In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf took me by complete surprise—what I thought would be a good read turned out to be an absolute gem! The blend of religion, spirituality, and folklore was what initially drew me in, and it absolutely delivered a wonderfully eerie atmosphere that felt grounded and authentic. The haunting quality of the writing had my scalp prickling on more than one occasion. I couldn't stop reading, and even when I had to, I found myself thinking about it long after I put it down.

The premise is unlike anything I’ve read before: Weatherly, the protagonist, is a Death Talker. She can use secret Bible verses to convince death to leave someone and enter her instead, which results in her coughing up a black mucous called Sin Eater Oil that can be used for spells—both good and bad. This unique gift, and the way it tied into themes of faith, family, and trauma, created an unforgettable atmosphere that added depth and complexity to the story.

Weatherly herself was such a compelling character. She’s grappling with loss, guilt, and her family’s twisted expectations of her, especially her cruel grandmother. But it’s her relationship with Rook, a man she brought back from the dead as a child, that truly stands out. Rook is a tragic, complex figure who spends much of his time as a crow, only becoming human when Weatherly needs him. Their dynamic kept me on edge, always questioning what was real and what wasn’t, and it added a layer of mystery and suspense that kept me hooked.

The journey Weatherly takes to uncover the truth about her cousin Adaire’s death is intertwined with her own journey of self-discovery. The way the book explores themes of family, identity, and faith—while balancing those with magical realism—was incredibly well done. I loved how subtle yet moving the emotional beats were, making them hit harder than I expected.

Despite relying on some familiar murder mystery tropes, I was completely engrossed by the atmosphere and the powerful writing. The town of Black Fern almost felt like a character in itself, with its magical elements shaping the story as much as Weatherly did. The ending was both dark and hopeful, and I closed the book with a sense of awe.

If you’re looking for a dark, atmospheric read that blends magic and religion with a gripping mystery, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s a quick read but one that stays with you long after.

Appalachia? Yes please. Magical realism? Also yes please. Murder mystery? Also yes please. This was a great read.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story! I was expecting an atmospheric small town fantasy, but I was not expecting how much mystery there’d be. And the witchy vibes! I was totally enraptured by the whodunnit and the origin story of our protagonist. The story was also the perfect length. Looking forward to reading something else by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf!

I think this book is well written, but I struggled with it because of how often the author brought up the main characters magical black mucous spitting. It honestly made it hard for me to finish the book.
I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review it. Just not a good match for me and my "phobia".
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc!

This story was such a charming, mysterious, heartbreaking and magical one. One of the best parts about it is that the characters feel so damn real & relatable. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves southern settings, Appalachian folk magic, or mysteries.

Beautiful descriptions paired with details that come together in an unexpected way by the end makes this a favorite read of 2024 for me. I was drawn back to the story anytime I had to put it down because it was so engaging. The writing was amazing.

Thank you so much @mira partner for my gifted copy of In the Hour of Crows.

Listen, when you say it’s Practical Magic adjacent I’m there. Weatherly can literally talk the death out of dying (just once not twice)

I had no idea how gothic this would be but I knew I needed all the southern vibes. This was giving Appalachia hard, and I’m here for it.

I saw Brittany Pressley was one of the readers for the audiobook, so I was down. It was perfection. I felt like maybe magic pulsed in my veins the way this book would get a reaction out of me. I fell so deep in love and wept honestly.

I’m usually all about witchy books, but this one just didn’t work for me. The cover completely drew me in (because of course I love crows), and the whole concept of Death Talking was super creative and had so much potential. Unfortunately, it just didn’t click.

One big thing for me was the setting. I didn’t realize until about three-quarters of the way through that it was set in the 1890s. That explained some stuff—like why no one had cell phones—but honestly, historical witchy themes aren’t really my thing. I’m more into modern takes. Also, the first chapter definitely needed a trigger warning. Starting a book with infanticide is… a lot, and it just set a heavy tone right out of the gate. By the time I got to the end, things wrapped up okay, but the pacing felt rushed, and it didn’t leave me as satisfied as I hoped.

I did like some parts of the story, though, and I think readers who enjoy darker themes and historical settings might get more out of this one. For me, it just wasn’t the vibe I was looking for.

2.5 stars rounded up. This one was a difficult read for me- I wanted to love it because of the concept/setting. I was confused for a lot of the book. Weatherly felt like a really unreliable narrator to me, and I'm not sure she was supposed to come off that way. I wanted to know so much more about Rook than what we got.

Fit perfectly for a fall/ October read. Suspense and folklore blended nicely to create a captivating read.

2.5⭐️

<i> In a small town in Appalachia, people paint their doorways blue to keep spirits away.
Black ferns grow where death will follow.
And Weatherly Opal Wilder is a Death Talker.

