Veronica Roth delivers a fast-paced, atmospheric urban fantasy infused with Slavic folklore and set in a richly imagined magical underworld of Chicago. When Among Crows follows Dymitr, a man on a desperate quest to find Baba Jaga, and Ala, a zmora cursed with a fate she’s desperate to escape. Over the course of a single night, they navigate a world of curses, monsters, and treacherous alliances, testing the limits of trust and redemption.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its worldbuilding. Roth weaves in Slavic mythology seamlessly, introducing creatures like stryga, rusalka, and leshy while making them feel right at home in the urban setting. The hidden magical underbelly of Chicago, complete with a cursed movie theater playing Alien as a front, is a brilliant touch that adds depth and personality to the story.

The character dynamics are engaging, particularly the interplay between Dymitr and Ala. Both are burdened by their pasts and searching for a way to move forward, and while their developing connection is compelling, it sometimes feels underexplored due to the book’s brevity. The story is packed with action, but some moments—especially the romance—could have benefited from more buildup.

The biggest drawback is that the novella format doesn’t give enough space for the complexity Roth tries to introduce. The pacing is breakneck, and at times, the worldbuilding feels like it needed a little more breathing room. The magic system, while intriguing, remains somewhat ambiguous, and certain plot points feel rushed.

Despite these minor shortcomings, When Among Crows is a captivating read, full of folklore, danger, and intrigue. It’s a solid novella with engaging characters and an evocative atmosphere that makes you wish for a full-length novel set in this world. If you enjoy dark fairy tales and modern mythology, this is definitely worth picking up!

I 100% requested this book simply because the author wrote the Divergent series, which is one of my favorite YA fantasy series. I wasn’t even really sure what the book was about until I read it.

The premise of this book, a movie theater in Chicago that only plays horror movies and is run by mythic Polish creatures who feed off of people’s fears is definitely a book plot I haven’t previously read. I love Roth’s writing style and her ability to works build complex fantasy worlds. I will say, the book wasn’t my favorite but it was entertaining.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.

I loved this book! I was so into it that I finished it in two days. While this was set in Chicago, the city did not take center stage but rather flavored the main characters' interactions. Using three narrators helps lend a crucial aspect to this mystical tale.

What can't Veronica Roth do? I'm amazed at how much she was able to pack into such a small book. When Among Crows made me greedy for more. I want 100 more stories set in this world. I want stories about every character living happily ever after.

A lot of story in a small package - as novellas go this one packed a punch! Deep character development and meaty plot - this book needed more pages to flesh out this dynamic tale.

When Among Crows is based on Slavic lore and a diverse magic system. The main characters, Dymitr and Ala, are on a joint quest with different needs but the same end goal - finding Baba Yaga.

This urban fantasy is perfect for those who love a gritty, dark fairy-tale.

I haven't read a fantasy novella that successfully provides such an in-depth story with such fully developed characters in a while.

When Among Crows is an urban fantasy that takes place in Chicago. The magic system is built around Slavic mythology. The story follows Dymitr and Ala, two young people who form an unexpected alliance in the hopes of each getting something each of them needs. To do this, they must find the powerful witch, Baba Jaga.

It took a while for me to fully get into this story. A lot is thrown at you at first, but once I got my bearings, I didn't want this story to end so soon. The mythology this world is inspired by is so elaborate and fresh. The characters you follow and meet throughout this short novel are complex. Roth is able to give you each character's complex past while also introducing you to who each character is now and what is motivating them to work together to find Baba Jaga. You also see these characters grow to care for one another despite the fact that they come from very different sects of this magical world. I am so happy to see that there will be another book in this series!

I recommend this to urban fantasy lovers or people who enjoy fantasy in general. This magic system is quite unique (at least to me). Readers who also like complex characters and interesting character dynamics will also find something to love here.

e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed WHEN AMONG CROWS! I'm usually very hit or miss when it comes to novellas, but this one worked very well for me personally. From the very beginning, I was sucked right into this story. And I liked how it felt a little bit like an episode of a show - we're treated to just enough of the characters, the lore, the world to get us hooked and the plot moves along at a nice, steady pace. It feels like a gritty fairytale, combining urban and magic elements into something that suits my tastes. While I do think this could also have been fleshed out into a longer story, I do think it works very well for its length and I'm looking forward to reading the next one (which I just recently found out about).

