I love a good Southern gothic, and Dana Elmendorf's "In the Hour of Crows" did not disappoint. I loved the characters, and the atmosphere was thick and dreamy

"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."

Personally, I'm thinking the mayor's son had something to do with her cousin's murder. Makes sense...

I know this isn't exactly my usual read, but there was just something about the blurb of In The Hour Of Crows that had me intrigued. It might have had to do with the promise of Appalachian folkore and a Southern gothic vibe, although I also admit that I was fascinated by the gift of main character Weatherly as a Death Talker. I wanted to know more, and I'm SO glad I took a chance with this book now. While the pace wasn't always consistent and it was sometimes hard to fully grasp what was going on, as a whole I was still completely charmed by this story.

It's hard to put In The Hour Of Crows inside a neat little genre box, as there is so much going on in this story. It's part historical with its 1980s Appalachian setting. It's magical realism/fantasy with the whole Death Talker idea and other supernatural elements. Related to this is the Appalachian folkore, which is probably one of the elements I loved most about this story. It's also a family drama, as you will find a lot of that going on along the way... A bit of romance, lots of secrets and intrigue, and that whole Southern gothic vibe of course. Am I missing something? A dose of paranormal maybe, as we are never quite sure what Rook is until the end, and the main character communicates with her murdered cousin as well. This all seems like a lot, but trust me, somehow the author is able to blend the different genres and elements in a very satisfying way.

I do have to say that the pace wasn't always consistent, and there were parts (especially in the beginning) where I struggled to understand what exactly was going on. This might put some people off, but I can tell you that it is worth it to keep reading... As long as you are able to keep an open mind. The writing itself flows easily, and I was especially looking forward to the parts where the folkore took the lead and the plot explained more about Weatherly's gift. The mystery itself was great as well, and there were without doubt a couple twists I didn't see coming. Some were more obvious, but they didn't make me enjoy the story any less as there was so much going on to help distract me.

As for the characters... Some are more likeable than others and they are definitely mostly flawed, but somehow it was still surprisingly easy to root for Weatherly. I wasn't always as charmed by her tone, but it was interesting to follow her around and slowly discover what is going on. There are lots of secrets to uncover, and I liked how everything was explained and wrapped up in the end. Things can be said about certain aspects being a bit too convenient, but as a whole I thought it was a fitting ending for this story.

If you are looking for a little something different and like the sound of an 1980s setting, a Southern gothic vibe and references to Appalachian folklore, In The Hour Of Crows might just be the perfect book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Dark, superstitious Appalachian death magic....with crows?
Yes, please!
See my full video review here:
https://youtu.be/BTTHln_cYYI?si=RgHFtei3bgT8XIGK

“In the hour of crows” follows 24 year old Weatherly, some kind of witch, or “Demon spawn” as some town folk would refer to her.

She has the ability of a “death talker”, to help bring back people from the brink of death, but others seek to use her gifts for evil, to which she gets the blame for.

Her cousin was recently killed and she is determined to get to the bottom of her death and seek justice by following clues, rhymes and future predictions left by her deceased cousin.

This book was definitely uniquely interesting with a vast cast of characters. What I did think the plot was missing was more information on Weatherlys gifts and how her powers came to be.

The beginning starts off a little confusing but once it skips to the events unfolding in present day it’s easy to get a grasp on things.

I somewhat enjoyed this book however other parts where just a bit to whimsical for me. A lot of inner dialogue, descriptions and poetical metaphors, not my preferred writing style but I’m sure others would love it for that reason.

Thank you to Dana Elmendorf, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC.

Pub date: June 4th 2024

An instant American Classic!

In the Hour of the Crows threads you through the days of an Appalachian Witch with abandonment issues as she solves the murder of her cousin and discovers her own history along the way.

