When I saw Veronica Roth was releasing a new fantasy novella I was SO EXCITED. While I do often find it difficult to fully rate and review novellas because of the length, I was very impressed with how much I enjoyed this novella, considering Roth had to world build and have a plot all in a mere 176 pages.

When Among Crows is set in Chicago, following three main characters: Dymitr, Niko, and Ala. Each character carries a burden that has been passed down to them through generations. I loved the setting of an urban Chicago filled with all the mystical folklorian characters and elements you may expect. The pacing of this novella was incredible, going from heartbreaking moments between characters confronting their inner demons and past, then to bloody gory moments of action and fighting. There were many important themes in this novella that Roth managed to reflect on. I honestly found myself wishing that this novella would have been a full book, to have more chapters and time with each of the characters, although I thought Roth did a good job of fleshing them out in a limited amount of time. This was a great start for Roth's adult fantasy debut and I'm excited to see what she does in the future!!

Thank you to Tor books for sending me this free advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

What a great novella!

I have been on such a huge Urban fantasy kick lately, and even though this was a novella, I did not feel like anything was lacking. In fact, one thing that I feel the fantasy genre suffers from as a whole is long-winded exposition and this book, due to its length, gets you right into the action. There was sufficient world building and character development for the length and I felt completely drawn into the story. It was such a quick read, but I did not walk away feeling like the story was unfinished.

Perfect if you want a quick urban fantasy read without all the exposition. Great if you like gritty fairy tales

I am a bit sore I have to dnf WHEN AMONG CROWS at 39%, but only a bit, and I think that is unfortunately a sign of a few of the problems I was having while reading.

This novella has such an interesting premise that really kept me going. I loved the elements of Slavic folklore and how the narrative didn't shy away from them. I also normally enjoy magic centered around pain, but graphic nail gore is one of the few things I just can't read, which led to my very sudden DNF. I liked pretty much every other aspect of the mystical misery, though there was something missing, though at least it wasn't bad enough for me to dnf sooner? I wish I was more experienced or smart enough to put my finger on it, but the book didn't hook me the way I wanted it to. Dymitr is normally a character I would be obsessed with, but something about the writing didn't dive deep enough into it for me. Ala was very cool, at least.

Overall, I'll wonder what I missed out on, but I'm okay waiting for a review with spoilers or for someone I know to read this.

Thank you, NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Dymitr is part of a long line of hunters, who sacrificed their souls to slay monsters. Now in order to kill the legendary witch Baba Jaga, he's forced to ally with the one he's sworn to kill. On the other side, Ala is a fear-eating zmora and she's slowly waiting for her death, for her curse. When Dmitr offers the cure in exchange for her help, she is ready to accept. They will have to fight against time and the wrath of Chicago's underworld, with Dmitr's secrets ready to destroy them all.

When among crows is a book you will devour, not only because it's very short, but mostly because it's captivating and alluring. The setting is so intriguing, a modern fairytale, a monster hunter and a monster forced to strike a deal. It's intriguing, fascinating and so well written you feel like you're there with Ala and Dmitr! Inspired by Slavic folklore, is a story about redemption and atonement, longing and loss, love and more.
So recommended!

the perfect novella for folklore & fantasy lovers!

“when among crows” gives us a fresh take on modern folklore by pulling from Polish folktales. i absolutely loved learning about the creatures & monsters, especially the dynamics between the characters who come from various backgrounds and are forced to band together. fans of the grishaverse and the shadowhunters books will be absolutely captivated!

for such a short story (under 200 pages) i was pleasantly surprised at how detailed and well organized the overall plot was. this truly feels like a dark, gritty, fairytale come to life.

thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the advance copy & audiobook!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc! easy 4/5 stars, veronica roth I wasn't familiar with your game (I read divergent when it came out and never finished the series) BUT NOW I AM

