Love the mix of fantasy and the modern, in particular the Slavic mythology. Dark and crackling. I will definitely be ordering for my library.

I was immediately sold because Veronica Roth got me into dystopian fiction in high school. So glad to have come back to her with a fairy tale feel in my late 20's. This is definitely for all the fairy tale lovers.

Veronica Roth does it again! I have read everything she has written and have not been disappointed yet! I can not wait for everyone to get their hands on this book!

When Among Crows is a lush, action-packed novella steeped in Polish mythology that tells the story of a hidden world and the individuals that reside within it. In a relatively short amount of time, Veronica Roth was able to skillfully build a cohesive world layered atop our own, with characters that were compelling and sympathetic. I enjoyed learning more about Ala, Niko, and Dymitr, and I felt as though their motivations and backstories were super clear and propulsive. I really liked the arc of this story and I felt that Roth brought things to a very satisfying conclusion. I would be so intrigued to read more stories from this world and these characters!

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - eBook ARC
3.5 stars

Title: A Haunting Journey Through Darkness: My Mixed Review of "When Among Crows" by Vera Roth

As an avid reader who seeks out stories that delve into the depths of human emotion and the enigmatic mysteries of life, I approached Vera Roth's "When Among Crows" with great anticipation. While the novel undeniably possesses elements of literary prowess and emotional depth, I found myself grappling with certain aspects that tempered my overall enjoyment.

Roth's writing style is undeniably captivating, drawing readers into a world that is both haunting and beautiful. Her ability to craft vivid descriptions and evoke powerful emotions is commendable, and there were moments where I was completely engrossed in the protagonist's journey. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that at times, the narrative meandered aimlessly, losing some of its momentum along the way. The characters were okay, but I didn't find myself invested in them, maybe found them to lacking the depth that I had hoped for. Despite these reservations, I can recognize that this book is both poignant and thought-provoking. And while "When Among Crows" may not have completely lived up to my expectations, there were moments of brilliance that I cannot deny.

"When Among Crows" is a novel that undoubtedly has its merits, but it wasn't written for a reader like me. I would encourage those who are drawn to stories of introspection and emotional depth to give it a chance, as there is certainly something to be gained from experiencing Roth's unique voice and perspective.

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 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.

"When among crows, you must caw as they do."

✨Slavic Folklore
✨Urban Fantasy
✨LGBTQ+ MMC
✨Plot Twists
✨Multiple POV

Set in modern day Chicago, we follow Dymitr as he sets out to find Baba Jaga. On the journey towards the powerful witch, he finds unlikely companionship in Niko and Ala, both of whom are monsters.

I'm not generally interested in urban fantasy but I genuinely enjoyed this novella. This was actually the first book I've read from Veronica Roth and I can see the appeal. She has a beautiful way with words, and not many authors could conjure such an intriguing story in so few pages. If she ever chose to expand on this world, I can say I'd be happy to read it.

⭐ 3.75/5

3.75 ⭐ Since this is a novella, you are thrown into the world immediately and it was a little bit hard to follow at first. But as the story goes on, a lot of my questions were answered and I was hooked!

The urban fantasy setting mixed with Slavic lore was interesting and I became super invested in the characters and their journey. I have family from Poland and enjoyed that connection, I just wish it was a little bit longer.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

Thank you @torbooks for the complimentary copy.

I’m always a little nervous with novellas. Will it be too much packed into too few pages leaving me feel like I’ve been in a whirlwind? Or will I be left needing more substance and feeling unfulfilled? I can confirm that neither was the case here. I can’t believe how much world building was included in so few pages, as well as the strength of the friendships forged. I was even surprised by some of the revelations. While I did love the ending, at the same time I’d be thrilled if there was a sequel.

I struggled to get through this book. The first couple chapters were extremely confusing and heavy on the world building and terms I did not understand. About 25% I finally got a grasp on what was happening and was able to enjoy it. However, at about 65%, I found myself just wanting to skim the long paragraphs and mostly just read the dialogue. There seemed to be too many descriptive words and paragraphs that were unnecessary and only seemed to add to the word count. Overall, the storyline was somewhat interesting but I found it hard to follow. I just may not be the right target audience for this book.

I haven't read a Veronica Roth book in a long time but liked this one a lot more than the previous books I read of her. I found that the characters were more dynamic and the story/world building was solid. For a book that is shorter than I had originally expected it went by so quick and the pacing worked wonders for the story. It was great read

I’m a sucker for a Baba Jaga story, so I was in on this one immediately. It is a packed novella steeped in Slavic folklore that begins with Dymitr on a quest: first to retrieve a guarded plant that might cure Ala’s curse and next to bargain with her for a hint on how to seek an audience with Baba Yaga herself. It’s an at times painful and fascinating but ultimately hopeful urban fantasy set in Chicago.