Normally, I avoid novellas and short stories, but When Among Crows changed my mind. I was intrigued by the world building, the atmosphere, and the characters. I did feel the present-tense third-person style threw me off at first, but then got used to it. Also, was pleasantly surprised by the [SPOILER AHEAD] queer romantic subplot. [END OF SPOILER}. Although the ending felt a bit rushed, I was left wanting to read more of this world and these characters, hopefully the author will continue the story.

When Among Crows is a dark, gripping urban fantasy that pulls readers into a world of monsters, magic, and soul-shattering sacrifices. Dymitr and Ala's journeys are compelling and fraught with tension, each carrying burdens that shape their complex characters. The vivid, brutal world-building, where knights split their souls to forge weapons and witches trade in dangerous bargains, sets the stage for a heart-pounding adventure. The chemistry between Dymitr and Ala adds emotional depth to the story, and their race against time to find a cure is captivating. Fast-paced, immersive, and filled with twists, this is a must-read for fantasy lovers.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

I will read anything and everything by Miss Veronica Roth...even when they are just okay stories. When Among Crows fell a little short for me, but I do think it would have been better if it was a full length novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My first thought on opening this book was "Oh, it's a novella!" I don't know why that surprised me so much, but the timing was actually perfect as I'm mostly reading shorter books right now to try to build back my attention span.

My second thought was, "Damn, I love Slavic folklore." This book was engaging and built such a beautiful,, fully realized world in only 166 pages (163, really, if you take the acknowledgements out), which was quite a feat that the author should be applauded for. Overall, it was a wonderful read that had me engrossed from beginning to end (and can help pad those reading goal numbers at the end of the year, since it's nice and short).

Fantastic premise, solid pacing, but I wish there was more room for worldbuilding and character development. It felt like a book that had originally been twice as long and then was cut down to fit some arbitrary page count without regard to the overarching effects of those cuts. Gorgeous, but incomplete.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This brief book was a great introduction into a world that I want to know more about and have more adventures in. I enjoyed the characters and the mythology. I only wish there were a little more explanation about the mythic creatures and their history and more story! Very brief but tantalizing taste.

Great novella. I loved the prose, the characters, and the mythology used. (It helps being a Witcher fan of novel or gaming background - or simply just being Polish-adjacent!) The romance is NOT front and center - while the attraction is important, it's not the point. Guilt, revenge, hatred, responsibility, damage (from society, family, and self) and how one deals with it. The 3 MCs with intertwined lives (both knowingly and unknowingly) are people I felt I knew and understood - even liked on some/many levels. I recommend this to anyone wanting a good, gory, dark, yet (to me at least) uplifting story. Brava Ms. Roth! I hope there will be more in this world and for these characters.

I've no idea what Veronica Roth puts in her short stories that makes them sit with me for a while but they always do. The pacing felt exactly right and yet I still devoured it

I don’t know what I expected from When Among Crows, but it definitely wasn’t this. Veronica Roth, known for her dystopian Divergent series and the urban fantasy Chosen Ones, delivers something entirely unique with this novella. It's a fast-paced, gripping story steeped in rich, atmospheric folklore, with an emphasis on Polish myths and legends that felt fresh and exciting. I loved how Roth chose to explore lesser-known elements of Eastern European folklore, which gave the story a distinctive flavor as opposed to the more mainstream mythological references we're used to seeing in fantasy.
The writing is sharp, and I was consistently hooked on the main character's journey, uncovering secrets at every turn. The story is masterfully layered—there’s a particular mystery surrounding one character’s identity that had me suspicious, but I just kept circling back to the first chapter, knowing there was more than met the eye. Roth keeps you guessing right until the end.
While When Among Crows is wildly different from Roth’s previous works, the shift to fantasy and myth worked brilliantly. It’s a shame this is just a novella, because the world and characters left me wanting more. I can only hope that she continues to explore this genre in future, especially in longer formats. It's a tantalizing glimpse of what she can achieve with folklore and fantasy, and I’d love to see her dive deeper into it.

A beautifully written story that weaves in folk tales in a magical way. Fast paced, entrancing, and pensive. Worth of a read if you are into magical realism and are tired of the usual magical players in the game.

As a fan of Divergent from a very young age, I was super excited for a new Veronica Roth to ignite my inner young adult! She never fails to transfer me into a completely new world. I completely lost myself in this book and these characters, especially Ala. Loved it!