literally cannot believe this was only a novella because there was so much going on in a way that just absolutely swept me in. I adore urban fantasy and I think veronica roth did an amazing job of world building because she was able to introduce all the core elements of the world in a way that made sense and was captivating at the same time. a lot of the time with fantasy and world building, there tends to be an element of confusion that's done on purpose because the author wants to slowly peel back the layers of a character or a certain event, and this is an area that some authors can get wrong, whether it's because their world building isn't quite strong enough or because they haven't laid everything out in a clear enough way. roth does an impeccable job here with that - she slowly peels back the mysteries surrounding the main characters in a way that is not only well paced but makes perfect sense and still manages to suck you in and want to keep going to see who these characters really are. I'm actually kind of amazed at how much I grew to like and root for the characters in such a sort span of time, I've also never read a fantasy based so centrally on slavic mythology and folklore, and this really was a breath of fresh air - I loved seeing all the elements of it infused into modern day life. overall, this was a fantasy novella that absolutely sucked me in and had me by the THROAT for the entirety of the time I was reading it, and I'm adding my voice to the chorus of reviewers saying that I would have LOVED for this to have been a full length novel, if only to get a little more time with the characters, especially towards the end

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is darkly beautiful and rich in Slavic mythology. As soon as I began reading, I was struck by the evocative language and the voice of the characters. I loved how Dmityr’s true purpose is obscured from the others but I also found his resolution and determination riveting. The curse that strikes Ala is heartbreaking and wrenching. How she interacts with Dmityr is intriguing especially after she discovers his true purpose.
One of the most powerful aspects of the story is how it addresses redemption and atonement as Dmityr interacts with those who are inhuman, both Ala and Nikos, as he discovers affection for those so different from himself. I also love how the novel addresses the supernatural aspects, Ala’s powers and Dmityr’s training. The story is spectacular in worldbuilding and heartbreaking in how the curse interacts with Ala.
If you like stories that are drenched in Slavic mythology and supernatural creatures, the exploration of redemption, and what it means to question your family, this novel is for you. It is heartbreaking and darkly beautiful, a story of hope, change and atonement.

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒉
𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘤 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 • 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 • 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺
𝚎𝙰𝚁𝙲/𝙰𝙻𝙲 • 𝚙𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝟷𝟺 𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺

It was half a lifetime ago that I read Divergent and I will always have a soft spot for that series, as it was read at just the right time and place for me (YA dystopian urban fantasy, when I was a fantasy-obsessed young adult myself). I have been tickled to see a new piece coming out from Veronica Roth, and am grateful to both @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for granting me early access to review this novella digitally and on audio.

When Among Crows is so different from the YA dystopian setting of Divergent that I think it will appeal to a different class of readers. It’s slavic folklore, a tale of an epic quest undertaken by three unlikely protagonists (and 3 narrators - so cool to have a full cast audio!) who go on a search for Baba Yaga to end a curse.

Ala (short for Alexia), Dymitr and Nico will have to band together, face the old Strzyga vamp clans, mob families of Chicago’s underworld, Zmora demons, as well as the knights of the holy order sworn to battle against the forces of darkness.

I loved the Polish folklore woven throughout and the accents of the narrators were perfect in the audiobook. A quick read that ends almost as soon as it gets underway, although not without significant world building up front. Perhaps that is the way of novellas, although I thought it could have been longer; I wanted more, it felt like a tiny vignette of a larger story that was not told.

Give this one a read. It comes out in about a week on May 14th!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was lucky and I got both the e-ARC and the audio ARC. This is definitely one that I am happy I got the audio arc because I think I would have had a harder time with it if I read it as just an eARC. Not because its bad but the prose in this book worked better in audio format.

I think it was a great novella filled with Slavic folklore and I am always a fan of a modern day fairytale. Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially the audiobook because the narration was fantastic.

While I love Veronica Roth, this book felt like trudging through thick mud. The writing was incredibly dense, and I found the descriptions of the fantasy world to be a bit beyond the reach of my imagination. I found it very difficult to read, and I wish it focused more on the romance and less on the fantasy creatures. A bit dull...yes, yes?

A journey into a world filled with magic and mystery. I loved the Slavic folklore elements, which were new to me and added to the story's appeal. The paranormal parts were also really cool! The narrator, Helen Laser did a great job narrating the audiobook, especially with the different voices. It made the characters feel real and added to the immersion.
A must-listen for anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and Tor Publishing for the gifted copy.

The elements of mythology were respecfully drawn on and tastefully used - it never felt heavy handed. Despite being a novella, all of the characters were fully developed and felt lived in, which is very impressive.

When Among Crows is an immersive read featuring mythological creatures, a hint of M/M romance, and a wonderfully written gothic atmosphere. Veronica Roth does a stunning job of incorporating magic and creatures into a modern-day setting. This was a quick and enjoyable read!

