Member Reviews
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 so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Veronica Roth for allowing me to review this sci-fi/fantasy audiobook. This was my first book by Veronica Roth and I really enjoyed the storytelling. I will be picking more up from this author in the future. I also enjoyed the multiple characters and narrators for this audiobook. I am interested in fairytales and Russian folklore, so this book was a great choice for me. I think anyone who enjoys learning about other countries and their fairytales will enjoy this book as well. There were interesting characters and plot twists and it was a very fast listen. I look forward to more from this author. Thank you again for allowing me to review this unique story.
I really wanted to love this one because I love mythology and folklore and am always looking to explore different cultures but I just couldn't get into the story here. I;m not sure if it was the audiobook version or the story for me but it just felt a bit dry.
My Mom loved fairytales and folklore, especially Russian ones, and read me many captivating stories featuring Baba Yaga when I was growing up. It was with this in mind that I jumped on the chance to read “When Among Crows”.
I’m glad I did. The book reminded me a little of American Gods in that characters from folklore are alive and well and living in the present-day United States. I like the author’s creativity in imagining what sort of modern urban lives these figures from fantasy would lead.
Parts of the book were heartfelt, and there is a tender gay relationship. I got confused in some of the flashback chapters where the characters were not named, and had to go back and review which characters that were written about as children, grew up into which adults in the present timeline’s story.
I liked the plot twists that I did not see coming and the satisfying conclusion. I had not heard of Veronica Roth before, and now I am interested to read more of her books. I listened to this as an audiobook, and all the narrators were very good.
I think anyone who likes fairytales and urban fantasy or has an interest in Russian folklore, will enjoy this book. Thank you Netgalley, for a free audio download of this book in advance of publication, for my review consideration.
This was not what I was expecting but in a good way. The story was short, but the world wasn’t small and the characters were robust.
Three very different characters are on a mission for different reasons, but decide working together is the best for them all.
The Slavic based story and magic system isn’t something I’ve read often and now I’m inclined to find more.
This was a very well-built world for such a short audiobook! This was my first Veronica Roth book and I will definitely be reading more of her work.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through NetGalley!
This was a really intriguing and immersive story steeped in Slavic folklore. I loved the way it mixed urban fantasy with these dark ancient creatures.
That being said this book felt held back by being a novella. I would have liked to dive deeper into this world and it just felt like it's length was holding it back. The character development was great despite the length I just think it could have been so much more.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book going into it. It ended up being a pretty good read. I enjoyed the story.
Unfortunately, this was a dnf for me. The world building was confusing and I never fully grasped what was going on.
Thank you NetGalley for this May Release! 4.5 because it could have been longer. I’m in love with the main character. What a strong, compassionate, and interesting man. I’m pretty sure if we beg Veronica Roth enough, she will give us a part 2 to this??? I mean really, after reading this book you will agree with me that we need more, A LOT more of this world and these characters.
While I normally adore VR this just wasn’t a fit for me. I found the book to be sluggish and hard to get through. The pace felt off and the story dragged because of it.
Mood Readers:
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is great for someone looking for a short book to wet their pallet. The story is well rounded, characters are engaging, and the end wraps everything up nicely.
This book was provided in exchance for an honest review graphic
Quotes
“We bear the sword and we bear the pain of the sword”
“I don’t find it painful to be ordinary.”
“”Suffering isn’t atonement”
Would you recommend this book?
Absolutely! When Among Crows packs such a big punch for being a short story. The characters and world building seem so effortless to understand while also diving you deep into the lore of their world. You see just how far one will go to atone for their wrongdoing. It’s a quick and wild ride making you feel all the feels!
Would you be friends with the main character IRL?
While they are wonderful characters for the story at hand, my answer is absolutely not! Too much pain and angst to go around for me. I hope they can find some happiness!
What songs would you put on this book’s playlist?
“Reflection” – Tool
“Need” – Geographer
“Paralyzed” – NF
My deep dark secret? I've never read Veronica Roth before this novella and I loved the Slavic influence. I worry that it was just too short to really let me feel engaged in the story or connected to the characters. I'm not sure I will continue with the series but I will absolutely recommend this to readers! I just know that is is not the best book for me personally.
I loved this book. The setting is right up my alley because I love the present-day scene in places we're familiar with, combined with lore/monsters. And I love pretty much any monster book, plus the lore was really interesting to learn about. Also, the twist was so well done in my opinion. I've read Divergent by Veronica Roth but her adult works are definitely my favorite.
Listened to the audio on this one and I had a hard time following along. The beginning was strong, the middle lacked and the ending got better. Required lots of thought.
Thank you to Veronica Roth (author), Helen Laser (narrator), James Fouhey (narrator), Tim Campbell (narrator), Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader (/listener) copy of "When Among Crows" for an honest review.
I continue to be awed and amazed by everything Veronica Roth touches, each genre and time period, and this one was no difference. I found myself deeply pulled into this new world of darkness, insider information, different types of creatures, the story of a villain in search of redemption, hiding in as the innocent and revealed as the deepest thorn in their wounds, but already lost in the drowning blood of his past. I have SO MANY FEELINGS about everything in here. And I love the twist ending.
When Among Crows is a wonderful fantasy novella. The world building is so intricate for such a short book and it had me wishing that not only was this a full length novel but a full series.
The narration was good and I would definitely recommend the audiobook!
DNF at 51%
This audiobook was so confusing to follow!
The many complicated terms and Polish expressions used made it very hard to understand everything, and the accent put on by one of the narrators didn't help. Then again, English is already not my first language, so it might be a me problem.
I might try reading the physical version instead at some point.
A charming urban fantasy for fans of Six of Crows.
It was interesting to learn about Eastern European/Slavic mythology through this story. The magic system was interesting, but I wish it was explored further. This novella probably would have done better as a full-length novel.
The characters had complex backstories given the limited page numbers, and their relationships amongst themselves were well-developed. If you like the found family trope, you'll like this group of characters.
Despite all the positives, I found this novella to be unfortunately forgettable in the sea of other urban fantasies on the market. I doubt I'll remember much more than the plot by the end of the year.
This was really lovely. Often novellas can be hard to be so well done due to their short size. But this is not the case here. The characters were quite complex and compelling. The story moved quickly and was interesting. This was just so fun and good. And the narrator was wonderful.