I find novellas to be a bit of a hit or miss, and the last few books I read from Veronica definitely didn't hit with me personally, but this book blew me away and really had me in awe of how well and improved the writing became from other novellas she's written.

This book has fantasy, it has incredible world building in the length that it was, and it really made me feel like I was there, in the world exploring these things alongside the characters. This book was truly fascinating and Veronica blew me away with When Among Crows!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The writing was beautiful, of course, but the world building was slightly thin and, when all was said and done, I was left feeling like I missed something.

I will admit I have not read any Veronica Roth books before! I know she became extremely famous for her well received Divergent series so I was excited to experience her writing. This absolutely blew me away 🤯!! This isn’t her post-apocalyptic dystopian style of writing. Instead, she dove into a fantasy world full of mythological creatures.

Aside from The Witcher, I am not too familiar with Slavic mythology. I did have to do some quick googling whenever a creature was mentioned but that didn’t take away from my experience. If anything, I loved it more for showing me this world! This was a fully fleshed out story with amazing characters written at novella length. I wish it was longer! Not because it’s missing anything but because I greedily want more of it. 🤩

When Among Crows was so beautifully written. She has me hooked and I will be impatiently waiting to see if she continues in this fantasy direction. It felt super unique and super well written… fingers crossed she does! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

👉🏼 This is an easy 5 star must read for all fantasy lovers!

The writing does some cool things. I stopped after chapter 2 (17%) but I see this going over well with the target, easy three stars and four to five for the right readers. It's well-written and the voice is strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

I really tried to enjoy this book, I was so excited about the premise, and the description was so promising. However, this books writing style and storytelling felt far too all over the place and disconnected. It was hard to keep up with the storyline and which characters were doing what. I had to do a lot of googling things to figure out what was going on but i finally dnfed the book around 40%. I just wasn't enjoying it anymore. Thank you for the opportunity to read this though!

Whispers* This was my first Veronica Roth novel.
I loved this… I think this was more of a character and world-building novel with some plot. I was very impressed with this story. I hope my fantasy lovers pick this up on release day. May 14, 2024. Thanks, Tor, for the E-ARC review.

Love the cover and it's the first Roth I've read in a while. The pace kept things moving and I loved the depth of the characters. Visiting old tales in a new setting is always insightful and this title was no different.

I enjoyed this Eastern European-inspired fantasy tale by Veronica Roth. I didn’t have any expectations going into it other than I liked the cover and the author and was pleasantly surprised. It was a quick read for me and I flew through it. I thought the writing was great and the pacing was perfect. I was never bored. The ending surprised me but I thought it wrapped up the story really nicely. It didn’t blow me away, but overall I give it a 4/5. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Title: When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

Publication Date- 05/14/23
Publisher- Tor Books
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is roughly 176 pages and packs the punch of a full book in a short amount of time. I really appreciated this aspect. The writing is descriptive, engaging, and thought provoking. It takes place in Chicago with a lot of references to the 20’s which I found myself rolling in. There’s something about that older feel in a modern book that my brain loves. I honestly had no idea what this book was about going into it and I would highly recommend that. Really all you need to know is it’s an imaginative, personal, dystopian with a damn good twist and ending to top it off with. I found myself smiling at the last page.

One of my favorite things was the worldbuilding. Its a world that’s both beautiful and frightening. I also found so much wisdom and myself highlighting a lot of quotes. Because it’s an early copy, I am unable to share those quotes until they have been checked against the original. Just know there are things you’ll want to remember and sit with.

This is an emotional story with characters you will love and believe in. I recommend it. It’s beautiful.

This was definitely not quite what I expected! It's actually more of a novella, than a novel. It's very contained - everything takes place within the course of one night. It's a redemption story most of all, set in a Slavic folklore tale that takes place mostly in Chicago where a knight from a monster-killing family teams up with two mythical beings in order to fulfill a quest. While each of the three main characters is keeping secrets, they end up forming an unlikely bond and partnership.
Veronica Roth has grown as a writer and a storyteller. The writing is excellent, and my bar for good writing is whether it keeps you in the story without those sort of jarring moments where a description feels forced and if the story is clear in my head as I'm reading. When Among Crows felt smooth, with a balanced amount of descriptive writing, but without slowing the pacing.
The folklore is interesting, as well. Not really a typical urban fantasy and definitely a bit on the darker side. The characters were all adequately fleshed out, as much as they could be in a shorter story. My main complaint, however (without spoilers, so I'll be a little vague) is that the ramifications of the main character's choices regarding his family are sort of glossed over. What felt like a momentous decision was glossed over a little, possibly because we only know our character in one night rather than the years that drove him to his quest. There's possibly room for a sequel, although not totally necessary, as the storyline does wrap up.
All in all, I'd recommend it to people who are looking for something a little different and a quick read. It was something I read as a break between the typical 500+ page typical fantasies.