I didn’t know what to expect with this novella, but I was excited to read it because the cover is so gorgeous! I have not read a Veronica Roth book since my days of being a ten-year-old obsessed with Divergent, so seeing her growth as a writer and storyteller is incredible.

Here we have three different characters who each carry three different burdens, but they are all stooped by the heavy weight of what their families expect from them. They also each live in this world of Slavic myth and rumor, against the backdrop of modern Chicago. What is different is how they choose to react to these burdens. One seeks to save themselves from it, another seeks to grin and bear it, and the other seeks to absolve themselves of it. Will any of them succeed?

The nature of a novella and other short-form fiction is that not everything is laid out for reader. There's lots of subtext and moments where the reader can make their own inferences for why the characters act the way they do. When Among Crows is no exception, and I find myself wanting to immediately reread so that I may make these inferences with the knowledge I have now of how the story plays out.

It's tempting to wish for more pages (it's only 170 pages!), not because the novella lacked substance, but simply because I grew attached to the characters and their mystical world. A full-length novel or even a series would've been awesome. But taking this story as what it is, this novella is intricately crafted and an interesting read.

Unfortunately, this one did not hook me at 25% in. I found myself pretty confused about what was going on which didn't help. I'll probably try again another time.

Thank you to the author and Tor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm probably one of the very few people that haven't read the Divergent series but I have read some of Veronica's other work and I really enjoy her writing style. Something about it just draws you in and won't let go. This novella was no different.

This story is based in Chicago where humans and non human creatures that feed off human emotions reside. We follow Dymitr and Ala as they navigate the bargain they made with each other.

Even though this was a novella, I felt like it told the story very well. I do wish it was a bit longer but that's just because I enjoyed the characters and the plot and wanted more of it. It was definitely a quick and easy read!

Thank you so much to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc! This baby releases on May 14th so make sure to grab a copy but make sure to check trigger warnings first!

When Among Crows is my first Veronica Roth book and I went in completely blind. I wasn’t expecting it to toe the line of horror and whimsy in an urban fantasy setting, and that was probably the best part, in my opinion. I find it hard for a novella to be successful if it’s a standalone and not an addition to another story, but When Among Crows did a fantastic job building a world, developing characters, and keeping my attention. Following Ala, Niko, and Dymitr’s journey to have an audience with Baba Jaga, the most powerful witch in the world, was so much fun and I enjoyed the plot. I would love to see an entire series brought out of this world and would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed One Dark Window or The Tainted Cup.

Thank you to NetGalley, Veronica Roth, and Tor Books for the early copy!

When Among Crows feels like a fresh modern-day fairytale, with elements of lore and witchery woven in. This book was stunning, and a very fast read through. I highly recommend giving it a go.

This was very well-written and the audio was exceptional with several actors voicing characters. It was also short enough to hold my attention as I'm not so into dystopian fiction.
However, the story is interesting. Dymityr is a holy knight who has split his soul to make his weapon. His orders are to hunt and kill "monsters" that roam the streets of Chicago.
Ala is under a family curse. Pain is her inheritance. Dymityr offers her a cure with the magical fern flower in his possession, if she will help him find the legendary witch, Baba Jaga. Ala agrees, unaware of what Dymityr actually is.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for this e-arc.*

From the synopsis only, I was excited to read this new urban fantasy.
It is short (it’s a novella so, dah!) and since it’s quite immersive, you go through the pages pretty quickly.
What I really loved about this book is the characters and their development, who doesn’t like a bunch of outcasts found family trope?
When you think you know what’s happening, you don’t truly, not until the end where the plot unfolds anyway. While you can guess where it’s headed, there is a more complex depth to it.
That being said, I wish some part of the story would have been explored a bit more. I wanted to know more about some of the creatures or the Polish Folklore that inspired the narrative and also, about how The Holy Order works. But again, under 200 pages, it’s still impressive to be able to fit everything there is to know to understand a minimum.
Overall, I did really enjoy my reading but it wasn’t an hit to the guts for me and maybe there is a simple explanation for that. This was my first read after finishing The Poppy War trilogy and well, in terms of gut-wrenching, there isn’t worse (I still feel numb to anyone wondering).
Now, if you like fast paced novellas, multiple pov Urban Fantasy, Polish mythology, Demons vs Knights and a twist of M/M romance, then go ahead! It’s a fun little read and the characters are really compelling.