This had such strong factors from the writing style to the characters to the fantasy elements, however it really needed more room to really grow into its potential. With the story being cut so short, the pace felt very off at times with super intriguing action sequences getting less time than acquiring a flower, the relationships between the characters felt very rushed and therefore, awkward and unrealistic with where they are by the end, and there was hardly any worldbuilding for the inclusion of all these inspired myths. The ending was also predictable due to there not being enough time to make the foreshadowing less obvious.

While I enjoyed the overall premise of the book, I thought it took too long for the characters to be developed. I was confused for the first portion of the book, and I was not engaged with the story until well through halfway.

I loved this book! for a novella I felt like the characters were well developed and the storyline was as well. I feel like with a stand alone (?) novella it can be so hard to fit in everything you need vs a regular book. and i have read some novellas in the past when they fail to hit the mark. this book did not. I enjoyed the folklore that its inspired from is wonderful and I loved reading it. the world building and character development was not affected by this format and it truly was a fantastic read

2.5⭐️

I had no idea this was the same author as the divergent series. What drew me to read this was the cover. Look how stunning the cover is because I've honestly spent at least 15 mins looking at it.

Now was for the actual book review. I didn't know this was a novella until I was about 25% into the book. I was so confused because you're just dropped into this world without any story build up really. There were a lot of words that I had to stop reading to google just so I could understand and pronounce what I was reading. That messed with the flow of the overall book.

I wished it was a normal book so we could more of a background on the characters so we can connect with them better. I felt so detached and didn't really care about them or what they were going through. That said I'm glad it was a short book because it just dragged for the first 60% percent. It did pick up a little towards the end but again if a book is only 176 pages shouldn't they all be well written to maximize reader engagement?

This novella was such a delight!!!

Veronica Roth is such a talented writer. Thank you so much Tor Books for an early copy!

Veronica Roth is truly within the realm of her Renaissance and this novella proves to be exceptional and demonstrates her ability to tell a complicated and complete story in less than 200 hundred pages. It re-imagines Slavic myths and entities within the urban fantasy setting of Chicago; a world where monsters feed on emotions and knights create their blades by splitting their souls. It places a mysterious protagonist, Dymitr at the center as he takes the reader on a journey into this world.

It all starts with a fern flower and leszy, who guards it. Dymitr arrives and through a slightly horrifying action proves himself worthy to carry the fern. With it tucked into his pocket, Dymitr sets out to seek Baba Jaga, the most powerful witch in existence. However, as a mortal, Dymitr requires a creature to find passage to the witch. This leads Dymitr to Ala, who is dying from a curse, and they strike a bargain: Ala will help Dymitr find Baba Jaga in exchange for the flower, which will cure her. However, the fern flower only blooms for so long and the two have to find the witch before it dies.

Somehow Roth packs this novella full of complicated nuances on campaigns driven by holy purpose and the eradication of culture and lives as the direct result. There are creatures in this book and in the shadows lurk, those who seek to destroy them out of fear and belief that they are evil. However, it is revealed slowly through the book that the creatures have done nothing to warrant these extreme measures and peacefully exist in their world. The ending packs some powerful and emotional punches on this topic, which ties the story together beautifully with all its themes and threads.

It also helps that the trio of characters are complex and compelling. Dymitr takes the reader into this unfamiliar world and acts as a guide as he navigates toward Baba Jaga. His perspective gives the reader free rein to explore this lush setting that Roth has constructed. Their different natures as mortal, zmora, and strzyga gives a threefold perspective on the world, their struggles within this setting, and the interpersonal conflicts between their species. It gives a full taste of the Slavic lore and demonstrates how they co-exist in Roth's urban fantasy setting making it a multi-layered and dynamic novella. Roth accomplishes so much and I hope she does not leave this world behind!

When Among Crows is a modern fairy tale mashup that includes some of the most well-known monsters in world folklore and tales. I love the general idea of the hunt for Baba Jaga and the amazing details given about the holy order. The descriptions were amazing but the story did drag on a bit. For a novella it felt more like a trek through information to get to the meaty bits. All in all, a great read if you loved Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher or The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed.

Novellas are usually a hit or miss for me, and this one, unfortunately, fell a bit short. I loved the plot but felt it didn't meet its full potential. It took me a while to get into the story and route for the characters, which I wouldn't usually mind, but since the book is only 176 pages, this was a major flaw for me. The second half, however, was more enjoyable and made the book worth the read. It wasn't until the last couple of chapters that I liked the characters and their dynamics and could connect to them emotionally. I only wish I felt this way from the beginning.

Thank you, Netgalley and Tor Books, for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.