I loved this book. I am raving about this book. I want everyone to pre-order this audiobook. I am astounded by the less than 4 star reviews, but then I recall we all have our own needs for a well told story, and this one sung to me.
The small town, prejudice makes me feel so seen, as a neurodivergent teen with poor self-esteem and a penchant for saying the absolutely worst things in any given situation I could walk in Weatherly's scruffy shoes with not a problem. This does lead me to recognize something readers dislike, Weatherly Wilder is so innocent that she seems ageless. I can't quite assure myself that she is the adult she proclaims to be through the entire book. My brain kept trying to recall her actual age. She did adult things, like working and driving and uncommitted sex but, those are traumatized teenaged things too.
The real crux of the story is a murder mystery in Appalachia with social divide, witches, and voodoo. How can one not want to read and re-read this story.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and netgallery for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting story. In some ways, I could have been better done. The gift of Weatherly’s, what the purpose was, how it came about, etc. That was my only issue with this book. I felt like it should have been explained better earlier on so I didn’t spend the first half of the book confused by the whole premise. The writing was good, the characters were good, and the plot was original. Good story!

I love books where local history/secrets mix with magic. Interesting characters. Magic that draws you in. I didn't really connect with the main character but I loved the ending.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing - MIRA for the ARC.

Atmospheric Southern Gothic Perfect For Fans Of Emily Carpenter Or Robert Gwaltney. This is one of those trippy atmospheric southern gothic tales where folklore plays a central role. Set in the 1980s in Appalachia, it is perhaps *too* reliant on folklore in reality, but the story works within itself. As someone who grew up in the 1980s in the foothills of the Appalachians in the borderlands between Appalachia and Atlanta, the tale perhaps makes my people seem a bit backward and mystical than most of us really were, though there were (and are) absolutely pockets of people who were in fact very similar to the characters portrayed here.

Still, for the story being told here, it absolutely works within itself and creates a compelling story of a young woman struggling to find herself and the man of her dreams. But you're going to get a *lot* of southern mysticism within that more general tale, and it is this very southern mysticism that gives the book its gravitas, atmosphere... and challenges for many readers, almost to the level of being more literary fiction than popular fiction. Not quite that far, but certainly not a too casual read either.

If you're looking for an easy, casual summer read... this aint that. If you enjoy more spooky reads with a dash of horror but still more of a typical mystery/ drama, you might like this one. Ultimately, I thought it was well done and the release date separates it a bit from the more typical fall/ Halloween window many readers might be looking for this type of tale during - which actually gives those who like this story that much longer to find it, and for those who do find it near release date, something to enjoy outside of the "spooky season".

Very much recommended.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ya'll--the ending.

The storyline is this novel is compelling and distressing. There is lots of loss, plenty of betrayal, and some unconditional love that will break your heart.

She had me at crows . . . but the more the story rolled out, the deeper I was pulled in. Such an intriguing concept and, while I don’t absolutely need everything tied up with a sweet little bow, I certainly enjoy when it does happen. The end pretty much answered all my questions and I really, really enjoyed the journey.

Magic, suspense, folklore, mystery, very real human emotions and well-drawn characters made it hard to dislike In the Hour of Crows.

In the beginning, I nearly docked this book a star because a couple of things threw off this slightly autistic Georgia girl—we Georgians would never say, “make our way over to Nashville” as it’s always north. Up to, maybe? Also, this is clearly North Georgia and sugar cane plantations can only be found in middle and south Georgia. Fortunately, by the middle of the book, I was more than willing to suspend my disbelief because it didn’t really matter. And I am glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Weatherly Opal Wilder is a Death Talker, a gift passed down to her by her grandfather. She was raised by Grandmama Agnes, a cruel and miserable woman who begins taking advantage of Weatherly's gift at a young age. Weatherly is profoundly impacted by the death of her cousin and best friend, Adaire. Prior to Adaire being killed in what appears to be a tragic accident, Adaire uncovered something important and it is up to Weatherly to figure out just what it was and why it was so important she left cryptic hidden messages behind. Family secrets are decrypted clue by clue in small town Appalachia.

Wow - let me start out by saying that I read this in one sitting, finishing it around 5am - it was truly unputdownable. I fully understand why it is describes as a Where the Crawdads Sing meets Practical Magic. Dripping with magical realism and Appalachian folklore, this story is equal parts mysterious and raw (trigger warnings for child abuse/abandonment, death, grief, and mental illness) set within a Southern gothic [creepy] town set in its traditions.