I have not read any of Veronica Roth's books in a long time, and When Among Crows was a nice way to return to reading some of her work. I'm always a fan of urban fantasy set in the Midwest, it's one thing to be in a dystopian hypothetical city somewhere. It's another to be following the characters through Chicago on streets you've been on, overlooking sites you've seen.

The story is a novella, so slightly different deviation from other works, and I think the author did fairly well at finishing her story arc in such a short timeframe. I felt the overall work left the ending open to other books, and feel like maybe we haven't seen the last of these characters (no spoilers there, complete supposition on my part). Roth did a great job at massive world building in a very condensed manner. There were some side characters too that I would like to hear about their stories at another point. Some of the pacing was a little different throughout the book, but overall it all came together and sucked the reader in.

Regarding the overall themes of the novel, one of my favorite trilogies incorporates Slavic lore (and no, it's not Shadow and Bone which I've seen others reference), and I do like to see what other authors do with the genre. There seems to be a resurgence of Slavic characters making their way into mainstream fiction right now, and this book is adding to that current area of fiction. I'm a fairly voracious reader, and have a soft spot for returning to lore, myths, and legends. While it's hard to tell where this would rank based off of such a short novella, it definitely can hold its own in the genre and I would definitely read more if there were more books written in this world. I rate this book on the higher end, specifically because it is a novella and it is so hard to write a fleshed out story in such a short book.

Please be advised I received a free advanced reader copy of this novella through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Among Crows is a short story following a modern Chicago filled with magic. It follows two characters: Dymitr, and Ala as they are forced to work together so that they can each get the thing that they search for. Ala needs Dymitr to help break her family's curse, and Dymitr needs her to help him find the mysterious Baba Jaga. As a fan of Divergent, I hadn't read any of Veronica Roth's other books, but was excited when I received this arc. It definitely has less of a dystopian feel and more of a dark academia fantasy type. It reminded me of something I could imagine for fans of Leigh Bardugo, VE Schwab, or Chloe Gong.
The book itself, given the size, is great for people looking to get out of a reading slump. I found myself drained after finishing my first semester of college but was still able to get into the story and read it quickly.
Overall, I recommend this to those who like classic fantasy. It wasn't heavy on romance at all, so if that's what you're looking for in a story, maybe skip it. I think that was the best choice for the story though because in under 200 pages I don't think a romance could have been properly developed.

4.5 Stars rounded up!
Really my main complaint about this is that I wish it was longer! There were so many elements packed into this novella. It gave me Wizard of Oz vibes, but creepy and magical? but also set in urban Chicago with Slavic mythology elements? Yes, please. When Among Crows is well written, and you truly feel the characters fear and sense of urgency throughout the story. Even with this being as short as it was, there was still a strong amount of character development as well.. Overall I really enjoyed this!

I avoided reading the blurb of this book, so I didn't know much going on: I had no context, and didn't even realize it was a novella (even after finishing it, that detail surprised me - so much happens!). When Among Crows offers a deep dive into a dark and fantastical Chicago, full of creatures (people) who feed off human emotion. The intertwining of Slavic lore with a gritty, paranormal underbelly of the city creates a captivating backdrop.

However, we are thrown in the deep end: we don't really know the characters goals and objectives until the 20-30% mark, or their motivations until well after the halfway point. As a result, the narrative felt elusive, and I felt disconnected from the characters. And yet, there's so much power in this book. Once I "got" it, I became engrossed. Because it's all about breaking generational curses, literal and figurative: about breaking the cycle of power and abuse.

The quest to seek Baba Jaga's favor is both a thrilling adventure and a poignant exploration of breaking free from inherited burdens. The characters, each marked by their unique pains and pasts, drive the story forward with their complex dynamics and the intense, often desperate nature of their journey.

