When Among Crows by Veronica Roth ultimately left me feeling disappointed and, to be honest, bored. Months after finishing it, I found myself struggling to remember much of the story, and had to reread sections just to jog my memory. The narrative felt convoluted and lacking in the depth I had hoped for, especially given the intriguing premise.

I was initially excited by the idea of multiple narrators, but none of them really stood out or left a lasting impression. They felt like they were trying to add complexity, but ended up muddling the story more than enhancing it. As for the folklore, while I can't speak to its accuracy being neither Polish nor Slavic, I've heard that it falls short in that regard, which only added to my sense of disconnect from the book. While there are flashes of potential here, When Among Crows ultimately felt like a forgettable read that failed to live up to the expectations set by its premise.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. As with all novellas, I wish it was longer.

I like the Slavic folklore but wish it had been more detailed because I wasn't familiar with all of the mythos. I need to read some more tales and then reread it. I also liked the twist of having the folktale characters set in modern day.

I will be continuing the series.

The When Among Crows audiobook, narrated by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell, brings Veronica Roth’s dark fantasy to life with gripping performances. The story, infused with Slavic folklore, follows complex characters navigating a world of magic, vengeance, and fate. The narrators enhance the immersive experience, each voice adding depth and emotion to the characters. While the pacing slows at times, the atmospheric writing and engaging narration keep listeners hooked. The blend of mythology and modern storytelling makes for a unique, compelling listen. A must for fantasy lovers seeking a richly told, multi-voiced audiobook adventure.

This didn't really work for me, there where some interesting scenes.
But the worldbuilding and characters could have used some more work.

I really loved the folklore roots of Roth's When Among Crows, but it didn't quite measure up to my expectations. I am really familiar with Roth's work and maybe that's why? I liked the details, characters, and world building, but wish there was some expanded info on the characters. Perhaps because it's a novella, the book left me wanting more. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

When Among Crows is an atmospheric, folklore-driven tale that delivers an engaging premise but struggles to reach its full potential. The audiobook narration is one of its strongest aspects, with Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell bringing the characters and world to life.

While the story is fast-paced, it sometimes moves too quickly for its own good. The characters’ relationships and emotional arcs don’t have enough time to fully develop, leaving the reader wishing for a bit more depth. It’s an enjoyable listen for fantasy lovers, but it won’t leave a lasting impact.

The world-building was fantastic, offering a fresh and immersive take on fantasy. I really enjoyed the unique setting and the intricate details Roth brought to life. The characters were well-developed, though I felt a few could have been explored a bit more. The pacing was mostly strong, with enough twists and engaging moments to keep me hooked.

This is not what I was expecting from Veronica Roth. While I knew it wasn’t a young adult romance from the start that didn’t stop me from expecting a certain type of story knowing the Divergent series. Let me be clear, I was very, very wrong to make this assumption. This is a bloody, (for some) disturbing, grimdark fantasy.

When Among Crows is unique, enthralling, and an overall excellent use of just over 150 pages of writing. Each character is fleshed out just enough to understand, and I am left wanting so much more from them all. I loved the use of the Polish folklore creatures, some of which were new to me. The description and set-up of Baba Yaga was well done, and I really hope there are more novellas to come as I can see where this all may lead us to in the end. I did wish that each POV swap was easier to identify. I always appreciate the character name at the beginning of a section or chapter so I don’t have to figure out whose brain I’m in. That said, if you listen to the audiobook the narrator changes and they both do an incredible job of telling this story. I’m not always a big audiobook fan but this one really worked for me.

If you need a slice of pain, regret, grief, guilt, with a little bit of affection throw in, then definitely check this one out. I will be anxiously awaiting the next instalment and hoping it has the same grittiness that Roth brought to this one.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

When Among Crows is masterfully written--an intriguing and compelling novella! Despite the short length, the world building is nuanced and dialogue whip smart.

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth is a novella that delivers a dark and intriguing tale set in a world where monsters feed on human emotions, knights forge weapons from their souls, and witches’ bargains come at a steep price.

The beginning left me feeling a bit lost, and it took some time to adjust. However, once I got my bearings, the story truly took off. The folklore and the multifaceted magic system were captivating, and I found myself particularly intrigued by the Holy Order. I would gladly read an entire novella exploring its lore and history. While I wished for more details about the magic and creatures that populate this world, the novella’s concise storytelling provided just enough information to keep the plot engaging without feeling bogged down.

I listened to the audiobook version, but it wasn’t my favorite format for this story. The full-cast production might appeal to listeners who enjoy dynamic performances, but I found it a bit jarring and challenging to follow.

urban fantasy x folklore vibes really pulled me in! I honestly wish this book was longer because I wanted more time to eat it up. ‘When among crows, you must caw as one’

I absolutely loved this book. I do not know how Veronica Roth was able to pack so much into a novella, but it was spectacular. The audio was fantastic and I would 100% listen to this again (in fact I probably will)

Veronica Roth has excelled at bringing us an urban fantasy with amazing folklore in a fleshed out novella. I loved the characters and felt like each one had their own moment. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook for this one. The narrator’s do amazing with the accents and pronunciations that add that extra depth to the story.

This is a great quick fantasy read and I hope Veronica Roth will continue to write in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.