I personally loved how the book throws you right into the middle of the story, leaving room for mystery and your mind to wander, before filling in the blanks. The characters develop slowly, so you really sit with their traits, mannerisms, flaws, etc. You feel yourself slipping into the family/ies, really getting a sense of their inner workings and the dysfunction within. In my opinion, this is what makes it unputdownable - it is slow and intentional, until it is fast and your mind is racing to uncover more.

I only have two things that are nagging at me - 1) I wish their last name wasn't Wilder. Wilderwomen just came out a few years ago and I actually had to go back and look it up to see if it was somehow related. 2) Rook. I love the premise of a shapeshifting human/crow, but I found myself wavering back and forth between "tell me more about this character" and "is this really necessary." Though perhaps, if the epilogue is any indication, there will be more to come on that front.

Regardless, if you are into magical realism, with a heavy dose of folklore sprinkled in, then this is for you!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

A mix of murder mystery, magic, religion, and witch crafts.

I was a bit confused up until chapter 5, which, in my opinion, is when I felt the book started picking up. The book finally went in depth and I finally understood what it meant about the FMC, Weatherly, can only talk death out once and not twice. If I didn't read the synopsis, I would have been super confused about Adaire's role also. I wished the book had opened up by explaining their powers so that way it's more clear to the readers. The writing style was hard for me to grasp. I couldn't connect to Weatherly or any of the characters. It was hard at first to understand why Weatherly was so broken over Adaire. I didn't feel a strong connection with them in the beginning at all.

Now to the good parts....

Ok, how did I not see that coming until Weatherly found evidence? I didn't even suspect who the murderer was. Then, the next twist had my nose deep into the book. I was shocked to discover the truth. And don't even get me started on the epilogue. The epilogue itself makes me want to dig deeper! I really want to know what's next!!! Somehow, I found the epilogue was better and more interesting than the whole book. That alone caught my attention!!

Gritty, gothic and paranormal.

The plot and pacing are top tier! It was hard to put down, I had to figure out what was going on in this Appalachian community. The authors description of the backwoods was so good you couldn't help but visualize everything, even the characters.

I loved the way that folklore was used and the way Dana combined mystery, paranormal and a bit of romance, it kept everything moving and the story interesting.

Trigger warnings for mental illness, child abandonment/abuse and death.

3.8. An interesting read. A little hard to get into but then it went a bit quicker. A good debut novel with a tinge of Where the Crawdads Sing mixed with Practical Magic. On the other hand. A little too gothic for me. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review

This was a different kind of read. It has the feel of Where the Crawdads Sing. I've grown up in Appalachia and the author really gives you the feeling of the south. As far as the things going on and the time, it's more like back in the 1930s. The gifts handed down to the opposite sex is a real thing. Not sure about the death talker but removing warts and other stuff and bible verses really work if you can find a person who does it. I loved this book. I was surprised about the touch of fantasy. To me, that was my favorite part. Wish a book would be written about that part and the two characters. It's hard to reviews this because it's such a different read. The first part sort of made me cringe and then it took off totally different but if you stick with it, it all comes together and in the very end you find out about the prologue and what really happens and why. I loved the characters except granny. Think I'd have to give her the pillow test at night while sleeping lol.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my copy

I didn't expect this book to be so engrossing from the outset. The plot is dark, the prose is gritty, and the reading experience visceral. Although, the horror elements were perhaps a bit gratuitous. The author really brings the story's Southern setting to life and fully immerses the reader in the content. It was all interesting enough to keep me reading. Unfortunately, it just wasn't my kind of fantasy in the end. While I enjoy magical realism, I need to be in the mood for it. Not to mention, witches and witch-crafty books. And I wasn't this time around. But that's on me and does not take away from what I believe is a hard-to-put-down tale about an Appalachian girl with a long family legacy to live up to. That is, a strong propensity for folk magic (death-talking) and getting into all sorts of small-town trouble. I also really loved the unique names for the characters (Weatherly, Rook, Bone Layer). I would recommend this story to anyone with a gothic-leaning taste, who is also into family dramas, murder mysteries, and true grit. Slight warning: this book isn't for the faint of heart. You'll know from the stomach-turning prologue if it's a good fit.

**Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Appalachia, people can have some rather strange and unique beliefs. Living there is a unique family like Weatherly Opal Wilder who is a Death Talker. What is a Death Talker, it is a person who whispers to Death and stops the person from dying. There is a magical crow called Rook, who can become human and speaks to Weatherly. The matriarch is Weatherly’s Grandmama Agnes who uses herbs to cure the locals ailments and the Sin Eater Oil, the mucus spat up by Weatherly to produce wicked potions. Weatherly’s cousin Adaire is killed and Stone Rutledge is accused of killing her. However, when the case is dismissed, Weatherly is determined to find out what really happened.

I enjoyed this magical tale of strange beliefs, family and the loyalty one has to them, and how a town can be divided between the haves and the haven nots. This was an enjoyable read, I liked the friendship among Weatherly and her friends, the family angst, on one hand being the local outcasts and yet being visited by those wishing to end their ails with a potion. The author does a wonderful job of letting the reader feel the tension between family members, between the wealthy and the outcasts, between Weatherly and her gift. Good story, good characters, enjoy the mystical elements of this story.

I was super lost the entire way through. Like things happened and they weren’t explained (the prologue) and the writing just wasn’t the right fit for me. The concept was super interesting but I just couldn’t follow through. It was a hard book to get through, since I was confused the entire way.

**Features:**
- Explores themes of loss, grief, prejudice, family secrets and justice
- Magic and mystery based in Appalachian folklore
- Creepy atmosphere

This haunting book is a phenomenal small town mystery with a heavy dose of folklore and magic. Dark and atmospheric, this story quickly draws you in. It is definitely the kind of story that throws you right in and though you might start off feeling a little lost in the woods, things quickly come together and get more interesting the deeper you go. Many of the characters are slow to develop and a lot is left unknown, but it feels very intentional and each feels authentic and unique. While I definitely see why this book is compared to Where the Crawdads Sing and Practical Magic (the book), I think some readers will be caught off guard by the magical elements of this book. Even though it is folklore based and fits into a very realistic setting, this book firmly crosses into the fantasy/paranormal realm rather than leaving us questioning whether or not magic is truly at play. Overall, if you are interested in a dark, magic infused mystery, this one is definitely worth picking up!

**Pro: Secret keepers**

Unlike many in the small town of Black Fern, Georgia, the Wilder family have not forgotten the old ways. In addition to passing down an extensive knowledge of herbs and remedies over generations, the family also passes its magical abilities. Whether or not others in town believe in the family’s magic, they all consider the Wilders a strange and backwards bunch. It is no wonder that the Wilders keep their secrets close. However, Weatherly Wilder will learn just how much they are keeping even from each other and how dangerous those secrets can be.

One of the things that I really applaud this book for is how it lets the reader sit with these unanswered questions about the Wilders, their magic, and their history. It does not try to over explain itself nor does it try to fill this uncomfortable space with unnecessary cliches such as inner dialogue where the character states there is a secret they can’t tell without actually revealing anything of consequence. Elmendorf makes phenomenal use of their characters and events to clearly convey that there is more going on than meets the eye and creates an understanding of how or why some of these secrets are kept hidden. There is just enough information to make sure the reader doesn’t get lost and to create a desire to discover more.

Overall, I think this masterful handling of how information is developed and revealed throughout the book makes this an intriguing reading experience. This is definitely not a book for people who like everything explained right away and/or who want everything to tie up nicely in the end. This book is content to leave some things unresolved and/or not fully explained. However, I think this approach really worked for a story like this and loved every second of it.

**The Breakdown: Wandering**

In some ways, this book’s strengths are sometimes its weaknesses. In the effort to create the sense of mystique as the mystery unfolds, there are a lot of elements introduced but some are left unresolved. Where this largely works for this story, it can also be a little frustrating when one of these side elements interests you but then seems to be forgotten and/or unimportant to the overall plot. Though I understand why it is not in this story, I personally was left wanting to know more about Rook and his role.

My only other nitpick would be that Weatherly does not consistently use an accent or colloquialisms that would be appropriate for the region and her cultural background. It comes out more strongly on some occasions, but will then be largely absent. It is not extremely noticeable or jarring, but there were a couple of times it stood out to me.