Although initially disconcerting due to its unconventional pacing and revelation of details, the novella format eventually made sense, contributing to the story's dense and atmospheric quality. When Among Crows is a testament to Roth's ability to craft a world teeming with shadows and whispers of folklore, all while embedding a powerful message about the cycles of pain and the hope of absolution. For those who enjoy dark fantasy with a meaningful undertone, this novella packs a punch in its few pages!

A really fun read for fans of Shadow & Bone.

When Among Crows is a very readable novella based on Russian/Slavic mythology (Baba Yaga, always a welcome adversary/lodestone), but set in a contemporary Chicago, with interesting, flawed characters and a quick, entertaining plot.

My only problem with this is that I wish it was longer. It reminds me of the Murderbot Diaries in that way.

I love the characters and I gasped at the plot twist. The hint of gay was perfectly executed. I hope the next book gives me even more gay and even more violence.

Don’t let the size of this book fool you into thinking it’s not packed full of incredible world building and depth. A story told over 36-hours that drops you right into the lives of the characters which Veronica Roth makes quick work of endearing you to!

In a world full of creatures straight out of Slavic lore that live amongst humans, feeding off their emotions: fear, sorrow, anger, etc in some of the most unlikely places, movies theatres, fight rings, and hospice care homes to name a few. There are, of course, those that hunt the creatures as well: The Holy Order. Unlikely allies band together, a zmora woman named Ala, cursed and hoping for a cure. A mysterious human named Dymitr in possession of a fern flower, that could be the cure for Ala, on a mission to find Baba Yaga. And Niko, a strzygi, rare due to being male destined to fight and die by the hands of the Holy Order.

I absolutely loved this one! The world, the story, the characters, their plight and how it interweaves. Veronica Roth’s prose are stunning and her world rich — I cannot crow enough about how much I enjoyed this!! I hope there are more stories set in this world because I’d absolutely read them!

A huge thank you to Tor for the arc and the chance to read early!!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //5

When Among Crows

I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

THOUGHTS:

Let’s begin by saying how beautiful this cover is. I am a huge fan of covers and this one is top of my list. I was so very excited to see that Veronica Roth came out with a new book and this book was all the things literally. Without saying too much because you need to read this to experience it yourself, you have a very fast 200 page urban fantasy read that punches you with magic, action, twists and turns, knights, demons, creatures that feed off fear and emotions of anger. There is a smidge of spice but you wont even care, you’ll be too caught up living your own adventure inside of this book. I wish that I could read this book all over again for the first time.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth takes readers on a dark and enchanting journey into a fantastical version of Chicago, where monsters feed on human emotions, knights wield bone swords crafted from their own souls, and witches demand more than they give. The novella centers around Dymitr, a soul-split knight, and Ala, cursed to witness the horrors of the Holy Order, as they embark on a perilous quest to find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. Roth's under-200-page tale weaves together Eastern European lore, bone-chilling action, and a quest for redemption. While the brevity leaves a desire for more, the novella showcases Roth's refined storytelling, evoking vivid imagery and exploring themes of family and found connections. When Among Crows is a captivating and unique addition to the dark urban fantasy genre, proving that impactful storytelling need not rely on extensive page counts.

Let me start with this, if you're not a fan of reading multiple POVs, you'll likely not enjoy this book. The story is told from three of the main characters' perspectives - Dymtir, Ala, and Niko. I thought the multiple point of views wasn't necessary to tell this story. If they were removed, it wouldn't have taken anything away from it. Also, the point of views switch often within a single chapter. There were moments where I'll be reading three different point of views in one chapter. Also, I noticed a few times there were moments of backtracking when point of views switched. Instead of starting a character's point of view from the present, to keep the story moving forward, it would start with a scene already shown through the previous character's POV.

I disliked the lack of a glossary for this story. I thought one was needed to help me understand (and also remember) how the Polish words being used in the book were properly pronounced and also the definition. I noticed a few times throughout reading how the author had to use the English word right after using the Polish version to remind readers what the word meant. Having a glossary available would have eliminated the author having to do unnecessary extra work like this.

Also, the summary ruins a moment in this book. It lets readers know of Dymtir's involvement with the Holy Order which causes a particular scene involving Ala and Niko finding out about this piece of information to fall flat.