When called upon, she can talk the death out of the dying and save their lives; only once, never twice. But this truly unique gift comes at a price, rooting Weatherly to people who only want her around when they need her and resent her backwater ways when they don’t.

Weatherly’s cousin Adaire also has a gift, she’s a Scryer and can see the future reflected back in dark surfaces. Right before she is killed in an accident, Adaire saw something unnerving, and that’s why Weatherly believes she was murdered—never thinking for a moment that it was an accident. But when Weatherly, for the first time, is unable to talk the death out of the mayor’s son, the whole town suspects she is out for revenge, that she wouldn’t save him.

With the help of clues Adaire left behind and her family’s Granny Witch recipe box, Weatherly sets out to find the truth behind her cousin’s death, whatever it takes.

Imbued with magic, witchery, and suspense, Dana Elmendorf’s In the Hour of Crows is a thrilling tale of friendship, identity, and love. </i>

I had high hopes for this one, but in the end I was thoroughly underwhelmed. The characters and story just never managed to hook me and draw me in. It wasn’t terrible, it just also wasn’t for me.

Thank you Dana Elmendorf, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

You had me at "Death Talker"
In the Hour of Crows was a bingeable treat for me. I was immediately engrossed in this small, Appalachian town of Black Fern. The vibes were everything; dark and shrouded in superstition yet somehow warm and homey. The writing was beautiful and forlorn.
It wasn't hard for me to become overly invested in Weatherly and her heart that beats fiercely for her family and friends. Finding justice for her cousin, Adaire, was a need.
The magics are subtle and believable; a sticky web of earth, soul, and religion.
And let's not forget about The Crow and the yearning.
I'd be shocked if this doesnt get adapted to screen.
Elmendorf has sold me on any future endeavors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the eARC!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf. Weatherly lives in rural Georgia and is a death talker, a kind of healer who is allegedly able to remove “death” from people and extend their lives. She has had a difficult home life and childhood, and is from a family of healers and people who believe strongly in alternative medicine. Weatherly’s cousin and best friend Adair has just died, and this is the mystery of the novel. There is a little too much witchcraft and magic in this one for me-and the crow theme was kind of scary. Not one I would recommend. #inthehourofcrows #danaelmendorf #netgalley #bookstagram #lovetoread #magicalrealism #witchcraft #alternativemedicine

⭐️: 5

My rotten, southern gothic soul devoured this novel. I don’t usually read murder mysteries, but I’m glad I took the leap on this one.

I was attracted to the premise of this book that had me at Southern gothic murder mystery and hillbilly witches... but ultimately it just didn't work for me.

At first I was compelled by the main character Weatherly's talent at being a Death Eater and her struggles with her family and the complications of her gift. But she behaved so recklessly and erratically that it was the worst of the "too stupid to live" trope. I almost put the book down when she hysterically hexed the judge in the courtroom at the beginning and there were other parts that made me want to stop reading. I skimmed the last half. I also couldn't emotionally connect with Weatherly and found her a flat, uninteresting character who never took any agency in her life.

I did love, however, the descriptions of ancient Scottish witchcraft traditions mixed with Southern Baptist culture and how this magical family integrated into a religiously conservative town. And the twist at the end surprised me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If I had to describe this book I guess it would be part murder mystery, part family drama and part coming of age (but not YA really since the main character was in her mid twenties but still seemed like a teenager) all rolled together with a dash of magical realism. This was 100% a five star for setting and ambiance, I felt like I was in the Appalachian mountains with the weather and customs. But I had an issue with the cohesiveness of the plot, I was not always certain what was going on, it jumped around so much between past and present, with maybe magic interwoven sporadically at times I could not keep up and became confused and then wondered if I cared to figure it out or just power through. Side note, I read an advanced copy so maybe the final is better edited for cohesion? Overall this was a very unique plot, I just did not really enjoy my reading adventure with this story.

I just love this beautiful cover so much!!!

I was wanting to step outside of my comfort zone and try a genre I don’t normally read.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one and couldn’t get through the book.

I stopped at about 40 percent in.

2/5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed In The Hour of Crows by Dana Elemdorf for it's perfectly balanced blend of murder mystery and magical realism. In the rural Appalachians Weatherly Wilder is a Death Talker, one who can sometimes save a person by talking Death out of taking their soul. Doing so takes a toll on her physically and emotionally as she is often called to help those in her community and cannot refuse. It is her gift. When her best friend and cousin Adaire is killed in a hit and run Weatherly knows in her gut that it was not an accident, she believes it was murder and she will stop at nothing to find the guilty party. If you like gothic, spooky and magically dark tales this book is for you. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for a chance to read an ARC copy of this fabulous book. All opinions are my own.

This is one of those backwoods witchcraft books that I find repellent. I didn't get very far in this one before I put it down. There's probably nothing wrong with it if you like that sort of thing but it certainly wasn't for me.