Oleanders and no protection at all when the Hawk Caste’s survival is at stake.

Merciful Crow will give those highly anticipating it what they are waiting for in every turn of the plot and twist in the road. The ending will keep them enthralled for the next installment. Owen has a gift for dialogue and witty interaction that I hope is brought more to the forefront as the series progresses.

However, I hope everyone looks for the deeper themes Owen has woven throughout the story. They are integral to not just our daily lives but to everything swirling around our world at a breakneck speed.

My first thought on finishing this book was "liked it, but didn't love it". It's a solid story with well developed characters and high enough stakes to keep your interest and get you invested in what is going on. I think what kept me from loving it was that I felt like I've read a lot of these types of books - it is possible the market is reaching a saturation point on these types of stories. It's a pretty typical low caste fights back against higher/more powerful castes in order to gain their freedom/independence and stop being treated like crap by others. The castes are different and the characters are original, but it doesn't do much to add to or carve out its own place within the genre. It actually kind of reminded me of the Waking Land series - not that it's a rip off of that series, they are very different in the story being told, but there are a lot of similar themes (magic, evil queen looking to take over by killing her husband, POV of a young woman about to have a lot of power/responsibility, young woman's relationship with a young man keeping a secret about himself and his magic, future king traveling with group looking to break free of the crown's power over them). Based on the title of the next book I'm assuming we'll be getting Tavin's POV which also mirrors the setup of the Waking Land series (if it is indeed a Tavin POV book). I also felt that the arguments/debates between Fie, Tavin, and Jasimir were repetitive and didn't really go anywhere.

If you are looking for a good story with interesting characters and a solid plot you will love this book. If you are looking for something completely original you may want to give this one a pass.

In The Merciful Crow Margaret Owen takes her readers on a whirlwind adventure. The journey begins with Fie who is a member of a group of Crows, the lowest social caste in the kingdom of Sabor. Crows have a duty to the kingdom to offer a merciful death to sinners who have caught the plague seeing as Crows are immune. This duty, as well as the fact that Crows are not granted any innate power, allows the other castes to take out their unreleased anger and grief by forming hunting bands that ride down Crows at night and kill them with impunity. However, Fie and her band of Crows find their journey taking a different turn when they unknowingly help Jasimir, the crown prince, and Tavin, his double escape from the capital. In the need of aid and without other options, Fie gets Jasimir to swear a reluctant Covenant oath that he will protect the Crows when he takes the throne. But that is only the beginning as forces align against them to prevent the Crows from providing aid and the oath from being fulfilled.

Owen has expertly crafted a narrative that offers commentary on the way we treat those deemed less important. What The Merciful Crow makes clear is that Sabor could not function without the Crows, despite the vitriol the other castes continually cast at them. Fie's strength also helps sell this idea, and as a reader, I loved her for it. Continually beaten down, many don't see her as a threat. Yet Fie's intelligence and loyalty make her a formidable power as she works to show everyone that Crows have just as much right to life and personhood as anyone else in Sabor.

While there is a romance, it is not the main part of the tale and moves naturally as it grows from respect and friendship. Overall, the tale weaves many pieces together, including a few surprising reveals that play out in the final pages and help set up the next installment.

For those tired of reading fantasy centered on the tried and true (vampires, fae, dragons, gods), this is a breath of fresh air. This book will probably land in my top ten for the year and I know I'll be returning to Sabor as soon as possible.

A wonderfully original and immersive world, with characters that I just fell in love with. Would definitely recommend to any YA fantasy lovers!

Intriguing worldbuilding, a fascinating mythos, and a truly unusual magic system feature prominently in Owen's well-crafted debut. Fantasy lovers will delight in its originality. Complex characters drive the story, propelled by action scenes with exactly the right amount of tension. I could not put this one down. Absolutely wonderful, Owens is an auto-buy for me from now on.

DNF @ 11%
This book really isn't for me. I normally give the book much longer to see if I end up enjoying it, but the writing style does not work for me. The word choices made many sentences clunky and odd to read. Some of the fantasy terms were never explained so I didn't have a context to go by. I also felt like the first chapter didn't feel like a beginning. It felt like we were dropped into the middle of a chapter and then it took off; I never felt grounded in the story enough and got enough connection to the characters to keep going. I know some of my library patrons will enjoy this, but this is a personal preference and isn't my thing.